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A hub for startup news, trends, and insights, covering the global startup ecosystem for founders, investors, and innovators. Community: @startupdis Buy Ads: @strategy (this is our only account).
⚡️ Meta takes 49% stake in Scale AI — the dataset factory behind Big Tech models
Founded in 2016, Scale AI builds the infrastructure that trains the trainers — cleaning, labeling, and structuring data for top AI systems.
It’s now 49% owned by Meta, which paid $14.3B and brought CEO Alexandr Wang into its elite AI group.
🖱️240,000+ contractors handle massive multi-modal data
🖱️Text, audio, 3D, and synthetic data for RLHF at scale
🖱️Quality via majority vote, dynamic calibration, and more
🖱️Upload raw — get back validated datasets via full-cycle API
🖱️Rapid-feedback pipelines using private foundation models
But trust issues surfaced fast: leaked docs revealed prompt sets, tasker emails, and internal client data — including Bard and xAI. Meta’s rivals (OpenAI, Google) are now freezing projects.
The big question: can Meta own the pipeline and still convince competitors to keep sending blood to its lab?
🤖 RealSense goes independent to power the rise of physical AI
RealSense, Intel’s former computer vision unit, has officially spun out and raised $50M to scale its vision systems for robotics, biometrics, and AI-driven automation.
The company continues shipping its signature depth cameras — already used in 60% of the world’s humanoid and mobile robots.
✅ Launched the new D555 depth camera with PoE and Vision SoC V5
✅ Partners include Unitree Robotics, ANYbotics, Fit:Match, and Eyesynth
✅ Backed by Intel Capital, MediaTek, and a leading semi PE firm
✅ Active across robotics, healthcare, access control, and automation
• Holds 80+ patents and serves 3,000+ customers worldwide
RealSense says it’s building for a future where robots don’t replace humans — they protect and empower them.
🧠 Grok 4 is here — and it might be the smartest AI ever built
The new model from xAI blows past Claude, GPT-4o, and Gemini 2.5 Pro.
It’s not just faster — it thinks better.
🧠 Foundation EGI Unveils AI-Native Platform to Transform Engineering
MIT spinout Foundation EGI has secured $23M in Series A funding to transform industrial engineering using an AI-native platform. The round was led by Translink Capital, with backing from RRE Ventures, McRock Capital, and others.
⚙️ AI that engineers with you
• Physics-aware LLM turns messy specs into structured workflows
• Supports co-design between humans and AI—not just automation
• Speeds up prototyping, simulation, and documentation
🏠 Piloting in complex industries
• Live with Fortune 500 firms in aerospace and manufacturing
• Built for sectors like automotive and advanced appliances
• Helps engineers build smarter and faster
🧪 Deep tech from MIT labs
• Founded by Mok Oh, Prof. Wojciech Matusik & Michael Foshey
• Based on MIT research into LLMs for design and manufacturing
• Translink: “This is industrial AI with real-world impact”
Foundation EGI is reshaping the future of product design—where AI doesn’t just assist, it thinks alongside engineers.
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💼 iCapital Expands Access to Alternative Investments with New Backing
New York-based iCapital has raised $820 million at a $7.5 billion valuation. The round was co-led by T. Rowe Price and SurgoCap Partners, with participation from UBS, State Street, Temasek, BNY, and existing investors like BlackRock and Apollo.
⚙️ Simplifying private market investing
• Platform offers access to private equity, credit, real estate, and annuities
• Serves 114,000+ advisors and 3,000+ firms
• Manages over $945 billion in assets
📈 Profitable growth with global reach
• Completed 23 acquisitions to date
• Profitable since 2019
• Expanding tech and entering new markets
💡Strategic backing for future expansion
• Funding supports platform upgrades and product innovation
• Aligns with rising demand for alternative investments
• Eyes potential IPO in coming years
iCapital is making alternatives more accessible—helping investors tap into private markets with institutional-grade tools.
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⚙️ Deepinvent Unveils AI-Powered R&D Engine for Instant Innovation
Deepinvent has launched the world’s first AI Innovator, a superintelligent platform that compresses months of research and invention into just minutes.
⚙️From Idea to Invention in One Session
• Inputs your idea and scans global patents and research
• Builds a dynamic knowledge graph to reveal breakthroughs
• Instantly generates patent-quality inventions
🚀2,000+ Innovations in Week One
• Early users created thousands of inventions across biotech, defense, semiconductors, and energy
• Designed for fast-moving startups and complex enterprise R&D
🧠 Built with Compound AI Architecture
• Merges deep learning with brain-inspired heuristics
• Self-generates disclosures, patent drafts, and validation insights
Deepinvent is redefining invention—giving individuals and teams the power to create with AI at unprecedented speed and scale.
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🌐Perplexity Launches Comet to Reinvent the Browser Experience
Perplexity has launched Comet, an AI-powered web browser built to transform how users search, browse, and interact with online content—directly challenging Google and Microsoft.
🧠 A Browser That Thinks With You
• Built-in assistant understands what’s on your screen
• Enables real-time summarizing, comparisons, and task execution
• Runs on Chromium and supports all Chrome extensions
🔓Privacy-Preserving, AI-Driven
• Keeps user data local with no AI model training
• Focused on productivity without compromising trust
• Supports secure, on-screen contextual assistance
🚀 Exclusive Launch for Power Users
• Available now via Perplexity Max ($200/month)
• Launches on Windows and macOS
• Mobile and Linux versions arriving later in 2025
Comet is Perplexity’s boldest move yet to redefine the future of browsing through AI-native experiences.
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⚙️ MaintainX Gears Up to Bring AI-Powered Maintenance to the Industrial Frontline
MaintainX has raised $150 million in Series D funding to transform equipment maintenance with AI-driven tools for frontline industrial teams.
🚀 Boosting Industrial Efficiency
• Reduces downtime by 34% and maintenance costs by 32%
• Powers over 11,000 companies managing 11M+ assets
• Uses IoT data to predict equipment failures in real time
🤖 Smart AI for Frontline Workers
• “CoPilot” delivers instant technical guidance and SOP digitization
• Features include anomaly detection, voice memos, and auto-generated workflows
• Enhances—not replaces—technician capabilities
📈 Strategic Growth Backed by Major Investors
• Backed by Bessemer, Bain Capital Ventures, and others
• Now valued at $2.5B—doubling its previous round
• Funds will scale predictive maintenance and AI innovation
MaintainX is redefining industrial operations with AI-powered tools built for the people who keep things running.
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💬ReserveOne to Go Public via SPAC, Backed by Crypto Titans and U.S. Leaders
ReserveOne, a digital asset holding firm, is going public through a SPAC merger with M3‑Brigade Acquisition V Corp to bring regulated crypto exposure to Nasdaq investors.
💰 A Regulated Crypto Treasury
• Holds diversified assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana
• Offers institutional staking and lending via Coinbase Custody
• Targets equity-based access to digital assets for traditional investors
👥 Led by Industry and Policy Veterans
• CEO Jaime Leverton (ex-Hut 8), President Sebastian Bea (ex-BlackRock)
• Board includes Tether co-founder Reeve Collins and Wilbur Ross
• Supported by Kraken, Blockchain.com, Galaxy Digital, and Pantera
📈 Positioning for Public Market Growth
• Nasdaq listing expected under ticker RONE by late 2025
• Combines SPAC trust and PIPE capital to fuel asset expansion
• Mirrors MicroStrategy’s crypto-equity model for mainstream access
ReserveOne brings together crypto expertise, institutional capital, and regulatory structure to offer a new gateway into digital asset investing.
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🧠 SiPearl to Power EU’s Jupiter Supercomputer with Advanced AI Chips
SiPearl, a French AI chipmaker, is set to industrialize its Rhea1 processor to power Europe’s Jupiter supercomputer—marking a leap forward in sovereign high-performance computing.
⚙️ Next-Gen AI Processing
• Rhea1 features 80 ARM-based cores and 61+ billion transistors
• Built for high-performance computing and AI workloads
• Produced in collaboration with TSMC for advanced scale
🚀 Driving European Tech Independence
• Key to EU’s plan to reduce reliance on U.S. and Asian chipmakers
• Will power Jupiter, Europe’s exascale supercomputer based in Germany
• Backed by the European Processor Initiative since 2019
📈 Scaling for Scientific & Industrial Impact
• Backed by investors including Cathay Venture, Arm, Atos SE, and the EIC
• Series B planned between 2026–2028 to support further growth
• Operating with a 200-person team across France, Spain, and Italy
With Rhea1 set for mass production, SiPearl is accelerating Europe’s push for AI-driven research, energy breakthroughs, and digital sovereignty.
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⚙️ Filics Rolls Out Space-Saving Warehouse Robotics Platform
Munich-based Filics is deploying its flat, autonomous robots to transform how pallets are moved in space-constrained warehouses across Europe.
🚀 Flat, intelligent pallet movers
• Founded by TUM engineers to automate internal pallet transport
• Uses two omnidirectional robots to lift and carry Euro pallets
• Cuts warehouse space needs by up to 66% while handling 1.2-ton loads
🎯 Scaling with industry leaders
• Pilots completed with Bosch, DHL, and Nagel Group
• Rolling out block-storage solutions by late 2025
• Targeting full autonomous truck loading in under 5 minutes
📈 Strategic backing for growth
• Backed by Sandwater, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Alven, F‑LOG Ventures, and others
• Investors highlight its efficiency in space, labor, and energy use
Filics is redefining warehouse automation with smart, scalable robots designed for Europe’s evolving logistics needs.
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🧠 Apple Eyes Perplexity to Boost Siri and Break Google Dependence
Apple is reportedly considering acquiring Perplexity AI in a ~$14B deal to strengthen its AI capabilities and reduce reliance on Google search.
⚙️ Supercharging Siri and Safari
• Talks led by Eddy Cue and Adrian Perica for a full acquisition or partnership
• Perplexity delivers real-time, cited answers—ideal for Siri and Spotlight
• Move could protect Apple if its $20B/year Google deal is disrupted
📉 A defensive but strategic play
• Siri has lagged behind ChatGPT and Gemini in conversational AI
• Perplexity faces copyright challenges that may complicate a deal
• Analysts see this as a long-term tech hedge, not a quick win
📈 Apple’s biggest AI bet yet
• Would surpass its largest deal since Beats in 2014
• Could introduce native AI search while keeping Google as default
• Apple may face competition from Meta and Samsung for the startup
Apple’s move on Perplexity signals a shift—aiming to bring real-time AI into its core products and lessen its dependence on Google’s search engine.
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🧠 Surge AI Seeks Valuation in First-Ever Raise
Bootstrapped data-labeling startup Surge AI is reportedly in talks to raise up to $1 billion at a valuation above $15 billion. The San Francisco–based company, founded by former Google and Meta engineer Edwin Chen, has operated profitably without external funding—until now.
⚙️ Premium data labeling for the AI era
• Specializes in high-precision RLHF and LLM training data
• Built a network of expert contractors for quality-first labeling
• Delivered over $1B in 2024 revenue—surpassing Scale AI’s $870M
📉 Capitalizing on Scale AI setbacks
• Scale lost clients like OpenAI and Google amid Meta ties
• CEO Alexandr Wang departed; concerns over neutrality rose
• Surge seen as independent alternative in an AI-critical market
📈 Raising to scale a lean, profitable model
• Team of ~116 with high efficiency and strong margins
• Potential raise includes primary capital and employee liquidity
• Positions Surge as top-tier rival in human-in-the-loop AI workflows
Surge AI is breaking out of stealth with strong fundamentals and bold fundraising goals—poised to reshape the data infrastructure powering next-gen AI systems.
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🔒 Palmer Luckey Launches Erebor, a Crypto-Friendly Bank for Frontier Tech
Oculus and Anduril founder Palmer Luckey has unveiled Erebor, a digital-first bank built for high-risk, high-growth sectors like crypto, AI, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Backed by Palantir’s Joe Lonsdale and Founders Fund, Erebor is applying for a U.S. national bank charter to serve startups underserved by traditional banks post-SVB.
☎️A modern bank for innovation-first startups
• Fully remote, with HQ in Columbus and presence in NYC
• Combines traditional business banking with stablecoin services
• Designed for U.S. and global firms needing secure access to U.S. banking
• Tailored to the compliance needs of crypto and frontier-tech companies
🔗 Regulated, crypto-compatible infrastructure
• Plans to be the most regulated stablecoin-friendly bank in the U.S.
• Built by fintech and compliance veterans from Circle and Aer Compliance
• Strong digital onboarding and risk oversight baked into core design
💸 Backed by top-tier venture capital
• Funded by Joe Lonsdale (8VC), Founders Fund, and Luckey himself
• Launch fills a critical gap for startups locked out of legacy banking
• Investors betting big on a purpose-built SVB successor
🧠 A Tolkien-inspired banking mission
• “Erebor” symbolizes resilience and independence in finance
• Vision: power the financial backbone for the builders of tomorrow
Erebor is positioning itself as the go-to bank for the innovation economy—regulated, digital, and built to serve those reshaping the future.
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⚡️ AssetCool Boosts Grid Capacity with Smart Coatings and Robotic Upgrades
UK-based AssetCool has raised €11.5M (~£10M) in a Series A round led by Energy Impact Partners, with backing from Extantia Capital, Taronga Group, Mercia (via the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund), and Northern Gritstone. The startup develops nanotech-powered coatings and robotic systems to help utilities upgrade power lines without rebuilding infrastructure.
⚙️ Nanotech meets robotics for power lines
• Coatings increase conductor thermal capacity by up to 30%—enabling higher current flow
• Robotic platform, CapacityN, applies coatings directly on live lines at a fraction of traditional upgrade costs
• Robots also capture line data to feed AI-driven grid optimization
• Additional benefits: corrosion protection, ice resistance, and noise reduction in development
📊 Fast, affordable solutions for strained grids
• Helps utilities unlock capacity on aging infrastructure amid rising electrification needs
• Upgrades lines 20x cheaper and significantly faster than full replacement
• Already deployed across multiple international utility networks
• Funded in part by Innovate UK Smart Grant to expand capabilities
🧭 Scaling with strong investor tailwinds
• Founded in Leeds, U.K., and built to tackle grid upgrade bottlenecks globally
• New funding to support commercialization, team growth, and international expansion
• Strategic alignment with Energy Impact Partners’ global utility network for customer scaling
• Part of a growing class of “retrofit-first” gridtech startups solving for the energy transition
AssetCool is proving that sometimes the smartest way to build the future grid is to upgrade the one we’ve already got—faster, cheaper, and smarter.
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📺 Top Talks from Y Combinator’s AI Startup School
In June, Y Combinator hosted a 2-day AI bootcamp for over 2,500 students and PhDs. They brought in top voices from OpenAI, Tesla, Microsoft, and more.
Here’s a handpicked list of the most valuable talks:
🔹Andrew Ng, co-founder of Google Brain
Topic: Building Faster with AI
🔹 Andrej Karpathy, former Head of AI at Tesla & OpenAI co-founder
Topic: Software Is Changing (Again)
🔹 Elon Musk, founder of Tesla, SpaceX, xAI
Topic: Digital Superintelligence, Multiplanetary Life, How to Be Useful
🔹 Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
Topic: The Future of OpenAI, ChatGPT’s Origins, and Building AI Hardware
🔹 Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
Topic: Microsoft’s AI Bets, Hyperscaling, Quantum Computing Breakthroughs
🔹 Fei-Fei Li, “Godmother of AI”
Topic: Spatial Intelligence is the Next Frontier in AI
🔹 François Chollet, creator of Keras & ARC Prize
Topic: How We Get to AGI
Coming soon: sessions from the founders of Perplexity, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind’s John Jumper.
🧠 How to convince investors the problem is real
A common founder line:
The problem is obvious — we’ve lived it ourselves.
In one week, we got X payments from Y customers.
We’re ready to buy, if the product meets these terms.
🧠 Groq Ramps Up Global Push in the AI Chip Race
Silicon Valley–based Groq is scaling rapidly with its custom inference chips, designed to deliver ultra-fast performance for AI workloads without the power drain of traditional GPUs.
⚙️ Built for blazing-fast inference
• Runs on proprietary Language Processing Units (LPUs)
• Delivers up to 10× faster and more energy-efficient performance than GPUs
• Already powering over 100,000 LPUs for real-time AI applications
🌍 Expanding global reach
• Opened its first European data center in Helsinki
• Recently signed a $1.5B deal with Saudi Arabia
• In talks to raise $300–500M at a $6B valuation
🤖 Defining a new chip category
• Targets inference workloads—not training—unlike Nvidia
• Backed by Cisco, Samsung, BlackRock, and other major investors
Groq is reshaping how AI infrastructure is built—offering a leaner, faster alternative for inference at scale.
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🧠Knox Accelerates FedRAMP Authorization for Government AI Use
San Francisco–based Knox has raised $6.5 million in seed funding to streamline FedRAMP certification and help U.S. government agencies adopt AI-powered cloud services. The round was led by Felicis, with support from Ridgeline and Firsthand Ventures.
⚙️ Cutting red tape for cloud compliance
• Reduces FedRAMP approval from years to just 90 days
• Uses automation, pre-cleared infrastructure, and digital control libraries
• Addresses a backlog of 30,000+ SaaS providers waiting for authorization
🏠Deployed across federal agencies
• Supports DHS, Treasury, and the U.S. Marines
• Works with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
• Offers real-time compliance and security via KnoxAI
💡Built by govtech veterans
• Founded by the team behind Adobe’s federal cloud systems
• Audited by leading assessor Coalfire
• Felicis: “Knox is solving one of the most urgent problems in government tech”
Knox is modernizing how U.S. agencies adopt cloud and AI—making compliance faster, smarter, and secure by design.
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🚀UK Backs Eutelsat in Europe’s Push to Rival Starlink
The UK government is investing $191 million to maintain its stake in French satellite firm Eutelsat, as part of a €1.35 billion funding round led by France. The move deepens UK–France cooperation in space amid growing geopolitical focus on satellite networks.
⚙️ Strengthening satellite independence
• UK keeps golden-share rights in OneWeb
• Complements France’s €717M investment, now owning ~30%
• Supports Europe’s goal of securing space-based infrastructure
⛓A strategic rival to Starlink
• Eutelsat operates 600+ satellites including OneWeb’s LEO fleet
• Aims to counter Starlink’s 6,000-satellite scale with secure, sovereign networks
• Targets enterprise and government customers across Europe
💡Fueling next-gen satellite ambitions
• Backs the EU’s IRIS² project—290 satellites by 2030
• Tied to €1B French defense contract
• Eutelsat shares rose 8–10% post-announcement
Eutelsat is becoming Europe’s answer to Starlink—built on sovereignty, security, and strategic investment.
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📦 Parter Launches AI Tools to Fix Hardware Supply Chains
AI startup Parter is tackling hardware procurement delays with intelligent software that streamlines sourcing and flags disruptions before they escalate.
🔍 Visibility for Complex Hardware Teams
• Integrates BOMs, ERPs, datasheets, and spreadsheets
• Detects risks like obsolete parts and regulatory shifts
• Centralizes alerts and insights in a single dashboard
🌍 Built for Global Operations
• Dual headquarters in New York and Tel Aviv
• Trusted by early customers across electronics and manufacturing
• Seeded with $5.5M from StageOne Ventures, Zenda Capital, Mercer Ventures, and top angels
🚀 Scaling Development and U.S. Expansion
• Funding to accelerate product development and feature rollout
• Plans to grow U.S. team and expand market presence
Parter’s AI-powered platform is helping hardware teams move faster, source smarter, and avoid costly production delays across global supply chains.
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🎨 Insomnia Labs Prepares to Launch CreatorFi to Empower Digital Creators
Insomnia Labs is launching CreatorFi with a $12M credit facility, offering stablecoin-based advances against future creator earnings.
🚀 Unlocking Creator Liquidity
• Provides fiat and stablecoin credit tied to ad revenue, royalties, and subscriptions
• Built on Avalanche for fast, scalable smart contract lending
• Aims to replace predatory deals with transparent, flexible access
💡AI + Blockchain-Powered Underwriting
• Uses AI to forecast earnings and automate loan approvals
• Stablecoin disbursements via platforms like Coinbase
• Direct integration with creator tools and wallets
🤝 Backed by Key Partners
• Supported by Kamui Finance and Intrinsic Capital
• Live integrations with Yoola (1,200+ YouTubers) and Record Financial for music financing
CreatorFi is reimagining financial access for creators—turning future income into present opportunity.
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🧬 Centivax Prepares to Launch Universal Flu Vaccine Trials
Centivax has raised $45 million in Series A funding to bring its universal flu vaccine into human trials—targeting global flu immunity with a next-gen biotech platform.
🚀 Advancing Universal Flu Protection
• Targets 20+ flu strains, including seasonal and pandemic types
• Human trials set to begin within 8 months
• Aims to replace annual flu shots with one long-lasting solution
🧠 Pioneering AI-Driven Immuno-Engineering
• Focuses immune response on conserved viral regions
• Shows success in preclinical animal and organoid models
• Platform adaptable to RSV, HIV, cancer, and more
💼 Expansion Backed by Strategic Capital
• Round led by Future Ventures with support from NFX, BOLD Capital & others
• $24M in non-dilutive grants from Gates Foundation, CEPI & NIH
• Builds out clinical, regulatory, and R&D operations
Centivax’s platform is designed to lead the future of immunization—combining AI, biotech, and global health impact.
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⚙️ Didomi Acquires Sourcepoint to Lead the Future of Privacy Tech
Didomi has acquired Sourcepoint to build a unified platform for enterprise privacy, data compliance, and AI-powered personalization across global markets.
🚀 Building a Unified Privacy Stack
• Merges Didomi’s consent-tech with Sourcepoint’s publisher tools
• Serves 1,700+ clients across the U.S., UK, and Europe
• Powers privacy-first tracking, consent, and analytics
🎯 Tackling AI and Compliance Head-On
• Positions privacy as a strategic advantage
• Focuses on AI-driven personalization and consent experiences
• Delivers enterprise tools for data compliance and user trust
📈 Expansion Backed by Strategic Capital
• Funding led by Marlin Equity Partners
• Acquisition part of global growth and platform consolidation
• Strengthens presence in Europe and publisher markets
Didomi’s expanded platform aims to become the privacy backbone for AI-ready, data-driven organizations.
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🧠 Biorce Launches AI Platform to Streamline Clinical Trials
Barcelona-based startup Biorce is using AI to transform how clinical trials are planned and executed. Its proprietary platform, Jarvis, helps researchers cut through delays and complexity in trial design, recruitment, and operations.
⚙️ Jarvis: The AI brain for drug trials
• Automates protocol design, site selection, and patient matching
• Delivers real-time insights to researchers, clinicians, and coordinators
• Tackles data fragmentation and manual workflows slowing pharma
🚀 Speeding up drug development
• Helps reduce trial timelines and boost efficiency
• Enhances collaboration across stakeholders with cross-checked data
• Enables faster access to potential treatments for patients
📈 Backed to scale globally
• Supported by Norrsken VC, YZR Capital, Mustard Seed Maze, and others
• Funds will expand the tech, grow the team, and launch in the US
• Aims to become a core system for modern clinical research
Biorce is reshaping the clinical trial landscape—faster, smarter, and powered by AI.
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🧠 Centific Powers the Backbone of Agentic AI Systems
Centific, a Seattle-based enterprise AI infrastructure company, has raised a $60M Series A led by Granite Asia to scale its “AI Data Foundry”—a full-stack platform powering high-performance, globally governed agentic AI. With clients across Fortune 500s and partnerships with OpenAI, Microsoft, and AWS, Centific is building the operational layer for real-world AI deployment.
⚙️ Infrastructure for real-world intelligent agents
• The AI Data Foundry handles data pipelines, orchestration, and governance at scale
• Enables low-latency inference for language + vision models across cloud, edge, on-prem
• Tools include human-in-the-loop validation, domain fine-tuning, and synthetic data controls
• Built to support agentic AI use cases like autonomous workflows, digital twins, and multi-agent coordination
📊 Trusted by top labs and enterprise giants
• Works with model leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic, plus Fortune 500s across industries
• Powers AI systems for the “Magnificent Seven” tech firms
• Team of 3,000+ with core operations in India and global reach in Asia, the U.S., and Europe
• Revenue-generating and scaling with minimal prior outside capital
🧭 Strategic capital for a global AI backbone
• Led by Granite Asia’s Jenny Lee—positioning Centific as foundational AI infra across APAC
• Funding will accelerate R&D in Vision AI and multi-agent systems
• Expanding partnerships with Nvidia, Lenovo, Dell, AWS, and Microsoft
• Building for the enterprise AI shift from model testing to mission-critical production
As the agentic AI wave gathers momentum, Centific is emerging as the quiet infrastructure giant making intelligent systems safe, scalable, and enterprise-ready.
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⚙️ Castelion Builds Hypersonic Weapons to Reinvent U.S. Defense
Castelion, founded by ex‑SpaceX engineers, has raised $100M to mass‑produce affordable hypersonic missiles. The startup is targeting fast, scalable deterrence for the U.S. and its allies.
🚀 High-speed, low-cost strike systems
• Vertically integrates rocket motors, avionics, and heat shields
• Completed 3 hypersonic test flights in 30 days
• Focuses on agile, iterative development cycles
🎯 Serving critical defense needs
• Contracted by the Navy, Air Force, and Army
• Aims to counter threats from China, Russia, and North Korea
• Secured multiple SBIR awards and DoD partnerships
📈 Funding to accelerate deployment
• Led by Lightspeed, with backing from a16z, Lavrock, Cantos & others
• Investing in full-scale production and flight demos
• Targeting operational readiness by 2027
Castelion’s fast-moving model could make hypersonic weapons cheaper, faster, and more deployable than ever before.
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🔍 Dexter Energy Raises €23M to Scale AI-Powered Renewable Trading
Amsterdam-based Dexter Energy has raised €23 million in a Series C round led by Klima (Alantra), with participation from Mirova, ETF Partners, Newion, and PDENH. The funding will accelerate expansion of its AI-based forecasting and trading platform for renewables and battery assets.
⚙️ Optimizing clean energy with AI
• Tools for day-ahead, intraday, and imbalance market trading
• Reduces balancing costs by up to 35%, boosts wholesale revenue by 30%
• Enables smart trading for wind, solar, and storage portfolios
📈 Fast growth and strong market fit
• Serves over 80 energy companies in 9 European countries
• Clients include Centrica, Pure Energie, and Luminus
• Team of 90 experts in ML, quant trading, and energy meteorology
💡Climate-focused investor backing
• Klima and Mirova highlight Dexter’s impact on energy transition
• Funding supports scaling across Europe as renewables rise
• Aligns with push toward 70% renewable grid share by 2030
Dexter Energy is arming renewable operators with intelligent trading tools to navigate Europe’s fast-changing power markets—and fueling the clean energy shift with data-driven precision.
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🇬🇷 Natech Builds Banking Infrastructure for Europe’s Next-Gen Finance
Natech, a Greek core banking and BaaS provider, has raised a $33M Series B to expand its modular banking platform across Europe. The round includes $26M in equity and $7M in low-interest debt from strategic fintech and banking investors. The funding supports Natech’s tech upgrades, neobank launch, and push into embedded finance.
⚙️ Modular tech for modern banking
• Offers a composable core banking system, BaaS, and embedded finance tools
• Building toward a fully cloud-native, AI-enhanced banking platform
• Powers banks, fintechs, and soon Snappi—a neobank backed by Natech, Piraeus Bank, and Neptune
• Targets institutions seeking cost-effective, modern infrastructure across Europe
📊 Scaling into Germany, Italy, and CEE
• Customers include incumbent banks and fintechs with 100% client retention
• New capital fuels expansion into Germany, Italy, and Central & Eastern Europe
• Strengthens embedded finance features to support B2B and B2C partners
• Reinforced leadership: new CTO and CPO added earlier this year
🧭 Strategic execution ahead of Series C
• Led by Deputy CEO Mathias Schütz, with global fintech and product experience
• Preparing for a Series C to deepen AI capabilities and broaden European footprint
• Natech aims to become the infrastructure layer for regional neobanks and fintech challengers
With Snappi’s launch on deck and embedded finance on the rise, Natech is quietly building the rails for Europe’s next banking evolution.
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🔍 Peec AI Helps Brands Win in the Age of AI-Powered Search
Berlin-based Peec AI has raised €7M across pre-seed and seed rounds just months after launching in January 2025. The latest €5.2M seed was led by 20VC, following a €1.8M pre-seed backed by Antler, Foreword VC, Identity.VC, Combination VC, and S20. The startup helps marketing teams measure and improve visibility across AI-native search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
⚙️ Tools for the new search frontier
• Analytics platform tracks brand mentions and rankings in generative search results
• Provides insights to optimize content for LLM-based tools—what they call “GEO” (Generative Engine Optimization)
• Helps marketers adapt strategies as AI chat replaces traditional search
• Integrates with popular AI assistants and search platforms including Perplexity and ChatGPT
📊 Early traction and fast-growing demand
• Hit €650K ARR within 4 months, with revenue growing €80K per week
• Adoption driven by AI-native marketing teams, agencies, and B2B SaaS startups
• Tapping into a growing need for brand visibility as organic search shifts from links to answers
• Fundraise closed quickly due to strong investor conviction around market timing
🧭 Founders navigating the next marketing paradigm
• Founded by Marius Meiners, Tobias Siwonia, and Daniel Drabo during Antler’s Berlin residency
• Team brings experience in law-tech, esports, and enterprise software
• Vision: become the “SEO for AI agents” by owning the GEO category
• Investors back their deep conviction that AI-native discovery will reshape digital marketing
Peec AI is placing a bold bet that where AI answers go, brand strategy must follow—and it’s arming marketers with the tools to lead that shift.
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