Gaingels

Here's your recap in all recent AI news. I collect this information and share it with my followers, so you don't have to. If you find this useful, follow and share with your network. ?? == 1- Microsoft announced "Muse," an AI model for video games developed with Ninja Theory. Trained on 500,000 gameplay sessions, it creates complex gameplay sequences and scenarios. https://lnkd.in/gjwYvbgA 2- Deutsche Telekom announced an "AI Phone" partnership with Perplexity at MWC 2025, featuring Perplexity Assistant accessible from the lock screen. The device integrates Google Cloud AI, ElevenLabs, and Picsart. Priced under $1,000 and launching this year, it represents one of the first carrier-led AI smartphone initiatives. https://lnkd.in/gdetFA2Y 3- Amazon unveils new Echo Spot with Alexa Plus, an AI upgrade costing $19.99/month. The 2025 model features enhanced smart home controls, improved sound, and generative AI. 4- Alibaba releases WAN 2.1, an open-source text-to-video AI model challenging OpenAI's Sora. It offers four variants including T2V-14B and T2V-1.3B for creating realistic videos from text. https://lnkd.in/gYgSCvzx 5- Meta unveils Aria Gen 2, AI research glasses with upgraded sensors, on-device processing, and all-day battery. Features include heart rate monitoring and accessibility tools. https://lnkd.in/g8siM3gt 6- Hume AI launches Octave, the first LLM for text-to-speech that understands content rather than just reading words. It generates custom AI voices with adjustable emotions for more natural speech. https://lnkd.in/guCm7iJf 7- OpenAI released GPT-4.5 (Orion), their largest model to date. While marketed for improved conversation and emotional intelligence, benchmarks show mixed results - better on coding but not math or science. https://lnkd.in/gyXjq3J8 8- Anthropic's Claude 3.7 Sonnet dominates coding with 70.3% accuracy on SWE-bench tests, far outpacing OpenAI (~49%). Their new Claude Code lets devs request features in plain English, threatening AI coding startups. 9- Anthropic raised $3.5 billion at a $61.5 billion valuation in a Series E round led by Lightspeed. Investors include Cisco, Salesforce, Bessemer, and D1 Capital. https://lnkd.in/gzUwJVdD 10- OpenAI launches NextGenAI, a consortium of 15 research institutions to accelerate research and transform education. The initiative includes $50M in grants, compute funding, and API access for students and researchers. https://lnkd.in/gKpNG7js

???????????? ???????????? $?????? ?????????????? ???? ?????????????? Epirus is a defense technology startup pioneering long-pulse high-power microwave technology to revolutionize electronic warfare. By integrating artificial intelligence and advanced electronics, the company develops software-defined, scalable defenses capable of neutralizing drone swarms, cyber-electronic attacks, and radar-jamming threats with unmatched precision. Unlike traditional kinetic systems, Epirus’ solutions deliver cost-effective, adaptive protection while minimizing collateral damage. With its AI-driven approach, Epirus is shaping the future of directed energy warfare for modern defense and security challenges. Epirus has raised $250 million in a Series D funding round led by 8VC?and Washington Harbour Partners LP with participation from StepStone Group, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Gaingels, and others. Epirus was previously valued at $1.35 billion for its $200 million Series C in 2022. Epirus, Torrance, California, United States, was founded in 2018 by Bo Marr, PhD, Grant L. Verstandig, Joe Lonsdale, John T., Max Mednik, and Nathan M. In 2022, the company joined the unicorn club. Epirus operates in the defense, cybersecurity, and commercial markets, providing advanced high-power microwave (HPM) technology for electronic warfare, critical infrastructure protection, and counter-drone applications across military and civilian sectors. “With our capital and talent and the right partnerships with US DoD to continue to advance Epirus’ technology, it will quickly become critical for defending aircraft, ships and even satellites and space-based platforms—and determinative for the future of warfare,” said Epirus founder and 8VC managing partner Joe Lonsdale.

Big news from our portfolio Company Epirus! ?? We're proud to be part of this journey as these new funds drive global expansion, workforce growth, and the launch of a cutting-edge simulation center in Oklahoma to train soldiers #Epirus is redefining the future of national security—read more about their latest milestone below! ?? https://lnkd.in/eAttWdAD

This week, we are thrilled to welcome University of Wisconsin-Madison alum Brian Lucksinger as he shares insights from his career journey, from starting in the Macy’s Executive Development Program and now serving as Director of Community and Special Projects at Gaingels Inc.

?? Job Seekers ?? sharing what I think is one the BEST jobs boards out there via my friends at Gaingels. I have been an angel investor with this team since way back when and it is so inspiring to see how they consistently put resources behind helping the community as they grow. The board has grown from a few jobs to over 12k jobs listed from 2k Companies. Hope this is helpful and sending all job seekers light and confidence as you navigate forward. Remember, no matter what they say, you can always go inward, take 10 breaths and tap into your gifts, essence and badassery. Because in the end: The Hero Lies in WHO??? You! - WHO SANG IT?! #supergaypost #coach #jobs #careers #divasoflinkedin #lambily #angelinvestor

Gaingels founded in 2014, is a venture syndicate dedicated to investing in diverse and underrepresented leadership, including the LGBT+ community. The firm has invested over $850 million in 2,000+ companies. Notable unicorns in Gaingels’ portfolio include: ? Databricks – A data and AI analytics platform. ? MasterClass – An online education platform featuring expert-led courses. ? Bowery Farming – A vertical farming company producing pesticide-free produce. Featured investment: Mimio Health

Looking for a new career opportunity? Our Jobs Board features 11,900+ open roles across 2,182 of our portfolio companies! ?? This includes... 46 open roles at Lime 21 open roles at Epirus 456 open roles at Epic Games 29 open roles at Salted 5 open roles at Kickstarter ?Explore the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eSJxqe2A ?? Share and engage with this post to help someone find their next career opportunity! #OpenToWork #NowHiring #TechJobs #JobSearch #JobBoard #JobSearch ?????

Big news from our portfolio company, Turing! Turing, a key coding provider powering OpenAI and other LLM producers, just raised $111M at a $2.2B valuation! This is a huge milestone, reinforcing their role at the forefront of AI development. As the demand for high-quality, scalable engineering solutions grows, Turing continues to set the standard for how top AI companies build and deploy their models. Proud to see Gaingels’ portfolio companies driving the future of AI. Congrats to Jonathan Siddharth and the entire Turing team on this incredible achievement!

There is something so empowering about watching communities come together with such collective effervescence. Last week on February 25th we hosted "Women Love Money", we packed The Ned & Ned's Club's Club in New York with some of the best female entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders—women ready to take charge of their wealth and invest in themselves. A big thank you to the Gaingels community and our co-hosts The Ned & Ned's Club, Divine Feminine Leader, and Stefans Law Group PC. We kicked things off with a grounding meditation and money mindset session that got everyone thinking differently about their relationship with wealth. Then, our powerhouse panel featuring our CEO Jennifer Jeronimo(Gaingels), Katya Stepanov (Divine Feminine Leader), Donna M. Stefans, Esq., AIF (Stefans Law Group PC), Rachel Liverman (Glowbar), and Carrie Montgomery (Carrie Montgomery LLC) kept it real with candid conversations about financial independence, investing with purpose, and building wealth in a way that aligns with our values. But honestly? The real magic was in the room. The energy, the connections, and the conversations were magnetic. Women showed up, shared their stories, and left feeling more empowered and aligned with their financial goals. If this event was any indication, the future of women and wealth is looking very bright. Huge thanks to everyone (especially Tyshaia Earnest who worked very hard on making sure this all came to life) who came and made this night unforgettable. Let’s keep building, investing, and supporting each other—because when women love money, we all win. To join our community find out more at Gaingels.com/join :)

Gaingels 100?is all about celebrating?venture-backed LGBTQIA+ founders?who are building incredible companies—and?Rémi Martini?is doing just that with SARELLY SARELLY. Rémi Martini didn’t just start a brand—he’s leading a?#fashion revolution. With?SARELLY SARELLY, he’s proving that?affordable luxury can be inclusive,?creating a space where?Hispanic Gen-Z?sees themselves reflected in genderless bags, accessories, and cosmetics. His big vision??To build the next global luxury empire—#Latin-founded and Mexico-based. Want to learn more about this founder's journey??? Read the full story here:https://lnkd.in/eN6x9kxM #Gaingels100 #LGBTQIAEntrepreneurs #GenZ #Luxury #Stories