Startups · Top stories
Mint Mobile offers all plans for $15/month amid Google Pixel phone shortage
Mint Mobile has lowered all its plans to $15/month for new customers without a defined end date. This promotion coincides with a sudden unavailability of Google Pixel phones, potentially awaiting new releases from Google.
Klarna applies for U.S. bank charter to expand beyond buy now, pay later
Klarna has submitted an application to establish a U.S. bank subsidiary, Klarna Bank USA, backed by the FDIC and based in Utah. This move aims to enhance its banking services, allowing the company to offer products like checking accounts and credit cards while enabling it to fund loans with customer deposits.
Partiful evolves from party platform to user-friendly event tool
Partiful, founded in 2019, provides a simplified event planning platform for users who favor casual party organization over complex metrics. As the startup grows, it must assure users of its commitment to privacy and value in an increasingly cautious market.
Station F's F/ai accelerator to launch second cohort for AI startups
Station F will initiate its second F/ai accelerator cohort in September, focusing on helping AI startups achieve revenue quickly. This program has notable backing from leading tech companies, enhancing connections for startups in Europe.
Cleantech Startup Funding Reaches $15 Billion Amid Increased Energy Demand
Cleantech investment reached $15 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by rising energy demand and EV adoption. This funding signals growing interest in sustainable technologies, despite remaining below 2021-2022 peaks.
Uber pauses expansion plans in Europe, focusing on existing markets
Uber has put on hold its plans to launch services in five new European markets by 2026, including Austria, Norway, and Greece. The decision aims to maintain momentum from successful launches in Finland and Denmark and address antitrust concerns related to its ongoing bid for Delivery Hero.
Bending Spoons Debuts on Nasdaq with Over $25 Billion Valuation
Bending Spoons, the Milan-based company known for acquiring aging tech brands, went public on Nasdaq, reaching a market cap of over $25 billion. The company's strategy involves acquiring, revitalizing, and holding well-known brands like AOL and Vimeo, leveraging tech and AI for growth. This IPO signifies strong investor interest in its unique operational approach despite concerns in the SaaS sector.
Fab2 rebrands from Atomic Semi to mass-produce small semiconductor fabs
Atomic Semi has rebranded as Fab2, focusing on mass-producing small semiconductor fabs. The company's unique 'fab fab' concept allows for rapid chip prototyping, although throughput remains a challenge.
2023 Sees Nearly 90 New Unicorn Startups Amid AI Investment Surge
In 2023, nearly 90 new startups achieved unicorn status, driven largely by AI investments. Notable examples include AI workspace provider MainFunc and cybersecurity startup Socket, among others in diverse sectors such as healthcare and crypto.
Zawa Launches AI Design Platform for Brand Building
Zawa has introduced an all-in-one AI design platform aimed at helping businesses create logos and brand identities. The platform simplifies the branding process by offering tools for generating logos, enhancing images, and creating social media content, specifically targeting small businesses.
Slate Auto Launches Affordable EV Pickup Amid Rising US Auto Costs
Slate Auto, a new electric vehicle startup, has launched a truck priced at $24,950, aiming to offer affordability in the rising auto market. As US consumers face increasing vehicle prices, Slate's entry highlights the competitive challenge posed by cheaper Chinese electric vehicles that dominate the global market.
Ampera launches 3D-printed thorium nuclear reactor for AI data centers
Ampera has unveiled a 3D-printed nuclear reactor module designed to power AI data centers. This subcritical, solid-state reactor, constructed using additive manufacturing, promises safer operations and quicker production for mass deployment.
Infracost Hiring Marketing Lead to Enhance Customer Acquisition
Infracost is seeking a Marketing Lead to drive customer acquisition and brand awareness within its team. The role emphasizes creating marketing strategies aligned with the company's goals, making data-driven decisions, and building content that supports customer engagement.
SpaceX IPO may inform strategies for upcoming mega-cap public listings
SpaceX's recent IPO performance may influence the public offerings of firms like Anthropic and OpenAI. Market experts indicate that the conditions faced by SpaceX could serve as a model for future mega-cap IPOs, particularly regarding index inclusion.
Robinhood CEO predicts AI agents will match human traders' capabilities
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev predicts that AI agents will soon be able to match human traders' capabilities, aiming to democratize trading tools for retail investors. This development could significantly enhance trading accessibility for everyday users, aligning their abilities more closely with institutional investors.
Django Software Foundation Sets Fundraising Goal of $500,000 for 2026
The Django Software Foundation aims to raise $500,000 by 2026, increasing its goal from $300,000. Funding will support community initiatives and vital programs like the Django Fellows, which manage development tasks and security issues.
Etched secures chip production with TSMC; seeks Arizona manufacturing support
Etched, a $5 billion semiconductor startup, announced its first chip production with TSMC. The company aims to overcome manufacturing challenges by potentially resourcing production to TSMC's Arizona facility as part of a strategy backed by investor Jack Selby.
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.
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.
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.