Startups & Business

CES 2026 placed artificial intelligence front‑and‑center, showcasing Nvidia’s next‑gen AI compute platform, AMD’s refreshed chips, and Razer’s playful AI‑powered gadgets. The show highlighted three key trends—AI‑first hardware, generative experiences, and edge‑centric intelligence—signaling a shift toward smarter, on‑device consumer tech.

Masha Bucher of Day One Ventures argues that founders must act as personal influencers, merging venture capital expertise with proactive PR to cut through today’s information overload. By leveraging their own visibility, founders can attract media attention, accelerate funding, and scale their startups faster.

MrBeast’s Beast Industries, now valued at $5 billion, is considering an IPO so fans can own a piece of the company. CEO Jimmy Donaldson believes this fan‑ownership model could reshape the creator economy, turning a popular YouTube channel into a publicly traded media empire.

Tonight’s StrictlyVC event at Playground Global in Palo Alto will give investors and tech enthusiasts a rapid, insider look at the next wave of deep‑tech breakthroughs—from AI‑driven hardware to quantum computing and synthetic biology. Speakers will explain emerging technologies that are still largely hidden from the mainstream, highlighting how these innovations will shape venture capital strategies and consumer life in the coming years.

Fintech company Marquis disclosed a ransomware‑driven breach that exposed personal and financial data, including Social Security numbers, of potentially hundreds of thousands of U.S. banking customers. The attack, traced to a compromised third‑party vendor, prompted Marquis to alert dozens of banks and credit unions and highlights the growing threat of double‑extortion ransomware targeting the financial sector.

GE Aerospace will invest $300 million in Beta Technologies to jointly develop hybrid‑electric propulsion systems for eVTOL aircraft, combining liquid‑fuel energy density with electric efficiency. The partnership aims to accelerate certification and deployment of sustainable, quieter urban air mobility solutions.

SpaceX is revolutionizing infrastructure with a cutting-edge water pipeline at Starbase, powering frequent Starship launches. This innovation ensures sustainable utilities, blending aerospace tech with community needs for the Mars race.

Nvidia's cutting-edge H20 AI accelerators face U.S. export delays, disrupting global supply chains and escalating US-China tech tensions, as AI innovation races to overcome regulatory hurdles.

Aeva's groundbreaking lidar deal with LG Innotek is transforming autonomous vehicles, delivering real-time 3D mapping for safer tech. This innovation accelerates production, cutting costs and expanding AI applications in robotics and beyond.

Elon Musk confirms Tesla will launch an affordable electric vehicle priced under $25,000.