Startups · Top stories
Supply chain startup Atomic raises $12.5M Series A funding
Supply chain startup Atomic, founded by former Tesla employees, secured $12.5 million in Series A funding, bringing its total funding to over $15 million. The company's software uses AI to optimize inventory and supply chain decisions, a method developed during the Tesla Model 3 production ramp.
Mavi Launches AI-Powered Talent Marketplace to Connect US Companies with Global Accounting Talent
Mavi, a new AI-powered talent marketplace founded in 2023 by Molly Liu and Aman Puri, has emerged from stealth. The service connects US companies with AI-proficient global financial and accounting professionals to address the US accounting shortage and the need for AI skills.
Outmarket Raises $34.5M Series B for AI-Powered Commercial Insurance Automation
Outmarket, a startup specializing in AI-driven automation for commercial insurance agencies, secured $34.5 million in Series B funding. This investment, coming four months after its Series A, values the company at $355 million and will support its growth in automating complex insurance paperwork for brokers.
Muju Earth develops Aeropod for automated soil aeration without robotics
Muju Earth developed the Aeropod, a fingernail-sized device that aerates soil automatically when exposed to temperature, pressure, and moisture. This technology aims to reduce soil compaction, which can decrease crop yields, and cut tilling costs for farmers.
Nexterity develops remote-controlled robot for pipefitting bolt automation
Nexterity, a startup founded by former ExxonMobil engineer Lindsey Elliott, has developed a remote-controlled robot to automate the loosening and tightening of bolts on bolted flange joints in pipelines. This innovation aims to address labor shortages and reduce injuries in the pipefitting industry by automating a physically demanding task.
Ando Launches Team Messaging App for Human and AI Collaboration, Raises $20M
Ando, a new startup, launched a team messaging platform designed for both human and AI workers, aiming to replace existing communication tools like Slack. The app allows AI agents to participate in conversations, have identities, and interact autonomously with human team members. Ando also announced $20 million in pre-seed and seed funding from investors including Accel, Index Ventures, and Emergence.
Dextr AI Secures $6.7M Seed Funding for Hotel AI Agent Development
Dextr AI, a San Francisco startup, has raised $6.7 million in seed funding to develop AI agents for the hospitality industry. These agents automate tasks such as reservations, guest requests, and staff coordination, addressing challenges like rising labor costs and staffing shortages in hotels.
Modal Motors develops rare-earth-free electric motors to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains
Modal Motors, a new startup, is developing electric motors that do not use rare-earth magnets, aiming to create a U.S.-based supply chain independent of China. This initiative addresses concerns about China's control over rare-earth materials, which are critical for traditional electric motor manufacturing.
Cisco stock drops 5% after Piper Sandler lowers price target due to growth concerns
Cisco's stock fell by nearly 5% after Piper Sandler reduced its price target from $132 to $125. This adjustment reflects analyst concerns that growth in the networking equipment industry may be peaking, despite Cisco's recent strong revenue performance driven by AI demand.
Coverage Cat (YC S22) Launches Insurance Brokerage with AI-Guided Intake
Coverage Cat, a Y Combinator S22 startup, launched a licensed insurance brokerage offering comparison services for home, umbrella, auto, and renters insurance. The platform uses AI-guided intake alongside a licensed brokerage team to provide coverage comparisons and pricing in five states, with an Agent API for developers.
Nick Clegg could gain £30m from Nscale datacentre startup flotation
Nick Clegg, former UK deputy prime minister, could receive approximately £30m from the planned US stock market listing of datacentre company Nscale. Nscale, where Clegg is a board member, is seeking a valuation of up to $35bn, with its flotation documents filed on September 18.
Meta partners with MacroCycle to support plastics recycling plant development
Meta has signed a deal with plastics recycling startup MacroCycle to purchase environmental attribute credits. This agreement provides MacroCycle with revenue to fund its first commercial plant, which will produce recycled PET plastic with 80% fewer carbon emissions than virgin plastic.
Tesla Registers Entity in Vietnam, Faces Dominant Local EV Player VinFast
Tesla registered a local entity, Tesla Motors Vietnam, indicating a potential entry into Vietnam's electric vehicle market. This move positions Tesla against VinFast, which currently holds 92% of the domestic EV market share and benefits from an established ecosystem and charging infrastructure.
Corridor raises $25M seed round for AI-powered health benefits brokerage for SMBs
Corridor, an AI health benefits brokerage, secured $25 million in seed funding led by Bain Capital Ventures. The company uses AI agents to handle administrative tasks for small businesses, which are often overlooked by traditional brokerages due to lower commissions.
ScrollEd Converts Textbooks and PDFs into TikTok-Like Educational Feeds
ScrollEd, a new startup, has developed an app that transforms text files, including textbooks and PDFs, into an interactive, scrollable feed resembling TikTok or Instagram Reels. This aims to engage younger generations with educational content by adapting it to their preferred short-form, vertical media consumption habits.
Navy CTO seeks to streamline procurement and co-invest with private capital
Justin Fanelli, the Department of Navy’s CTO, is working to simplify the Navy's procurement process for startups and increase co-investment with private capital. This initiative aims to integrate promising technologies into the Navy's enterprise services and influence investor perception of Navy buying plans.
Vantora, formerly UP.Labs, raises $100M to build physical AI startups for corporate partners
Vantora, a startup studio previously known as UP.Labs, secured $100 million in funding from Silversmith Capital Partners. The company is shifting its focus to building physical AI startups exclusively for its corporate customers, allowing these partners to integrate the ventures directly into their core businesses.
Bluecore Energy Raises $50M Seed Round for Floating Nuclear Power Plants
Bluecore Energy secured a $50 million seed round to develop compact, water-cooled small modular reactors designed for operation on floating barges. This funding aims to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission energy by manufacturing nuclear systems off-site and moving them to locations where electricity is needed, such as ports and data centers.
Tesla Cofounder Martin Eberhard Used AC Propulsion's tZero to Attract Early Investors
In 2003, Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard used AC Propulsion's tZero electric roadster for demonstrations to attract investors for Tesla Motors. These demonstrations showcased the performance capabilities of electric vehicles, ultimately leading to an introduction to Elon Musk.
A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya Raises $5.5M Pre-Seed for Music Creation Apps
A Vinyl Bar in Shibuya, a startup founded by former Spotify innovation head Máuhan M Zonoozy, raised $5.5 million in pre-seed funding. The company develops music creation apps that allow users to interact with sounds and vocals without AI prompting, aiming to shift music interaction from consumption to creation.
Insight Partners Diversifies Investments Amidst AI Focus, Discusses AI Risks and Benefits
Deven Parekh of Insight Partners discussed the firm's diversified investment strategy, contrasting it with other VCs' focus on frontier AI labs. He also shared his perspective on AI risks, emphasizing its potential for positive impact in healthcare despite potential dangers.
Cerberus, WeGlobal AI, and LOOQ Win Central Eurasia Road to Battlefield 2026
Cerberus, WeGlobal AI, and LOOQ secured the top three positions at the Central Eurasia regional final of the Road to TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026. These three AI-focused startups will represent the region at Startup Battlefield 200 during TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco.
Furo Secures $4 Million in Funding for Industrial Battery Storage Software
Furo, a German startup developing software for industrial battery storage systems, raised $4 million in funding from U.S. and German investors. The company, founded by former Silicon Valley residents, moved its operations to Germany to be closer to its European customer base, including Deutsche Bahn.
inDrive Expands Beyond Ride-Hailing with Advertising, Delivery, and Financial Services
inDrive, a ride-hailing company, is expanding its business beyond its core service by scaling new ventures in advertising, delivery, and financial services. This expansion aims to diversify revenue streams and capitalize on its user base in emerging markets, following a strategy similar to other ride-hailing platforms.
Autonomy Adds Gas-Powered Vehicles to Subscription Service After EV-Only Model Struggles
Autonomy, a vehicle subscription startup, is adding internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to its fleet after its initial EV-only strategy proved unsustainable due to an EV price war. This pivot aims to attract more customers by offering familiar powertrains and addressing the rising costs of new and used cars.
CloudNC raises $20M in Series B extension for AI-powered manufacturing software
CloudNC, a UK-based manufacturing software startup, secured an additional $20 million in a Series B extension round, bringing its total funding to $128 million. This funding will support the scaling of its AI-powered CAM Assist software, which automates parts of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining processes.
Catch Raises $5 Million to Develop AI Executive Assistant with Guardrails
Catch, an AI startup, secured $5 million in funding co-led by Entrée Capital and Pitango to advance its AI executive assistant product. The funding will support the development of an AI agent designed to handle sensitive administrative tasks with built-in security and user-defined access controls, aiming to move AI beyond analysis to active decision-making.
Former Replit GC Cecilia Ziniti Launches GC AI for Legal Work
Cecilia Ziniti, former General Counsel at Replit, founded GC AI to develop AI tools specifically for legal work. Her experience with early GPT versions at Replit highlighted the need for AI tailored to the precision and sourcing requirements of the legal profession.
Pivotal, Larry Page-backed flying car company, announces CEO Ken Karklin's departure
Ken Karklin has stepped down as CEO of Pivotal, a flying car company backed by Larry Page, after more than four years in the role. Mike Ross, an aviation executive, will serve as interim CEO. This leadership change occurs as Pivotal continues sales of its Helix aircraft and develops its BlackFly model for defense and first responder use.
Pyka develops self-flying aircraft for crop spraying and cargo delivery
Pyka, a startup, is developing and deploying self-flying fixed-wing aircraft for commercial services like crop spraying and cargo delivery. These pilotless planes are currently in use in Brazil for agricultural tasks, with future plans to expand into passenger transport. The technology aims to improve efficiency and reduce chemical usage in crop spraying by flying lower than manned aircraft.
Thrive Capital Founder Josh Kushner Defends Involvement in Failed FIFA Venture
Thrive Capital founder Josh Kushner has publicly defended his firm's involvement in FIFA's failed plan to create a new commercial entity, FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). The plan, which would have involved private investment in FIFA's commercial rights, was scrapped due to backlash from European and North American football associations, and has led to potential criminal charges against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Newlight Develops Hydrogen Injection System for Cargo Ships, Completes First Commercial Voyage
Newlight, a San Francisco Bay Area startup, has developed a hydrogen injection system for cargo ships that reduces fuel consumption and emissions. The system, which can be retrofitted to existing diesel engines, completed its first long-range commercial voyage from Singapore to Ghana, demonstrating a 24% reduction in fuel use and a 28% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Alteon raises $2.5M pre-seed to develop aircraft capable of year-long flight
Bengaluru startup Alteon secured $2.5 million in pre-seed funding, led by Lachy Groom, to develop autonomous aircraft that can stay airborne for over a year by harvesting energy from ocean winds. This technology aims to provide continuous maritime surveillance and overcome conventional aircraft limitations.
Polymarket Reportedly Raises $300M from Donald Trump Jr.'s Investment Fund
Prediction market Polymarket reportedly raised $300 million from 1789 Capital, an investment fund where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner, as part of a larger $1 billion funding round. This funding occurs amid increased regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets from state governments, while the federal government has often defended the industry.
Blue Voice Raises $6M to Provide AI-Powered Policy Guidance for Police Officers
Blue Voice, an AI startup, has secured $6 million in funding to expand its platform that offers real-time policy guidance to police officers. The tool helps officers access department-specific rules and protocols instantly, aiming to reduce errors and improve adherence to regulations.
Bolt seeks up to $27M in bridge funding with 'pay-to-play' provision
Checkout processing startup Bolt is raising a bridge round of up to $27 million from existing investors, structured as a convertible note with a 'pay-to-play' provision. This financing aims to address operational milestones and legacy obligations as the company works towards a larger Series E2 round, following a significant valuation drop from $11 billion to $300 million.
Markiplier Becomes GoPro's Largest Shareholder with 8.5% Stake
YouTuber Mark "Markiplier" Fischbach has acquired an 8.5% stake in GoPro, making him the company's largest single shareholder. Fischbach believes GoPro is undervalued and sees his investment as a step towards making filmmaking more accessible.
Circleback meeting notetaker introduces free tier amidst market competition
Circleback, a Y Combinator-backed meeting notetaker, has launched a free subscription tier that allows unlimited meeting transcription with a 30-day history limit. This move responds to increasing competition in the meeting notetaker market and aims to attract more users to the platform.
Spanish startup Liux to launch "Big" microcar with focus on sustainability and recyclable materials
Spanish startup Liux is developing the "Big" microcar, aiming to compete in the European market by prioritizing sustainability through features like home-rechargeable batteries and a linen-based biocomposite body designed for recycling. The company emphasizes "real circularity" in its manufacturing approach, seeking to differentiate itself from other micro-EVs, many of which are Chinese-made.
Vijay Pande departs a16z to launch VZVC, focusing on concentrated biotech investments
Vijay Pande, former head of a16z's $4 billion life sciences practice, co-founded a new firm, VZVC, with Zach Werner. VZVC will make a small number of concentrated investments annually and utilize AI for operations, departing from Pande's previous high-volume investment strategy.