Kunal Shah Takes Over as WhatsApp Chief as Meta Invests $900M in Indian Startup
Meta appoints Kunal Shah, founder of CRED, as the new WhatsApp chief following Will Cathcart's transition within the company. Concurrently, Meta invests $900 million in an Indian startup, strengthening its engagement with India's technology sector.
Seedcamp Secures $320M to Boost US Expansion After 18 Years in Europe
Seedcamp has raised $320 million to fund its expansion into the US market after 18 years of focusing on Europe. This marks a key move for the early-stage investor to broaden its geographical reach and investment impact.
Clarifying Objectives in Corporate Venture Capital: Strategic vs Financial Focus
A comprehensive study of corporate venture capital (CVC) reveals that clear prioritization between strategic benefits and financial returns is essential. Companies often struggle to balance these goals, leading to execution challenges such as measuring impact, financial discipline, and talent recruitment. Strategic-focused CVCs integrated with parent firms tend to succeed more sustainably, though adaptability to evolving parent company objectives remains crucial.
Former Palantir Executive Launches NHS-Focused AI Startup with £9.7M Funding
A London-based startup founded by a former Palantir healthcare executive, who worked in NHS hospitals during Covid, has raised £9.7 million in funding to advance its AI solutions for the NHS. The funding round was led by At..., aiming to innovate healthcare with cutting-edge technology.
Startup Tackles AI Hardware Limits with Innovative Optical Materials, Secures $80M Funding
HyperLight, a Harvard-based startup, has raised $80 million to address AI's data transfer limits caused by copper wiring between GPUs. By pioneering optical materials for faster data transmission, they aim to revolutionize AI hardware connectivity and performance.
Chi-Hua Chien Predicts True AI Leaders Will Be Those Beyond Just Selling AI
Chi-Hua Chien, a venture capitalist for more than two decades, views technological shifts, especially in AI, through a cultural lens, emphasizing that the real winners will be those integrating AI into broader societal applications rather than just selling the technology itself.
Roelof Botha Joins SpaceX's Board Following Company's Historic IPO
Roelof Botha, previously leading Sequoia Capital, has joined SpaceX’s board of directors, filling a vacancy just days after the company achieved the largest IPO ever, marking a significant step in SpaceX's governance and strategic leadership.
Odyssey Secures $1.45B Valuation with Amazon and Key Investors in the AI World Model Space
Odyssey has raised funds that value the company at $1.45 billion, backed by Amazon and other significant investors. The startup specializes in AI world models, marking a shift beyond large language models (LLMs) and establishing itself as a notable innovator in the AI sector.
PayPal Ventures Closes After a Decade of Investments Amid Restructuring
PayPal Ventures, the company's venture capital branch, has closed after 10 years and roughly 80 investments. This move is a part of PayPal's broader restructuring strategy to realign its business focus and resources.
Pramaana Labs Secures $27M Seed Funding from Khosla Ventures to Enhance AI Verification
Pramaana Labs has raised $27 million in seed funding from Khosla Ventures to develop formal verification tools for AI, targeting sensitive fields like law, drug discovery, and tax preparation where accuracy is crucial. This move aims to reduce errors and enhance reliability in industries where mistakes can be costly.
Behavox Secures $175M from BlackRock's HPS to Boost AI Compliance Platform
Behavox has raised $175 million from HPS Investment Partners, acquired by BlackRock, to expand its AI compliance platform and pursue acquisitions. This is its first equity raise in six years, alongside fully repaying previous debts.
AI Startup Conduct Secures $60M Series A Funding to Transform ERP Systems
Conduct, a London AI startup founded by ex-Palantir staff, raised $60 million in Series A funding to upgrade ERP systems with AI. The investment round was co-led by new and returning investors, fueling growth and innovation potential.
CuspAI, a UK Scientific Research Start-up, to Secure $400M Funding with Jeff Bezos as Investor – FT
CuspAI, a scientific research start-up from the UK, is preparing to raise $400 million in funding, with notable support from Jeff Bezos. This investment round highlights growing interest in cutting-edge research ventures supported by leading technology figures.
Baseten Nears $1.5 Billion Funding with Valuation Hits $13 Billion Amid AI Inference Boom
AI inference startup Baseten is close to securing $1.5 billion in funding, raising its valuation to $13 billion, as the market for AI inference technologies experiences significant growth and investment.
Top 11 Startups from YC's Spring 2026 Demo Day, According to Leading VCs
TechCrunch gathered insights from venture capitalists to showcase the top startups from Y Combinator's Spring 2026 Demo Day. Many of these emerging companies have secured valuations over $175 million, signaling strong investor confidence and significant growth potential.
General Intuition Targets $300M Funding to Advance AI Training with Exclusive Video Game Data
General Intuition, an AI lab in New York, is seeking $300 million to enhance AI training using vast video game data. Valued at over $2 billion, this effort builds on recent successful funding to push AI capabilities further.
Flutterwave Secures $3.2B Valuation with Ripple as Strategic Investor
Flutterwave, a leading African payments infrastructure firm, recently reached a $3.2 billion valuation. The company also announced Ripple as a key investor and partner, marking a significant step forward in its blockchain and fintech development.
Malaysia's AI-Driven Messaging Platform Respond.io Secures $62.5M Funding, Plans Strategic Acquisitions
Respond.io, a notable Malaysian startup, has raised $62.5 million to expand its AI-powered messaging platform. The company uses AI agents to handle numerous customer interactions, charging clients per conversation instead of per user seat, with plans to grow further through acquisitions.
Which Companies Are Benefiting from the AI IPO Boom?
As AI companies rush to go public, many startups are trying to leverage the excitement from recent high-profile IPOs like SpaceX to draw investor interest, hoping to achieve their own breakthrough in the market.
Mistral Eyes €3 Billion Fundraising at a €20 Billion Valuation
Mistral is planning to raise €3 billion in funding, boosting its valuation to an estimated €20 billion. This move nearly doubles its previous valuation of €11.7 billion from the Series C round, highlighting significant investor confidence and company growth.