Venture Capital stories - Page 9

Databricks secures over USD $4bn in fresh funding, lifting its valuation to USD $134bn as demand for AI data infrastructure surges.

BluSky AI hires finance leader Riley Cooney as corporate development and strategy chief to accelerate its modular AI data centre expansion.

Swiss start-up Soverli raises USD $2.6m to build a sovereign smartphone layer that runs alongside Android and iOS for mission-critical use.

AI boom gives way to realism as HR chases measurable outcomes, new AI chiefs emerge and skills outshine headcount in 2026 strategies.

AI is tipped to run entire corporate workflows by 2026, forcing firms to rebuild software and reorganise staff around skills, not hierarchies.

PvX secures over USD $250 million for non-dilutive user acquisition backing 20 app firms, plus USD $4.7 million to expand its SaaS tech.

AI supply chains will consolidate by 2026, with tight human oversight, integrated infrastructure and trust becoming key differentiators.

Topsort secures investment from W23, backed by major grocers including Tesco, to expand its AI-driven retail media platform for global grocery retailers.

Revolut's employee share sale values the fintech at $75 billion, with revenue up 72% to $4 billion and expansion into Mexico, Colombia, and India.

Paris-based Hummink has raised EUR €15 million to enhance microchip defect repairs, boosting yields in semiconductor and display manufacturing sectors.

High-growth firms often underestimate equity's true cost, risking excessive dilution and lost control despite apparent freedom from immediate repayments.

Scotland must harness its renewable energy and data centres to become a global AI hub, driving economic growth and innovation, experts urge.

Reflectiz has raised $22 million in Series B funding to expand its AI-driven web risk platform and establish a global HQ in Boston.

Defakto has raised $30.75 million to develop a platform securing non-human identities across enterprises, tackling risks from static credentials and AI agents.

AAF closes its fourth fund, The Axis Fund, at USD $55 million to back emerging managers and early-stage companies from Pre-Seed to Pre-IPO stages.

Adeptia appoints Christopher Monterio as CFO to lead financial strategy and growth amid rising demand for its advanced data automation platform.

Startups at the Moscow Startup Summit secured investment offers exceeding RUB ₽1.2 billion, showcasing AI and deeptech innovations from 42 countries.

FurtherAI has raised USD $25 million led by Andreessen Horowitz to advance AI-driven automation in insurance, improving efficiency and accuracy across workflows.

Dashmote has raised $6 million to launch DashSalesAI, an AI agent boosting efficiency for field sales teams via mobile platforms like WhatsApp.

OVHcloud's new accelerator supports 16 blockchain startups with EUR €50,000 in cloud credits, mentoring and workshops from September to November 2025.