AI and the Future of Travel, Survey Reveals Investor Interest in Fusion Energy, Reasons Why Your Startup May Never Get Funded: TechCrunch+ Roundup

TechCrunch has released its latest roundup, covering diverse topics such as AI integration in travel, fusion energy’s growing investment potential, and the challenges Black founders face in accessing venture capital. The article points out how entrepreneurs may struggle to realize they’re on the wrong track until it is too late. While these are major issues, individuals who are willing to pivot and admit they do not have all the answers can pivot to success. It also discusses the strides made in the field of fusion energy, which is an area of interest for several investors. The article discusses AI integration in travel, how it has become an essential aspect of people’s travel itinerary as it seeks to improve the overall user experience. The article reports on the success European and Israeli startups have gained from the intergenerational talent spawning from unicorns, with 221 of the region’s 353 VC-backed unicorns fueling 1171 new tech-enabled startups through their alumni. The article emphasizes how even seller pessimism and modest buyer optimism are resulting in an uptick of secondary market activity and may lead to a potential rise in startup valuations. Finally, the article covers the challenges faced by Black founders based in the United Kingdom when it comes to accessing venture capital. Despite initiatives to expand Black-founded startups, a 2009-2019 report revealed that only 30 Black people received VC funding amounting to less than 0.4% of all funds allocated to founders. Despite the progress made so far, industry experts believe there is still a long road ahead in expanding the community.