Defense startup Shield AI lands $12.7B valuation, up 140%, after US Air Force deal

In one year, Shield AI’s value has leaped 140%. This after it won a contract to be the software provider to Anduril’s Fury fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force.

Why hiring the weirdos works

When you’re building at breakneck speed, hiring a trusted team is crucial for an early-stage startup. Bland CEO and co-founder Isaiah Granet has tactical advice on how the company managed to find hidden talent in unlikely places. 

Conntour raises $7M from General Catalyst, YC to build an AI search engine for security video systems

Conntour uses AI models to let security teams query camera feeds using natural language to find any object, person, or situation.

Mercor competitor Deccan AI raises $25M, sources experts from India

Deccan AI concentrates its workforce in India to manage quality in a fast-growing but fragmented AI training market.

Silicon Valley’s two biggest dramas have intersected: LiteLLM and Delve

LiteLLM offers an AI open source project used by millions that was infected by credential harvesting malware.

Riding the GLP-1 boom, VITL lands $7.5M to overhaul cash-pay clinic prescribing

The startup provides an e-prescribing marketplace for the booming cash-pay clinic market.

How soap opera-TikTok hybrids became a billion-dollar business

Over the past few years, a new category of mobile apps has quietly exploded into a multi-billion dollar business. They’re called “micro dramas” — short-form, mobile-first scripted shows designed to be watched vertically on your pho…

Harvey confirms $11B valuation: Sequoia triples down

Investors like Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, Elad Gil can’t get enough of AI legal tech startup Harvey.

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.

After pivoting, Y Combinator grad Glimpse raises $35M led by a16z

Glimpse announced on Wednesday a $35 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from 8VC and YC.