A subject pun for GREPTILE is asking too much...

Top News

• Greptile raises $25M to fix your code: When Benchmark invests, we pay attention. So when the lauded firm led Greptile’s Series A, we sat up. Greptile is one of a few startups that wants to turn AI on AI, using automated tools to find bugs inside code. Sure, it can review human-generated code, but Greptile and its competitors like CodeRabbit are working to solve a key problem that AI has brought to market. Namely a flood of software that might be…a bit rough around the edges. This category is nascent — hence why Greptile is raising an A — but likely has enormous TAM. After all, we’re shipping more code than ever and I have yet to hear anyone argue that we’re also shipping the best code we’ve ever put into production.

• Modular wants to help you be GPU-agnostic: Why did investors just push $250 million into Modular? Because it wants to create a software layer for AI applications to work across chip types, something that could come in handy as AMD and startups alike compete to take market share from the GPU giant. The company is growing quickly — 75% month-over-month, if you take them at their word. That’s tasty growth even for the AI era. US Innovative Technology and DFJ Growth led Modular’s round, with participation from GV, General Catalyst, and Greylock.

• What if Cursor, but for non-technical founders? Emergent is an interesting startup. On the surface, the product looks a bit like Lovable, but the company is framing itself more as a Claude Code or Cursor competitor for the non-technical. The distinction may seem modest, but company just landed $23 million in a round led by Lightspeed with participation from Y Combinator, so it has certainly found a market. Similarly, Rocket.new is growing like a weed, as Lovable and Cursor also scale rapidly.

TWiST 500

Another day, another major OpenAI headline. After announcing a mega-deal with Nvidia for 10 gigawatts worth of new compute, and updates on its Oracle-SoftBank data center consortium, the foundation model startup and most-valuable TWIST500 company has more news: It’s building in Germany.

And it’s not alone. OpenAI is teaming up with German software giant SAP to “bring SAP’s enterprise applications expertise and OpenAI’s leading AI technology to Germany’s public sector.” Naturally if we’re discussing European tech, the issue of sovereignty comes into play. You don’t want the US government to have free access to all your data, do you? Especially not in a geopolitically dynamic world.

Enter SAP’s subsidiary cloud Delos, which along with “Microsoft Azure technology” will host the entire affair. That means “millions of public sector employees” in the country will be able to lever OpenAI’s tech while ensuring that their information remains local.

A good question is how many more, related deals we’ll see in time. OpenAI has set up shop in a few countries, but deals of this particular ilk are less common. Will we see something similar in the UK? In India? Probably not France given that the nation is Mistral’s home, but everywhere else, the early bird eats the government worm. — Alex

A message from AlphaSense

Get deeper insights into your business with the power of AI search and market intelligence. Start with a free trial at https://www.alpha-sense.com/twist

This Week in Startups

E2182: We’re Alex-free this Monday, so Jason and Lon work their way through the day’s biggest tech and startup news. First up, did the Trump administration borrow and then super-size Jason’s H-1B visa proposal? It sure sounds like it. PLUS the latest on TikTok USA, the explosion of Scandinavian data centers, a new launch video for AI virtual assistant startup Howie, and much more.

E2181: Lovable CEO Anton Osika joins us for a blockbuster new TWiST, going deep on his journey developing the app that taught the world how to vibecode. Hear Anton discuss how people are using Lovable, how he balances accessibility with driving revenue, why Stockholm has become such a major tech hub, and much more. PLUS Alex and Jason check out Meta’s latest Ray Bans, Beehiiv’s team-up with Discord, and much more!

E2180: It’s a TWiST double-header as Jason and Alex welcome TWO guests currently blowing up on social media. First, Kaan Doğrusöz of Weave Robotics shows off his company’s Isaac robot, designed for laundry folding, which will actually be released to early adopters later on this year. Then, investor Eric Jackson swings by the show to talk about his investment in Opendoor, and why he thinks the beleaguered company could not only turn things around but become the next “100 bagger.” Plus the “End of Apprenticeship,” Jason’s “Bring Your Own Algorithm” pitch, and much more.

TWiST Partner Offers

• Vanta: Compliance and security shouldn't be a deal-breaker for startups to win new business. Vanta makes it easy for companies to get a SOC 2 report fast. Get $1,000 off for a limited time at http://www.vanta.com/twist.

• Northwest Registered Agent: Starting your business should be simple. With Northwest Registered Agent, you can form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. From LLCs to trademarks, domains to custom websites, they’ve got you covered. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!

• AWS Activate: AWS Activate helps startups bring their ideas to life. As you build and scale your business, Activate Credits* grow with you to support your changing needs. Apply to AWS Activate today and receive up to $100,000 in credits. Visit aws.amazon.com/startups/credits

  *All AWS Activate Credits are in USD and subject to the AWS Promotional Credit Terms & Conditions.

Angel University is Back!

Jason and Mike Savino are hosting our next virtual Angel University workshop on Tuesday, October 7. Jason will share proven strategies he’s used to invest $200M+ in over 500 startups. Whether you’re new to angel investing or looking to sharpen your skills, this is your chance to learn directly from one of the most active angel investors in the world. Register now at angel.university!

Founder U is Coming to the MENA Region!

Our 12-week pre-accelerator—designed to help early-stage founders build and grow—kicks off this fall in Saudi Arabia. The first cohort launches in Riyadh on November 3rd, followed by in-person and virtual sessions throughout the program. Founders in MENA: this is your chance to turn your idea into a business and get world-class insights on building a successful startup. Apply today: https://mena.founder.university/

SF Live-Work Space Now Available

Need a flexible living and working environment in San Francisco? This thoughtfully designed loft-style residence at 787 Bryant St., the heart of the vibrant SOMA district and the city’s creative hub, is now available for rent or purchase. Check the listing for more details.

The TWiST500 newsletter is the new, updated, and improved TWiST Ticker.