Today's Venture Capital Pulse
Clip raises $500M to expand fintech platform
Mexican fintech Clip secured a $500 million funding round, lifting its valuation above $2.5 billion. The capital will fund the rollout of a consumer‑focused wallet and broaden its suite of financial‑services tools.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OpenAI raises $122B in private financing
ABAN Says Africa’s Startup Funding Recovery Is “More Grounded” Than Previous Peaks
African startups raised $3.4 billion in 2025, a 32% rebound after three years of decline. Angel participation revived, with networks deploying $4.4 million and 65% of backed firms securing follow‑on capital. More than 90% of individual angels now write cheques under $25 K, reflecting risk‑adjusted strategies amid currency depreciation. The recovery is driven by local and diaspora investors and a more organized angel ecosystem, expanding beyond the traditional Big Four markets.
AI‑Focused Sales & Marketing Startups Pull $3.7 B in 2026 Funding
AI‑focused sales and marketing startups have raised roughly $3.7 billion in seed‑through growth‑stage funding so far in 2026, with Sierra’s $950 million round leading the pack. The inflow, while flat with recent years, marks a decisive tilt toward autonomous AI agents, reshaping...
Investors to Sell ₹4,750 Crore Stake in Billionbrains Garage Ventures in Block Deal
Early investors in Billionbrains Garage Ventures, the parent of Groww, are selling a 4.3% stake worth roughly ₹4,750 crore ($498 million) in a block deal. The transaction will involve up to 26.84 crore shares at a floor price of ₹177 per share, an...
Sereact Secures $110 Million Series B to Accelerate AI Robotics Platform
German AI robotics firm Sereact raised $110 million in a Series B round led by Headline, with participation from Bullhound Capital, Daphni and Felix Capital. The funding will scale its Cortex 2.0 AI brain and fund a U.S. market entry, adding to...
Apis Partners Secures Third Fund, Size Over Double Prior Round
Apis Partners announced the closing of its third venture fund, which is more than twice the size of its predecessor. The fund’s launch underscores growing limited‑partner confidence in the Middle East’s startup ecosystem. Details on the exact capital amount were...
3one4 Capital’s Fund V In The Works, Eyes $225 Mn Corpus
Venture capital firm 3one4 Capital is preparing its fifth fund, 3one4 Capital IFSC – Fund V, with a target corpus of $225 million (≈₹2,147 crore). The International Finance Corporation has floated a $20 million (≈₹191 crore) equity commitment, underscoring international interest. Fund V will...
First Look Inside Cog House: $100B Future Unveiled
the inside story of the legendary Cog House. i believe there have not been any public photos of this place until now (bc we were explicitly not allowed to lol) as an advisor its been awe inspiring to see this company...
AI-Powered OS Modernizes Grocery Stores, Fuels $22M Series B
Grocery stores do more volume than restaurants and hotels, and most of them still run on clipboards. In this episode of Founder Firesides, YC's @aaron_epstein sat down with @IamBrandonHill, the co-founder and CEO of @VoriHQ, a modern operating system for...
London’s Fifth Dimension Raises €22 Million to Scale AI-Powered Decision Intelligence for Real Assets
Fifth Dimension, a London‑based AI startup, closed a €22 million ($26 million) Series A round led by HV Capital, bringing its total funding to €33.9 million ($40 million). The platform unifies fragmented real‑asset data into a single intelligence layer powered by its proprietary agentic AI,...
Anthropic Flags Illegal Secondary Market SPV Fraud
One of the things I'm most interested in knowing right now is how big the multi-layered SPV scam really is. Talk to folks directly on the cap tables of these companies, and there's not very many entities that would be enabling...
AI Grabs Two‑thirds of $56B April VC Surge
April venture funding hit $56B — up 100% year over year. 🚀 @AnthropicAI and Project Prometheus alone took 45% of it, while AI captured 66% of all global venture dollars. @crunchbasenews has the full breakdown. 🔗: https://t.co/3Lg1sKLDvf https://t.co/JEcYIDH3Vv
F1 Paddock Becomes New Hub for Startup Funding Deals
Founders and venture capitalists are using the high‑profile Formula 1 paddock as a networking arena, closing dozens of deals during race weekends. Lightspeed Ventures reported ten portfolio companies secured introductions at the Miami Grand Prix, underscoring a shift toward unconventional fundraising...
LLMs Are Now Essential Tools for Venture Capitalists
seems obvious now but 4 years ago i was getting blank stares when I talked about leveraging LLMs in VC
Antler Residency Launches Zeya Health Amid Funding Crunch
Raising as a first-time founder isn’t easy—especially in a tight funding market. In Ep. 249, Agastya Samat shares how Zeya Health got started through Antler’s 90-day founder residency program. Listen here 👇 https://t.co/9v8A7YZVAs https://t.co/dEFcCzBRfQ
NYC VC Funding Surges to $1.79B in April 2026, AI Leads with $500M Deal
New York venture capital activity in April 2026 climbed to $1.79 billion across 65 transactions, a 27.7% year‑over‑year increase. The surge was anchored by a $500 million late‑stage round for AI‑infrastructure firm VAST Information, underscoring the city’s growing focus on artificial‑intelligence infrastructure.
Cowboy Raises $275 Million to Build Rockets with Orbital Data Center Upper Stages
Cowboy Space, the former Aetherflux, closed a $275 million Series B round at a $2 billion valuation, bringing its total funding to roughly $365 million. The startup plans to build launch vehicles whose upper stages transform into orbital data‑center nodes, targeting AI‑intensive compute in...
Aetherflux Rebrands, Pivots Business—And Raises $275M
Aetherflux has rebranded as Cowboy Space Corporation and closed a $275 million Series B round at a $2 billion valuation. The company is pivoting from a sole focus on a solar‑power small‑sat constellation to a dual strategy that adds a dedicated launch vehicle...
Private Equity Lashes Out at New Research on Carried Interest
The Treasury’s new analysis estimates that reclassifying carried interest as ordinary income could add about $200 billion in annual tax revenue. Private‑equity and venture‑capital firms have launched a coordinated backlash, arguing the change would undermine incentives for long‑term investment. Lawmakers on...
Sango Capital Closes $120m Secondary Transaction
Sango Capital closed a secondary transaction acquiring over $120 million net asset value across four African funds from an institutional investor rebalancing its global portfolio. The deal was financed with Sango’s own capital and additional commitments from commercial investors, including first‑time...
She’s Invested in 13 AI Startups. Her Best Advice for Founders? Stop Waiting for Funding
Mary Minno, former Evergive founder, launched the AI Health Fund with a $1 million anchor from Tim Draper and advisory support from Esther and Anne Wojcicki. The fund, focused on health‑tech AI, has already written checks of $50,000‑$150,000 to 13 startups,...
IFC Discloses Proposed $25m Investment in Admaius’ Virunga Africa Fund II
The International Finance Corporation disclosed a proposed equity commitment of up to $25 million to Virunga Africa Fund II, a growth‑equity vehicle managed by Kigali‑based Admaius Capital Partners. IFC also offered a co‑investment envelope of up to $10 million, expanding the fund’s...
Rebalance Leads Pre Seed Round in Travel Gear Brand NORI
Bengaluru‑based travel‑gear startup NORI, focused on women’s luggage and accessories, closed a $350,000 pre‑seed round led by Rebalance with participation from Vijay Shekhar Sharma, VSS Investco and other angels. The funding will fuel expansion of its product portfolio and push the brand into...
These Companies Were Called Moonshots. Now They’re Worth Billions
Moonshot companies—once dismissed as impossible—are now worth billions. Tesla generated a 1,000% return in five years, SpaceX targets a $2 trillion IPO, Anthropic is valued above $300 billion, and Colossal Biosciences sits at $10 billion. These firms cluster together, drawing the world’s most...
STACKUP: The Stack's Weekly Tech Startups and Funding Wrap
The Stack’s weekly wrap highlights Europe’s quantum surge, with two startups each raising over $100 million, led by Dutch firm QuantWare’s $110 million Series B to boost processor production. A Chinese AI laboratory announced a new breakthrough model, adding pressure to the global...
Legora Buys Graceview, Adding AI‑Powered Regulatory Monitoring
Legora has acquired Australian regulatory‑tech startup Graceview, integrating its real‑time monitoring engine into Legora’s collaborative legal platform. The deal, announced alongside a $50 million Series D extension that lifted Legora’s valuation to $5.6 billion, aims to give law firms and corporate legal departments...
Gallagher Re Report Shows Insurtech Funding Flat as AI Deals Surge
A Gallagher Re study released on May 10, 2026 finds total insurtech funding remained flat in the past quarter, but AI‑centric deals surged, highlighting a shift in investor focus toward artificial‑intelligence solutions within the sector.
KIC Ventures CFO Aditya Humad Steps Down to Lead Investment Strategy and Capital Formation
KIC announced that Aditya Humad will relinquish his President and CFO duties at KIC Ventures effective immediately, shifting his focus to investment strategy, capital formation and artificial‑intelligence projects at the parent firm. The move follows a 15‑year tenure during which...
Exclusive: Centricity in Talks to Raise $30 Mn Round Led by MUFG and SIG
Wealth‑tech startup Centricity is negotiating a $30 million financing round led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Susquehanna International Group. The deal would value the Gurugram‑based firm at roughly $250 million, doubling the $125 million valuation from its September 2024 seed round. Centricity plans...
Global VC Inflows Slip as Deal Volume Contracts, YourStory Reports
Venture capital funding into Indian startups fell in the first week of May as the number of deals shrank and high‑value transactions vanished. The slowdown comes even as mega‑cap players like Nvidia continue to pour tens of billions into AI...
How UK Investment Can Transform European Scaleups
Funding for UK tech startups surged to €25.7bn (≈$28bn) in 2025 across 1.6k deals, up from €21.7bn (≈$23.6bn) in 2024. A Sifted Talks panel, backed by the Department for Business and Trade, highlighted the need for more growth‑stage capital, especially...
Meet the LP: Schroders Capital
Schroders Capital, the UK‑based institutional investor, is ramping up its use of artificial intelligence to evaluate venture‑capital managers, according to head of global venture investments Steven Yang. The LP is especially bullish on opportunities in China and India, citing strong...
Esk Secures £2.6m to Accelerate Its Live Entertainment Business
Edinburgh‑based entertainment‑tech firm Esk has closed a £2.6 million (≈$3.3 million) funding round led by Maven Capital Partners and backed by the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland. The capital will be used to scale its international business development, marketing, and...
Construction Robotics Startup Flo Mobility Raises $2.5 Mn in Pre-Series A Round
Bengaluru‑based Flo Mobility announced a $2.5 million pre‑Series A round co‑led by Mela Ventures and Arali Ventures. The funding will accelerate manufacturing, enhance its AI autonomy stack, and support rollout across India and into the Middle East. Flo’s flagship Flo Hauler,...
Agritech Attracts Strongest African Angel Investor Interest Despite Funding Decline
A new African Business Angel Network (ABAN) report shows agriculture and agritech startups captured the strongest interest from African angel networks in 2025, even as sector funding fell to $168.1 million, down 18% from 2024. The survey of over 60 angels...
Proparco Invests $2m in Cauridor
Proparco, the French development finance institution, has invested $2 million in Cauridor as part of the fintech’s Series A round, bringing total funding to $13 million. The capital will help Cauridor expand its cross‑border payment infrastructure that links global money‑transfer operators with African...
Eyeo Raises €40M to Improve Imaging and Sensor Performance
Dutch nanophotonic imaging startup eyeo announced a €40 million (≈$44 million) Series A round, bringing its total capital to €55 million (≈$60 million). The round was led by Innovation Industries with participation from imec.xpand, Invest‑NL, Qbic, High‑Tech Gründerfonds and Brabant Development Agency, plus EU InvestEU...
Grand Games Raises $70M Series B to Scale Hybrid Casual Gaming
Grand Games, the Istanbul‑based mobile gaming startup, closed a $70 million Series B round, bringing its total funding to $103 million and pushing its valuation close to unicorn status after a six‑fold increase in the past year. The round was led by Balderton’s...
Bologna’s Cellply Secures €7.15 Million to Develop Tools for Faster Immunotherapy and Cell Therapy Development
Italian deep‑tech startup Cellply has closed a €7.15 million ($7.8 million) funding round led by ENEA Tech e Biomedical. The capital will fund global rollout of its VivaCyte® single‑cell analysis platform and development of next‑generation ATMP quality‑control tools. The round also saw...
InsurTech Deal Activity Surges Globally in 2023
Where does InsurTech stand worldwide ? → https://t.co/7diitqBdzI FT Partners' yearly report is based on every deals announced in that space last year. I read it for you. Here are my takeaways. https://t.co/gtPqYbbRwe
New Arāya Sie Fund Closes at £7.5m to Back Female-Led Startups
Arāya Ventures and Sie Ventures have launched the Arāya Sie Fund, securing a £7.5 million first close (about $9.5 million) to invest in female‑founder startups across AI, deep‑tech, fintech, healthcare and sustainability. The fund plans to back up to 40 pre‑seed and...
European Tech Weekly Recap: €1.4B in Deals and April's Highlights
European tech investors completed more than 65 funding deals last week, aggregating roughly €1.4 bn ($1.5 bn). In April, the region recorded 290 deals and €5.1 bn ($5.6 bn) raised, a decline from March’s €7.5 bn ($8.2 bn). The United Kingdom stayed the largest funding market,...
ONGC Startup Fund Opens Advisory Roles to Strengthen India's Energy VC Push
India’s state‑run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has opened applications for senior advisors to its ONGC Startup Fund, a SEBI‑registered Category‑I venture capital vehicle. The fund, launched in 2016 with a corpus of Rs 100 crore (≈$12 million) and now holding about Rs 101 crore,...
Fashion Retail Veteran Shailesh Chaturvedi Launches Neopolis Brands, Raises ₹90 Crore
Fashion veteran Shailesh Chaturvedi has launched Neopolis Brands, a venture aimed at importing and scaling international women’s fashion and accessories labels in India. The startup secured ₹90 crore (≈$11 million) from investors such as Alchemy Capital’s Ashish Kacholia, Lashit Sanghvi, Brandix Sri...
Lachy Groom’s Investment Vehicle Leads $20M Investment in Indian Home Services Startup Pronto
Australian entrepreneur Lachy Groom’s family office led a $20 million extension of Pronto’s Series B round, bringing total financing to $45 million and doubling the Bengaluru‑based home‑services platform’s valuation to $200 million. The new capital will fund geographic expansion and the rollout of additional...
Kathy’s Beverages Raises Rs 6 Cr in Pre-Series A Round
Mumbai‑based bubble‑tea startup Bobakat, operating under Kathy’s Beverages, secured a pre‑Series A round of ₹6 crore (≈$730,000). The capital will fund product innovation, team growth, marketing and an aggressive offline rollout across India. Founded in 2024 by Dr Rupali Ambegaonkar and Sannjeev Rao,...
Stock Trading App Sahi Founders Dilute over 60% Stake After Series B Round
Indian stock‑trading app Sahi completed a $33 million Series B, bringing total capital raised to about $50 million and pushing its post‑money valuation to roughly $200 million. The round, led by Accel India and Elevation Capital, diluted the founders’ combined holding to 38.5%, while...
Dealflow.es #512: OpenCosmos Picked up €31M. Kembara's First Deal. Revolut Expands in Barcelona.
Barcelona‑based satellite operator Open Cosmos secured €31 million ($33.5 million) from the Institut Català de Finances, the largest funding round in Spain’s space sector this year. UK‑focused VC Kembara made its inaugural investment, co‑leading a $160 million Series C in quantum‑computing startup Quantum Motion....
NanoStruct Raises €2.6M Seed to Bring Same-Day Pathogen Detection to the Food Industry
German deep‑tech startup NanoStruct secured €2.6 million (≈$2.8 million) in seed funding, led by High‑Tech Gründerfonds, Bayern Kapital and the AUXXO Female Catalyst Fund. The company’s nanostructured sensor chips combine optical measurement, nanotechnology and machine‑learning to identify food‑borne pathogens within hours instead...
Greenhaven Road Capital Main Fund Q4 2025 Shareholder Letter
Greenhaven Road Capital’s Q4 2025 letter reports a -2% quarterly return, leaving the fund down 10% for the year after strong 51% and 27% gains in the prior two years. The manager groups holdings into two themes: “Bamboo Trees” like...
Anthropic Lands $1.8 Bn Akamai Cloud Deal as It Eyes $900 Bn Valuation in New Funding Round
Anthropic announced a $1.8 billion computing agreement with Akamai Technologies and is simultaneously courting investors for a $40‑$50 billion capital raise that could value the AI startup at up to $900 billion. The moves underscore the company’s push to lock in compute capacity...