Philippe Hougardy’s Post

Excited to see Sequoia Capital backing Factory, an innovative AI startup that's automating engineering tasks with autonomous coding "Droids"! 🚀🤖💡 #AI #Engineering #Innovation - Factory's AI "Droids" handle code review, documentation, testing, and debugging. - Founded by Matan Grinberg and Eno Reyes, with strong backgrounds in physics and ML. - Aims to democratize programming, enabling non-technical users to bring ideas to life. - Currently delivering value to early customers, including public companies and decacorns. - Focuses on unlocking creativity and overcoming tech talent shortages. - Streamlining engineering workflows for increased productivity. - Reducing the burden of repetitive tasks on developers. - Facilitating faster project turnarounds and innovation. - Helping companies update and maintain legacy systems. - Positioned at the intersection of AI and software development for maximum impact. Sequoia Backs AI Startup That Automates Engineering Tasks https://lnkd.in/g4WzqUUq

Machine Learning is revolutionizing Venture Capital in ways that may not be widely recognized yet. In the past, building billion-dollar companies required hefty investments upwards of $200M, typically at a late-stage growth round. However, today, small teams of 4-6 individuals with a few contractors are achieving multi-billion dollar valuations right now. Today. The ability to leverage Machine Learning for tasks such as source code development, architecture building, lead generation, marketing content creation, and customer support is enabling these lean teams to operate capitaly efficient. This trend is expected to keep company sizes small throughout their growth trajectory. As AI and ML technologies continue to empower entrepreneurs, the barriers to entry in the startup space are significantly decreasing. This shift is likely to drive a surge in the number of startups, with projections indicating that 90% of companies in the near future will emerge from the startup ecosystem. Exciting times lie ahead for the startup landscape as technology reshapes the entrepreneurial journey.

🚀Hey future entrepreneurs!🚀 Exciting news awaits you from *Microsoft for Startups Founder Hub*! Elevate your startup journey with expert advice, exclusive content, and cutting-edge programming designed to keep you ahead of the curve. 🌟 🌐Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!🌐 1. *Build with AI from Day One* - Get up to **$150K (USD)** in credits to access leading AI models through Azure, including **OpenAI GPT-3.5 Turbo and GPT-4, Llama 2 from Meta**, and more. 2. *Experiment with Large Language Models for Free* - Enjoy **$2,500 (USD)** in OpenAI credits to experiment and innovate without limits. 3. *1:1 Expert Advice* - Gain access to personalized guidance from Microsoft AI experts, along with exclusive content and programming to keep you at the forefront of technology. 4. *Secure Deployments* - Deploy with peace of mind knowing all your deployments are secure and backed by Microsoft’s principles for responsible AI. 5. *Industry-Leading AI Services* - Access top-tier AI services for free, designed to support startups of all sizes and stages. 6. *Comprehensive Support* - Receive continuous support throughout your entire startup lifecycle, ensuring you have the resources and guidance you need to succeed. 🌟 Special Offer🌟 👆 Use Referral ID: **studentamb_364584** for additional credits! 🔗 [Join Now and Transform Your Startup with Microsoft for Startups Founder Hub!](https://lnkd.in/gHJzdxYn) Get ahead, stay ahead, and let Microsoft for Startups Founder Hub be your catalyst for success. 🌟✨ Elevate your startup journey today!🚀 Microsoft for Startups #MicrosoftForStartups #FounderHub #AIInnovation #StartupSuccess #TechEntrepreneurs #AIStartups #StartupJourney #InnovateWithAI #MicrosoftAI #TechInnovation #AIForStartups #FutureEntrepreneurs #StartupSupport #AIExperts #AzureAI #SecureDeployments #ResponsibleAI #LeadingWithAI #Entrepreneurship #TechStartups

If you're building software right now, LLMs impact how you're doing it. Instead of relying on 'large' models, many builders now use smaller 'expert' models that do more specific tasks even better than LLMs. Cheaper. And faster. That's why Kyle Corbitt and David Corbitt (brothers!) created OpenPipe: to make creating and fine-tuning these expert models easier for any developer. Each week my mind gets routinely blown by what is being enabled by LLMs and how it's fundamentally changing how software gets built. Tools like OpenPipe are part of that revolution. I'm excited to see what this unlocks for software teams in any business. #venturecapital #ai #startupfounders #startups #productmanagement #funding https://lnkd.in/gxyHEPzK

So far this year, 35% of U.S. startup investment has gone to AI-related companies, per Crunchbase data. That appears to be the highest percentage on record, besting even 2023, when OpenAI secured its $10B Microsoft-backed financing. It's an exciting time here in the bay area as we see more startups focused on generative AI and machine learning.

Ever wondered how AI is silently and swiftly revolutionizing the way software task management is being handled in Silicon Valley startups? Well, we're back with an intriguing read that unveils just that. Our latest piece, "Is AI Revolutionizing Software Task Management in Silicon Valley Startups?" explores this colossal shift in managing software tasks and how startups are embracing it in the most fascinating ways. 💡🔍 Among the wave of startups adopting this technology, our spotlight falls on SWEEP, a brilliant innovation built by Nate Hardison and Kyle Fazzari. Using AI as their core tool, they've developed a solution that manages software tasks automatically. Based in San Francisco, they are redefining how tasks should be managed! 🚀 Here is the link to our article 👉 (https://lnkd.in/gfES2jFy). Find out more about how Sweep and similar startups are shaping the startup landscape leveraging artificial intelligence! Stay tuned for more insightful articles that put startup tech under the microscope. #AI #SiliconValley #Startups #SoftwareTaskManagement #ArtificialIntelligence

**An Exhilarating Revelation: Harnessing AI for Start-Up Ascendancy** In a revelation that brims with promise and excitement, I proudly unveil the profound insights garnered during my tenure at Scaler School of Technology. Amidst the dynamic crucible of this esteemed institution, I have been privy to a panoramic vista of the pivotal role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays in sculpting the destiny of entrepreneurship. Through immersive engagement and mentorship, I have gleaned a deep-seated comprehension of how AI serves as a fulcrum for innovation, operational efficiency, and enduring scalability within the kaleidoscopic realm of start-ups. At the vanguard of Scaler School of Technology, I have immersed myself in the avant-garde methodologies and technological paradigms of AI, probing their tangible applications in real-world exigencies. From streamlining operational paradigms to harnessing the prescient insights afforded by predictive analytics, the seismic influence of AI on the trajectory of start-up prosperity cannot be overstated. Through arduous tutelage and collaborative endeavors, I have refined my acumen in wielding AI as a strategic cornerstone, thus empowering nascent enterprises to surmount challenges and seize the boundless vistas of opportunity in an ever-evolving market milieu. Furthermore, my sojourn at Scaler has underscored the cardinal significance of fostering a milieu characterized by perpetual erudition and adaptability within the echelons of start-ups. By embracing AI-fueled solutions, enterprises can instill a culture predicated upon agility and innovation, thereby fortifying their foundations for sustained success amidst the capricious tides of the market. As I ruminate upon my odyssey at Scaler, I am imbued with an unwavering zeal for the transformative potential of AI to unfurl new horizons and redefine the contours of achievement for start-ups on a global scale. In a bid to crystallize these insights, I have meticulously curated a visual rendition juxtaposing the curriculum offerings of Scaler School of Technology against those of other academic institutions. This graphical depiction serves as a testament to the robustness and relevance of Scaler's pedagogical approach, substantiating its efficacy in equipping aspirants with the requisite proficiencies to navigate the labyrinthine corridors of contemporary entrepreneurship. Together, let us embark upon a voyage suffused with the transformative potency of AI, catalyzing the ascent of start-ups to unprecedented pinnacles of success. I extend a fervent invitation to fellow aficionados to partake in this odyssey, as we collectively champion innovation, seize upon fortuitous junctures, and chart a trajectory towards a future where entrepreneurship thrives at the confluence of technological ingenuity.  #AI #StartupSuccess #ScalerInternship #ScalerSchoolofTechnology

⚡ Requests for Startups – Y Combinator. Okay, folks. A couple of months ago Y Combinator has published a list of theses they are looking for in startups. It’s not a guarantee of success or acceptance, of course, but it’s worth paying attention to this list. Since YC is followed by classic VCs, they (=we) will also be considering these topics. Although much has already been written about this, let’s analyze it further. 👉 To start with, the list is here at the YC’s blog “Y Combinator Requests for Startups”: https://lnkd.in/dQyiNi5m 1/ Let’s start by listing the theses for simplicity (20 theses or requests): ▪️ Applying Machine Learning to Robotics ▪️ Using Machine Learning to Simulate the Physical World ▪️ New Defense Technology ▪️ Bringing Manufacturing Back to America ▪️ New Space Companies ▪️ Climate Tech ▪️ Commercial Open Source Companies ▪️ Spatial Computing ▪️ New Enterprise Resource Planning Software ▪️ Developer Tools Inspired by Existing Internal Tools ▪️ Explainable AI ▪️ Low-Code/No-Code Solutions for Manual Back Office Processes in Legacy Enterprises ▪️ AI for Building Enterprise Software ▪️ Stablecoin Finance ▪️ A Way to End Cancer ▪️ Foundation Models for Biological Systems ▪️ The Managed Service Organization Model for Healthcare ▪️ Eliminating Middlemen in Healthcare ▪️ Better Enterprise Glue ▪️ Small, Fine-Tuned Models as an Alternative to Giant Generic Ones 2/ Now, let’s take a closer look at the verticals that these theses fit into. I’ve assigned several verticals to the theses (multiple choice type), and here’s what I’ve came up with: 🔹 Software: 6 🔹 AI & ML: 6 🔹 DeepTech: 4 🔹 Health and Biotech: 4 🔹 Industrial & Robotics: 3 🔹 Other: 4 💬 Overall, there’s a strong emphasis on AI even within the stated themes, but software applications are still on top. DeepTech is kinda AI related as well. Let’s see who YC will actually select in the upcoming batches. 3/ What’s new in the request? Compared to last year’s request for startups (print screens of both years are posted), surprisingly, the theses have changed DRAMATICALLY: 🔹 In the new list, only AI, climate tech, and biotech remain relevant. Everything else is NEW! There’s no mention of government 2.0, agriculture, education, future of work, creators, or communities & social. It all seems much more mature, more focus on businesses rather than on tech products and ideas. 🔹 Other points of interest: defense tech has appeared, and there’s a thesis about bringing manufacturing back to the US – likely a consequence of global changes. Also, I’m slightly surprised that cryptocurrency is still in the theses – it’s quite respectable. But where did AR/VR go? It’s a bit disappointing. P.S. I encourage you not to launch the startup following any investors “requests” or thoughts about the future, but this is definitely smth that could be taken into consideration.

Several investors stress the importance of AI founders picking their spots carefully. Startups must exercise caution and select the areas they want to tackle with care as companies like OpenAI iterate on their models. As one VC interviewed for this article by Jacob Robbins stated, "It’s about building something, seeing how big tech reacts, and then seeing the gaps. Pick a vertical, then build a solution that understands what people in that vertical look for." Learn more about #AIorchestration startups and venture capital insights here: https://lnkd.in/efNvNEtW. #GenerativeAI #startups

How can startups accelerate your generative AI journey? New blog post from Richard Flint and myself discussing our perspectives on when and how startups might be a good option for your organisation. Some headlines: 🚀 We're seeing 65% of total equity funding go to LLM infrastructure, 30% to cross-industry functional applications and the remaining 5% go to industry-specific solutions. 🚀 Startup solutions can enable organisations to test and deploy GenAI quicker, cheaper and with fewer specialist skills due to their out-of-the-box nature. 🚀Many are hyper-focused on solving for specific use cases, allowing organisations to explore more use cases and have better tailored solutions. 👀 However, building rather than buying does enable opportunities for learning and for greater control over the final product. 👀 We see a risk of 'copilot chaos', with the proliferation of fragmented technologies, particularly when looking at very targeted solutions.