The wellness spot backed by Shawn Mendes you have to go to. My dream mini fridge. Lemon startups are taking over.

Hey there, everybody. Today we’re talking about the latest wellness spot open in New York that should already be on your list (hint: I spoke about it before), all the startups named “Lemon” raising money, and the Quip cofounders' new endeavor. Also, I have to talk about JFK’s only grandson.

🤑 RAISES

Alma, an AI-powered legal tech startup that aims to simplify and speed up the visa process for international talents, raised a $5.1M combined seed and pre-seed round from Bling Capital, Forerunner, Village Global, NFX, Conviction, MVP, NEA, and Silkroad Innovation Hub. The company was created after the founder had a bad immigration experience, involving not being able to work for OVER A YEAR due to incorrect advice from an immigration lawyer. (LINK)

Helsing, a startup that specializes in the creation of AI-powered military solutions and components, raised a €450M Series C round led by General Catalyst. They've been operating in Ukraine since 2022 and have recently formed the Defence Manufacturers Alliance in partnership with the Ukrainian government. Helsing is Accel's first defense-tech investment and General Catalyst invested in Anduril. (LINK)

Regard, a digital health company founded in 2017, raised a $61M Series B round led by Oak HC/FT. Their software enabled a general physician to identify atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) that had gone unnoticed by a cardiologist. I’ve been seeing A LOT of tools helping physicians lately, specifically in the AI department. If you’ve seen any cool ones, shoot me an email. (LINK)

Nagish, a platform that enables the deaf to talk on the phone using AI, raised an $11M Series A round led by Canaan Partners. They created a private relay service that allows for real-time transcription, customizable text display to meet user preferences, and an easy-to-use interface. Fun fact: I have 50% hearing loss and my dad wears hearing aids! We yell a lot over the holidays and our TV is always on the highest volume. It’s actually insane. (LINK)

Aurea Imaging, an agtech company that specializes in sensor systems to enable orchard farming at tree levels, raised a €2.8M Series A round from Pymwymic, ROM Utrecht Region, Knop Ventures, Goeie Grutten Impact Foods, and BarUni Family Fund. Their TreeScout tractor-mounted sensor system enables precision farm applications to be carried out at the tree level throughout the entire growing season. (LINK)

Echo Chunk, the startup developing Echo Chess, a game which aims to make chess more accessible by adopting a daily puzzle format, raised $1.4M led by a16z Speedrun. Echo Chess offers a twist on traditional chess by providing daily challenges where players aim to capture all pieces on the board within a limited number of moves, instead of the usual head-to-head competition. I have been saying I think chess is getting hot but now I know chess is getting hot. (LINK)

The Bouqs Co, a leading disruptor in the D2C floral delivery industry, raised $23M from CrowdOut Capital and other investors. By employing a direct-shipment model that sends flowers directly from eco-conscious farmers worldwide, they are able to provide customers with fresh, responsibly sourced products. A flower company with VC funding is so sick. (LINK)

New theme in startups receiving fresh cash: 🍋 Lemons? 🍋 

🍋 Lemonado, a no-code platform designed to help non-developers build business software to automate their work and streamline business processes, raised a $1.4M seed round led by node.vc. The platform creates applications that feature user-friendly interfaces and seamless integration of datasets. (LINK)

🍋 Lemonada Media, a VC-backed podcast network with a mission to "make life suck less," is exploring a sale. They launched their inaugural podcast, "Last Day," which delves into the opioid crisis, and have since overseen a network of other shows. (LINK)

🍋 Lemon.markets, a fintech company that provides digital brokerage and custody infrastructure, raised €12M from investors including CommerzVentures, Heliad, and Creandum, Lakestar, Lightspeed, and System.One. Their goal is to open 100 million brokerage accounts, and they have made substantial progress by obtaining BaFin licenses and onboarding partners to their platforms. (LINK)

🗞️ NEWS

Big Tech

Samsung unveiled new versions of its Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, and the Galaxy Ring. I am most interested in the Galaxy Ring as an Oura Ring wearer. I've heard the Apple Ring is going to take a while, so if you are looking for some options, I would check it out. I like that it can connect to their smart watch. (LINK)

@celine.dept.fan1us

Samsung Galaxy Ring Review: I Wanted to Love It! #samsung #samsunggalaxyring #apple

YouTube introduced new features for YouTube Shorts, including text-to-speech, auto-generated captions, and Minecraft effects. I haven't used YouTube Shorts as a consumer and that's saying something considering I am a huge fan of my phone. (LINK)

Apple introduced a new app for the Apple Watch called Vitals, designed for use while sleeping. With the Samsung Ring coming out, it makes sense that they are pushing the health aspect of wearables. (LINK)

IDC predicts Apple will sell under 500K Vision Pro units in 2024, with international launches offsetting a drop in US sales. (LINK)

📅 This week, we had World Emoji Day. It was chosen as July 17 because that is the date on the Apple calendar emoji, when Apple introduced iCal for Mac. However, Facebook has a different date on their calendar emoji... and it's Zuck's birthday. (LINK)

Startups

Mini fridge brand Rocco launched a pink fridge in collaboration with Wölffer Estate. I know Nate Rosen would love this. Wölffer Estate is a family-owned winery in the Hamptons, and I hear they don't allow bachelorette parties. (LINK)

Bird Buddy's new AI feature allows users to identify and name individual birds via a connected camera on a bird feeder. I got one of these for my parents but they haven't set it up right yet because our wifi is so weak in the yard. (LINK)

The Analogue Pocket, a retro gaming device, now comes in a muted color scheme and will be available for preorder on July 15 for $499. Hardware is having a moment lately! (LINK)

Simon Enever, co-founder and former CEO of Quip, has launched a new consumer venture studio called So&So, with Shane Pittson, the former CMO of Quip, also involved. Excited for what's to come! (LINK)

David Beckham is launching a consumer health brand called IM8 in partnership with biotech firm Prenetics, where he is an investor. Prenetics went public via a SPAC in 2021. (LINK)

Creator

Elon Musk's X is developing a downvoting feature similar to Reddit's. I feel like this has been a long time coming. X saw its all-time high the day after the attempted Trump assassination. More features on the platform to foster engagement feel inevitable. (LINK)

X's deals with Paris Hilton, Tucker Carlson, and others have fizzled due to a lack of advertiser interest. I would love it if someone had some more details about how much they've made on X via ads. (LINK)

Record labels are suing Verizon for $2.6B+ for allegedly violating copyright law by serving customers accused of pirating music. (LINK)

Jack Schlossberg, JFK's only grandson and funny TikTok guy, has a new job at Vogue and he is getting paid $250 per article. He is exactly who I want writing politics in Vogue. I actually cannot name a better person to do this. Wonderful. Groundbreaking. (LINK)

Underconsumption Core 

A viral trend called "Underconsumption Core" is emerging alongside Amazon Prime Day. The irony. The trend shows off people's normal lifestyles, and to me, is very akin to the minimalism trend we saw a few years ago. (LINK)

The Stanzas: "Are you tired of consumerism?" (LINK)

Feed Me's headline: "We're all consuming too much," with fashion substacks and beyond. (LINK)

Previously in B&B

Golf: Golf apparel brand Metalwood launched a YouTube show. (LINK)

Lab grown diamonds: Dorsey, a lab-grown diamond brand, is gaining attention for its affordable $300 tennis bracelets compared to Tiffany's $7K ones. I wonder what lab-grown diamond will become a classic brand. (LINK)

Podcasts: The "Armchair Expert" podcast joined Amazon in an $80M deal. Looks like they want to give Spotify a run for their money. (LINK)

Clubs: Ivy League clubs in New York are struggling to attract younger members due to outdated decor and dress codes. New strategies are being implemented to retain members. I went to the Harvard Club and Yale Club a few weeks ago and both reminded me of a "nice" place a grandparent would bring you to. Stuffy. Lots of paintings with old people. Music that sucks. If you have a contact, I would love to tell these people how they can make clubs cool again while keeping it classy. (LINK)

NGL: The FTC banned the anonymous social app NGL from serving minors due to deceptive claims about AI content moderation. Thank God, honestly. (LINK)

🧠 BRAIN DUMPS

Othership: I’ve talked about it before and I will talk about it again… Othership, known for its social sauna and ice bath experiences, has a new location in Manhattan's Flatiron District and it is finally open to the public! I am so pumped. Offering guided classes and social events with breathwork and live music, Othership aims to promote wellness and community bonding. Their approach blends ancient therapies with modern comforts, creating a space for relaxation and personal well-being. 🧖‍♀️ 🧘 See you there! (LINK)

Some facts about Othership:

• Introductory pricing begins at $64 for a drop-in session, with class passes ranging from $33 to $67, and membership options starting at $51 per month. (To put that into perspective, a fancy cocktail in Manhattan can cost you ~$20. Think of this as a three-cocktail experience without the hangover.)

• They raised over $10M from backers like Shawn Mendes and the cofounders of SoulCycle.

• Futurestudio developed the creative direction for the physical spaces.

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] 💌