SpaceX reportedly attempted to acquire AI coding startup Cognition to boost its AI capabilities, though Cognition CEO Scott Wu disputed the report, stating the company is not for sale.
The lowest prices and group discounts for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, taking place in San Francisco from October 13-15, end this Friday, August 21.
AI accounting startup Rillet secured a $100 million Series C funding round at a $1 billion valuation, led by Iconiq, as demand surges for AI solutions disrupting legacy ERP systems.
Stripe has confirmed its acquisition of AI model router OpenRouter for $7.5 billion, significantly scaling up from OpenRouter's $1.3 billion valuation in May. The strategic move positions Stripe in the emerging market of AI token expense management.
Coinbase's Base network is narrowing its $1 million startup accelerator to 10 teams for Base Batches 004, offering $100,000 upfront to pre-seed startups focusing on AI agents, payments, and trading.
The SEC proposed new rules under "Regulation Crypto Assets" allowing crypto projects to raise funds without full securities registration, offering exemptions for up to $5 million and $75 million.
Micromobility startup Also has raised $150 million in a Series D funding round led by Prysm Capital, bringing its total funding to $455 million. The company plans to use the capital to develop autonomous driving technology and delivery vehicles.
Fintech giant Stripe plans to acquire AI startup OpenRouter in a deal reportedly valued at about $7.5 billion, expanding Stripe's footprint into the artificial intelligence model market and token cost optimization.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 early bird ticket pricing expires on Friday, August 21 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The event, scheduled for October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco, will focus on AI development and feature industry leaders like RJ Scaringe and Panos Panay.
AI startup Cursor, now part of SpaceX, has launched Origin, a code-hosting platform designed to compete with GitHub. The service allows developers to sync and manage repositories alongside GitHub, positioning itself as an alternative during GitHub's recent service outages.
South Korea's startup investments reached a record 8.87 trillion won in H1 2026, a 54.3% year-on-year increase. Growth was fueled by AI, robotics, and semiconductor funding, while gaming sector investments saw a sharp decline.
AI hardware startup Etched raised $700 million at a $21 billion valuation in a round led by Jane Street, doubling its valuation in a month as investors rush to back its inference-focused chips and systems.
Anthro Energy has begun construction on a Louisville, Kentucky facility capable of producing electrolytes for 300,000 EVs. The plant, supported by federal and state funding, aims to provide a domestic, China-free supply chain for solid-state battery development.
San Francisco-based Reach Capital has closed a $265 million Fund V to invest in AI startups focused on learning, health, and work. The firm plans to back approximately 50 companies with checks ranging from $1 million to $10 million over the next three years.
Escalate, a startup app, is helping McDonald's employees in Maryland overcome transportation and childcare hurdles. By providing emergency vouchers, the app reduces shift callouts, improves worker retention, and helps businesses avoid the costs of absenteeism.
Jacalyn Lee, founder of The DAND Alliance, is partnering with the startup Nome to develop treatments for her daughter's rare genetic disorder. Nome uses AI to provide research roadmaps and project management for families facing ultra-rare conditions.
Detroit-based startup Grounded has raised $5 million in seed funding and opened a 50,000-square-foot facility. The company is shifting from electric-only van customization to a vehicle-agnostic model, serving commercial, medical, and public safety sectors.
TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, scheduled for October 13-15 in San Francisco, offers early bird pricing until August 21. The event focuses on AI development and features industry leaders including RJ Scaringe and Panos Panay.
Former SpaceX engineers launched startup 1872 in Cincinnati, Ohio, securing $15 million in seed funding to automate steel skid manufacturing for AI data centers and modular nuclear reactors using AI-driven software and robotics.
African defense tech company Terra Industries has announced an additional $18 million in funding, bringing its total seed round to $52 million. The startup plans to use the capital to build autonomous systems, expand manufacturing, and open new offices.
Stripe has agreed to acquire AI routing startup OpenRouter for over $7 billion, three months after OpenRouter raised $113 million at a $1.3 billion valuation.
Das Berliner Fintech-Startup Raisin droht eine heftige aufsichtsrechtliche Maßnahme der Bafin. Nach Informationen der 'Süddeutschen Zeitung' könnte die Finanzaufsicht einen Sonderbeauftragten einsetzen, um Mängel in der Geldwäscheprävention aufzuarbeiten.
A startup app called Escalate is helping McDonald's workers in suburban Washington, D.C., overcome transportation and childcare hurdles by providing emergency Uber vouchers and gift cards, boosting retention and cutting callout costs.
Giorgos Tsetis, co-founder of Nutrafol, launched the Great Things family office to invest quickly in startups while dedicating at least 20% of annual net realized profits to philanthropy.
