MaRS Impact Health Returns to Showcase Canada’s Next Big Healthcare Breakthroughs
MaRS Impact Health will convene more than 1,000 biotech, digital‑health and medical‑device innovators in Toronto on April 23, showcasing Canada’s push to define a "middle‑power" role as the global healthcare market fragments. The summit highlights rare‑disease breakthroughs, including mRNA vaccine trials for childhood brain cancers and AI‑driven drug‑discovery platforms. It also underscores a tightening capital environment, with 2025 life‑science VC funding falling to C$837 million (≈US$620 million) and only a few mega‑rounds such as Kardium’s C$340 million (≈US$251 million) and Aspect Biosystems’ C$165 million (≈US$122 million). Organisers stress that strategic partnerships and alignment of founders, investors and policymakers are essential to bridge the growth‑capital gap.
Cohere Teams up with Swedish Defence Firm Saab on AI for Surveillance Jets
Cohere, a Toronto‑based large language model developer, signed a memorandum of understanding with Swedish defence contractor Saab to embed its generative‑AI technology into the company’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft. The collaboration will focus on data‑driven mission support, predictive maintenance tools, and...
“Ability to Articulate a Vision and Build a Brand Is Just as Critical as the Code Architecture”
Serbian studio Nordeus, founded by Branko Milutinović, grew its flagship football manager Top Eleven to over 300 million users and was acquired by Take‑Two Interactive in 2021. From day one the company pursued a global‑first mindset, stayed bootstrapped for a decade,...
Beyond Borders: Building Trust and Scale Across Europe
Pleo, a Copenhagen‑born fintech, has spent a decade turning a pan‑European vision into reality by embedding local offices, partnerships, and autonomous teams across 16 countries. The company argues that true scaling comes from “going local,” adapting tone, product features, and...
NanoZymeX Secures €160K to Advance Lipid Nanoparticle Enzyme Therapies for Rare Diseases
Swiss biotech NanoZymeX has secured €160,000 (about $174,000) from Venture Kick to accelerate its lipid‑nanoparticle platform for enzyme replacement therapies. The technology, spun out of the University of Basel, seeks to improve delivery of therapeutic enzymes into muscle cells and lysosomes,...
Guideline's Path to Product-Market Fit — The Early Decisions That Powered Its Acquisition by Gusto
Kevin Busque, former TaskRabbit VP, discovered that only 36% of employees used the company’s 401(k) plan, exposing costly, clunky legacy systems. He co‑founded Guideline in 2015 to build a transparent, fee‑free retirement platform for SMBs, designing the entire software stack...
Flexzo AI Closes $12M in Funding to Scale Agentic Workforce Platform for Healthcare Systems
Flexzo AI secured $12 million in Series A funding, led by Octopus Ventures with participation from Fuel Ventures, to expand its agentic AI workforce platform for healthcare. The UK‑based startup uses machine‑learning to match clinicians to open shifts, automate allocation, and cut...
Sarvam AI In Talks To Raise $250 Mn At $1.5 Bn Valuation: Report
Bengaluru‑based Sarvam AI is in talks to raise up to $250 million in a new round led by Nvidia, Accel and HCLTech, which could lift its valuation to roughly $1.5 billion—over seven times its 2023 level. The startup recently unveiled two home‑grown...
Popular, Not Famous: How Tiltify’s $100M Fundraising Year Redefines Creator Philanthropy
Tiltify reported that creators donated more than $100 million in 2025, roughly double its 2024 total, cementing creator‑led philanthropy as a major growth engine. The platform’s tools—especially creator‑designed incentives, auctions and matching challenges—accounted for 40% of the funds raised, up from...
Q&A: Controversial Embryo Editing Entrepreneur Cathy Tie on Her New Startup
Cathy Tie, the founder of Origin Genomics, announced the shutdown of her previous embryo‑editing venture and the launch of a new startup focused on pre‑implantation genetic modification. The new company, dubbed EmbryoX, has secured $55 million in Series A funding led by...
Spade Raises $40M Series B for Finance AI Platform
Spade announced a $40 million Series B round led by Oak HC/FT, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and other fintech investors. The New York‑based fintech reported 470% year‑over‑year growth and a peak daily transaction volume of 1.9 billion, underscoring rapid adoption. The capital will...
How Foreign Brands Test the U.S. Market
Before spending big money, test the demand in two ways. The post How Foreign Brands Test the U.S. Market appeared first on Practical Ecommerce.
Euler Motors Raises $47 Mn in Series E Round Led by Lightrock
Euler Motors secured a $47 million Series E round led by Lightrock, complemented by roughly $30 million in debt financing. The funding will boost product development, manufacturing capacity, and its dealer network across India. Revenue grew 12% to about $23 million in FY25 while...
XO Health to Expand Its Alternative Health Plan Nationwide
XO Health, a startup that provides an alternative health plan, announced a nationwide rollout targeting self‑insured employers and plan administrators. The company will extend its episode‑based pricing model, which bundles all services for a specific medical episode into a single,...
Exclusive: Bettani Farms CEO on Its Acquisitions & Plans to Stretch the Vegan Cheese Category
Bettani Farms, the former Climax Foods, raised $6.5 million and acquired Hungry Planet, Numu and Stockeld Dreamery to create a unified vegan cheese platform. Leveraging its AI‑powered Caseed ingredient, the company unveiled a high‑stretch mozzarella that mimics dairy performance, achieving a...
-3.png)
2026 Cloud Challengers Report
Notion Capital released its fifth annual Cloud Challengers Top 100, highlighting 100 emerging European B2B software startups. Over 81 % of the companies are AI‑native, spanning data, developer tools, cybersecurity, fintech, industrial automation, robotics and SaaS. The report uses a data‑driven methodology...
DevX To Raise ₹35 Cr From Founders, Infibeam Projects
Indian coworking operator DevX announced a ₹35 crore (~$4.2 million) capital raise within six months of its September 2025 IPO. The board approved ₹15 crore in warrants for co‑founders and a ₹20 crore equity injection from Infibeam Projects Management, giving the latter a 4.7%...
Agents for Finance Startup Zalos Raises $3.6M to Transform Finance Departments
Zalos, a London‑San Francisco fintech, raised a $3.6 million seed round led by 14Peaks Capital to develop AI agents that automate finance‑team workflows. The startup’s agents log into existing ERP, CRM, spreadsheet, and banking systems, handling tasks without requiring a stack...
Appcharge Reaches $1 Billion in Annualized DTC Transaction Volume | Exclusive
Appcharge announced that its customers’ direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) transaction volume has reached $1 billion as of March 23, 2026, up from $500 million in July 2025. The Tel‑Aviv‑based firm raised a $58 million Series B round in August 2025 to expand its web‑store and revenue‑pipeline tools for game developers....
How to Launch Collaborations that Grow Communities: A Guide for Web3 Founders
The guide breaks down how Web3 founders can launch collaborations that grow communities, from profiling target communities to pitching, finalising terms, hosting joint events, and hiring a collaborations manager. It stresses measurable criteria—minimum community size, activity ratio, and project quality—to...
Nigeria: Victor Nwokeji - Reward for Forging Nigeria's Path in Mining Through Zotmann
Victor Nwokeji was named Businessman of the Year at the Champion Newspaper Awards, highlighting his role in building Zotmann Mining Limited into a leading Nigerian solid‑minerals player. Since its 2014 inception, Zotmann grew from a technical service partner to an...
Team Scaleup Launches to Close Europe’s Post-Seed Funding Gap
Team Scaleup has launched a bespoke accelerator aimed at closing Europe’s post‑seed funding gap, where only one in four startups advance to Series A. The platform combines an AI‑driven analysis engine with a network of operational experts to diagnose gaps in...
Highlight AI Raises $40 Million Series A to Build the Shared Intelligence Layer for the Agentic Age of Work
Highlight AI announced a $40 million Series A round led by Khosla Ventures, bringing on former Discord VP of Product Sergei Sorokin as its new CEO. The funding aims to accelerate development of its intelligent operating system that unifies AI agents and...
Carbon Management Platform Zevero Raises £5m
Carbon‑management startup Zevero announced a $7 million seed round, bringing its total capital to $14 million. The AI‑driven platform automates emissions data collection, creating reusable datasets for ESG disclosures, product design and sourcing decisions. Funds, led by Spiral Capital with Gazelle Capital...
The Most Innovative Companies in Agriculture for 2026
After a turbulent 2025 marked by falling crop prices, slumping earnings at Bayer and John Deere, and the collapse of many high‑profile agtech startups, Fast Company released its 2026 list of the most innovative agriculture companies. The list spotlights firms...
Spark Microsystems Secures Additional $17 Million in Series B Funding
Spark Microsystems, a Montreal‑based fabless semiconductor firm, secured an additional C$17 million (≈US$12.6 million) in Series B follow‑on financing, bringing its total capital raised to over C$70 million (≈US$52 million). The round was led by Idealist Capital and Real Ventures, with participation from existing backers,...
How Row 7 Is Inventing New Vegetables—And Reshaping the Food System in the Process
Chef Dan Barber, a farm‑to‑table pioneer, launched Row 7 in 2018 to bring restaurant‑grade vegetables to home growers. The seed company now offers about two dozen specialty varieties, such as the sweet, heat‑less Habanada pepper and the Sweet Garleek allium hybrid,...
Why Top Banking Executives Are Choosing Startups — and What It Takes to Get Them There
European fintech venture builder 0TO9, targeting 1,000 fintechs by 2045, launched Flow & Partners, a working‑capital financing startup. The firm offers cash‑flow‑based funding and factoring for deals up to €50 million ($54 million) across four European markets, with plans to expand to...
Building a Powerlifting Empire: 5 Counter-Intuitive Lessons From the Origins of EliteFTS
EliteFTS grew from a backyard shed with a single sled and a donated 100‑lb plate into a global strength‑training brand. Founder Dave Tate prioritized logistics, moving to a house with an "invisible door" to streamline shipping and avoid theft. He...
If Your Startup Vanished Tomorrow, Would Anyone Care? Why Hormuz-Level Importance Is the New Moat
The article uses the Strait of Hormuz analogy to illustrate that a startup’s true moat lies in its Hormuz‑level importance—being indispensable to a critical customer job. It argues that founders often focus on product coolness instead of assessing whether their...
Pediatric Wellness Startup RN Kids Raises Pre Seed Round
RN Kids, a pediatric wellness startup founded in September 2025, secured a $760,000 pre‑seed round led by Ashish Kacholia and Lashit Sanghvi, alongside several angel investors and family offices. The company plans to launch six clean‑label, clinically backed health products...
I Turned My Side Hustles Into a 7-Figure Career. Here Are the 14 Tools that Made It Possible.
Andrew Yeung, a former Google and Meta employee, turned his side hustles into a seven‑figure enterprise by leveraging a curated stack of 14 AI‑driven tools. The suite includes Claude Code as an LLM operating system, cloud‑based Zo Computer, low‑code Lovable,...
‘If You Don't Fill Your Roles, You're Simply Missing Out’: The Data Behind Europe’s Talent Gap
European startups are confronting a deepening talent gap, especially in AI, machine learning and data expertise, as three‑quarters of information‑sector employers report unfilled roles. The shortage, once offset by a surplus in 2020, now threatens product launches, market entry and...
Didero Raises $30 Million Series A to Bring AI Agents to Global Supply Chains
Didero, a New York‑based software firm, closed a $30 million Series A round led by Chemistry and Headline, with participation from Microsoft’s M12 venture fund. The financing will accelerate development of its AI‑agent platform that embeds directly into ERP, email and spreadsheet...
Littlefish Raises $9.5 Million to Scale Its Merchant Operating System Across Africa
South African fintech littlefish has closed a $9.5 million Series A round led by Partech to accelerate its merchant operating system across the continent. The platform bundles point‑of‑sale, CRM, payments and API services into a white‑label SaaS solution that banks can offer...
E-Waste Recycler Attero Scale Soars 2.2X to Rs 961 Cr in FY25; PAT Remains Flat
Attero’s FY25 revenue surged to Rs 961 cr (≈$116 M), more than double its FY24 level, driven primarily by recycled metal sales. Despite the top‑line boom, net profit barely moved, ending at Rs 14.6 cr (≈$176 k), essentially flat year‑on‑year. Material costs ballooned to Rs 834 cr (≈$100 M),...
Why Growing Companies Need Financial Leadership Before They Think They Do
Founders rarely realize they need a CFO until financial complexity outpaces simple bookkeeping. At that inflection point, a fractional CFO delivers senior‑level expertise, turning raw data into strategic decisions that safeguard cash flow and guide growth. By contextualising metrics against...
Kids-Focused Quick Commerce Platform OZi Raises $6.2 Mn Led by RTP Global
Kids‑focused quick‑commerce startup OZi announced a $6.2 million Series A round led by RTP Global, with participation from existing backers and notable angels such as Kishore Biyani. The funding follows a $3.3 million seed round and will be used to deepen its presence...
Deals in Brief: QCraft Raises Series D Funding, Grab Acquires Foodpanda’s Taiwan Delivery Business, Seven China Investments, and More
QCraft closed a $100 million Series D round to push its Level 4 autonomous‑driving platform and world‑model AI research, targeting deployment in over 50 vehicle models by 2026. Grab agreed to buy Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda Taiwan operation for $600 million, marking its first expansion...
Enifer Seeks FDA Approval for Mycoprotein Powder to Unlock Large-Scale Partnerships
Finnish food‑tech startup Enifer has submitted a formal GRAS notification to the U.S. FDA for its Pekilo mycoprotein powder, moving beyond its earlier self‑affirmed status. The filing aims to secure a “no‑questions” letter that would clear regulatory hurdles for large‑scale...
Foreverland Lands €6M to Tackle Cocoa Supply with Alternatives
Foreverland, a Milan‑based foodtech firm, raised €6 million (≈$6.5 million) in a new round, taking its total funding to €9.4 million (≈$10.2 million). The capital will fund European expansion, senior talent hires, and an organic cocoa‑free product line. Its flagship ingredient, Choruba, uses carob...
Perplexity's CEO Said He Anticipates some 'Temporary Job Displacement' Because of AI — but There's a Silver Lining
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas warned that generative AI will cause temporary job displacement but sees a silver lining in new micro‑business opportunities. He highlighted how AI tools enable side‑hustles such as pitch‑deck creation, children’s books, and translation services. The startup,...
The Pant Project Scales 40x in 4 Years; Eyes Rs 160 Cr by FY27, EBITDA Breakeven Ahead
The Pant Project, a digital‑first menswear brand, has surged 40‑fold from about ₹1 crore ($120k) in FY21 to ₹40.7 crore ($4.9 M) in FY25 and is on track to cross ₹80 crore ($9.6 M) this year, targeting ₹150‑160 crore ($19‑20 M) by FY27 with EBITDA breakeven. The...
Looking for a Co-Founder? Don’t Draw From This Pool
A new study of 350 U.S. tech IPOs and over $1 billion in exits finds that founders who choose co‑founders from familiar circles underperform. Teams with prior work relationships generate 21% lower exit valuations, and those who attended school together see...
Kidbea Secures Rs 30 Cr in Series A Funding Led by Enrission India Capital
Kidbea, a Noida‑based bamboo kidswear brand, closed a Rs 30 crore ($3.2 million) Series A round led by Enrission India Capital, adding to its $1 million pre‑Series A raise. The startup now reports annual recurring revenue of roughly Rs 100 crore (about $12 million) and is expanding its omnichannel...
Solar Financing Platform Metafin Secures $10 Mn Debt From Lendable
Metafin, a solar financing platform for rural Indian MSMEs and households, secured a $10 million structured debt facility from Lendable’s Transportation and Energy Fund. The capital will expand financing for productive-use solar systems, replacing diesel generators in underserved regions. To date,...
I Moved to Dubai for a Job 2 Years Ago. It's Still Where I See My Future.
Lebanese‑born architect and interior designer Nizar Mezher relocated to Dubai two years ago to manage a design studio and quickly rose to senior leadership. The city’s merit‑driven, high‑velocity market gave him responsibilities and project scales far beyond his expectations. Leveraging...
Why Alli Webb Returned to Hair Care With Messy: Embracing Imperfection After Drybar Success
Alli Webb, the founder of Drybar, sold the brand’s product division to Helen of Troy for $225 million in 2019 and later transferred franchise rights to WellBiz Brands. After experiencing burnout and a period of personal reflection during COVID‑19, she launched...