With $17.1 billion in revenue, 99.9 million customers, and $6.5 billion in profit, Black Banx is emerging as one of the most anticipated fintech IPOs set to debut on NASDAQ.
SpaceX made a striking debut on the stock market Friday, with shares closing 19% above their initial $135 offering price, marking a significant milestone as it creates the world's first trillionaire.
Mistral is reportedly in the process of raising €3 billion, which would value the company at approximately €20 billion (around $23.15 billion). This figure nearly doubles the valuation from its Series C round, which stood at €11.7 billion.
Accenture's acquisition of Whalar reflects a strategic move similar to its earlier play in programmatic advertising, but anticipates the challenges of creator marketing much sooner.
San Francisco-based venture firm Base10 Partners has successfully closed two funds totaling $850 million: a seed and Series A fund 4, and a Series B fund 2, aimed at investing in automation technologies impacting the real economy. Co-founder Adeyemi Ajao shared with Crunchbase News that their investment thesis centers on leveraging technology to extend capabilities typically reserved for the top 1% to the broader 99%. Their portfolio includes diverse companies such as Nubank, Motive, WeTravel, Happy Robot, and Blank Street, with a strong focus on sectors like logistics, payroll, and construction. They are also exploring advanced AI technologies, including vision models and manufacturing intelligence, to revolutionize real economy applications. Base10 invests primarily at seed through Series B stages, committing to 10-15 seed rounds and 2-3 Series A investments annually, alongside 3-4 Series B deals. The firm’s research-driven approach involves deep sector analysis and meeting numerous global companies, leveraging an internal AI system, Base11, to streamline research. Despite technological aids, human insight remains crucial in their investment decisions, particularly understanding founders and customer needs. Base10 also runs an Advancement Initiative, donating up to half of carried interest to support financial aid at underfunded colleges and universities.
In 2018, a startup funding round of $100 million was dubbed the “Supergiant Round,” signaling a massive investment milestone. Fast forward to today, $100 million rounds are not only common but represent the median size of late-stage financing deals in the U.S. The landscape has shifted dramatically, with even larger rounds, like OpenAI’s record-breaking funding, pushing the boundaries.
The rise of these jumbo rounds is tied to the growth of startups like Uber and WeWork in the late 2010s, peaking during the 2021 bull market, and surging with the AI investment wave. This year alone, 250 rounds of $100 million or more have been funded, with half exceeding $200 million, and some reaching over $1 billion.
Alongside this, median late-stage round sizes have doubled since 2020, now averaging around $100 million. Valuations have similarly skyrocketed, with many startups valued at over $10 billion, and a couple eyeing IPOs valued near $1 trillion. Investors are clearly placing big bets with high expectations for returns as the startup funding environment continues to evolve.
SpaceX has officially set its share price at $135, marking the start of the largest IPO in history. The company’s public offering signals a major milestone in the space industry and financial markets alike.
Oracle has issued a warning about a security vulnerability exploited by a cybercrime group during a large-scale hacking operation. Google confirmed that it alerted over 100 companies with potentially at-risk servers to this threat.
Following SpaceX's public offering, lower-tier Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) investors may encounter undisclosed fees, prolonged delays in receiving payouts, and potential risks including fraud.
TCS will establish a dedicated business unit to implement Anthropic's advanced AI models across its client base, enhancing enterprise AI deployment capabilities.
