Palona AI

100 AI Startups To Watch ?? We've spent the last few weeks exploring the latest AI startups to watch who have ?? ?? Launched in the last 12 months ?? Raised a minimum of $1M So far, the 100 companies featured have raised over $3.7 billion! A single-employee unicorn company is just around the corner. One of these companies might just be it. The 100 AI startups to watch include ?? Nscale: AI GPU cloud platform providing scalable computing, AI-ready data centers, and GPU infrastructure for the generative AI market. Arcfra: IT innovator simplifying on-premises enterprise cloud infrastructure with a full-stack, software-defined platform. Collate: AI-powered documentation platform for drug development, medical device, and diagnostic companies. Nurix: Generative AI startup enhancing enterprise workflows and customer interactions with AI-powered automation. Edera: Cybersecurity company specializing in strong workload isolation for Kubernetes and AI environments. EchoTwin AI: AI and digital twin company transforming automated compliance monitoring for smart cities. talkingly ai: Generative AI company making the web conversational with advanced AI technology. Holiday Robotics: Robotics company developing humanoid robots with sophisticated robotic hands. Convergence Labs: Research-driven organization focused on building a future of abundance for humanity. Cybirb: Blockchain security pioneer leveraging AI to protect and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts. Palona AI: AI company boosting D2C growth with artificial intelligence solutions. EAROS: Decentralized AI and blockchain platform fostering a secure and collaborative digital ecosystem. graph8: AI-driven platform providing data intelligence, sales acceleration, and conversational AI tools. Be Rational.: AI-powered platform enhancing student learning, personal growth, and anonymous self-expression. thyris.AI: AI research company democratizing AI by reducing infrastructure needs. Backline AI: AI agents deploying trustworthy code and configuration changes at scale. Jota: AI-driven financial management platform for entrepreneurs and business owners. freightmate Ai: AI-powered software automating freight forwarding tasks with zero-touch document workflows. Avitia: AI-driven molecular testing solutions improving cancer diagnostics and treatment. Adfin: AI-powered payments platform streamlining business transactions and credit control. Intryc (YC S24): AI company automating customer support ticket evaluations at scale. Sandgarden: Modular AI platform for prototyping, iterating, and deploying AI applications. Discover the 100 AI startups to watch now ?? https://lnkd.in/ePR8__Dz

ChatGPT hit 100 million users in just 2 months. Less than 2 years later, it has 400 million users. It took over 10 years for Apple to surpass 400 million iPhones sold. The internet itself took 20 years to reach 400 million users. The trajectory of consumer technology adoption has never been faster. The first wave—the internet and mobile internet—transformed how we connect, communicate, and consume. Now, in the second wave, AI is accelerating at an unprecedented pace: For D2C businesses, this acceleration in AI adoption presents both challenges and opportunities: ?? Survive or Thrive: Embracing AI is no longer optional; it's essential for staying competitive. ?? Social and Conversational Engagement: The numbers speak for themselves. Customers are now used to conversational GenAI interactions instead of traditional Google search engines. ?? Individualized Experiences: Moving beyond personalization, AI provides truly individualized experiences, tailoring interactions to each customer's unique preferences.

I’m honored to share that I was named one of the Top Executive 100 Women in Tech in 2025. International Women’s Day makes me reflect on my own path—from leading AI teams at Meta and Google to building Palona.ai. Being a woman in tech and leadership hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve learned to own my voice, trust my instincts, and lift others along the way. Today, I celebrate the women who inspire, challenge, and support each other. The future is brighter when we build it together. https://lnkd.in/dpCCcVh2.

New Ways of Shopping in the Evolving Retail Landscape Retails Second Shift: Social and Conversational Commerce Emma Wang “In the first wave, some thrived, some survived. The second one is coming — are you ready?” Here’s a quick recap: Retailers experienced the first wave of change when e-commerce arrived. As AI transforms the market, customer trends are changing yet again. Is your business prepared to ride the second wave? From ChatGPT and Gemini, AI is rapidly redefining customer expectations for their shopping experience — from reactive to proactive, from personalized to individualized. Proactive engagement. Instead of chatbots or human customer service agents simply waiting for customer questions, AI agents can anticipate customers’ needs and engage customers directly.? Individualization Beyond basic personalization (like cookies and targeted ads), AI enables hyper-personalization. For the first time, customers can receive tailored product recommendations from a massive inventory, bringing a VIP shopping experience to everyone. The rise of social commerce is another game-changer. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are now where product discovery happens. Retailers must meet customers where they are most comfortable—on these social platforms. While hiring human social media managers is a common solution, they can’t be online 24/7 to answer DMs. This is where AI agents step in, offering a scalable, always-on solution to keep your brand competitive. The e-commerce wave taught us the importance of centering customer needs. Now, it’s time to put your customers first again by embracing AI. It was an incredible opportunity to share ideas and connect with industry leaders shaping the future of commerce. Huge thanks to the organizers and everyone who attended! What’s your business’ plan to adopt AI and stay competitive in 2025?

AI Agents are the big industry buzzword of 2025. But here’s the thing: they’re not here to replace human relationships—they’re here to help us build deeper connections. As someone who has focused on human-centric software throughout my career, AI agents, like all tech innovation, should push human interactions for the better. I was inspired by VentureBeat’s Executive AI Editor, Carl Franzen's take on Palona’s strategy to elevate customer-brand connection: “As AI continues to shape the future of commerce, Palona’s approach proves that customer relationships don’t have to be sacrificed for automation. Instead, AI can enhance personalization, drive conversions, and build lasting brand loyalty.” Check out Carl’s full review here: https://lnkd.in/gc5zbVNh Carl Franzen