Latest Startups & Entrepreneurship News
AI dominates 2025 venture funding — megafunds drive majority of capital
Global AI startups raised $202.3 billion in 2025, with 58% of that funding coming from megafunds (rounds > $500M), signaling institutional concentration and tougher competition for early-stage founders.
Investors raise the bar for Series A — focus on repeatable growth and defensibility
At TechCrunch Disrupt investors said Series A now favors startups with proven product‑market fit, repeatable quarterly demand and strong founder/technical teams, making fewer but larger rounds the norm.
Analysis: Raising Series A in a post‑AI ecosystem requires measurable traction
Founders are expected to show measurable retention, revenue growth and proprietary advantages; case studies (e.g., Hippocratic AI, Etched.ai) illustrate premium valuations for clinical‑grade or differentiated stacks.
Nvidia inks major licensing and asset deal in AI chip space
Nvidia struck a sweeping $20 billion licensing and asset deal with AI chip startup Groq, underscoring consolidation and strategic licensing in high‑performance inference silicon.
ServiceNow to acquire cybersecurity startup Armis in a multibillion-dollar deal
ServiceNow announced a cash acquisition of cybersecurity firm Armis valued at $7.75 billion, reflecting large enterprise software buyers buying specialized security startups for strategic capabilities.
Instacart halts AI-driven pricing experiments amid scrutiny
Instacart said it is ending AI‑driven pricing experiments, indicating consumer and regulatory sensitivity to algorithmic pricing and prompting startups to reassess deployable ML features.
Founders from under‑25 launch mission-driven AI startups — example in Alzheimer’s care
An 18‑year‑old entrepreneur launched a global AI startup focused on early diagnosis and care for Alzheimer’s, highlighting youth‑led, mission‑oriented ventures entering healthcare AI.
Venture dynamics: fewer funded rounds, bigger deal sizes
Investor commentary at TechCrunch and industry analyses show a shift toward fewer funded rounds but larger checks, concentrating capital in startups with clear scale potential.
Investors prioritize industry expertise and technical founders for differentiation
Panelists emphasized that non‑AI startups can still attract capital if they have defensible assets, while AI startups must show a standout path in crowded markets and founder technical depth.
Market implication: institutional capital favors pragmatic, scalable AI solutions
Reports conclude institutional investors now back scalable, real‑world problem solving — exemplified by large raises for enterprise AI platforms and clinical applications — as VCs seek durable returns in the AI era.