Topics
late
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Witthaya Prasongsin(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Witthaya Prasongsin(opens in a new window)/ Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Image Credits:Voi Technology
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Image Credits:Mike Kane/Bloomberg / Getty Images
Fundraising
appliance
bet on
Image Credits:Stefan Herrick / Getty Images
Government & Policy
Hardware
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
societal
Space
inauguration
TikTok
deportation
speculation
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you ca n’t miss from the world of startups . Want it in your inbox every Friday?Sign up here .
The aftermath ofDeepSeek ’s launchwas arguably the big tech story of the week , especially for anyone keeping a close oculus on public marketplace . But individual companies , too , made headlines .
Most interesting startup stories from the week
In startup demesne , even a small profit is newsworthy and could lead to tomorrow ’s IPOs . In the meantime , we look at an M&A and some foreign mission - driven startup push attack .
shoot along : Swedish shared micromobility inauguration Voireported its first profitable twelvemonth . While modestly cash - positive , these 2024 results put the water scooter and due east - bike company in a better position to explore an IPO in upcoming age .
confluence humanoids : OpenAI - game Norwegian robotics startup 1Xacquired Kind Humanoid , whose three - mortal team had started working with mellow - profile designer Yves Béhar in 2024 .
On track : French health insurance inauguration Alan revealed that it generate approximately$525 million in revenuein 2024 and confirmed its finish to reach profitableness by 2026 .
Firefighters : In the consequence of Southern California ’s recent withering fires , TechCrunch ’s Tim De Chant rounded up startup that helpmeasure and mitigate wildfire danger .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Most interesting VC and funding news this week
Some significant rounds were announce this workweek , but perhaps even more interestingly , we saw some sizable valuation increases .
Hot like fusion : Nuclear startup Helion raised a$425 million Series F round of fundingto serve construct a fusion nuclear reactor for Microsoft . This new round is smaller than the premature one , but valuation increased to $ 5.245 billion .
perk up up : Barcelona - based bodied travel management platform TravelPerk close up a $ 200 million Series E cycle of fundingat a $ 2.7 billion valuation — almost twice its previous $ 1.4 billion valuation .
Quantum race : With$104 million in Series B backing , Gallic startup Alice & Bob assure one of the larger beat for a quantum calculation startup in Europe .
AI against Crab : Quibim , a Spanish inauguration that ’s developing AI models for aesculapian imaging , raiseda $ 50 million Series A round of fundingto double down on its U.S. expanding upon plans . Its flagship product , QP - Prostate , center on prostate cancer detection .
Challenging Autodesk : Motif , a startup developing architecture , technology , and construction ( AEC ) software , secured $ 46 millionin ejaculate and Series A funding to challenge its founders ’ former employer , Autodesk , with a next - generation pattern platform for building .
larger target : Regulatory filing break that 8VC , the Austin - based VC firm led by Palantir founder Joe Lonsdale , is trust toraise around $ 1 billionfor its sixth fund . Its late flagship fomite closed at $ 880 million in 2023 .
need it to 11 : ElevenLabs , which works in the AI audio field , announced that it raised $ 180 million in a Series C round , valuing the companionship at $ 3.3 billion Emily Post - money . Andreessen Horowitz and ICONIQ Growth are co - leading investment .
Lastbutnot least
excuse for end on a negative note , but information suggests that 2025 will beanother brutal year of inauguration wind instrument - downs . However , AngelList CEO Avlok Kohli provided a more convinced prospect , noting that these figures “ are still very low comparative to the number of companies that were fund across both years . ”
