Startups · Top stories
Spain Blacklists Palantir from Public and State-Controlled Companies
The Spanish government has blacklisted Palantir Technologies from public and private state-controlled companies due to concerns regarding national security information misuse. This decision disrupts existing contracts and procurement pipelines, reflecting a broader trend of regulatory pushback against the company in Europe.
Record Q2 2026 for Billion-Dollar Startup Exits Driven by SpaceX and AI Funding Surge
The second quarter of 2026 saw the highest number of billion-dollar startup exits since 2021, according to Crunchbase data, led by SpaceX's record-setting IPO. The first half of the year also witnessed a total of $510 billion in global venture investments, with significant contributions from AI companies. This period marks a significant shift in investment trends, concentrating capital in few major firms and enhancing exit opportunities through IPOs and acquisitions.
South Korea invests $1T in memory chips and humanoid robots by 2028
South Korea plans to invest $1 trillion in memory chip production and humanoid robot deployment by 2028. This initiative aims to address global memory chip shortages and advance AI infrastructure amid rising demand.
IQM goes public via SPAC, cites uncertainty in quantum tech future
IQM, Europe's first public quantum company, went public via SPAC at a $1.9 billion valuation. The company cautioned that large-scale commercial adoption of quantum technology may never occur, affecting investor sentiment despite recent customer growth.
Magnify Ventures raises $46.6M Fund II backed by Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures
Magnify Ventures has successfully raised $46.6 million for its second fund, with investment from Pivotal Ventures, led by Melinda French Gates. The new fund will focus on companies in the care economy, targeting AI tools for households and fintech solutions for families.
Launch of Manufact: A Cloud Platform for MCP App Development
Manufact, a startup from Y Combinator's S25 batch, has launched a cloud platform designed for developing MCP applications. It streamlines deployment, testing, and analytics, aiming to simplify the path for developers to reach the ChatGPT Apps Store and Claude Connectors.
Lucid Motors CFO exits as new CEO implements leadership changes
Lucid Motors announced the departure of CFO Taoufiq Boussaid amid a leadership overhaul led by new CEO Silvio Napoli. The restructuring, including significant executive hires and job cuts, aims to align production with demand as the company struggles with low vehicle deliveries.
Donald Trump invests in tech stocks on day of AI Action Plan announcement
Donald Trump disclosed stock purchases in major tech companies on the same day he announced his AI Action Plan. His investments include up to $5 million in stocks of Apple, Amazon, NVIDIA, and others, highlighting his profitable financial activity during his presidential term.
Rivian updates EV sales forecast, expects 65,000-70,000 deliveries in 2023
Rivian has raised its delivery forecast for 2023 from 62,000-67,000 to 65,000-70,000 vehicles. This revision comes despite challenges in the EV market and follows a strong Q2 performance, indicating optimism about their new R2 SUV.
Nigel Farage-backed bitcoin firm Stack BTC loses 15% in asset value
Stack BTC, a bitcoin treasury company supported by Nigel Farage, has seen over a 15% decrease in asset value since its launch in March. This loss of £565,000 has raised concerns among financial experts regarding the risks associated with investing in such firms endorsed by public figures.
Valar Atomics activates nuclear microreactor for Nvidia-powered AI factory
Valar Atomics initiated its Ward 250 nuclear microreactor during a live event to power an Nvidia RTX PC. This marks a collaboration with Nvidia for a closed-loop AI factory designed to minimize local water use, amidst growing public concerns about data center energy consumption.
Square launches ChatGPT and Claude ordering integration for restaurants
Square has launched a ChatGPT app and Claude plugin that allows consumers to order from restaurants directly within these AI platforms. This integration eliminates traditional marketplace fees while maintaining standard transaction fees, addressing high commission rates imposed by major delivery services.
Tapestry VC Raises $80M Third Fund for Investing in Repeat European Founders
Tapestry VC has closed an $80 million fund aimed at backing European repeat founders, who have generated over $2 trillion in value. The firm plans to invest in 30 companies at pre-seed or seed stages with increased check sizes ranging from $1 million to $3 million.
AI Startup Omnea Launches Fund for Employees to Start Their Own Companies
Omnea has introduced the Future Founders Fund, offering employees $250,000 in seed funding to launch their startups after five years of service. This initiative, developed with Firedrop, aims to normalize entrepreneurship within the company and provide support to employees pursuing their business ideas.
Investors Discuss Funding Challenges for Black Founders in Venture Capital
Venture capitalists shared insights on the challenges Black founders face in securing funding. Key issues include reliance on traditional networks and the need for changes in both investor and entrepreneur practices to improve funding outcomes.
Ukrainian Entrepreneur Highlights Resilience Amid War and Adversity
Salome Mikadze-Struk, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, has sustained her software business through the COVID-19 pandemic and war. She now mentors others, stressing the importance of resilience in the ever-changing tech landscape.
Musicians Aim for Compensation in AI Training Use Cases
Musicians are seeking compensation for their work used in training AI models, challenging existing definitions of use. Startups like Sureel and SoundVerse are developing systems to ensure fair compensation for artists in the evolving generative AI landscape.
Bhavin Turakhia invests $30M in Neo, an AI-based workplace software alternative
Bhavin Turakhia has invested $30 million into Neo, an AI-driven enterprise software platform. The platform aims to integrate AI more deeply into daily workflows rather than as a separate tool, challenging existing providers like Microsoft and Google.
Bending Spoons IPO Surges; Acquires Beloved Brands for Revitalization
Bending Spoons, an Italian company known for acquiring established tech brands, went public with an $18 billion valuation. Its shares surged 40% on the first trading day, closing at $40.50 and valuing the company at $25.7 billion. By reviving and retaining acquired brands like Eventbrite and Meetup, the company differentiates itself from traditional private equity playbooks. This growth highlights its strategy of transforming legacy tech brands leveraging AI and tech advancements.
Ashton Kutcher departs Sound Ventures to form new VC firm with Morgan Beller
Ashton Kutcher is leaving Sound Ventures to launch a new venture capital firm with Morgan Beller. The new fund will target early-stage investments in AI infrastructure, energy, and deep tech startups, reflecting a shift in investment focus.
Together AI secures $800M Series C, valued at $8.3B
Together AI raised $800 million in Series C funding, reaching an $8.3 billion valuation. The investment reflects the growing demand for AI infrastructure and open-source solutions.
Lime raises $167 million in IPO, valued at $1.66 billion
Lime has raised $167 million in its IPO, marking its transition to a public company with a valuation of approximately $1.66 billion. This funding is crucial for addressing significant financial liabilities, as Lime navigates a challenging micromobility market.
Humble Robotics emerges in autonomous freight vehicle space with $24 million funding
Humble Robotics, founded by Eyal Cohen, has raised $24 million to develop fully autonomous freight haulers. The company marks a resurgence in interest and investment in autonomous vehicles, reminiscent of the 2016 hype cycle.
Venice AI raises $65M Series A, becomes a unicorn valued at $1 billion
Venice AI has raised $65 million in Series A funding, reaching a valuation of $1 billion. The startup caters to users by providing privacy-preserving access to over 200 AI models, capitalizing on the growing demand for reliable AI solutions amid privacy concerns.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to Feature Builders Stage for Startup Scaling Strategies
The Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 will host discussions for startup founders on scaling strategies. Attendees can learn from industry leaders on critical topics such as fundraising and go-to-market strategies. The event is expected to attract over 10,000 participants in San Francisco from October 13-15.
Wayve offers $85M employee tender at $8.5B valuation
Wayve has initiated an $85 million tender offer for employees to sell vested shares at an $8.5 billion valuation. This measure aims to retain talent amid a rising trend in AI startups providing liquidity options for employees, ensuring they remain with the company instead of pursuing other opportunities.
Former DeepMind Researchers Launch AI Trading Startup Valued at $500M
Three former DeepMind researchers have established EquiLibre Technologies, an AI startup applying reinforcement learning to stock trading. The startup has recently raised a Series A round and achieved a valuation of $500 million, contributing to quant hedge funds with strong trading performance.
Etched achieves $5B valuation with $1B in AI chip sales contracts
Etched, a competitor to Nvidia, has reached a $5 billion valuation and secured $1 billion in sales for its AI chips. The startup's 'frontier inference clusters' aim to address efficiency challenges in AI inference processes, drawing significant investor interest.
Asian AI Startups Launch Models Amid Anthropic Export Ban
Chinese firm 360 and Tokyo-based Sakana AI launched AI models Tulongfeng and Fugu, respectively, as the U.S. export ban on Anthropic's Mythos and Fable 5 continues. These new models aim to fill the gap left by restricted access to powerful AI tools and cater to local needs, especially in cybersecurity and language optimization.
FTC approves Musk's acquisition of SpaceX alumni startup Mesh Optical Technologies
The FTC has approved Elon Musk's potential acquisition of Mesh Optical Technologies, a startup founded by former SpaceX engineers. Mesh develops optical transceivers for data centers, which could enhance SpaceX's data center efficiency and its new agreements with AI companies.
Corgi Denies Theft of Papermark's Open Source Software Amid Controversy
Corgi, funded by Y Combinator, faced allegations from Papermark of stealing software features. Corgi refuted the claims, asserting that no code from Papermark was used, although it acknowledged similar design elements in its product, Dataroom.
Aseon Labs raises $10M to develop robotic cleaning and charging pods for robotaxis
Aseon Labs has secured $10 million in seed funding to create automated pods for cleaning and charging robotaxis. The startup's solution aims to reduce 'deadhead miles,' potentially enhancing profitability for autonomous vehicle services.
Venture Capital Faces Challenges with Data and AI Integration
Venture capital is increasingly challenged by ineffective data usage and AI adoption. Investors struggle with data presented by founders, complicating decision-making and emphasizing the need for better data practices in investment processes.
Proliferate (YC S25) Announces Hiring for Key Engineer Role
Proliferate, a YC S25 startup, is hiring its first engineer as it develops an open platform for coding agents. The company is funded by several venture firms and emphasizes rapid product development and employee health benefits.
Startup Battlefield Australia application deadline is July 6
Applications for TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield Australia close on July 6, 2026. The event offers startups a chance to pitch to investors and win significant prizes, including automatic entry to TechCrunch Disrupt.
Trump seeks SpaceX stock donation for kids’ savings accounts initiative
Donald Trump is launching children's savings accounts called Trump Accounts and is pursuing a stock donation from SpaceX. The initiative aims to enhance savings options for under-18s, with 6 million children already registered.
Riverside adds newsletter feature for podcast and video creators
Riverside has introduced a newsletter feature aimed at its podcast and video users, allowing them to convert existing content into newsletters. This development seeks to streamline content creation for users already utilizing Riverside's recording tools and differentiates it from traditional newsletter platforms.
Indie Developers Create Star Fox-Inspired Games Amid Nintendo's Inaction
Indie studios are developing new games reminiscent of Star Fox due to the franchise's long absence from major releases. Titles like Huskrafts' Rogue Eclipse and Chuhai Labs' Wild Blue Skies aim to fill the gap left by Nintendo's neglect of the genre.