Startups

Hakimo Raises $12 Million Growth Round To Scale AI Physical Security Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 12, 2026

Hakimo, a Menlo Park, California–based AI physical security monitoring company, has closed a $12 million growth round led by existing investor Zigg Capital, with participation from Neotribe Ventures, Vertex Ventures, Defy.vc and Rocketship.vc. The financing brings Hakimo's total funding to $32 million and will support accelerated product development, expansion across key verticals and continued team growth as the company rides what it describes as explosive demand for its AI plus services platform.

Forge Industries Raises $3.85 Million To Build First US Waste-To-Fuel Facility Outside Las Vegas

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 12, 2026

Forge Industries, a climate-tech company that converts hard-to-recycle waste into high-performance engineered fuels, has raised $3.85 million in a funding round co-led by Next Phase Capital and 8090 Industries, with the two firms contributing the majority of the new capital. The funding will support the development of Forge's first U.S. biofuel facility, planned for a site outside Las Vegas later this year, as the company moves from successful industrial-scale pilots into commercial operations.

AIsa Raises $6.5 Million To Build The Transaction Network For AI Agents

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 12, 2026

AIsa, a San Francisco–based company building what it describes as the transaction network for the AI agent economy, has raised $6.5 million in total funding to date, including a new seed round co-led by Alibaba and Tribe Capital, with participation from Draper Associates, Sumitomo Corporation, Saison Capital and other investors. The capital will be used to expand AIsa's engineering team, scale its payment infrastructure, onboard additional models, data, and API providers, and accelerate stablecoin settlement capabilities for AI agents and businesses worldwide.

Wonderdog Launches With $5 Million Pre-Seed To Bring At-Home Blood Testing And AI Health Intelligence To Preventive Dog Care

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Wonderdog, a Los Angeles and New York–based preventive health platform for dogs, has launched publicly and announced $5 million in pre-seed funding led by consumer venture capital firms WndrCo and Maveron. The company combines at-home blood diagnostics measuring more than 40 biomarkers with an AI-powered health tracking app, positioning itself as the long-term health intelligence layer for dog owners who want to catch disease before symptoms appear rather than after.

Sherpa Raises $2.2 Million Pre-Seed To Build An AI Operating System For External Workforce Orchestration

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Sherpa, an early-stage enterprise software company, has raised $2.2 million in pre-seed funding to build what it describes as an AI operating system for external work—the contingent talent, suppliers, services and AI agents that now account for the majority of how large enterprises get things done. The round is backed by Seedcamp, DN Capital, Activant and Brighteye, alongside operator angels who have previously scaled enterprise companies.

TJM Labs Reveals $100 Million Raised Across Three Rounds, 450+ Live Pharmacies, And Two Acquisitions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

TJM Labs, a pharmacy AI platform automating operational workflows for pharmacies, has disclosed $100 million raised across three funding rounds completed in approximately six months: a $10 million Series A, a $15 million Series A-1 and a $75 million Series B led by Elephant, with participation from Arthur Ventures and Updata Partners.

Cableteque Raises $6 Million Seed To Bring AI-Powered Digital Operating System To The $100 Billion Wire Harness Industry

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Cableteque, a Huntington Beach, California–based software company building what it describes as the first comprehensive digital operating system for the wire harness manufacturing industry, has closed a $6 million seed round backed by 11 Tribes Ventures, PHX Ventures and Mudita Ventures. The funding arrives during a period of rapid growth: the company reports 300% year-to-date expansion and says it is on track to double that volume by year-end, across customers ranging from agile SMB shops to multi-billion-dollar tier-1 enterprise manufacturers.

Lyzr AI Raises $100 Million Series B After Its Own AI Agent SivaClaw Fielded 130‑Plus Investors And Generated $400 Million In Interest

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Lyzr AI, an enterprise agentic AI company that builds AI agents designed to handle mission‑critical workflows, has closed a $100 million Series B after running the fundraise largely through SivaClaw, its own proprietary AI agent. The round attracted more than $400 million in investor interest—four times the target—with SivaClaw fielding more than 130 investor conversations, drafting investment memos and managing early‑stage outreach before human team members stepped in to close.

Paradigm Raises $1.2 Billion Fourth Fund To Back “Technical Frontier” Startups Across Crypto, AI And Robotics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Paradigm, the frontier technology investment firm best known for its large crypto funds, has raised its fourth fund: a $1.2 billion venture vehicle to invest in what it calls the “technical frontier,” spanning crypto, artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging sectors. Co‑founder Matt Huang said that the capital is fuel to back “the most ambitious builders at the frontier of technology” at a time when markets are more cautious but institutional appetite for deep‑tech remains strong.

Kaon AI Raises Series B To Build A Vertically Integrated “Customization Engine” For AI‑Native Entertainment

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Kaon AI, a generative AI platform and research lab building interactive entertainment experiences, has closed a Series B round backed by B Capital, Redpoint Ace, Goodwater Capital and DCM. The funding, whose size is undisclosed but reported by Variety and others to be around $60 million, will fuel Kaon’s push to define a new content engine for the generative AI era, built on long‑horizon, hyper‑personalized narratives rather than static recommendations.

Oratomic Raises $300 Million Series A To Build Fault‑Tolerant Neutral‑Atom Quantum Computers Straight To ‘Endgame’

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Oratomic, a Pasadena‑based quantum computing startup founded by leading neutral‑atom and fault‑tolerant quantum researchers, has raised a $300 million Series A round to accelerate development of a utility‑scale, fault‑tolerant quantum computer. The financing, announced in the company’s Series A blog post, was co‑led by ARCH Venture Partners, Spark Capital and Khosla Ventures, with participation from Bezos Expeditions, Index Ventures, General Catalyst, Lowercarbon Capital, Bain Capital, Formation, Nebular, David and Scott Aaronson, Les Kohn, Baiju Bhatt, Infleqtion, Genius Ventures, 7i Capital and Global Frontier Investments.

Bizay Raises $55 Million Series D As Global Mass‑Customization Marketplace Hits Profitability And $100 Million Revenue

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Bizay, a Lisbon‑based mass‑customization technology and e‑commerce marketplace serving small and midsize businesses across 50 countries, has raised a $55 million Series D round led by Índico Capital Partners. The new capital comes as Bizay expects to surpass $100 million in revenue this year while delivering its first profitable year, a milestone the company’s backers highlight as proof that a large global marketplace can be scaled with “absolute economic discipline.”

Super.com Raises $65 Million Series D At $1.2 Billion Valuation To Scale AI‑Powered Savings For Everyday Americans

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Super.com, a savings “super app” aimed at everyday Americans, has raised a $65 million Series D round led by TPG at a $1.2 billion valuation. The new capital will fund AI‑driven product development and the expansion of its Super+ membership as the company surpasses $200 million in net revenue and reports more than $1 billion in direct savings returned to customers since 2016.

EDX Markets Raises $76 Million Series C To Scale Institutional Digital Asset Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

EDX Markets, a digital asset technology firm that operates an institutional‑only trading venue paired with a central clearinghouse, has closed a $76 million Series C funding round led by Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings. The capital will be used to expand EDX’s trading, clearing and settlement capabilities, accelerate product development and scale its global operations as institutional demand for regulated digital asset infrastructure continues to rise.

M1X Global Raises Seed Funding Led By Paradigm, Bringing Total To $8.5 Million To Scale On‑Chain Sovereign Debt Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

M1X Global, a sovereign financial infrastructure and technology company building blockchain‑based public‑sector instruments, has closed an oversubscribed Seed round led by Paradigm, bringing its total funding to $8.5 million just 14 weeks after its public launch and angel raise. Breed VC joined as a strategic participant in the round, which follows a $3 million angel raise backed by investors including former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan and Cumberland Labs CEO Tama Churchouse. The new capital will support continued development of M1X’s platform and the institutional rollout of USDM1, which the company describes as the first USD‑denominated, fully secured sovereign bond issued natively on a public blockchain and collateralized 1:1 by short‑duration US Treasuries.

Adaptive Insurance Raises Additional $5 Million To Scale AI‑Driven Specialty Climate Products And Invoice Financing Capacity

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Adaptive Insurance, a specialty managing general agent (MGA) and insurtech focused on climate resilience, has closed an additional $5 million financing round from new and existing investors to accelerate development and distribution of its AI‑driven specialty insurance products. New investors in the round include IAG Firemark Ventures, Sunna Ventures, Room & Pillar and Connecticut Innovations, joining existing backers Congruent Ventures, Seraphim Space and private stakeholders.

KOR Protocol Raises $7.5 Million Series A To Build AI‑Era Clearinghouse For Creative Assets

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

KOR Protocol, a London‑based platform building what it describes as a “creative asset clearinghouse,” has raised $7.5 million in a Series A round at a $100 million valuation. The funding is led by crypto‑native fund 1kx and Blockchain Capital, with participation from existing backers including Republic Crypto, Sfermion, Animoca Brands, Solana, Avalanche, Alumni Ventures, SevenX and other strategic investors across digital assets, entertainment and emerging technology.

Savi Security Raises $7 Million Seed And Launches AI‑Native App To Protect Families From Digital Scams

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Savi Security, a Los Angeles‑based consumer technology company focused on AI‑powered scam protection, has launched Savi, an iOS and Android app designed to screen calls, messages and digital communications before users engage, and has raised 7 million dollars in seed funding to accelerate development of its behavioral AI platform. The seed round is led by Acrew Capital, with participation from Magnify Ventures, TTCER and Resolute Ventures.

Octozi Raises $3 Million Seed To Bring Agentic AI Into Clinical Trial Data Operations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Octozi, a New York City-based artificial intelligence company that automates clinical development workflows for pharmaceutical sponsors, has raised 3 million dollars in seed funding. Surface Ventures led the round, with participation from Remarkable Ventures, building on a prior strategic investment from the venture arm of Swiss pharmaceutical company Debiopharm. The capital will be used to expand Octozi’s agentic AI platform and deepen its integrations with clinical systems used by pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech companies.

Handspring Raises $19 Million Series B To Scale Evidence‑Based Youth Mental Health Care Nationwide

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Handspring Health, a virtual mental health clinic providing evidence‑based care to children, adolescents, young adults and their families, has raised $19 million in Series B financing to support national expansion of its care model. RPS Ventures led the round, with participation from new investor Angelini Ventures and continued backing from Cobalt Ventures, NextView Ventures, nvp capital, Hyde Park Angels, Cornucopian Capital, and others. The funding brings Handspring’s total capital raised to $37 million and reflects growing conviction among payers and investors in the company’s clinically rigorous, cost‑effective approach.

Bidbus Raises $15 Million Series A To Make Used‑Car Selling A Real‑Time Dealer Auction

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Bidbus, a Los Angeles–based marketplace that lets verified car dealers bid against each other for consumer‑owned vehicles, has raised a $15 million Series A round to scale its model beyond its initial markets. The funding is led by Ibex Investors, an early‑stage mobility‑focused fund, with participation from Mucker Capital, FJ Labs, Motley Fool Ventures, Data Point Capital, Walter Ventures and strategic angels including Yossi J. Levi (Car Dealership Guy), Ryan Steingard, Gregory Kirber and Antonio Davila.

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.