Weekly Tech Pulse
From Seattle VC Launching $6.6M Fund for Women's Health Startups to Figure AI in Talks to Raise $1.5 Billion at 15x Its Last Valuation.
US & International Startup & Tech News
Seattle VC Launches $6.6M Fund for Women's Health Startups
A Seattle-based venture capitalist has introduced a $6.6 million fund dedicated to supporting startups focused on women's health. This initiative aims to address the funding gap in female-centric healthcare solutions by providing early-stage investments to innovative companies in this sector.
Source: GeekWire
Figure AI in Talks to Raise $1.5 Billion at 15x Its Last Valuation
Figure AI is reportedly negotiating a $1.5 billion funding round, which would value the company at 15 times its previous valuation. This significant increase reflects growing investor confidence in Figure AI's technological advancements and market potential.
Source: TechCrunch
Hitachi Expands Corporate Venture Capital with Fourth Fund Reaching $1 Billion AUM
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is in discussions to raise $10 billion, potentially valuing the company at around $75 billion. Existing investors such as Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Valor Equity Partners are anticipated to participate in the funding. This follows a previous round where xAI raised $6 billion at a valuation of $40 billion. xAI plans to expand its data center capacity to further train AI models. Additionally, Dell is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to supply xAI with AI servers worth over $5 billion, featuring Nvidia’s GB200 chips. Musk, who launched xAI in 2023, has also taken legal action against OpenAI to prevent its conversion to a public benefit corporation and has made an offer to acquire OpenAI's controlling nonprofit entity.
Source: Forbes
Elon Musk's xAI in Talks to Raise $10 Billion
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is in discussions to raise $10 billion, potentially valuing the company at around $75 billion. Existing investors such as Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Valor Equity Partners are anticipated to participate in the funding. This follows a previous round where xAI raised $6 billion at a valuation of $40 billion. xAI plans to expand its data center capacity to further train AI models. Additionally, Dell is reportedly close to finalizing a deal to supply xAI with AI servers worth over $5 billion, featuring Nvidia’s GB200 chips. Musk, who launched xAI in 2023, has also taken legal action against OpenAI to prevent its conversion to a public benefit corporation and has made an offer to acquire OpenAI's controlling nonprofit entity.
Source: TechCrunch
AI Recruiting Startup Led by Former Microsoft Manager Raises $16M
An AI-driven recruiting startup, founded by a former Microsoft manager, has secured $16 million in funding. The company aims to revolutionize the hiring process by leveraging artificial intelligence to match candidates with suitable job opportunities more efficiently.
Source: Geekwire
Phase Raises $13M, Launches Its No-Code Platform Out of Beta to Challenge Figma
Phase, a no-code platform, has raised $13 million in funding and launched its product out of beta. Positioning itself as a competitor to Figma, Phase aims to empower designers and developers to create interactive applications without extensive coding knowledge.
Source: TechCrunch
LATAM Startup & Tech News
AI Technology Enhances Agricultural Production, Raises $15 Million
An artificial intelligence solution designed to boost agricultural productivity has successfully raised $15 million in funding. This technology aims to optimize farming practices, leading to increased yields and more efficient resource utilization.
Source: IProUp
Wompi Closed 2024 with $25 Billion in Transactions
Wompi, a leading payment processing platform, reported a total transaction volume of $25 billion for the year 2024. This milestone reflects the company's significant growth and its expanding role in the digital payments industry.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Salvadoran Startup Closes $1.9M Pre-Seed Round with Expansion Plans
Boxful, a Salvadoran multi-carrier platform, has secured a $1.9 million pre-seed funding round. Launched in January 2023, the startup has expanded operations to Honduras and plans to enter Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, aiming to enhance delivery management and logistics services in the region.
Source: E&N
Argentine E-commerce Achieves Record Sales and Adopts New Payment Trends
The Argentine e-commerce sector has reported record-breaking sales, driven by innovative payment solutions and shifting consumer behaviors. The adoption of new payment methods has played a crucial role in this growth, reflecting the dynamic nature of the digital marketplace in Argentina.
Source: IProUp
Chilean Fintech Banca.me Consolidates Growth with $2M Debt Raise to Expand SaaS Offerings
Chilean fintech Banca.me has secured $2 million in debt financing to expand its services with a new suite of SaaS products. The company utilizes Open Finance technology to provide seamless financing solutions and has achieved profitability, aiming to enhance financial inclusion in the region.
Source: LatamFintech
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