Top tech startup news stories you need to know this Wednesday, March 14

Good morning! Here are some of the top tech startup news stories today Wednesday, March 14.

Google built a musical instrument that uses A.I. — and released the plans  on GitHub for you to build your own.  Google on Tuesday revealed a synthesizer that uses artificial intelligence to make interesting sounds based on normal sounds from real life. The NSynth Super is a hardware implementation of software Googlers developed last year.  The only catch is, it is not available for sale. However, Google makes hardware and software for the prototype available on GitHub.

Startup wants to upload your brain to the cloud, but has to kill you to do it. Nectome, a Y Combinator startup, is pitching a mind-uploading service that is “100 percent fatal.” Nectome will preserve your brain, but you have to be euthanized first. Nectome’s cofounder, Robert McIntyre, plans to describe his technology for exquisitely preserving brains in microscopic detail using a high-tech embalming process next week, at YC’s “demo days.”

Amex Ventures Backs Anti-Money Laundering Startup EverCompliant. American Express Ventures has invested in Anti-money laundering startup EverCompliant, the company announced yesterday. Existing backers also participated in the investment. They include: Arbor Ventures, Carmel Ventures, StarFarm Ventures and Nyca Partners. EverCompliant will use the investment to grow its team and focus on technology development. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UK-based startup launches “pay-as-you-fly” drone insurance solution. A London based startup, Flock, has launched Europe’s first “pay-as-you-fly” drone insurance solution. The service provides on-demand insurance for commercial UAV pilots in the UK, with policies starting from just £5 ($7) for up to eight hours of liability and hull cover.

WhatsApp is piloting digital payment in India. WhatsApp is arguably the world’s messaging platform. Now, it’s embarking on using its massive footprint to break into payments, starting with India. With more than 200 million Indians already using its messaging, WhatsApp is piloting a digital payment service that lets its users transfer money to each other, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Google will ban all cryptocurrency-related advertising. Google plans to ban all cryptocurrency-related ads effective June 2018. Google is following Facebook footsteps in banning crytocurrency ads, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), wallets, and trading advice.

Visa takes Everywhere Initiative startup program to Sub-Saharan Africa. Visa announced today that its Visa’s Everywhere Initiative, a global innovation program that tasks start-ups to solve commerce challenges of tomorrow and further enhance their own product propositions and provide visionary solutions for Visa’s vast network of partners, will expand into the Sub Sahara Africa (SSA) region.

UK-based AgriTech startup Wefarm tops up Seed with an additional $5 million. AgriTech startup Wefarm has topped up its Seed round with an additional $5 million. The company’s round was led by True Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based VC, and drew support from Skype’s and Atomico’s founder Niklas Zennström, who invested in an angel capacity.