Posts by Mark Darwin
OpenAI unveils AI agent service as part of push to attract businesses
The platform is part of a broader effort by OpenAI to seize the enterprise market from its rivals Published Thu, Feb 5, 2026 · 10:41 PM [SAN FRANCISCO] OpenAI on Thursday (Feb 5) said it is launching a service, called Frontier, for companies to build and manage so-called artificial-intelligence agents, or AI tools that can…
Read MoreEV maker Nio set to record first adjusted operating profit for Q4 FY2025
The turnaround is driven by ‘sustained growth’ in sales volume and a favourable product mix [SINGAPORE] Electric vehicle manufacturer Nio expects to record its first-ever quarterly adjusted operating profit for the three months ended Dec 31, 2025. Nio’s Q4 adjusted operating profit is set to range from 700 million yuan (S$128.4 million) to 1.2 billion…
Read MoreGrab to equip 10,000 drivers, merchants with AI skills by 2028
This aligns with efforts by policymakers to future-proof workers as AI reshapes business models and jobs [SINGAPORE] Grab aims to train 10,000 drivers and merchants on its platform with artificial intelligence (AI) skills by 2028, the company said on Thursday (Feb 5). The target was announced during a visit to Grab’s one-north office by Acting…
Read MoreTrillion-dollar tech wipeout ensnares all stocks in AI’s path
Published Thu, Feb 5, 2026 · 12:55 PM [SAN FRANCISCO] There have been many artificial intelligence (AI)-driven sell-offs in the three years since ChatGPT burst into the mainstream. Nothing, though, quite rivals the rout rippling through stock and credit markets this week. For one, there’s the sheer speed and breadth of it. In the span…
Read More9 fundraising myths that first-time founders still believe
If you are raising capital for the first time, it can feel like everyone else got a secret playbook you missed. Twitter threads make it sound easy. Demo Day decks look inevitable in hindsight. Meanwhile you are rewriting your pitch at midnight, second-guessing your metrics, and wondering if investors can smell uncertainty through a Zoom…
Read More7 differences between taking risk and gambling with your future
Every founder is told to take risks. Quit the job. Ship the MVP. Bet on yourself. Risk is framed as a prerequisite for building anything meaningful, and that is mostly true. But somewhere along the way, many founders blur an important line. Not all risks are created equal, and not all bold moves are brave.…
Read MoreWhat is value-based pricing (and why it works for startups)
You finally have users. A few are paying. Some say the product is “cheap,” others ask for discounts, and a couple would probably pay more but you never tested it. Pricing suddenly feels heavier than features, because one wrong move affects revenue, positioning, and confidence all at once. This is where most founders start hearing…
Read MoreUber forecasts profit below estimates as cheaper rides boost trips but hurt margins
Published Wed, Feb 4, 2026 · 08:11 PM [SAN FRANCISCO] Uber Technologies forecast first-quarter profit below market expectations and missed fourth-quarter estimates on Wednesday (Feb 4), as margins took a toll from the company’s attempt to lift trip volumes through more affordable ride options. Trips rose 22 per cent in the fourth quarter, as more…
Read More7 reasons the best founders plan for profit before they plan for scale
Most founders say they want to build something big. What they usually mean is they want momentum. Users, revenue, headcount, press. Scale feels like progress, especially when you are early and everything still feels fragile. But if you spend enough time around companies that actually survive, a quieter pattern shows up. The founders who last…
Read MoreHow to decide between building in public and stealth (pros and cons)
You’ve got an idea you can’t stop thinking about. Part of you wants to share the journey, post weekly updates, and let the internet hold you accountable. Another part worries about being copied, being judged too early, or realizing publicly that the idea is not as strong as you hoped. Almost every early-stage founder reaches…
Read More