Latest Startups & Entrepreneurship News

đź“…January 16, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Major funding rounds dominate startup news: AI, fusion energy, cybersecurity, and fintech firms raise hundreds of millions amid resilient investor interest in deep tech and enterprise solutions.
1

OpenAI Inks $10B+ AI Compute Deal with Cerebras

OpenAI has secured a massive deal exceeding $10 billion with Cerebras for AI compute resources. This partnership underscores the escalating demand for advanced computing power in AI development.Source 1 It highlights how infrastructure deals are critical for scaling AI capabilities amid tight public-market sentiments.Source 1

2

Fusion Startup Type One Energy Raises $87M

Type One Energy, backed by Bill Gates, raised $87 million as it prepares for a larger fundraise targeting grid-scale fusion energy. Investors are betting on breakthroughs to lower electricity costs for the AI economy.Source 1 The funding signals continued deep-tech investment despite AI revenue focus.Source 1

3

AI Security Startup depthfirst Raises $40M Series A

depthfirst announced a $40 million Series A led by Accel to secure AI models, agents, and enterprise deployments. It addresses expanding attack surfaces as AI integrates with internal tools.Source 1Source 4 The round positions it at the nexus of AI and security needs.Source 1

4

German AI Startup Parloa Raises $350M, Valuation Hits $3B

Parloa raised $350 million, tripling its valuation to $3 billion for enterprise customer service AI agents handling voice interactions. It uses a multi-model approach for flexibility.Source 1 This marks Europe’s emerging enterprise AI winners with proven revenue.Source 1

5

Belgian Cybersecurity Startup Aikido Reaches Unicorn Status with $60M Series B

Aikido Security raised $60 million in Series B at a $1 billion valuation, focusing on developer-centric security guardrails amid AI-assisted coding risks. It becomes one of Europe’s newest security unicorns.Source 1 The platform aids risk management in accelerating software development.Source 1

6

Skild AI Raises Nearly $1.4B for Robotics Foundation Model

Pittsburgh-based Skild AI secured close to $1.4 billion led by SoftBank for a scalable AI foundation model in robotics. The massive funding reflects huge bets on AI-robotics integration.Source 4 It aims to advance embodied AI applications.Source 4

7

Alpaca Raises $150M Series D in Brokerage Infrastructure

San Mateo-based Alpaca, a global brokerage infrastructure leader, raised $150 million in Series D led by Drive Capital. The funding supports expansion in fintech enablement for startups.Source 4 It powers trading and investment platforms worldwide.Source 4

8

Nuclera Extends Series C to $87M Total for Biotech Synthesis

Boston biotech Nuclera announced a $12 million Series C extension, bringing total funding to $87 million. The company focuses on accelerating DNA and RNA synthesis for research.Source 4 This bolsters scalable automated chemistry platforms.Source 4

9

Higgsfield Secures $80M Series A Extension

San Francisco's Higgsfield raised an $80 million Series A extension to advance its AI-driven initiatives. The funding highlights sustained interest in applied AI technologies.Source 4 It positions the startup for rapid scaling.Source 4

10

Flip Raises $20M Series A for AI Customer Service Automation

New York-based Flip, automating enterprise customer service calls with AI, raised $20 million in Series A co-led by Next Coast Ventures and Ridge Ventures. It targets efficiency in high-volume support interactions.Source 4 The round supports product expansion and adoption.Source 4

11

German Tech Startups Accelerate with Record Funding and Fast Unicorns

Germany's tech scene sees AI-led startups achieving unicorn status in under two years, with €4 billion raised in H1 2025. Firms like Peec AI hit $3M ARR quickly post-launch.Source 5 This reflects a booming ecosystem competing globally.Source 5

12

Mangrove Lithium Secures $85M in New Financing

Canadian startup Mangrove Lithium lined up $85 million in financing to advance lithium projects. The funding supports critical mineral development for batteries.Source 13 It positions the firm for scaled production.Source 13

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