Articles tagged with "venture-capital"
Why this LA-based VC firm was an early investor in Slate Auto
Slate Auto, an electric vehicle (EV) startup that emerged from stealth mode earlier in 2023 with an affordable EV truck, has raised approximately $700 million to date. Prior to its public debut, Slate quietly secured a Series A funding round exceeding $100 million, which included high-profile investors such as Jeff Bezos, Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, and VC firm General Catalyst. Among the early backers was Slauson & Co., a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm founded in 2020 by Ajay Relan and Austin Clements. The firm, which aims to bridge the gap between underrepresented communities and the innovation economy, publicly shared its rationale for investing in Slate, despite the challenging landscape for EV startups and green energy initiatives. Slauson & Co. was introduced to Slate Auto through Jeff Wilkie, former Amazon consumer division CEO and co-founder of Re:Build Manufacturing, an incubator from which Slate spun out. Although investing in an EV company was somewhat outside Slaus
energyelectric-vehiclesstartupsventure-capitalautomotive-industrygreen-energymanufacturingAt least 36 new tech unicorns were minted in 2025 so far
In 2025, at least 36 new tech startups have achieved unicorn status, each valued at over $1 billion, driven largely by the surge in AI-related investments. However, the wave of new unicorns also spans diverse sectors including satellite technology and blockchain-based trading platforms. Notable examples include Loft Orbital in the satellite space industry and Kalshi, a blockchain-based trading site valued at $2 billion. The data, compiled from Crunchbase and PitchBook and tracked by TechCrunch, highlights a dynamic startup ecosystem with significant venture capital backing from prominent investors such as Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and General Catalyst. Among the highlighted startups, Thinking Machines stands out with a remarkable $10 billion valuation following a $2 billion seed round, founded by OpenAI alumna Mira Murati. Other significant unicorns include Function ($2.5 billion valuation), Kalshi ($2 billion), and several companies valued between $1 billion and $1.6 billion,
robotAI-startupstechnology-unicornsventure-capitalinnovationtech-fundingstartup-ecosystemThree powerhouses cover how to prepare now for your later-stage raise at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27–29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, will feature a crucial session on preparing for later-stage fundraising, specifically targeting founders aiming for significant funding rounds like Series C. The panel, scheduled for October 29 on the Builders Stage, emphasizes that successful late-stage capital raises require more than just strong revenue; founders must craft compelling narratives, monitor key metrics, and nurture investor relationships well in advance. This session promises practical frameworks and candid insights to help startups strategically position themselves for major funding. The panel includes three industry experts: Zeya Yang, a partner at IVP with a background in AI-native startups and product leadership; Lila Preston, head of growth equity at Generation Investment Management, known for scaling impact-driven companies globally; and Andrea Thomaz, CEO and co-founder of Diligent Robotics, who brings firsthand founder experience in AI and robotics innovation. Their combined perspectives offer a comprehensive guide for founders preparing to raise substantial capital. Att
robotAIautomationroboticshealthcare-roboticsstartup-fundingventure-capitalWant to know where VCs are investing next? Be in the room at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, taking place October 27-29 at Moscone West in San Francisco, offers early-stage founders a valuable opportunity to hear directly from top venture capitalists about upcoming investment trends. A highlighted session on October 27 at 1:00 pm features Nina Achadjian (Index Ventures), Jerry Chen (Greylock), and Viviana Faga (Felicis), who will share their 2026 investment priorities across sectors such as AI, data, cloud, robotics, and more. These seasoned VCs will discuss emerging innovations and sectors attracting smart money, providing founders with insights into where venture capital is headed next. Each VC brings distinct expertise: Nina Achadjian focuses on automating overlooked functions and industries by replacing outdated tools, emphasizing founders with empathy, curiosity, and growth mindsets. Jerry Chen invests in product-driven founders working in AI, data, cloud infrastructure, and open-source technologies, leveraging his decade-long experience at VMware. Viviana Faga specializes
robotAIcloud-computingventure-capitalautomationenterprise-softwareSaaSProxima Fusion joins the club of well-funded nuclear contenders with €130M Series A
Proxima Fusion, a German nuclear fusion startup, has raised €130 million (about $148 million) in a Series A funding round led by Balderton Capital and Cherry Ventures. This brings its total funding to over €185 million ($200 million), positioning Proxima as a leading European contender in the race to develop commercial fusion energy. The company focuses on stellarator reactors, which use twisted magnetic fields to confine plasma more stably than the more common tokamak designs. Proxima’s Stellaris design, developed near Germany’s Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, represents a significant technical milestone that helped secure the oversubscribed funding round. CEO Francesco Sciortino emphasized that the new capital will enable Proxima to reach critical milestones, including a key hardware demonstration planned for 2027, with the goal of advancing toward commercial viability by around 2031. The funding round attracted primarily European investors, reflecting a broader ambition for Europe to play a leadership role in the global energy transition by developing clean, stable, and uranium-free fusion power. Proxima operates across multiple European countries, with headquarters in Munich and research teams in Switzerland and the UK, underscoring its pan-European identity and commitment to building a sustainable energy future on the continent.
energynuclear-fusionclean-energyfusion-startupsventure-capitalenergy-securityfusion-reactorsCybernetix Ventures raising $100M fund for robotics and physical AI - The Robot Report
roboticsinvestmentautomationartificial-intelligencestartupstechnologyventure-capitalSupio, an AI-powered legal analysis platform, lands $60M
AIlegaltechstartup-fundingventure-capitalautomationlegal-analysistechnologyAre EWOR fellowships the real project Europe is looking for?
EWORentrepreneurshipfellowshipsEuropeearly-stage-fundingstartupsventure-capitalVolution doubles-down on booming UK fintech with new $100M fund
UK-fintechinvestment-fundVolutionfinancial-technologyventure-capitalOpen-BankingstartupsStrictlyVC heads to London and Athens this May: Featuring prime minister of Greece and Europe’s leading tech and VC voices
StrictlyVCLondonAthenstech-eventsventure-capitalstartupsGreece