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venture capital investors
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- 1Venture capital secondary market hits roughly $152 billion this year●Вторинний ринок венчурного капіталу цього року переріс сам себе. Обсяг угод на вторинному ринку венчура сягнув приблизно
The secondary market for venture capital has grown beyond expectations, with annual deal volume estimated at about $152 billion according to analysts at Jefferies and Evercore. Reports from William Blair and Preqin project the market could reach as much as $250 billion in 2026, underscoring how startups and early investors increasingly cash out through share sales rather than waiting for public listings.
- 2Seligman Ventures doubles capital to $1 billion on AI hardware bets▼Seligman Ventures doubles capital to $1 billion as AI boom revives hardware bets
Seligman Ventures has doubled its capital to $1 billion, betting that the artificial intelligence boom will revive investor interest in hardware startups. The move signals renewed venture appetite for chips and other physical computing infrastructure powering AI development. Observers see it as a sign that capital is flowing back into hardware after years of focus on software, as AI demand reshapes investment priorities.
- 3AI agent Instinct raises $1B at $10B valuation▼Viral AI agent Instinct raises $1B Series C at a $10B valuation
AI agent startup Instinct has raised a $1 billion Series C funding round at a $10 billion valuation, according to a TechCrunch report. The company, described as a viral AI agent, joins a wave of heavily funded AI firms attracting large venture rounds. The report gives no details yet on the investors or how the capital will be used.
- 4Five more VCs to judge Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt 2026▼Next five VCs judging Startup Battlefield 200 at Disrupt 2026
TechCrunch has announced the next five venture capital judges who will evaluate the Startup Battlefield 200 competition at Disrupt 2026. The judges will assess pitches from 200 selected startups vying for the Battlefield crown. The announcement is part of TechCrunch's ongoing reveal of judges ahead of the event, giving founders a look at who may be weighing their pitches.
- 5VCs warn bureaucratic rules threaten startup tax breaks●VCs fear ‘super complicated, bureaucratic’ rules are putting startup tax breaks at risk
Venture capital investors are warning that complex, highly bureaucratic regulatory requirements are putting tax incentives for startups at risk. The concern is that overly complicated compliance rules could discourage early-stage investors and undermine programs designed to channel capital into new companies. The report raises questions about whether these tax break schemes can deliver their intended support to the startup ecosystem if the administrative burden remains so heavy.
- 6Dige Robotics Raises $400 Million in Series C Funding▼Dige Robotics Secures $400M Series C Financing, With Linear Capital Increasing Stake for 7 Consecutive Rounds
Dige Robotics has closed a $400 million Series C financing round, with early backer Linear Capital increasing its stake for the seventh consecutive round. The sizeable raise underlines continued strong investor appetite for robotics companies, and Linear Capital's sustained backing signals confidence in the firm's growth prospects.
- 7Sofinnova closes oversubscribed €82 million MedTech startup fund●Sofinnova Partners closes oversubscribed €82 million MD Start IV fund to build new MedTech startups
Sofinnova Partners, the Paris-based venture capital firm, has closed its MD Start IV fund at €82 million, exceeding its original target. The fund will be used to found and back new MedTech startups, following Sofinnova's model of building companies from scratch alongside inventors and clinicians. The oversubscribed close signals continued investor appetite for early-stage medical technology despite a tougher funding climate.
- 8a16z launches Cosign, a curated startup professional network▼a16z launches Cosign, a curated professional network for the startup community
Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has launched Cosign, a curated professional network aimed at the startup community. The platform is designed to connect founders, investors and operators within a vetted environment. Details about its features and membership criteria have not yet been fully disclosed, but the move signals a16z's interest in building community infrastructure around venture investing.
- 9Bangladesh startup funding hits five-year low in first half▼Investor hurdles drag Bangladesh startup funding to 5-year low in Jan-Jun
Startup funding in Bangladesh fell to its lowest level in five years during January-June, according to The Business Standard, which attributes the decline to obstacles facing investors. The report suggests difficulties in raising and deploying capital are squeezing the country's early-stage ecosystem, leaving founders with fewer financing options at a time when startups elsewhere in South Asia are also competing for scarcer venture funding.
- 10Noa Argamani joins Vine Ventures to help Israeli startups enter US●Noa Argamani joins Vine Ventures to help Israeli startups break into the U.S.
Noa Argamani has joined Vine Ventures, according to Calcalist, taking on a role focused on helping Israeli startups expand into the United States market. The move links a widely known Israeli figure with an early-stage venture firm at a time when Israel's startup ecosystem is seeking fresh routes to American investors and customers.
- 11Istanbul startup event Slush'D draws 3,000 attendees and 600 investors●Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D returns with 3,000 attendees and 600 investors
Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D has returned to Istanbul, bringing together around 3,000 attendees and 600 investors from the startup and venture capital world. The event is being highlighted as a major moment for Turkey's startup ecosystem, giving local founders direct access to international investors and reinforcing Istanbul's role as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and early-stage funding.
- 12AI captured 81% of venture capital in Q1 2026●AI забрав 81% венчурного капіталу Q1 2026. Down-раунди нікуди не зникли. Forus, платформа для доступу пацієнтів до ліків
AI startups drew 81% of venture capital funding in the first quarter of 2026, while down-rounds remain common across the broader market. One example cited is Forus, an AI-based platform giving patients access to medicines, which closed a $150 million Series C in September 2026 at a $3 billion valuation, with the round led by Bain Capital Ventures.
- 13NFX to stop raising outside capital, go self-funded▼NFX to stop raising outside capital and shift to self-funded model
Venture firm NFX has announced it will stop raising outside capital and move to a self-funded model. The shift means the firm will invest its own money rather than depend on limited partners. The move is drawing attention in startup and venture circles, where observers see it as a notable change of strategy for an established early-stage investor.
- 14Golden Gate Ventures to Run Two-Year Startup Program in Uzbekistan▼Golden Gate Ventures Plans Two-Year Program for Central Asian Startups in Uzbekistan
Venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures is planning a two-year program for startups from Central Asia, based in Uzbekistan. The initiative is aimed at supporting early-stage companies across the region, with Uzbekistan positioning itself as a hub for entrepreneurship and foreign investment in Central Asia.
- 15Sensori raises $1M pre-seed from creators and athletes●Sensori raises $1M pre-seed backed entirely by creators and athletes
Sensori has raised a $1 million pre-seed funding round, with the entire round backed by creators and athletes rather than traditional venture investors. The startup is positioning itself with backers drawn from online talent and sports, a model that is drawing attention as an alternative route to early-stage capital. Details on the company's product and use of funds were not immediately disclosed.
- 16Egyptian Health Startup Anees Health Raises Seed Funding▼Egyptian Healthcare Startup Anees Health Raises Seed Funding To Expand Care
Egyptian healthcare startup Anees Health has raised seed funding to expand its care services. The company, which operates in the health tech space, plans to use the fresh capital to grow its reach and improve access to care for patients in Egypt. The announcement has been picked up by African startup and venture media tracking the region's growing health tech funding landscape.
- 17Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D returns with 600 investors in October●Istanbul Ignited by Slush’D returns with 600 investors in October
Istanbul Ignited by Slush'D, the Istanbul edition of the Slush-linked startup event, is returning this October and is expected to bring around 600 investors to the city. The gathering connects Turkish and regional startups with international venture capital, and its return is being read as a boost for the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- 18Cyera hits $2B valuation in fresh funding round▼Cyera's new $2B valuation, Chamelio's $26M for in-house legal AI, Adlib buys Paperbox
Data security startup Cyera has reached a new $2 billion valuation, while legal AI company Chamelio raised $26 million to build in-house legal tools, and document software firm Adlib acquired Paperbox. The three deals point to continued investor appetite for enterprise software and artificial intelligence startups despite a broader slowdown in venture funding.
- 19Champagne Fund partners with Market Square Ventures to boost women in VC▼The Champagne Fund partners with Market Square Ventures, bringing more women into the region’s venture capital ecosystem
The Champagne Fund has announced a partnership with Market Square Ventures aimed at bringing more women into the region's venture capital ecosystem. The collaboration is expected to expand access to investment opportunities and support for female founders and investors in the area. Details on funding amounts and specific programmes have not yet been disclosed.
- 20VC Firm Friends & Family Says Founders Want Finance Help, Not Board Seats▼Exclusive | VC Firm Friends & Family Says Founders Want Finance Help, Not More Board Members
Venture capital firm Friends & Family says the startups it backs are asking for hands-on financial support rather than additional board members, according to a Wall Street Journal exclusive. The firm's stance signals a shift in what early-stage founders expect from investors: practical help with cash management and financial planning over governance overhead. The report is drawing attention among investors and startup operators weighing how much involvement venture firms should have in portfolio companies.
- 21Abu Dhabi Companies Back US Startup Maven Robotics▼Abu Dhabi companies invest in US startup Maven Robotics
Companies from Abu Dhabi have invested in the American startup Maven Robotics, according to Arabian Gulf Business Insight. The move reflects growing interest from Gulf investors in US technology ventures, particularly in robotics. Details about the size of the investment and the Abu Dhabi firms involved have not yet been made public.
- 22Peak XV raises Surge seed funding cap to $5M▼Peak XV lifts Surge seed cap to $5M, unveils 18-startup cohort
Peak XV Partners has increased the maximum seed cheque for its Surge accelerator programme to $5 million and announced a new cohort of 18 startups. The move marks a significant step-up in initial funding for early-stage founders, and the new batch spans a range of sectors. The announcement is drawing attention across the startup and venture capital community, with founders and investors weighing what larger seed rounds could mean for competition and valuations.
- 23WEH Ventures closes first tranche of Rs 250 crore Fund III●WEH Ventures has announced the first close of Fund III with a target corpus of Rs 250 crore. The fund plans to back 20 t
Mumbai-based early-stage investor WEH Ventures has announced the first close of its third fund, targeting a corpus of Rs 250 crore. Fund III plans to back 20 to 25 early-stage Indian startups, continuing the firm's focus on seed and pre-Series A deals. The announcement was reported by startup coverage outlet Entrackr and is drawing attention from India's venture community.
- 24Pacific Retail and Conversant Capital buy Ventura mall●Pacific Retail, Conversant Capital form JV to buy Ventura mall
Pacific Retail Capital Partners and Conversant Capital have formed a joint venture to acquire a mall in Ventura, California. The deal signals continued investor interest in repositioning regional shopping centres, with Pacific Retail known for taking over struggling malls and redeveloping them. Details on the purchase price and the partners' plans for the property were not disclosed in the initial reports.