☕ OpenAI shuts down Sora app after six months & Arm launched its first in-house AI chip.
Jensen Huang claims AGI has already been achieved & OpenAI flags Microsoft dependence as IPO risk.
Breaking News
Arm has launched its first in-house AI chip in 35 years, breaking away from its traditional licensing model and directly competing with partners like Nvidia and Apple. The move signals a major shift in the AI hardware landscape, as Arm steps into the race to control not just designs — but actual chips powering AI infrastructure.
OpenAI has flagged its dependence on Microsoft as a major IPO risk, revealing deep reliance on funding and compute. The disclosure also highlights massive future costs, legal challenges, and supply chain risks — offering a rare inside look at the fragility behind one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.
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STARTUPS RAISING MILLIONS
💰 Startup Funding Updates
PRE-SEED
BrainGrid, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of an AI product planner service, raised $1M in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from Next Tier Ventures and Brainstorm Ventures.
Cleavr, a Paris, France-based developer of an AI-powered accounts receivable automation platform, raised €1M in Pre-Seed funding. The round was led by Kima Ventures, Better Angle, Another VC, Aonia Ventures, and Super Capital, with participation from angels Raphaël Nahum, Régis Samuel, and Olivier Brourhant.
SEED
Virchow Medical, a La Jolla, CA-based developer of biopsy technologies, raised $4M in Seed funding. The round was led by Cerberus Ventures.
Onit Security, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based exposure management company, raised $11M in Seed funding. The round was led by Hetz Ventures and Brightmind Partners, with participation from angel investors.
RyboDyn, a San Diego, CA-based biotechnology company, raised $10M in Seed funding. Backers were not disclosed.
GROWTH
Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT), a Cambridge, MA-based provider of AI-driven telematics solutions, raised $350M in funding. The round was led by TPG (The Rise Funds) and Allianz X, with participation from State Farm.
Hanover Park, a NYC-based AI-native fund administrator, raised $27M in Series A funding. The round was led by Emergence Capital, with participation from Lux Capital and Susa Ventures.
Doctronic, a NYC-based AI medical system provider, raised $40M in Series B funding. The round was led by Abstract and Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Union Square Ventures, Seven Stars, Mantis, and Tusk Ventures.
Spade, a NYC-based AI platform for financial institutions, raised $40M in Series B funding. The round was led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Flourish, Gradient, NAventures, National Bank of Canada, and Y Combinator.
Cauldron Ferm, an Orange, Australia-based biomanufacturing company, raised $13.25M in Series A2 funding. The round was led by Main Sequence Ventures, with participation from Horizons Ventures, SOSV, and NGS Super.
Highlight AI, a San Francisco, CA-based AI operating system for teams, raised $40M in Series A funding. The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from 359 Capital, General Catalyst, Valor Equity, Common Metal, Makers Fund, Collaborative Fund, Arcadia, and SV Angel.
Shepherd, a San Francisco, CA-based insurtech platform, raised $42M in Series B funding. The round was led by Intact Private Capital, with participation from Spark Capital and Costanoa Ventures.
NoTraffic, an Overland Park, KS-based AI mobility platform, raised $90M in Series C funding. The round was led by PSG Equity, with participation from M&G Investments, Grove Ventures, LifeX Ventures, Meitav Investment House, and Next Gear Ventures.
Zipline, a South San Francisco, CA-based drone delivery company, raised $200M in Series H funding at a $7.6B valuation. The round was led by Fidelity, with participation from Baillie Gifford, Valor Equity Partners, Tiger Global, and Paradigm.
Kandou AI, a Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland-based connectivity solutions company, raised $225M in Series A funding. The round was led by Maverick Silicon, with participation from SoftBank Group, Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, and Alchip Technologies.
Dash0, a NYC-based observability platform, raised $110M in Series B funding at a $1B valuation. The round was led by Balderton Capital, with participation from DTCP Growth, Accel, Cherry Ventures, DIG Ventures, July Fund, and T.Capital.
Gimlet Labs, a San Francisco, CA-based AI infrastructure startup, raised $80M in Series A funding. The round was led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from Eclipse Ventures, Prosperity7, Triatomic, and Factory.
Amani Therapeutics, a NYC-based biotech company, raised $25M in Series A funding. Backers were not disclosed.
Foreverland, a Bari, Italy-based foodtech company, raised €6M in funding. Backers included Kost Capital, Maia Ventures, Accelerator Fund, Italia Venture II Fund, Linfa Agrifoodtech Fund, and Newtree Impact.
ArtIn Energy, a NYC-based renewable energy developer, received a $255M investment from Agila Investments.
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NEW VCs IN THE MARKET
🏦 Venture Capital Updates.
Kleiner Perkins, a U.S.-based venture firm, has raised $3.5B across two funds — $1B for early-stage and $2.5B for growth investments. The firm is doubling down on AI startups like Together AI, Harvey, and OpenEvidence, while also backing companies like Anthropic and SpaceX. Known for historic bets on Amazon and Google, the firm is leveraging recent wins like the Figma IPO to fuel its latest raise.
BKR Capital, a Toronto-based VC firm, has raised $14.5M so far for Fund II toward a $50M target to back Black founders. Led by managing partner Lise Birikundavyi, the fund will invest $250K–$1.5M in high-growth tech startups focused on the future of work, living, and global connectivity. The firm primarily targets Canada but remains open to global investments, aiming to back 25 companies.
KEY STORIES IN TECH
📜 Latest In Tech
OpenAI shuts down Sora app after six months
OpenAI is discontinuing its AI-first social app Sora, a TikTok-like platform known for generating realistic deepfake-style videos, without giving a clear reason or shutdown timeline.
Despite early hype and millions of downloads, user interest dropped sharply, and the app struggled with moderation issues, misuse of public figures, and potential copyright risks.
While the app is shutting down, the underlying Sora 2 model remains available within ChatGPT, signaling that the technology itself is still very much in play.
Anthropic gives Claude Code more autonomy with safety checks
Anthropic introduced “auto mode,” allowing Claude Code to take actions independently while using built-in safeguards to block risky or unintended behavior.
The feature aims to reduce constant human oversight in coding workflows, balancing speed with safety by letting the AI decide when actions are safe to execute.
Currently in research preview, auto mode is recommended for sandboxed environments and reflects a broader shift toward more autonomous AI development tools.
Jensen Huang claims AGI has already been achieved
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang told Lex Fridman on his podcast that he believes AGI has already been achieved, pointing to agentic tools that could theoretically build and run a viral app.
The claim matters because OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft includes escape clauses tied to AGI, though their contract defines it as an AI model generating $100 billion in profit.
Microsoft has been preparing for a possible split by restructuring its AI division to focus on its own models, while tensions grow over OpenAI’s latest funding round and competing partnerships.
Epic Games cuts over 1,000 jobs amid Fortnite decline
Epic Games is cutting over 1,000 jobs on Tuesday, driven by a downturn in Fortnite engagement that started in 2025, which left the company spending significantly more than it was earning.
CEO Tim Sweeney said the layoff, combined with over $500 million in cost savings from contracting, marketing, and closing open roles, would put Epic in a more stable place.
Laid-off workers will receive four months of severance pay, with longer-tenured employees getting more, and U.S. employees will keep healthcare coverage for six months after the layoff.
Meta boosts executive pay with stock options amid AI talent war
Meta is offering stock options to top executives for the first time, alongside increased stock awards, as it works to retain leadership in the intensifying AI race.
The compensation is heavily performance-linked, with payouts tied to major stock price growth targets through 2028, aligning executive incentives with long-term company success.
The move reflects growing competition for senior AI talent, with Meta already offering massive pay packages to attract researchers for its superintelligence initiatives.
LAST COFFEE SIP
☕ Other News
Apple announces Apple Business
Apple announced Apple Business, a free all-in-one platform that combines device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach into a single service replacing Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect.
The platform includes built-in MDM, new “Blueprints” for zero-touch deployment, Managed Apple Accounts with cryptographic separation between personal and work data, and integrated email, calendar, and directory services.
Apple Business launches April 14 in over 200 countries, and existing data from the three discontinued services will automatically migrate, while Business Essentials customers will stop being charged monthly device management fees.
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