Joyce’s picks: musings and readings in AI/ML, June 16, 2025

📌 Musings and Readings

I recently interviewed Anna Greta Tsahkna, CEO of Timbeter. We discussed Timbeter as a category leader in timber and forestry management software leveraging machine learning.  Watch our interview and give us a thumb up if you like this conversation!

AI Value Impact Management is a new category in data analytics and AI, spearheaded by Mindfuel. Two important goals of AI value impact management are: (1) traceability between technical assets and business assets, (2) reusability of past data analytics and AI projects. I am a fan of what this team is building - born in Germany but going global. 

AMD turns to AI startups to inform chip, software design (Link)

“EU’s Waffle on Artificial Intelligence Law Creates Huge Headache” (Link)

Google is experimenting Audio Overviews in Search (Link)

BT boss Kirkby expects AI to deepen job cuts (Link)

People Don't Realize Meta's AI App Is Publicly Blasting Their Humiliating Secrets to the World (Link)

👏 Deals

ArcheHealth, an AL-based company providing a solution to help hospitals cut costs and boost efficiency by analyzing clinical, financial, and supply chain data, has raised $6.7m in seed financing.

XRobotics, a CA-based startup developing pizza-making robots that automate pizza assembly in commercial kitchens, has raised $2.5m in seed financing.

Parlay Finance, a Washington DC-based company providing loan intelligence software that helps community banks and credit unions streamline small business lending, improve decision-making, and enhance borrower experience, has raised $2m in seed financing.

Shovels, a CA-based company providing an analytics platform that standardizes building permit data from over 20,000 U.S. jurisdictions, delivering clean, searchable insights through an API, web app, and bulk download, has raised $5m in seed financing.

Somnee, a CA-based company offering a neuroscience-based smart headband that uses personalized brainwave monitoring and gentle electrical stimulation to improve sleep quality, helping users fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer without medication, has raised $10m in seed financing.

ZeroRisk, a MA-based company developing a platform for managing merchant cyber risk, compliance, and solutions to help financial institutions reduce risk and grow revenue, has raised $10m in seed financing.

Bolo AI, a CA-based company providing knowledge management solutions for heavy industries, especially energy, helping frontline teams make faster, safer decisions by centralizing operational data, has raised $8m in seed financing.

Ryght.ai, a CA-based company developing a generative-AI solution that streamlines clinical trials by automating site selection, protocol navigation, and documentation, has raised $3m in seed financing.

Volantis, a CA-based startup developing electron-photon hybrid chips with on-chip photonic interconnects to boost AI compute efficiency,, has raised $9m in seed financing.

Landbase, a CA-based company developing a go-to-market platform that autonomously designs, launches, and optimizes B2B campaigns across channels to boost lead generation and conversion, has raised $30m in series A in financing.