Startups

A 17-year-old high school senior has launched an AI startup that already has around 1,000 users, according to Fortune. The twist: her school blocked ChatGPT, prompting her to build with the technology rather than just use it. The story is drawing attention as an example of how Gen Z students are turning restrictions on AI tools into entrepreneurial opportunities instead of abandoning them.

The world's most valuable AI startup is set to open a Singapore office in October and begin hiring local staff, according to VnExpress International. The move signals a growing push into Southeast Asia by leading artificial intelligence companies. Details about the company's exact plans and hiring numbers have not been disclosed.

NBA star Kevin Durant invested $100,000 in an AI startup eight years ago, a stake that has grown enormously following Nvidia's involvement, with the report citing a $12.9 billion figure tied to the company. The story highlights how early celebrity investments in artificial intelligence firms have yielded outsized returns as the AI boom accelerates.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with the CEO of French telecom group Orange, and the company announced training grants for around 200,000 people alongside €25 million in support for startups. The announcement signals deepening cooperation between Egypt and Orange on digital skills and entrepreneurship, with the investment expected to support young Egyptians and emerging tech businesses.

French telecoms group Orange has announced plans to train 200,000 people in Egypt and invest EUR 25 million in local tech startups. The initiative, reported by Egyptian media, is aimed at boosting digital skills and supporting the country's growing startup ecosystem, and is being read as a significant corporate commitment to Egypt's technology sector.

Between September 21 and September 26, 2026, 19 Indian startups raised more than $397 million in funding from investors. The companies span a wide range of sectors, including EV, foodtech, cleantech, healthtech, defencetech, footwear, fintech and AI. The volume of deals across such varied industries points to sustained investor interest in India's startup ecosystem.

India's Finance Minister said Indian startups have the potential to contribute to the economy as much as established industries, according to the Times of India. The remark positions the startup sector alongside traditional pillars like manufacturing and services, and comes amid government efforts to promote entrepreneurship, funding access and innovation-driven growth across the country.

A Tokyo-based startup is set to launch a brokerage service allowing investors in the United States and Britain to trade shares of unlisted Japanese companies. The move opens a new channel for overseas capital into Japan's private startup market, where retail and institutional investors have historically had limited access to pre-IPO firms.

AI startup Cognition has crossed $1 billion in annualized revenue, with adoption of its Devin software engineering agent doubling, according to Fortune. The figures point to rapidly growing enterprise demand for autonomous coding tools, placing Cognition among the fastest-scaling AI companies and intensifying competition in the AI coding agent market.

Toloka.VC, a syndicate of private investors from Ukraine, has invested $3.9 million across 48 Y Combinator graduates over the past year. In September 2026 the group put $1.4 million into 21 startups from YC's spring batch, its second round into the accelerator's companies this year. The figures underline growing Ukrainian participation in early-stage Silicon Valley dealmaking despite the war.

A Pakistani robotics startup has organised a hackathon at the University of California, Berkeley, aimed at strengthening technology links between Pakistan and the United States. The event brings together students and engineers to collaborate on robotics challenges, highlighting the growing role of Pakistani startups in international tech partnerships and cross-border innovation.

AlgaFilm has raised a seed funding round to commercialize its algae-based wastewater treatment technology. The startup uses algae to treat wastewater, offering a biological alternative to conventional chemical treatment processes. The funding will support bringing the technology to market. Details on the investors and the amount raised have not been widely disclosed.

Egyptian healthcare startup Anees Health has raised a seed funding round, which it plans to use to expand its care services. The company is part of a growing wave of health-tech ventures in Egypt and North Africa attracting early-stage investment. The size of the round and the investors involved have not been disclosed in initial coverage.

Fifty-one startups presented their solutions in demonstration sessions under the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry's ASPIRE program. The pitches showcased a range of innovative products and services developed by early-stage companies seeking support, exposure and potential partnerships through the government-backed initiative.

A new BlueTech accelerator is directing water-technology startups to a freshwater research center, aiming to connect early-stage companies with scientific expertise and facilities. Details about the participating startups, funding amounts, and timeline remain limited, but the initiative points to growing interest in water innovation and freshwater research as a hub for emerging technology businesses.