Startups Weekly: Speed, Growth & Innovation
▼ Summary
– Y Combinator and Israeli startups dominated startup news, including Wix’s $80M acquisition of Base44 and Ramp’s valuation jump to $16B.
– Meta’s $14.3B deal for 49% of Scale AI and OpenAI’s $200M DoD contract revealed tensions in tech partnerships.
– Defense tech and AI drove funding, with Helsing raising €600M and Applied Intuition securing a $15B valuation.
– Israeli startup Coralogix became a unicorn with a $115M Series E, while Sword Health delayed its IPO to 2028.
– Fintech investor Alexa von Tobel predicts Fintech 3.0 will focus on deep product reinvention for a diverse, digital-native population.
The startup world moves at breakneck speed, with rapid valuations, strategic acquisitions, and cutting-edge innovation reshaping industries weekly. This week saw major developments across defense tech, AI, and fintech, proving that even in uncertain markets, bold ideas continue attracting serious investment.
Israeli startups made headlines again, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a tech powerhouse. In one of the fastest exits on record, Wix snapped up Base44 for $80 million just six months after the no-code platform launched. Meanwhile, spend management leader Ramp’s valuation soared to $16 billion in a matter of months, showcasing the explosive potential of financial automation tools.
AI remained a focal point, though not without drama. Meta’s $14.3 billion investment in Scale AI raised eyebrows, especially after OpenAI abruptly cut ties with the data provider. Separately, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded OpenAI a $200 million contract, potentially straining its partnership with Microsoft. Over at Y Combinator, Demo Day spotlighted 11 standout startups, though the buzz also centered on a canceled after-party by controversial AI firm Cluely.
Defense tech dominated funding rounds, with Helsing’s €600 million raise at a €12 billion valuation leading the charge. The Munich-based startup, backed by Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s VC firm, exemplifies Europe’s growing influence in the sector. Stateside, Mach Industries secured $100 million to advance its defense-focused tech, while Applied Intuition’s $600 million Series F underscored investor confidence in autonomous vehicle software.
Fintech isn’t slowing down either. Sword Health delayed its IPO but landed $40 million to expand its AI-driven physical therapy platform. Remittance startup Aspora closed a $50 million Series B, and stock-investing app Grifin pulled in $11 million to democratize fractional share ownership.
VC firms are doubling down on emerging markets, with Endeavor Catalyst targeting $300 million for its latest fund. Meanwhile, fintech pioneer Alexa von Tobel predicts a “deep product reinvention” wave, emphasizing solutions tailored for a digitally native generation.
From lightning-fast acquisitions to billion-dollar bets, this week proved that innovation thrives where speed, ambition, and adaptability collide. Whether in AI, defense, or financial tech, startups are rewriting the rules, and investors are racing to keep up.
(Source: TechCrunch)
