Startups & VC
Startups, founders and their stories, venture capital, fundraising rounds, valuations of private companies, startup strategy and growth.
Tonies stock nears record high on US expansion hopes
Tonies shares rose to 14.18 euros as analysts raised price targets, betting on US market growth. The company faces margin pressure from tariffs and low-margin box sales despite strong revenue growth.
Five startup opportunities emerge in AI agent commerce infrastructure
Confusion around agent-based commerce is creating a gap for infrastructure providers. Startups can capture value by building the identity, analytics, and liability layers that enable agents to transact reliably.
REI CEO addresses union boycott and long-term financial sustainability
REI is navigating a member boycott of its sale amid labor negotiations, a situation CEO Mary Beth Lawton described as emotionally difficult. The company is working to restore profitability to ensure its longevity as the largest consumer co-op in the United States.
Bessemer raises $5.75 billion for new seed and growth funds
Bessemer Venture Partners has raised $5.75 billion across two new funds, arguing that capital is a moat in the current AI era. The firm views open and closed AI models as complementary markets and expects consolidation among frontier labs.
ElevenLabs valuation doubles to $22 billion on voice agent demand
ElevenLabs completed a $300 million employee tender offer at a $22 billion valuation, double its February Series D. The company reported $500 million in annual recurring revenue, with expectations of approaching $1 billion.
Sweet Lauren's pivots to allergen-free products, reaches 30,000 stores
Sweet Lauren's has expanded from a single Whole Foods location to over 30,000 stores after pivoting its entire product line to be vegan and allergen-free. The company projects sales will exceed $100 million in 2025, driven by a strategic shift toward sustainable growth.
Bavarian Nordic shares rise on US rabies vaccine demand surge
Bavarian Nordic shares are rising after a failed acquisition attempt, driven by a one-third year-over-year increase in US rabies vaccine usage. The company has raised its full-year revenue forecast to 6.1 billion DKK and expects a 32% EBITDA margin.
Berkshire Hathaway increases stake in Bending Spoons
Berkshire Hathaway added $330 million to its investment in Bending Spoons, bringing its total stake to 4% of the Italian digital holding company. The move contributed to a 50% surge in Bending Spoons' stock price this week.
Intero Biosystems wins TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2026
Intero Biosystems defeated four other finalists to claim the Startup Battlefield Cup and a $100,000 prize at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. The Denver-based company develops lab-grown intestinal tissue to accelerate drug testing for pharmaceutical and biotech clients.
LangChain founder advises investors to target inference and vertical agents
Harrison Chase argues that inference providers and domain-specific agents represent the most promising AI investment opportunities. He warns against funding crowded customer support AI and robotics sectors, which he views as overfunded relative to their capabilities.
Character AI declares insolvency after Google investment runs dry
Character AI has declared insolvency after exhausting a 2.7 billion dollar investment from Google. The collapse highlights the difficulty of establishing a viable revenue model for AI companion platforms despite active market demand.
Ithaca Holdings takes Bumble private to drive AI transformation
Ithaca Holdings completed a take-private deal for Bumble to apply frontier AI technology to relationship services. The move reflects a growing investor thesis that legacy consumer brands can be revitalized through AI-driven cost reductions and operational changes.
Valor Atomic sues Day One over pro rata rights
Nuclear startup Valor Atomic is seeking a declaratory judgment against pre-seed investor Day One Ventures regarding pro rata rights in its $1 billion Series B. The dispute highlights a broader debate in venture capital over the relevance of pro rata rights.
Record 42 decacorns created in 2026
A record 42 startups have reached valuations over $10 billion in 2026, a pace significantly higher than historical norms. This surge is driving venture capital strategies and fueling debate over market sustainability.
XO Marshmallow raises capital to enter grocery retail
Chicago-based XO Marshmallow is raising its first capital round to expand manufacturing and reformulate products for grocery shelves. The move aims to leverage its direct-to-consumer base while addressing supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by competitor failures.
SmartSweets founder launches high-protein chip brand Snackish
Tara Bosch has launched Snackish, a new venture focused on high-protein potato chips, to bridge the gap between functional nutrition and taste. The brand targets consumers seeking daily snacks that are both nutritious and enjoyable.
Vivi's Vacation founder seeks niche marketing strategy
Vivi, founder of the sustainable swimwear label Vivi's Vacation, is seeking advice on distilling her value proposition after a mid-July relaunch. Expert guidance suggests leveraging her authentic origin story to justify premium pricing.
Ramp raises $2 billion while Character AI files for bankruptcy
Fintech firm Ramp secured a $2 billion round at a $60 billion valuation, highlighting investor confidence in enterprise data assets. Meanwhile, Character AI filed for bankruptcy, with Disney acquiring its intellectual property for $20 million.
Character AI files for bankruptcy and sells assets to Disney
Character AI has entered a court-supervised sale process, agreeing to transfer key assets to Disney for $20 million. The move highlights the difficulty of sustaining engagement for novelty-driven AI chatbots without durable economic utility.
Madison Air acquires German fan maker EBM Papst for 5 billion euros
US conglomerate Madison Air has purchased EBM Papst for 5 billion euros, adding $3 billion in revenue to its portfolio. The deal strengthens Madison Air’s position in ventilation technology for data centers and hospitals.