Battle of the programming languages: Kotlin vs Java in the wake of AI

Kotlin in action 40% off TNW Conference! This year, the tech giant deemed it the technology of choice to share business logic across multiple platforms. Kotlin has quickly gained popularity for its concise syntax, expressive language features, and seamless interoperability with Java. So could Kotlin ever feasibly replace the likes of Java? Kotlin is on the rise today, and we see even more opportunities for it to grow. Kotlin is the number two language in the JVM ecosystem and is growing in popularity among Spring developers....

September 24, 2024 · 1 min · 99 words · Heather Kelly

London, Paris, Amsterdam are the leading VC ecosystems in Europe, report finds

Thats according to the latestreportby PitchBook analysts, who ranked globalVCecosystems based on their development and growth level. 40% off TNW Conference! These include lower valuations, smaller rounds, and lower exit value, especially compared to the US. One reason could be the infancy of the VC ecosystem in Europe compared to the rest of the world. Another factor could be that Europe is more fragmented with smaller ecosystems spread across the continent....

September 24, 2024 · 1 min · 124 words · Alexandra Woods MD

3 ESG myths VCs and startups need to snap out of quickly

These are often perpetuated, shared, and fed byinvestors and can be detrimental when digested by up-and-coming companies. In these challenging economic times, it may be tempting to deprioritise areas like ESG. So, let the debunking begin. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. The most common objection we hear is that focusing only on impact investments limits investment opportunities and subsequent returns. Raising ESG issues, discussing them, and educating entrepreneurs will encourage and empower businesses....

September 23, 2024 · 1 min · 117 words · John Benson

Milan startup opens world-first production facility for glass-based quantum photonic chips

Photonic chips use photons (simplified, these are tiny light particles) to carry and process information. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. By computing on the same substrate that light travels through, we minimise signal loss. Signal loss represents a major challenge in buildingquantum computers. Quantum information, such as that encoded in photons, cannot be copied, Rocchetto said. Therefore, whenever a signal is lost at a too high rate it will make the quantum computer inoperable....

September 23, 2024 · 2 min · 223 words · Jose Briggs

UK biotech startup raises $100M for next-gen vaccines for respiratory viruses

Vicebio aims to deliver vaccines that are highly effective, easy to manufacture, and ready-to-use in prefilled syringes. The key to achieving this result lies in using a novel approach called molecular clamp technology. It is licensed exclusively to Vicebio through Uniquest, the universitys commercialisation arm. This effect can stimulate a stronger immune response. It could also initiate the startup to simplify the manufacturing process, potentially making its vaccines more cost-effective....

September 23, 2024 · 1 min · 148 words · Joseph Phillips

‘World’s first’ fully autonomous underwater robot is piloted by AI

The mini-sub can performcomplex underwater tasks with no human intervention whatsoever. However, a remote operator can take over if required. The underwaterdroneis equipped with so-called edge AI. The algorithm has learnt to spot issues like erosion or other issues similar to how a human can. The UK has about14.7GW of installed offshore wind capacity, which is producing 16% of the countrys electricity. However, policymakers are targeting 50GW by 2030. Those offshore wind turbines, battered by waves and corrosion, will require a lot of maintenance....

September 23, 2024 · 1 min · 134 words · Nicholas Richardson

BMW-backed DeepDrive raises €30M to industrialise ultra-efficient EV motor

It also has low noise emissions, and is built using far fewer rare earth materials. DeepDrive is currently co-developing its electric motors witheight of the worlds 10 largest automakers. The company has raised just shy of 50mn to date. 40% off TNW Conference! Last year, the share of BEV sales for some carmakers stagnated or even decreased. European carmakers havestruggled to competewith cheaper models from China. Story bySion Geschwindt Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy....

September 20, 2024 · 1 min · 85 words · David Kim

Future Tech Ventures launches with €20M fund for startups in Northern Netherlands

FTV debuted with a 20mn fund that will support at least 50 high-tech startups in the proof-of-concept phase. The investment period is set between 2024 and 2029. For this reason, theVCfirm is also offering business support, networking opportunities, and guidance. In 2023, they attracted85%of the total Dutch VC investment. But efforts to strengthen the startup hubs across the entire country are increasing. Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou Ioanna is a writer at TNW....

September 20, 2024 · 1 min · 89 words · Thomas Rodriguez

AI doesn’t hallucinate — why attributing human traits to tech is users’ biggest pitfall

The airline tried to claim the bot was responsible for its own actions. Its clear companies are liable for AI models, even when they make mistakes beyond our control. Luckily, its not a very widespread problem. It only happens between 2% to maybe 10% of the time at the high end. But still, it can be very dangerous in abusinessenvironment. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. But most AI experts dislike this term....

September 19, 2024 · 2 min · 351 words · Stephanie Mckinney

NATO’s first quantum tech investment goes to Southampton startup

The recipient is Southampton University spinout Aquark Technologies, which has developed a uniquequantumsensing technology. Doing away with the cumbersome magnetic traps Aquark calls itself a miniaturisation company. It specialises in micro-fabrication and vacuum technology. 40% off TNW Conference! This translates to systems that are smaller, lighter, cheaper, and more energy-efficient than existing ones. They are also more robust, and can be used in difficult terrain including in the air and underwater....

September 19, 2024 · 1 min · 141 words · Bobby Young

Swiss startup bets on photonic chips to cut data centre energy consumption

Amid the AI boom, data centres areconsuming alarming amountsof electricity. Theyre also responsible for1%of global energy-related emissions. By 2030, their power demand could increase by160%. Switzerland-based Lightium aims to provide a solution. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Thats compared to the current maximum rate of 800Gb/s. This translates into reduced operational costs and significant energy savings, he added. This makes Lightium the first company to design and manufacture TFLN-based photonic chips at an industrial scale....

September 19, 2024 · 1 min · 136 words · Pamela Green

Algorithm startup QMill vows to become ‘first to provide quantum advantage’

Espoo outside of Helsinki is turning into quite the quantum hub. The citys latest addition to the Finnish quantum computing ecosystem is QMill. We are the ones who will be the first to provide them with that. Hitting this milestone will also unlock tremendous value across a number of industries. 40% off TNW Conference! These machines are prone to errors, especially when attempting to scale and control a larger number of qubits....

September 18, 2024 · 1 min · 147 words · Richard Jefferson

DeepL launches ‘industry-first’ AI glossary generator for business translations

Today, thestartupunveiled an industry-first AI-powered glossary generator for businesses. The new tool works as a supplement of DeepLs Glossary feature, first launched in 2020. These difficulties range from internal communication between employees and external communication with customers to the accuracy of documents. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. TheAIglossary generator aims to further simplify these processes. The main gaps that the glossary generator addresses are around speed and effort, said Parry-Jones....

September 18, 2024 · 1 min · 177 words · Jordan Simpson