TechCrunch Startup News

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• Jeff Bezos’s Prometheus raises $12B to build an ‘artificial general engineer’ for the physical world; plus, Theker building a factory robot that doesn’t specialize in anything 15.06.2026 6min

  The new round values the physical AI startup that aims to automate heavy engineering and drug design at $41 billion. Also, unlike humanoid robots designed around a fixed form — think Boston Dynamics — Theker's machines are built to be reconfigured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Endurance Energy raises $54M to harness a massive untapped energy source; Jedify raises $24M to help companies arm AI agents with context on their businessplus, 12.06.2026 12min

  SpaceX alumni Andrew Redd is betting the ocean has vast amounts of untapped geothermal energy. Also, the funding round was led by Norwest, with participation from S Capital VC, Cerca Partners, and Oceans Ventures. Snowflake Ventures also participated as a strategic investor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Datadog veterans launch AI coding startup Niteshift on a bet against Big AI lock-in; plus, Zest launches a restaurant discovery app 11.06.2026 10min

  AI coding agent startup Niteshift has raised a $7 million seed round from a who's who of angels. It's betting companies will want power over, not lock-in, with model makers. Also, backed by Alexis Ohanian’s 776 and Kindred Ventures, Zest uses transaction data and AI to generate restaurant recommendations based on users’ real dining habits and the places they frequent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Evotrex raises $30M to build the RV that doesn’t need a charging station; plus, so long FAANG and hello to MANGOS 10.06.2026 6min

  The startup is one of many entering the RV space, but it's banking on a hybrid power system that can go far beyond campsites. Also, with SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI all eyeing massive public debuts, the tech industry may soon have a new class of corporate overlords — and a new acronym to match. Say goodbye to FAANG and hello to MANGOS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Helion, the Sam Altman-backed fusion startup, raises $465M to build a power plant for Microsoft 08.06.2026 4min

  Fusion startup Helion is racing to complete a power plant for Microsoft by 2028. A fresh infusion of cash should help with that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Is Silicon Valley ready to put robots in people’s homes? Hello Robot is. 05.06.2026 9min

  The California startup released the fourth-generation of its home assistance robot, Stretch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Brynn Putnam's Board raised $20M; plus, ZeroDrift raises $10M to protect AI models from themselves 04.06.2026 6min

  Board, the startup building what it calls "together tech" designed to bring people into the same room, has closed a Series A led by Union Square Ventures. Also, a new AI compliance service sits between AI models and end users to flag and replace any messages that might present a compliance problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Pacific Fusion’s latest prototype packs 440 gigawatts into an 80-nanosecond burst; plus, Rocket engine startup Impulse raises $500 million to hire people, not AI 03.06.2026 8min

  Pacific Fusion's sub-scale prototype delivered enormous amounts of power in a flash, setting the company up for its demonstration power plant. Also, engineering physical systems still depends on human talent, according to Impulse Space president Eric Romo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Snap alums unveil Ghost Angels fund; Defense tech darling Mach Industries hits $1.8B valuation 02.06.2026 8min

  A group of 20 Snap alumni has come together to launch a fund called Ghost Angels to back the next generation of social media. Also, in a wild ride for 22-year-old founder and CEO Ethan Thornton, Mach Industries has raised another $300 million. It already has five autonomous vehicles in development and completed a major acquisition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• This chip startup just raised $135M on a bet that AI’s biggest bottleneck isn’t compute — it’s memory; plus, Glean’s top line crosses $300M as AI budget-cutting becomes its major selling point 01.06.2026 9min

  South Korean chip startup Xcena is betting that AI's real bottleneck is not compute, but memory. Also, the enterprise AI search startup tripled its annual revenue even as tech giants entered the category. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Corgi doubled in value in 3 weeks; plus, Anthropic raises $65 Billion, nears $1T valuation ahead of IPO 29.05.2026 8min

  Insurance tech Corgi announced today an $106 million Series B1 raise, valuing the company at $2.6 billion, just three weeks after announcing a $160 million Series B. Also, Anthropic has closed a $65 billion Series H round at a $965 billion post-money valuation, marking what could be the AI startup's final private fundraise before a highly anticipated IPO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• SOND, a sleep tech startup, exits stealth with $7M; plus, Airbnb-backed WeRoad raises $58M 28.05.2026 11min

  SOND, a startup led by Bose’s former head of sleep products, emerged from stealth with $7M in funding for its AI-powered sleep earbuds. Also, WeRoad, the Milan-based group travel startup, has raised a $58 million Series C round led by Airbnb as it prepares for its first major expansion outside Europe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Amazon fulfillment competitor Stord raises $250M at $3B valuation; OpenRouter more than doubles valuation to $1.3B in a year 27.05.2026 4min

  Stord offers a network of physical warehouses and inventory management software for e-commerce. It bills itself as a sort of anti-Amazon, giving brands "the speed to compete" while still owning their customer relationships. Also, OpenRouter has raised a $113 million Series B led by CapitalG. Its 5x growth in usage over six months indicates the multi-AI-model future is here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Maka Kids is redefining kids’ screen time with a streaming app; also, Peec, one of Berlin’s rising startups, more than doubled ARR 26.05.2026 9min

  Maka Kids is building a streaming app for children ages zero to six featuring content designed for healthy development. The startup has now raised $3 million in seed funding to scale its platform. Also, Peec, which helps brands track their presence in AI searches, offers proof of a key trend among European startups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• This young startup is taking on a fragrance industry that hasn’t changed in almost half a century 25.05.2026 6min

  This young startup is taking on a fragrance industry that hasn’t changed in a almost half century Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Imperagen raises £5 million to use quantum physics, AI on enzyme engineering; plus, Beauty booking startup Fresha hits $1 billion valuation 22.05.2026 6min

  Biotech company Imperagen announced on Thursday a £5 million ($6.7 million) seed round led by PXN Ventures, with participation from IQ Capital and Northern Gritstone. Also, beauty and wellness booking marketplace Fresha says it has raised $80 million investment from KKR’s Next Generation Technology Growth fund, KKR's growth equity arm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Quartermaster is building a maritime hive mind; plus, NanoClaw creator turns down $20M buyout offer 21.05.2026 10min

  The Arlington, Virginia-based startup has raised $42 million to equip ships with sensors that blow the current AIS tech out of the water. Also, NanoCo, the company behind OpenClaw alternative NanoClaw, has raised a $12 million seed after a viral launch, the founders tell TechCrunch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Status AI raises $17M to turn social media into interactive entertainment; plus, Stilta helps companies rediscover the patents they forgot they had 20.05.2026 8min

  Interactive social media site Status announced Tuesday $17 million in combined seed and Series A funding, with investors including General Catalyst, YC, LightShed Ventures, and Abstract. Also, Stilta announced Tuesday a $10 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors in the round include YC and operators from companies like OpenAI, Legora, and Lovable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• South Korea’s LetinAR is building optics behind AI glasses; plus, Marketing operating system Nectar Social raises $30M Series A led by Menlo 19.05.2026 8min

  A lens the size of a thumbnail — and the South Korean startup that makes it could become the optical backbone of the AI glasses era. Also, AI-powered marketing platform Nectar Social announced Thursday that it raised a $30 million Series A round led by Menlo Ventures and its Anthology Fund, which was created alongside Anthropic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
• Lovable just backed a company that’s looking to bring vibe coding to hardware; plus, Meridian Ventures launched $35M fund to back MBA-deferred founders 18.05.2026 5min

  Hardware company Atech raised $800,000 in pre-seed funding, including from a16z’s scout fund, Sequoia Scout Fund, and Nordic Makers. Plus, Meridian Ventures, the venture firm founded by Devon Gethers and Karlton Haney, announced on Friday the raise of a $35 million second fund to back pre-seed and seed-stage companies founded by those who have deferred MBAs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices