Weekly Roundup: The Highs, Lows, and Bright Spots of Startups

In the world of startups, the past week has been eventful with a mix of successes and challenges for various companies. One notable story is the SoftBank-backed Norway-based online supermarket delivery startup Oda confirming 150 layoffs as it refocuses on Norway and Sweden in hopes of reaching profitability next year. Despite the layoffs, co-founder Jon Kåre Stene remains optimistic, believing that this could lead to the birth of new startups in the Norwegian tech scene.

On the hardware front, Humane’s Ai Pin launch hit a snag as customers were urged to stop using its charging case due to battery fire concerns. This move, though precautionary, is unlikely to help the startup’s case. Meanwhile, French startup ten ten saw success with its original social app going viral, garnering millions of downloads globally.

In the fundraising arena, Solutions by Text (SBT) raised an impressive $110 million in funding, marking a significant milestone for the company that has been bootstrapped since its inception in 2008. Sword Health, an AI-powered virtual physical therapy startup, also made waves with a $30 million primary funding round and a $130 million secondary funding round, bringing its valuation to $3 billion.

Overall, the startup world continues to be a dynamic and ever-changing landscape, with companies facing both triumphs and setbacks as they navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.