Weekly Tech Pulse
Dropbox Acquires Reclaim.ai, Cornershop Founders Launch Buenaonda Fund, and Mercado Libre Introduces a Stablecoin for Brazil
US & International Startup & Tech News
Dropbox acquires Index Ventures-backed AI scheduling tool Reclaim.ai
Dropbox has acquired Reclaim.ai, an AI-driven scheduling tool backed by Index Ventures and Calendly, among others. Reclaim.ai, founded in 2019, helps users optimize their schedules by integrating with Google Calendar and offering features like booking links and automated meeting times. The company, which has over 320,000 users globally, will continue developing its product under Dropbox, with no immediate changes to its fees. The entire Reclaim.ai team will join Dropbox, aligning with its mission to enhance productivity through AI.
Waymo’s new robotaxi will feature fewer sensors to help lower costs
Waymo unveiled its sixth-generation robotaxi, an electric minivan made by Zeekr, highlighting its advanced technology and reduced production costs due to fewer sensors. However, the company faces potential challenges from upcoming U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, which could impact the robotaxi's cost-effectiveness. Despite this, Waymo plans to integrate the new minivans into its commercial fleet, with ongoing testing in multiple cities.
Polymet launches an AI designer
Polymet uses AI to enable non-designers to create production-ready designs and front-end code by describing what they need or providing images. It eliminates the need for design expertise, allowing users to generate and refine designs with natural language. Polymet speeds up prototyping, enables quick design iterations, and generates frontend code that integrates with existing codebases, making it faster and more cost-effective than hiring designers and engineers. This tool is particularly useful for creating demos, exploring new UX variations, and crafting interactive UI elements.
Defcon AI closes $44M seed round to solve a problem of ‘maximum complexity’: Military logistics
Defcon AI, a Virginia-based startup, has developed software to aid US Department of Defense (DOD) operators in planning complex mission logistics by optimizing resources, costs, and schedules. The company, co-founded by retired US Air Force General Paul Selva and backed by a $44 million seed round, has already deployed its technology in real-world operations and aims to expand its applications across the DOD and private sector. Defcon AI's system uses algorithms, including machine learning, to simulate scenarios and improve decision-making, particularly in crises.
LATAM Startup & Tech News
Buenaonda, the fund with which the 3 former Cornershop invest in technological projects
The founders of Cornershop, Oskar Hjertonsson, Daniel Undurraga, and Juan Pablo Cuevas, are investing in startups through Buenaonda Investments, a fund-like vehicle established in Delaware in 2021. Buenaonda is a mix between venture capital and angel investment, operating with minimal structure and managed by Belltower Fund Group via AngelList. They invest opportunistically, often making small investments without leading funding rounds, primarily based on informal discussions among the founders.
The Latin American Fintech DITOBANX arrives in Mexico with strategic alliances
Ditobanx, a Latin American fintech company, has expanded into Mexico, offering digital financial solutions to promote financial inclusion and reduce service costs and times. Their services, available through partnerships with cloud and payment processing companies, enable users to open accounts in under five minutes without needing traditional banking. Ditobanx is committed to supporting economic and technological growth in Mexico, mainly through education and financial literacy initiatives.
Kamipay, the Argentine mobile payment app reached one million transactions
KamiPay, an Argentine app launched in June 2023 as an alternative to international card payments, has gained significant popularity. It has exceeded one million transactions via Pix, a QR-based payment method widely used in Brazil. The app allows businesses to instantly receive digital dollars or pesos from Brazilian tourists without additional costs, making it particularly attractive for the tourism sector. Created by Nicolás Bourbon and Matías Gorganchián, KamiPay offers a quick, commission-free payment solution that addresses the high costs and delays associated with international payments.
Mercado Libre launches its own cryptocurrency: a stablecoin for Mercado Pago users in Brazil
Mercado Libre has launched its stablecoin, Meli Dólar, for Mercado Pago users in Brazil. Tied to the US dollar, this cryptocurrency allows users to buy and sell using Brazilian reais through the Mercado Pago app without transaction fees. The initiative, developed in partnership with Ripio, aims to offer a secure financial tool to protect against currency fluctuations. The stablecoin is issued by Meli Uruguay S.R.L., and reflects Mercado Libre's commitment to expanding financial services and democratizing access to crypto in Latin America.
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