Startups

Flutterwave Raises Funding From Circle Ventures

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Flutterwave has announced a strategic investment from Circle Ventures and the addition of USDC settlement across its platform, as part of a broader push to embed stablecoins into the payment infrastructure serving businesses across Africa. The move extends Flutterwave’s existing model- connecting banks, cards, mobile money, and local payment systems via a single platform—into digital dollars and blockchain-based rails, with the aim of delivering faster settlement, lower costs, and greater access to global liquidity.

Hippo Harvest Raises $30 Million Series C To Scale Robotic Organic Greenhouses And Launch Indoor‑Grown Spinach

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Hippo Harvest, a Pescadero, California–based leafy greens grower using robotics and machine learning–powered greenhouses to produce USDA‑certified organic greens, has closed a $30 million Series C round led by Cox Farms, North America’s largest greenhouse operator. The funding will support a 30‑acre expansion at a new Hollister, CA facility now in permitting, and the development of Hippo Harvest’s next‑generation robotic growing system, increasing growing capacity from 1 acre today and accelerating the commercialization of indoor‑grown spinach.

Amprion Secures Multi‑Million‑Dollar Non‑Dilutive Growth Investment From Decathlon Capital Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Amprion, a diagnostics company focused on seed‑amplification testing for neurodegenerative disorders, has reached an agreement with Decathlon Capital Partners for a multi‑million‑dollar growth‑funding investment. The financing is structured as customized growth‑debt that offers flexible amortization while remaining non‑dilutive to existing shareholders and preserving management control, giving Amprion additional capital without issuing new equity.

Marker Raises $13 Million Seed Funding To Build An AI‑Native Word Processor

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Index Ventures has led a $13 million seed round for Marker, a London‑based startup developing an AI‑native word processor designed to support, rather than replace, the writing process. The funding round includes participation from LocalGlobe, Betaworks, Radical Ventures, Tiny VC and Otherwise Fund, along with angel investors such as the founders behind Google Docs, Slack and Hugging Face.

Aria Raises €7 Million Series A Extension And Secures €240M Invoice Financing Facility

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Aria, a Paris-based embedded invoice financing platform, has closed a new €7 million equity round, extending its Series A, and, in a separate transaction, opened a new financing facility providing close to €240 million in invoice financing capacity. The equity raise is led by 115K, the venture capital arm of La Banque Postale, with returning investor 13books Capital participating, while the financing facility is led by Nomura alongside Fost, Sienna Investment Managers and Montpensier Arbevel through dedicated vehicles.

Luffy AI Raises £8.1 Million Series A To Bring Neuroplastic AI Into Industrial Electric Motors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Luffy AI, a UK-based startup developing “neuroplastic” AI for real-time adaptive control, has raised £8.1 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate deployment of its technology in industrial electric motors and other physical systems. The company argues that while AI has transformed language and image generation, it has yet to make a substantial impact in industry, despite electric motor systems accounting for roughly half of global electricity consumption.

EnergyX Secures $225 Million Strategic Investment From Eni To Advance Black Giant Lithium Project In Chile

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (EnergyX) has announced a $225 million strategic equity investment from Italian energy company Eni to support the development of Project Black Giant, a large-scale lithium brine and refining project in Chile’s Antofagasta Region. The transaction gives Eni a minority stake in the project and forms a central component of the funding needed to take Black Giant through full commercial development.

Aardaia Raises €5 Million To Develop New Crops From Wild Plants

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Aardaia has raised €5 million to develop a new generation of crops by domesticating promising wild plant species into modern, farm-ready varieties. The round was led by Point Nine, with participation from FoodLabs, Astanor, Grey Silo Ventures, and several angel investors, and will be used to accelerate Aardaia’s crop development pipeline and build out its team and capabilities.

Vendelux Raises $50 Million Series B To Scale AI-Powered B2B Event Intelligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 10, 2026

Vendelux has raised a $50 million Series B round to expand its AI-powered platform that helps B2B companies identify, prioritize, and measure in‑person event opportunities. The round was led by Tribeca Venture Partners with participation from S3, Pelion Ventures, HubSpot Ventures, FirstMark, and Cervin Ventures, bringing the company’s total funding to $71 million.