Snowflake agreed to acquire observability platform Observe to strengthen telemetry monitoring and AI-scale data operations. The deal would mark Snowflake’s largest acquisition to date.
AI commerce startup Spangle raised $15 million in a Series A, valuing the company at $100 million. Its software delivers real-time, personalized shopping experiences for retailers using AI-generated recommendations.
Anthropic is preparing to raise $10 billion at a $350 billion valuation, nearly doubling its recent value. Major backers include GIC, Coatue, Microsoft, and Nvidia, supporting cloud expansion and AI model development.
Chinese regulators are assessing whether Meta’s acquisition of AI startup Manus violated technology export control rules. The review could affect how cross-border AI deals involving Chinese-developed technology are approved.
Enterprise AI firm Articul8 secured more than half of a planned $70 million Series B round at a $500 million pre-money valuation. The company is targeting regulated industries with specialized AI systems deployed inside customer environments.
Zing Coach is an AI-powered fitness app that delivers adaptive, personalized workouts. The Belarus-rooted startup has partnered with Paris Saint-Germain to bring elite-inspired training to a global fan base.
xAI closed a $20 billion Series E round, exceeding its original target and adding strategic backing from NVIDIA and Cisco. The funding supports expanded data center capacity, large-scale GPU deployment, and continued development of the Grok model family.
Baidu’s AI chip division, Kunlunxin, has confidentially filed for a Hong Kong IPO. The move aims to highlight the unit’s value and attract investors focused on AI hardware and software.
The rise of AI startups is renewing interest in founders who leave school early to build companies. Investors say the dropout label matters less than execution, timing, and defensible products.
Chinese AI startup MiniMax plans a Hong Kong IPO, aiming to raise over $600 million with backing from Alibaba and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The move positions MiniMax as a key player in China’s generative AI market.
Octopus Energy plans to spin out its AI software unit Kraken Technologies, following a $1 billion funding round that values the business at $8.65 billion. The move sets the stage for a potential public listing.
SoftBank has finalized its $40 billion investment in OpenAI, increasing its stake above 10%. The funding supports AI infrastructure initiatives, joint ventures, and OpenAI’s broader growth, including plans for a potential IPO.
Goldman Sachs and Newmark Group are raising capital to develop private power sites for AI data centers in Texas. The effort reflects growing Wall Street focus on AI-driven energy infrastructure.
Investors expect enterprises to increase AI budgets in 2026 while cutting back on experimentation. Spending is likely to concentrate among fewer vendors that demonstrate clear returns.
Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Singapore-based AI startup Manus for about $2 billion, gaining a rare revenue-generating AI agent platform. The deal strengthens Meta’s AI strategy as investor scrutiny grows around heavy infrastructure spending.