Science & Technology

The founder that left Google and secured a $300M pre-seed valuation in months l Build Mode

Building an AI startup is one thing. Raising one of the largest seed rounds of the year before launching a product is something else entirely. In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Andrew Dai, founder and CEO of Elorian and former Google DeepMind researcher, to unpack…

Published

2 months ago

July 16, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Building an AI startup is one thing. Raising one of the largest seed rounds of the year before launching a product is something else entirely.
In this episode of Build Mode, host and Startup Battlefield lead Isabelle Johannesen sits down with Andrew Dai, founder and CEO of Elorian and former Google DeepMind researcher, to unpack how his company raised a $55 million seed round at a $300 million valuation before generating revenue or releasing a product.

Andrew shares what investors saw in Elorian’s vision for visual AI, how he approached fundraising after leaving Google DeepMind, and why choosing the right investors mattered more than maximizing valuation. He also offers practical advice for founders building in AI, explains why today’s fundraising environment rewards clear storytelling over technical jargon, and shares what surprised him most as a first-time founder.

Subscribe to Build Mode on⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or⁠ wherever you like to listen⁠. And watch the full videos on⁠ YouTube⁠. New episodes of ⁠Build Mode⁠ drop every Thursday.

Chapters:
00:00 Meet Andrew Dai: From DeepMind to Building Elorian
01:48 Why Visual AI Is the Next Frontier
04:50 Raising a $55M Seed With No Revenue
08:46 Landing Nvidia, Jeff Dean, and Top AI Investors
12:17 Managing the Pressure of a $300M Valuation
14:40 How AI Founders Should Pitch Investors
20:47 Hiring, Scaling, and Building a Frontier AI Company
27:00 Turning Down Bigger Offers & Advice for Future Founders

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Science & Technology

We could be heroes?

Could a genetic mutation ever cause humanity to develop super powers? Anthropologist Agustín Fuentes joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about human evolution. Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► Listen to the Uncanny Valley podcast ►► Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► Follow WIRED: Instagram ►► Twitter ►► Facebook ►►…

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1 day ago

September 15, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Could a genetic mutation ever cause humanity to develop super powers? Anthropologist Agustín Fuentes joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about human evolution.

Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►►
Listen to the Uncanny Valley podcast ►►
Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►►

Follow WIRED:
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ABOUT WIRED
WIRED is where tomorrow is realized.

CNET

Valve Steam Frame: Hands On

It’s real and it’s here! CNET’s Scott Stein has been playing with it for the last three weeks, here’s what he has to say about it so far. #valve #steamframe #vr #foveatedrendering #vrheadset #pcgaming Add CNET as a trusted news source Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉 Check out CNET’s Amazon…

Published

2 days ago

September 14, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

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CNET

Valve Steam Frame Is Here: How Good Is This VR Headset?

Part Steam Deck, part VR headset and, yes, it plays Half-Life Alyx. Here’s everything I’ve discovered so far. Read more about the Valve Steam Frame on CNET.com: Steam Frame, Reviewed: Valve’s Ambitious VR Headset Feels Like an Experiment in Progress Timecode Chapters: 0:00 Valve Steam Frame 0:33 A Portable Steam Deck For Your Face 0:57…

Published

2 days ago

September 14, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Part Steam Deck, part VR headset and, yes, it plays Half-Life Alyx. Here’s everything I’ve discovered so far.

Read more about the Valve Steam Frame on CNET.com:
Steam Frame, Reviewed: Valve’s Ambitious VR Headset Feels Like an Experiment in Progress

Timecode Chapters:
0:00 Valve Steam Frame
0:33 A Portable Steam Deck For Your Face
0:57 Design
1:17 Ergonomic Pack
1:47 A Challenge for Glasses Wearers
2:19 Viewing Experience
3:09 Foveated Streaming
3:41 Standalone Features
4:11 VR and Processor
5:11 Half-Life: Alyx
5:54 Controller Covered in Sensors
6:43 Pass-Through Cameras
7:28 Modular Design
8:00 Linux and Customizability
8:18 Not All Games Will Work
8:50 How Is It As A Steam Deck
10:13 Early Products and Valve
11:00 Expect More Later
11:26 The Future of VR, Headsets and The Steam Frame

Video Credits:
Host: Scott Stein
Scripted by: Scott Stein
Producer: Numi Prasarn
Camera: Numi Prasarn
Video Editor: Mitch Chang
Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan