A sewer inspection startup raised $15M. A former Snap engineer has a new social network. TikTok ads are coming with AI avatars.

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Hey there, everybody. Today we’re talking about a former Snap engineer’s new social network, a sewer inspection startup, TikTok AI ads, and the high-quality magazines taking over my coffee table. I also dive into some NYC recommendations, if that’s your thing.

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🤑 RAISES

• AnyCreek, a marketplace of guided outdoor experiences like fishing or hunting, raised a $1.8M seed round from Starting Line, Bridge Investments, LaunchTN, and other angel investors. I love this idea; it reminds me of something my Dad would do. He’d be a great guide. If you are looking to do outdoorsy stuff, I will rent out my Dad to you anytime. He is like a walking REI catalog. (Link)

• Athletic Brewing, a nonalcholic beer brand that has become a top craft brewer in the US, raised $2M in a follow-on investment from Connecticut Innovations. As someone who loves beer but gets hungover standing in the same room as a drink, I’ve tried a ton of nonalcholic beer and this one is by far my favorite. (Link)

• Enveda, a startup that uses AI to combine ancient remedies with modern technology for drug discovery, raised a $55M Series B extension round from investors including Microsoft, The Nature Conservancy, True Ventures, Level Ventures, and Jazz Venture Partners. (Link)

• Waabi, a startup that uses generative AI technology to launch fully driverless trucks, raised a $200M Series B round led by Uber and Khosla Ventures. I was surprised to see this, given the backlash self driving cars have been seeing. (Link)

• Findigs, a rental screening startup aiming to improve the process for roperty managers and owners, raised a $27M Series B round led by Nyca Partners. I’ve heard so many horror stories of bad tennants. (Link)

• SewerAI, a sewer inspection startup whose platform helps wastewater professionals improve productivity and accuracy in maintaining aging collection systems, raised a $15M Series B round led by Innovius Capital. Never knew we needed this! (Link)

• Tender Food, an alt-meat startup creating whole cuts of alternative meat using plant fibers spun like cotton candy, raised a $11M Series A round led by Rhapsody Venture Partners. (Link)

• Fuze Technology, a provider of rentable portable phone chargers through kiosks, raised a $11.5M Series A round. They have plans to manage over 10,000 kiosks globally by the end of 2024, while also offering digital ad space on its kiosks’ screens and having partnerships with major events and companies. (Link)

🗞️ NEWS

Startups 

• A former Snap engineer has launched Butterflies, a social network where users create AI personas. These AI personas interact with users and other AIs through posts and direct messages. “While the interface looks like Instagram, the app’s main twist is that, when signing up, you create an AI character, or Butterfly, that starts generating photos and interacting with other accounts on its own. There is no limit to the number of Butterflies you can create, and they are designed to coexist with human accounts that can also post to the feed and comment.” I don’t know about this one. (Link) 

  

  Butterflies AI - The Verge

• Clearview AI, a facial-recognition company that collected billions of photos from social media, is settling a privacy lawsuit. Instead of paying cash, it plans to offer a 23% stake in the company to the U.S. citizens whose faces were used in its database.(Link) 

• I’ve been teling you guys it’s a golf summer. Loop Golf is a service that simplifies booking tee times by automatically finding and reserving them based on user preferences, even during off-hours. It charges a 10% fee per booking and has partnered with over 3,000 public courses to help fill gaps caused by cancellations.(Link) 

Big Tech 

• Apple is discontinuing Apple Pay Later and focusing on installment loans instead of its buy now, pay later service launched in 2023. Thank God, honestly. These things rub me the wrong way and hurt more people than they help. (Link) 

• X, like Google, plans to launch a Venmo-like payments feature in the US in 2024. The company saw a significant revenue decline of around 40% year-over-year in the first half of 2023. I paid my dentist using Zelle the other day. (I LOVE them so much, lmk if you need their details. Great if you have no dental insurance, like me). X wants to become a super app, like WeChat, but I don’t think it will ever get there. (Link) 

• YouTube is testing "Notes," a tool allowing users to add context to videos via crowdsourcing, similar to another platform's Community Notes, in the US on mobile. (Link) 

• TikTok is expanding its Symphony generative AI ad suite with features like dubbing, stock Digital Avatars based on paid actors, and custom Avatars resembling specific creators. This is weird. (Link) 

• Snapchat faces allegations that its platform has contributed to a teen opioid crisis in the US, according to reports from law enforcement and parents. I feel like we saw this coming. (Link) 

Print Magazines

🚨 Trend Alert: Remember when I talked about Adam Neumann buying up the Hamptons-based surfing magazine, Whalebone? Well, it turns out he’s pretty trendy. From what I can see, fancy magazines are back. Not the ones you buy and leave at the airport, but the ones you keep on your coffee table to make it look like you’re interesting.

• On Morning Brew Daily, Toby explained why he sees a bright future for high-end, niche print magazines. “Very high-end, very niche magazines, like Summit Journal or Golders Journal, are meant to be collected rather than disposed of.” I agree. (Link)

• New York Magazine and The Cut will release a separate print Fall Fashion Issue in September, distributed to subscribers and available for purchase in addition to New York’s biweekly issues. “We love the very physical and specific experience of making a print magazine, and it has already been incredibly fun plotting with The Cut staff what we can do with this upcoming issue,” said New York editor-in-chief David Haskell. (Link)

NYC 

• Did you know that there is a Michelin Guide for hotels? It was launched in April, and the awards are called "Keys." I had the pleasure of staying at a One Key hotel last week: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Overall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend it if you are looking for a good staycation. The highlight was the rooftop pool, which allowed laptops and offered a stunning view of the city. (Link) 

• Othership was AMAZING, and I am so happy the Flatiron location is here. Some things that not a lot of other people are talking about: the tea is great so don’t skip it, the plunge is much colder than at many other spots in NYC, all the tubs are the same temperature, there aren’t a ton of showers for after the experience, there is a strong aromatherapy component, and everyone who works there embodies the spirit of vinyasa yoga. I am already going back with a friend this week! (Link) 

• The New York venture and startup community is ditching the happy hours and hosting workout classes. This week alone, I was invited to a cold plunge and yoga class, to Equinox to spin, a new tech run club, and my first pilates class. The only one I’m able to go to is the pilates class (Pilates & Pitches… I love it), held at Good Day Pilates Soho. Fun fact: The global market for pilates and yoga studios is expected to increase from $140B to $409B over the next decade.  If you’re looking to do more health-focused activities, check out Founders Club and Shanti House. 

• Tis the season to take the Ikea Ferry (or whatever takes you to Red Hook) and go to Brooklyn Crab. Red Hook Lobster Pound is good too, but my parents live in Maryland so I feel like I have to be loyal to crabs. 

Braun & Brains Story Updates

• You can’t buy Zyns online now. (Link) 

  • Previously in B&B: “The Zyn shortages continue, but there will be more back on more shelves later this year, according to an exec.” and “Zyn nicotine pouches saw Q1 usage at 131.6M, an 80% Y/Y growth. Huge day for the guys at the intersection of frats and tech” (Link) 

• D2C brands are fueling a surge in men's loafers. Google searches for loafers rose by 25% in 2024, and TikTok has seen over 12M views on men's loafer content. Brands like Blackstock & Weber and Morjas have seen sales skyrocket by 300% in 2023. This trend reflects a shift away from sneakers, as younger consumers embrace classic styles. (Link) Note: I read about this in The Stanza.

  • Previously in B&B: “Following up on a previous issue of B&B: I saw the How Long Gone x MORJAS boat shoe… but it didn’t come in a size smaller than a 39 and I am a 36.5. They were beautiful; heavy sole, hairy suede, and well crafted. I got to meet the founder, and fun fact, he worked in hair products before shoes!” (Link) and “How Long Gone hosts Chris Black and Jason Stewart collaborated with MORJAS on some awesome shoes that I really want. I wasn’t able to snag a pair of the Minted sneakers so I’m hoping that I have better luck this time around.” (Link) 

• Lack of Reservations Roundup: Jonas Frey made Appointment Trader to help people secure tables at popular spots, but critics like The Devonshire's owner say it's unethical and supports scams. (Link)  I met the founders of TableOne, which helps you get reservations at some of New York's hottest restaurants without having to buy them off someone or wake up at midnight frantically to get on Resy. 

  • Previously in B&B: “Getting a reservation is hard in New York and everyone is talking about it.” (Link)

🧠 BRAIN DUMPS

Drafted Girl Summer 

• JK, no one is getting drafted into the military, but some TikTok users think we are. Digital literacy classes are so, so very needed. (Link) 

• I’ve been seeing a lot of content of people in the military making their own hype videos. Not sure if everyone is seeing these videos, it might just be me. I grew up on a base, and my Dad retired as a Colonel after serving for 30 years. I can’t even imagine having the same job for three years, much less three decades. (Link) 

Until next time,
Rachel Braun

P.S. I read all my emails! If you have feedback, a question, or just want to say hello, please do so by responding to this newsletter or by emailing [email protected] 💌