Lidar startup Luminar just struck a financing deal that could bring in up to $200 million, right after swapping CEOs and announcing fresh layoffs. The company is clearly trying to steady the ship during a rocky stretch.
Source: TechCrunch
श्रेणी: Funding
CloudSEK Just Raised $19M to Outsmart Hackers Before They Strike
Cyber threats are getting sneakier, but one Indian startup is staying one step ahead. CloudSEK just secured $19 million to push its predictive cybersecurity platform even further — and it’s not your typical “wait till the breach happens” approach.
Source: Cloudsek
RevolKa Secures ¥210M Series A Extension to Advance AI-Powered Therapeutic Protein Engineering
Japanese biotech startup RevolKa Ltd. has raised ¥210 million (US$1.4 million) in a Series A extension round to further its AI-driven drug discovery platform, aiProtein®. The funding will accelerate therapeutic programs for rare diseases and expand strategic collaborations.
Source: Revolka
Firecrawl Revives AI Hiring Effort with $1M Budget, Seeking Human-Agent Hybrid Workforce
Firecrawl, a startup supported by Y Combinator, is once again hiring AI agents—this time with a fresh $1 million budget and a sharper focus. Despite a failed first attempt earlier this year, the company has posted three new listings for AI agents on Y Combinator’s job board and is actively seeking both bots and the humans behind them.
Source: TechCrunch
Accel’s Sonali De Rycker Urges Europe to Unleash AI Potential Without Letting Regulation Stall Innovation
Sonali De Rycker, General Partner at Accel and one of Europe’s top venture capitalists, is optimistic about Europe’s position in the global AI race—but warns that overregulation could hinder progress. Speaking at TechCrunch StrictlyVC in London, she emphasized the urgent need to strike a balance between governance and growth.
Source: TechCrunch
AI Startup Hedra Raises $32M to Fuel Viral Talking Character Videos and Customizable AI Models
Hedra, a rising AI video generation startup behind the viral trend of talking AI baby podcasts, has secured $32 million in Series A funding. The round, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), will help the company enhance its Character-3 model and build more interactive AI video tools focused on expressive 3D characters and storytelling.
Read more on TechCrunch
Israeli Quantum Startup Classiq Secures $110 Million in Private Investment
Quantum computing might sound like science fiction, but it’s edging closer to real-world use—and one startup is leading the charge. Israeli company Classiq just raised a jaw-dropping $110 million to make quantum software easier for businesses everywhere.
Read more on GlobeNewsWire
Musk’s xAI Aims for Massive $20B Funding Round
Elon Musk’s xAI Holdings is reportedly seeking $20 billion in fresh funding, aiming for a $120 billion valuation. If it closes, it would be the second-largest private funding round ever. The money could help ease X’s $1.3 billion annual debt costs. Musk’s key investors from Tesla and SpaceX are expected to back the raise.
Read more on TechCrunch
Supabase Raises $200M, Becomes Go-To Backend for AI Apps
Supabase, the open-source Firebase alternative, just raised $200M at a $2B valuation. With over 1.7M developers and explosive growth, it’s fast becoming the default backend for AI and modern apps. Built on Postgres, it simplifies setup while scaling effortlessly—earning major love from the dev community and big investors alike.
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Columbia’s suspended student startup Cluely raises $5.3M in seed funding
Suspended Columbia student Chungin “Roy” Lee raised $5.3M for Cluely — an AI tool designed to secretly assist users during interviews, exams, and sales calls via a hidden browser window. Despite ethical concerns and a viral “Black Mirror”‑style launch video, Cluely claims over $3M ARR as its founders embrace controversy over convention.
Read more on Techcrunch