What founders should think about if looking to raise a Series C
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/02/what-founders-should-think-about-if-looking-to-raise-a-series-c/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/02/what-founders-should-think-about-if-looking-to-raise-a-series-c/
TechCrunch
What founders should think about if looking to raise a Series C | TechCrunch
In the past year, the bar for raising late-stage capital has only risen; investors are no longer just chasing momentum, as many were in the last few years — they are chasing certainty, according to Sapphire Ventures partner Cathy Gao.
Mastercard denies pressuring game platforms, Valve tells a different story
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/03/mastercard-denies-pressuring-game-platforms-valve-tells-a-different-story/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/03/mastercard-denies-pressuring-game-platforms-valve-tells-a-different-story/
TechCrunch
Mastercard denies pressuring game platforms, Valve tells a different story | TechCrunch
Mastercard seemingly denied playing a role in a recent marketplace crackdown on games with adult content, while Valve says the pressure was indirect.
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🤖 AI agents are now a real business — not just a demo
What started as experimental tools is turning into serious revenue. Five AI agent startups have crossed $100M in ARR: Anysphere, Glean, Mercor, Replit, and Lovable.
The agent market is exploding — from $5B to $13B in just a year.
🖱 42% of AI agent startups now operate at commercial scale
🖱 Revenue per employee is catching up with Big Tech
🖱 Valuations go as high as 127x revenue
🖱 Nearly half of the top players were founded in the last 3 years
🖱 Winners solve tasks with clear ROI — coding, support, ops
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What started as experimental tools is turning into serious revenue. Five AI agent startups have crossed $100M in ARR: Anysphere, Glean, Mercor, Replit, and Lovable.
The agent market is exploding — from $5B to $13B in just a year.
🖱 42% of AI agent startups now operate at commercial scale
🖱 Revenue per employee is catching up with Big Tech
🖱 Valuations go as high as 127x revenue
🖱 Nearly half of the top players were founded in the last 3 years
🖱 Winners solve tasks with clear ROI — coding, support, ops
Next up: dominance will go to those with tight workflow integration, unique data, and high switching costs.
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🪙 Ramp raises $500M to scale its finance-focused AI agents
Ramp has secured $500M in fresh funding at a $22.5B valuation to expand its AI-driven financial automation tools. The round, led by Iconiq, comes as demand surges for agentic systems in corporate finance.
🖱 Ramp's AI agents automate tasks like expense compliance, procurement, and bookkeeping
🖱 Thousands of companies, including Quora, are already using them to replace entry-level accounting work
🖱 CEO: “We’re teaching software to think like people”
🖱 Concerns remain — 80% of high-automation firms cite privacy and security as major hurdles
🖱 Iconiq also leads Anthropic’s massive $170B valuation push
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Ramp has secured $500M in fresh funding at a $22.5B valuation to expand its AI-driven financial automation tools. The round, led by Iconiq, comes as demand surges for agentic systems in corporate finance.
🖱 Ramp's AI agents automate tasks like expense compliance, procurement, and bookkeeping
🖱 Thousands of companies, including Quora, are already using them to replace entry-level accounting work
🖱 CEO: “We’re teaching software to think like people”
🖱 Concerns remain — 80% of high-automation firms cite privacy and security as major hurdles
🖱 Iconiq also leads Anthropic’s massive $170B valuation push
Ramp isn’t just digitizing finance — it’s trying to replace the grunt work entirely.
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💰Why an AI engineer turned down $1.5B from Zuckerberg
In his bid to build the ultimate AI dream team, Mark Zuckerberg reportedly offered ex-Meta engineer Andrew Tulloch a staggering $1.5B deal to return — a 4-year package of salary, equity, and performance bonuses.
But Tulloch said no❕
🔸 He currently owns 3.75% of his AI startup, Thinking Machines
🔸 Based on current market buzz, that stake could be worth $3B in the next round
🔸 Turning down $1.5B wasn’t irrational — it was mathematical
🔸 Now it’s a race: will Thinking Machines hit IPO before the AI bubble deflates?
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In his bid to build the ultimate AI dream team, Mark Zuckerberg reportedly offered ex-Meta engineer Andrew Tulloch a staggering $1.5B deal to return — a 4-year package of salary, equity, and performance bonuses.
But Tulloch said no❕
🔸 He currently owns 3.75% of his AI startup, Thinking Machines
🔸 Based on current market buzz, that stake could be worth $3B in the next round
🔸 Turning down $1.5B wasn’t irrational — it was mathematical
🔸 Now it’s a race: will Thinking Machines hit IPO before the AI bubble deflates?
Zuck offered a fortune. Tulloch bet on more.
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📉 Why predictions fail — and how great investors prepare instead
In venture, success doesn’t come from guessing right — it comes from building systems that thrive in uncertainty. The best investors don’t speculate. They prepare.
🖱 Winning comes from readiness, not foresight
🖱 Resilience is built on structured thinking and scenario planning
When the future is unclear, smart investors stay grounded:
🖱 They build systems for fast, objective opportunity analysis
🖱 They test assumptions constantly and act with clarity
⚡️ In venture and beyond, discipline beats prediction — every time.
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Your job isn’t to predict the future. It’s to be ready for it.
In venture, success doesn’t come from guessing right — it comes from building systems that thrive in uncertainty. The best investors don’t speculate. They prepare.
🖱 Winning comes from readiness, not foresight
🖱 Resilience is built on structured thinking and scenario planning
When the future is unclear, smart investors stay grounded:
🖱 They build systems for fast, objective opportunity analysis
🖱 They test assumptions constantly and act with clarity
⚡️ In venture and beyond, discipline beats prediction — every time.
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IPO hopeful Brex scored major win to sell in the EU, plans UK expansion
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/07/ipo-hopeful-brex-scored-major-win-to-sell-in-the-eu-plans-uk-expansion/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/07/ipo-hopeful-brex-scored-major-win-to-sell-in-the-eu-plans-uk-expansion/
TechCrunch
IPO hopeful Brex scored major win to sell in the EU, plans UK expansion | TechCrunch
The EU has authorized Brex to sell its spend management products directly in all 30 countries, "no workarounds required," CEO Pedro Franceschi said.
These 8 AI startups from Africa have raised over $1 million this year, Egypt takes the lead
Africa may only account for 2.5% of the global AI sector, but there is still an opportunity for African startups to enter the market. This year, the continent’s AI market is estimated to be worth $4.51 billion and is projected to reach $16.53 billion in the next five years.
Source :
https://techcabal.com/2025/08/07/africa-ai-startups-fundraising/
Africa may only account for 2.5% of the global AI sector, but there is still an opportunity for African startups to enter the market. This year, the continent’s AI market is estimated to be worth $4.51 billion and is projected to reach $16.53 billion in the next five years.
Source :
https://techcabal.com/2025/08/07/africa-ai-startups-fundraising/
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🧠 GPT-5 is here — and it’s OpenAI’s biggest leap yet
OpenAI just released GPT-5, its most advanced AI model to date, and for the first time, it's available to all ChatGPT users — including those on the free plan.
The model is faster, more accurate, and more versatile across writing, coding, and even healthcare.
🔸 Outputs over 2,000 tokens/second — 5x faster than before
🔸 Hallucinations reduced, safer replies now use "safe completions"
🔸 Handles logic, reasoning, and long documents far better than GPT-4
🔸 Free users get GPT-5 Mini after hitting usage caps
🔸 GPT-5 now integrated across Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure
OpenAI also demoed “vibe coding” — generating full apps from prompts in seconds — showing just how far generative UX has come.
👉 Try GPT-5 now 👈
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OpenAI just released GPT-5, its most advanced AI model to date, and for the first time, it's available to all ChatGPT users — including those on the free plan.
The model is faster, more accurate, and more versatile across writing, coding, and even healthcare.
🔸 Outputs over 2,000 tokens/second — 5x faster than before
🔸 Hallucinations reduced, safer replies now use "safe completions"
🔸 Handles logic, reasoning, and long documents far better than GPT-4
🔸 Free users get GPT-5 Mini after hitting usage caps
🔸 GPT-5 now integrated across Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure
OpenAI also demoed “vibe coding” — generating full apps from prompts in seconds — showing just how far generative UX has come.
Altman calls it like having a team of PhDs in your pocket. Whether that’s hype or reality — GPT-5 is a major step toward AI you actually want to use.
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📣 Trump calls for Intel CEO's resignation
Donald Trump has demanded the immediate resignation of Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, citing his ties to Chinese companies, including some with military links. Intel shares fell 5% following the statement.
🖱 Tan took over in March and began a major restructuring
🖱 His changes include 22% workforce cuts and halting some fab builds
🖱 Intel recently received nearly $20B from the U.S. under the CHIPS Act
Donald Trump has demanded the immediate resignation of Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, citing his ties to Chinese companies, including some with military links. Intel shares fell 5% following the statement.
🖱 Tan took over in March and began a major restructuring
🖱 His changes include 22% workforce cuts and halting some fab builds
🖱 Intel recently received nearly $20B from the U.S. under the CHIPS Act
The clash could escalate tensions over U.S. chip strategy and China-linked leadership.
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🚨 GPT-5: a bumpy launch
In an AMA session on Reddit, Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) acknowledged that the GPT-5 rollout did not go as planned:
Router bug → GPT-5 seemed “dumber” than GPT-4o
User Pressure → OpenAI Considers Releasing GPT-4o for Plus Subscribers
Doubled fare limits → more requests to test the new model
Transparency coming soon → display of the model that responds to each request
And then… there was the “graphic crime”: a slide showing a lower score with a higher bar. The result: memes, jokes, and criticism of X.
Despite these hiccups, Altman promises that GPT-5 will be smarter now and that the team continues to optimize the model.
Source: https://nlab.cg/QxJTX
In an AMA session on Reddit, Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) acknowledged that the GPT-5 rollout did not go as planned:
Router bug → GPT-5 seemed “dumber” than GPT-4o
User Pressure → OpenAI Considers Releasing GPT-4o for Plus Subscribers
Doubled fare limits → more requests to test the new model
Transparency coming soon → display of the model that responds to each request
And then… there was the “graphic crime”: a slide showing a lower score with a higher bar. The result: memes, jokes, and criticism of X.
Despite these hiccups, Altman promises that GPT-5 will be smarter now and that the team continues to optimize the model.
Lesson learned: In AI, as in tech, even leaders can stumble—but it's their fixes and their ability to listen to the community that make the difference.
Source: https://nlab.cg/QxJTX
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🚀 How a Solo Founder Sold His AI Startup for $80M in 6 Months
Maor Shlomo built Base44, a no-code app builder, entirely solo—with no team, no investors, and no marketing budget.
In just 6 months, it was acquired by Wix for $80M upfront, with potential to exceed 9 figures.
Here’s how he pulled it off 👇
🖱 Built out of frustration: no-code tools were too complex for true beginners
Maor Shlomo built Base44, a no-code app builder, entirely solo—with no team, no investors, and no marketing budget.
In just 6 months, it was acquired by Wix for $80M upfront, with potential to exceed 9 figures.
Here’s how he pulled it off 👇
🖱 Built out of frustration: no-code tools were too complex for true beginners
🖱 Used AI as his full dev team, coding 90% frontend, 50% backend
🖱 Skipped traditional workflows—no branches, no reviews, just shipping
🖱 Targeted complete non-technical users—a massive but ignored market
🖱 Bootstrapped to 250K users, $3.5M ARR, and $189K profit in a single month
🖱 Failed at paid marketing, then went viral by sharing raw founder lessons on LinkedIn
🖱Turned users into a marketing engine by rewarding them for posting their builds
Wix didn’t just buy a product—they bought a story, an audience, and a working growth machine.
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🖱 Skipped traditional workflows—no branches, no reviews, just shipping
🖱 Targeted complete non-technical users—a massive but ignored market
🖱 Bootstrapped to 250K users, $3.5M ARR, and $189K profit in a single month
🖱 Failed at paid marketing, then went viral by sharing raw founder lessons on LinkedIn
🖱Turned users into a marketing engine by rewarding them for posting their builds
Wix didn’t just buy a product—they bought a story, an audience, and a working growth machine.
This is the new playbook:
One founder, AI tools, real velocity, and relentless execution.
✔️Powered by The Startups VC
Why investors just bet $85M on this Indian company’s generic drug strategy
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/10/truemeds-challenged-how-indians-buy-medicine-and-saw-a-3-6x-jump-in-valuation/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/10/truemeds-challenged-how-indians-buy-medicine-and-saw-a-3-6x-jump-in-valuation/
TechCrunch
Why investors just bet $85M on this Indian company's generic drug strategy | TechCrunch
Truemeds has taken a different route from other Indian online pharmacies — and it has helped the startup double its revenue.
Forwarded from Startups & Ventures
If you're building a startup and looking for the best launchpad, here are the most respected accelerators globally — ranked by quality of alumni, access to investors, and overall reputation:
Before applying, compare terms, graduate traction, and geo fit. The right accelerator can change your whole trajectory.
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💰 Inside the Windsurf–Google deal fallout
Weeks after it emerged that Google paid $2.4B to license Windsurf’s tech and hire its CEO plus 40 key staff, more details reveal why the deal stirred controversy in Silicon Valley.
🖱 Half of Google’s payment ($1.2B) went to investors, including Greenoaks, Kleiner Perkins, and General Catalyst — Greenoaks turned $65M into ~$500M.
🖱 The other half was compensation for the 40 hires, with a large share going to co-founders Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen.
Weeks after it emerged that Google paid $2.4B to license Windsurf’s tech and hire its CEO plus 40 key staff, more details reveal why the deal stirred controversy in Silicon Valley.
🖱 Half of Google’s payment ($1.2B) went to investors, including Greenoaks, Kleiner Perkins, and General Catalyst — Greenoaks turned $65M into ~$500M.
🖱 The other half was compensation for the 40 hires, with a large share going to co-founders Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen.
🖱 ~200 remaining employees saw no payout despite hopes from an earlier $3B OpenAI acquisition attempt.
🖱 Investors and founders left Windsurf with $100M+ in capital, but opinions differ on whether it could’ve been used to pay all employees without sinking the company.
🖱 Some Google hires had stock grants revoked and vesting restarted, delaying full payouts by 4 years.
🖱 Vinod Khosla called the move “a bad example of founders leaving their teams behind.”
🖱 Eventually, Cognition acquired Windsurf’s remaining entity and staff for an estimated $250M, ensuring those employees got a financial benefit.
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🖱 Investors and founders left Windsurf with $100M+ in capital, but opinions differ on whether it could’ve been used to pay all employees without sinking the company.
🖱 Some Google hires had stock grants revoked and vesting restarted, delaying full payouts by 4 years.
🖱 Vinod Khosla called the move “a bad example of founders leaving their teams behind.”
🖱 Eventually, Cognition acquired Windsurf’s remaining entity and staff for an estimated $250M, ensuring those employees got a financial benefit.
A lucrative win for VCs and founders — but a cautionary tale for startup teams betting on a big exit.
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🧪 Chai Discovery secures $70M to revolutionize drug development with AI
Biotech startup Chai Discovery has raised $70M in Series A funding to advance its AI-driven drug discovery platform.
The round was led by Menlo Ventures and Anthropic, with backing from Yosemite, DST Global Partners, SV Angel, Avenir, DCVC, and existing investors like Thrive Capital, OpenAI, and Fred Ehrsam.
🔸 Founded in 2024 by veterans from Absci, Facebook AI, OpenAI, and Stripe, with former Pfizer R&D chief Mikael Dolsten on the board.
🔸 Flagship model Chai-2 designs antibodies de novo with up to 20% hit rates — compared to ~0.1% in traditional labs.
🔸 Works from target data alone, creating antibodies that bind precisely to their antigen.
🔸 Could drastically speed up and cut costs of developing treatments, including for rare diseases.
📊 Powered by @Thestartupsvc
Biotech startup Chai Discovery has raised $70M in Series A funding to advance its AI-driven drug discovery platform.
The round was led by Menlo Ventures and Anthropic, with backing from Yosemite, DST Global Partners, SV Angel, Avenir, DCVC, and existing investors like Thrive Capital, OpenAI, and Fred Ehrsam.
🔸 Founded in 2024 by veterans from Absci, Facebook AI, OpenAI, and Stripe, with former Pfizer R&D chief Mikael Dolsten on the board.
🔸 Flagship model Chai-2 designs antibodies de novo with up to 20% hit rates — compared to ~0.1% in traditional labs.
🔸 Works from target data alone, creating antibodies that bind precisely to their antigen.
🔸 Could drastically speed up and cut costs of developing treatments, including for rare diseases.
With this funding, Chai aims to expand its platform and deepen partnerships with pharma — pushing toward faster, more precise, and personalized medicine.
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Match to pay $14M to the FTC due to false advertising and other deceptive practices
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/12/match-to-pay-14m-to-the-ftc-due-to-false-advertising-and-other-deceptive-practices/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/12/match-to-pay-14m-to-the-ftc-due-to-false-advertising-and-other-deceptive-practices/
TechCrunch
Match to pay $14M to the FTC due to false advertising and other deceptive practices | TechCrunch
Match Group agrees to pay the FTC $14 million after it was sued for deceiving users into buying subscriptions.
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AI companion apps on track to pull in $120M in 2025
https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/12/ai-companion-apps-on-track-to-pull-in-120m-in-2025/
Source:https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/12/ai-companion-apps-on-track-to-pull-in-120m-in-2025/
TechCrunch
AI companion apps on track to pull in $120M in 2025 | TechCrunch
The number of AI companion apps has grown more than 60% since 2024.
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