Startups
It’s hot IPO summer, and the MANGOS are ripe
Equity breaks down the hot IPO summer, the rise of MANGOS over FAANG, and what Google's $920M compute deal with SpaceX says about the AI infrastructure race.
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Startups
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Startups
Why Andrew Yang is building instead of waiting for Washington
Watch as Andrew Yang joins the Equity podcast to talk about his startup Noble Mobile, which pays you to use your phone less, ways to combat the “attention economy,” and what startups can do when the government won't move.
Startups
Andrew Yang on Noble Mobile, UBI, and why he's done waiting for policy to catch up
Andrew Yang joins Equity to talk Noble Mobile, ways to combat the “attention economy,” and what startups can do when the government won't move.
Startups
Exclusive: Anker-backed Evotrex raises $30M to build its off-grid RV
The startup is one of many entering the RV space, but it's banking on a hybrid power system that can go far beyond campsites.
Startups
How to apply to Startup Battlefield 2026, what you need ahead of today's June 8 deadline
Startup Battlefield applications are due tomorrow, so now's the time to put the finishing touches on your submission!
Startups
Beyond Instagram: Introducing the next generation of social apps
These newer social apps offer alternatives to Big Tech’s feeds, focusing on interests, creativity, and community.
Startups
Startup Battlefield 200 applications officially close in 3 days
Applications for Startup Battlefield 200 officially close on June 8, 11:59 p.m. PT. Secure your shot at competing at Disrupt 2026. Apply here.
Startups
Supabase doubles valuation to $10B in 8 months
Supabase, an example of an open source project becoming a fast-growing company, has greatly benefited from AI tools like Claude, Codex, and other vibe-coding platforms.
Startups
The most interesting startups right now want to get you off your phone
Watch as the Equity podcast breaks down Anthropic's surprise IPO filing, the founders building startups to get you off your screen, and the token bubble that's starting to burst.
Startups
The 'together tech' wave might be the most intriguing startup bet of 2026
The Equity podcast breaks down Anthropic's surprise IPO filing, the founders building startups to get you off your screen, and the token bubble that's starting to burst.
Startups
Is Silicon Valley ready to put robots in people's homes? Hello Robot is.
The California startup released the fourth-generation of its home assistance robot, Stretch.
Startups
Quick-commerce FirstClub doubles valuation to $255M in 9 months
The Bengaluru startup has crossed 1 million orders and reached a $50 million annualized GMV run rate within a year of launch.
Startups
Helion, the Sam Altman-backed fusion startup, raises $465M to build a power plant for Microsoft
Fusion startup Helion is racing to complete a power plant for Microsoft by 2028. A fresh infusion of cash should help with that.
Startups
These two founders left Goldman and Meta to build voice AI for markets everyone else overlooked
The startup's own stack for Africa and Middle East is now handling more than 17,000 calls per day.
Startups
Coralogix raises $200M on bet that someone needs to watch the AI agents
Coralogix is among a growing number of infrastructure firms betting that as AI systems move into production, demand will rise for tools that can monitor their behavior, troubleshoot failures, and provide the operational data needed to keep them running reliably.
Startups
Lovable signs multiyear deal with Google Cloud to up usage 5x, source says
Lovable and Google signed an expanded multiyear deal that involves a 5x expansion of Lovable's footprint on Google Cloud, and expanded access to Anthropic Claude.
Startups
Cyera eyes $12B valuation at 80x ARR multiple despite operating losses
The cybersecurity company is nearing a $300 million round led by Evolution Equity Partners.
Startups
Why VivaTech 2026 is the place to see Europe’s AI strategy take shape
is partnering with VivaTech 2026 to spotlight some of the most important conversations shaping the future of artificial intelligence. Join us in Paris June 17-20!
Startups
Focused Energy raises whopping $240M Series A for laser-powered fusion tech
Another fusion startup has raised another a massive round to make this type of power a reality.
Startups
ZeroDrift raises $10M to protect AI models from themselves
A new AI compliance service sits between AI models and end users to flag and replace any messages that might present a compliance problem.
Startups
Rocket engine startup Impulse raises $500 million to hire people, not AI
Engineering physical systems still depends on human talent, according to Impulse Space president Eric Romo.
Startups
Board, the new game startup from Mirror founder Brynn Putnam, raises $20M, has already sold thousands
Board, the startup building what it calls "together tech" designed to bring people into the same room, has closed a Series A led by Union Square Ventures.
Startups
A startup, Everand, is now bundling e-books, audiobooks, and book clubs in challenge to Amazon
A new reading subscription from Everand offers access to both e-books and audiobooks, and Fable's book club community.
Startups
Exclusive: Ex-Anduril engineer raises $42M to build the Amazon of composite parts
Layup Parts co-founder Zack Eakin has drawn on a motorsports background, and his experience working for Palmer Luckey and Elon Musk, to tackle making faster, cheaper, and better composites.
Startups
How to make the Startup Battlefield Top 20 — and what every company gets regardless
Every founder who applies to Startup Battlefield wants the same thing: the Disrupt Main Stage. Here’s how to get there and why the opportunity starts well before the main stage.
Startups
Defense tech darling Mach Industries hits $1.8B valuation, a 4x jump in a year
In a wild ride for 22-year-old founder and CEO Ethan Thornton, Mach Industries has raised another $300 million. It already has five autonomous vehicles in development and completed a major acquisition.
Startups
Revolut rolls out services to thousands of users in India ahead of broader launch
The British fintech has built a waitlist of about 450,000 users in India as it prepares for a broader launch.
Startups
From the stage to the future: Where are Startup Battlefield's alumni now?
We wanted to show you what happens after the confetti falls. We checked in with some of our recent alumni, many of whom have sat down with us on Build Mode: The Founder Survival Guide, 's podcast for founders at every stage.
Startups
Unastella, a South Korean rocket startup that launched from home, raises $24M
The Seoul-based rocket startup is developing its own launch vehicles and engines.
Startups
Making sense of the debate over AI psychosis
On the latest episode of Equity, we debate whether tech CEOs are "uniquely prone to AI psychosis."
Startups
Black founders raise highest amount of quarterly funding since 2022, but there's a catch
Speaking to , Crunchbase’s head of research Gené Teare said the factors holding back Black founders include “access to networks, relationships, and early introductions."
Startups
‘This is fine’ artist KC Green reaches agreement with AI startup Artisan
The startup has apparently taken down the ads using KC Green's "This is fine" meme.
Startups
Snap alums unveil Ghost Angels fund
A group of 20 Snap alumni has come together to launch a fund called Ghost Angels to back the next generation of social media.
Startups
As the browser wars heat up, here are the hottest alternatives to Chrome and Safari in 2026
We’ve compiled an overview of some of the top alternative browsers available today aiming to challenge Chrome and Safari.
Startups
Does your CEO have AI psychosis? Aaron Levie thinks most of them do.
Equity breaks down rising AI layoffs, the AI agents reshaping hiring, and why Box CEO Aaron Levie thinks Silicon Valley may be suffering from “AI psychosis.” Plus, Waymo's new robotaxi and the week's biggest startup deals.
Startups
After Nvidia's $20B not-acqui-hire, AI chip startup Groq reportedly raising $650M
Chipmaker Groq is looking to raise $650 million in internal funding as it pivots from hardware to focus more on AI inference, the process of refining the way AI models respond to prompted requests, per Axios.
Startups
Cognition's Scott Wu says AI coding agents shouldn't replace humans
Cognition makes Devin, the first and arguably most successful AI coding agent. But famed coder Wu says it isn't designed to supplant human programmers.
Startups
Glean's top line crosses $300M as AI budget cutting becomes its major selling point
The enterprise AI search startup tripled its annual revenue even as tech giants entered the category.
Startups
This chip startup just raised $135M on a bet that AI's biggest bottleneck isn't compute -- it's memory
South Korean chip startup XCENA is betting that AI's real bottleneck is not compute, but memory.
Startups
Today is the last day to apply to speak at Disrupt 2026
Submit your session topic to speak at Disrupt 2026. Apply now to share your insight and help shape the conversations defining the tech industry.
Startups
Final 24 hours to save up to $410 on your Disrupt 2026 ticket
You now have until tonight at 11:59 p.m. PT to lock in Early Bird savings of up to $410 for Disrupt 2026 before prices increase. Register now.
Startups
Bluesky embraces long-form content to counter X Articles
In its latest update, Bluesky is getting into long-form content.
Startups
In just 3 weeks, StrictlyVC is coming to Los Angeles
StrictlyVC Los Angeles is on June 18. Join for meaningful networking and fireside chats with leaders from Mach Industries, Shinkei Systems, and more. Register here.
Startups
H1 secures $40M from CVS, proving SaaS startups can still attract investment
CEO Ariel Katz argues that while AI can replicate workflow SaaS, it can't copy H1’s unique doctor data.
Startups
Corgi announces $106M raise at $2.6B valuation — double what it was worth 3 weeks ago
While startups raising back-to-back rounds at steep step-ups have become almost routine, a company whose valuation doubles in three weeks is unusual enough to raise questions, particularly given the investor set in both rounds is the same.
Startups
Startup Battlefield 200 application deadline extended to June 8
After overwhelming demand from founders around the world, has extended the Startup Battlefield 200 application deadline to June 8. Apply now.
Startups
Why Paris may be the most important AI city outside Silicon Valley
Europe’s startup ecosystem has matured significantly; its founders are increasingly willing to scale companies domestically instead of immediately looking to relocate to the U.S.
Startups
2 days left: Lock in ticket savings of up to $410 to Disrupt 2026
Savings of up to $410 on Disrupt 2026 tickets end May 29, 11:59 p.m. PT. Register now to save and join 10,000+ tech leaders in October.
Startups
At Disrupt 2026: Databricks’ co-founder on what kills enterprise AI deals
Databricks Co-founder, Arsalan Tavakoli-Shiraji, will unpack the shift on enterprise AI at Disrupt 2026. Register to join.
Startups
Triomics nabs $22M to bring oncology-specific AI to cancer centers
The Series B round was led by Battery Ventures.
Startups
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close today
Today is the last day to apply or nominate a startup for Startup Battlefield 200. Compete for $100,000, get global visibility, investor access. Apply now.
Startups
AI coding startup Cognition raises $1B at $25B pre-money valuation
As Cognition reaches $492 million in annualized revenue run rate, it more than doubled its valuation in eight months, it says.
Startups
Payroll startup Remote says it grew revenue 50% per employee without adding headcount
Payroll service provider Remote recently surpassed $300 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and became cash-flow positive, thanks to a 50% increase in revenue per employee resulting from AI adoption.
Startups
SOND, a sleep tech startup from Bose's former head of sleep, exits stealth with $7M
SOND introduced its debut product: Dreambuds, a closed-loop, in-ear system that captures 12 physiological signals from the wearer, then acts on them in real time to help consumers get better sleep.
Startups
Airbnb-backed WeRoad raises $58M to take its group travel platform to the US
WeRoad trips are primarily designed for younger travelers and grouped around shared interests and travel styles. Customers can book trips through the platform based on themes such as beach vacations or skiing.
Startups
Disrupt 2026 Early Bird ticket savings end in 3 days
Only 3 days left to save up to $410 on your ticket to Disrupt 2026. Early Bird pricing ends May 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register before rates hike.
Startups
Your SEO strategy is optimized for a search engine that no longer exists.
Google I/O made it official: AI-generated answers are now front and center in search. Matt Thompson, VP of partnerships at Scrunch, joins Equity to talk about what Google’s changes mean and what marketers and founders should actually do about it.
Startups
Tech CEOs are apparently suffering from AI psychosis
"CEOs are uniquely prone to AI psychosis," Box CEO Aaron Levie opines. Maybe that explains the almost religious belief in AI productivity gains.
Startups
OpenRouter more than doubles valuation to $1.3B in a year
OpenRouter has raised a $113 million Series B led by CapitalG. Its 5x growth in usage over six months indicates the multi-AI-model future is here.
Startups
Disrupt 2026 Early Bird ticket rates end May 29
Save up to $410 on your Disrupt 2026 pass before prices increase on May 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here to join the tech epicenter in SF.
Startups
Amazon fulfillment competitor Stord raises $250M at $3B valuation
Stord offers a network of physical warehouses and inventory management software for e-commerce. It bills itself as a sort of anti-Amazon, giving brands "the speed to compete" while still owning their customer relationships.
Startups
What ClickUp's mass layoff tells us about the future of work
The nine-year-old startup is replacing hundreds of employees with thousands of AI agents.
Startups
The pitch trick that helped an esports startup raise $20M when VCs only wanted AI
Earlier this year, Lucra Sports founder and CEO Dylan Robbins did something that no one else has ever done. And he shared several secrets on how he did it.
Startups
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close before May 27
The deadline to apply or nominate for Startup Battlefield 200 is May 27. Get VC access, global visibility, coverage, and $100,000. Apply now.
Startups
5 days left: Save up to $410 on Disrupt 2026 passes
Early Bird savings for Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco end May 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register now to save up to $410 before prices increase.
Startups
SolarSquare in talks to raise up to $60M as India's rooftop solar market draws major VC interest
SolarSquare could be valued at up to $500 million in the financing expected to close next month.
Startups
Peec, one of Berlin’s rising startups, more than doubled annualized revenue in months to $10M, sources say
Peec, which helps brands track their presence in AI searches, offers proof of a key trend among European startups.
Startups
Elon Musk can't hear you over the sound of his $1.75 trillion IPO
The SpaceX S-1 is finally here, and the Equity podcast crew digs into what the filing actually says, what it leaves out, and whether any of this math connects to reality.
Startups
How VCs and founders use inflated ‘ARR’ to crown AI startups
Some AI startups are stretching traditional revenue metrics when talking about progress publicly. And their investors are fully aware.
Startups
This young startup is taking on a fragrance industry that hasn't changed in almost half a century
Fragrance tech company Patina announced Thursday a $2 million raise from investors, including Betaworks and True Ventures.
Startups
General Catalyst just led a $63M bet on India's travel payments market
Scapia, an Indian startup that combines travel booking with co-branded credit cards and mobile payments, said the deal doubles its valuation.
Startups
Beauty booking startup Fresha hits $1B valuation with KKR backing
Beauty and wellness booking marketplace Fresha says it has raised $80 million investment from KKR’s Next Generation Technology Growth fund, KKR's growth equity arm.
Startups
Imperagen raises £5 million to use quantum physics, AI on enzyme engineering
Biotech company Imperagen announced on Thursday a £5 million ($6.7 million) seed round led by PXN Ventures, with participation from IQ Capital and Northern Gritstone.
Startups
Maka Kids is redefining kids’ screen time with a streaming app optimized for well-being, not engagement
Maka Kids is building a streaming app for children ages zero to six featuring content designed for healthy development. The startup has now raised $3 million in seed funding to scale its platform.
Startups
You don't need to be an AI startup to raise. Lucra has $20M to prove it.
Watch as Lucra founder Dylan Robbins joins Equity to talk about landing $20M from ARK Invest, pivoting from consumer to B2B, and why honesty helped close the round.
Startups
OpenAI barrels toward IPO that may happen in September
A day after Elon Musk lost his lawsuit that threatened OpenAI's structure, leadership, and finances, OpenAI is reportedly back to prepping for its IPO.
Startups
How Lucra raised $20M as an eSports play when every VC only wants AI
How do startups raise money in the middle of the AI boom? Lucra founder Dylan Robbins joins Equity to talk about landing $20M from ARK Invest, pivoting from consumer to B2B, and why honesty helped close the round.
Startups
NanoClaw creator turns down $20M buyout offer, raises $12M seed instead
NanoClaw was created as a secure alternative to OpenClaw to assist the Cohen brothers with their AI marketing firm that used agents to do much of the work. But instead of running directly on a computer, NanoClaw runs sandboxed in a container.
Startups
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27. Pitch at Disrupt, get investor access, win $100K. Nominate and apply here.
Startups
This startup raised $43M to build a hive mind for ships
The Arlington, Virginia-based startup has raised $42 million to equip ships with sensors that blow the current AIS tech out of the water.
Startups
Clouted wants to take the guesswork out of making short videos go viral
The video clipping startup raised a $7 million seed round led by Slow Ventures.
Startups
Sam Altman makes 'mic drop' offer to every Y Combinator startup
Altman offered to have OpenAI invest in every single startup in this Y Combinator class: tokens for equity.
Startups
Forget the feed: Status AI raises $17M to turn social media into interactive entertainment
“Status is built on the premise that the next generation doesn’t want to watch stories,” CEO and co-founder Fai Nur said. “They want to engage with the stories and even live inside them.”
Startups
'Survivor' stars Kyle Fraser and Kamilla Karthigesu introduce a goal-tracking app, Paprclip
A new app from "Survivor" season 48 winner Kyle Fraser and castmate Kamilla Karthigesu aims to turn goal tracking into a social experience, pairing users for accountability, daily challenges, and shared progress clips.
Startups
From teen hacker to Iron Dome researcher, this founder raised $28M to fight AI phishing
Ocean, an agentic email security platform, claims its AI can thoroughly analyze the context of every incoming email to detect fraud and impersonation attempts.
Startups
Stilta raises $10.5M from a16z and YC to help companies rediscover the patents they forgot they had
Stilta is an AI platform designed to automate the research and analytical work behind intellectual property cases — the kind of labor-intensive work that has historically made patent litigation slow and expensive.
Startups
South Korea's LetinAR is building optics behind AI glasses
A lens the size of a thumbnail — and the South Korean startup that makes it — could become the optical backbone of the AI glasses era.
Startups
The haves and have-nots of the AI gold rush
The vibes around the current AI boom aren't great, even in the tech industry.
Startups
Marketing operating system Nectar Social raises $30M Series A led by Menlo
AI-powered marketing platform Nectar Social announced Thursday that it raised a $30 million Series A round led by Menlo Ventures and its Anthology Fund, which was created alongside Anthropic.
Startups
$60B AI chip darling Cerebras almost died early on, burning $8M a month
Cerebras Systems was 2026's biggest tech IPO so far. But years ago, it burned through hundreds of millions working on a chip many believed impossible.
Startups
OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman takes charge of product strategy
OpenAI's latest shake-up comes as the company reportedly plans to combine ChatGPT and its programming product Codex.
Startups
The OpenAI trial wraps up, and the Musk founder machine keeps spinning
The Musk v. Altman trial came to a close this week, and the final arguments kept circling back to one question: can we trust the people in charge of AI? All of this is playing out as SpaceX charges toward what could be one of the largest IPOs in American history, with a whole generation of founders already spinning out […]
Startups
Meridian Ventures launched a $35M fund with a focus on MBA-deferred founders
This new fund will back founders building enterprise technology in the United States. Meridian is agnostic, co-founder Devon Gethers said, noting that the firm has already invested in companies in fintech, logistics, healthcare, and of course, AI.
Startups
Clio's $500M milestone arrives just as Anthropic ups the ante
Legal tech startups, including Clio, which just hit $500 million in ARR, are seeing massive customer adoption.
Startups
Lovable just backed a company that's looking to bring vibe coding to hardware
Hardware company Atech raised $800,000 in pre-seed funding, including from a16z’s scout fund, Sequoia Scout Fund, and Nordic Makers.
Startups
Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27
Your shot at VC access, global visibility, coverage, and $100K equity-free funding is running out. Deadline to apply is May 27. Apply here.
Startups
Anduril raises $5B, doubles valuation to $61B
After achieving $2.2 billion in revenue in 2025, the defense tech startup has raised another massive round, led by Thrive and a16z, it says.
Startups
The 6 stages at Disrupt 2026 — built for today’s tougher startup market
From October 13-15, Disrupt 2026 will feature 200+ sessions across six stages, led by 250+ tech leaders shaping the industry today. Register here.