Startups

VelaFi: $20 Million Series B Raised To Expand Global Stablecoin Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

VelaFi, a stablecoin-powered financial infrastructure platform under Galactic Holdings, announced it has raised $20 million in a Series B financing to expand its regulated payments and settlement capabilities across Latin America, the U.S., and Asia.

Vibrant Therapeutics: $61 Million Closed And Han Lee Named As Co-CEO

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Vibrant Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech developing “logic-gated” therapeutics designed to activate selectively in diseased tissue, announced it has raised $61 million in new financing and appointed Han Lee, Ph.D. as co-chief executive officer as the company prepares to broaden global development of its lead solid tumor program. The round brought in new investors, Pfizer Ventures and Apricot Capital, and included participation from Bayland Capital, HSG, Northern Light Venture Capital, and First Principle Venture Limited, according to the company. With the latest proceeds, Vibrant said its total capital raised now stands at $100 million.

Mirador Therapeutics: $250 Million Series B Raised And Multi-Asset Immuno-Fibrotic Pipeline Advanced

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Mirador Therapeutics announced it is advancing multiple clinical-stage programs across Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with more than 10 clinical readouts expected by the end of 2027.

VieCure: $43 Million Raised To Expand AI-Powered Precision Cancer Care In Community Practices

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

VieCure announced it has raised $43 million to accelerate the rollout of its software platform designed to help community oncology clinics deliver precision-medicine care with greater speed and consistency.

Cytotheryx Lands Lead For $60 Million Series A And Adds Debt Financing To Expand Facilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Cytotheryx, a preclinical cell therapy company developing cell-based treatments for liver disease, said it has secured a lead term sheet for a $60 million Series A round and lined up additional debt financing aimed at expanding its manufacturing and operational footprint.

DaVinci Commerce Raises Strategic Financing, Rebrands From Jivox To Expand Agentic Commerce Marketing Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

DaVinci Commerce, formerly known as Jivox, announced it raised a strategic financing round to accelerate growth of its AI-native platform for “agentic commerce marketing,” a category it says blends automated commerce creative optimization with rapid activation across retail and commerce media networks.

Trybe: $30 Million Series A Raised To Expand Spa And Leisure Management Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Trybe, a provider of software for spas, bathhouses, resorts, hotels, and other leisure operators, has raised a $30 million Series A investment from Five Elms Capital as it looks to scale internationally and deepen product capabilities across payments, bookings, and operations.

Harmattan AI: $200 Million Series B Raised And Strategic Partnership With Dassault Aviation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI announced they have formed a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the integration of controlled autonomy and artificial intelligence into combat aviation systems, with Dassault leading a $200 million Series B financing for the defense technology company.

Terra Industries Raises $11.75 Million To Scale Autonomous Security Systems For Africa’s Critical Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Terra Industries, a defense technology company developing autonomous security systems to protect critical infrastructure across Africa, has emerged from stealth with an $11.75 million funding round led by U.S. venture firm 8VC.

Avenue Biosciences: $5.7 Million Seed Extension Raised To Scale Secretory Pathway Platform For Therapeutic Protein Manufacturing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Avenue Biosciences, a Palo Alto-based protein engineering technology company, has raised $5.7 million in seed extension funding to scale a high-throughput platform designed to measure and modulate the protein secretory pathway, a core cellular process responsible for folding, modifying, and secreting therapeutic proteins.

Nanochon: $4.1 Million Seed Prime II Round Raised To Advance Knee Cartilage Implant Into First-in-Human Study

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 12, 2026

Nanochon, a Washington, D.C.-based orthopedic device company developing an implant to treat articular cartilage defects in the knee, said it has secured commitments to close an oversubscribed $4.1 million Seed Prime II financing, bringing total capital raised to date to $11.3 million. The round was led by cultivate(MD), with participation from the University of Virginia UVA Seed Fund, WSGR, Wealthing VC Fund, and other investors. Nanochon said the majority of the financing came from existing backers, while also adding new individuals and funds to its investor base.