PlayAI, an AI voice startup generative voice AI startup has been acquired by Meta. An internal Meta memo says “PlayAI’s work in creating natural voices, along with a platform for easy voice creation, is a great match for our work and roadmap across AI characters, Meta AI, wearables, and audio content creation.” Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, stepped down from her role last Wednesday after two years at the company. While Yaccarino was not candid about her reasons for departing her role, she made her announcement mere hours after X’s AI chatbot, Grok, was taken offline after going on an antisemitic tirade. A report has also come out citing insiders saying her time at the company was riddled with stress, conflict and power struggles.

Revolut, the neobank and Europe’s most valuable start-up, is reportedly raising a new $1B funding round that could boost its valuation to $65 billion, through new and existing shares, with Greenoaks expected to lead. In 2024, the company posted a 72% revenue jump and $1 billion in profit, now serving over 50 million users across 30+ countries. Its last valuation was $45 billion.

EXTRA NEWS

Former Founders Fund GP Brian Singerman and co-founder and managing partner of Quiet Capital, Lee Linden, are seeking over $500 million for a new fund called GPx, three people familiar with their strategy told TechCrunch. A portion of GPx’s fund will likely come from Founders Fund co-founder Peter Thiel

Jio Platforms has launched JioPC, a cloud-based virtual desktop for TVs via its set-top box, with the goal to turn millions of Indian TVs into PCs. Currently in free trial and available by waitlist, users can access it with a keyboard and mouse. JioPC runs LibreOffice by default and supports Office apps through a browser, though external peripherals aren’t yet supported.

Apolink, a Y Combinator-backed space-tech startup founded by a 19-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur, raised $4.3M in an oversubscribed seed round at a $45M valuation to build real-time satellite connectivity in low Earth orbit.

OneText, which is building what it calls a “text-to-buy network” that lets shoppers complete purchases via text message, has closed a $4.5 million seed round backed by Khosla Ventures, Coatue, Citi Ventures, Y Combinator, Good Friends (the fund created by the founders of Warby Parker, Allbirds, and Harry’s), and Matt Bellamy, the frontman of Muse.

Space company Firefly Aerospace is taking its orbital ambitions to the public markets. The company, which notched a string of successes this year, including a historic commercial moon landing, submitted its formal declaration to regulators Friday detailing its plans to IPO sometime this year