The End Of Bad Decisions?

Salted, a Los Angeles-based company that creates and operates quick-serve restaurant brands, has secured $14 million in Series B funding. The company, founded in 2014, has developed six brands, including moonbowls (Korean cuisine) and Cauliflower Pizza. Unlike many "ghost kitchen" businesses, Salted owns its intellectual property and operates its brands, aiming to build a new generation of restaurants focused on delivery and takeout. The funding will be used to accelerate the company's vision of opening "thousands of locations" over the next few years, making it significant for consumers looking for diverse and convenient dining options.

Riffusion, an AI-powered music generation app, has raised $4 million in a seed round led by Greycroft, with participation from South Park Commons and Sky9. The app allows users to describe lyrics and a musical style to generate "riffs," or short, shareable audio clips. Created by developers Seth Forsgren and Hayk Martiros, the app aims to democratize music creation, making it easier for anyone to create and share original music. This funding will help Riffusion expand its team and develop new generative AI products, offering a new form of expression and communication that could change the way we interact with music.

Lanch, a Berlin-based startup, has raised $6.9 million in funding to expand its unique business model that pairs influencers with "virtual kitchens" to create ad-hoc food delivery brands. The company's first brand, "Happy Slice," a pizza venture in collaboration with German YouTubers Knossi and Trymacs, sold more than 30,000 pizzas during its launch weekend. Lanch aims to use technology and data analytics to offer quality control and insights to both creators and partner restaurants, making it easier for them to connect with audiences and optimize kitchen efficiency. This approach could revolutionize the way consumers interact with food delivery services, offering them new, influencer-curated dining options.

Alpaca, a San Mateo-based startup, has secured $15 million in a convertible note from Japanese financial firm SBI Group. Alpaca offers stock and crypto brokerage trading services via API, allowing fintech companies to embed trading functionalities into their apps. The investment will accelerate Alpaca's expansion in Asia, particularly in Japan and Southeast Asia, where nearly 20% of its clients are based. This funding could make it easier for average people to access stock and crypto trading through a variety of apps, especially in Asia.

Agnikul, an Indian space tech startup, has raised $26.7 million to develop small-lift launch vehicles for customizable satellite rockets. The Chennai-based company aims to fill the gap in the market for launching small satellites, which are increasingly in demand for applications like precise location tracking and internet connectivity in remote areas. Agnikul uses 3D printing for faster production timelines and offers tailor-made launches, setting it apart from existing players like SpaceX. The funding will help the startup move towards commercial launches, offering more accessible and cost-effective satellite launch options.