Venture capital news covering startup funding, VC deals, funding rounds, investor activity, and the startup ecosystem.
Fireworks announced a $1.505 billion Series D at a $17.5 billion valuation, led by Atreides Management, Index Ventures and TCV. The round tops recent raises by competitors Baseten ($1.5B at $13B) and Together AI ($800M at $8.3B), underscoring investor appetite for AI infrastructure.
Etched, a San Jose-based AI chip startup, is negotiating a funding round that would quadruple its valuation to about $20 billion, led by existing investor Jane Street. The company is also raising capital at a $10 billion valuation in a separate round led by Sequoia Capital. The deals have not closed and terms could change.
Databricks, founded in 2013, initially grew as a big data analytics platform and has since repositioned as an AI provider. The company is set to reach a $188 billion valuation through a new $3 billion investment led by Coatue Management, a 40% increase from its December 2025 valuation of $134 billion.
This commentary argues that a significant shift in Silicon Valley is occurring among investors, who are increasingly funding startups later in their lifecycle, thereby locking public investors out of key wealth-creation phases. It suggests this trend is reshaping venture capital dynamics.
This commentary argues that AI music platform Suno's high valuation is justified by a shift toward 'single-player creation and consumption,' where users create for personal enjoyment rather than commercial gain. It contends that even if Suno loses copyright lawsuits, the fundamental change in creative behavior will sustain its value.
This commentary argues that the era of massive philanthropic giving by tech billionaires may be waning, as evidenced by the declining relevance of the Giving Pledge. It contrasts this trend with venture capitalist Neil Rimer's call for voluntary redistribution of AI wealth, suggesting a tension between accumulating fortunes and social responsibility.
This commentary argues that a new generation of venture capitalists, exemplified by Spark Capital's Yasmin Razavi, is reshaping Silicon Valley investing as companies stay private longer. It contends that investors who made early bets on AI firms like Anthropic and SpaceX are now leading the industry, marking a historic shift in venture capital.
This article promotes a panel at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 that argues pre-seed founders can secure funding without a product by leveraging conviction and storytelling. It highlights the challenge of AI startups raising large seed rounds and suggests that compelling narratives can compensate for lack of a minimum viable product.
Klaus Hommels, founder of VC firm Lakestar, said Europe's reliance on US technology and capital is a strategic vulnerability. Lakestar raised a $300mn 'resilience' fund for dual-use and defence tech in Europe and NATO allies, backed by BAE Systems. The fund's advisory board includes Mike Pompeo and former military chiefs. Twenty portfolio founders have raised over $5 billion for Europe's resilience capabilities.
RapidPulse secured $48 million in Series B funding co-led by Medtronic, TechWald Next, and S3 Ventures. The funds will support the TURBO study, an investigational device exemption trial for its stroke aspiration system designed to improve clot removal in acute ischaemic stroke patients.