Blockchain

PIN AI secures $10M from a16z CSX, Hack VC, and All-Star angels to launch open platform for personal AI

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    San Francisco, United States, September 9th, 2024, Chainwire

     

    Innovative startup from Ethereum Core research, Google Brain, Stanford, MIT, and CMU aims to democratize on-device intelligence, empowering users with control over their personal AI, and receiving investment from a16z CSX, Hack VC, and investors from projects like Solana, Polygon, Near, Worldcoin, etc.

    PIN AI, a pioneering AI infrastructure company, announces $10 million in pre-seed funding to develop the world’s first open-source Personal Intelligence Network (PIN). A16z CSX, Hack VC, and notable investors, including Blockchain Builders Fund (Stanford Blockchain Accelerator), Illia Polosukhin (Transformer paper author; Founder, NEAR Protocol), Anagram/Lily Liu (President, SOL Foundation), Symbolic Capital (Co-Founder, Polygon), Evan Cheng (CEO, Mysten Labs/SUI), dcbuilder (Worldcoin Foundation), Foresight Ventures (parent company of the Block), Nomad Capital, Tim Shi (Co-Founder, Cresta), Ben Fisch (CEO, Espresso), Scott Moore (Co-Founder, Gitcoin), Alumni Ventures, and Dispersion Capital, have backed the project.

    Offering an open-source, web3-enabled alternative to Apple Intelligence, PIN AI’s platform turns smartphones into privacy-focused AI personal assistants. By redirecting profits from users’ data and attention, it empowers users to regain control and monetize their data. The platform leverages personal, contextual data and cryptography, deploying cutting-edge AI models on-device to handle tasks across apps—like shopping, ordering food, wealth management, and interacting with centralized exchanges, DeFi, and prediction markets.

    This AI-driven assistant ensures robust privacy and user-controlled data management, disrupting ultra-profitable models of web2 giants, including Apple’s 30% app revenue cut (over $100 billion) and Google’s mobile ads and Android store revenue cuts.

    Davide Crapis, Co-Founder leading Protocol Research, said, “We’re building a movement towards an open-source future where personal AI assistants can work on PIN AI’s platform like smart contracts on Ethereum.” He added, “PIN AI will take back the $100b+ profit from tech giants and return it to users, allowing them to control and monetize their data. Our platform offers access to a wider range of AI agents, developed by the open-source community, capable of handling tasks across popular apps.”

    PIN AI’s mission is to foster innovation for personal AI agents by offering access to personal, contextual data that reflects individual users’ needs and preferences. Unlike closed ecosystems like Apple, PIN AI’s open platform connects privacy-protected user data via a Layer-2 blockchain. This enables more flexibility in AI application development without the constraints of traditional, closed systems.

    Bill Sun, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, said, “On-device multi-modality models will revolutionize daily life. We are building a personal index for each user to create an on-device model that evolves via distributed training on the user’s phone. Soon, users won’t need to open multiple apps to complete tasks. The personal AI assistant will understand preferences and manage tasks efficiently.” PIN AI’s assistant will connect users with apps and services bidding on its blockchain protocol to fulfill tasks like shopping or crypto activities.

    PIN AI shifts data monetization from big tech to users, allowing secure monetization of personal data. Users receive token incentives through data onboarding and intent fulfillment, only providing necessary data with matched Personal AI Agents, while maintaining control of their information.

    At launch, PIN AI partners with Worldcoin and is developing a front-end product similar to Siri, expanding its reach and enhancing user experience.

    Leading the team are co-founders Davide Crapis and Ben Wu. Crapis, formerly of Ethereum Core Research, leads Protocol Research. Ben Wu, heading Strategy, is an MIT graduate, Y Combinator alum, and serial entrepreneur. The technical leadership includes Bill Sun, a Stanford AI/Math PhD and early Google Brain researcher, as Chief AI Scientist, and Regan Peng, a CMU graduate and former lead at Didi Fintech and Yahoo Data Infra, as Founding Head of Engineering.

    PIN AI collaborates with a16z crypto research, Flashbots, Espresso Systems, and academics from Stanford, Columbia, and NYU. Ben Wu emphasized the importance of an open platform, saying, “The open internet has made large language models possible. We need to build an open platform for users on their trusted device, allowing access to their various data, making their Personal AI possible.” Unlike Apple Intelligence, PIN AI’s system can run on low-spec smartphones by dynamically shifting between edge AI (on-device) and server AI to optimize performance, ensuring wide accessibility.

    The funding will expand research, grow the team of AI and blockchain experts, and accelerate the deployment of PIN AI’s technology. The company will join the a16z CSX Fall 2024 cohort in New York City.

    About PIN AI

    PIN AI is developing an open-source personal AI operating system that leverages smartphone and app data to empower users with control and privacy. The company’s approach aims to connect AI developers with users, promoting data sovereignty and developer empowerment. PIN AI collaborates with Ethereum Core Research and is committed to privacy and innovation.

    For more updates, visit pinai.io, X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, Discord, and Linkedin.

     

    Contact

    PIN AI
    contact@pinai.io

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    Fundbox Secures Warehouse Capacity from Cross River and Waterfall Asset Management

    2024-09-17T15:32:44Z

    SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fundbox, a leading embedded capital platform for SMBs, announces a new credit facility with Cross River, a technology infrastructure provider that offers embedded financial solutions, and Waterfall Asset Management, a global alternative investment advisor. The agreement brings Fundbox’s total annual origination capacity to over $2B, including existing capacity.

    The financing facilities will support Fundbox’s mission to empower the SMB economy by meeting the working capital needs of small businesses, primarily through embedded experiences in the tools they use every day. Fundbox’s cross-platform data sharing and cutting-edge underwriting technology enable SMB platforms to offer capital to their customers right within their products. The backing of Cross River and Waterfall will further enable Fundbox to develop innovative products to help platform partners deliver the funding their small business customers need.

    “Small businesses need capital more than ever before. The number of US small businesses grew 3x the rate of the US consumer population in the last decade, while bank funding for SMBs has fallen 15% year-over-year,” said Renuka Nayani, Fundbox CFO. “Credit capacity from Cross River and Waterfall help ensure we are well-capitalized to meet this need. We are thrilled to work with these established institutions to help close the trillion-dollar gap in small business funding.”

    “Fundbox has steadfastly supported America’s small businesses while delivering through-the-cycle performance to its investors. We are proud to back the company’s next stage of growth with this credit facility,” said Drew Friedberg, Director of Principal Finance at Cross River. “This alliance furthers our mission to empower fintech companies and small businesses with access to credit.”

    "Fundbox has demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing the financial landscape for small businesses. We are excited to support their continued growth and innovation,” said Nate Huebscher, Director at Waterfall. “This agreement aligns with our dedication to supporting dynamic lending solutions and fostering opportunities for small businesses to thrive.”

    About Fundbox

    Fundbox is the pioneer of embedded working capital solutions for SMBs, leading the charge in best-in-class embedded finance offerings since 2015. Fundbox empowers the small business economy by offering fast, simple access to working capital through the digital tools businesses already use. Fundbox has partnered with leading SMB platforms to help over 125,000 customers unlock growth with fast, simple access to over $5B of capital.

    For press inquiries, please contact pr@fundbox.com.

    About Cross River Bank

    Cross River provides technology infrastructure powering the future of financial services. Leveraging its proprietary real-time banking core, Cross River delivers innovative and scalable embedded payments, cards, and lending solutions to millions of consumers and businesses. Cross River is backed by leading investors and serves the world’s most essential fintech and technology companies. Leading the industry, Cross River is reshaping global finance and financial inclusion. Member FDIC. Find out more at www.crossriver.com.


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