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MVP’s and Hardtech
Welcome to Startup Strategist by stratup.ai. It's Tuesday, and today we have three news stories and 2 resources for you.
News: (1) Xaira raises $1B (TechCrunch), (2) Max Altman fund (X) (3) Forever chemicals (AP)
MVP’s and Hardtech
Resource: B2B 100 list, startups fighting ‘forever chemicals’
StratupAI Idea: PFAS Removal Technology for Drinking Water
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News
Xaira, an AI drug discovery startup, launches with a massive $1B, says it’s ‘ready’ to start developing drugs (TechCrunch)
According to TechCrunch, “CEO Marc Tessier-Lavigne says we’ve done such a large capital raise because we believe the technology is at an inflection point where it can have a transformative effect on the field. The advances in foundational models come from the University of Washington’s Institute of Protein Design, run by David Baker, one of Xaira’s co-founders.”
Max Altman announces $125M fund (X)
The fund plans to focus on SaaS in areas like work software and fintech (Forbes).
(April 10) Biden administration sets first-ever limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water (AP)
First, what EPA.gov says:
“PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.”
“What We Don't Fully Understand Yet: (1) How to better and more efficiently detect and measure PFAS in our air, water, soil, and fish and wildlife (2) How much people are exposed to PFAS (3) How harmful PFAS are to people and the environment (4) How to remove PFAS from drinking water (5) How to manage and dispose of PFAS”
AP: “Utility groups warn the rules will cost tens of billions of dollars each and fall hardest on small communities with fewer resources. Veolia serves 2.3 million people in six eastern states, managing water systems for millions more. They've treated PFAS for 150,000 people and plan to expand to 50 more sites while scaling up for larger communities.”
MVP’s and Hardtech
After listening to a short portion of a YC podcast covering hardtech startups, I wanted to share a takeaway. A bias they tend to see expresses itself as founders coming in with a large $ figure they wish to raise, which they believe is necessary to get their idea off the ground (they mention $50 million in the podcast as an example).
A founder may view building cheaply or at a small scale as compromising their vision or that it won’t be of value. But, without creating something before funding, it is less likely any meaningful funding will occur.
“Once they make that mental switch and realize they can do something in three months, they go do that. And then it’s not just an idea anymore.” - Jared Friedman
Ultimately this is simply the idea of creating an MVP and generating some momentum on the product side, rather than relying on external factors to accelerate progress early on.
2 Resources
StratupAI Idea: PFAS Removal Technology for Drinking Water
“Removing PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from drinking water is a significant challenge due to the harmful effects these chemicals can have on human health. PFAS are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in the body over time, potentially leading to various health issues. Developing an efficient and cost-effective technology or solution to remove PFAS from drinking water could be a compelling startup idea. Current methods are not always effective or are too expensive for widespread use. With the increasing awareness of water contamination issues and the need for safe drinking water, there is a growing demand for solutions that address PFAS specifically.”
Disclaimer: The startup ideas shared in this forum are offered as general information and for discussion, and are non-rigorously curated via the Stratup.ai idea generator. Individuals utilizing these concepts are encouraged to exercise independent judgment and undertake due diligence per legal and regulatory requirements.
That’s all for today, thanks for reading. See you on Friday.
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The startup ideas, strategies, and suggestions shared are provided for general discussion and informational purposes only. Any individual or entity considering implementing these concepts should exercise independent judgment and conduct thorough due diligence in accordance with legal, regulatory, and industry-specific requirements. Startup Strategist does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information shared. It is recommended to consult with legal, financial, and other relevant professionals before proceeding with any business ventures or decisions.