Happy Thursday everyone!

Welcome to AI Weekly Digest #49 📬 Your essential AI briefing, carefully curated by me, Rubén Colomer, AI Specialist and GP at Next Tier Ventures.
Stay ahead of the curve with the latest AI breakthroughs, key funding news, innovative tools, thought-provoking reads, and the best AI job opportunities – it’s all here!

If you want to stay updated on all things related to artificial intelligence, and receive it conveniently in your email, subscribe here.

Help Us Improve AI Weekly Digest!
We value your opinion and want to make this newsletter even better for you. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey: Click here to share your thoughts.

Thank you for helping us deliver the content you love!

News 🗞️📰

• AI Agents Want to Shop for You. Are You Ready?. Tech giants like Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google are racing to build AI agents that handle your online shopping—finding products, navigating websites, and even checking out. Perplexity’s new agent offers a glimpse into the future but struggles with slow processing and stock issues. As these tools evolve, they could disrupt online retail while raising privacy concerns and challenging retailers’ business models.
• Claude Can Mimic Your Writing Style. Anthropic’s Claude AI introduces custom styles, enabling users to personalize responses or choose from presets like Formal, Concise, or Explanatory. By uploading sample content, users can train Claude to match their unique communication style, making it ideal for tasks like professional emails or technical documents. Competing with features from OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, this update enhances the flexibility and natural feel of AI-generated text.
• ElevenLabs Launches Tool for Creating Conversational AI Agents. ElevenLabs introduces a platform for building voice-enabled AI agents with ultra-low latency, advanced turn-taking, and seamless integration with top LLMs like GPT and Gemini. The tool supports 31 languages and diverse use cases, from customer support to gaming and education.
• Tencent Launches Open-Source Video Model That Beats Runway. Tencent’s HunyuanVideo, a 13-billion-parameter AI model, redefines text-to-video generation with features like video-to-audio synthesis, advanced avatar control, and unmatched motion quality. Outperforming Runway Gen-3 in professional evaluations, it’s now available on GitHub, promising to disrupt the video AI landscape.
• Salesforce CEO Vision: AI Agents Will Replace Customer Service as We Know It
  Marc Benioff envisions a future where AI agents dominate customer interactions, automating tasks and redefining productivity. With Salesforce’s “Agentforce,” he plans to lead the charge, criticizing competitors like Microsoft for lackluster AI integration. This revolution could permanently transform the way businesses engage with their customers.
• Fei-Fei, the Godmother of AI, Launches System to Turn 2D Images Into Interactive 3D Worlds. World Labs, led by Fei-Fei Li, has unveiled a groundbreaking technology that transforms 2D images into fully interactive 3D environments accessible via web browsers. Users can explore expanded spaces with real-time effects, revolutionizing gaming, film, and virtual experiences. 

   

Funding 💼💸

• Constrafor Secures $264M to Revolutionize Construction Finance. Constrafor, co-founded by CEO Anwar Ghauche and CTO Douglas Reed, has raised $264 million in Series A funding, combining $14M in equity led by NFX and a $250M credit facility supported by Wafra and Crestline Investors. The platform modernizes subcontractor management with tools like AI-driven insurance compliance and accelerated payments via its Early Pay Program, aiming to streamline cash flow and operations in the construction sector.
• 9fin Secures $50M to Enhance AI-Powered Debt Market Analytics. London-based 9fin, founded by Steven Hunter and Huss El-Sheikh, raised $50M in Series B funding led by Highland Europe. The company will expand its AI-driven platform for global debt capital markets, which provides insights on high-yield bonds, leveraged loans, and private credit, among others.
• NetBird Raises €4M for Open-Source Cybersecurity Platform. NetBird, founded by Misha Bragin and Maycon Santos, has secured €4M in Seed funding co-led by InReach Ventures and Nauta, with support from Antler and a German government grant. The Berlin-based startup offers a WireGuard-based “Zero Trust Security” platform for secure, open-source private networking. The funds will drive global expansion, hiring, and product development.
• CoachHub secures €40M for AI-driven digital coaching. CoachHub has secured €40M in growth funding from HSBC Innovation Banking UK to enhance its AI capabilities and expand its digital coaching platform. Founded by Matti Niebelschütz, CoachHub offers scalable, personalized coaching programs through a network of 3,500 certified coaches across 90 countries, supporting sessions in over 80 languages
• Wordware Raises $30M to Simplify AI Development for Non-Engineers. San Francisco-based Wordware, co-founded by Filip Kozera and Robert Chandler, has secured $30 million in seed funding led by Spark Capital and Y Combinator. The platform enables users to create AI agents using natural language, aiming to democratize AI development. With enterprise clients like Instacart and Runway, Wordware positions itself as a game-changer in making AI accessible to domain experts, not just engineers.
• Zurich-Based Kyan Health Raises €15.8M to Revolutionize Workplace Mental Health with AI. Kyan Health, founded by Vlad Gheorghiu, Konstantin Struck, and Ignacio Leonhardt, has secured €15.8M in funding, combining a €3.7M seed round led by Amplo VC and a €12M Series A led by Swisscom Ventures. The startup’s AI-powered platform provides tailored mental health resources for employees, achieving significant engagement and ROI for clients like Hitachi Energy and On.
• Argil Raises €4.9M to Revolutionize AI Video Creation for the Creator Economy
  Paris-based AI startup Argil, co-founded by Laodis Menard and Brivael Chivot, secured €4.9M in pre-seed and seed funding, led by EQT Ventures. Argil’s platform democratizes video production by enabling users to create hyper-realistic AI avatars for multilingual, ready-to-post videos, catering to creators, educators, and businesses. 

   

M&A 💰

• Urbint Acquires Competers to Strengthen AI-Powered Damage Prevention in North America. Urbint, an AI leader in safeguarding workers, infrastructure, and communities, has acquired Competers, a key player in underground infrastructure damage prevention. Founded by Corey Capasso, Urbint enhances safety through AI-driven risk identification, while Shane Hart’s Competers specializes in the Utilocate platform, managing dig tickets and deadlines for utilities and telecoms. This acquisition positions Urbint as the sole provider serving all stakeholders in the damage prevention ecosystem.
• Inflection AI Strengthens Enterprise AI Capabilities with BoostKPI and Jelled.ai Acquisitions. Inflection AI, led by CEO Sean White, has acquired BoostKPI and Jelled.ai to enhance its enterprise-focused AI platform. BoostKPI, co-founded by Sean Maxwell, offers data science chatbots for natural language data analysis, while Jelled.ai, co-founded by Emily Tang and Robert Lane, provides AI-driven email management tools. These acquisitions solidify Inflection AI’s commitment to delivering tailored AI models for business operations.
• SALESmanago Acquires Leadoo to Lead in AI-Powered Customer EngagementSALESmanago, led by CEO Brian Plackis-Cheng and using AI for personalized customer engagement, acquires Leadoo, headed by CEO Fredrik Rönnlund, which employs AI to convert website visitors into leads. This merger aims to create Europe’s top Customer Engagement Platform for mid-market eCommerce growth.

Interesting Reads 💡🤔

• How Close Are We to Human-Level Intelligence in AI?. The rise of models like OpenAI’s o1 has reignited debates around achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). While these systems showcase remarkable advancements in reasoning and planning, experts highlight significant limitations. AGI remains distant, with hurdles like limited adaptability, inefficient data use, and the lack of integrated world models or feedback loops. Researchers argue AGI’s arrival will be gradual, requiring breakthroughs in autonomous decision-making and safety regulation before it truly transforms our world.
• The Commonwealth Bank of Australia Reduces Fraud by 30% and Scam Losses by 50% with Generative AI. Leveraging generative AI, CBA has revolutionized operations, cutting call volumes by 40% and enhancing dispute resolution with AI-powered alerts and messaging. Collaborations with AWS, Anthropic, and NVIDIA fuel these achievements, underpinned by a commitment to ethical AI and sustainability.
• Three Barriers to AI Adoption—and How to Overcome Them. Despite AI’s potential to add trillions in value, many companies struggle to implement it. Common barriers include a lack of clear roadmaps, limited AI expertise, and concerns about trust and security. UiPath suggests overcoming these challenges through tools like process mining, no-code AI solutions, and robust governance layers. Early adopters who address these hurdles are gaining significant advantages in the competitive landscape.
• How to Use AI to Analyze and Summarize Large Documents, Books, and Videos
  Google’s Gemini 1.5 Pro simplifies the daunting task of summarizing extensive documents or multi-hour videos. With a high token limit and Google Drive integration, it delivers concise overviews and allows targeted queries within files. While users should review for potential inaccuracies, Gemini 1.5 Pro is a powerful tool for academia, business, and media professionals to save time and streamline workflows.
• How to Use AI for Accurate Fact-Checking. Advanced language models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini Pro are transforming fact-checking in critical fields like medicine and law. Key techniques include verifying citations for credibility, using structured responses with RegEx to ensure consistent outputs, and breaking data into manageable chunks to improve accuracy. Tools like embeddings, cosine similarity, and BM25 retrieval enhance data processing and verification. These strategies help unlock the full potential of AI for reliable and efficient fact-checking.
• ILIA Index: Measuring AI Progress in Latin America and the Caribbean. The ILIA is an index that provides quantitative and qualitative data on the state of progress of Artificial Intelligence in 19 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. It helps identify achievements, gaps, and opportunities for improvement within AI ecosystems.

Startups / Tools 🧰🛠️

• SmartWriter: An AI-powered tool for creating highly personalized cold emails, automating outreach with tailored copy, and increasing reply rates for sales, marketing, and recruiting campaigns.
• Crono: An all-in-one sales automation platform designed for B2B sales teams, helping find leads, automate workflows, close deals faster, and track performance through advanced analytics.
• Monologue: An AI-powered co-host that helps transform your expertise into engaging, shareable content for all platforms quickly and efficiently.
• Marketing Auditor: Quickly audit Google Ads and Analytics with actionable insights, eliminating manual checklists and spreadsheets. Generate professional, branded reports in minutes to optimize marketing performance.
• Foundry: Create, evaluate, and optimize AI agents for reliable outcomes, blending automation efficiency with human oversight and quality control.

NTV Highlights 🪩🎉

€50 Million AI Startup Fund Launched by GVC Gaesco and Next Tier Ventures
Yesterday, several media outlets announced the launch of our joint venture with GVC Gaesco and the approval of our €50 million fund by the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV). Named Next Tier GVC Gaesco S.C.R.S.A., the fund will target 30–35 B2B AI startups across Europe, the U.S., and Latin America, focusing on transformative AI technologies.

Led by my partner Patricia Pastor and myself, this initiative combines GVC Gaesco’s financial expertise with our extensive experience in tech investments. It’s a significant step in positioning ourselves as leading AI investors in Spain and Latin America, and we couldn’t be more excited to get started!

Next Tier Ventures Heads to Punta Tech Uruguay in January 2025
We’re excited to announce that Next Tier Ventures will be attending Punta Tech Meetup this coming January in Punta del Este, Uruguay. As one of the most anticipated networking events in Latin America, Punta Tech brings together tech leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to foster connections and strengthen the region’s tech ecosystem.

We look forward to engaging with like-minded innovators and exploring new opportunities to collaborate and grow. See you at the Museum of Contemporary Art Atchugarry (MACA) on January 13th!