**Watch Your Health**, a Thane-based healthtech startup, has successfully raised **$5 million in a Series A funding round** led by **Cornerstone Ventures** and **Conquest Global**. This funding will allow the company to **expand its operations, grow its user base**, and **enhance its technological infrastructure**. Founded in 2015, Watch Your Health focuses on the **business-to-business (B2B) space**, offering **personalized health management solutions** to **insurers and pharmaceutical companies**. The startup leverages **advanced analytics** to deliver recommendations on **diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes**, aiming to **improve customer experience and engagement**.  Watch Your Health's approach also includes **electronic behaviour records, mental health support**, and **predictive analytics for disease prevention**. **Cornerstone Ventures** highlights the platform's ability to **improve persistence with intelligent algorithms, leading to lower claims for insurance companies**, making it a **value-share driven business model**. 

Thane-based healthtech startup Watch Your Health has raised $5 million in a Series A funding round led by Cornerstone Ventures from India and Conquest Global from Singapore. 

Healthtech Startup Watch Your Health Secures $5 Million for Personalized Healthcare Solutions

### Eleven Labs: The AI Startup Captivating Investors

**Eleven Labs**, a startup specializing in **AI tools for audio applications**, is experiencing a surge of interest from both existing and new investors for its upcoming funding round, which could value the company at an impressive **$3 billion**. According to sources from TechCrunch, investors are eager to get involved in this rapidly growing company.

### Rapid Growth in Revenue

The two-year-old company has made significant strides, particularly in generating **synthetic voices** for **audiobook narrations** and **real-time video dubbing** into various languages. A source within a venture capital firm indicated that their firm is prepared to offer up to a **$3 billion valuation** to secure a spot in the next funding round, with a deal expected in the coming weeks.

### Impressive Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

Recent reports suggest that Eleven Labs has seen its **annualized recurring revenue (ARR)** skyrocket from **$25 million** at the end of last year to approximately **$80 million** recently. This rapid growth positions Eleven Labs among the fastest-growing startups in the AI sector. If the revenue figures hold true, this could mean a valuation of around **38 times the latest ARR**, a multiple slightly lower than other enterprise-focused companies but indicative of the startup's strong market position.

### Market Position and Competition

The potential funding round would **triple Eleven Labs’ valuation** from its Series B round earlier this year, which was co-led by notable investors like **Andreessen Horowitz**. The company has already raised **$100 million** in previous rounds, and this would mark its third funding round in just over a year.

Despite competition from giants like **Google** and **OpenAI**, which have introduced their own voice models, Eleven Labs stands out as it offers the unique capability to **clone human speech**, a feature that competitors currently lack. Other players in the **synthetic voice generation** market include **Murf**, **Tavus**, **Resemble AI**, **Respeecher**, and **Lovo**.

### Conclusion

As discussions with investors continue, the future looks promising for Eleven Labs, with a significant valuation increase on the horizon. Investors are keenly watching this space, eager to capitalize on the growing demand for AI-driven audio solutions.

ElevenLabs, a startup that makes AI tools for audio applications, is being approached by existing and new investors about a new round, which could value

Investors Rush to Back Eleven Labs as Valuation Soars Toward $3 Billion

### A Transformative Journey

Emily Hikade, the founder and CEO of **Petite Plume**, a luxury sleepwear brand, always aspired to make a difference. Growing up in Central Wisconsin, her curiosity about the world propelled her to learn languages and take bold steps like participating in a summer exchange program in France.

![Emily Hikade](https://assets.entrepreneur.com/images/misc/1727986001_EmilyHikade.png?width=1000)
*Image Credit: Courtesy of Petite Plume. Emily Hikade.*

### Career Path

Hikade's journey led her to the **University of Notre Dame**, and then to the White House, where she passed the foreign service exam and worked at the State Department. However, her career took a thrilling turn when she joined the **CIA**, specializing in counterterrorism while adding Russian and Arabic to her linguistic skills.

### A Life-Changing Event

During her time at the CIA, a **near-death experience** on a flight changed everything for her. As the plane spun out of control, she thought of her children and felt a profound sadness at the thought of leaving them without a mother. This pivotal moment ignited a desire to explore new possibilities.

### The Birth of Petite Plume

Inspired by classic pajama sets she saw in France, Hikade saw an opportunity in the U.S. market, where such styles were scarce. While stationed in East Africa, she decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship by creating her own line of pajamas. With a calculated risk, she aimed to create a business that would provide for her family.

### Navigating Challenges

Starting **Petite Plume** was not without its challenges. Hikade aimed to produce pajamas from **100% organic cotton**, which led to navigating strict safety regulations. By blending cotton with inherently flame-retardant fibers, she successfully passed all regulations without harmful chemicals.

### Launch and Growth

Launched in **2015**, Petite Plume operated on a tight budget but achieved profitability from the start. Today, the company has become a lifestyle brand with **eight-figure annual revenue**, selling products in nearly 500 stores nationwide, including **Saks Fifth Avenue** and **Nordstrom**. Their e-commerce business has seen a **70% year-over-year growth**.

![Petite Plume Pajamas](https://assets.entrepreneur.com/images/misc/1727986276_PetitePlumeAW241.jpg?width=1000)
*Image Credit: Courtesy of Petite Plume*

### Building a Company with Values

Beyond profits, Hikade is dedicated to creating a workplace that values flexibility and support for parents, offering benefits like **parental leave**, healthcare, and profit sharing. She emphasizes the importance of starting a business without waiting for the perfect moment, stating, "**Carpe diem**."

### Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Hikade's journey illustrates that **there's never a perfect time to start a company**. Her simple advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to take the leap and embrace the journey, regardless of the timing.

---

Former CIA officer Emily Hikade started her pajama business Petite Plume after a near-death experience. Learn more about her entrepreneurial journey, here.

From Near-Death to Eight Figures: How Emily Hikade Built a Pajama Empire

### Adam Neumann's Latest Startup: Workflow

**Adam Neumann**, the founder of WeWork, is launching a new coworking venture called **Workflow**. This initiative marks a significant shift from his previous business strategies at WeWork, aiming to create a more sustainable model in the flexible office space industry.

#### A Different Business Strategy
According to **Bloomberg**, Workflow will operate under **Flow**, a residential real estate company that Neumann founded in 2022. Unlike WeWork's long-term leasing model, Workflow intends to lease office space in residential buildings already owned by Flow, alleviating some of the financial pressures that plagued WeWork.

Neumann emphasized the importance of **community-building**, stating, "The lack of community and the disconnection that people feel is even more relevant today". Flow's mission focuses on **"oneness"** and **connection**, aiming to foster a sense of belonging among its users.

![Co-working space at Flow's Las Olas residential tower](https://i.insider.com/6570de8558e7c0c29a2a6790)

#### Workflow's Innovative Approach
Workflow plans to cater to both Flow residents and external companies, with a strategy designed to avoid the pitfalls of WeWork's past. This includes managing partnerships with landlords rather than locking into long-term leases. As of now, Flow has a presence in **Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta**, and is expanding into **Riyadh, Saudi Arabia**.

![The pool at Flow's Fort Lauderdale high-rise](https://i.insider.com/6570d0500ec98e92f74cda83)

#### Lessons Learned
Reflecting on his past experiences, Neumann expressed a commitment to a more disciplined approach in his new venture, stating that he has learned to **"slow down"** and **"listen"** to feedback. He is working with investors Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen to ensure this new business remains grounded and focused.

![Adam Neumann at TechCrunch Disrupt NY in 2017](https://i.insider.com/66fed97f3f2165d716de3449)

Neumann concluded that this time around, the emphasis will be on learning and adapting, taking a measured approach to growth and development.

Adam Neumann's residential real estate startup Flow is getting into the shared coworking business, Bloomberg reports.

Adam Neumann's New Venture: Workflow - A Fresh Take on Coworking Spaces

YouTube's **top creator**, **MrBeast**, has made waves by acquiring **Vouch**, a startup designed to assist creators in **hiring** and **job postings**.

### What is Vouch?
Founded by former **Cameo** employee **Marty Pesis**, Vouch helps creators build their own hiring sites and post job openings, similar to **LinkedIn**. Creators can view applicants' profiles and communicate directly within the app.

### Innovative Features
Vouch utilizes **AI** for job matching and offers:
- An **AI-powered recommendation engine** to connect candidates with creators.
- Tools for creators to launch **custom-targeted job posts**.
- Careers pages and job boards for showcasing teams.

### The Creator Economy
Vouch is part of a burgeoning creator economy that Goldman Sachs estimates could reach **$480 billion by 2027**. Other competitor platforms include **YTjobs** and **CreatorEconomyJobs**.

### MrBeast's Vision
With **318 million subscribers**, MrBeast, whose real name is **Jimmy Donaldson**, aims to enhance his internal hiring processes using Vouch. His team includes numerous creators like **Yes Theory**, **Jesser**, and **Danny Duncan**, who have also utilized Vouch for job openings.

### Insights from the Founder
Marty Pesis emphasizes that creators today are akin to traditional businesses. He advocates for creators to have operational staff to streamline their hiring initiatives. Pesis, who has experience scaling marketing efforts at Cameo, recognizes the challenges creators face in finding talent, especially for roles that demand diverse skills, such as video editing.

### Backing and Future Plans
Vouch has secured funding from prominent investors like **Seven Seven Six** and **Liquid 2 Ventures**. The acquisition amount remains undisclosed, but it marks a significant step in **transforming the hiring landscape** for creators.

MrBeast's acquisition of Vouch not only expands his empire, projected to generate **$700 million** annually, but also positions him at the forefront of the evolving creator economy.

YouTube's top creator, MrBeast, has acquired a startup called Vouch, which helps creators with hiring and job postings.

MrBeast's Bold Move: Acquiring Vouch to Revolutionize Creator Hiring!

### Character.ai's Strategic Shift

**Character.ai**, a leading player in the AI industry, has made a significant decision to **abandon the development of its own AI models** following a **$2.7 billion deal with Google**. This move marks a pivotal moment in the AI sector, highlighting the growing trend of consolidation and partnerships among tech giants.

### The Implications of the Deal

The decision to halt its model development raises questions about the future direction of **Character.ai** and its role within the larger ecosystem of AI technologies. With Google's vast resources and expertise, this partnership is expected to enhance the capabilities of **Character.ai's** offerings, potentially leading to more advanced applications of AI.

![AI Technology](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https://barrier-page-components.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/assets/icons/primary_product_icon_trial.svg?source=next-barrier-page&format=svg)

### What This Means for Startups

This development serves as a **warning and an opportunity** for startups in the AI space. As larger companies like Google continue to acquire and integrate smaller firms, startups need to **innovate and differentiate** themselves to survive in this competitive market.

### The Bigger Picture

As the AI landscape evolves, **collaboration** and **strategic partnerships** will become increasingly important. Companies must consider how they can leverage such partnerships to enhance their products and services while maintaining their **unique value propositions**. 

Stay tuned as we explore more about how this deal will impact the future of AI and startups alike.

Accessibility helpSkip to navigationSkip to contentSkip to footer

Why Character.ai's $2.7 Billion Google Deal Changes the AI Landscape Forever

## Toyota's Major Investment in Joby Aviation

**Toyota** is taking a significant step in the **air taxi industry** by investing another **$500 million** in **Joby Aviation**. This funding aims to facilitate the **certification** and **commercial production** of **electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)** aircraft designed for a ride-hailing service. With this latest investment, Toyota's total contribution to Joby since **2018** has reached **$894 million**.

### Investment Structure

The investment will be executed in **two tranches** of **$250 million** each. The first tranche is set to be completed this year, while the second will follow in **2025**. In addition, Toyota plans to form a **manufacturing alliance** with Joby for the initial phase of commercialization, following an agreement that allows Toyota to produce **powertrain components** for Joby’s air taxi.

### About Joby Aviation

Founded in **2009** by **JoeBen Bevirt**, **Joby Aviation** has been quietly making strides in the aviation sector. The company gained significant attention in **2018** after securing a **$100 million** investment round that included backing from major players like **Intel**, **Toyota**, and **JetBlue**. This funding enabled Joby to develop a prototype and conduct **test flights** at a private airfield in Northern California, which impressed Toyota enough to send its engineers to collaborate closely with Joby.

### Innovative Aircraft Features

Joby’s **all-electric aircraft** features **six rotors** and can accommodate up to **five passengers**, including the pilot. The design allows it to take off vertically, similar to a helicopter, before transitioning into forward flight using **tilt rotors**. The aircraft boasts a **top speed of 200 mph**, a range of **150 miles** on a single charge, and is touted as being **100 times quieter** than conventional aircraft.

### Future Plans

Recently, Joby conducted **exhibition flights** in **Manhattan** and is set to begin commercial passenger flights in major cities including **New York City** and **Los Angeles** by **2025**.

Toyota is buying stock in Joby Aviation to help get certification and manufacturing started for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.

Toyota Invests $500 Million in Joby Aviation: The Future of Air Taxis

### Understanding Startup Scaling

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, **success** hinges on knowing when to seize the opportunity to expand and when to bide your time. The debate continues: does the **“fast and furious”** or **“slow and steady”** approach to scaling reign supreme in the race to startup success?

### Key Findings from Recent Research

A recent study involving over **32,000 startups** has shed light on this pressing issue. The findings reveal that scaling too early—particularly within the **first 12 months**—can significantly increase the risk of startup failure, especially for **two-sided platforms**. 

### The Cautionary Tale for Entrepreneurs

- **Be cautious** with early scaling.
- Prioritize a **culture of experimentation** over rapid expansion.
- A **“slow-and-steady”** approach may pave the way for a more sustainable path to long-term success.

![Startup Scaling](https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2024/10/Oct24_02_72983516.jpg)

### Conclusion

The research underscores the importance of timing in scaling efforts. Entrepreneurs should take heed of these insights to avoid common pitfalls associated with premature scaling. A thoughtful, deliberate approach to growth could be the key to thriving in a competitive landscape.

Silicon Valley often touts rapid scaling as the best strategy for achieving startup success. However, new research reveals that scaling early, particularly within the first 12 months, significantly raises the risk of startup failure, especially for two-sided platforms. The key takeaway for entrepreneurs: Be cautious with early scaling and prioritize a culture of experimentation. Taking a “slow-and-steady” approach to scaling may provide a more sustainable path to long-term success.

Healthtech Startup Watch Your Health Secures $5 Million for Personalized Healthcare Solutions

Summary:

Comments

Other Latest News

Investors Rush to Back Eleven Labs as Valuation Soars Toward $3 Billion

From Near-Death to Eight Figures: How Emily Hikade Built a Pajama Empire

Adam Neumann's New Venture: Workflow - A Fresh Take on Coworking Spaces

MrBeast's Bold Move: Acquiring Vouch to Revolutionize Creator Hiring!

Why Character.ai's $2.7 Billion Google Deal Changes the AI Landscape Forever

Toyota Invests $500 Million in Joby Aviation: The Future of Air Taxis

The Surprising Truth About Startup Scaling: Why Slower is Smarter

Other Latest News

Investors Rush to Back Eleven Labs as Valuation Soars Toward $3 Billion

From Near-Death to Eight Figures: How Emily Hikade Built a Pajama Empire

Adam Neumann's New Venture: Workflow - A Fresh Take on Coworking Spaces

MrBeast's Bold Move: Acquiring Vouch to Revolutionize Creator Hiring!

Why Character.ai's $2.7 Billion Google Deal Changes the AI Landscape Forever

Toyota Invests $500 Million in Joby Aviation: The Future of Air Taxis

The Surprising Truth About Startup Scaling: Why Slower is Smarter