Latest Startups & Entrepreneurship News
Deel Launches $15M Global Startup Competition 'The Pitch'
Deel introduced 'The Pitch,' a competition with over $15 million in funding for seed-stage startups worldwide, starting in Tel Aviv on March 23, 2026. It expects 20,000+ applicants across seven countries, with up to 10 winners receiving $1M each at the Abu Dhabi finale in May. Regional winners get $50K and access to Deel's community and partners like a16z and Google.
Indian Startups Raise Over $1.3B in One Week
From Feb 16-21, 2026, 20 Indian startups across AI, fintech, EV, and more secured $1.3B, led by Neysa's $1.2B at unicorn valuation. Other key raises include Stable Money ($25M), Statiq ($18M), Portkey ($15M), and C2i Semiconductors ($15M).
Sectors like wealthtech, semiconductors, and quick commerce dominated investments.
Quantonation Closes €220M Quantum Tech Fund
Quantonation Ventures raised a €220M ($260M) second fund, double its first, for quantum and physics-based startups like Qblox and Pasqal. The oversubscribed fund targets 25 companies in software, photonics, and lasers across Paris, NYC, Asia, and North America.
It signals strong investor belief in quantum despite no near-term industrial scale.
Radiant Nuclear Energy Startup Raises $300M
El Segundo's Radiant raised $300M in December 2025 at $1.8B valuation after a $165M Series C, funding its Kaleidos portable reactor. The funds support R-50 factory construction in Tennessee and tests at Idaho National Lab.
It highlights VC fueling the new space and energy race in Southern California.
Deep Space Energy Secures €1M for Lunar Power Tech
Latvian startup Deep Space Energy raised nearly €1M on Feb 21, 2026, in private investment and contracts for radioisotopic generators. The tech powers satellites in strategic orbits and enables long-duration lunar survival.
It accelerates development for high-efficiency space energy solutions.
Microsoft Commits $50B to AI in Global South
Microsoft announced on Feb 18 it's on track for $50B AI investments by decade-end to expand access in the Global South. The initiative targets underserved regions for AI infrastructure and development.
It aims to bridge global AI disparities through massive funding.
India Deep Tech Alliance Allocates $1B to AI Startups
The India Deep Tech Alliance committed over $1B of $2.5B member capital to AI startup funding. NVIDIA partnered with Activate, a $75M AI VC fund, offering technical expertise like CUDA integrations.
It underscores mega-funds driving deep tech in India.
CES 2026 Spotlights Industrial AI and Robotics
At CES 2026, Siemens unveiled Industrial AI tools with NVIDIA, including Digital Twin Composer for metaverse-scale simulations. Lenovo launched AI platform Qira and new devices; panels discussed AI reshaping business strategy.
Highlights include PepsiCo's facility upgrades and Meta Ray-Ban integrations.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Early Bird Ends Soon
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 (Oct 13-15, San Francisco) offers early bird tickets until Feb 27, with Startup Battlefield 200 pitch comp. Winner gets $100K equity-free; expects 10K+ attendees, 300+ exhibitors.
It's a key platform for startup exposure and investor connections.
Verversemi Raises $10M for Analog Chip Design
Indian fabless semiconductor Verversemi raised $10M Series A led by Ashish Kacholia and Unicorn India Ventures. It uses ML for high-precision analog chips in energy, automotive, healthcare.
Investors include Roots Ventures and MAIQ Growth Scheme.
C2i Semiconductors Secures $15M for AI Data Centers
C2i Semiconductors raised $15M Series A led by Peak XV Partners for power management in AI data centers. Yali Capital and TDK Ventures joined the round.
It targets efficient solutions amid AI infrastructure boom.
Zeroharm Sciences Raises $4.4M in Nutraceuticals
Nutraceutical D2C Zeroharm Sciences raised $4.4M from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers. The funding supports growth in health-focused products.
It reflects rising investments in consumer wellness startups.