Justpoint Uses AI to Identify Lawsuit Targets

Top News

• Using AI to track down harmful drugs: The Wall Street Journal profiled Justpoint, a Boulder, Colorado-based startup using a combination of AI and human scientists to track down harmful drugs, chemicals, and consumer products for potential lawsuits. Once products that have actively harmed consumers are found, Justpoint forwards the information to their independent law firm, Justpoint PLLC. Then they earn revenue by claiming a portion of the law firm’s settlements.

• Legal AI startup raises $300M: San Francisco AI startup Harvey uses LLMs to assist lawyers and their teams with research, contracts, writing, and other organizational tasks. The company raised a $300 million Series D round led by Sequoia at a $3 billion valuation. That’s double their most recent valuation, from July 2024. Fortune reports that the company has surpassed $50 million ARR, and expects to hit $100 million ARR within the next eight months. Other recent investors include Coatue, Kleiner Perkins, Elad Gil, and OpenAI’s startup fund.

• Apex grabs $46M government contract: In the next major deal for the private space industry, satellite makers Apex Technology landed a $45.9 million contract from the US Space Force. They’ll be manufacturing multiple satellites for use in a variety of NASA orbital missions, to be delivered in 2032. This is Apex’s largest deal to date.

TWiST500

The TWiST500 alums at Apptronik announced a new $350 million Series A round this week, led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with some backing from Google as well. The Texas-based robotics company is developing an AI-powered humanoid robot named Apollo.

To date, Apptronik had mainly been focused on manufacturing assignments for Apollo in factory settings. The company already has deals with NASA and Nvidia, and helped to develop the space agency’s Valkyrie humanoid robot.

The new funds will allow them to start thinking even bigger. CEO Jeff Cardenas told CNBC that he hopes to begin looking for Apollo applications in areas like health care or even domestic work, serving as a true rival to Tesla’s Optimus robots.

But while sci-fi fans everywhere may still have dreams of their very own Rosie to clean the house and fix them dinner, “Jetsons”-style, that’s still a little ways off. Repetitive tasks like making a cup of coffee or fastening a bolt on an assembly line are one thing, but teaching a robot how to do all of your chores is a far more nuanced and complex undertaking. Even with an assist from AI. — Lon

A message from 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. TWiST listeners can get $1,000 off for a limited time at https://www.vanta.com/twist

This Week in Startups

E2084: Jason and Alex interview Sam Lessin from Slow Ventures to discuss the creator economy and their $60M creator fun. They also have a great interview with David Kirtley, the CEO and Co-founder of Helion Energy, about their fusion reactors and the future of energy generation. And Lon Harris hops in to discuss copyright infringement and how it will affect LLMs. Great episode!

E2083: Former newsreader Lon (that’s me!) makes a prodigal son-esque return to the show this week to chat with Jason and Alex about all the tech ads that aired during Super Bowl LIX, and they pick some of their favorite (and least favorite) spots. Then Jason and Alex cover France’s investment strategy when it comes to AI innovation, and AI’s likely impact on employment in the IT sphere, plus they look ahead to some key upcoming earnings reports. All that and the latest on the Founder Fridays competition.

E2082:Jason and Alex break down Trump’s latest move against the carried interest tax loophole—could this shake up venture capital? Then, Orbit Fab CEO Daniel Faber joins to discuss how his company is building “gas stations in space” to refuel satellites and enable the industrialization of space. Plus, Deel’s massive $300M secondary sale, the CapBase acquisition, and big shifts in the European AI and energy sectors.

TWiST Partner Offers

• PrizePicks - Run your game. THE BEST place to get real money action while watching your favorite sports! Download the app today and use code TWIST to get $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup! Go to: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TWIST

• OpenPhone: Create business phone numbers for you and your team that work through an app on your smartphone or desktop. TWiST listeners can get an extra 20% off any plan for your first 6 months at https://www.openphone.com/perks/twist.

• LinkedIn Jobs: A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters. Go to LinkedIn.com/yourstartup to post your first job for free. Terms and conditions apply.

Founder University

Applications are open for Founder University Cohort 10, a 12-week remote pre-accelerator program tailored towards navigating early-startup practices, building an MVP, and growing traction. Submit your application at Founder University— Cohort 10 will kick off Spring 2025!

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