Startups Weekly: Exploring the Latest Ventures from Y Combinator Cohorts

Here’s a recap of the latest from the startup world:

Y Combinator’s latest batch of startups is in, and unsurprisingly, AI is a dominant theme. Out of 247 companies, 86 identify as AI startups, but with 187 mentioning AI in their pitches, it’s starting to feel like we’re nearing bubble territory. Check out our roundups of the 18 most interesting companies and the TechCrunch staff favorites.

In other news, we’ve got an in-depth interview with the founder of Ember, the hot-mug company. Learn how he split his company in half to attract investors from the MedTech and life sciences sectors.

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Most interesting startup stories from the week

Devin breaks down why Trump’s Truth Social is standing out among startups losing money. Unlike typical Silicon Valley ventures that burn cash with the promise of future profits, Truth Social’s financial woes are more dire. With a staggering $58 million loss against a meager $4 million revenue, the company’s lifelines are unraveling. Unlike startups backed by venture capital, Truth Social lacks explosive user growth and support from deep-pocketed investors. Its public accountability and struggle to attract advertisers compound its challenges. As the stock flounders, the reality sets in that Truth Social’s saga may be less about pioneering digital media and more about alienating advertisers. It’s shaping up to be the most expensive episode of “The Apprentice” ever produced.