Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with 20 space startup leaders to encourage innovation in agriculture, environment, and daily life. He emphasized the potential for India's private space sector to become a global hub for talent, investment, and commercial technology.
AI data-labeling startup Micro1 grew its gross annual run rate from $100M to $500M over eight months, fueled by massive demand for AI training data, while navigating industry controversies over data sales.
Missile startup Castelion has secured a $1 billion Series C funding round at a $13 billion valuation to scale production of its hypersonic weapons for the U.S. military.
Chinese visa rejections for Indian executives are disrupting supply chains and R&D for India's emerging robotics and hardware startups, forcing companies to seek alternatives in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Startup quốc phòng Castelion công bố hình ảnh tên lửa siêu vượt âm chi phí thấp Blackbeard có tầm bắn 800 km, đặt mục tiêu hoàn thiện thiết kế vào năm 2027 và nhận được sự quan tâm lớn từ quân đội Mỹ.
US company Powerus has signed a $22.3 million contract to supply anti-drone detection and tracking systems to an energy company in the Persian Gulf.
Lilly Chen, a former Buddhist monk and Meta software engineer, accidentally founded FSH Technologies with friends during a 2021 pandemic hackathon, now competing with Accenture in government contract bidding with a unique end-to-end approach.
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.
