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That's exactly the problem: the problem. But in many cases, they are also feed. This week has brought a mixture of startups facing adversity, sometimes things they do, and other people who are thriving.
The most interesting startup story of the week
Image credits: Lamp/co-founders Karim Atiyeh, Eric Glyman, and Gene Lee
Some startups have earned revenue and contracts. Others filed lawsuits.
Ramp Up: Fintech Start Up Lamp has more than doubled its annual revenue to $700 million. The recent secondary share sale has almost doubled its valuation to $13 billion.
Bang a Gong: Revenue Prediction Startup Gong has led AI companies on the path to potential IPOs, earning more than $300 million per year.
Mach Speed: Mach Industries, a Sequoia-backed defense technology startup, has signed a contract with the US military and plans for its first factory, said 21-year-old founder Ethan Thornton.
Boomerang: After years of controversy, including a now-established legal battle, Ryan Breslow is once again the CEO of Bolt, the fintech company he founded, once valued at $11 billion.
One Litigation: Pass, a direct monetization platform for creators who raised a $40 million Series A led by Bond Capital in 2024
Another lawsuit: One board member of the climate-friendly fintech startup suction pleaded guilty to fraud, and one co-founder was arrested for allegedly fraudulent investor, according to federal criminal charges.
Most Interesting VC and Funding News This Week
Image credits: Pauline Fam / Dust
This week, several startups announced large rounds. As always, AI has also been published in various categories that will help others navigate hairy situations.
AI Maker: Humanity raised a $3.5 billion Series E, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with a $61.5 billion money valuation.
AI Partner: Turing, who is contributing to the construction of LLMS, has raised a $111 million Series E, led by Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Kazanana Sional Bellhad, at a valuation of $2.2 billion.
HR Competition: India's HR Unicorn Darwin Box has raised $140 million to expand internationally and challenge competitors like Deal.
Counter Drones: US defense technology startup Epilus has raised a $250 million Series D to counter a flock of drones. Germany-based Alpine Eagle has set aside about $1096 million in funding for an empty Borne solution to the same problem.
Volatility Avoidance: Tel Aviv-based startup grain has emerged from stealth with $50 million in funding to help hedge FX's volatility.
Tariff Navigation: With cross-border trading barriers in the spotlight, Swap has raised $40 million to build tools that help merchants deal with tariffs and other hurdles.
Avoiding Chemotherapy: New York-based startup Ataraxis AI has raised a $20 million Series A to predict cancer outcomes for individual patients and whether chemotherapy can be avoided.
Large Fund: The 30-year-old Corporate Foundation Capital, an early backer of Solana and Celebrus, has garnered the 11th flagship fund of $600 million.
Last but not least, it's important
Image credits: Getty Images
Better Offline Podcast host Ed Zitron has no patience with growth in all costs and what he calls a “corrupted economy,” but don't mistake this for technological hatred. In a recent episode of Equity Podcast, he argued that startups have better opportunities than Big Tech to put users first.