Rockstart launches European AI accelerator program for startups hailing from anywhere

Europe has a new accelerator program aimed at fledgling startups working in the artificial intelligence (AI) realm. Rockstart, a “multi-vertical” startup accelerator founded out of Amsterdam in 2011, supports early-stage startups in their first 1,000 days of existence, and it says it has invested in 108 startups across 11 programs since its inception. So far, […]

Why this shopping bot won the SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event

GUEST: Many high-end celebrities and fashion models use personal shopping assistants or stylists to help them find the best clothes for them. For many women, however, that’s not really an option. We often rely on friends or family to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on potential clothing purchases, and that’s about the extent […]

Why the startup accelerator is failing robotics

GUEST: Just like humans, companies have life cycles and undergo distinct developmental phases. While every company is unique, almost all go through certain stages with specific challenges and needs. As a result, organizations such as incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces have been established to help entrepreneurs nurture and scale their companies. For less capital-intensive organizations, […]

Otto’s California Truck Testing May Depend on Whether Drivers Keep a Foot on the Accelerator or Not

– When Otto first began testing its technology in California last year, a co-founder of the company sought to assure regulators it was developing driver-assistance systems on the state’s public roads and not self-driving semi trucks. – The distinction is critical. Otto, which hopes to develop fully self-driving trucks, would not be required to obtain an autonomous-testing permit from the […]

Storm Ventures nabs Orange startup accelerator creator as new principal investor

Storm Ventures’ investment team is growing by one — the firm has hired Pascale Diaine as a principal. The founder of Orange’s startup accelerator starts her job as a venture capitalist on February 13 and plans to focus on artificial intelligence and augmented reality solutions targeting the enterprise. A long-time veteran of the French telecommunication […]