Articles tagged with "startup-funding"
Startups Weekly: No sign of pause
The article "Startups Weekly: No sign of pause" highlights the continued dynamism in the startup ecosystem despite major industry events like WWDC, with June seeing numerous significant deals and IPO announcements. It underscores that startup trajectories are often nonlinear, exemplified by neobank Chime’s near-collapse in 2016 before its highly anticipated IPO. Other notable startups include Nucleus Genomics, which offers controversial embryo genetic testing, and Automattic, the WordPress.com owner, which continues to support its personal CRM app after raising substantial venture capital. The piece also details key venture capital and funding developments, spotlighting several large and strategic investments. Multiverse Computing raised about $215 million for its technology that reduces the size and cost of large language models, while enterprise AI company Glean’s valuation surged to $7.2 billion. Other highlighted startups include Fervo Energy, backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Catalyst for geothermal projects; German nuclear fuel startup Proxima Fusion; delivery robot company Coco Robotics
energygeothermal-energyfusion-energyroboticsdelivery-robotsAI-integrationstartup-fundingStandard Nuclear emerges from the ashes of a failed startup
Standard Nuclear has launched with $42 million in funding to develop advanced nuclear fuel, building upon assets acquired from the bankruptcy of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) for $28 million. The new company’s CEO, Kurt Terrani, was formerly USNC’s vice president. The funding round was led by Decisive Point, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and others. Standard Nuclear has secured $100 million in non-binding fuel sales projected for 2027 and is collaborating with customers such as Nano Nuclear Energy and Radiant Industries. The company acknowledges that acquiring USNC’s assets accelerated its timeline. USNC had focused on commercializing TRISO fuel—uranium pellets coated with carbon- and ceramic-based layers—which is considered safer and more meltdown-resistant than traditional nuclear fuel, though it has not been widely used since its development in the 1950s. USNC’s history was marked by a broad and ambitious business model, including two reactor designs, nuclear propulsion, and spacecraft heating systems, but it was primarily funded by a single investor, Richard Hollis Helms, who invested over $100 million plus loans. Helms, a former CIA Arabist, founded USNC after retiring from intelligence work. Despite efforts to raise more capital in 2022, USNC struggled financially and declared bankruptcy in October 2024 amid mounting debts and payroll issues. Standard Nuclear, led by Decisive Point founder Thomas Hendrix, purchased USNC’s fuel-related assets in a bankruptcy auction completed in February 2025, establishing its operational base and continuing the development of TRISO fuel technology.
energynuclear-energyadvanced-nuclear-fuelTRISO-fuelstartup-fundingnuclear-materialsnuclear-reactorsSupio, an AI-powered legal analysis platform, lands $60M
AIlegaltechstartup-fundingventure-capitalautomationlegal-analysistechnologyNear Space Labs nabs $20M to take its high-res imaging Swift robots into the stratosphere
Near-Space-Labshigh-resolution-imagingstratosphereaerial-photographystartup-fundinghelium-balloon-technologySeries-B-roundA16z backs UK startup Dex to scale ‘AI talent agent’ and recruitment matchmaker
AI-recruitmenttalent-matchingstartup-fundingAndreessen-HorowitzUK-techemployee-retentiontechnology-innovation