Category: Startup

Yann LeCun, a renowned figure in the field of AI, has embarked on a new venture with AMI Labs, a startup aiming to develop ‘world models’ to create intelligent systems that can comprehend the real world. The revelation of AMI Labs’ mission sheds light on the company’s ambitious goals.

With a focus on bridging AI with practical, real-world applications, AMI Labs joins the ranks of leading AI research startups. The concept of world models has been gaining traction in the tech industry, attracting both top-tier scientists and investors.

Following LeCun’s departure from Meta, speculations about AMI Labs’ potential have been rife. Reports suggest that venture capitalists are eyeing investments in the startup, with talks circulating around a potential valuation reaching $3.5 billion.

The leadership structure of AMI Labs reveals Alex LeBrun as the CEO, a role he previously held at Nabla, a health AI startup. LeCun, serving as the executive chairman, brings his expertise to guide AMI Labs into a realm where AI meets practical, real-world challenges.

As startups like World Labs push the boundaries in AI research with groundbreaking products like Marble, the competitive landscape in AI innovation continues to intensify. AMI Labs’ emergence signifies a significant addition to the AI startup ecosystem, poised to make an impact with its world model approach.

Source: TechCrunch

The recent developments in the Deel-Rippling corporate espionage scandal have brought to light concerning vulnerabilities within the tech industry. The Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into HR and payroll startup Deel amidst allegations of hiring a corporate spy to obtain confidential information from its competitor, Rippling. These events underscore the significance of data security and corporate espionage in the tech sector.

Deel has denied awareness of any investigation but expressed willingness to cooperate with authorities. In response, Deel has accused Rippling of engaging in a ‘smear campaign’ and emphasized its commitment to resolving the dispute through legal channels. Meanwhile, Rippling has refrained from commenting publicly on the matter, indicating the complexity and sensitivity of the situation.

The legal battle between the two startups has escalated, with Rippling filing a lawsuit against Deel, alleging espionage and theft of proprietary data. The involvement of federal racketeering laws in the dispute adds a layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the potential legal ramifications for tech companies involved in such controversies.

As the Deel-Rippling saga unfolds, it serves as a cautionary tale for tech companies regarding the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and ethical business practices. The outcome of this investigation could set precedents for addressing corporate espionage and intellectual property theft within the industry.

Source: TechCrunch

Space Beyond, a startup founded by a former Blue Origin engineer, is set to offer an affordable option for space burials in 2027. The company’s ‘Ashes to Space’ program aims to send the ashes of 1,000 people to space using CubeSat technology.

Utilizing a partnership with Arrow Science and Technology, Space Beyond has secured a spot on a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission scheduled for October 2027. This initiative marks a more accessible approach to space burials, with prices starting at just $249 – a significant reduction compared to existing providers.

Space Beyond’s cost-effective model is made possible through the rideshare concept, enabling smaller CubeSats to be integrated into larger spacecraft like Falcon 9 at a fraction of the traditional cost. This democratization of space access allows for diverse scientific and commercial opportunities.

While sending ashes to space is not a novel concept, Space Beyond’s emphasis on affordability and innovative technology distinguishes it in the market, making space burials a more attainable option for a broader demographic.

Source: TechCrunch

Jenny Liu, the former CEO of the Dogpound gym, has established Crush It Ventures, a $5 million fund aimed at supporting emerging wellness companies. Liu’s motivation stems from witnessing the challenges faced by underrepresented wellness founders, particularly women and minorities, in securing funding due to limited access to networks.

Crush It Ventures will focus on backing startups in various wellness sectors, such as mental health, fitness, beauty, and hospitality. This initiative aligns with the thriving wellness industry, which has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by increasing awareness of holistic well-being.

A McKinsey study highlighted the substantial financial investment in wellness in the U.S., exceeding $500 billion annually. Notably, younger demographics, like Gen Z, are significant contributors to this expenditure, emphasizing the importance of mental, emotional, and social wellness alongside physical fitness.

Liu sees the growing interest in wellness as a response to the modern emphasis on authentic connections and sustainable well-being in an era dominated by technological advancements. This shift in consumer values towards purpose-driven brands and genuine community experiences underpins the success of ventures like Crush It Ventures.

Source: TechCrunch

Kais Khimji, a former partner at Sequoia Capital, has transitioned from venture investing to entrepreneurship with the launch of Blockit, an AI-powered calendar-scheduling startup. Blockit has recently secured $5 million in seed funding, with Sequoia leading the investment round.

Blockit’s innovative approach leverages AI agents to streamline scheduling by directly communicating with other calendars. Khimji, alongside co-founder John Hahn, aims to create an AI-powered platform for managing people’s time efficiently.

Unlike traditional scheduling tools like Calendly, Blockit’s AI agents are designed to autonomously handle the entire scheduling process without requiring user intervention. Khimji believes that advancements in large language models (LLMs) enable Blockit to achieve a higher level of scheduling accuracy and seamlessness compared to previous automation attempts in the market.

With a focus on disrupting the calendar-scheduling industry, Blockit is poised to challenge existing players and offer users a more intuitive and integrated scheduling solution. Khimji’s transition from venture capital to startup founder underscores the growing significance of AI technologies in transforming everyday tasks.

Source: TechCrunch

Defense technology company Anduril announced its expansion to Long Beach, California, with plans for a major campus spanning 1.18 million square feet. The company’s founder, Palmer Luckey, highlighted the creation of 5,500 new jobs, emphasizing that these will be new positions, not transfers from existing operations. The Long Beach campus, set to be operational by mid-2027, will house office spaces and R&D areas to support various roles from manufacturing to engineering.

Luckey noted that Long Beach’s status as an aerospace hub played a significant role in the location selection process. However, the prospect of manufacturing autonomous fighter jets on-site was a key factor in the company’s decision. These jets, once produced, could take off directly from the factory to reach their destinations, potentially even flying into combat zones. Anduril’s vision for autonomous fighter jet production showcases the integration of cutting-edge technology and practical applications in the defense industry.

Source: TechCrunch

In a significant development for the AI industry, the creators of the vLLM open-source project have formed a new startup called Inferact. The company recently secured $150 million in seed funding, valuing it at $800 million. The funding round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners, underscoring the growing interest in AI deployment technologies.

The shift in AI focus from model training to deployment has brought technologies like vLLM to the forefront. These tools, which enhance the speed and affordability of AI applications during the inference process, are gaining traction among investors seeking to capitalize on the expanding AI market.

Notably, vLLM and another project, SGLang, both originating from UC Berkeley’s Databricks lab, have seen successful commercialization efforts. Inferact’s CEO, Simon Mo, highlighted that major players like Amazon’s cloud service and popular shopping apps are already leveraging vLLM’s capabilities, signaling the practical relevance of these technologies in real-world applications.

This strategic move by Inferact aligns with the industry trend towards enhancing AI deployment efficiency, reflecting a broader push towards making AI tools more accessible and cost-effective for businesses across various sectors.

Source: TechCrunch

LiveKit, a startup specializing in infrastructure software for real-time AI voice and video applications, has secured $100 million in funding at a valuation of $1 billion. This recent funding round, led by Index Ventures and joined by existing investors like Altimeter Capital Management, Hanabi Capital, and Redpoint Ventures, highlights the company’s growth and potential in the tech industry.

One of LiveKit’s significant achievements is powering the voice mode of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, showcasing its capability to support cutting-edge AI applications. Additionally, LiveKit serves various notable clients, including xAI, Salesforce, Tesla, 911 emergency services, and mental health providers, demonstrating its versatility and reliability in critical sectors.

Founded in 2021 by Russ d’Sa and David Zhao, LiveKit initially started as an open-source project to facilitate real-time audio and video transmission for applications. As the demand for managed cloud services increased, LiveKit pivoted to cater to enterprise needs, capitalizing on the rising trend of voice AI technologies.

This partnership between LiveKit and OpenAI not only underscores the significance of AI-driven solutions but also signifies the potential for innovative collaborations to drive technological advancements. With LiveKit’s continued success and expansion into various industries, the company’s trajectory in the tech landscape appears promising.

Source: TechCrunch

Capital One’s recent acquisition of Brex for $5.15 billion in cash and stock has sparked discussions within the tech startup ecosystem. This move marks a significant shift in the valuation landscape, with Brex being acquired at a discount to its peak valuation of $12.3 billion from the 2022 Series D-2 round.

For the early investors who supported Brex from its inception, this acquisition represents a return on their initial investment. Investors like Ribbit Capital, Y Combinator, Kleiner Perkins, DST Global, and notable individuals such as Peter Thiel and Max Levchin are set to realize substantial returns. Ribbit Capital’s early bet on Brex has potentially multiplied by around 700 times, highlighting the potential rewards of venture capital investments.

Comparisons with Brex’s chief rival, Ramp, underscore the unpredictable nature of startup valuations. While Brex faced challenges and a subsequent valuation decline, Ramp experienced significant growth, raising $2.3 billion in equity financing and witnessing its valuation surge from $13 billion to $32 billion in a short period.

These contrasting trajectories emphasize the volatile and competitive landscape of the fintech sector, where valuation swings can reshape the industry’s dynamics and investor expectations.

Source: TechCrunch

Fusion power startup General Fusion has announced a significant development in its growth strategy. The company is set to go public through a $1 billion reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company, Spring Valley III, along with investments from institutional backers. This move marks a notable shift for General Fusion, which faced fundraising challenges just last year.

The merger is expected to inject up to $335 million into General Fusion, a substantial increase from its previous fundraising efforts. With a valuation of around $1 billion post-merger, the company aims to utilize the funds to finalize its demonstration reactor, Lawson Machine 26 (LM26).

LM26 employs an innovative approach called ‘inertial confinement,’ diverging from traditional laser-based fusion methods. Instead of lasers, the reactor uses steam-driven pistons to compress fuel pellets, with liquid lithium metal facilitating the fusion process. By sidestepping the need for costly lasers or superconducting magnets, General Fusion aims to establish a more cost-effective fusion power plant.

This pivot towards a reverse merger and the company’s unique fusion technology showcase its commitment to advancing fusion power research and potentially transforming the energy sector.

Source: TechCrunch

Quadric, a chip-IP startup, is at the forefront of the shift towards on-device AI inference, catering to the rising demand for local AI processing to reduce cloud costs and enhance sovereign capabilities. Founded by veterans of the early bitcoin mining firm 21E6, Quadric is expanding its on-device inference technology beyond automotive applications into laptops and industrial devices.

In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Quadric’s CEO, Veerbhan Kheterpal, discussed the company’s impressive growth, reporting a substantial increase in licensing revenue from $4 million in 2024 to $15-20 million in 2025. Looking ahead, Quadric aims to achieve up to $35 million in revenue this year, driving a royalty-focused on-device AI business model.

This growth trajectory has significantly boosted Quadric’s valuation, now ranging between $270 million and $300 million, up from $100 million during its Series B funding in 2022. The company recently secured a $30 million Series C investment, led by ACCELERATE Fund, managed by BEENEXT Capital Management, totaling its funding to $72 million.

Quadric’s approach diverges from traditional chipmakers like Nvidia, focusing on licensing programmable AI processor IP rather than manufacturing chips. Kheterpal emphasized the importance of creating a CUDA-like infrastructure for on-device AI, aligning with the industry trend of shifting AI workloads from centralized cloud servers to local devices.

As more companies prioritize localized AI processing, Quadric’s on-device AI chips are poised to reshape the landscape of AI technology, offering efficient and scalable solutions for diverse applications.

Source: TechCrunch

A trio of former Google employees have launched Sparkli, an interactive AI-powered app designed to engage young minds in a more immersive educational experience. Lax Poojary, Lucie Marchand, and Myn Kang identified a gap in existing educational tools that primarily rely on text or voice interactions, which may not always captivate children’s curiosity.

Driven by the belief that children crave interactive learning, the founders leveraged generative AI technology to create a platform that offers a more engaging and participatory educational experience. Sparkli aims to provide children with a dynamic environment where they can explore diverse topics and concepts through interactive engagements, fostering a deeper understanding of complex ideas.

With a focus on modernizing the educational landscape, Sparkli plans to introduce children to subjects like design skills, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship through its AI-powered learning ‘expeditions.’ By encouraging active exploration and inquiry, the app empowers young users to curate their learning paths and discover new knowledge daily.

This approach addresses the limitations of traditional teaching methods in keeping pace with rapidly evolving concepts and technologies, underscoring the importance of adapting educational tools to meet the dynamic needs of today’s tech-savvy generation.

Source: TechCrunch

Indian fintech startup PhonePe, backed by Walmart, is witnessing Tiger Global and Microsoft fully exiting the company via its upcoming IPO. The move provides insight into how global investors are capitalizing on the venture boom through India’s public markets. PhonePe recently updated its IPO filing, revealing that Tiger Global and Microsoft are divesting their entire stakes, while Walmart intends to maintain its majority stake while selling up to 45.9 million shares, approximately 9% of the company.

The IPO will offer up to 50.66 million shares for sale, marking a significant liquidity event for existing shareholders. PhonePe, valued at $12 billion in a recent funding round, aims for a market capitalization of $15 billion in the IPO, potentially raising $1.5 billion. The prospectus indicates that the share sale is driven by existing investors rather than PhonePe’s management, with no founder sell-downs included.

Founded in 2015 and acquired by Flipkart in 2016, PhonePe has become a prominent player in India’s fintech sector, expanding from digital payments to services like stockbroking, mutual fund investments, and an Android app store alternative to Google Play. Leading India’s digital payments market, PhonePe outperformed Google Pay in transaction volumes in December 2025, processing 9.81 billion transactions worth approximately $148.6 billion.

Source: TechCrunch

Aliisa Rosenthal, former sales leader at OpenAI, has transitioned to a venture capital role at Acrew Capital as a general partner. This move comes after Rosenthal’s successful tenure at OpenAI, where she played a key role in launching innovative products like DALL·E and ChatGPT.

Rosenthal’s transition to VC was influenced by her experience in scaling OpenAI’s enterprise sales team and gaining insights into market behavior and buyer psychology within the AI industry. She now aims to leverage her expertise to guide a portfolio of startups towards success.

During her time at OpenAI, Rosenthal gained valuable knowledge on how AI startups can establish a competitive advantage in a landscape dominated by tech giants. By focusing on specialization and offering unique value propositions, these startups can create a ‘moat’ that safeguards them against potential disruptions from larger players.

Rosenthal’s career trajectory underscores the evolving opportunities in the AI startup ecosystem and the pivotal role of experienced professionals in shaping the industry’s future. Her insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and established companies seeking to navigate the complex AI market.

Source: TechCrunch

RadixArk, a startup born from the transition of the popular open-source tool SGLang, has secured a valuation of approximately $400 million. Originally a project at Ion Stoica’s UC Berkeley lab, SGLang has gained attention for its role in accelerating AI model training for companies like xAI and Cursor.

RadixArk, previously known as SGLang, was founded in 2023 within Ion Stoica’s lab. The startup’s valuation surged after securing funding led by Accel, although the exact funding amount remains unconfirmed. Notable investors in RadixArk include Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan.

Ying Sheng, a key figure in SGLang and former xAI engineer, transitioned to become RadixArk’s co-founder and CEO. The startup specializes in optimizing inference processing, a crucial aspect of AI model operations that significantly impacts server costs. By enhancing the efficiency of inference, RadixArk aims to deliver substantial savings in AI service operations.

Similarly, vLLM, another project focusing on inference optimization, has also shifted from open-source to commercial status. Reports suggest vLLM is in talks to raise substantial funding, highlighting the growing interest and investments in technologies that enhance AI model operations.

Source: TechCrunch

In a significant development, OpenEvidence, an AI-powered medical information platform, has achieved a $12 billion valuation following a recent Series D funding round. The startup secured an additional $250 million in funding, co-led by Thrive Capital and DST, marking a substantial increase from its previous $6 billion valuation in October.

OpenEvidence’s growth underscores the increasing importance of AI in transforming healthcare information accessibility. Positioned as a platform for medical professionals, the company competes with similar services like Anthropic’s Claude for Healthcare and ChatGPT’s consumer-focused health product.

Despite facing competition, OpenEvidence reported serving 18 million clinical consultations in the U.S. in December, a significant surge from its previous metrics. The platform’s success is further exemplified by surpassing $100 million in revenue, showcasing its impact on the healthcare industry.

This milestone signals the broader trend of AI integration in medical information platforms. As tech companies leverage AI to enhance healthcare services, the industry is witnessing a shift towards advanced data-driven solutions for medical professionals and patients.

Source: TechCrunch

Zipline, an autonomous drone delivery and logistics company, has announced plans for significant expansion in the U.S. with the help of $600 million in new investment. The company will be establishing operations in Houston and Phoenix, with intentions to expand to at least four additional U.S. states by 2026. This recent funding round, led by investors like Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners, and Tiger Global, values Zipline at $7.6 billion.

Founded in 2014, Zipline has developed a comprehensive drone delivery ecosystem, including logistics software, launch and landing systems, and the drones themselves. Initially focused on delivering blood in Rwanda in 2016, Zipline has since expanded its services to include food, retail goods, agriculture, and health products across five African countries, various U.S. cities, and Japan. The company’s Platform 2 drones, capable of carrying up to eight pounds within a 10-mile radius, are used for home delivery services, while the larger Platform 1 drones handle long-range deliveries for enterprise and government clients.

Zipline’s partnerships with major brands like Walmart, Panera, Chipotle, and others have contributed to its growth, culminating in the completion of over 2 million deliveries. The company’s U.S. delivery numbers have seen a consistent 15% weekly increase, demonstrating the growing demand for drone delivery services in various sectors.

Source: TechCrunch

Geothermal power, a vastly underutilized energy source, is gaining attention as Zanskar, a startup, aims to uncover the hidden potential beneath the Earth’s surface. With a recent $115 million funding boost, Zanskar is on a mission to identify geothermal resources that could revolutionize the energy landscape in the U.S. West.

While the Department of Energy projects geothermal power could contribute up to 10% of U.S. electricity by 2050, Zanskar’s CEO believes these estimates are conservative. The company argues that traditional geothermal methods, often overshadowed by enhanced geothermal techniques, have been underestimated in their capacity to generate power.

Conventional geothermal, which taps into naturally fractured hotspots, has long been overlooked due to outdated assumptions. Advancements in drilling technologies, however, could unlock a terawatt-scale opportunity by maximizing the output of existing systems.

Embracing artificial intelligence, Zanskar has revived stagnant geothermal sites, including a power plant in New Mexico, and identified promising locations with significant power potential. This approach has attracted substantial investment, with a $115 million Series C funding round led by Spring Lane Capital and supported by a consortium of sustainability-focused investors.

Source: TechCrunch

PraxisPro, a startup founded by former pharmaceutical sales representative Cam Badger, has secured a $6 million seed funding round from AlleyCorp to support its innovative approach in coaching medical sales representatives. The company focuses on offering specialized AI-powered training tailored for sales professionals in the medical field.

Badger’s journey began in sales, where he identified a lack of consistent training and coaching for sales professionals in the healthcare industry. This observation led to the creation of PraxisPro, a platform dedicated to enhancing the communication and sales skills of life science companies, including pharmaceutical businesses and medical device startups.

PraxisPro’s CEO, Cam Badger, emphasized the importance of effective commercial interactions in the healthcare sector. By improving sales representatives’ communication abilities, the company aims to facilitate the access of transformative therapies to patients in need.

Established in 2023, PraxisPro recently closed a $6 million seed funding round, with AlleyCorp leading the investment. The platform utilizes small language models trained on life science data to assist sales teams in navigating complex healthcare contexts and complying with legal frameworks.

By integrating AI agents into their platform, PraxisPro enables sales teams to practice communication skills and refine their messaging before engaging with healthcare providers. This approach not only enhances compliance but also ensures effective communication of patient needs, ultimately benefiting both sales teams and patients.

Source: TechCrunch