Microsoft Headless Content API, DuploCloud $32M Series B, Google Deferred Gemini AI
The API Changelog issue 2023.49
This is issue 2023.49 of the API Changelog, a weekly mix of API news, commentary, and opinion. In this issue, you'll get to know the most relevant API-related information from the week of November 27, 2023. Subscribe now, so you never miss an issue of the API Changelog.
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Announcements
Microsoft's SharePoint Embedded enters public preview offering an API-centric approach for both enterprises and ISVs to create custom applications that integrate with Microsoft 365's content management, security, and compliance features. The API-driven platform enables enhanced collaboration through Microsoft 365 tools and provides robust scalability, allowing developers to embed advanced functionalities like coauthoring and content management into any app.
FusionAuth has upgraded its platform to boost API performance and scalability, specifically for webhook signing and search functionalities, thus assisting developers in managing authentication tasks for high-volume user applications. The API updates offer expanded capabilities for enterprises with over a million users, enabling secure and efficient handling of large datasets and webhook integrations. See additional coverage on Bakersfield.com.
Sedgwick enhances its partnership with Workday to improve disability and leave program management by utilizing standard API connectivity, which will streamline data security and integration processes. This relationship emphasizes the commitment to provide pre-built integrations and data insights as critical tools for efficient absence management solutions. See additional coverage on Yahoo!finance and Aithority.
Bware Labs enhances its Blast API platform—a leading blockchain infrastructure essential for Web3 developers—by partnering with OVHcloud to secure dedicated hosting solutions that offer scalability, performance, and cost-efficiency. This collaboration ensures Blast can manage peak traffic with advanced servers and a resilient global network, fostering the growth of blockchain adoption and supporting the dynamic needs of Web3 innovation.
Veracode enhances its API and cloud-native application security services, aiming to simplify the integration of security within the SDLC and improve the adoption of DevSecOps by offering a developer-centric platform. With the Veracode GitHub App, the company facilitates developer-friendly security practices by enabling streamlined and automated security scanning within familiar development environments.
Genpact is enhancing its claims management process through an API-driven pricing workflow that employs AWS' generative AI and Amazon Business procurement APIs to cut down claims submission from weeks to days. This collaboration aims to speed up policyholder compensation by automating item identification and streamlining the delivery of estimates.
LinkedIn introduced enhancements to Document Ads and a Conversions API, which allows advertisers to track campaign performance by integrating LinkedIn data with their own, ensuring privacy compliance and adaptability to future regulations. Additionally, the updates provide simplified conversion tracking with Website Actions and include new metrics, retargeting capabilities, and extended reach through the LinkedIn Audience Network.
Funding
Mozaic, formerly known as Jammber, addresses challenges in splitting payments for creators through API solutions and has secured $20 million in Series A funding to support its innovation in music industry project management. With an API that integrates with platforms like Spotify and YouTube, Mozaic offers JSON-based smart contract systems for automatic payment distribution to collaborators, complemented by a new Chrome extension for flexible payment splitting across various creator platforms.
During AWS' major event week, DuploCloud, a SaaS startup offering API tools for app provisioning on clouds like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, raised $32 million in a Series B round. This funding, totaling $49.5 million for DuploCloud, will fuel engineering, growth, and platform expansion, according to CEO Venkat Thiruvengadam.
Trackstar, a startup providing a revolutionary universal API for Warehouse Management Systems, has secured a $2.6 million seed round to facilitate global WMS integration, boasting rapid connection capabilities that promise to enhance supply chain efficiency. Despite the supply chain industry's immense value, it suffers from innovation bottlenecks due to outdated systems and complex, undocumented APIs, but Trackstar's solution enables swift and efficient data access across various WMS platforms. See additional coverage about Trackstar on Medium.
AppBrilliance secured an investment from Truist Ventures to enhance its MoneyAPI, reducing payment processing costs and facilitating real-time payments for financial institutions and partners. The API's groundbreaking platform offers secure, consumer-permission A2A payments, promising advantages for businesses, banks, and consumers, and is backed to scale up by Truist's strategic partnership.
CapitalOS, a fintech startup specializing in B2B spend management infrastructure with an API offering, secured $9 million in Seed capital and $30 million in debt financing. The API-centric investment round was spearheaded by Group 11 and included contributions from industry leaders and experts from Stripe, Navan, and Venmo.
Coinchange secured $10 million to expand its digital asset platform, leveraging its API to offer trading and yield services using stablecoins, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. The platform emphasizes security and compliance, providing transparency and optimized returns through its API, and aims to transform cryptocurrency management with machine learning-aided yield tracking. See additional coverage on The Block, CrowdFund Insider, and Crypto Reporter.
AI
Leonardo.Ai, using AWS for its robust API, provides a platform for generating 4.5 million images daily, aiding content creation across various industries with over 700 million images produced and a 1.8 million-strong AI community.
AWS AppFabric aims to streamline interoperability between various applications by providing APIs for tasks such as creating emails and calendar events, promising generative AI-enhanced productivity by offering personalized insights across a user's application suite. Despite its potential to simplify cross-application integration and enhance user engagement within apps, skepticism remains about AppFabric's current functionality breadth and its overall added value for developers and users.
Perplexity AI's new pplx-7b-online and pplx-70b-online models offer real-time information retrieval by integrating live internet data through an API, a first in publicly accessible online LLMs. The company's API allows developers to harness these models' advanced capabilities, delivering more accurate and current responses compared to traditional offline LLMs. See additional coverage and about Perplexity on Search Engine Journal and Medium.
Google has deferred the release of its versatile AI model, Gemini, which will offer advanced API integrations and multimodal functions, until 2024 to enhance its performance in non-English languages. The tech giant's commitment to refining Gemini, which is expected to rival current AI market leaders, underscores its potential to transform AI applications with its sophisticated memory and planning features. See additional coverage on 9TO5Google and Interesting Engineering.
Fintech
API-driven virtual card issuing is transforming the B2B and consumer payments landscape, with projected global spending increasing by 355% to $13.8 trillion in five years, enhancing efficiency and expanding use cases. Juniper Research highlights that leaders like Stripe, Revolut, and Marqeta dominate due to their intuitive API platforms which simplify card deployment and spend management.
Pinwheel's API-driven partnership with OSV enables seamless direct deposit switching for U.S. workers, enhancing competition among financial institutions and paving the way for greater consumer financial freedom. This collaboration removes traditional barriers for nearly 30 million workers to easily shift funds to banks with superior rates and services, signifying a transformational change in the banking industry.
N26 has integrated Upvest's API to offer stock and ETF trading within its app, enhancing its digital banking experience with a secure and regulatory-compliant investment service. Upvest's Investment API serves as the key infrastructure, allowing N26 users to easily manage investments alongside their banking activities, reinforcing both companies' commitment to enriching customer financial capabilities.
Finimize, the financial content platform, announced that Finimize Automate is now available in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors that make it easy to find, test, buy, and deploy software that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Security
Wallarm's Q3 report disclosed 239 new API vulnerabilities affecting companies like Netflix and WordPress, focusing on authentication and access issues alongside recommendations for enhancing API security. The report also emphasizes the rising threat of API data leaks, urging the adoption of proactive measures and highlighting the limitations of existing security frameworks.
Data Theorem, Inc., a leading provider of modern application security, announced a strategic expansion of its ecosystem partnerships, solidifying technical integrations with prominent API gateway platforms and Web Application and API Protection (WAAP/WAF) service providers. The latest collaborations include key players such as Akamai, Axway, CloudFlare, Google Cloud (Apigee), Imperva, Ideatec, and Kong. See additional coverage on businesswire.
Claro, TIM, and Vivo have introduced three network APIs—Number Verify, SIM Swap, and Device Location—under the GSMA Open Gateway initiative to enhance digital security and combat fraud in Brazil. The APIs, which are privacy-centric and comply with local data protection laws, verify SIM change checks, and location confirmation to support safer financial and digital transactions. See additional coverage on Mobile World Live, iTWire, and telecomtv.
Northbridge Insurance becomes the first to receive the CSIO's API Security Standards Certification, ensuring secure business transactions through API security measures and endorsing their commitment to client data protection. By aligning with CSIO's best practices for API endpoint security, Northbridge bolsters the confidence of broker partners in the safety of their data exchanges. See additional coverage on InsuranceBusiness.
