AI + humanity

Join us tomorrow to hear about how to craft the perfect narrative with Sarah Mattina

Ever wonder how startups turn complex ideas into headlines that stick? Join us as Sarah Mattina, founder of Mattina Media and former comms lead at JetBlue Ventures, shares how to craft stories that win over investors, press, and customers alike.

Hey everyone,

In an era driven by code, AI is no longer just about models and metrics — it's about how technology can augment humanity. This week, let’s spotlight startups and investors who are centering real human needs in AI: health, agency, ethics, and community.

🔥 Top AI-Driven Deals This Week

• AdsGency — $12M Seed (U.S.)
  An “agentic AI” ad stack that automates campaign planning across platforms using multiple models. Led by XYZ Venture Capital.

• Lila Sciences — $115M Series A extension, $1.3B+ valuation
  Backed by Nvidia, Lila builds “AI Science Factories” — robot labs guided by AI to accelerate discovery in energy, biotech, and materials.

• WellTheory — $14M Raise (U.S.)
  AI-powered autoimmune health platform aiming to personalize care and diagnostics for chronic disease sufferers.

• Casium — $5M Seed (Africa / Global)
  Founded in 2024 by an ex-Microsoft scientist, Casium works at the intersection of AI and data systems for enterprise clients.

👩 Founder Spotlight

Founders of Axiom Math — Female-Founded AI Startup
Axiom Math recently emerged from stealth with a $64M seed round. Their platform is teaching AI to reason in higher mathematics — domains like cryptography, physics, and advanced algorithms. Tech Funding News

What to watch: They’re tackling hard reasoning tasks (beyond just language), which requires blending symbolic reasoning + neural models — a frontier that could significantly push AI’s “understanding.”

💸 Fund Highlight

Female Founders Fund
A seed-stage VC investing exclusively in women-led companies. Their mission: reduce funding gaps, give early-stage capital & support to women founders venturing into tech, AI, and more. Female Founders Fund

Why it fits: In a world where AI tends to amplify inequalities if unchecked, funds that prioritize women leaders signal a deeper layer of impact — equity in who builds the future.

🎙️ Podcast Feature

Podcast: Decoder with Nilay Patel
Episode: “Augmenting Humanity: AI that Cares, Not Just Predicts”
Guest: Dr. Fei-Fei Li (or similar leading human-centered AI researcher)
Why it works: Deep dive into how AI can assist humans (not replace), preserve dignity, and embed moral judgment in systems.

As AI continues to evolve, the most meaningful innovations aren’t the ones that replace people — they’re the ones that understand us. This week’s wave of funding, founders, and conversations all point toward the same truth: technology’s next chapter is deeply human.

From health to creativity to education, the best builders are the ones asking how can AI help people live better, not just work faster?

Here’s to building tools that keep empathy in the loop.

See you next week,
— The GIVC Team 💡