Hermeus raises $350M to build autonomous hypersonic fighters

The defense aviation startup is coming off two successful flight demonstrations, and with the next one, it’s aiming to go supersonic.

Startup Battlefield 200 applications open: A chance for VC access, TechCrunch coverage, and $100K

Nominate your startup, or one you know that deserves the spotlight, and finish the process by applying. Selected 200 have a chance at VC access, TechCrunch coverage, and $100K for Startup Battlefield 200. Applications close on May 27.

Ticket savings of up to $500 this week for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Starting today, you have 5 days to save nearly $500 on your ticket to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. This offer disappears Friday, April 10, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here to secure these low rates.

The Facebook insider building content moderation for the AI era

Moonbounce has raised $12 million to grow its AI control engine that converts content moderation policies into consistent, predictable AI behavior.

In just a couple weeks, StrictlyVC San Francisco brings leaders from TDK Ventures, Replit, and more together

The first StrictlyVC of the year will be coming to San Francisco before you know it.

There are still a few tickets available to join us and our stacked speaker lineup April 30, so register today!

OpenAI, not yet public, raises $3B from retail investors in monster $122B fund raise

OpenAI’s latest funding round, led by Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, values the AI lab at $852 billion as it nears an IPO.

Whoop’s valuation just tripled to $10 billion

The fitness tracking startup just closed a $575 million Series G with Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James among its investors. The obvious question looming over a round of this size at this valuation: Is an IPO coming?

Granola raises $125M, hits $1.5B valuation as it expands from meeting notetaker to enterprise AI app

Granola’s valuation jumped from $250 million to $1.5 billion with this round, and it has added more support for AI agents after users previously complained.

Arinna raises $4M seed round to solve the space power problem

Arinna builds solar cells specifically for spacecraft and has developed an ultrathin new material that it expects to be far more flexible and more efficient than current technology.

Cauldron Ferm has turned microbes into nonstop assembly lines

The Australian startup says it has solved one of the biggest challenges facing synthetic biology companies, which it counts as customers.