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Artificial intelligence • Crypto • Cybersecurity • Defense tech • Fintech • M&A • Robotics • Startups • Transportation & Logistics • Venture

In The Era Of Unicorn Valuation Escalation, A Trillion Dollars Isn’t What It Used To Be

Joanna Glasner

February 10, 2026

How much money would it take to up all of the 100 most-valuable U.S. private, venture-backed startups at their current valuations? About $3.5...

Crypto • Startups • Venture

Y Combinator Was By Far The Most-Active Fintech Investor in 2025, Data Shows

Mary Ann Azevedo

February 3, 2026

All told, global venture funding to financial technology startups totaled $51.8 billion for 2025 compared to $40.8 billion in 2024, per ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ...

Artificial intelligence • Fintech & e-commerce • IPO • Public Markets • SaaS • Startups

The IPO Window Won’t Stay Open On Its Own

Joanna Glasner

January 22, 2026

The IPO window looked pretty open as the year commenced. But it also looks like it could be slamming down.

Artificial intelligence • Crypto • E-commerce • Fintech • IPO • Startups • Venture

Fintech Funding Jumped 27% In 2025 With Fewer Deals But Bigger Checks

Mary Ann Azevedo

January 15, 2026

Global venture funding to fintech startups climbed in 2025 to its highest level in several quarters, boosted by later-stage deals, ½ûÂþÌìÌà data...

Crypto • Fintech & e-commerce • Startups • Venture

Stablecoin Startup Rain Raises $250M Series C at $1.95B Valuation – Its Third Round In Less Than A Year

Mary Ann Azevedo

January 9, 2026

Rain, which is building infrastructure for payments with stablecoins, has raised $250 million in a Series C funding round led by Iconiq. Its post...

Artificial intelligence • Insurance tech • Startups • Transportation & Logistics • Venture

Exclusive: AI Insurance Startup Nirvana Nearly Doubles Valuation To $1.5B with $100M Series D

Mary Ann Azevedo

December 18, 2025

Nirvana Insurance, an AI-based commercial insurance platform for the trucking industry, has raised a $100 million Series D round at a $1.5 billion...

Artificial intelligence • Insurance tech • Startups • Venture

Sector Snapshot: Insurtech Funding Is Way Down, But AI Is Still Driving Some Big Deals

Mary Ann Azevedo

December 11, 2025

So far in 2025, global insurance-related startups have pulled in about $3.9 billion in seed-through growth-stage financing, per ½ûÂþÌìÌà data —...

Artificial intelligence • Crypto • Fintech • IPO • Media & entertainment tech • Startups • Transportation & Logistics • Travel & tourism

Yes, I’m Biased. But Still, Leading Unicorns Like Anthropic Should Be Prepping For IPOs

Joanna Glasner

December 4, 2025

Ever since the startup IPO boom of 2020-2022 came to a conclusion, market watchers keep trying to predict when we’ll see another. Hopes that 2025...

Crypto • Fintech • IPO • Public Markets • Travel & tourism

Wealth Management Platform Wealthfront Targets $2.05B Valuation In Latest Fintech IPO

Mary Ann Azevedo

December 2, 2025

Digital wealth management platform unicorn Wealthfront has filed for an initial public offering, lining up the Palo Alto, California-based startup to...

Crypto • Fintech • Startups • Venture

Kalshi Secures $1B To Expand Predictions Market Platform

Joanna Glasner

December 2, 2025

New York-based Kalshi today announced it raised $1 billion in Series E funding at an $11 billion valuation. Crypto-focused investment firm Paradigm...

Fintech & e-commerce • Retail and Direct To Consumer • Startups • Venture

½ûÂþÌìÌà Sector Snapshot: It’s Been A Down Year For E-Commerce Funding

Joanna Glasner

November 12, 2025

Consumers and businesses are projected to spend more than $6 trillion on e-commerce retail platforms this year. But nonetheless, startup investors...