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This week reminded us that unlike startups share a unlike approach to news : Some choose to stay quiet for a very foresightful sentence , even about their acquisition details . Others , however , are as trashy as can be about their rivalries .
Most interesting startup stories from the week
founding father are n’t always reliable when they claim there ’s nothing to worry about — or when they hint at something suspect . But either way , pass the Zea mays everta ; this is more entertaining than when they go down to disclose any details .
Corporate espionage : After lodge a case , 60 minutes tech startup Rippling publiclyreleased the affidavit of its former employeeaccused of stag for rival Deel . This take so much like a motion-picture show script that we would n’t be surprised if Hollywood producer take notice .
Harbinger of bother : EV truck maker Harbingeraccused Canoo of hiding asset in its bankruptcy processand filed an objection to the sale of the company ’s asset to Canoo ’s chief operating officer , Anthony Aquila , whom it said was “ below the belt favored . ”
Out of Nam : Qualcommacquired the generative AI division of VinAI , a Vietnam - based AI enquiry society found by former DeepMind research scientist Hung Bui . pile term were not disclosed .
Epic tagging : Fortnite maker Epic Games paid an undisclosed amount toacquire Loci , an AI platform that automatically tags 3D plus for easier search and IP violation detection .
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AMA : Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas take to Reddit to affirm that the companyhas “ no plans of IPOing before 2028”and is not under serious financial pressure .
Most interesting VC and funding news this week
From Series A to E , this hebdomad brought us an alphabet of funding round — and fresh capital for manufacturing and defense tech . Plus , a seasoned VC is moving to the other side of the table .
fly high : AI drug - discovery platform Isomorphic Labsraised a $ 600 million circle , its first external funding since spinning out of Google ’s DeepMind in 2021 . The round was led by Thrive Capital , with participation from GV and exist investor Alphabet .
Covered : Plaidraised $ 575 million at a $ 6.1 billion valuation — less than half its peak $ 13.4 billion evaluation , but more than Visa would have paid in the acquisition that fell through in 2021 . The fintech company also said it is “ well - capitalized ” and wo n’t go public this year .
lasting execution : Temporal , a company whose open reference and commercial offerings help developer execute prospicient workflows dependably , kindle a $ 146 million Series Cat a $ 1.72 billion post - money valuation .
Now time : Retym ( pronounce “ re - clock time ” ) , a chipmaker for AI data centers founded in 2021 but flying under the radar until now , set up a $ 75 million serial Dled by Spark Capital .
In magnetic flux : Aetherflux raise a $ 50 million Series A to advance its vision of deploying space - based solar office stations , witha first demo plan for 2026 . This brings its full funding to $ 60 million ; its CEO , Robinhood co - founder Baiju Bhatt , also invested $ 10 million of his own .
futurity of housing?Roam , a inauguration that helps prospective householder notice properties with assumable mortgage , closedan $ 11.5 million Series Aled by Khosla Ventures managing director Keith Rabois .
newfangled brick : Construct Capital , a Washington , D.C.-based early - stage VC house that induct in startups related to manufacturing , transportation , and defense technical school , shut down a $ 300 million third stock .
novel tunes : Fintech VC Frank Rotman willstep down from QED Investorsand into a mate emeritus role to focus on found his own startups , starting with a first business organisation in the music industry .
Last but not least
Intel Capital has been operate as Intel ’s venture investing weapon since 1991 . But as it is getting quick to spin out , TechCrunch tooka closer calculate at its journeying so far and its plans for the future .
