Sound built its reputation on concentrated, high-conviction bets in category-leading AI labs, while Kutcher’s new fund appears to be chasing the layer underneath those companies — the infrastructure and energy that power them.
EquiLibre Technologies, a Prague-based AI lab founded by three ex-DeepMind researchers, is now valued at more than $500 million.
General Atlantic has tapped tennis legend Novak Djokovic to serve as a global strategic advisor.
Agent testing startup Patronus AI, founded by former Meta AI researchers, is experienced nearly insatiable demand, its investor says.
New details have emerged about Valor’s latest fund, which last year announced it was raising an unspecified amount of capital.
TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC evening in Los Angeles late last week brought together two of the more straight-talking investors working in AI right now. They were as entertaining as they were illuminating.
Menlo has created a solid rep for itself as an AI investor, all based on one gutsy $750 million move in 2024.
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After 18 years of focusing on Europe, early-stage investor Seedcamp said that it has raised $320 million for its latest fund which will see it expanding its presence in the United States.
TechCrunch spoke to investors to find the hottest startups in the Spring 2026 YC batch. Some of them commanded valuations of over $175 million, VCs said.