Venture Capital

AI

Hardware Testing Startup Nominal Hits $1 Billion Valuation in Defense-Led Unicorn Sprint

An $80 million extension from Founders Fund caps a $155 million, 10-month raise as aerospace and defense contractors accelerate AI-powered hardware verification.

7 min read ·
Technology

Science Corp Emerges as Neuralink Rival With Vision-Restoring Brain Implant

Max Hodak's neurotech startup is advancing brain-computer interfaces through medical applications while competitors race for broader consumer adoption.

9 min read ·
Geopolitics Technology

Europe’s Defense Tech Gold Rush: Startups Race for €343 Billion as Geopolitical Tensions Rewrite Investment Rules

Investment in European defense startups surged 500% since 2021, but the sector still trails the US by a factor of three—and the funding gap could determine whether Europe builds strategic autonomy or remains dependent on American military technology.

9 min read ·
AI Technology

Nvidia Bets $103 Million on UK Autonomous Startup Oxa in European Expansion

Chipmaker stakes industrial autonomy market with Series B investment backed by UK government's National Wealth Fund, marking third major British AV play.

8 min read ·
Energy Technology

Cloud Seeding Startup Raises $7.9M to Stop Lightning Strikes—But Scientists Remain Skeptical

Vancouver-based Skyward Wildfire claims it can prevent wildfires by suppressing lightning with Cold War-era chaff technology, drawing investment despite unproven efficacy and mid-century abandonment by U.S. agencies.

9 min read ·
AI

OpenAI Closes Record $110 Billion Round at $730 Billion Valuation

Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank lead largest private funding in history as AI infrastructure arms race accelerates.

9 min read ·
Technology

Plaid Hits $8 Billion Valuation as Fintech Infrastructure Emerges from Three-Year Correction

Open banking platform secures premium pricing in new funding round, marking 51% jump from 2025 and validating regulatory gamble after collapsed Visa deal.

8 min read ·