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This workweek bring us mixed messages . A sweet IPO filing , but a bleak outlook for exits overall . raw financing round of drinks , but father dun over lack of working capital . And in the thick of it all , some VCs are still finding way to produce liquidity and raising support for more bullish times .
Most interesting startup stories from the week
In a week of contrasts , startup march both confidence and insecurity , and even second - time founders were n’t spared from conflict .
Fearless or not : Design computer software company Figmafiled its secret paperwork for an IPO , ignoring the fears that made both Klarna and StubHub intermit their IPO plans this calendar month follow the stock market clank triggered by tariff announcements .
Figma , however , is n’t worry - free : It senta cease - and - desist letterto tight - rising “ vibration coding ” rival Lovable over the condition “ Dev Mode . ”
Frustrated : U.K. founders expressed frustration at thewidening gapbetween funding lift by British startup and their Silicon Valley peer . According to Dealroom , British startups raised just £ 16.2 billion ( approximately $ 21.5 billion ) last year compared to the close together $ 73.8 billion ( £ 65 billion ) raised in the U.S.
smash : Smashing , an AI - power reading curation app launch last June by Goodreads ’ founder Otis Chandler , shut downdue to unsatisfying increment .
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debar : BluSmart , an Amerindic Uber contender using EVs , apparently set aside servicea day after the Securities and Exchange Board of India launched an investigating into Gensol Engineering , which shares its atomic number 27 - founders .
Back : One month after reassuming his role as Bolt ’s chief operating officer , Ryan Breslowunveiled a new “ super app”that reflects his vision for the fintech fellowship he founded in 2014 .
Investigating : wavelet ’s efforts to serve Deel CEO Alex Bouazizhave been significantly hinderedby the fact that he and his lawyer are now in the UAE , TechCrunch pick up . But the society is n’t giving up and is alsopushing for Revolut to reveal who pay off Deel ’s alleged spy .
Tailwinds : OpenAI isreportedly essay to buy Windsurf for $ 3 billion . The inauguration was previously known as Codeium , whose popular AI put on assistant competes with Cursor and the comparable .
Most interesting VC and funding news this week
This week brought us funding news program that ’s hinting at better day ahead , with increase valuations and bigger funds that may no longer be the exception .
rise : Marshmallow , a British indemnity inauguration , raised $ 90 million in equity and debtat a valuation more or less above $ 2 billion . sharpen on customers left out by traditional insurance firm , it shoot a line a million driver ensure and a profitable yearly revenue political campaign rate of $ 500 million .
Hammered win : Hammerspace , a company that helps clients like Meta use their unstructured data , raised $ 100 million in funding to extend its business . The valuation is above $ 500 million , according to source .
New chapter : Chapter , a Medicare advisory startup co - founded by former U.S. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy , raised a $ 75 million funding roundat a $ 1.5 billion valuation .
Phantom limb : Austin , Texas - base Phantom Neuroraised $ 19 millionto stock the next stage of evolution of its mathematical product , a subdermal wristband - corresponding twist that have amputee control prosthetic limb .
Resilient : Conifer , a startup whose electric hub motors do n’t need rarefied earth factor , secured a $ 20 million seed roundfrom deep tech investors .
gay day : Arnergy , a uninfected tech startup backed by Bill Gates ’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures , locked down a$15 million Series B extensionto expand solar access in Nigeria .
Bullish : Peter Thiel ’s Founders Fund dispatch the raise of its third growth store . Closing at $ 4.6 billion , it is abig dance step up from its previous $ 3.4 billion growth fund — which could be another preindication that the market has gone from bearish to bullish again .
Last but not least
VCs need liquidness , and they often have a go at it how to observe it even when there are no initial public offering in sight . In the latest episode of StrictlyVC Download , Industry Ventures CEO Hans Swildens broke downthe way in which firms are voyage this issue .
