# Datadog veterans launch AI coding startup Niteshift on a bet against Big AI lock-in; plus, Zest launches a restaurant discovery app

An episode of [TechCrunch Startup News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1145974783), 11 Jun 2026, 11 min.

Audio: https://mgln.ai/e/211/traffic.megaphone.fm/AIRWV2488360862.mp3

AI coding agent startup Niteshift has raised a $7 million seed round from a who's who of angels. It's betting companies will want power over, not lock-in, with model makers. Also, backed by Alexis Ohanian’s 776 and Kindred Ventures, Zest uses transaction data and AI to generate restaurant recommendations based on users’ real dining habits and the places they frequent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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