Startup Industry News
A collection of Startup latest news, analysis and best practices from top business influencers and the world's most trustworthy sources.
AI search startups are blowing up
Yesterday's big news was Google's plan to blow up its traditional Search in favor of an AI-powered experience — but Google isn't the only company planning for the next generation of discoverability. This morning, Bloomberg has news of the…
Arsenal partners with startup to sell gold and silver collectibles
Echo Collectibles, an Arizona-based startup, will begin selling a series of commemorative medallions, tickets, art prints and VIP lanyards made with precious metals in a new partnership with Arsenal later this year. The collaboration will include…
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27
Your shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, and $100,000 in equity-free funding is gone in a week. Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27. If you're building a breakout startup — or know a founder who is…
This startup raised $43M to build a hive mind for ships
Oceans — to state the obvious — are big. That makes it hard for governments, shipping companies, and insurance providers to know exactly what's happening on them at any particular moment. It doesn't help that these modern-day ships…
Nvidia posts another record quarter, reveals $43 billion of holdings in startups
Nvidia announced another record revenue figure after market close on Wednesday, reporting financial results for the quarter ending April 26. Over those three months, the company brought in $81.6 billion in revenue (up 20% from the previous quarter)…
Sam Altman has a proposition for startup founders: AI tokens for equity
Before some startup founders raise their Series A, they'll be raising AI tokens. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a new offer for Y Combinator's current batch of founders: fork over some equity, and OpenAI will offer up $2 million in API tokens. YC…
Forbes Daily: The Startups Trying To Figure Out How AI's Brain Works
When you type a question into a chatbot, you might wonder how it arrives at the answer—and it turns out, so do those who built AI. A host of “interpretability” startups are trying to figure out the inner workings of models in…
Mercury hits $5.2 billion valuation as fintech firm banks on AI startups
May 20 (Reuters) - Mercury said on Wednesday it had raised $200 million at a $5.2 billion valuation in its latest funding round, led by investment firm TCV, as it seeks to attract AI-native founders and businesses as banking…
We asked top startup investors how they use AI. Here's what they said.
Venture capitalists have spent the last few years hunting for the next great AI startup. Increasingly, they're also using AI to scout for the next OpenAI or Anthropic. Early-stage investors are weaving chatbots and agents into nearly every part of…
IrisGo, a startup backed by Andrew Ng, looks to become the AI desktop buddy you never knew you needed
Industry insiders say the next big thing in AI is “proactive” systems: agents that can anticipate a user's needs — and fulfill them — before the user even knows what those needs are. One startup that's looking to make…
AI Search Startup Exa Raises $225M at $2.2B Valuation in a16z-Led Series C
The company didn't disclose other investors in the round. Andreessen Horowitz, a hedge fund widely known as a16z, said it invested in Exa to 'back their ambition of perfecting web search, and making it ready for the age of intelligent agents.' 'As…
Andreessen-Backed AI Search Startup Exa Valued at $2.2 Billion
Exa Labs Inc., a San Francisco-based startup that wants to build a search engine tailor-made for the age of artificial intelligence, raised $250 million at a $2.2 billion valuation in a round led by venture firm Andreessen Horowitz. The deal…
Sam Altman Says OpenAI Will Exchange This Critical AI Asset for Startup Equity
Would you give up a percentage of your company for more AI ? OpenAI cofounder and CEO Sam Altman says he is offering $2 million in OpenAI API tokens to every startup in Y Combinator's current Spring 2026 batch, in exchange for an undetermined…
Digital Banking Startup Mercury Lands $200M At $5.2B Valuation Amid Fintech Funding Uptick
Digital banking startup Mercury has raised $200 million in a Series D round at a $5.2 billion valuation, the company announced Wednesday. That's up 49% from the $3.5 billion valuation it achieved when announcing its $300 million Series C —…
After A 6-Figure Fertility Journey, This Founder Built An IVF Startup With 'Outcome Protection'
Five cycles, three clinics, two countries and a six-figure financial toll spanning about four years. When Nader AlSalim and his wife were navigating the complex world of fertility treatment, the process was marked by stress and financial strain.
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