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Despite market conditions, 2022 second-highest year on record for Canadian venture capital BetaKit (BETAKIT)
In the fourth quarter, $2.5 billion CAD was invested across 162 deals, closing the year with $10 billion across 706 deals.
In contrast, the third quarter of 2022 showed an annual and quarter-over-quarter decline with just $896 million invested across 144 VC deals.
Google AI researchers reduce error rates in key step toward future of quantum computing (THE GLOBE AND MAIL)
“The only way to achieve this is by introducing quantum error correction,” said Hartmut Neven, who leads Google’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab in Santa Barbara, Calif., at an online press briefing on Tuesday. “I would call this is a necessary rite of passage that any maturing quantum computing technology has to go through.”
OMERS Ventures enters 2023 with new playbook as firm looks to launch fifth fund this year (BETAKIT)
Four years after John Ruffolo's departure, OMERS Ventures has built its global venture fund out of Canada. But 2023 has brought more changes for the firm: with plans to launch its fifth fund this year, OMERS Ventures has overhauled its operational structure and unified under one global investment committee.
Calling all hardware and semiconductor-focused startups!
ventureLAB is excited to announce the application call for our Hardware Catalyst Initiative program is now open.
As Canada’s leading Hardware Hub, the Hardware Catalyst Initiative program enables the creation of transformative technologies that will power the products of tomorrow, helping ventures become competitive players in the ever changing global semiconductor industry.
Chosen applicants will have access to state-of-the-art equipment in our $7M+ lab, in addition to tools, resources, expertise, and mentorship to get your product off the ground.
Buzzy storytelling startup Tome raises $43 million from a who's who in AI (FORBES)
In a chat box below a black and otherwise blank canvas, Tome cofounder Henri Liriani types a request for a fundraising pitch for a telescope startup.
In less than a minute, Tome’s software unfurls the presentation he requested: eight slides organized by a table of contents, complete with intro text, business model and sales plan—even cyberpunk-themed images, all generated by AI. It’s not a camera-ready pitch deck, but it’s clearly a starting point for one. No sifting through templates, text boxes and image sizes in PowerPoint or Google Slides required.
Felix Health CFO Paritosh Gupta on why finance leaders need a new approach to risk (BETAKIT)
Speaking on the Float Retained Learnings podcast, Gupta shared more about his belief that CFOs need to learn to experiment more.
AI-created images lose U.S. copyrights in test for new technology (REUTERS)
"Zarya of the Dawn" author Kris Kashtanova is entitled to a copyright for the parts of the book Kashtanova wrote and arranged, but not for the images produced by Midjourney, the office said in its letter, dated Tuesday.
GreenSky expands team, secures $17 million first close of Fund V as firm sees opportunity amid the downturn (BETAKIT)
The Toronto-based VC firm, which plans to continue fundraising until the end of March, is targeting a total size between $20 million and $25 million for Fund V.
AI is starting to pick who gets laid off (WASHINGTON POST)
Google says there was “no algorithm involved” in its job-cut decisions. But former employees are not wrong to wonder, as a fleet of artificial intelligence tools become ingrained in office life. Human resources managers use machine learning software to analyze millions of employment-related data points, churning out recommendations of whom to interview, hire, promote or help retain.
Blaise Transit signs contract to deploy on-demand transit tech in Nova Scotia (BETAKIT)
Blaise wants to improve the accessibility of community transportation in Nova Scotia, including in many locations in remote and rural communities.
How I Broke Into a Bank Account With an AI-Generated Voice (VICE)
Banks in the U.S. and Europe tout voice ID as a secure way to log into your account. I proved it's possible to trick such systems with free or cheap AI-generated voices.
GPT-powered deepfakes are a ‘powder keg’ (FAST COMPANY)
Dozens of startups are using generative AI to make shiny happy virtual people for fun and profit. Large language models like GPT add a complicated new dimension.