Read the exclusive pitch deck AI infrastructure startup Cerebrium used to nab $8.5 million from Gradient Ventures
Cerebrium, cofounded in Cape Town by CEO Michael Louis and CTO Jonathan Irwin and headquartered in New York, is a platform used by its customers' engineering teams to build and scale multimodal AI applications — which can process different types of data, including text, images, and audio.
Cerebrium works across three main categories, Louis said: Voice AI, real-time digital avatars, and healthcare.
Cerebrium provides the infrastructure building blocks behind the scenes — such as model inference and training, and data processing — allowing engineers to focus on their core product and workflows, Louis told BI. It also helps customers to deploy their applications in different regions.
"We believe specialized infrastructure, which scales elastically, will be essential as real-time AI becomes core to customer experiences," Gradient partner Eylul Kayin said in a statement.
Louis formerly founded the e-commerce startup OneCart, which was acquired by Walmart-owned Massmart in 2021. The idea for Cerebrium came as the team struggled to build machine learning at the on-demand grocery delivery company, Louis said.
Cerebrium offers serverless CPU and GPU infrastructure that spins up and down quickly, making it ideal for volatile workloads and cost-effective for clients, Louis said. "What that means is you only get charged for that exact time that it was basically running for," he said.
The company currently counts only four engineers and is generating millions in annual recurring revenue. It counts among its clients AI-generated video purveyor Tavus and voice AI companies Deepgram and Vapi.
The company will use funds to hire more engineers to meet enterprise demand and introduce new features, Louis said.
Here's a look at the pitch deck Cerebrium used to raise $8.5 million in seed funding. Some slides and details have been redacted in order to share the deck publicly.
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Cerebrium
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
31 minutes ago
- Black America Web
Microsoft Laying Off Up To 9,000 Employees, Xbox Cancels ‘Perfect Dark', Gamers React
Source: picture alliance / Getty / Microsoft / Xbox / Phil Spencer Wednesday was a rough one for Microsoft and Team Xbox. The Seattle Times reports that Microsoft is giving about 9,100, or about 4 percent, of its workforce pink slips. According to the report, the Xbox division, aka Microsoft Gaming, will be hit the hardest as a result of these layoffs, but the exact number remains unknown. In a message to the team, Xbox head Phil Spencer said to the team, 'To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft's lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness.' The sad news also means that these layoffs will impact games. According to Bloomberg , the Microsoft-owned King division, the maker of the wildly popular Candy Crush mobile game franchise, is laying off 10 percent of its employees, or approximately 200 people. Zenimax also confirmed it was laying off employees. Turn 10, the studio behind the Forza Motorsport franchise, is laying off more than 70 employees . The long-talked-about Perfect Dark game from the now-shuttered studio The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, along with Everwild , has been canceled. Perfect Dark was just revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase in 2024, so that means there's a possibility that more games shown during that event could be put on ice by Microsoft. This latest round of layoffs follows Microsoft's layoffs of more than 6,000 employees less than two months ago, which were subsequently supplemented by an additional 305 reductions in early June. Phil Spencer's entire memo to the team, speaking about the recent round of layoffs, reads: Today we are sharing decisions that will impact colleagues across our organization. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft's lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness. Out of respect for those impacted today, the specifics of today's notifications and any organizational shifts will be shared by your team leaders in the coming days. I recognize that these changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before. Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger. The success we're seeing currently is based on tough decisions we've made previously. We must make choices now for continued success in future years and a key part of that strategy is the discipline to prioritize the strongest opportunities. We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business. This focused approach means we can deliver exceptional games and experiences for players for generations to come. Prioritizing our opportunities is essential, but that does not lessen the significance of this moment. Simply put, we would not be where we are today without the time, energy, and creativity of those whose roles are impacted. These decisions are not a reflection of the talent, creativity, and dedication of the people involved. Our momentum is not accidental—it is the result of years of dedicated effort from our teams. HR is working directly with impacted employees to provide severance plan benefits (aligned with local laws), including pay, healthcare coverage, and job placement resources to support their transition. Employees whose roles were eliminated are encouraged to explore open positions across Microsoft Gaming, where their applications will be given priority review. Thank you to everyone who has shaped our culture, our products, and our community. We will move forward with deep appreciation and respect for all who have contributed to this journey. Phil You can see reactions to the announcement of the unfortunate layoffs in the gallery below, spoiler alert, Phil Spencer might want to stay off social media for a while. Microsoft Laying Off Up To 9,000 Employees, Xbox Cancels 'Perfect Dark', Gamers React was originally published on
Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Review: Walmart Versus Trader Joe's Umami Seasoning
I've always been a devout enthusiast of seasonings — the tiny, unassuming, unsung heroes of the kitchen. How can something so small have the power to drastically change the flavor and feeling of a dish? A dash of curry in a chicken salad. The sprinkle of cinnamon in a mug of morning coffee. A pinch of turmeric in a sunny scramble. A handful of years back, I grew wildly intrigued by Trader Joe's creative, playful — and sometimes downright wild — selection of spices. The lineup was vast, unexpected, and affordable. I turned to Everything Bagel Seasoning to jazz up my avocado toast, 21 Seasoning Salute for my fish and chicken, and Everything But The Elote on my corn. And then came the Umami Blend! Bursting with deep layers of flavor, it was somehow good on everything from green bean casseroles to salad dressings and pasta sauces to omelets. So, when I heard that Walmart launched its own Bettergoods Umami Seasoning, I knew it was time for some investigative research and a proper side-by-side comparison. And what better test vehicle than popcorn? 🍄🟫 The Umami Seasoning Shakedown Walmart Bettergoods Mushroom Umami Seasoning Ingredients: sea salt, onion, mustard seed, porcini mushroom, white button mushroom, crushed red pepper, black pepper, thyme, silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent)Cost: $2.96 (2.7 oz) Trader Joe's Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend Ingredients: kosher salt, dried onions, ground mustard seed, porcini mushroom powder, white button mushroom powder, crushed red pepper, black pepper, dried thymeCost: $2.99 (2.1 oz) Walmart's version leaned saltier with stronger onion notes. The spice itself clung better on popcorn than its Trader Joe's counterpart, and I found I could use less to get the flavor punch I wanted. It had a distinct flavor that was reminiscent of something I couldn't pinpoint, so I requested my husband try it to help identify it. 'Top Ramen!' he noted after a few bites. Bingo. The Trader Joe's version, on the other hand, was more subtle and balanced. You need a little more for that "wow" factor, but the ground mustard seed within the mixture seemed more prevalent than in the Bettergoods version, which added an earthy complexity I loved. Winner: Trader Joe's (but it depends on your mood and occasion!) I feel this is very much a matter of personal opinion and circumstance. I could see myself reaching for the Walmart version if I wanted the wow-factor (maybe on popcorn or for party snacks), while I'd opt for the Trader Joe's version for everyday cooking. It's mellow and doesn't overpower, but rather complements the food. Both of these seasonings, however, would shine on noodle bowls with scallions, mung beans, and broth, or tossed with roasted veggies or scrambled eggs. I'd also like to try both on buttered toast with a soft-boiled egg and a sprinkle of chili flakes. Hey, you! Wanna cook 7,500+ recipes in step-by-step mode (with helpful videos) right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. 🌶️ Bonus: Sriracha Seasoning Shakedown So, with my umami research done, I found myself compelled to compare more spices. From my most recent research, I was aware that Trader Joe's had unfortunately discontinued their own Sriracha Sprinkle (fingers crossed that it comes back someday). But I did want to see if Walmart's Bettergoods line could fill the void. For fairness, I compared it to Trader Joe's still-available Crunchy Chili Onion Sprinkle Seasoning Blend, which is a totally different texture, but close enough in spirit to be worth tasting (and contains similar ingredients like sugar, paprika, onion, and chilis). Walmart Bettergoods Sriracha Flavored Seasoning Ingredients: sriracha chili sauce powder, sugar, maltodextrin, paprika, salt, tomato powder, vinegar solids, modified corn starch, onion powder, paprika extractives, silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent), citric acid, malic acid, natural flavorCost: $2.96 (2.3 oz) Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion Sprinkle Seasoning Blend Ingredients: sea salt, crispy fried onions, chili flakes, brown sugar, dried roasted garlic, dehydrated red bell pepper, silicon dioxide, dried Szechuan pepper, yeast extract, paprikaCost: $1.99 (2.64 oz) Tomato-forward with a good amount of spice and flavor that held up in every bite of popcorn, the Walmart version was delightful! The Trader Joe's Crunchy Chili Onion Seasoning is pretty, with its red pepper flake-style texture, but it didn't cling well (which wasn't too surprising). It would need the help of butter to stay put, though the spice level was nice — not too much, not too little — and I loved the crispy fried onion component. Winner: Walmart It's tough to say which would be better between the discontinued sriracha from Trader Joe's or this Bettergoods version. That being said, I was really impressed with Walmart's sriracha, and I'm excited to have found it. It packs the perfect punch and is versatile enough to use on a wide range of dishes. Try both of these on fried eggs, chicken wings, or to give your burgers some spice. They'd both be great on avocado toast, but I'm especially eager to try it on bacon with a little drizzle of maple syrup before baking, then stack it on a BLTA. 🍅 Bonus Part Two: Ketchup Seasoning Spotlight Okay, and finally…I just couldn't resist. Does anyone remember the Trader Joe's Ketchup Flavored Sprinkle Seasoning Blend? It had a bit of a cult following before disappearing, so when I spotted a ketchup seasoning in the Bettergoods lineup, I had to try it. Walmart Bettergoods Ketchup Seasoning Ingredients: tomato powder, salt, sugar, vinegar powder, onion, vegetable oil, silicone dioxideCost: $2.96 (3.2 oz) Holy tomatoes! This one is ketchup through and through. It's perfectly tangy, slightly sweet, and unmistakably tomato-forward. I can't compare it side-by-side with Trader Joe's since it's off shelves, but for those of us still mourning the loss of the original, Walmart's makes a solid stand-in. It's a natural fit for fries, eggs, and grilled cheese, but also great mixed into mayo for burgers or sandwiches. I'm planning to try it on roasted chickpeas and hashbrowns next. At the end of the day, popcorn might not be the most scientific testing ground, but it was a low-commitment, high-reward way to explore the flavors of the seasonings. Walmart's Bettergoods line truly impressed me. I found it to be completely comparable, gourmet, fun, and filled with flavor. Trader Joe's still wins on depth and subtle complexity with their umami blend, but Walmart takes the crown for sriracha— spicier, punchier, and more versatile. And while the original Trader Joe's ketchup seasoning will always hold a nostalgic place in my heart, Walmart's version is most certainly a worthy replacement. Are you a well-seasoned spice enthusiast who's tried both lines? If so, what's your opinion? Drop your thoughts with us in the comments below! If you're looking for new dishes to really utilize your spice drawer, download the free Tasty app to browse and save thousands of recipes — no subscription required.
CNET
15 hours ago
- CNET
Walmart's Prime Day-Busting Blowout Sale Has Onn 4K Roku TVs Starting at Just $74
Walmart is proving that you don't have to shop Amazon's Prime Day sale to get a great deal by clearing out its current line of Roku-powered TVs. These deals are available across a range of sizes and models, ranging from a 24-inch TV all the way up to a cinematic 65-inch behemoth. And with prices starting at just $74, we're pretty sure there is going to be deal for everyone. All of these models are available to be ordered today, with no need to do anything special other than order your TV before the deals come to an end. Some even come with a slew of Apple services freebies, including Apple TV Plus, so you'll have something new to watch on your fancy smart TV. The entry-level 24-inch Onn Roku smart TV is perfect for small bedrooms and kitchen counters, and at just $74, it's hard to beat. That's a $64 discount, and a real bargain if you're in the market for a small-screen model. It's only a 720p display, but that's more than enough at this size. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. At the opposite end of the scale, we have the 65-inch LED Roku smart TV that can be yours for just $298. That's a $50 discount and it includes an upgrade to 4K support for improved image quality. At this size, you really do need it. Somewhere in the middle, we have the 50-inch 4K LED version of the same TV, available for just $178. This model represents a massive $151 discount and might just be the sweet spot for most people. Walmart is clearing out its Roku-powered TVs as it gets ready to make the switch to new models running Vizio software, hence the sale. But these TVs still offer wireless access to all of your favorite streaming apps and services, and, at these prices, you really can't go wrong. Be sure to check out the full line of Onn Roku TVs to see whether there's a better deal for you -- there are plenty of options across price and size ranges for you to choose from. Best Prime Day TV Deals Prime Day is well known as one of the best times of the year to save big on a new TV. We've checked through every deal available, and rounded up the best discounts for you to take advantage of. See Now Why this deal matters You can't beat upgrading your TV when it comes to improving your movie-watching and gaming experience. But whether you're buying for a home theater or just need to put a TV in your kid's bedroom, these deals have something for everyone. And with prices starting at just $74, they won't break the bank.
