### Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs at NewBo City Market

On Saturday, **shoppers and supporters** flocked to the **NewBo City Market** for the **Women-Owned Business Market**, a vibrant event dedicated to showcasing and celebrating **women entrepreneurs**. This gathering not only provided a platform for local business owners to connect with the community but also highlighted the significant impact of **women-led enterprises**.

![Women-Owned Business Market](https://cbs2iowa.com/resources/media2/16x9/4032/986/center/90/652c62ec-62a8-4a44-9868-48f49f23f01d-womenmarket1.jpeg)

For those who missed this exciting event, **NewBo City Market** regularly hosts various vendor markets and community gatherings, offering more chances to shop local and celebrate **entrepreneurship**. 

### Key Takeaways
- **Community Engagement**: The market fosters connections between local business owners and the community.
- **Support for Women-led Ventures**: The event underscores the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs.
- **Ongoing Opportunities**: NewBo City Market continues to provide platforms for local vendors.

![Another View of Women-Owned Business Market](https://cbs2iowa.com/resources/media2/16x9/4032/648/center/90/40c59c6b-8970-4694-af54-7b6b2f0aabd6-wm2.jpeg)

Shoppers and supporters gathered at NewBo City Market on Saturday for the Women-Owned Business Market, an event dedicated to showcasing and celebrating women en

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Highlights from the Vibrant NewBo City Market

BP has officially **started gas production** from its Cypre development located offshore Trinidad and Tobago, marking a significant project startup as the company pivots back to oil and gas. This project is part of BP's **10 major projects** set to launch globally between 2025 and 2027, reinforcing its strategy to enhance upstream production.

### Recent Developments
The Cypre development is the **second major project** to commence in just two months, highlighting BP's commitment to convincing shareholders of its strengthened investment case following its strategic reset.

In February, BP hinted at a **major strategy reset** and subsequently announced the start of production from the second development phase of the Raven field offshore Egypt. This project involves the **subsea tieback of additional wells** to existing infrastructure in the West Nile Delta (WND) project.

### Investment Strategy
As part of its reset, BP declared an **increase in upstream oil and gas investment** to **$10 billion per year**, while reducing spending on clean energy initiatives by more than **$5 billion annually**. The company aims to initiate **10 new major projects** by the end of 2027, with expectations to boost production to **2.3–2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day** by 2030, and further increase capacity by 2035.

### Future Projects
So far, two of the ten major projects have begun production this year. Recently, BP also **approved the Ginger natural gas project** offshore Trinidad and Tobago. This project will include **four subsea wells** tied back to the existing Mahogany B platform, with first gas anticipated in 2027.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

BP has announced the start of gas production from its Cypre development offshore Trinidad and Tobago, marking another project startup since the company refocused its strategy on oil and gas.

BP's Bold Move: Launching Major Oil and Gas Projects Amid Strategic Shift

In the last eight years, I have guided over **800 female founders** in raising venture capital, collectively securing over **$200 million**. Despite our efforts, progress remains slow, with all-female teams raising only **2.6%** of venture capital last year. Many female entrepreneurs report **bias** in fundraising, facing lower valuations and increased hurdles.

### The Performance of Women-Led Startups
Research shows that when funded, **women-led companies outperform** their male counterparts, generating **twice the revenue** for every dollar invested. While female founders often achieve faster exits, these tend to be smaller, as the struggle for capital limits their scalability.

### A Shift in Venture Capital
The rise of **AI** is changing the landscape for female entrepreneurs. Startups like **Anysphere** and **ElevenLabs** achieved $100 million in revenue with minimal teams by leveraging AI to streamline operations. This shift allows founders to pursue **smaller funding rounds**, aiming for profitability before seeking larger investments.

### The Seed-Strapping Trend
This trend, dubbed **seed-strapping**, empowers founders to grow sustainably without relying heavily on capital. As an early-stage investor, I’m excited about the potential of AI-driven efficiencies that minimize dilution and enhance returns.

### Opportunities for Women
The emergence of AI tools is leveling the playing field for female founders, enabling them to build companies with reduced capital requirements. With **79% of female founders** already using AI in their startups, they are enhancing productivity in areas like product development and marketing.

### The Power Shift
AI represents not just a technological advancement but a **social paradigm shift**. For entrepreneurs, it opens vast opportunities, urging more women to integrate AI into their core business strategies. As we move forward, supporting founders in growth without relying solely on capital is essential.

For female founders, capital has been the limiting factor—but tiny teams can do more with less now.

How AI is Empowering Female Founders to Break Capital Barriers

### Transforming Development with AI

Arik Faingold, the visionary behind the cybersecurity unicorn **Pentera**, is now tackling a new frontier with his startup **AutonomyAI**. Recently emerging from stealth mode, the company has successfully raised **$4 million** in pre-Seed funding aimed at embedding **autonomous AI agents** directly into enterprise development teams.

### A Game-Changer for Software Production

Unlike conventional AI coding tools that merely assist, **AutonomyAI** integrates seamlessly within a company’s existing workflows. The platform learns from the organization’s development standards, promising to convert days of development work into just **minutes**. This innovation claims to boost team productivity by over **44%**, while achieving an impressive **95% code acceptance rate**—far exceeding the industry average of **30%**.

### Powered by Expertise

The technology behind AutonomyAI is crafted by a team of four former CTOs from leading Israeli companies, spearheaded by **Tamuz Dubnov**, the co-founder and CTO. Their **Agentic Context Engine** is designed to grasp the unique development environment, infrastructure, and standards of an organization, enabling it to produce **production-ready code** that fits perfectly with existing projects.

> "In the cybersecurity world, we saw how AI could completely change the game. The same thing is happening in software development," stated Arik Faingold. "We’re giving companies an AI-powered developer that doesn’t just assist—it becomes part of the team."

### Early Success and Revenue Generation

Under the leadership of CEO **Adir Ben Yehuda**, AutonomyAI has already started to generate **$100,000** in monthly revenue from initial clients in **Israel** and the **U.S.**. Its ability to deliver instant productivity gains positions it as a compelling solution for organizations seeking to reduce costs amid economic uncertainty.

![AutonomyAI](https://player.anyclip.com/anyclip-widget/lre-widget/assets/lg-player-footer2.jpg)

### Backed by Notable Investors

The startup's initial funding round has attracted notable investors, including **Inbound Capital**, **ION Crossover Partners’** Gilad Shany, and **Google Cloud Security** executive **Vikram Makija**.

### Meeting Industry Demands

The push for **AI-driven development** comes at a pivotal time for the tech industry. As businesses navigate economic and geopolitical challenges, many are scaling back hiring while still needing to deliver innovative software solutions. **AutonomyAI** aims to bridge this gap by minimizing the time engineers spend on repetitive tasks, allowing them to concentrate on high-impact projects.

The Israeli startup, co-founded by Arik Faingold, aims to integrate autonomous AI agents into development teams, promising a tenfold acceleration in software production.        

Revolutionizing Software Development: How AutonomyAI Secured $4M to Integrate AI into Teams

### **OnlyFans Founder Teams Up with HBAR Foundation**
Tim Stokely, the **founder of OnlyFans**, has formed a partnership with the **HBAR Foundation** to submit a **late-stage bid** for TikTok, as the deadline for a potential U.S. divestiture looms. This move positions them among a growing number of bidders for the wildly popular app, which boasts over **170 million American users**.

### **A Strategic Bid Amidst Growing Competition**
The bid is being presented by Stokely’s new venture, **Zoop**, alongside the HBAR Foundation, which manages the treasury of the **Hedera blockchain**. Their entry into the bidding process represents a significant development in the ongoing saga of TikTok’s future in the U.S.

### **Perplexity AI and Other Contenders**
In addition to Stokely and HBAR, **Perplexity AI** has made headlines advocating for the acquisition of TikTok, aiming for a valuation of **$18 billion**. With the April 5 deadline approaching, Perplexity argues that it is uniquely positioned to take over TikTok, especially before a potential presidential order banning the Chinese-owned platform.

### **Political Pressure and Legislative Context**
Former President Donald Trump met with officials on April 2 to discuss TikTok, as the platform faces a national security law that requires **ByteDance**, TikTok's parent company, to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban. Critics fear that TikTok could be exploited for surveillance or disinformation by the Chinese government, a claim that ByteDance has denied.

### **Additional Bidders and Interest**
**Alexis Ohanian**, co-founder of Reddit, is also in the fray, proposing to integrate TikTok into **blockchain infrastructure**. Other notable bidders include **Microsoft**, **Walmart**, **Oracle**, and even **Amazon**, which submitted a last-minute bid. Vice President **J.D. Vance** is reportedly leading the charge to find a suitable buyer or lead investor, amidst a highly competitive landscape.

### **Conclusion**
As the April 5 deadline nears, the race for TikTok intensifies, with various tech giants and innovative startups vying for control of the immensely popular platform. The outcome could reshape the social media landscape significantly.

The duo join a growing number of crypto firms and tech giants vying for TikTok as a U.S. divest-or-ban deadline looms.

The Race for TikTok: OnlyFans Founder and HBAR Foundation Join the Bidding War

### A New Era for AI in San Jose

A **new artificial intelligence center** has officially launched in **downtown San Jose**, marking a significant step towards establishing the city as a hub for tech innovation. The **Plug and Play AI Center for Excellence** will be located in a prominent tower at the intersection of **First Street and Santa Clara Street**.

![AI Center Launch](https://i0.wp.com/www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SJM-L-SJDTAI-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1)
*PG&E CEO Patricia Poppe (L) and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan (R) converse during the launch event for the AI Center of Excellence in downtown San Jose at the City Hall Rotunda, April 2, 2025.*

### Collaboration for Growth

The launch is a joint effort by the **city of San Jose**, **PG&E**, **San Jose State University**, and **Plug and Play**, aimed at fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem. San Jose Mayor **Matt Mahan** emphasized the potential to create a **startup cluster** in the downtown area, with over **20 venture-backed AI startups** already established.

The AI Center is expected to open in **May**, with plans to host **up to 40 startups**, potentially bringing hundreds of tech jobs to the area. 

### Vision for the Future

“We would love to bring some of these companies like **Turing, Glean, Grok**, to this AI Center of Excellence,” said **Saeed Amidi**, Plug and Play’s CEO. He believes San Jose is primed to become home to **hundreds of startups** in the coming years.

### Educational Support

**San Jose State University** aims to support this initiative by providing tech-savvy students and entrepreneurs. President **Cynthia Teniente-Matson** stated that the university is aligned with the city’s vision to harness the potential of AI and emerging technologies.

### The Role of PG&E

**PG&E** is playing a crucial role in this development, focusing on enhancing infrastructure to meet the growing demand for energy from tech companies. CEO **Patricia Poppe** highlighted the importance of preparing the city for the future of AI and innovation.

### Innovative Showroom Concept

In addition to the AI Center, Plug and Play is exploring the creation of an **AI incubator showroom** across the street, allowing visitors to interact with AI technologies and see practical implementations.

### Optimistic Outlook

With a **6,200 square feet** office space leased in the **2 West Santa Clara building**, this initiative is set to attract more emerging AI startups to downtown, creating an exciting synergy between **innovation and urban experience**. 

![AI Center Ribbon Cutting](https://i0.wp.com/www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SJM-L-SJDTAI-03.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1)
*Executives and officials cut a ribbon to mark the launch of the AI Center of Excellence in downtown San Jose, April 2, 2025.*

A new artificial intelligence center of excellence has officially launched in downtown San Jose and picked its first __cpLocation, a prominent tower at the corner of First Street and Santa Clara Street.

Unleashing Innovation: San Jose's New AI Center of Excellence Sparks Startup Growth

### Introduction
Artificial intelligence is making waves in **health care**, **energy**, and **education** across the Capital Region—but what about **agriculture**? This question was posed to **FarmSmarter Growing Technologies** co-founders Colin Raby and Grant Muslow during an honors large language model class at **LSU** in fall 2023.

### The Founders
Raby, an LSU alumnus, and Muslow, a graduate student, teamed up with biological engineering student **Julius Pallotta** and fellow alumnus **Cole Lacombe** to create **FarmSmarter**—an AI-powered assistant designed to identify plants, diagnose issues, and deliver tailored recommendations to farmers and growers using the latest agricultural research.

### Bridging the Gap
“It seemed like the worlds of agriculture and the cutting edge of AI weren’t really talking to each other,” Raby tells *Daily Report*. “The agricultural consulting process looks exactly like it looked in 1950, with people just going through best practices booklets and taking the advice of whoever pays to present their new pesticide or herbicide at an annual conference. We saw that there was a huge opportunity to use modern technology to make it all work better, faster, and save money to get high-quality answers.”

### Features of FarmSmarter
The team launched the first version of FarmSmarter in late February. Available on **desktop** and as a **mobile app**, the virtual assistant can:
- Identify **plants**, **insects**, and **fungi**
- Diagnose **crop diseases** using user-submitted photos and descriptions
- Provide insight into **environmental impacts**
- Recommend safe practices for pesticide and herbicide use.

### Growing Momentum
Though still in its early stages, FarmSmarter has gained momentum on the pitch competition circuit. The Baton Rouge startup:
- Won the **2024 J Terrell Brown Venture Challenge** at LSU
- Was a top 10 finalist in the **Baylor New Venture Competition**
- Competed in the **Louisiana Pelican Cup** at the University of Louisiana at Monroe
- Advanced to the final round of the **Arkansas Governor’s Cup**
- Will pitch this month at the **Rice Business Plan Competition** in Houston.

### Future Plans
With additional funding, the team plans to expand its capabilities, grow its staff, and roll out new features—including a **soil analysis tool** and a **historical data tracker** to monitor trends and performance over time.

Artificial intelligence is making waves in health care, energy and education across the Capital Region—but what about agriculture?  That’s the question posed to FarmSmarter Growing Technologies co-founders Colin Raby and Grant Muslow during an honors large language model class at LSU in fall 2023.  Raby, an LSU alumnus, and Muslow, an LSU graduate student, teamed […]

Revolutionizing Agriculture: Baton Rouge Startup Uses AI to Transform Farming Practices

The year **2024** was a rollercoaster ride for entrepreneurs worldwide. From **economic uncertainty** to **AI-driven breakthroughs**, businesses faced rapid shifts that demanded adaptability and resilience. As we progress into **2025**, reflecting on the key entrepreneurial successes and failures of the past year can provide **valuable insights**.

## 1. AI-Powered Businesses Thrived, But Not Without Controversy
**Success story:** The rise of AI tools like **ChatGPT** and **AI-driven SaaS platforms** revolutionized various industries. Companies embracing AI improved efficiency and customer experiences.  
**Failure:** Some startups faced backlash due to **ethical concerns** regarding AI-generated content and data privacy.  
**Lesson:** Prioritize **responsible and ethical AI adoption**.

## 2. The Return of Offline Experiences
**Success story:** Businesses blending online and offline experiences, such as **pop-up stores** and networking events, saw increased customer engagement.  
**Failure:** Companies focusing solely on digital strategies experienced diminishing engagement.  
**Lesson:** The future of business is **hybrid**, balancing digital convenience with offline authenticity.

## 3. Niche Markets Outperformed Generic Businesses
**Success story:** Entrepreneurs targeting specific audiences, like **AI-driven fitness plans**, achieved higher loyalty and profitability.  
**Failure:** Unfocused businesses struggled to differentiate themselves in saturated markets.  
**Lesson:** Specialization is key — **find a niche and dominate it**.

## 4. Bootstrapped Startups Showed More Resilience than VC-Funded Ones
**Success story:** **Self-funded businesses** with lean models navigated uncertainties better than those reliant on external funding.  
**Failure:** Many venture-backed startups collapsed under unrealistic growth expectations.  
**Lesson:** Prioritize **sustainable growth** over reckless expansion.

## 5. The Ecommerce Market Shifted Again
**Success story:** Social commerce platforms like **TikTok Shop** became dominant forces, enabling small businesses to reach audiences effectively.  
**Failure:** Businesses relying solely on traditional ads faced increasing acquisition costs.  
**Lesson:** **Diversify marketing strategies** to adapt to changes.

## 6. Employee Retention Became a Bigger Challenge
**Success story:** Companies with **flexible work models** and strong cultures retained top talent.  
**Failure:** Ignoring employee well-being led to high turnover rates.  
**Lesson:** Invest in **workplace culture and employee satisfaction**.

## 7. Sustainability Was No Longer Optional
**Success story:** Brands genuinely incorporating **sustainability** gained customer trust.  
**Failure:** Companies engaging in **greenwashing** faced backlash.  
**Lesson:** Authenticity in sustainability efforts is key.

## 8. The Creator Economy Redefined Entrepreneurship
**Success story:** Individual entrepreneurs leveraging platforms like **YouTube** created sustainable businesses without traditional models.  
**Failure:** Brands neglecting **content marketing** missed connection opportunities.  
**Lesson:** Content is now a **business model** in itself.

## 9. Global Expansion Wasn't as Easy as It Seemed
**Success story:** Startups that localized their strategies successfully expanded into new markets.  
**Failure:** Companies underestimating regulatory challenges struggled abroad.  
**Lesson:** **Deep localization and strategic planning** are essential for global expansion.

## 10. The Importance of Agility in Crisis Management
**Success story:** Businesses that pivoted during downturns, like restaurants adopting cloud kitchens, stayed afloat.  
**Failure:** Companies slow to adapt suffered financial setbacks.  
**Lesson:** **Adaptability** is the most critical entrepreneurial skill in uncertain times.

2024 proved that entrepreneurship is a **constant learning process**. The businesses that succeeded were those that embraced innovation, adapted to change, and prioritized their customers. As we move further into 2025, these lessons serve as a **blueprint** for entrepreneurs looking to navigate uncertainties and build sustainable, thriving ventures.

This article dives into the top 10 lessons from the past year, highlighting key successes and failures to help you navigate 2025 with confidence.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Highlights from the Vibrant NewBo City Market

Summary:

Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs at NewBo City Market

Key Takeaways

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Unleashing Innovation: San Jose's New AI Center of Excellence Sparks Startup Growth

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Unlocking Business Success: 10 Essential Lessons for 2025 and Beyond