UpStart Weekly Rundown - September 23, 2024

AI Trailblazer Fei-Fei Li Unveils $1B Startup with $230M War Chest

Fei-Fei Li, the "Godmother of AI," is back with World Labs, a new startup that’s raised a cool $230 million from tech bigwigs like Andreessen Horowitz. The company, valued at over $1 billion, is working on AI that’ll understand the 3D world better than most people can find their keys. First product? Expected in 2025. Investors are betting big, and Li’s team is out to change how AI interacts with reality. Expect this one to be a game-changer​

Point.me Secures $15M to Fly High in Travel Rewards Space

Travel rewards startup Point.me just landed a $15 million Series B investment, backed by Nyca Partners and Citi Ventures. With 150+ airline partners and 1021% user growth, the platform makes navigating miles and points easier than choosing an in-flight movie. Already partnering with American Express, Point.me is on a mission to simplify travel rewards, so you can finally book that dream trip without needing a PhD in loyalty programs

Era Ventures Raises $88M to Give Real Estate a High-Tech Makeover

Era Ventures is ready to disrupt the stubbornly analog real estate world with its $88M debut fund. Founded by PropTech veteran Clelia Warburg Peters, the firm targets inefficiencies in a $380 trillion industry with startups from AI-driven platforms to robot-powered property management. Backed by top institutional investors and focusing on sectors like fintech and SaaS, Era aims to optimize physical assets and slash energy consumption. Think digital handymen, autonomous buildings, and homes managed entirely online—this VC isn't here to play it safe; they're out to reimagine how we live, build, and interact with our spaces.

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