Korean AI startups Nnota, Twelve Labs, and Rebellions have announced significant achievements. Nnota's research on AI optimization was accepted at ICML 2026, Twelve Labs boosted GS Shop's sales with AI recommendations, and Rebellions hired a former diplomat to expand into the Middle East.
NTT announced the establishment of the "IOWN AI Fund" on June 10th, aiming to invest in AI startups. The fund is expected to be around 80 billion yen, with over 20 companies considering investment.
Ultra-high-net-worth investors, via family offices, are increasingly investing in sports teams, leagues, and related technologies as an inflation hedge, with notable deals in May including $225M in Pickleball Inc. and $12M in sports tech startup PlayerData.
Silicon Valley is experiencing an AI boom with massive compensation for tech talent, but beneath the surface lies anxiety about job automation and potential economic disparity. The article explores the global implications, with Europe, Africa, and Latin America lagging behind, while India and China face unique challenges in harnessing AI's potential and managing its societal impact.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will meet with Korean robot and AI startups, including Upstage, on May 8th in Seoul. The meeting will focus on AI infrastructure and physical AI collaboration. Huang is also scheduled to meet with leaders of major Korean conglomerates and visit Naver's 1784 building.
Spain boasts around 450 AI startups. Multiverse Computing, a leader, aims for unicorn status with a €500M round. Cala AI, founded by a former Apple exec, focuses on external data for AI. Openchip seeks to lead Europe's microchip industry, and Biorce uses AI to streamline clinical trials.
AI startups are reportedly inflating their revenue figures by misrepresenting Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Sources claim companies are using "contracted ARR" (CARR) or "annualized run-rate revenue" as ARR, leading to exaggerated public declarations that even investors are aware of.
AI startups are reportedly inflating their revenue figures by misrepresenting metrics like Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Sources claim companies use "contracted ARR" (CARR) or "annualized run-rate revenue" instead of true ARR, with investors often aware of these exaggerations.
AI startups are reportedly inflating their Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) figures by using metrics like Contracted ARR (CARR) or annualized run-rate revenue, misleading investors and the public. Many investors are aware of these exaggerations, driven by the AI hype and pressure for rapid growth.
Equity Group Investments (EGI), backed by the Zell family, focuses on old-economy businesses (e.g., John Deere dealerships, bluefin tuna fisheries) to avoid AI disruption, leveraging long-term investment horizons and tax benefits like bonus depreciation.
In 2026, recognition and visibility are emerging as crucial growth drivers for AI startups, rivaling the importance of funding, by building credibility, trust, and industry relevance.
As some of the biggest VCs in crypto start to consider funding AI startups, a16zcrypto's new fund will stay the course.
As some of the biggest VCs in crypto start to consider funding AI startups, a16zcrypto's new fund will stay the course.
As India's AI ecosystem matures from experimentation to execution, startups face the challenge of proving credibility in a crowded market. The ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 provides a platform for validation, visibility, and ecosystem access, helping startups build trust with enterprise buyers, investors, and partners. Early bird nominations close April 30, 2026.
The ET Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026 aims to provide Indian AI startups with the credibility, visibility, and ecosystem access needed to scale their innovations into tangible business outcomes.
Mary Minno, investor and former Google product manager, has launched Treehub, a six-month residency accelerator program, and AI Health Fund, a $10M venture fund targeting healthcare-AI startups. The fund made its first close at $1.5M, including $1M from Tim Draper, and writes $50K-$150K checks. Partners include Esther Wojcicki and Stanford researchers. The program aims to back 60 companies in its first iteration, helping academic founders commercialize research.
Robinhood’s publicly-traded fund aims to give retail investors exposure to AI startups like OpenAI, without accreditation requirements.
Google Cloud has launched a $750 million funding program to accelerate the adoption of AI agents by enterprises. The initiative supports partners and startups, highlighting key collaborations with companies like Lovable, Notion, and Gamma.
Senior Indian IT executives are leaving major companies like Coforge, Mphasis, and FirstSource to launch their own AI startups, with at least 12 US-based senior executives departing since mid-2025. These founders leverage decades of client relationships and enterprise knowledge to offer cost-efficient AI services, particularly in niche markets that larger firms overlook. The rise of agentic AI enables smaller, agile teams to compete with traditional IT incumbents, filling gaps in the $2 million project range that global firms consider too small. Venture capital is actively seeking founders with proven domain expertise and client connections in this hot investment sector.
A lot of AI startups exist partly because the foundation models haven't expanded into their category yet. As many jokingly acknowledge, that won't last forever.
