Startups & VC
Startups, founders and their stories, venture capital, fundraising rounds, valuations of private companies, startup strategy and growth.
Venture market shifts to founder-friendly conditions with increased competition
David Tisch argues that leverage has shifted to founders, with competitive deals now involving 10 to 15 term sheets. He advises LPs to avoid pure-play seed funds in favor of multi-stage firms.
Supabase reports 13 million users and 50 million databases under management
Supabase has reached 13 million signups and manages nearly 50 million databases, driven by a surge in AI agent activity. The platform has pivoted to a code-first model to support this new user base.
Schwarz Group leads record funding round for AI startup Cohere
Cohere closed a record funding round led by the Schwarz Group, with participation from the Canadian government and Nvidia. The capital will expand the company's sovereign AI models for regulated industries.
BASF raises Evonik takeover bid to 11.2 billion euros
BASF increased its acquisition offer for Evonik to 11.2 billion euros, citing strong Q3 results and projected synergies. Analysts remain divided on the deal's value, with price targets ranging from 44 to 61 euros.
Sycamore raises $65 million for enterprise AI agent operating system
Sycamore, founded by former Atlassian CTO Sri Vishanath, raised $65 million to build an operating system for enterprise AI agents. The company reports a 1:10 human-to-agent ratio and argues that traditional SaaS is obsolete in the AI era.
A16z highlights defense contracts financing new American factories
A16z's 2026 AD50 list argues that defense spending is rebuilding the U.S. industrial base, lowering component costs for commercial products. Risk capital into the defense ecosystem in the first half of 2026 exceeded the total for all of last year.
Calendly founder says AI tools lower startup entry barriers
Tope Owatonna argues that AI coding tools have made it possible for individuals to build software without significant capital. He contrasts this with the billions required for frontier AI labs, emphasizing product-market fit as the key next step.
Tesla and SpaceX explore potential merger amid financial divergence
Special committees at Tesla and SpaceX are assessing a potential merger, with SpaceX valued at $2.2 trillion and Tesla at $1.5 trillion. The deal would combine Tesla’s automotive efforts with SpaceX’s strong AI and space infrastructure performance.
Supabase reports $10 billion valuation on AI-led adoption
Supabase has reached a $10 billion valuation, citing a surge in AI-driven sign-ups that has raised its product-led growth ceiling. The company attributes improved activation and conversion rates to AI agents handling setup tasks.
Cost Plus Drugs deploys AI-driven modular manufacturing pods
Cost Plus Drugs is using AI and robotics to shrink drug manufacturing facilities to 5,000 square feet, enabling four-hour production turns. The company plans to sell mobile manufacturing pods to hospitals and disaster zones.
Narona argues for niche AI agents in furniture and legal tech
John Narona argues that vertical AI agents for high-ticket consumer goods and professional services offer more durable business models than broad consumer tools. He highlights specific gaps in furniture shopping and legal tech where current AI models lack precision.
Instacart hires investment bank, holds acquisition talks with DoorDash
Instacart has hired an investment bank to evaluate its options and held acquisition talks with DoorDash. The reports caused Instacart's share price to spike more than 9.2% on Friday, while Uber and DoorDash stock declined.
Orange Juice launches as permanent capital vehicle with Bitcoin treasury
Lynn Alden co-founded Orange Juice to acquire cash-flowing businesses backed by a Bitcoin treasury. The model aims to avoid the pro-cyclical pressures that force pure-play Bitcoin companies to sell assets during market downturns.
Stack launches platform for early talent hiring
Olga Korkova co-founded Stack to help students and graduates identify their strengths and scarce skills. The platform aims to solve the problem of AI-generated CVs competing against AI evaluation tools in the hiring market.
FIGS details path from scrubs startup to public company
FIGS has grown into a public company with a market cap over 2.5 billion dollars by bypassing traditional distributors. The founders attribute success to a direct-to-consumer model and deep community engagement among healthcare workers.
Supabase distributes one million dollars in stock to community members
Supabase is allocating one million dollars in company stock to long-term community contributors. The move follows legal reviews confirming that direct equity distribution to non-accredited investors is a viable mechanism.
Snyder argues founders must distinguish real demand from product desire
Rob Snyder contends that traditional startup methodologies fail by confusing pain points with actual demand. He proposes a framework where demand is defined by customers actively prioritizing projects that existing options cannot complete.
Walling outlines PULL framework for finding product-market fit
Rob Walling proposes a framework that shifts focus from broad company value to specific individual urgency. The approach argues that founders must identify precise buyers and validate their intent through immediate actions rather than general feedback.
Levy argues distribution remains key to AI startup success
Aaron Levy states that building high-quality AI agents does not guarantee customer acquisition. He warns that founders must actively own their audience through established channels to compete effectively.
Horowitz predicts AI will reshape venture capital dynamics
Ben Horowitz argues that artificial intelligence will enable small teams to build billion-dollar companies, fundamentally altering the venture capital landscape. He predicts this shift will force firms to evolve their investment mechanics while maintaining their core role in providing momentum.
Tonies targets 1.4 billion euro revenue by 2030
Tonies aims to double its revenue to 1.4 billion euros by 2030, driven by cohort economics and product mix shifts. CFO Hans-Jörg Müller projects a near-doubling of adjusted EBITDA margins as the installed base of devices grows.
Lagora raises $550 million Series E at $8.8 billion valuation
Legal AI startup Lagora announced a $550 million Series E round, valuing the company at $8.8 billion. The raise follows a similar round by competitor Harvey, highlighting the rapid capital inflow into the sector.
HeyClicky founder advocates for daily demo-driven launch strategy
Farza Majid argues that consistent, low-production demo videos outperform high-budget marketing events for startup growth. His approach generated significant traffic for his AI tool, though conversion rates varied widely by platform.
Insomnia Cookies CEO outlines strategy to reach 1,800 global bakeries
Insomnia Cookies plans to end the year with roughly 393 bakeries, up from 300 in 2024. CEO Seth Berkowitz rejects franchising to maintain control over quality as the brand targets 1,800 locations globally.
Kayindo pivots to special occasion wear after wholesale loss
Kayindo founder Kayindo Matene reported a revenue drop to $50,000 after losing wholesale accounts. The brand is now focusing on direct-to-consumer sales of special occasion wear rooted in Congolese heritage.
Desden grows direct-to-consumer sales to $2 million with 90 university licenses
Desden is on track to reach $2.5 million in sales by January, up from $1.475 million the previous year. The company is expanding its direct-to-consumer business to leverage higher margins from its 90 university licenses.
Sauna Societe leverages in-person sales to bridge education gap
Sauna Societe founder Tara Gilman reports that most sales for her premium sauna hats are generated in-person. The San Diego-based company is exploring B2B strategies to increase volume and brand awareness.
Venture capital concentrates in mega-deals, leaving mid-tier startups unfundable
Large venture funds now require billion-dollar positions, excluding many high-growth, profitable companies from funding. Seed round entry prices have risen, making it difficult for early-stage investors to generate returns.
Modal raises $750 million Series D at $15.75 billion valuation
Modal closed a $750 million Series D led by Excel at a $15.75 billion valuation. The company's run rate surpassed $1 billion, driven by the rapid growth of the AI inference market.
A16Z expands crypto fund into A16Z Frontier for emerging tech
Andreessen Horowitz is broadening its crypto mandate to invest in frontier technologies that may take years to mature. The move aims to capture cross-category opportunities that do not fit the firm's existing verticals.
Resend reaches 100,000 paying customers amid AI-driven adoption
Resend crossed 100,000 paying customers in October 2026, attributing significant growth to AI model recommendations. The company is expanding its infrastructure to own its email sending pipeline and improve deliverability.
Insomnia Cookies CEO outlines strategy to reach 1,800 global bakeries
Insomnia Cookies plans to finish the year with roughly 393 bakeries, targeting 1,800 locations globally. CEO Seth Berkowitz emphasizes owning stores to maintain quality control and rapid innovation.
Moshi processes 300 data points per second for traders
Moshi provides real-time insights for financial traders by processing 300 new data items every four seconds. The platform integrates structured and unstructured data to generate portfolio-specific recommendations.