• What I Learned in Six Years at GDS

    https://24ways.org/2018/what-i-learned-in-six-years-at-gds/
  • Vinted posts first-ever annual profit after 61% revenue growth in 2023

    Vinted posts first-ever annual profit after 61% revenue growth in 2023
    Vinted, the popular online marketplace for second-hand fashion, has announced its first-ever annual profit. The milestone follows a strong 2023, reaching €596.3mn in revenue — a 61% increase compared to the previous year (€370.2mn). With an adjusted EBITDA at €76.6mn, Vinted turned a €20.4mn net loss in 2022 into a €17.8mn net profit in 2023. The startup attributes its profitability to significant growth, starting with increased penetration in existing markets and
  • Dutch startup to test hearing via brain-computer interface

    Dutch startup to test hearing via brain-computer interface
    MindAffect, a Netherlands-based healthtech startup, has raised €1.1mn to bring its hearing diagnostics technology to market. A spinout from Radboud University, MindAffect has developed a patented brain computer interface (BCI) technology, which enables diagnosis of hearing impairments using brain signals. The startup aims to provide a more equitable testing solution that specifically caters for hard-to-test patients, such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Current meth
  • Dutch startup tests hearing via brain-computer interface

    Dutch startup tests hearing via brain-computer interface
    MindAffect, a Netherlands-based healthtech startup, has raised €1.1mn to bring its hearing diagnostics technology to market. A spinout from Radboud University, MindAffect has developed a patented brain computer interface (BCI) technology, which enables diagnosis of hearing impairments using brain signals. The startup aims to provide a more equitable testing solution that specifically caters for hard-to-test patients, such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Current meth
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  • Vega-C rocket to launch Europe and China’s first entirely joint space mission

    Vega-C rocket to launch Europe and China’s first entirely joint space mission
    The European Space Agency (ESA) has secured a ride for its solar wind satellite. The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer — or Smile for short — will blast into space aboard a Vega-C rocket. The launch is scheduled for late 2025 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana.    “We are delighted to be launching Smile on such a versatile launch vehicle,” said David Agnolon, project manager of Smile. “Vega-C has been selected as it perfec
  • French startup bags €2M to make cancer clinical trials more accessible

    French startup bags €2M to make cancer clinical trials more accessible
    Paris-based Klineo has raised €2mn for its AI platform that facilitates access to cancer clinical trials. Klineo’s platform connects doctors and patients directly with relevant clinical trials. It provides trial search, contact with medical centres, as well as real-time updates and notifications when a new clinical trial matches the patient’s criteria. The startup’s solution currently covers trials on skin cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. Klineo was founded in 2021 by
  • OpenAI to train LLMs on Financial Times content — with permission

    OpenAI to train LLMs on Financial Times content — with permission
    The Financial Times (full disclosure — the owners of The Next Web) have inked a deal with OpenAI. The American firm will use the British publisher’s content to train its generative AI models. The deal is the latest in a string of new partnerships between OpenAI and global news publishers like Axel Springer, Associated Press, and Le Monde. The company did not disclose the financial terms of any of the contracts. In 2023 alone, hundreds of pages of litigation and countless articles ac
  • New UK cybersecurity law will make weak passwords a thing of the past

    New UK cybersecurity law will make weak passwords a thing of the past
    Under the UK’s new cybersecurity law, consumer smart devices can no longer allow the use of weak, easy-to-guess passwords, such as “admin” or “12345.” This is part of a set of minimum-security standards the UK is requiring to protect consumers from hacking and cyberattacks. The law covers every smart device that comes with internet or network connectivity, ranging from TVs and phones to game consoles, connected fridges, and smart doorbells. Manufacturers of such pr
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  • Polestar unveils ‘world’s first’ 10-minute charge EV prototype

    Polestar unveils ‘world’s first’ 10-minute charge EV prototype
    Polestar has successfully charged its upcoming EV model in just 10 minutes.    The Swedish car maker achieved the feat using a “silicon-dominant” battery built by Israeli startup StoreDot.  Polestar installed the battery in a fully drivable prototype of its Polestar 5 model, set to go on sale next year. It managed to charge the EV from 10% to 80% under the 10-minute time cap. StoreDot’s batteries use silicon anodes instead  of graphite. Silicon anodes can s
  • Study shows ‘benevolent sexism’ in startups widens the gender gap

    Study shows ‘benevolent sexism’ in startups widens the gender gap
    Our understanding of the challenges women face in the startup ecosystem is limited. Past research has focused on overt negative sexist attitudes that question women’s competence and suitability for entrepreneurship. This view overlooks the existence of more subtle, yet pervasive and socially acceptable, sexist attitudes that often go unnoticed. Given the sheer number of people interested or working in startups today, from investors to suppliers to job applicants, the effects of these subt
  • This week in Dutch tech

    This week in Dutch tech
    Hallo, Netherlands! Welcome to TNW’s first weekly round-up of tech news from our glorious home country. As we count down to TNW conference in Amsterdam on June 20 and 21, we’re ramping up our coverage of the Dutch IT sector. We’d also love to hear your thoughts on the local ecosystem. Drop us a line if you want to showcase your startup, share a digital tip, or just tell us your deepest, darkest secrets.  In the meantime, let’s get to the news. What we’re
  • Why Lithuania is a hidden gem of Europe’s startup ecosystem

    Why Lithuania is a hidden gem of Europe’s startup ecosystem
    In 2022, over 20,000 Lithuanians returned to their country of birth from abroad. A high quality of life coupled with a booming entrepreneurial ecosystem and a collaborative mentality has contributed to what investors are calling a “reverse brain drain.” Many of their minds reemerge in the country’s startup scene. It was on a visit to Lisbon that I first heard someone refer to Lithuania as “a hidden gem” of Europe’s startup ecosystem. A recent trip to Vilnius
  • Choosing Your Design Business Identity: Name vs. Company

    It’s not uncommon for agencies to ask freelancers not to mention their employment status or even ask that you imply that you’re full-time when you interact with their client. Especially if the agency has a great reputation in regards to the quality of the service you are providing.
  • Stunning Mockups in Seconds: Harnessing AI Technology

    As a designer, presenting your work in the most creative and appealing way is crucial to winning over clients. This is where you can utilize AI-powered mockup generators, as they provide a fast, efficient solution to creating attractive mockups.
  • Building Your Design System: A Step-by-Step Guide

    A well-crafted design system is a powerful tool for teams looking to create cohesive, scalable, and efficient designs. By establishing a shared language and a library of reusable components, a design system ensures consistency across your products, speeds up your workflow, and frees up your team to focus on solving user problems.
  • The Web’s Evolution: From Promise to Threat with AI

    The web has become so interwoven with everyday life that it is easy to forget what an extraordinary accomplishment and treasure it is. In just a few decades, much of human knowledge has been collectively written up and made available to anyone with an internet connection.
  • Is it worth doing UX in the year 2024?

    We’ve all heard the term thrown around, but what exactly does UX stand for? It’s user experience. Forget the misconception that UX design is all about making users feel happy and giddy. The truth is, UX design’s ultimate goal is to bring in the big bucks for the company. But there’s a catch: if the user experience stinks, users will abandon ship faster than you can say “failed product launch.” So, it’s a delicate balance — creating a product that&r
  • Figma just launched variables for typography and gradients

    Design systems are a key tool for fostering collaboration between design and development teams. Features like auto layout, variables, and Dev Mode have facilitated closer integration between design and code. However, achieving widespread design system adoption remains a challenge.
  • DeepL launches AI writing assistant for businesses trained on its own LLM

    DeepL launches AI writing assistant for businesses trained on its own LLM
    DeepL, which has been rivalling machine translation giants such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator, has launched an AI writing assistant tailored for businesses. Dubbed DeepL Write Pro, the product acts as a creative assistant for use during the drafting process. It provides suggestions on word choice, phrasing, style, and tone, aiming to improve the text, while preserving the writer’s own voice. Currently available in English and German, the tool comes with customisation option
  • Darktrace agrees £4.3B sale to US investor in blow to UK stock market

    Darktrace agrees £4.3B sale to US investor in blow to UK stock market
    British cybersecurity flag bearer Darktrace is set to leave London’s stock market after agreeing a £4.3bn sale to US private equity firm Thoma Bravo. Shareholders will have to approve the takeover before it’s rubber-stamped. The chair of Darktrace, Gordon Hurst, said the deal represents “an attractive premium and an opportunity for shareholders.” “The proposed acquisition will provide Darktrace access to a strong financial partner in Thoma Bravo, with deep so
  • To understand the risks posed by AI, follow the money

    To understand the risks posed by AI, follow the money
    Time and again, leading scientists, technologists, and philosophers have made spectacularly terrible guesses about the direction of innovation. Even Einstein was not immune, claiming, “There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable,” just ten years before Enrico Fermi completed construction of the first fission reactor in Chicago. Shortly thereafter, the consensus switched to fears of an imminent nuclear holocaust. Similarly, today’s experts
  • Cyberattacks on Poland surged after election of pro-Ukraine government, NetScout says

    Cyberattacks on Poland surged after election of pro-Ukraine government, NetScout says
    Cyber attackers battered Poland after the country’s change of government late last year. DDoS attacks at the end of 2023 were nearly quadruple the country’s average, according to cybersecurity firm NetScout’s observations. The surge began when the Law and Justice party (PiS) lost its majority in last year’s Polish general election. PiS had ruled the country since 2015. It was replaced by a coalition government, which reaffirmed support for Ukraine’s defence ag
  • Europe taps deep learning to make industrial robots safer colleagues

    Europe taps deep learning to make industrial robots safer colleagues
    Demand for industrial robots is rising in Europe, especially driven by the benefits of automation. However, there are ongoing challenges in ensuring seamless collaboration with humans while maintaining safety. To address this issue, a consortium of European universities, technology accelerators, and private research labs is launching the RoboSAPIENs project. The aim is to build the necessary safety mechanisms with a particular focus on adaptive industrial robots — a category of autonomous
  • AI unicorn Synthesia launches most ’emotionally expressive’ avatars on the market

    AI unicorn Synthesia launches most ’emotionally expressive’ avatars on the market
    A British startup today unveiled new AI humans that blur the line between the virtual and the real. Synthesia calls the digital beings “Expressive Avatars.” They promise the most realistic emotional expressions on the market.  Generated by an AI model that’s trained on footage of real actors, the avatars are built for video creation. Users simply enter a text prompt and the synthetic humans read them out on a screen. The photorealistic renders are certainly impressive. Bu
  • ‘Airbnb for cars’ platform SnappCar changes hands in bid for ‘further growth’

    ‘Airbnb for cars’ platform SnappCar changes hands in bid for ‘further growth’
    Dutch car-sharing platform SnappCar, which claims to be the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, has been fully acquired by AutoBinck Group — a shareholder in the scaleup since its founding in 2011. The ownership change also sees the return of SnappCar’s founder, Victor van Tol, in the role of the CEO. Van Told told local newspaper mt/sprout that the acquisition will enable faster decisions and eliminate the need for external investments. AutoBinck, which specialises in mobility
  • Paris startup adds ‘universal compute’ weapon to France’s growing AI arsenal

    Paris startup adds ‘universal compute’ weapon to France’s growing AI arsenal
    A startup promising “universal AI compute” has joined France’s thriving artificial intelligence sector. Paris-based FlexAI emerged from stealth today with a €28.5mn war chest and an ambitious plan to “unlock the future of machine intelligence.” To pick that lock, FlexAI is rearchitecting compute infrastructure. The plan’s centrepiece is an on-demand cloud service. Set to launch later this year, the product will enable developers to build and train AI app
  • TNW Podcast: Sebastian Aristotelis on thriving in space; the future of ASML and Stability AI

    TNW Podcast: Sebastian Aristotelis on thriving in space; the future of ASML and Stability AI
    Welcome to the new episode of the TNW Podcast — the show where we discuss the latest developments in the European technology ecosystem and feature interviews with some of the most interesting people in the industry. In today’s episode, Ioanna and Andrii talk about the potentially good news about ASML’s future in the Netherlands, the latest developments at Stability AI, carbon capture solutions, and much more. The guest of the show is Sebastian Aristotelis, whose title is co-fo
  • The top programming languages to learn if you want to get into AI

    The top programming languages to learn if you want to get into AI
    It’s safe to say that the age of generative AI is well and truly upon us, rapidly changing the world of work as we know it. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report, more than 75% of companies are looking to adopt technologies like AI in the next five years, so it’s no surprise that career opportunities in the space are exploding, especially for developers. But which programming language is leading the way? Python is without a doubt the most buzzed-ab
  • World-first satellites for commercial science set for launch in 2025

    World-first satellites for commercial science set for launch in 2025
    A British startup aims to launch science satellites into space in 2025 after raising a fresh £2mn. Blue Skies Space has devised a unique business plan for the stargazers. They will be the first-ever science satellites that provide data directly to researchers via a membership model, the company said. The approach offers a new route to the secrets of our universe. Currently, researchers rely on government agencies such as NASA and ESA to access space data. Unfortunately
  • Chip giant ASML plans Eindhoven expansion in big win for Dutch tech

    Chip giant ASML plans Eindhoven expansion in big win for Dutch tech
    In a major win for the Dutch tech industry, chip giant ASML intends to remain and further expand in the Netherlands. The chip machine manufacturer has signed a non-binding letter of intent with the City Council of Eindhoven, eyeing a potential expansion at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC), west of the city. Located at Eindhoven’s Brainport region — a major tech and innovation hub in Europe — BIC is dedicated to the high-tech manufacturing industry. For ASML, BIC represent

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