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This week, the startup world showed a more optimistic tone, with entrepreneurs displaying confidence in their endeavors, whether through acquisitions, securing fresh funding, or even declining additional investments.

Top Startup Stories of the Week

Not quite four weddings and a funeral, but close enough.

Hinge Health filed to go public, aiming to raise up to $500 million, to further develop its virtual physical therapy services for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Fervo Energy, collaborating with Google on a pioneering geothermal power plant, is reportedly planning an initial public offering (IPO) within the next two years.

Peak.ai, a Manchester-based startup that develops AI for decision-making, was acquired by UiPath, a public robotic process automation company. Peak.ai had previously raised $121 million, including a $75 million round backed by SoftBank in 2021.

Butterfly Effect, a Chinese startup, launched Manus, an “agentic” AI platform that has been generating significant buzz, with some early users noting its potential despite it not being a cure-all, as reported by TechCrunch’s AI editor Kyle Wiggers.

Northvolt, a Swedish battery manufacturing startup, filed for bankruptcy in Sweden, having previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. in November.

Notable VC and Funding News

There were numerous deals, but the round size didn’t always indicate the round’s letter.

Ditto raised $82 million in a Series B round at a $462 million post-money valuation to ensure corporate clients can access edge device data even without stable connectivity.

Nirvana, an AI-powered insurance platform for truckers, secured $80 million in a Series C round at an $830 million post-money valuation.

Omni, a business intelligence platform, closed a $69 million Series B round and expects its annual recurring revenue to triple this year.

Pentera, a cybersecurity startup, raised $60 million in a Series D round at a valuation over $1 billion, planning to use the funds for M&A and product development.

Zolve, a neobank for foreigners without credit history moving to the U.S., raised $51 million in equity and secured $200 million in debt for its Series B round, aiming to expand into new geographies.

Blackwall, formerly BotGuard, raised a €45 million Series B round (approximately $49.2 million) to protect SMBs from malicious online traffic.

Infinite Uptime, an Indian startup offering predictive maintenance solutions, raised a $35 million Series C funding round to expand into the U.S. and other markets.

Vento, an early-stage Italian VC firm, is launching a €75 million fund to back Italian startup founders, including those living abroad.

In Conclusion

Y Combinator’s latest Demo Day indicated a shift in the startup landscape, with founders now commonly raising less money intentionally, sparking discussions on whether this trend is beneficial, as noted by Terrence Rohan, an investor who has been involved with Y Combinator since 2010.