### Jeff Lawson's Bold Move
Jeff Lawson, the owner of **The Onion**, is venturing into uncharted territory with an exciting new project: **building a sports car**. This ambitious endeavor is taking shape in a garage located in the **Dogpatch** neighborhood of San Francisco.

### A Unique Blend of Passions
Known for his sharp wit and innovative ideas, Lawson is now channeling his creativity into the automotive world. This project represents not just a personal dream but also a new startup that aims to merge **design and performance** in the sports car industry.

### The Garage as a Launchpad
The Dogpatch garage is more than just a workspace; it's a hub for innovation where Lawson plans to bring his vision to life. The atmosphere is charged with excitement as he collaborates with like-minded individuals who share his passion for **entrepreneurship and engineering**. 

### What’s Next?
As Lawson embarks on this journey, the startup community is watching closely. His transition from media to motorsport epitomizes the spirit of **entrepreneurship**, where boundaries are pushed, and new horizons are explored. Stay tuned for updates from this groundbreaking venture!

The owner of The Onion has a new idea (no joke), and he’s bringing it to life in a Dogpatch garage.

From Satire to Speed: Jeff Lawson's New Venture in Sports Cars and Startups

### OpenAI Co-Founder Launches Safe Superintelligence

**Ilya Sutskever**, the co-founder of OpenAI, has launched a new AI startup called **Safe Superintelligence (SSI)**, leveraging **Google Cloud’s TPU chips** for its cutting-edge research aimed at creating **safe, superintelligent AI**. This partnership, announced recently, positions SSI to significantly enhance its research capabilities.

### The Power of Google Cloud

According to Google Cloud, SSI is utilizing **TPUs** to expedite its research and development efforts. This collaboration is critical as cloud providers are vying for partnerships with unicorn AI startups that require extensive computing power, often spending **hundreds of millions** annually for AI model training. Reports suggest that Google Cloud is SSI’s **primary computing provider**, indicating a substantial investment in cloud resources.

### A Trend in AI Startups

Google Cloud has a track record of forming partnerships with former AI researchers who have transitioned into leading AI startups. Notably, Sutskever, who previously worked at Google, is among these innovators. Recently, Google Cloud also became the **primary provider for World Labs**, founded by ex-Google Cloud AI chief scientist **Fei-Fei Li**.

### Financial Backing and Future Plans

SSI emerged from stealth mode in **June 2024**, shortly after Sutskever left his position at OpenAI. The startup has secured **$1 billion** in funding from prominent investors including **Andreessen Horowitz**, **Sequoia Capital**, and **DST Global**. Despite its recent launch, details about SSI’s initiatives remain sparse, but its website emphasizes a commitment to developing **safe, superintelligent AI systems** as its core mission.

### Sutskever's Journey

Before co-founding OpenAI, Sutskever dedicated several years to **Google Brain**, focusing on neural networks. His recent departure from OpenAI followed a tumultuous period that included a notable leadership change. After a brief hiatus, Sutskever is now focused on his new venture, exploring innovative ways to enhance the performance of **frontier AI models**.

OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever has tapped Google Cloud to power his new startup's research efforts to create 'safe, superintelligent AI.'

Ilya Sutskever Partners with Google Cloud to Revolutionize AI Research

**Doing laundry** can be a tedious chore, but innovative **startups** are stepping in to lighten the load. Investors are eager to back these new players in the laundry service market.  
  
### NoScrubs: A New Player in On-Demand Laundry  
**NoScrubs**, an 11-month-old startup, recently raised **$2 million** in a pre-seed funding round led by **Initialized Capital** for its on-demand laundry delivery services. Founded by **Matt O’Connor** and **Sudhanshu Gautam**, NoScrubs aims to offer a faster and more affordable laundry service, promising to return folded laundry within just a few hours of pickup. Currently operating in **Austin**, NoScrubs has already attracted nearly **1,000 unique customers**.  
  
### Rinse: The Uber of Laundry  
Founded in **2013**, **Rinse** has raised over **$70 million** and operates in several major U.S. cities. Dubbed the “Uber of laundry,” it provides both laundry and dry cleaning services with a standard turnaround of **3-4 days**. Rinse prides itself on employing its workers rather than using independent contractors, and it has cleaned over **100 million garments** since inception.  
  
### Innovative Business Models  
Both startups have unique business models. NoScrubs leverages **underutilized machines** in laundromats and apartment complexes, while Rinse is expanding its **B2B** services alongside its direct-to-consumer model. Investors see potential in both companies, particularly NoScrubs for its scalable model.  
  
### The Future of Laundry Services  
The laundry market is substantial, estimated at **$15.75 billion** in 2024, indicating ample room for growth despite the challenges faced by some past startups in the industry. Both NoScrubs and Rinse are focused on geographic expansion and enhancing their service offerings to capture more of this lucrative market.

Doing laundry can be a chore. It takes time and is tedious. Few people like to do it. So it’s no surprise that startups have emerged to take that load off

Revolutionizing Laundry: Meet the Startups Making Chores a Breeze

It’s been a **challenging yet thrilling year** for **23-year-old** Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, the founder and CEO of **AI sales agent startup Artisan**. Recently, Artisan secured a **$25 million Series A** funding round, led by **Glade Brook Capital**, with participation from notable investors like **Y Combinator**, **Day One Ventures**, and **HubSpot Ventures**. 

### The Journey So Far
A year ago, Artisan emerged as a top startup from the **winter 2024 Y Combinator class**, having raised **$12 million** in September. The journey has not been without its chaos, as **Carmichael-Jack** and co-founder **Sam Stallings** navigated the tumultuous waters of early-stage startup life.

Artisan operates in the rapidly expanding **AI sales development representative (AI SDR)** market. The company gained significant attention through its controversial **“Stop Hiring Humans”** marketing campaign, which sparked various reactions, including some backlash. In a lighthearted twist, Carmichael-Jack even staged an **April Fools' joke** about stepping down as CEO—proclaiming an “AI CEO” would take his place.

### AI vs. Human Workers
Despite the provocative marketing, Carmichael-Jack clarified that he does not genuinely believe AI will completely replace human workers. He remarked, “**Human labor becomes more valuable when you have AI content**.” Currently, Artisan employs **35 humans** and is actively seeking **22 more**, including sales roles. They also recently appointed a new **CTO**, Ming Li, with a rich background from **Deel**, **Rippling**, **TikTok**, and **Google**.

![Artisan’s billboard in San Francisco](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Artisan-billboard-San-Francisco.jpg?w=680)

### Addressing Customer Churn
Carmichael-Jack acknowledged that Artisan, like many **AI SDR startups**, has faced customer churn. While AI agents are designed to automate cold outreach, the industry is still maturing, with many products struggling to deliver results. He noted that early versions of Artisan's product suffered from poor performance, describing them as having “**extremely bad hallucinations**.”  

However, Artisan has made significant improvements. Their flagship product, **Ava**, reportedly only experiences a **1 in 10,000** error rate now. By collaborating closely with **model provider Anthropic**, Artisan developed tighter prompts that minimize errors.

Today, Artisan boasts **250 customers** and has achieved **$5 million** in annual recurring revenue. The company is also set to launch two new products: **Aaron**, for managing inbound messages, and **Aria**, a meeting management assistant, both expected by the end of **2025**.

![Ad for Artisan in San Francisco](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2188469169160.jpg?w=680)

### Targeting the Right Customers
Carmichael-Jack shared insights on customer targeting, indicating that not every company is suited for AI SDR solutions. Artisan has opted out of working with certain industries where they found clients struggling to generate quality leads. They offer flexible contracts that allow clients to exit if they are not satisfied with the service.

He emphasized the importance of qualifying customers, stating that successful clients typically achieve around a **1% response rate**. To enhance targeting, Artisan is incorporating data signals from social media and news to refine their outreach strategies. 

Carmichael-Jack believes their proprietary database of **brick-and-mortar businesses** gives them a competitive edge, and they are piloting a new **success-based pricing** model with **Paid.ai**, allowing customers to pay based on performance rather than committing to long-term contracts.

“**We should only sell to those who derive value from our product,**” he stated, highlighting their commitment to customer satisfaction.

It’s been a tough but exciting few months for 24-year-old Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, founder and CEO of AI sales agent startup Artisan.

Artisan's Bold Bet: Why This AI Startup Still Believes in Human Talent Even After Raising $25M

## The Mystery of Slate Auto

**Jeff Bezos** is secretly funding a groundbreaking **EV startup** based in Michigan known as **Slate Auto**, which aims to begin production as early as next year. This stealthy company has been linked to Bezos' family office through various sources and documents.

Founded in **2022**, Slate has quietly built a team of **hundreds of employees**, many of whom hail from major automotive giants like **Ford**, **General Motors**, **Stellantis**, and **Harley-Davidson**. 

### Ambitious Goals and Funding

Slate Auto is on a mission to create an **affordable two-seat electric pickup truck** priced around **$25,000**. The company envisions its product as a modern equivalent to the **Ford Model T** or **Volkswagen Beetle**. Recently, it raised at least **$111 million** in a **Series A funding round** in 2023, with Bezos' involvement noted in the paperwork submitted to Delaware's Division of Corporations. 

The startup has also reportedly closed a **Series B round** but has yet to file the necessary paperwork with the **Securities and Exchange Commission**. The Delaware filings indicate that nearly **500 million preferred shares** were authorized at a price of **$2.37** each.

### Notable Investors and Leadership

In addition to Bezos, Slate Auto has attracted investments from notable figures like **Mark Walter**, the owner of the **LA Dodgers**, and **Thomas Tull**, a lead investor in Re:Build Manufacturing. These investors have also joined Slate's board, indicating their active role in the company's future.

Slate is headquartered in **Troy, Michigan**, and has showcased a proof-of-concept vehicle to investors in **Long Beach, California**. The startup is keeping its fundraising and operational details tightly controlled, particularly targeting **high-net-worth individuals**.

### Deep Amazon Roots

Slate Auto's connections to **Amazon** run deep. The startup originated as a project called **Re:Car** within **Re:Build Manufacturing**, co-founded by former Amazon executive **Jeff Wilke**. Many of Slate's leaders and team members have Amazon backgrounds, including those who worked closely with Bezos himself.

### A Unique Approach to the EV Market

Unlike most EV startups that aim for high-end markets, Slate is focusing on becoming a buyer's **“first car”**. Their strategy is to sell at a lower price point while allowing customers to personalize and upgrade their vehicles over time. They have even filed a trademark for the phrase: **“WE BUILT IT. YOU MAKE IT.”**

Slate plans to supplement its low-margin vehicle sales with a range of **accessories and apparel**, similar to successful strategies employed by **Harley-Davidson** and **Stellantis**. This approach is designed to create additional revenue streams while maintaining competitive vehicle pricing.

### Leadership Dynamics

Slate Auto does not follow the typical startup model of having a founder as a CEO. Instead, **Christine Barman**, a veteran from **Chrysler**, holds the CEO position. Barman brings over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry, having worked on various high-profile projects during her tenure at Chrysler.

The company’s innovative strategies, experienced leadership, and significant backing hint at its potential to disrupt the electric vehicle market, even amid challenges in the sector.

Jeff Bezos is funding a secretive EV startup based in Michigan called Slate Auto that could start production as soon as next year, according to multiple

Unveiling Slate Auto: The Secretive EV Startup Backed by Jeff Bezos

### **Series: The Future of Networking for Gen Z**  
Series, a groundbreaking social network, is on a mission to help **Gen Z** professionals expand their **networking** opportunities using the power of **AI**. Founded by Yale students, the platform aims to connect users directly through **text messages**, challenging established giants like **LinkedIn**.  
![Series Founders](https://i.insider.com/67f43199c6ad288d147d741b?width=700)  
**Sean Hargrow** and **Nathaneo Johnson**, the co-founders of Series, have successfully raised **$3 million** in funding to bring their vision to life. This investment will help them enhance their platform's capabilities and grow their user base.  
The AI-driven technology behind Series allows for more **personalized connections**, making it easier for users to find and reach out to relevant professionals in their field. With a focus on the needs of **younger generations**, Series looks to redefine how networking is approached in the digital age.

Series is a new social network for finding professional connections. It uses AI to connect people directly in text messages.

Meet Series: The AI-Powered Social Network Aiming to Disrupt LinkedIn with $3M Funding

### Rain Raises $75 Million in Series B Funding

**Rain**, a groundbreaking **fintech startup** based in Los Angeles, has successfully secured **$75 million** in an all-equity **Series B funding round**. This funding was led by **Prosus**, bringing the company's post-money valuation to **$340 million**. Rain's mission is to enhance employee financial wellness through its **earned wage access (EWA)** app, which offers features like **overdraft alerts** and **spending trends**.

### Addressing Financial Struggles

A recent report by **Bank of America** highlights that approximately **35% of U.S. households** with an income below **$50,000** are living paycheck to paycheck, a rise from **32% in 2019**. Rain's EWA platform provides a solution, allowing employees to access a portion of their wages early for a nominal fee, thereby helping them avoid the pitfalls of high-interest payday loans.

### Unique Features and Expansion Plans

Rain differentiates itself by integrating with major payroll and timekeeping systems, making it easy for employers to onboard the service with minimal manual effort. The startup has already onboarded over **2.5 million employees** and has distributed more than **$2 billion** in earned wages. Rain targets **mid-market and enterprise customers** with over **300 employees** and charges a modest fee for transactions.

In addition to EWA, Rain is expanding its offerings to include **credit cards**, **savings products**, and a **financial education portal**. With the new funding, the startup plans to launch an EWA-secured credit card with a dynamic credit limit based on verified earned wages and a product to simplify the use of **Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)**.

### A Bright Future for Fintech

The funding comes at a time when the fintech landscape is stabilizing after a period of slow growth, with a **45% decline** in global fintech funding year-over-year. However, Rain's innovative approach and comprehensive platform for financial wellness position it for success in this evolving market. Bradford emphasizes that their goal is to help users rely less on EWA as they build savings, fostering a path to **financial freedom**.

![Rain App](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/rain-app.jpg)

### Funding and Growth

Rain's recent funding round attracted participation from **Nextalia Ventures**, **Spark Growth Ventures**, and existing investors like **QED** and **Invus Opportunities**. The startup, which currently employs **175 people**, is focusing on scaling its market presence through enhanced sales and marketing efforts.

![Rain Co-Founders](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/rain-co-founders.jpg)

In 2023, Rain previously raised a **$116 million Series A** round, showcasing its rapid growth trajectory in the fintech space.

Rain, a startup offering an employer-integrated earned wage access (EWA) app coupled with financial-wellness features like overdraft alerts and spending

Rain's $75M Series B: A Game Changer for Fintech and Employee Financial Wellness

### A Major Funding Boost for Fairly Made
Sustainable fashion tech start-up **Fairly Made** has successfully raised **€15 million (USD$16.4 million)** in a Series B funding round. This financing aims to enhance its **supply chain tracing solutions**, allowing fashion brands to accurately measure the **environmental** and **social impact** of their products.

### About Fairly Made
Founded in **2018** by **Laure Betsch** and **Camille Le Gal**, Fairly Made is based in Paris and has developed a **SaaS platform** that enables brands to trace their supply chains. This includes tracking the **origin of raw materials** and manufacturing processes, essential for assessing product impact. The platform not only helps brands comply with regulations but also provides consumers with **digital passports** for full product transparency. Notable partnerships include brands like **Versace**, **LVMH**, and **Paul Smith**, with over **100 million digital passports** already created.

### New Features and Capital Utilization
Recently, Fairly Made introduced an **Ecodesign module** designed to help brands create products with lower environmental impacts through **data-driven insights** and **real-time simulations**. The newly raised capital will be used to:
- Scale its platform
- Enhance and refine its **SaaS technology**
- Add advanced features for **supply chain traceability**, **impact measurement**, and **ecodesign**
- Expand internationally and enter new markets
- Grow its team

### Vision for the Future
Laure Betsch, Co-founder of Fairly Made, stated:
> “Developing a robust SaaS platform allows us to support brands in addressing the environmental and social challenges of tomorrow. By combining traceability, ecodesign, and consumer transparency, we are equipping the fashion industry with the tools needed to drive meaningful change.”

### Investment Details
The investment round was led by **BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund**, **GET Fund**, **ETF Partners**, and **Frenchfounders**. Laura Wirsztel, a partner at BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund, emphasized:
> “Once a nice-to-have, supply chain visibility has now become a critical first step in implementing sustainable practices. Fairly Made leverages its cutting-edge SaaS platform to deliver transparency and traceability at scale.”

Sustainable fashion tech start-up Fairly Made announced that it has raised €15 million (USD$16.4 million) in a Series B funding round, with proceeds from the financing aimed at advancing its supply chain tracing solutions to enable fashion brands to accurately measure the environmental and social impact of their products. Founded in 2018 by Laure Betsch […]

From Satire to Speed: Jeff Lawson's New Venture in Sports Cars and Startups

Summary:

Jeff Lawson's Bold Move

A Unique Blend of Passions

The Garage as a Launchpad

What’s Next?

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