☕ Google is testing AI chatbot search for YouTube & Meta signs 1 gigawatt space energy deal to power AI.
Google employees urge Pichai to reject Pentagon AI deal & More.
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Breaking News
Google employees are pushing CEO Sundar Pichai to reject a Pentagon AI deal, warning it could lead to military misuse despite policy safeguards. The tension shows how internal resistance is becoming a real force in shaping how Big Tech participates in defense AI.
Amazon quickly moved to host OpenAI models on AWS after Microsoft lost exclusivity, adding tools like Codex and agent systems to Bedrock. This signals a major shift — cloud giants are no longer just partners but direct competitors in the AI platform war.
STARTUPS RAISING MILLIONS
💰 Startup Funding Updates
PRE-SEED
Sonibel Instruments, a Vancouver, Canada-based acoustic sensor startup, raised $1.6M in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Maple VC, with participation from Champion Hill Ventures, Dorm Room Fund, and angels.
Tapaya, a Prague-based payments infrastructure startup, raised €1M in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Passion Capital and Depo Ventures, with participation from BADideas.fund.
Cnuic Technologies, an Edinburgh-based optical systems company, raised $3M in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Tensor Ventures and Blank Space Ventures, with participation from Silicon Roundabout Ventures, Phasechange, SANDS, and Superlative.
SEED
Redpine, a Stockholm-based data platform for agentic AI, raised €6.8M in Seed funding. The round was led by NordicNinja, with participation from Luminar Ventures, node.vc, and strategic angels.
dehaze, a Munich-based AI healthtech startup, raised €3.2M in Seed funding. The round was led by YZR Capital and DN Capital, with participation from Angel Invest, Zoho, and Better Ventures.
Marloo, a London-based AI platform for financial advisers, raised $10M in Seed funding. The round was led by Blackbird Ventures.
GROWTH
Actively, a NYC-based go-to-market platform, raised $45M in Series B funding. The round was co-led by TCV and First Harmonic, with participation from Bain Capital Ventures, First Round Capital, and Alkeon.
IC Realtime, a Florida-based security tech company, raised $2M in Series A funding. The round was led by John Hatherly.
Clarasight, a NYC-based enterprise travel AI platform, raised $11.5M in Series A funding. The round was led by AlleyCorp, with participation from multiple investors.
Coultreon Biopharma, a Belgium-based biotech company, raised $125M in Series A funding. The round was led by Sofinnova Investments, Forbion, and Novo Holdings, with participation from others.
Golden Child, a Miami-based dog food brand, raised $37M in funding. Backers included Atomic, A, and Redpoint Ventures*.
Performativ, a Copenhagen-based wealth management OS, raised $14M in Series A funding. The round was led by Deutsche Börse Group, with participation from others.
Liquid Instruments, a San Diego-based test solutions company, raised $50M in Series C funding. The round was co-led by Keysight Technologies and NRFC.
True Anomaly, a Colorado-based defense tech company, raised $650M in Series D funding. The round was led by Eclipse and Riot Ventures, with participation from multiple investors.
OpenLight, a California-based photonics company, raised $50M in Series A funding. The round was led by Matter Venture Partners, with participation from others.
Windmill, a NYC-based performance review platform, raised $12M in funding. The round was led by Inspired Capital, with participation from others.
Quantum Art, an Israel-based quantum computing company, raised $140M in Series A extension funding. The round was led by Bedford Ridge Capital, with participation from multiple investors.
Audion, a Paris-based AI audio advertising startup, raised $15M in Series B funding. Backers included Founders Future, Elevation Capital, and Bpifrance.
NEW VCs IN THE MARKET
🏦 Venture Capital Updates.
Mighty Capital, a San Francisco, CA-based venture capital firm specializing in product-led investing, closed Fund III, at $91m. The vehicle is backed by The Blackstone Group, on behalf of its clients, alongside existing limited partners and new institutional investors, including a Northern California public pension plan.
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KEY STORIES IN TECH
📜 Latest In Tech
Google is testing AI chatbot search for YouTube
Google is trying out an AI Mode-style conversational search for YouTube, and the experiment is open now to YouTube Premium subscribers in the US who are 18 or older, with plans to expand it to other users.
An “Ask YouTube” button in the search bar brings up a page that mixes summary text, bulleted milestones, timestamped longform videos, Shorts galleries, and suggested follow-up prompts related to what you searched for.
In a test about Valve’s new Steam Controller, Ask YouTube got the basics right but incorrectly said the old Steam Controller had no joysticks, a reminder that these AI-built result pages can include factual errors.
Elon Musk says OpenAI was his idea, before executives looted it
Elon Musk testified that he founded OpenAI as a nonprofit for humanity, accusing leaders like Sam Altman and Greg Brockman of turning it into a profit-driven company.
Musk is seeking $150B in damages and wants OpenAI to revert to a nonprofit, while OpenAI argues Musk pushed for control and only sued after losing influence.
The trial — which also involves Microsoft — could impact OpenAI’s IPO plans and reshape public perception of AI leadership and governance.
Chinese tech giants rush to secure Huawei AI chips after DeepSeek V4 launch
Demand for Huawei’s Ascend 950 chips has surged after DeepSeek optimized its V4 model to run on them, triggering a scramble from firms like ByteDance, Tencent, and Alibaba.
The shift reflects China’s push toward AI self-reliance, as U.S. export restrictions limit access to advanced Nvidia chips — creating a major opportunity for domestic alternatives.
Despite strong demand, supply constraints remain, with Huawei expected to ship ~750,000 units this year, highlighting how chip shortages continue to shape the global AI race.
Meta signs space solar power deal
Meta has struck a deal with startup Overview Energy for up to 1 gigawatt of solar energy collected in space, aiming to power its artificial intelligence data centers through satellites that orbit Earth and beam electricity back.
Overview Energy plans to gather sunlight using satellites orbiting Earth and convert it into electricity that can support the grid, offering Meta a new source to meet its growing demand for power.
The 1 gigawatt volume from the agreement is roughly equal to the output of a single nuclear reactor, showing the scale Meta is chasing as it hunts for ways to feed its data centers.
LAST COFFEE SIP
☕ Other News
EU orders Google to open Android to AI rivals
The European Commission has told Google it must open up Android so rival AI services can match what Gemini does on the phones, a decision that came out of a specification proceeding started in January.
Gemini currently gets special treatment at the system level on any Google-powered Android phone, and the commission says too many Android experiences only work with Google’s AI, which must change.
The order comes from the Digital Markets Act, which labels seven dominant firms as “gatekeepers,” and the commission may force Google to make the Android AI changes this summer despite Google calling it “unwarranted intervention.”
HIRING ALERT: STARTUPS & VC ROLES
💼 Today’s VC & Startup Job Opportunities
Most aspiring VCs struggle with interviews, unclear expectations, no structured prep, and generic advice that doesn’t actually help. So we partnered with a leading investor group to build an all-in-one VC Interview Preparation Guide that gives you real clarity and frameworks. (Access Here)
Partner 18, Healthcare - a16z | USA - Apply Here
Associate - DN Capital | Germany - Apply Here
Investment Intern - DTCP | UK - Apply Here
Venture Scout - First Momentum Venture | UK - Apply Here
Analyst, Global Investment Team - 500 Global | USA - Apply Here
Associate, Data Operations - Iconiq Capital | USA - Apply Here
Investor - AI - Samsung Next | USA - Apply Here
Finance Associate - RA Capital | USA - Apply Here
Fund Controller - NFX | USA - Apply Here
Vice President, Investor Relations - General Atlantic - Apply Here
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