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How Harvey’s CEO manages rapid growth
Winston Weinberg, cofounder and CEO of legal startup Harvey, says the company’s success comes from two simple habits: reviewing his calendar regularly and staying involved in hiring.
Harvey is currently doubling its revenue roughly every six months. With that pace, the demands on Weinberg change quickly.
“When the company grows this fast, the pressure on the CEO increases,” he said at TechLaw Fest in Singapore. “The only way to manage it is to improve how you work.”
Calendar reviews
Weinberg examines his schedule to see how his time is being spent. He decides what can be delegated, what can be automated, and what needs his personal attention. The goal is to step back from daily operations and focus on three areas he considers the core of a CEO’s job: recruiting, product development, and customer engagement.
“I want to be sure that when something is urgent, I can give it my full attention while the rest of the company continues running smoothly,” he said.
Hands-on hiring
Weinberg is involved in every first hire when Harvey opens a new office. He believes these early employees set the tone and culture for the rest of the team.
Harvey recently opened an office in Sydney. The company plans to hire about fifteen people this year and increase that number as the office grows.
In some cases, Harvey promotes employees with local experience to lead new offices, such as the head of Australia who was born and raised there.
Empowering talent early
Weinberg says Harvey gives employees significant responsibility early. “We move people into leadership roles quickly,” he said. “Some employees who have never managed a team are now leading groups of twenty.”
This approach helps Harvey attract ambitious talent who might otherwise choose larger companies.
Why startups matter
Many industry leaders agree that startups provide valuable experience. Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham has said that while big companies offer safety, the connections and experience built at startups prepare employees to become future leaders.
“In ten years, they will be running everything,” Graham said, “even if the startup does not succeed.”
For Weinberg, growing Harvey is about structure, focus, and trust. He believes that no matter the size of the company, success depends on people and how leaders choose to spend their time.
Read more HERE
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Hackers working for the North Korean government have stolen more than two billion dollars in cryptocurrency this year, according to new research from blockchain firm Elliptic. The total marks the largest yearly haul ever recorded, with several months still left before the year ends.
A surge in digital theft
Elliptic reported that North Korean cyber teams have carried out more than thirty major hacks this year. Since 2017, the regime has taken at least six billion dollars through crypto crimes, though analysts believe the real number could be higher. Not every attack is reported, and some are difficult to confirm.
Targets expand beyond exchanges
For years, the main focus of these hackers has been large crypto trading platforms. Recently, however, they have begun targeting wealthy individuals who hold digital assets privately. These attacks often rely on psychological manipulation rather than technical flaws.
Human error replaces code flaws
The majority of this year’s thefts came through social engineering. Instead of exploiting vulnerabilities in blockchain systems, hackers tricked victims into giving up access to their accounts. Elliptic warned that people, not systems, are now the weakest link in crypto security.
Financing weapons and avoiding sanctions
The United Nations and several governments say the stolen funds are helping North Korea fund its nuclear weapons program. Japan, South Korea, and the United States have all accused the regime of using cyber theft to bypass international sanctions.
The biggest hit so far
The most significant breach of 2025 came from the one point four billion dollar theft from the crypto exchange Bybit. The FBI and other security researchers linked the operation directly to North Korean hackers. Other past victims include Axie Infinity, Harmony, and WazirX.
Why it matters
The scale of these attacks highlights how digital money can empower entire governments to operate outside the global financial system. Everyday investors risk losing savings to scams that look legitimate. Large institutions are discovering that even advanced security systems can be undone by a single compromised login or careless click.
The lesson
Cybersecurity is no longer a background issue for traders or tech firms. It touches every digital wallet, every exchange, and every person holding crypto. The threat is real, global, and evolving fast.
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Employees push back as Ford IT system hacked
Ford Motor Company faced an unusual IT incident on October 2. Screens in corporate offices across Dearborn displayed an anti-return-to-office image targeting CEO Jim Farley. The image showed Farley with a red circle over his face and a message opposing the four-day-in-office policy.
Swift removal and ongoing investigation
Ford removed the image quickly. A spokesperson said the company is investigating whether the incident occurred only in Dearborn or across other facilities. Employees shared photos on social media, sparking conversations about workplace flexibility and employee sentiment.
Return-to-office policy sparks debate
Farley implemented the four-day-in-office policy earlier this year. The company plans to move leadership, designers, and engineers into a new headquarters to improve collaboration. While most employees have complied, the IT incident highlights that some workers feel unheard.
CEO expectations and culture
Farley, 63, has led Ford for five years and set higher performance standards. Managers have authority to address low productivity, but there are no quotas for firing employees over office attendance. Reviews on Glassdoor show positive ratings, but the incident underscores that even satisfied employees may push back when they feel policies are too rigid.
Detroit automakers face similar challenges
Ford is not alone. General Motors employees initially resisted a return-to-office mandate in 2022. GM adjusted its policies after feedback, showing that companies must listen to employees to maintain morale and productivity.
What this means for employees and leaders
This incident shows how workplace rules intersect with technology and employee engagement. Corporate IT systems can become a platform for workers to voice frustration. Protecting tech infrastructure is important, but so is understanding employee perspectives. Flexible approaches may foster better culture and prevent future disruptions.
Looking ahead
Ford continues its investigation and will likely adjust security measures. The episode highlights the importance of balancing operational efficiency with employee satisfaction in modern workplaces.
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Atlantic Quantum joins Google
Google Quantum AI, founded in 2012, announced that it is acquiring Atlantic Quantum. Atlantic Quantum is an MIT-founded startup that designs advanced quantum computing hardware. This acquisition will help Google scale its qubit systems faster and make quantum computing more practical for real-world applications.
Modular chip technology boosts scalability
Atlantic Quantum develops modular chip stacks that combine qubits with superconducting control electronics. This design allows Google to expand its superconducting qubit hardware efficiently. As a result, experiments can run faster, and researchers can focus on solving complex problems that classical computers cannot handle.
Impact for industries and everyday users
The acquisition could speed up breakthroughs in chemistry, optimization, and materials science. Businesses may soon use quantum solutions for large-scale simulations, secure communications, and advanced data analysis. For everyday tech enthusiasts, it means quantum computers could become more useful and accessible sooner than expected.
Advancing error-corrected quantum computers
Google Quantum AI is working toward large error-corrected quantum computers. Atlantic Quantum’s hardware expertise will help improve stability and performance. This collaboration will allow Google to reach important milestones in building fault-tolerant systems that can solve previously unsolvable problems.
Bringing benefits to society
Google emphasized that this acquisition supports its mission to deliver tangible benefits to society. By combining expertise in hardware design with Google’s scaling experience, the company expects to accelerate the development of practical quantum applications.
Looking ahead
The partnership shows how startups and tech giants can work together to push the limits of computing. As qubit technology improves, more industries and users will experience the advantages of quantum computing in their work and daily lives. Google invites the public to follow progress at quantumai.google.
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The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which has been a foundation of U.S. cyber defense since 2015, has expired after Congress failed to renew it during the government shutdown. The law protected private companies when they shared threat intelligence with the federal government. Its expiration leaves Washington with fewer tools to detect attacks from increasingly aggressive adversaries.
The loss of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act affects more than federal agencies. Everyday people depend on critical infrastructure such as energy grids, transportation networks, and hospitals. Without timely sharing of cyber intelligence, those systems are more at risk of disruption. For major corporations, the risks involve data theft, ransomware, and large-scale breaches that could damage entire supply chains. For the government, the lapse is a setback at a time when hackers from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are probing for weaknesses.
Some companies have pledged to continue sharing information even without legal protections. CrowdStrike confirmed it would still deliver operationalized threat intelligence. Halcyon also promised to keep working with federal partners for now. Others, including Palo Alto Networks, have voiced concern about liability without the protections that the law provided.
The law was crucial in uncovering cyber campaigns like Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, both linked to Chinese operators. Those operations targeted U.S. telecom and infrastructure networks and went undetected for years. Experts say that without open sharing between the private sector and government, detecting and disrupting similar campaigns will become much harder.
Lawmakers are divided on how to revive the law. The House proposed a 10 year extension with minor updates. The Senate has competing versions, including one that would scale back liability protections and only extend the law for two years. The lack of consensus has delayed action while the risks to the nation continue to grow.
Frank Cilluffo, director of Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, warned that the gap creates a window of vulnerability. “Every hour we delay is an open invitation to cybercriminals and hostile actors,” he said.
For families, the expiration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act means essential services are at greater risk of disruption. For billionaires and global companies, the stakes are even higher, with potential losses in intellectual property and financial stability. For the government, the lapse leaves defenders short of critical data at the very moment it is most needed.
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Andreessen Horowitz has released its first a16z AI Spending Report, offering a detailed look at which AI-native companies startups are actually paying for. Produced in partnership with fintech platform Mercury, the report uses real transaction data to rank the top 50 AI application layer tools by startup spending.
The a16z AI Spending Report highlights how startups are still experimenting with a wide range of AI products. Rather than consolidating around a few dominant platforms, companies are investing in copilots, productivity tools, and niche applications.
Unsurprisingly, OpenAI led the ranking, with Anthropic in second place. Vibe-coding platforms also scored well, with Replit ranking third, Cursor sixth, and Lovable eighteenth. Enterprise-focused developer tools such as Cognition also made the list.
a16z partners Olivia Moore and Seema Amble noted that most startups are still using AI tools as copilots to support employees, rather than adopting full end-to-end autonomous agents. “There’s a proliferation of tools,” Amble said. “We have not yet seen consolidation into one or two leaders in each category.”
The a16z AI Spending Report also shows startups adopting consumer-first tools such as Canva, Midjourney, and CapCut for enterprise use. This blurring of consumer and business applications suggests that startups are integrating familiar personal apps into workplace workflows.
Horizontal AI tools represented about 60% of the spending, while vertical software solutions for sales, recruiting, and customer service accounted for the rest. Legal-focused startups like Crosby Legal are also beginning to disrupt traditional service firms by using AI for contract review and research.
Moore added that as AI capabilities improve, the shift from copilots to agent-based workflows will accelerate, potentially changing how startups structure their teams.
The report underlines how quickly the AI landscape is changing. As Moore put it, “Legacy now means what was launched twelve months ago.” For startups and investors, the a16z AI Spending Report offers a snapshot of where money is flowing today and a preview of what could dominate tomorrow.
Check out the report HERE
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Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev believes tokenization is not only the future but unavoidable. Speaking at the TokenWorld 2049 conference in Singapore, he called it a freight train that will eventually transform the entire financial system.
Tokenization is the process of converting assets like stocks, bonds, or even property deeds into digital tokens recorded on a blockchain. The idea is that tokenized assets can trade faster, settle more smoothly, and move across borders without the usual market restrictions. For retail investors, it promises access to private companies and new opportunities outside of traditional hours.
Robinhood itself has already tested this. Earlier this year, it announced that European investors could buy tokenized shares of firms such as SpaceX and OpenAI. The announcement boosted Robinhood’s stock, which has climbed almost 300 percent in 2025, but it also raised serious questions. OpenAI publicly distanced itself from the move, and critics noted that tokenized shares are not actual ownership. Their value only reflects the movement of the real stock, with no voting rights or direct stake in the company.
Tenev insists this is only the beginning. He predicts that within five to ten years nearly every financial asset will exist on a chain in some form. He sees tokenization as the bridge that will erase the divide between traditional finance and crypto.
But before embracing that vision, it is worth slowing down. Tokenization carries uncertainty in both regulation and security. Markets built on digital wrappers can move faster, but speed does not always equal stability. Investors may find themselves buying into exposure rather than true ownership, a subtle but critical distinction.
The question is not whether tokenization will grow. It already is. The real issue is whether investors and regulators can think clearly about what is being promised and what is actually being delivered.
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European prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Northern Data AG, a German computing company backed by stablecoin issuer Tether Holdings, over a massive purchase of high-performance chips.
Authorities are examining whether Northern Data improperly claimed tax breaks on about €500 million worth of GPUs by classifying them as artificial intelligence hardware, when investigators believe they were used for cryptocurrency mining. The case has already triggered raids in Germany and Sweden, the arrest of four people, and scrutiny of three Northern Data subsidiaries for tax fraud and money laundering.
From crypto roots to AI pivot
Northern Data originally marketed itself as a greener crypto mining operator, but shifted to AI cloud services as demand for computing surged. The company spent €400 million in 2023 on Nvidia H100 GPUs to expand its European AI business. The probe is now looking closely at purchases tied to its Swedish operations between 2021 and 2024.
Sweden scrapped tax breaks for crypto miners in 2023 but left them in place for data centers, sparking years of disputes over how companies report their GPU usage. Several miners have faced audits over claims they misclassified crypto hardware as AI infrastructure.
Tether connection
Tether, which owns a majority stake in Northern Data, said it was unaware of the investigation and stressed that the company is only a small part of its investment portfolio. Still, the probe comes at a sensitive moment, as Tether is reportedly seeking to raise as much as $20 billion to expand its global footprint.
Northern Data’s stock has dropped more than 60 percent this year. The company insists its GPUs are dedicated to cloud computing, not crypto mining, and blames the case on a misunderstanding of tax rules.
The outcome of the probe will determine whether Northern Data can continue positioning itself as an AI infrastructure leader, or whether its crypto past drags it deeper into legal risk.
California startup Cognixion has launched a clinical trial of its noninvasive brain computer interface (BCI) integrated with the Apple Vision Pro. The company aims to help people with paralysis and speech disorders communicate using brain signals, without requiring surgery.
A noninvasive alternative to brain implants
Unlike implant-based BCIs such as Neuralink, Cognixion’s approach combines software and a custom EEG headband that replaces the Vision Pro’s default strap. The system captures brainwave signals from the visual and parietal cortex, enabling users to select options in an augmented reality interface through mental focus alone.
CEO Andreas Forsland founded the company after his mother lost the ability to speak during a hospital stay, which exposed communication breakdowns in care. His team has since developed both a headset, the Axon-R, and an AI-powered speech app that personalizes itself to each user’s communication style. Early tests with ALS patients showed that participants could use the device for hours at a time and “speak” at near-normal conversational speed.
Apple’s role and wider competition
Apple recently enabled protocols that let people with severe mobility disabilities control devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro without physical movement. This opened the door for BCI developers to integrate their tools with Apple hardware. Rival startup Synchron has also paired its BCI implant with the Vision Pro.
Cognixion’s bet is that a noninvasive, software-driven model will reach patients faster than implantable chips, provided the trial demonstrates both safety and usability. The study includes up to 10 participants in the US with conditions such as ALS, spinal cord injuries, or stroke.
The challenge ahead
Noninvasive BCIs face technical hurdles: brain signals captured outside the skull are weaker and harder to decode reliably. Researchers note that this makes fast, accurate communication difficult. Cognixion hopes its adaptive AI can close that gap, building a personalized “communication proxy” for each patient.
If successful, the company could expand to a larger pivotal trial of around 30 patients to seek FDA clearance. While Neuralink and others push invasive hardware, Cognixion’s strategy focuses on accessibility and rapid adoption using the Vision Pro as both a testbed and a distribution channel.
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Hackers tied to the Clop ransomware group are targeting executives at major companies with extortion emails, claiming to have stolen sensitive data from Oracle’s business software. Google says the emails began circulating on September 29, but investigators have not yet verified whether the breach occurred.
Targeting executives directly
The messages were sent from hundreds of compromised accounts and included contact details listed on Clop’s leak site, a portal the group uses to intimidate victims into paying. By threatening to publish stolen files, Clop has extracted tens of millions of dollars in past campaigns. In one recent case, the group demanded 50 million dollars from a single company, according to incident responders cited by Bloomberg.
Exploiting Oracle applications
The hackers are believed to have abused Oracle E-Business Suite, a widely used platform for managing employee and customer data. According to early findings, they used compromised email accounts and default password reset functions to obtain valid credentials for web portals accessible online. Oracle’s software supports thousands of organizations worldwide, putting a large pool of corporate data at risk. Oracle has not commented publicly on the incident.
A familiar pattern of large scale breaches
Clop is known for exploiting zero day flaws in enterprise software to strike multiple organizations simultaneously. Past operations have exposed data belonging to tens of millions of individuals. Google’s Mandiant unit confirmed that the same techniques and infrastructure seen in earlier Clop campaigns are present in this round of extortion emails.
The wider picture
This campaign underscores how ransomware groups are evolving their tactics. Rather than focusing only on encrypted files, attackers are targeting leadership directly with threats of exposure. Even without confirmed breaches, the claims themselves create fear and pressure inside organizations, forcing executives into difficult decisions.
The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Google says it is monitoring the campaign closely, while security firms warn that executives across multiple industries should remain on alert for tailored extortion attempts.