Meta Backed Hupo Secures Funding While NVIDIA Powers AI Trading

Meta-backed Hupo, a Singapore-based company, successfully pivoted its focus from a mental wellness app to an AI sales coaching platform. This strategic shift has seen the company secure a $10 million Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to $15 million. Hupo's platform, which founder and CEO Justin Kim started in 2022, now helps sales teams in complex sectors like banking and insurance, providing real-time feedback and customized coaching. Clients such as Prudential and HSBC have reported impressive results, including a 300% increase in conversion rates, with plans for US expansion in early 2026.Beyond sales coaching, AI continues to integrate into various industries. RedCloud Holdings plc, for instance, launched its RedAI Trading Co-Pilot Early Access Program, leveraging agentic AI for global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods trade, powered by NVIDIA and Amazon Web Services. Meanwhile, semiconductor giants like STMicroelectronics and onsemi are foundational, providing silicon platforms for electric vehicles, industrial automation, and edge AI. STMicroelectronics offers STM32 microcontrollers and advanced power devices, while onsemi's EliteSiC platform enhances EV range and develops advanced automotive image sensors for ADAS.The global AI landscape sees significant geopolitical activity. Microsoft warns that China leads the AI race outside Western nations, noting the rapid adoption of DeepSeek's AI technology across Africa and other regions. In response, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Remote Access Security Act, a bipartisan bill designed to prevent Chinese companies from accessing advanced American AI chips like NVIDIA's Blackwell and future Vera Rubin architecture by closing cloud computing loopholes. Separately, Spain's cabinet approved draft legislation to regulate AI deepfakes, setting a minimum age of 16 for image consent and requiring permission for AI-generated advertising.Concerns about AI security are also growing, with a World Economic Forum report indicating that nearly two-thirds of companies now assess AI risks before deployment, a significant increase. While 87% of firms acknowledge rising AI vulnerabilities, many are also using AI to combat cyber threats like phishing. In a major investment, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced $55 million for a new AI research center at Binghamton University, aiming to establish it as a leading US hub for AI research focused on public benefit, safety, and security.Further advancements include ProductPlan's acquisition of Winware.ai, creating an AI-driven product intelligence platform that integrates AI-powered customer and market insights into roadmap tools, with the combined platform available by April 2026. Additionally, Integrated Quantum Technologies (IQT) filed a provisional patent for AIQu, a post-quantum AI infrastructure platform. AIQu aims to protect data and AI models from the future threat of powerful quantum computers, ensuring secure and efficient AI operations in a quantum computing environment.

Key Takeaways

• Meta-backed Hupo secured $10 million in Series A funding, totaling $15 million, after successfully pivoting to an AI sales coaching platform.
• Hupo's AI sales coaching platform has achieved a 300% increase in conversion rates for clients like Prudential and HSBC, with plans for US expansion in early 2026.
• RedCloud launched its RedAI Trading Co-Pilot, an agentic AI platform for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods trade, powered by NVIDIA and Amazon Web Services.
• Microsoft warns that China, with technologies like DeepSeek's AI, leads the AI race outside Western nations, seeing rapid adoption in Africa and other regions.
• The U.S. House passed the Remote Access Security Act to block Chinese companies from accessing advanced American AI chips, including NVIDIA's Blackwell and future Vera Rubin architecture, via cloud computing loopholes.
• STMicroelectronics and onsemi are key semiconductor providers, powering AI at the edge, electric vehicles, and industrial automation with products like STM32 microcontrollers and EliteSiC platforms.
• A World Economic Forum report indicates nearly two-thirds of companies now assess AI risks, and many use AI to combat cyber threats despite increased vulnerabilities.
• Spain proposed new legislation to regulate AI deepfakes, making it illegal to use AI-generated images or voices for advertising without consent and setting a minimum age of 16 for image use.
• New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $55 million investment to establish an AI research center at Binghamton University, focusing on public benefit, safety, and security.
• Integrated Quantum Technologies (IQT) patented AIQu, a post-quantum AI platform designed to protect data and AI models from future quantum computing threats.

Meta-backed Hupo grows with AI sales coaching

Hupo, a Singapore-based company backed by Meta, secured a $10 million Series A funding round in January 2026. The company shifted its focus from a mental wellness app called Ami to an AI sales coaching platform. This platform helps sales teams in banking, finance, and insurance improve performance in real time. Hupo's technology has shown impressive results, including a 300% increase in conversion rates for clients like Prudential and HSBC. The funding will help Hupo expand its real-time coaching and enter new regions like the United States.

Hupo thrives with AI sales coaching after wellness pivot

Meta-backed Hupo found great success by changing its focus from mental wellness to AI sales coaching. The company realized its conversational AI could offer immediate value in sales by improving deal conversion and training. Hupo's platform analyzes sales calls, gives real-time feedback, and customizes coaching for sales teams. This pivot helped Hupo achieve faster growth and investor trust, especially with Meta's support providing capital and credibility. Businesses using Hupo report faster onboarding and better sales results.

Hupo gains traction with AI sales coaching shift

Hupo, a company backed by Meta, has seen significant growth after changing its focus from mental wellness to AI sales coaching. Founder and CEO Justin Kim started the company in 2022, initially exploring human performance. Hupo now uses AI to coach sales teams in complex industries like banking and insurance, where traditional coaching struggles to reach everyone. The Singapore-based startup recently raised a $10 million Series A round, bringing its total funding to $15 million. Hupo serves many enterprise customers in APAC and Europe, including Prudential and HSBC, and plans to expand into the US in early 2026.

STMicroelectronics powers AI, EVs, and automation

STMicroelectronics N.V. is a major semiconductor company that quietly powers many essential technologies. It provides silicon platforms for electric vehicles, industrial automation, and edge AI. The company's products include STM32 microcontrollers, which support AI at the edge, and advanced silicon carbide and gallium nitride power devices for high efficiency. STMicroelectronics also supplies MEMS sensors for various electronic devices. This strategic approach helps drive innovation in electrification, automation, and AI, making it a key player in modern hardware design.

Onsemi drives EV and AI hardware innovation

ON Semiconductor, also known as onsemi, is a leading supplier of power, sensing, and analog solutions for critical industries. The company focuses on electric vehicles, energy infrastructure, and industrial automation. Onsemi's EliteSiC platform provides silicon carbide power devices that improve EV range and charging speed. It also develops advanced automotive image sensors for ADAS and driver monitoring systems, designed to work in tough conditions. Onsemi's technology helps make modern hardware more efficient, reliable, and safer across various applications.

RedCloud launches RedAI Trading Co-Pilot for customers

RedCloud Holdings plc announced its Early Access Program for the RedAI Trading Co-Pilot. This new platform uses agentic AI to bring intelligent features to global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods trade. The RedAI Trading Co-Pilot is powered by NVIDIA and Amazon Web Services. This launch marks an important step as the product moves from development to real-world use by customers.

Microsoft warns China leads AI outside West

Microsoft has issued a warning that China is currently ahead in the artificial intelligence race outside of Western nations. The company's research shows that DeepSeek's AI technology is rapidly gaining popularity. This technology is being widely adopted across Africa and other regions around the world.

US House passes bill to block China AI chip access

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a new bipartisan bill called the Remote Access Security Act. This bill aims to stop Chinese companies from getting advanced American AI chips by closing a loophole. Previously, some Chinese firms could rent offshore data centers to access powerful chips like Nvidia's Blackwell. The new law extends export controls to cloud computing, ensuring that these chips, including future Nvidia Vera Rubin architecture, remain off-limits. This move strengthens U.S. national security and protects American innovation.

Companies improve AI security measures

A new report from the World Economic Forum shows that businesses are finally taking AI security risks seriously. Nearly two-thirds of companies now assess AI risks before using new tools, a big jump from last year. While 87% of firms believe AI vulnerabilities have increased, many are also using AI to fight cyber threats. Common uses include detecting phishing and intrusions. However, challenges like a lack of skilled workers and the need for human checks still exist.

Spain proposes new laws against AI deepfakes

Spain's cabinet has approved new draft legislation to control AI deepfakes and strengthen consent rules for images. The bill aims to protect children and sets 16 as the minimum age for consenting to image use. It also makes it illegal to use a person's AI-generated image or voice for advertising without permission. Justice Minister Felix Bolanos stated that creative uses for public figures are allowed if clearly marked as AI-generated. This move comes as the European Union works to regulate deepfakes and follows investigations into AI-generated content.

Binghamton to get $55 million AI research center

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $55 million investment to create a new AI research center at Binghamton University. This center aims to make Binghamton a leading hub for AI research in the United States, focusing on public benefit, safety, and security. Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham and local leaders praised the investment, expecting it to bring growth and jobs to Broome County. This project positions Binghamton at the forefront of the technological revolution.

ProductPlan buys Winware.ai for AI intelligence platform

ProductPlan, a top software platform for Product Lifecycle Management, has acquired Winware.ai. This acquisition aims to create an AI-driven product intelligence platform. Winware.ai adds AI-powered customer and market insights to ProductPlan's existing roadmap tools. Steven Cohn, Winware.ai's founder, will become the new CEO of ProductPlan. The combined platform will help product teams make better decisions and will be available to more customers by April 2026.

IQT patents AIQu a post-quantum AI platform

Integrated Quantum Technologies IQT has filed a provisional patent for its new post-quantum AI infrastructure platform called AIQu. This platform aims to protect data and AI models from the future threat of powerful quantum computers, which could break current encryption. AIQu uses new algorithms and designs to ensure secure and efficient AI operations in a quantum computing environment. This patent filing is a big step for IQT in leading the development of quantum-resistant cybersecurity and AI solutions.

Sources

• Meta-Backed Hupo Accelerates Growth with Shift to AI Sales Coaching
• Meta-backed Hupo Finds Success After Pivoting to AI Sales Coaching from Mental Wellness
• Meta-backed Hupo finds growth after pivot to AI sales coaching from mental wellness
• STMicroelectronics N.V.: The Silent Powerhouse Behind the AI Hardware Boom
• ON Semiconductor: The Quiet Powerhouse Behind the EV and AI Hardware Boom
• RedCloud Activates Early Customer Access to RedAI Trading Co-Pilot, Putting Agentic AI to Work in Global FMCG Trade
• Microsoft warns that China is winning AI race outside the west
• U.S. House passes bill to stop Chinese companies from accessing export-controlled American AI chips using offshore rental loophole — Remote Access Security Access Act effectively extends export controls to the cloud
• Businesses are finally taking action to crack down on AI security risks
• Spain moves to curb AI deepfakes, tighten consent rules on images
• Binghamton leaders react to AI investment, Hochul's state of the state
• ProductPlan Acquires Winware.ai to Create an AI-Driven Product Intelligence Platform
• Integrated Quantum Technologies (DBA) Files Provisional Patent for Post-Quantum AI Infrastructure Platform, AIQu