Top Startup and Tech Funding News – March 5, 2025

It’s Thursday, March 5, 2026, and we’re back with today’s top startup and venture funding news. Today’s rounds spotlight surging investor momentum across AI infrastructure, neurotech, space systems, and encrypted data orchestration. As capital concentrates around next-generation platforms in biotech, enterprise automation, and orbital services, strategic and venture investors are placing large bets on technologies with deep technical moats and transformative market potential.

Today’s deals reveal sustained appetite for brain-computer interfaces, AI-driven procurement, and real-time care intelligence—alongside renewed support for commercial space, defense automation, and institutional crypto rails. Investors are backing core enablers in privacy-first software, manufacturing intelligence, and humanoid robotics, underscoring a broader shift toward intelligent systems embedded across physical and digital domains.

Funding Highlights

• OpenAI raises $110B private round to expand global AI infrastructure
• Vast raises $300M Series A for commercial space station development
• Science Corp. raises $230M Series C for brain-computer interface implants
• PLD Space raises $209M Series C to scale reusable rocket manufacturing
• Nominal Inc. raises $80M Series B to automate defense and industrial testing
• Sage raises $65M Series C for AI-powered senior care platform
• Crossover Markets raises $31M Series B for institutional crypto exchange
• Lio raises $30M Series A to automate enterprise procurement
• Evervault raises $25M Series B for encrypted data processing infrastructure
• Agaton raises $10M seed round to build AI agents for sales intelligence

Investor Activity

Today’s funding drew significant participation from leading investors across AI, space, and industrial automation. Amazon, SoftBank, and Nvidia backed infrastructure-scale AI with historic capital infusions. Lightspeed, Founders Fund, and Sequoia were active across neurotech, defense software, and encrypted platforms, while Andreessen Horowitz, Ribbit, and Goldman Sachs doubled down on procurement AI, cybersecurity, and care intelligence. Strategic partners, including Mitsubishi Electric, MUFG, and Nikon, made targeted moves in orbital infrastructure and next-gen imaging. Across sectors, capital is consolidating around intelligent systems with enterprise-grade defensibility and long-term platform value.

Venture Funding News Today

Science Corp. Raises $230M in Series C Funding for Vision-Restoring Brain Implants

Science Corp. is a neurotech startup founded by Neuralink alums that develops implantable brain-computer interfaces to restore sight. Its flagship device, PRIMA, is a rice-grain–sized implant that, when paired with smart glasses, provides visual perception to patients with advanced macular degeneration. In clinical trials across 47 blind patients, 80% saw meaningful vision gains, marking “the first time that restoration of … fluent reading has ever been shown in blind patients”.

The new funding will commercialize PRIMA and advance Science Corp.’s broader neural-interface programs. The $230 million Series C was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and included Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Quiet Capital, and nonprofit IQT. Science Corp. said the capital will support PRIMA’s market launch (the first in Europe) and expand research into biohybrid neural implants and an organ-preservation technology called Vessel. The round gives Science Corp. $490 million in total financing to date, positioning it to be the first company to bring a neural-implant product to market.

• Startup: Science Corp.

• Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners; Khosla Ventures; Y Combinator; Quiet Capital; In-Q-Tel (IQT)

• Amount Raised: $230M

• Total Raised: $490M

• Funding Stage: Series C

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

PLD Space Raises $209M in Series C Funding to Scale Rocket Production

Spain’s PLD Space, a startup developing reusable orbital launch vehicles, announced a €180 million ($209M) Series C to ramp up its Miura rocket family. PLD Space became the first private Spanish rocket company after its Miura 1 debut in 2023, and it is now focused on Miura 5 (a small-lift orbital rocket with a soft ocean landing) and larger Miura Next boosters. The new funds will accelerate manufacturing and ground infrastructure for upcoming Miura 5 launches, which the company says will debut in 2026.

Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi Electric led the round with a €50M investment, securing priority access to Miura 5 launches. Other participants include the Spanish government’s science ministry and public fund COFIDES, as well as venture firm Nazca Capital. PLD Space’s CEO notes the investment is aimed at meeting a rising market need for dependable access to space via reusable rockets. With this round, PLD Space has raised roughly €350M total (about $407M) to date, underpinning its vision of 30+ launches per year by 2030.

• Startup: PLD Space

• Investors: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (lead); Government of Spain (Ministry of Science); COFIDES; Nazca Capital

• Amount Raised: $209M (€180M)

• Total Raised: $407M

• Funding Stage: Series C

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Vast Raises $300M in Series A Funding for Commercial Space Stations

Vast, the California startup building the Haven commercial space station, closed a $300 million Series A (plus $200M in debt) to accelerate production of its low-Earth-orbit habitats. The company’s Haven modules are designed for in-space research and manufacturing in microgravity, targeting a growing demand for orbital labs. Vast CEO Max Haot said the LEO economy is “at a pivotal inflection point” and the funding will help deliver safe, cost-effective access to space.

Balerion Space Ventures led the round, joined by a wide global syndicate including In-Q-Tel, Qatar Investment Authority, Mitsui & Co., MUFG, Nikon, Stellar Ventures, Space Capital, Earthrise Ventures, and founder Jed McCaleb. The financing will support the construction and eventual launch of the first Haven station (Haven-1) and follow-on units. With this influx, Vast’s total new funding stands at $500 million, underscoring the surge of investor interest in orbital infrastructure. The Series A “deals with the tight supply and demand imbalance” for lab facilities in space, Vast said, positioning it to enable commercial science and manufacturing off Earth.

• Startup: Vast

• Investors: Balerion Space Ventures (lead); In-Q-Tel; Qatar Investment Authority; Mitsui & Co.; MUFG; Nikon; Stellar Ventures; Space Capital; Earthrise Ventures; (and founder Jed McCaleb)

• Amount Raised: $300M (Series A)

• Total Raised: $500M (including debt)

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Nominal Inc. Raises $80M in Series B Funding to Modernize Hardware Testing

Nominal Inc., an Austin-based industrial software startup, raised an $80 million in an extension of its Series B at a $1 billion valuation. Nominal provides AI-driven software to automate hardware testing for defense and industrial clients. Co-founded by a former submarine officer, the three-year-old company has landed major customers (including the Pentagon’s Anduril) by replacing labor-intensive test processes with intelligent software.

The round was led by Founders Fund and follows Nominal’s $75M Series B in 2025. Sequoia Capital, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, Lightspeed and Red Glass Ventures all participated. Nominal says the capital will help it expand beyond defense into sectors like automotive and robotics, scaling its platform for running complex hardware tests. In total, the startup has now raised about $155 million. The deal makes Nominal a new “manufacturing unicorn” with a $1B valuation, underscoring the growing market demand for smarter hardware development tools.

• Startup: Nominal Inc.

• Investors: Founders Fund (lead); Sequoia Capital; General Catalyst; Lux Capital; Red Glass Ventures; Lightspeed Venture Partners

• Amount Raised: $80M

• Total Raised: $155M (including prior rounds)

• Funding Stage: Series B (extension)

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Evervault Raises €21M in Series B Funding for Encrypted Data Orchestration

Evervault is a cybersecurity startup that provides an encryption-first platform for processing sensitive data. Headquartered in New York and Dublin, Evervault enables companies to encrypt and manage private data without exposing it in plaintext. On March 5 the company announced a €21 million ($25M) Series B led by Ribbit Capital. Existing backers Sequoia Capital and Index Ventures also joined the round.

The funds will expand Evervault’s encryption infrastructure and product development. “Most compliance frameworks assume sensitive data will exist in plaintext – that’s a liability,” said founder Shane Curran. The €21M raise brings Evervault’s total financing to €39M ($46M). This comes amid heightened investor interest in data privacy and encryption startups across Europe. Evervault says it has achieved fast growth by embedding encryption into applications by default, and serves hundreds of customers (including Ramp, Rippling and Overwolf) in regulated industries.

• Startup: Evervault

• Investors: Ribbit Capital (lead); Sequoia Capital; Index Ventures

• Amount Raised: $25M (Series B)

• Total Raised: $46M (€39M)

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Agaton Raises $10M in Seed Funding for AI-Driven Revenue Intelligence

Agaton is a Stockholm-based AI startup building an agentic software platform that turns customer conversations into revenue insights. Its system analyzes real-time chat and call data to detect buying intent, sentiment shifts, and churn risk for enterprise sales teams. On March 5 Agaton announced a $10 million seed round to scale its AI platform.

The round was co-led by Inception Fund and Alstin Capital, with participation from Seed+speed Ventures, Foundry Ventures and angel investors (including Silo AI’s CEO and HubSpot’s CMO). Agaton says the capital will boost its AI capabilities and go-to-market efforts as companies seek to unlock value from growing volumes of conversational data. By translating customer dialogue into actionable next steps, Agaton aims to help businesses improve sales performance and retention.

• Startup: Agaton

• Investors: Inception Fund (lead); Alstin Capital (lead); Seed+speed Ventures; Foundry Ventures; angel investors (Peter Sarlin, Kieran Flanagan)

• Amount Raised: $10M

• Total Raised: $10M

• Funding Stage: Seed

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

OpenAI Raises $110B in Funding at $840B Valuation to Fuel AI Expansion

OpenAI announced an unprecedented $110 billion in financing at a $840 billion post-money valuation. The mega-round is reported to be the largest venture deal ever. Major tech players participated: Amazon led with $50B, and SoftBank and Nvidia each contributed $30B. The funds come as OpenAI continues to scale its consumer and enterprise AI offerings (notably its ChatGPT and image-generation platforms).

OpenAI said the investment will expand its “infrastructure and products,” part of a strategic partnership with Amazon and Nvidia. CEO Sam Altman noted that frontier AI is moving into daily global use, making infrastructure scale critical. This round doubles OpenAI’s valuation from the prior $40B round in 2025 and significantly increases the OpenAI Foundation’s stake value. With over 900 million weekly users and tens of millions of subscribers, OpenAI aims to use the new capital to accelerate research, next-generation compute, and global roll-out of advanced AI capabilities.

• Startup: OpenAI

• Investors: Amazon ($50B); SoftBank Vision Fund ($30B); NVIDIA ($30B)

• Amount Raised: $110B

• Total Raised: $110B

• Funding Stage: Private financing round

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Sage Raises $65M in Series C Funding for AI-Powered Senior Care Platform

Sage is a New York-based startup providing an AI-driven care platform for senior living communities. Its system installs room sensors and analytics software in nursing homes and assisted living centers to monitor residents’ movements and health indicators in real time. Today, Sage said it raised $65 million in Series C funding led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives (Growth Equity), with existing investors IVP and Goldcrest also participating.

The financing comes as the U.S. faces a deepening elder-care crisis: by 2030, 72 million Americans will be retirement age. Sage’s platform aims to shift care from reactive to preventative. For example, it uses AI to predict falls by tracking patterns such as changes in sleep and mobility. CEO Raj Mehra notes that older tools leave caregivers reliant on pagers and paper; Sage’s intelligence layer delivers real-time alerts instead. The $65M Series C brings Sage’s total funding to $124 million. Sage says it will use the capital to enhance predictive AI, unify caregiver workflows, and invest in the workforce it serves.

• Startup: Sage

• Investors: Goldman Sachs Alternatives (Growth Equity) (lead); IVP; Goldcrest (existing)

• Amount Raised: $65M

• Total Raised: $124M

• Funding Stage: Series C

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Lio Raises $30M Series A for Automated Procurement AI

Lio is a U.S. startup developing AI agents to automate enterprise procurement workflows. Co-founder Vladimir Keil, who saw procurement bottlenecks firsthand, has built a software platform of autonomous agents that can complete purchasing tasks for businesses. On March 5 Lio announced a $30 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz. SV Angel, 128VC (Harry Stebbings), and Y Combinator also participated.

The new funding will fuel Lio’s expansion in the U.S. and further improve its AI agents. “Instead of building software to help humans do procurement work faster, Lio deploys AI agents that execute the workflow themselves,” CEO Keil explains. Lio says its agents can navigate ERP systems, contracts, and suppliers automatically, aiming to eliminate the “heavy lift” of manual procurement. This Series A brings Lio’s total capital to $33 million, and the company plans to accelerate hiring and product development with the fresh capital.

• Startup: Lio

• Investors: Andreessen Horowitz (lead); SV Angel; 128VC (Harry Stebbings); Y Combinator

• Amount Raised: $30M

• Total Raised: $33M

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Crossover Markets Raises $31M in Series B Funding for Institutional Crypto Trading

Crossover Markets is a digital-asset infrastructure startup building institutional crypto trading platforms. Its flagship CROSSx exchange is an execution-only crypto ECN (electronic communication network) designed for asset managers and hedge funds. Crossover announced today a $31 million Series B at a $200 million valuation. The round was led by Tradeweb Markets, marking the traditional finance firm’s entry into crypto.

Other participants included DRW Venture Capital, Ripple, Virtu Financial, Wintermute Ventures, XTX Markets, and Illuminate Financial. The financing will expand CROSSx’s technology and global operations. Tradeweb said it will route institutional crypto orders to CROSSx via its algorithmic trading network, bringing crypto liquidity to thousands of its clients. The round brings Crossover Markets’ total equity raised to $31M, underscoring growing demand for professional-grade crypto infrastructure as digital assets attract more participation from Wall Street.

• Startup: Crossover Markets

• Investors: Tradeweb Markets (lead); DRW Venture Capital; Ripple; Virtu Financial; Wintermute Ventures; XTX Markets; Illuminate Financial

• Amount Raised: $31M

• Total Raised: $31M

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: March 5, 2026

Tech Funding Summary Table