Startups

Mach9 Raises $34 Million Series A To Expand AI-Powered CAD Platform For Civil Engineering

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:25 PM

Mach9 has raised $34 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered CAD software for surveying and civil engineering, bringing the company's total funding to $49 million. The round was co-led by First Round Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Prudence and continued backing from Quiet Capital.

Optivolt Raises $32 Million Series A To Scale Intelligent Solar Power Electronics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:23 PM

Optivolt has raised $32 million in Series A funding to expand manufacturing and deployment of its panel-integrated power electronics technology, bringing the company's total capital raised to $42 million. VXI Capital led the round, with participation from RA Capital, Valo Ventures, and Atlas Innovate. Optivolt also counts several experienced energy industry executives among its investors, including Enphase founder and former CEO Paul Nahi, former SunPower CEO Tom Werner, and former New York energy official Richard Kauffman.

Hephaestus Raises $17.2 Million To Advance Rare-Earth-Free Superconductors And Fusion Power

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:18 PM

Hephaestus has emerged from stealth after raising $17.2 million to advance rare-earth-free high-temperature superconducting materials and develop a fusion reactor based on negative triangularity plasma geometry. The latest funding round was led by CiRi Ventures, with existing investors including Prescience Ventures, Teampact Ventures, Climate Capital, Unruly Capital, and CiRi Ventures.

Longeye Raises $20 Million Series A To Expand AI Investigative Platform Across Justice Agencies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:16 PM

Longeye has raised $20 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered investigative platform across local, state, and federal justice agencies in the U.S. The financing was led by N47, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz's American Dynamism practice. Longeye said more than 50 justice agencies are already using its platform to review and analyze large volumes of digital evidence.

Whop Raises $200 Million Series D At $5.1 Billion Valuation To Expand Internet Business Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:14 PM

Whop has raised $200 million in Series D funding at a $5.1 billion valuation, with the round led by Sequoia Capital and Shopify Ventures.

Watchtower Labs Raises $35 Million To Build AI Decision Software For Military Operations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:05 PM

Watchtower Labs has emerged from stealth with $35 million in seed financing to build AI-native software designed to help military leaders and planners evaluate operational scenarios, anticipate changing conditions, and make decisions under time pressure. The financing was led by Shield Capital and Conviction, with participation from Founders Fund.

Blacksmith Raises $66 Million Series C At $1 Billion Valuation To Expand CI Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 4:36 PM

Blacksmith has raised $66 million in Series C funding at a $1 billion valuation as the infrastructure company scales its platform for building and testing software amid rapidly increasing code generation from AI coding agents. The round was led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from Premji Invest and existing investors Peak XV Partners, GV, and Y Combinator. The financing brings Blacksmith's total funding to $125 million and will support expansion of its team and computing infrastructure.

Opply Raises $7.5 Million To Scale Agentic AI Operating System For CPG Brands

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 4:24 PM

Opply has raised $7.5 million in new funding after increasing gross revenue 15-fold over the past 12 months, as the company scales an agentic AI platform designed to automate operational workflows for consumer packaged goods brands. The financing was led by Chalfen Ventures, with participation from Index Ventures, Anthemis, Entrepreneurs First, In This Together, and Ventures Together. Opply plans to use the capital to expand adoption of its technology across the U.K., Europe, and North America.

Peak Energy Raises $108 Million Series B To Scale Sodium-Ion Storage And U.S. Manufacturing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 4:22 PM

Peak Energy has raised $108 million in an oversubscribed Series B financing round to scale domestic manufacturing of its sodium-ion energy storage systems, fulfill more than $1 billion in existing customer orders, and expand into power infrastructure for data centers. The round was led by General Motors Ventures, with participation from Maverick Silicon, Infinite Capital, Eclipse, Xora Innovation, and LG Technology Ventures.

TraceWeave Raises About $2.26 Million To Advance Constant-Memory On-Device AI Architecture

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 4:14 PM

TraceWeave has raised approximately $2.26 million (KRW 3 billion) in seed funding to advance its on-device artificial intelligence architecture, with NAVER D2SF joining the round alongside lead investor Mirae Asset Capital.

Pigment Raises $250 Million Series E At $2.3 Billion Valuation To Advance Autonomous Business Planning

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 4:12 PM

Pigment has raised $250 million in Series E funding at a $2.3 billion valuation as the AI business planning and performance management company accelerates development of autonomous planning capabilities for large enterprises. The financing was led by the Scaleup Europe Fund, managed by EQT, with participation from World Innovation Lab, existing investors Greenoaks, ICONIQ, IVP, and Meritech, and a planned investment from NVIDIA.

IDL Raises $15 Million Series A To Expand Global Professional Dance League

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 4:03 PM

International Dance League, or IDL, has raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its global professional dance league following a debut season that sold out all six events and generated 2 billion social views. The funding round was led by Elysian Park Ventures, with participation from Sony Group Corporation, Sony Corporation, KB Partners, APEX, Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, and October Ventures. The new capital will support IDL’s expansion ahead of its 2027 season, including larger events, enhanced broadcast and digital production, stronger operational infrastructure for teams and dancers, and new fan experiences.

Leena AI: Investment From IBM Ventures To Scale Enterprise Agentic AI For HR, IT And Finance

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:59 PM

IBM Ventures, IBM's venture capital arm, has made a strategic investment in Leena AI as the enterprise software company expands autonomous AI agents for human resources, IT, and finance operations. The investment adds IBM Ventures to a group of existing backers, including Greycroft and Bessemer Venture Partners.

ScribeUp Raises $13 Million Series A To Bring AI Bill Management To Financial Institutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:55 PM

ScribeUp has raised a $13 million Series A to expand its AI-powered embedded recurring-bill platform for banks, credit unions, fintechs, and neobanks. Curql led the financing, with participation from Mucker Capital and Service Ventures. The financing consists of $10 million in equity and a $3 million venture debt facility.

Qualitate Raises $25 Million Series A Led By Insight Partners For Continuous Primary Research AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:55 PM

Qualitate has raised a $25 million Series A led by Insight Partners, with participation from existing investors IA Ventures and Crew Capital, to expand an AI-powered system designed to make primary market research continuous rather than project-based.

Arda Emerges From Stealth With $232 Million To Automate Manufacturing Engineering

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:31 PM

Arda Industries has emerged from stealth with $232 million in total funding to develop AI software that helps manufacturers turn new product designs into working assembly lines and update those lines as designs change. The company is targeting a long-term vision of robotic assembly lines that can adapt at software speed.

Mural Raises $15 Million Series A Led By Tether, Bringing Total Funding To $28 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:29 PM

Mural has raised a $15 million Series A round led by Tether, with participation from North Island Ventures and existing investors, bringing the fintech infrastructure company's total funding to $28 million. The company plans to use the financing for global expansion and further investment in regulatory and payments infrastructure as it prepares for a financial system in which software agents increasingly move money on behalf of people and businesses.

ASI Raises $325 Million Series C At $3 Billion Valuation For Critical Infrastructure AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:24 PM

ASI has raised a $325 million Series C financing round at a $3 billion valuation to accelerate deployment of artificial intelligence systems used across transportation, defense, energy, logistics, and other critical infrastructure. Spark Capital led the round, with major participation from affiliates of Citadel Securities, Meritech Capital, Craft Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, and Andreessen Horowitz.

Blackwall Raises $100 Million Series C At $2.2 Billion Valuation To Scale Web Traffic Management Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:17 PM

Blackwall has raised $100 million in a Series C round at a $2.2 billion valuation to expand its web traffic management platform for hosting, cloud, and managed service providers. AVP led the financing, joining existing investors Dawn Capital, MMC Ventures, and Tera Ventures.

IMIO Raises $12 Million From Sofinnova Partners And Chipotle’s Cultivate Next To Expand Agricultural Biologicals And Soil Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 5:19 PM

IMIO, a Chicago-based agricultural biotechnology company developing microbial products to improve soil health and crop performance, has raised $12 million in funding to expand its biomanufacturing operations and bring its biological solutions to more farmers across the United States.

VIVA Finance Secures $150 Million Credit Facility From Viola Credit To Expand Payroll-Linked Consumer Lending

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 5:18 PM

VIVA Finance, an Atlanta-based financial technology company specializing in payroll-linked consumer lending, has secured a $150 million credit facility from Viola Credit to expand its lending operations and increase access to affordable personal loans.

Vinyl Health Raises $2 Million From HealthX Ventures To Expand AI-Powered Personal Health Assistant

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 5:18 PM

Vinyl Health, a Marlton, New Jersey-based health technology company developing an AI-powered personal health assistant, has raised $2 million in seed funding led by HealthX Ventures. The investment will support the company's broader public launch and continued development of its platform, which helps patients record, understand, organize, and share their healthcare information.

Sunlight AI Raises $17.4 Million Seed And Acquires Bradford Medical Associates

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:39 PM

Sunlight AI has launched with $17.4 million in seed funding and the acquisition of Bradford Medical Associates as the company builds an AI-enabled operating platform for independent medical practices. The financing was led by Lan Xuexhao, founder of Basis Set Ventures, with participation from Sofeon Ventures, Social Leverage, Actions Capital, Overlook Ventures, Early Light Ventures, and additional healthcare investors, family offices, and technology founders.

Different Raises $48 Million Seed To Automate B2B Demand Generation With AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:37 PM

Different has emerged from stealth with a $48 million seed round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners, to build an AI marketing system designed to run end-to-end demand generation for lean B2B marketing organizations.

AuxoAI Raises $20.7 Million Series A To Scale Forward-Deployed Enterprise AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:36 PM

AuxoAI has raised a $20.7 million Series A led by NTTVC to expand its forward-deployed model for enterprise AI, following work with more than 40 clients across manufacturing, consumer goods, healthcare, telecom, and other industries. The financing also includes participation from technology executives and strategic investors including George Still Jr., Partner Emeritus at Norwest Venture Partners and longtime Workday board member; Amit Zavery, President, Chief Product Officer and Chief Operating Officer at ServiceNow; and Giacomo Sonnino, Managing Director at Charlesbank Capital Partners and former COO of QuantumBlack North America.

VECKTA Raises $11 Million Series A For Onsite Solar And Storage Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:34 PM

VECKTA has raised an oversubscribed $11 million Series A led by Origin Ventures to expand its planning and procurement platform for onsite solar, battery storage, and other distributed energy technologies.

Rosie Raises $7 Million To Expand Flexible Childcare And Household Support

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:33 PM

Rosie has raised $7 million across two oversubscribed financing rounds to expand its flexible childcare and household support service beyond Seattle, with launches planned in Austin and San Francisco. Bling Capital and Reach Capital led the financings.

Stellios Technologies Raises $5 Million Pre-Seed For High-Energy Power Systems

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:32 PM

Stellios Technologies has emerged from stealth with an oversubscribed $5 million pre-seed round to develop high-power microwave, directed-energy, compact-fusion, and advanced propulsion technologies. The financing included participation from Sofreh Capital, Wave Function Ventures, Cubit Capital, Mana Ventures, Atoms & Bits, Output Capital, Erik Bruckner, and other strategic investors.

Delegance Raises $3.1 Million Pre-Seed For AI-Native Commercial Insurance Brokerage

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:31 PM

Delegance Brokerage has raised $3.1 million in pre-seed funding led by Grit Capital Partners to expand an AI-native commercial insurance brokerage built around a flat, disclosed fee model. Core VC, Gilgamesh Ventures, and Outside VC also participated.

Oro Mobility Raises $80 Million To Scale Driver-Led And Autonomous Fleets

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:30 PM

Oro Mobility has secured an $80 million strategic equity investment from a consortium that includes Cohen Private Ventures and funds or accounts affiliated with Certares Opportunities and Knighthead Capital Management. The investment establishes the Hertz-backed business as a standalone growth platform.