iCapital, a fintech platform specializing in alternative investments, has successfully raised over $820 million in its latest funding round, boosting its valuation to above $7.5 billion. The company disclosed these figures on Thursday and revealed intentions to pursue acquisitions for further growth.
In the second quarter of 2025, global venture funding increased year-over-year to $91 billion. There was a notable shift, with more capital being directed towards larger funding rounds, especially in the AI sector, according to Crunchbase data.
Parspec, a startup leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency in the construction industry's supply chain, has secured $20 million in a Series A funding round. The company focuses on enabling sales agents and wholesale distributors to efficiently bid and supply construction products, as exclusively reported to Crunchbase News.
In June, Sequoia emerged as the most active U.S. startup investor in terms of deal count, while Meta stood out as the top spender. The list of leading investors includes familiar names, reflecting ongoing investment trends in the startup ecosystem.
Itay Sagie, a startup adviser and regular guest author, provides insights on balancing the expectations of the buyer with the needs of the acquired company's employees after a sale.
The pace of large U.S. startup funding announcements slowed during the shortened Fourth of July workweek, with one notable exception: a significant raise led by xAI in the AI sector.
From semiconductors to personal computing, online search, and AI, Silicon Valley and surrounding areas have been the birthplace of leading tech companies across generations. In the first half of this year, data from Crunchbase shows that about 68% of all U.S. startup funding was allocated to companies headquartered in California.
In a notable week for acquisitions among unicorn companies, Canada's Clio announced it will acquire the Spanish legal tech firm vLex from Oakley Capital for $1 billion. Concurrently, Grammarly declared its plan to purchase Superhuman, an AI-driven email application, highlighting a strategic move in leveraging AI technology through mergers and acquisitions.
Sara Zulkosky of Recast Capital discusses how overlooking operators-turned-investors leads to missed opportunities in venture capital. She highlights the unique value these operators bring by combining operational expertise with investment skills, and emphasizes the importance of striking the right balance between operational insight and investment discipline.
In a new book by Index Ventures, authors challenge the notion that European founders are hesitant about global growth. The most ambitious startups in Europe are actually more dedicated to international expansion. Martin Mignot, a partner at Index Ventures, highlights five key expansion strategies these startups use to succeed globally.