Startups
Profiles of innovative startups and the latest in venture capital and funding.
Baseten raises $1.5B; AI inference & world models get funding
In just five months, AI inference startup Baseten saw its valuation triple from $5 billion to $13 billion, fueled by a new $1.
Asia's top AI startup ecosystems see Bengaluru climb to No. 2
Bengaluru-Karnataka's startup ecosystem value surged 190% since 2021, hitting $153 billion.
Gray Swan AI Security Secures $40 Million Series A Funding
Pittsburgh-based AI security startup Gray Swan, fresh off a $40 million Series A funding round, is already offering salaries up to $260,000 for new hires.
Go Eyes Robotaxis and Acquisitions After Raising $553 Million IPO
Despite an initial 21% surge on its Tokyo Stock Exchange debut, Go Inc.
Central Asia startups attract record venture capital funding
At the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) 2026, projects worth an astonishing €75 billion were unveiled, signaling Central Asia's unexpected rise as a global investment hotspot, according
Orbio raises $21 million to automate frontline hiring and onboarding
At The Stepping Stones Group, Orbio's AI agents now operate the company's full US frontline worker operations, leading to a significant 20% increase in hired candidates, according to TechCrunch .
Merantix Capital closes new AI fund for European startups
Merantix Capital has closed its largest investment fund to date, a €103 million war chest dedicated exclusively to early-stage AI-native startups across Europe, according to Tech Eu and EU-Startups .
Edafa Venture acquires two Egyptian AI startups, Kuadra and IRRI Vision
On the sidelines of Egypt’s AI Everything Middle East & Africa summit in February, Edafa Venture initiated the acquisition of two local AI startups, Kuadra and IRRI Vision, in six-figure dollar de
3IF Ventures Secures $12M First Close for African Insurtech Fund
3IF Ventures secured $12 million in its first close for an African insurtech investment fund.
Global venture capital funding rounds see resilience in defense sector
Anduril Industries announced a substantial $5 billion Series H funding round, which propelled its valuation to $30.
Benchmark Raises $2 Billion for New Funds
Benchmark Capital, long synonymous with early-stage venture, has just closed its first-ever dedicated growth fund: a substantial $1.25 billion vehicle for later-stage investments.
Venture capital for Black-founded startups sees sharp decline
In 2023, Black-founded U.S. startups captured less than 0.5% of the $140.4 billion in venture funding, a stark decline from previous years.
Peec startup revenue growth crosses $10 million milestone
Just six months after raising $21 million, AI startup Peec AI has surged past $10 million in annualized revenue, highlighting a dramatic shift in what defines startup success.
AI firms capture 65% of venture deal value in 2025
In 2025, AI companies didn't just lead venture capital funding; they captured an astounding 65% of all deal value, up from 46% just a year prior, according to Institutional Investor .
Ramp Secures $500M at $22.5B Valuation
Just two months after being valued at $22.5 billion, corporate card startup Ramp is reportedly seeking new funding that could push its valuation past $40 billion.
Southeast Asian deep tech startups target Japan for growth
Southeast Asia's deep tech startups are increasingly pivoting to Japan, not just for capital, but for market access unavailable at home.
French startups pioneer AI innovations, attracting industrial investment.
France's AI champion, Mistral, secured a €1.
BMW i Ventures launches new $300M AI fund for industrial AI
BMW i Ventures has quietly amassed $1.
Alumni Ventures, KDDI Forge Japan-US Startup Ecosystem
Alumni Ventures has opened a Japan office, establishing a direct pipeline for Japanese corporate capital into the US startup ecosystem.
India Issues Guidelines for Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0
India's government has just unleashed a ₹10,000 crore fund for startups, but with a twist: deep-tech ventures can now secure up to 40% of their fund's corpus, capped at ₹500 crore, over an 18-year ten
DPIIT Issues Guidelines for Startup India Fund 2.0 Deep Tech
India has operationalized a Rs 10,000 crore fund for deep tech and manufacturing, simultaneously doubling the startup benefit period to 20 years for these critical companies.
Pegasus Tech Ventures Japanet expand startup investment fund
Japanese retailer Japanet Holdings has quadrupled its corporate venture fund with Pegasus Tech Ventures to an astonishing $200 million, a fourfold increase from its initial $50 million in just three y
Cursor AI startup nears $2B funding at over $50B valuation
A startup launched in 2023, Cursor AI, is reportedly in talks to raise $2 billion, potentially valuing it at over $50 billion, according to TradingView .
UK government launches Sovereign AI Fund for British startups
The UK government's new £500 million Sovereign AI Unit has made its first direct equity investment: AI infrastructure startup Callosum.
Texas VC Funding Leads Massachusetts in Q1
Autonomous boat builder Saronic secured $1.75 billion in the first quarter, propelling Texas startups to a collective $5.8 billion in venture capital funding.
Indian government launches Rs 10,000 crore fund for deep tech startups
The Indian government has just committed Rs 10,000 crore to a new fund, specifically targeting deeptech and manufacturing startups, marking a significant state-backed push into critical innovation sec
AI startups capture 80% of venture funding
In Q1 2024, AI startups secured $50 billion in venture capital, capturing 80% of all tech funding.
Cisco in talks to acquire Astrix Security for AI identity protection
Cisco Systems is reportedly in talks to acquire Israeli AI security startup Astrix Security for up to $350 million, marking its second AI-focused security acquisition in recent months.
Türkiye's VC Ecosystem Sees Major Shifts in 2026 Startup Funding
In the first quarter of 2026, Turkish founders abroad raised nearly ten times the capital of their counterparts within Türkiye.
Madica Invests $600K in Three African Startups to Fuel Growth
Venture capital firm Madica has invested $600,000 in three diverse African startups, coupling the funding with an 18-month support program and a new guide for pre-seed founders.