Tech Nation Relaunch, Michael Acton Smith Interview & AI Startup News ??

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We are thrilled to announce the relaunch of Tech Nation at Birmingham Tech Week on 16 October! Read on for more information about our revamped programmes and support for scaleups across the UK.

Also this week:

• Calm’s Michael Acton Smith shares the six biggest lessons he’s learnt building a mental health unicorn.
• ICYMI: Find out what angel investors look for ?through our exclusive interviews with top UK angels.
• Helsing raises a €209m Series B, Stability AI launches a text-to-music generator, Wayve creates a new self-driving AI model, and more startup news in our?FF Community Wrap!

Introducing: Tech Nation 2.0

Tech Nation is the leading growth platform for UK tech companies, with a mission to unite the UK’s tech community and fight for a better environment for tech startups and founders.

Alongside Tech Nation’s research and insights, we’re bringing back programmes supporting climate tech founders, ethnic minority founders, and the next generation of UK unicorns, plus a nation-wide competition for early-stage startups!

Click here to find out more.

Become an FF Contributor

Want to share your startup stories and insights with the FF community?? We're now accepting applications for op-eds and thought leadership pieces published on Founders Insights . If you have a story to share, get in touch with our Editor, [email protected] .

Michael Acton Smith: 6 Lessons Learnt Building a Mental Health Unicorn

Michael Acton Smith has built Calm into one of the world’s most popular meditation and mindfulness apps, with over 100 million downloads and $2 billion valuation.

In an exclusive interview with Founders Factory, he shares the most important lessons he’s learnt along the way.

Click here to read more.

"AI is Changing Everything About Capital Allocation.”

The Liquidity Group, the world’s largest AI-based asset management, has named Dan Allred as its CEO, North America.

Demand for non-dilutive financing rose 360% globally this past year. Dan Allred, who previously spent over two decades at Silicon Valley Bank, shares his views on the intersection of financial services, AI, and non-dilutive financing solutions.

Click here to read more.

What Do Angel Investors Look For?

Is your product protectable? Does your valuation make sense??

We spoke to leading angel investors?to find out the key factors they look for when deciding whether to invest.?

Click here to read what they said.

Opportunities For Your Business

???? Meet Your Future Workforce

01Founders is hosting its #TalentConnect event onThursday 21 September in London, bringing the future of coding talent together with industry.

75% of 01F students are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, 35% are women, and all are looking for coding apprenticeships, which are fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy. Attendees will meet 01F students and learn how to recruit from their diverse talent pool.

Click here to register and meet your future coding talent.

?? Work at the Future of Law

Founders Law has been named one of the best companies to work for by Great Places to Work UK. The team received an overall Trust Index score of 93% based on employees' feedback, compared with the 54% rating achieved by a typical UK-based company.

Click here to learn more about Founders Law.

FF Community Wrap:

New Launches & Announcements

• Emad Mostaque’s Stability AI launched a text-to-music generator, Stable Audio.
• Steve Brierley’s Riverlane created the world’s most powerful quantum decoder.
• Alex Kendall’s Wayve created a new self-driving AI model that can explain its actions.
• Karim Beguir’s InstaDeep announced the opening of a new AI research hub in Rwanda.
• Julian Hearn’s Huel partnered with Clearly Drinks to create the new Daily A-Z Vitamin drink.
• Markus Pflitsch’s Terra Quantum partnered with HSBC to develop applications of hybrid quantum in financial services.
• Yat Siu’s Animoca Brands partnered with Tiger Research to advance web3 in South Korea and?raised $20m to develop its web3 project, Mocaverse.

• Torsten Reil’s Helsing raised €209m in a Series B funding round led by General Catalyst.
• Ivan Mazour’s Ometria raised ￡8m from CIBC Innovation Banking to advance its retail-specific AI.
• Kimberly Breuer’s Likeminded acquired mental health startup, whylab.
• ComplyAdvantage’s Charles Delingpole invested in a $5.3m Seed funding round for Brazilian fintech, Caliza.
• Harry Destecroix’s SCVC announced the first close of its $100m target UK deep tech fund.
• Christian Angermayer’s Apeiron Investment Group participated in a $75m funding round for longevity startup, Rejuveron.
• Pascal Mathis’ Wingman Ventures co-led a $4.3m pre-Seed funding round for security robotics startup, Ascento.

For the full version of this newsletter direct to your inbox,?sign up to Founders News .