Top Startup and Tech Funding News – January 7, 2025

It’s Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and today’s funding landscape reflects continued investor conviction in breakthrough technologies reshaping enterprise AI, global healthcare, and financial systems. From advanced cancer therapeutics to AI infrastructure for smart cities, today’s announcements signal a growing urgency to back high-leverage platforms that address industrial-scale challenges.

Corsera Health led the day with an $80 million Series A to pioneer annual RNAi treatments for heart disease, while Twin Health closed $53 million to expand its AI twin for personalized metabolic care. In enterprise AI, Articul8 secured $70 million to help regulated industries build custom generative models, and Swap raised $100 million to unify global commerce operations. Meanwhile, Poplar Therapeutics and Spiro Medical raised substantial Series A capital to accelerate clinical development in allergy and asthma treatments.

Across sectors—from fintech and media to biotech and smart infrastructure—founders are landing meaningful checks to translate hard-won research into scalable systems. The signal is clear: investors are placing big bets on domain-specific AI, life science platforms, and cross-border commerce infrastructure poised to redefine their categories.

Tech Funding News

Funding Highlights

• Swap raised $100M Series C to expand global e-commerce infrastructure.
• Rakuten Medical raised $100M in a Series F round to advance light-activated cancer therapy.
• Corsera Health raised $80M Series A for once-yearly RNAi cardiovascular treatments.
• Articul8 secured ~$70M Series B to deploy generative AI in regulated enterprises.
• Spiro Medical raised a $67M Series A to develop drug-free asthma and cough therapies.
• Poplar Therapeutics emerged from stealth with $50M Series A funding for next-gen IgE antibody.
• Twin Health raised $53M Series E to expand its metabolic AI twin platform.
• Linker Vision secured $35M Series A to scale AI infrastructure for smart cities.
• Semafor raised $30M to grow its global digital news and events business.
• Autonomous Technologies Group raised $15M pre-seed to build AI wealth strategist.

Investor Activity

Today’s capital deployments drew global venture firms, sovereign investors, and strategic corporate backers with domain expertise in AI, biotech, media, and commerce. As 2026 accelerates, investor appetite remains strong for startups building foundational platforms—whether to decode the human body, automate complex enterprise workflows, or rebuild financial services with intelligent infrastructure.

Here’s the full breakdown of January 7’s most significant startup and tech fundings.

Semafor Raises $30M in Funding to Expand Global News and Events Platform

Digital media startup Semafor has raised $30 million in fresh financing to fuel its international expansion and live journalism events. Co-founded in 2022 by former Bloomberg and New York Times executives, Semafor achieved its first profitable year in 2025 by focusing on high-quality news newsletters and marquee events.

The new capital will help the company scale its newsroom globally and grow its events business at a time when public trust in news is near record lows, and publishers face challenges from AI-driven content discovery. Semafor’s ability to turn a profit early and attract prominent backers underscores investor confidence that an innovative, trust-focused news platform can carve out a sustainable niche in the competitive media industry.

• Startup: Semafor (digital news platform, New York, NY)

• Investors: PSP Investments; Belgian entrepreneur Thomas Leysen; K3 Group; with existing backers including Henry Kravis (KKR), David Rubenstein (Carlyle Group), and analytics firm Gallup

• Amount Raised: $30 million

• Total Raised: ~$74 million

• Funding Stage: Growth financing (post-profit round)

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Swap Raises $100M Series C to Unify Global E-Commerce Operations

Swap, a New York-based startup providing a unified commerce operating system, has secured $100 million in a Series C round to accelerate its mission of streamlining global e-commerce. Founded in 2022, Swap’s platform offers end-to-end infrastructure for online retailers — from demand forecasting and cross-border logistics to payments and tax compliance — aiming to simplify expansion into new markets. The hefty Series C comes just six months after its Series B and will support Swap’s push into additional regions and verticals. With e-commerce sellers increasingly seeking one-stop solutions to handle complex international operations, Swap’s rapid growth and fresh capital position it to become a backbone for merchants scaling globally.

• Startup: Swap (commerce operations platform, New York, NY)

• Investors: DST Global (co-lead); ICONIQ Capital (co-lead); others undisclosed

• Amount Raised: $100 million

• Total Raised: ~$150 million

• Funding Stage: Series C

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Rakuten Medical Secures $100M Series F to Advance Cancer Photoimmunotherapy

Global biotech company Rakuten Medical has closed a $100 million Series F financing to propel the development and regulatory approval of its cancer photoimmunotherapy treatments. Based in San Diego, Rakuten Medical is pioneering the Alluminox® platform, which uses targeted light-activated antibodies to attack tumors.

The oversubscribed round was led by TaiAx, a life sciences fund formed by Taiwania Capital and Axil Capital, and drew an international syndicate of strategic investors across Asia and North America. The new funding doubles the company’s initial target and will fuel a global Phase 3 trial of its lead therapy for head and neck cancer, as well as expansion into new indications and regions.

Coming amid rising investment in oncology innovation, Rakuten Medical’s raise, one of the largest late-stage biotech financings in recent months, reflects strong confidence in its novel approach to treating solid tumors.

• Startup: Rakuten Medical (oncology biotech, San Diego, CA)

• Investors: TaiAx Life Science Fund (lead); Daiwa Securities; Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp; Nexus CVC (Taiwan); OEP Group, with participation from existing backers including SBI Group and Rakuten Group

• Amount Raised: $100 million

• Total Raised: Not disclosed (multiple rounds through Series F)

• Funding Stage: Series F

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Autonomous Technologies Group Lands $15M Pre-Seed Funding to Build AI Wealth Manager

Autonomous Technologies Group (ATG), a stealth fintech startup founded by Y Combinator alumni, has emerged from stealth with a $15 million pre-seed funding round to develop an AI-powered “wealth strategist.” Led by YC’s CEO, Garry Tan, via a dedicated alumni investment vehicle, the round provides ATG with significant capital at inception.

The New York and San Francisco-based team, which previously built and sold cloud startup Paperspace, is now creating Autonomous, an app that helps individuals manage investments using strategies modeled on ultra-wealthy family offices. ATG’s platform aims to offer sophisticated techniques such as tax-loss harvesting and custom indexing to everyday investors, bridging the gap between robo-advisors and traditional wealth managers.

This unusually large pre-seed round reflects investors’ confidence in ATG’s experienced founders and the demand for advanced, AI-driven personal finance tools amid heightened market volatility.

• Startup: Autonomous Technologies Group (AI-driven wealth management, New York & San Francisco)

• Investors: Garry Tan (YC) (lead); BoxGroup; Collaborative Fund; others (YC alumni syndicate)

• Amount Raised: $15 million

• Total Raised: $15 million

• Funding Stage: Pre-seed

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Spiro Medical Raises $67M Series A for Drug-Free Asthma Treatment Device

Spiro Medical, a California-based medical device startup, has raised $67 million in Series A funding to advance its novel treatment for severe asthma and respiratory conditions. Founded by a team of physicians and scientists in Irvine, Spiro is developing a pulmonary neuromodulation system that delivers mild electrical pulses to the airways to control asthma symptoms without medication.

The large Series A round was led by European life sciences investors Andera Partners and Omega Funds, alongside Sherpa Healthcare Partners and a consortium spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. Spiro plans to use the funds to refine its system and conduct the clinical trials needed for U.S. regulatory approval.

With tens of millions of people worldwide suffering from severe asthma and chronic cough, Spiro’s non-pharmaceutical approach has attracted attention as a potentially game-changing therapy, and this financing signals strong investor conviction in the company’s technology and clinical roadmap.

• Startup: Spiro Medical (pulmonary neuromodulation therapy, Irvine, CA)

• Investors: Andera Partners (lead); Omega Funds; Sherpa Healthcare Partners; HSG; Supernova Invest; Northern Light Venture Capital; Hero Inc. (strategic)

• Amount Raised: $67 million

• Total Raised: $67 million

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Corsera Health Scores $80M in Series A Funding to Prevent Heart Disease with RNAi

Corsera Health, a Boston-based biotech startup, has raised $80 million in a Series A round to develop once-a-year genetic therapies to prevent cardiovascular disease. Co-founded and led by biotech veterans Dr. Clive Meanwell and Dr. John Maraganore (former CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals), Corsera is leveraging RNA interference (RNAi) technology to silence genes that drive high cholesterol (PCSK9) and hypertension (angiotensinogen).

The hefty round was co-led by Forbion and Population Health Partners, and will fund clinical trials of Corsera’s lead candidates — injectable RNAi therapies designed to dramatically lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure with an annual dose. Cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading killer, and Corsera’s approach could usher in a new paradigm of preventative cardiology.

The funding also supports development of “Klotho,” an AI-enabled platform for predicting lifelong heart risk and tailoring treatments. With this financing, Corsera Health is poised to accelerate its lead program through early trials, aiming to demonstrate that proactively treating risk factors can extend healthspan and save lives at scale.

• Startup: Corsera Health (cardiovascular RNAi therapy, Boston, MA)

• Investors: Forbion (co-lead); Population Health Partners (co-lead); participation from co-founder John Maraganore, Ph.D. (former Alnylam)

• Amount Raised: $80 million

• Total Raised: $80 million

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Linker Vision Raises $35M in Series A Funding to Scale AI for Smart Cities

Linker Vision, a Taipei-based artificial intelligence platform company, has secured $35 million in Series A funding to expand its “physical AI” solutions for smart cities and enterprises. The round was led by Taiwan’s Abico Group with participation from global strategic investors, including Nvidia’s venture arm. Founded in 2021, Linker Vision provides an AI software and hardware platform that helps organizations deploy large-scale AI applications in real-world environments, from industrial automation and telco networks to humanoid robotics and urban smart surveillance.

By combining edge AI devices with real-time reasoning software, Linker’s technology enables clients to detect and respond to on-the-ground events in real time, improving safety and efficiency. The new capital will support Linker Vision’s growth across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, and accelerate product development and the integration of additional AI models. With rising demand for intelligent infrastructure and city-wide automation, Linker Vision’s sizable Series A signals confidence in its ability to power the next generation of smart spaces worldwide.

• Startup: Linker Vision (AI deployment platform for smart spaces, Taipei, Taiwan)

• Investors: Abico Group (lead); Nvidia (strategic investor); Yun-Hsien Enterprise; Hotung Venture Group; ITIC’s Noah Fund; ChangHwa Bank Venture; Yuanta Venture

• Amount Raised: $35 million

• Total Raised: $35 million

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Poplar Therapeutics Launches with $50M in Series A Funding for Allergy & Asthma Antibody

Poplar Therapeutics, a newly launched immunology biotech, has emerged from stealth with a $50 million Series A financing to develop a next-generation antibody therapy for severe allergic diseases. Formerly operating as Phylaxis Bioscience, Cambridge-based Poplar is advancing PHB-050, a monoclonal antibody designed to eliminate Immunoglobulin E (IgE) — the antibody central to food allergies, allergic asthma, and atopic dermatitis.

The company’s approach builds on lessons from first-generation IgE drugs (like Xolair) but aims to drive total IgE levels to zero, potentially helping patients who don’t respond to existing treatments. The Series A was co-led by SR One, Vida Ventures, and Platanus, and comes as Poplar enters an ongoing Phase 1 trial of PHB-050. With veteran biotech executive Chip Baird as CEO (formerly of 2seventy bio) and a board featuring industry luminaries, Poplar plans to use the funding to complete Phase 1 and expand its pipeline.

The startup’s high-profile launch and substantial backing underscore the urgent need for better therapies in severe allergy and atopic disease, a market affecting millions with limited options.

• Startup: Poplar Therapeutics (clinical-stage immunology company, Cambridge, MA)

• Investors: SR One (co-lead); Vida Ventures (co-lead); Platanus (co-lead); notable board members from InterMune, J&J, etc.

• Amount Raised: $50 million

• Total Raised: $50 million

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Twin Health Lands $53M in Series E Funding to Personalize Metabolic Care with AI Twins

Silicon Valley healthtech company Twin Health has secured $53 million in a Series E round to scale up its AI-driven “digital twin” platform for metabolic diseases. Based in Mountain View, Twin Health has developed a technology that creates a digital model of an individual’s metabolism using data from wearable sensors and medical tests. This AI twin then provides personalized guidance on nutrition, sleep, and exercise to help reverse chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The new funding, led by Denmark’s Maj Invest, values Twin Health at roughly $950 million and brings its total financing to around a quarter-billion dollars. Twin Health plans to use the capital to broaden partnerships with health insurers and employers, making its program available to more patients as an employee wellness benefit. As global diabetes cases soar above 500 million, investors are betting that Twin Health’s data-driven, continuous coaching approach can significantly improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

The company’s growth and sizable Series E raise highlight the rising confidence in “digital twin” technology as a breakthrough in personalized medicine for chronic disease management.

• Startup: Twin Health (AI health twin platform, Mountain View, CA)

• Investors: Maj Invest (lead); participation from existing investors (undisclosed)

• Amount Raised: $53 million

• Total Raised: ~$250 million

• Funding Stage: Series E

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Articul8 AI Bags $70M Series B Funding to Scale Enterprise Generative AI Platforms

Articul8 AI, an enterprise software startup specializing in domain-specific generative AI, has announced the first closing of its Series B round, targeting approximately $70 million in total funding. A spin-off from Intel based in Santa Clara, Articul8 provides AI solutions that generate custom content and insights for industries such as telecom, real estate, and finance. The Series B is led by Adara Ventures with participation from NXC Corporation (the investment arm of South Korea’s Nexon) and Aditya Birla Ventures, among other strategic backers.

This oversubscribed round – expected to value Articul8 at over $500 million (a 5x jump since its Series A) – will support the company’s rapid growth in serving enterprise demand for secure, tailored generative AI tools. Articul8 plans to deepen its product offerings for large corporate clients and invest in scaling its platform globally once the final tranche of funding closes in Q1. With heavyweight support, including ongoing investors such as Intel and DigitalBridge (recently acquired by SoftBank), Articul8 is positioned as a key player helping enterprises harness generative AI while maintaining control over data and industry-specific models.

• Startup: Articul8 AI (enterprise generative AI software, Santa Clara, CA)

• Investors: Adara Ventures (lead); NXC Corporation; Aditya Birla Ventures; strategic investors including Intel Capital and DigitalBridge

• Amount Raised: ~$70 million (Series B, first tranche closed)

• Total Raised: ~$80 million (expected after final Series B closing)

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: January 7, 2026

Tech Funding Summary