Blackbird deploys $297M in AI/tech startups, on pace for $1B 2026
Blackbird invests a record $297M in AI and deep tech startups, aiming to deploy over $1B in 2026.
Startup funding
Latest Startup funding coverage.
MNT-Halan's $384M IPO highlights MENA fintech surge
Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan raises $384M in oversubscribed IPO, joining a wave of MENA AI and tech startups securing fresh funding.
Nigeria's $635M startup funding surge reclaims Africa's top spot, 2.6x 2025
Nigeria's startups raised $635M in nine months of 2026, topping Africa with a 2.6x jump from 2025, led by four major players.
AI startups still attract $61B in Q3, but late-stage deals drop 68% without OpenAI and Anthropic
North American AI startups raised $61B in Q3 2026, but late-stage funding fell 68% without OpenAI and Anthropic rounds, per Crunchbase.
Germany's 39 unicorns: €8B VC boom fueled by AI and defense
Germany's startup sector hits a record 39 unicorns, with €8B in VC funding driven by AI and defense investments.
Bangladesh startups raise just $6M in H1 2026, a 95% drop from last year
Bangladeshi startups raised only $6M in the first half of 2026, down 95% from the same period last year, per LightCastle Partners.
AI agent startup AgentX raises $23M, joining the competitive race for autonomous workflows
AgentX secures $23M to advance its AI agent platform, aiming to automate complex workflows in a crowded market.
EIT Culture & Creativity opens €10.5m for AI content creation startups
EIT Culture & Creativity opens €10.5m funding for startups, including responsible AI for content creation, with up to €900k per project.
Physical AI startups with 20+ patents see 6.4x higher VC funding odds, data shows
Physical AI startups with 20+ patents raise 6.4x more VC funding, with valuations 30% higher on average, per new data.
95% of startups use AI in pitches, but investors reject generic decks
Investors warn that overusing AI in pitch decks makes startups indistinguishable, harming funding chances
Mediaocean launches $5M AI startup fund to reshape ad tech
Mediaocean unveils a $5M fund to invest in AI-driven ad-tech startups, aiming to integrate innovations into its platform.
Karnataka launches $24M fund of funds for AI startups, with first-customer guarantee
Karnataka launches a $24M fund of funds for AI startups, guaranteeing to be the first customer for pilot projects.
AgenticHire, founded by high schoolers, secures $30K without giving up equity
AgenticHire, an AI hiring startup founded by two Bangladeshi brothers, raises $30,000 through non-dilutive funding.
WATER secures $2.5M to build AI-powered adaptive physical surfaces
WATER raises $2.5M led by Endiya Partners to develop AI-driven adaptive physical surfaces for real-time human interaction.
UAE startups draw $300M in gaming, fintech, AI funding
UAE startups in gaming, fintech, and AI secure $300M in funding, positioning the region as a tech hub.
FKI's Plus Startup to fund 100 AI, semiconductor, biotech startups in 12-week program
FKI's Plus Startup selects 100 early-stage startups in AI, semiconductors, and biotech for a 12-week program with investment links.
South Korea's 'mother test' forces founders to prove startup plans to families first
South Korean entrepreneurs must secure family approval before launching startups, facing 'mother' and 'spouse' tests due to high personal financial risks.
Saudi Arabia's $106.6M July haul leads MENA startup surge
Saudi Arabia dominated MENA startup funding in July, securing $106.6M across 16 deals, per Wamda data.
Consint.AI secures Rs 22 crore in Series A to scale healthcare AI
Consint.AI raises Rs 22 crore in Series A funding to expand its AI-driven healthcare solutions, addressing efficiency and accuracy in the sector.
Greater China's Q2 AI megadeals hit $19.3B, 72% of total funding
Greater China's Q2 2026 saw $19.3B in AI and embodied intelligence megadeals, accounting for 72% of total funding.
Ropedia's $22M Pre-Series A fuels AI infrastructure push in Singapore
Ropedia, an AI infrastructure startup, raised $22M in its Pre-Series A round, leading Asia's startup funding this week.
Jeju Island's $7.3M fund bets on AI startup Seropim for cross-border growth
Jeju Island's new $7.3M Korea-Japan fund invests in AI startup Seropim, boosting regional tech ecosystem.
Emergent's $130M Series C signals AI's narrow funding boom in India
Emergent's $130M Series C round highlights AI's role in India's $346.2M funding week, but capital remains concentrated.
Cut Through Venture: AI startups seek $5M+ rounds, early-stage deals drop 44%
Cut Through Venture's Q2 2026 report shows early-stage AI startup funding rounds dropped 44% as founders seek larger initial investments.