Latest Startups & Entrepreneurship News
AI Startups Raise Record $189 Billion in February 2026
Artificial intelligence startups secured an unprecedented $189 billion in funding last month, shattering previous records and highlighting massive investor appetite for AI infrastructure and applications. This figure exceeds typical global VC deployment across all sectors by over triple, with mega-rounds in chips, software, and cloud platforms driving the surge. The influx signals AI as core infrastructure, potentially delaying IPOs as firms stay private longer.
Anduril Targets $60 Billion Valuation in Multibillion Funding Round
Defense-tech startup Anduril, led by Palmer Luckey, is raising billions led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, aiming for a $60B valuation just months after its $30B Series G. Participants include Lux Capital and Founders Fund, with reports of up to $8B in new capital. The round occurs amid U.S. government tensions with AI firms in defense contracts.
SoftBank Seeks $40 Billion Loan for OpenAI Investment
SoftBank is pursuing a massive $40 billion loan to invest in OpenAI, underscoring aggressive financing for top AI players. This move aligns with the broader AI funding frenzy dominating venture capital. Details on terms and finalization remain pending.
DiligenceSquared Closes $5M Seed for AI Due Diligence Platform
DiligenceSquared raised $5M led by RELENTLESS and Y Combinator to automate commercial due diligence for private equity using AI voice agents and data synthesis. The platform cuts costs from $500K-$1M per project by enabling faster market research with human oversight. Founded by ex-Blackstone, BCG, and Google execs, it's headquartered in New York.
Investcorp Secures $1.25B for GP Stakes Fund Targeting Private Capital Firms
Investcorp closed $1.25B for its second GP-stakes fund to acquire minority positions in mid-market private capital firms managing $1B-$10B AUM. Backing spans Asia, Europe, Latin America, GCC, and US wealth channels, supporting fundraising, AI integration, and growth. The strategy aids generational transitions in expanding private capital.
Ayar Labs Raises $500M Series E Led by Neuberger Berman
US-based Ayar Labs secured $500M in Series E funding led by Neuberger Berman, with Insight Partners, Sequoia Global Equities, and others participating. The optical I/O startup advances AI infrastructure connectivity solutions. This bolsters its position in high-speed data transfer for AI workloads.
Fashion Tech Startups Draw Steady VC Amid AI Expo Launch
Fashion tech funding holds at ~$100M annually since 2022, with AI for design, forecasting, and shopping attracting investors; Paris Fashion Week 2026 launches Fashion AI Expo. Examples include Daydream's $50M seed (2024) and Raspberry AI's $24M Series A (2025) led by Andreessen Horowitz. Q1 2024 saw a dip but signals tech transformation.
Female Founders Secure Record $73.6B in 2025 Amid AI Surge
Startups with at least one female founder raised $73.6B in 2025, nearly doubling 2023's $44.7B per PitchBook, fueled by AI funding boom. However, the AI surge may distort ecosystems by concentrating capital in fewer deals. This highlights progress yet challenges in equitable distribution.
UniUni Raises $85M for E-Commerce Logistics Expansion
Canadian e-commerce logistics firm UniUni raised $85M, including $30M equity led by Rockets Capital and $55M credit from Royal Bank of Canada. Investors from Ontario, Québec, Hong Kong, and Cayman Islands participated. Funds support scaling operations amid global trade growth.
Hybrid Power Solutions Gets $120K Canadian Government Funding
Hybrid Power Solutions received $120K via CIT programs for HPS Air development, including talent internships and access to uWaterloo-RoboHub. This aids engineering, prototyping, and commercialization of hybrid power tech. The investment boosts technical expansion for sustainable solutions.
Eleanor Olszewski Secures $1.1M for AI High-Altitude Drone
Medicine Hat-based Eleanor Olszewski received $1.1M under Regional AI Initiative for its GITPO drone with AI autonomous return-to-base. Funding enhances high-altitude capabilities for remote operations. This supports Canadian AI innovation in aerospace.
North America AI Startups Announce Series A and Seeds
Three North American AI funding rounds tracked March 1-2: sizable Series A in healthcare AI, plus seeds in finance AI. Details highlight early-stage momentum post-February surge. These build on regional AI investment trends.