Here’s an improved version of the content:
For full episode transcripts and more, visit the Equity’s Simplecast website.
Equity episodes are released at 7 a.m. PT every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and other platforms. Also, TechCrunch has a show on crypto called Chain Reaction, Found – which includes interviews with founders, and more.
Transcript
We are grateful to Ram Iyer for help tidying up the original machine transcript.
Alex Wilhelm: Hello and welcome to Equity, a podcast that dives into the business of startups. Today is February 16th, 2024. Joining me today are two long-time buddies. In one corner, we have the senior TechCrunch reporter covering fintech news, Mary Ann!
Mary Ann Azevedo: Hi Alex. How are you doing?
Alex: I had some really good doughnuts today. So, it’s been pretty great overall.
Mary Ann: I’m jealous of the doughnuts.
Alex: Well, my stomach does not agree, because I need to go for a run. But we also have Karyne Levy with us! How’s it going?
Karyne Levy: I’m doing well. Thank you for having me on the show again.
Alex: It’s great to have both of you here. On today’s episode, the deals of the week feature Rasa, Ultraverse, and Hippo Harvest. We’ll dive into the VC world’s transitional phase and discuss what YC is looking for from startups today.
Mary Ann, let’s start with Rasa, which recently secured a significant Series C round listing two major US banks as customers. The company’s strategies seem to be paying off as they reported a significant increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) last year. This shift to enterprise services appears to be a smart move. What are your thoughts on this major development?
Mary Ann: Rasa’s shift to serving large enterprises through their conversational GenAI offerings has proven to be successful. They are gaining significant traction, counting major banks in their customer list and doubling their ARR last year. Their infrastructure allows developers to deploy robust, human-like conversational AI assistants, enabling personal and meaningful interactions with users.
Alex: It seems Rasa’s technology aims to humanize conversational AI, adding a level of personalization and customization that should enhance the user experience. Their recent Series C raise of $30 million saw participation from notable venture backers including PayPal Ventures. Additionally, I found their CEO’s career journey pretty fascinating. Let’s dive deeper into the details next time.
