Startups / Funding
Following the money and the vision. Insights into early-stage startups, major funding rounds, VC ecosystem shifts and tech-driven industry disruption.
101 articles
Global Venture Funding Surges 122% in August Fueled by Billion-Dollar Deals
Venture capital investment jumped 122% year-over-year in August, with $42 billion deployed and seven billion-dollar rounds led by Databricks and River AI.
Félix Raises $200M Series C to Expand AI-Powered WhatsApp Banking for Latinos
Félix, a WhatsApp remittance startup for Latino immigrants, secured $200M Series C led by a16z and General Catalyst to expand AI-driven financial services.
Global Proptech Funding Shifts to AI and Construction in 2026
Global proptech funding in 2026 is on pace to match previous year levels, but investors are shifting to AI and construction startups. Most top deals are occurring outside the U.S., led by European steel companies.
Defense Startup Mara Raises $7 Million for Backpack-Mountable Drone Interceptors
Mara's Spike system uses autonomous Seekers priced one-for-one against FPV drones, potentially reshaping counter-drone economics.
Space Startup Funding Hits New Heights With $20.3 Billion Invested in 2026
Global space tech startup funding reached a record $20.3 billion in 2026, driven by SpaceX's IPO and growing investor confidence. The United States, China and Europe account for most investment, with satellite internet competition intensifying.
Why Bootstrapped Businesses Are Gaining Ground in an AI Era
Richard de Silva of Lateral Investment Management argues that self-funded companies are becoming more relevant as AI lowers the cost of building products, challenging the VC-backed model.
Legal Tech Funding Eases Slighly From Record High as AI Investent Stays Strong
Venture capital into legal tech reached $2.2B in 2026, own from 2025's $4.6B record. Startups like Harvy and Legora continue to dominat funding, while acquisition activity heats up.
Morgan Stanley's EquityZen Acquisition Reshapes Private-Secondary Trading
EquityZen's acquisition by Morgan Stanley completes, as co-founder Phil Haslett discusses AI premiums, SaaS discounts and the IPO market beyond SpaceX.
Defense Tech and AI Tools Lead This Week's Biggest Funding Rounds
Castelion and Etched raised $1.5B combined in the week's largest venture rounds, as defense and AI infrastructure dominate investor interest.
Cloud-Clearing Drones Aim to Boost Solar Output and Weaken Hurricanes
Meteoric uses autonomous drones to dissipate clouds over solar farms, boosting output up to 30%. The Y Combinator-backed startup also aims to reduce hurricane intensity.
Timing the Exit: Why Strong Companies Sell
Boards often postpone M&A discussions until growth slows. Experts argue the best time to sell is when the company is at its peak.
SalesPatriot Expands Team With Forward Deployed Engineer Hiring Push
SalesPatriot, a Y Combinator Winter 2025 startup, is hiring Forward Deployed Engineers, signaling growth in sales technology.
Physical AI Startups Draw Big Funding for Recycling and Underground Mapping
Two startups raised millions for AI in trash sorting and GPS-free navigation. Investment in physical AI surged nearly 80% year over year.
Nvidia Leads as Semiconductor Giants Pour Record Funds Into Startups
Semiconductor companies invested over $250 billion in startups this year, driven by AI spending. Nvidia led with 59 deals including OpenAI's record round.
Speko Emerges as ‘OpenRouter for Voice AI’ With YC Backing
Speko, a Y Combinator-backed startup, launches on Hacker News as an API gateway for voice AI models, aiming to simplify access and competition.
Stripe to Acquire AI Startup OpenRouter in $7 Billion Deal
Stripe has agreed to acquire AI firm OpenRouter for over $7 billion, marking a significant bet on AI-powered payment infrastructure.
Heart Aerospace Electric Plane Test Flight Costs $5 in Electricity
Heart Aerospace's X1 demonstrator, the world's largest all-electric aircraft, completed its first flight costing just $5 in electricity, highlighting a cost advantage over volatile jet fuel prices.
Databricks Raises $5B as AI Infrastructure and Defense Rounds Lead Venture Surge
Databricks raises $5B at $190B valuation. River AI, Form Energy and Neros Technologies also close big rounds in AI, defense and energy storage.
Startup Founder Defends Getting Company Logo Tattoo During Job Interview
LemonLime cofounder Jordan Zietz explains his controversial tattoo during a job interview, addressing backlash and defending his commitment to the startup.