🚀 Ready for the freshest insights in design and tech? This week’s digest is packed with industry moves, product innovations, and design wins that are shaping the future.
This digest is about to hit harder than your favorite TikTok sound going viral. Let's dive in.
Industry moves
- BlackRock injects £500M in UK data centres expansion. BlackRock’s £500M investment in UK data centres signals growing demand for robust, secure storage. This is part of a larger £7B commitment for next year. The implications? Expect tighter data security protocols and more infrastructure-driven innovation in the UK tech landscape.
- MarqVision raises $48M to power AI-driven IP protection. With $48M in Series B funding, MarqVision is stepping up its AI-powered IP protection game. This is critical as more businesses turn to AI for safeguarding intellectual property in a rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
- ScaleAI Rival Micro1 nabs $35M to challenge AI data labelling titans. Micro1 just secured $35M in Series A funding, taking on industry giants with its human contractor-managed data labelling solution. Watch this space as it pushes to redefine data labelling in the AI space.
- FormlyAI snags $2M to slash medical device certification time with AI. FormlyAI’s $2M seed funding will help speed up medical device certification with AI, addressing a major bottleneck in the healthcare sector. Expect quicker approvals and innovation cycles as AI accelerates regulatory processes.
- Encentive taps €6.3M to cut industrial energy costs with AI. With €6.3M in fresh capital, Encentive is driving energy efficiency in industries via AI. As sustainability remains a key concern, AI-powered energy solutions are about to reshape industrial operations on a global scale.
- Airwallex takes on Stripe with acquisition of OpenPay. Airwallex is making moves to compete directly with Stripe by acquiring OpenPay, a subscription billing startup. This acquisition opens the door for Airwallex to make major waves in the recurring revenue management space.
Product reality check
- Spotify lets free users pick and play tracks. Spotify is rolling out a game-changer for free users: the ability to search and play any track. This move will strengthen Spotify’s market position by increasing engagement across its free user base.
- OpenAI ramps up robotics work in race toward AGI. OpenAI is intensifying its push to develop humanoid robots, reflecting an aggressive step toward AGI. If they pull it off, we’re looking at a future where AI could have a hand in controlling robots with real-world applications.
- Ultraloq adds Android tap-to-unlock to its Apple home key smart lock. Ultraloq’s new NFC tap-to-unlock feature for Android is a win for accessibility, expanding its compatibility beyond iOS. It’s a smart move to ensure broad adoption of their smart lock systems.
- Snap OS 2.0 is a small step toward AR glasses you might actually wear. Snap is pushing forward with Snap OS 2.0, signaling an AR glasses evolution. We’re not quite at the consumer-ready version yet, but Snap’s bold moves in AR design are worth noting.
- Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is poised to be the flagship mobile chipset for Android. While it’s still in the pre-launch phase, it promises to disrupt mobile computing once it hits the market.
Design wins
- Lazarev.agency designed a B2B E-commerce website that boosts engagement and drives revenue. The challenge was a dated, overly corporate brand. A redesign for We Build Memories that balanced warmth and professionalism while optimizing for conversions. By modernizing the platform, we streamlined the customization process and boosted engagement.
- Liquid glass: Apple’s bold redesign. Apple’s liquid glass design is stirring mixed reactions. Some designers see it as a bold statement, while others feel it sacrifices functionality for aesthetics. One thing’s clear: it’s pushing the boundaries of system design.
- Lloyd’s becomes Socra AI. Lloyd’s rebranding to Socra AI is about more than just a new name. It’s about a new mission to integrate AI into education and make learning an interactive, thought-driven process. This shift reflects a broader trend where AI is enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them.
- Otherway rebrands Robin AI. Robin AI’s rebranding by Otherway positions legal AI not as a barrier but as a business enabler. The warm, tactile new identity is a sharp pivot from traditional legal tech, aligning with the need for more human-centric approaches in law.
Events to monitor
- San Diego Small Business Expo (September 18) – This is where startups and entrepreneurs go to meet, network, and get actionable advice. If you’re in San Diego, it’s the must-attend event of the week.
- Norwalk Meet-Up (September 16) – A free networking event for local businesses in Norwalk. Perfect for making connections and learning from your peers in the business community.
This week’s reality check
8-step UX design process to achieve product-market fit
Good UX isn’t guesswork. It’s a structured, 8-step process that starts with aligning stakeholders and ends with post-launch iteration. You get artifacts at each phase keeping everyone aligned and ensuring data-driven decisions.
Design thinking in entrepreneurship
Design thinking is more than a buzzword. It’s a proven method for solving real user pain through empathy, rapid prototyping, and testing. Forget long interviews, observe user behavior and prototype early to validate tech assumptions before committing to code.
🔥 Next week: More wins, fewer buzzwords.
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