Latest Startups & Entrepreneurship News
Anthropic reportedly seeks $10B at $350B valuation, signaling sustained mega-rounds in AI
Safety-focused AI startup **Anthropic** is reportedly in talks to raise **$10 billion** at a **$350 billion** valuation, nearly doubling its September round valuation. Singapore’s GIC and Coatue are said to be leading the deal, underscoring deep sovereign and crossover investor appetite for foundation-model startups despite broader tech market caution.
xAI raises $20B to scale ‘Colossus’ supercomputer and next‑gen AI models
Elon Musk’s AI company **xAI** has announced a **$20 billion Series E** to expand its **“Colossus”** GPU supercomputer cluster and accelerate future model development. The raise, alongside Anthropic and OpenAI fundraising chatter, cements AI infrastructure as one of the most capital-intensive startup segments globally.
OpenAI explores landmark IPO and new raise toward $750B valuation
**OpenAI** is in discussions with investors about a new fundraise at a valuation of **$750 billion or more**, up from around $500 billion. Market chatter also points to a potential **landmark IPO** that, along with possible listings of SpaceX and Anthropic, could eclipse proceeds from roughly 200 US IPOs in 2025.
Photonic raises $180M to commercialize networked quantum computing
Vancouver-based **Photonic** has secured **$180 million** in the first close of its latest round, bringing total funding to **$375 million** to scale its **networked quantum computing** platform. Existing backers including **Microsoft** participated, as the startup shifts from R&D to serving enterprise customers with commercial quantum services.
Philadelphia life sciences ecosystem sees $295M+ in new capital and infrastructure
Philadelphia’s life sciences scene got a boost as **Alveus Therapeutics** emerged from stealth with a **$160 million Series A** for next‑generation obesity and metabolic disease therapies. The city also launched a **$450,000 SBIR/STTR matching grant program** and Penn, BioNTech, and Osage Partners debuted a **$50 million Innovative Therapeutics Seed Fund**, strengthening startup formation and early financing.
Korea announces ₩11.5T (multi‑billion USD) policy finance fund for global startups in 2026
The Korean government is allocating **₩11.5 trillion** in policy finance in 2026 to serve as **ecosystem infrastructure** for globally oriented startups. The initiative is part of a broader “equal‑footing” strategy with China and other partners, aiming to turn state-backed finance into a catalyst for private capital and international scale‑ups.
Korean startup Enlighten raises $20.8M to expand industrial rooftop solar
Energy‑climate tech startup **Enlighten** has raised **$20.8 million** to expand **140 MW** of rooftop solar across industrial facilities in Korea. The round highlights sustained investor interest in climate infrastructure startups, alongside other Korean deals like RXC, WithPoints, Sibiliter, and Testify reported in the same weekly briefing.
Seoul startups shine at CES 2026 and Global Innovation Forum
The **Seoul Business Agency** backed **70 startups** at the **CES 2026 Seoul Pavilion**, where **17 companies** won CES Innovation Awards, including one **Best of Innovation Award** for Studio Lab. At the related **Global Innovation Forum**, behavior‑change startup **Firsthabit** won the Grand Award and plans to use the momentum to enter the US market.
China tightens scrutiny of AI-related tech deals to retain talent and IP
Chinese authorities are investigating deals such as **Meta’s acquisition of Manus**, aiming to curb outflows of **AI talent and know‑how** to the US. The move signals a more protective stance over strategic startup assets, which could affect cross‑border M&A and investment flows in AI and deep tech.
Femtech and women-led health startups secure sizable late‑stage rounds
New York-based **Pomelo Care**, led by Marta Bralic Kerns, raised a **$92 million Series C** at a **$1.7 billion valuation** to expand its maternal and infant health platform. Other women co‑founded startups, including **Biller Genie** (accounts receivable automation, **$22 million Series B**) and **Luminate** (home‑based cancer treatment tech, **$21 million Series A**), also closed significant financings.
Biotech startups continue to attract large growth rounds for respiratory and cell therapies
**Kinaset Therapeutics** closed a **$103 million Series B** to advance its inhaled therapeutic candidate for serious respiratory diseases. Meanwhile, **AirNexis Therapeutics** raised a **$200 million Series A** for COPD therapies, and **Orca Bio** announced **$250 million in aggregate financing** ahead of a potential commercialization push, underscoring investor confidence in late‑stage biotech platforms.
Salesforce-backed initiative channels fresh capital into carbon removal startup Equitable Earth
Through a broader initiative with **Milkywire**, **Salesforce** has helped spur new investment into emerging carbon removal technologies, including about **$14.6 million** for **Equitable Earth**. The funding will support the company’s efforts to scale verified forest carbon projects, reflecting the intersection of climate tech startups and corporate net‑zero commitments.