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Startup Stars
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- 1
Prediction market Novig says its advertising campaign starring actress Sydney Sweeney, which drew around 47 million views, has helped push the company to a $2 billion valuation. The startup credits the celebrity-led spot with driving rapid user growth, and the results are drawing attention across advertising and tech circles as marketers weigh the payoff of big-name endorsements.
- 2Star Catcher to attempt first energy beaming between spacecraft●Startup Star Catcher is launching a system that, if successful, would be the first time energy has been beamed between t
Startup Star Catcher is preparing to launch a system designed to beam energy between two separate spacecraft, which would be a historic first if it works. The company aims to demonstrate wireless power transfer in orbit, a capability that could eventually allow satellites to share energy and extend mission lifetimes. The project is drawing attention as a notable step for space-based power infrastructure.
- 3Kevin Durant's $100,000 AI bet reportedly now backed by Nvidia▼Kevin Durant started with a $100,000 investment in this AI startup eight years ago; Nvidia’s $12.9 billion
Reports highlight that NBA star Kevin Durant put $100,000 into an AI startup roughly eight years ago, an early wager that has drawn renewed attention now that the company is linked to Nvidia and a $12.9 billion figure cited in coverage. The story frames Durant as one of the more successful athlete-investors in technology, with commentators discussing how celebrity early-stage bets can pay off during the current AI boom.
- 4Saquon Barkley invests $500,000 per startup in AI and Bitcoin▼Saquon Barkley invests up to $500,000 per startup to build wealth beyond the NFL through AI and Bitcoin
NFL running back Saquon Barkley is investing up to $500,000 in individual startups, focusing on artificial intelligence and Bitcoin as he builds wealth for life after football. The move highlights a growing trend of professional athletes putting earnings into technology ventures rather than traditional investments, drawing attention to how sports stars prepare financially for retirement.
- 5Startup Stars: UMT meets NMU's Fall 2026 entrepreneurs▼Startup Stars: UMT meets NMU’s Fall 2026 entrepreneurs
Upper Michigan's startup scene is in focus as UMT connects with Northern Michigan University's Fall 2026 cohort of student entrepreneurs. The gathering spotlights new business ventures emerging from the university and the support available to young founders in the region. Local coverage highlights the entrepreneurs' projects and the growing collaboration between campus innovation programs and community partners.
- 6
Minneapolis chef Gavin Kaysen has made an investment in a startup company built around peanut butter and jelly products, according to the Star Tribune. Kaysen, known for his Twin Cities restaurants, is putting his name and money behind a food business far simpler than his fine-dining fare. Further details about the company, the size of the investment or Kaysen's role have not yet been reported.
- 7How Beth Ferreira is turning celebrity into venture deal flow▼Q&A: How Beth Ferreira is turning celebrity into deal flow
PitchBook has published a Q&A with venture investor Beth Ferreira examining how she leverages celebrity connections to source investment deals. The interview explores the growing role of famous names in venture capital, where star founders and celebrity-backed startups increasingly attract funding. It forms part of broader coverage of how personalities and networks shape deal flow in the startup ecosystem.
- 8
An AI startup is offering coaching tools designed to make sales representatives communicate in a more human, empathetic way with customers. The approach uses artificial intelligence to analyse and improve how salespeople talk with prospects, rather than automating the conversations outright. The story was reported by the Star Tribune, though further details about the company, its customers, and its results were not provided.