U.S. venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is actively seeking investment opportunities outside of the U.S., with a partner taking multiple trips to Stockholm, Sweden, to scout for potential "unicorns," according to TechCrunch. Meanwhile, India is hosting a four-day AI Impact Summit this week, attracting major tech executives and government officials, as reported by TechCrunch. Apple is also planning an event in New York City on March 4th, as announced by The Verge.
Gabriel Vasquez, a partner at a16z, made nine trips from New York City to Stockholm in one year, as revealed by TechCrunch. These visits included stops at companies like Lovable and were aimed at identifying future Swedish startups before they expand internationally. This strategy was highlighted by a16z's recent pre-seed investment of $2.3 million in Dentio, a Swedish startup using AI for dental practice administration. The firm, which recently announced new funds totaling $15 billion, is demonstrating its commitment to global deal flow.
In India, the AI Impact Summit is drawing significant attention. The event, expecting 250,000 visitors, includes executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Nvidia, Microsoft, Google, and Cloudflare, as well as heads of state, according to TechCrunch. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the attendees. The summit also saw India earmark $1.1 billion for its state-backed venture capital fund, which will invest in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
The focus on AI investment in India comes as the country's first AI company to IPO, Fractal Analytics, experienced a muted debut, according to TechCrunch. The company listed below its issue price and closed with a market capitalization lower than its recent private-market valuation.
Apple is also preparing for a special event on March 4th in New York City, London, and Shanghai, as reported by The Verge. The invitation, which includes the words "You're invited," hints at potential announcements regarding new MacBooks, iPads, iPhone 17e, and displays. The event will take place at 9 AM ET.
In related news, Apple is upgrading its Podcasts app to allow users to seamlessly switch between audio and video podcasts, according to The Verge. The update will utilize HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology, enabling users to view video versions of podcasts and download them for offline viewing.
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