Top Startup and Tech Funding News – March 23, 2025

It’s Monday, March 23, 2026, and we’re back with today’s top startup and tech funding news. Today’s rounds reflect accelerating investor momentum around human-centric AI, intelligent automation, and next-generation hardware. As startups race to define the future of knowledge work, healthcare, and semiconductor design, capital is flowing into foundational technologies with deep infrastructure implications.

Notable Series A and B financings underscore growing conviction in secure developer identity, AI-led recruiting, and workflow agents. At the same time, major seed rounds and early-stage deep-tech investments—from helium atom lithography to orbital laser propulsion—highlight a rising wave of frontier innovation. Today’s deals span AI, chips, security, space, healthcare, and digital media—and signal a broad effort to augment cognition, connectivity, and creative productivity across sectors.

Tech Funding News

Funding Highlights

• humans& raises $480M Seed to build a human-centric AI research lab
• Juicebox raises $80M Series B for AI-powered recruiting platform
• Lace raises $40M Series A for helium atom lithography in chipmaking
• Doctronic raises $40M Series B to automate prescription renewals with AI
• Orbital Lasers raises $20M Series A for laser-based space propulsion
• SPARK Microsystems raises $17M Series B for low-power UWB wireless chips
• Interloom raises $16.5M Series A to power enterprise AI agents
• BlueFlag Security raises $16.5M Series A for developer identity security
• GlobalComix raises $13M Series A for digital comics publishing platform
• Littlebird raises $11M Seed for an AI-powered memory and recall assistant

Investor Activity

Today’s funding drew strong participation from top-tier VCs and strategic investors backing cognitive infrastructure and AI tooling. SV Angel, DST Global, and Atomico led large rounds in AI and chipmaking, while Nvidia, GV, and Microsoft’s M12 backed transformative platforms. Lightspeed and Sequoia continued their push into healthcare and workforce automation, and emerging funds like Lotus Studio and DN Capital placed early bets on ambient productivity and enterprise AI agents. Across the board, investors are coalescing around platforms that blend intelligence, defensibility, and scale across physical and digital domains.

humans& raises $480M in Seed funding for human-centric AI lab

Former Anthropic and xAI researchers Noah Goodman, Andi Peng, and others founded humans& in late 2025 to build an AI “lab” focused on human collaboration and connection. The San Francisco startup announced a record‐setting $480 million seed round at a $4.48 billion valuation. SV Angel (led by co-founder George Harik) and other prominent investors backed the deal.

Other backers include Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, GV (Google Ventures), Emerson Collective, Forerunner Ventures, S32, DCVC, Felicis Ventures, and CRV. The funding will fuel humans&’ development of AI tools that center human relationships, reflecting a surge of interest in “human-centric” AI as a complement to agentic AI advances.

• Startup: humans&
• Investors: SV Angel (led by co-founder Georges Harik), Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, GV (Google Ventures), Emerson Collective, Forerunner Ventures, S32, DCVC, Felicis Ventures, CRV
• Amount Raised: $480M
• Total Raised: $480M (seed only)
• Funding Stage: Seed
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Juicebox raises $80M in Series B funding for AI recruiting

Juicebox, an AI-driven recruiting platform, has closed an $80 million Series B round. The New York startup helps companies proactively identify and engage top tech talent using conversational “AI agents.” The round was led by DST Global (Yuri Milner’s VC firm) and included Sequoia Capital, Coatue, Y Combinator, NewFund, and Verified Capital.

This financing values Juicebox at $850 million and reflects a high-growth trajectory – the company has tripled its annual revenue since its July 2025 Series A and now serves 5,000 customers, ranging from fast-growing tech firms to Fortune 100 companies. The new capital will be used to accelerate product development and expand internationally. Juicebox’s success highlights the growing demand for AI-powered talent acquisition tools.

• Startup: Juicebox
• Investors: DST Global (lead), Sequoia Capital, Coatue, Y Combinator, NewFund, Verified Capital
• Amount Raised: $80M
• Total Raised: $116M (including prior $36M)
• Funding Stage: Series B
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Lace raises $40M in Series A funding for advanced chipmaking tools

Lace, a Norway–based startup spun out of Northwestern University, raised $40 million in a Series A funding round to build atomic-level chipmaking tech. The funding was led by Atomico, with participation from Microsoft’s M12, Linse Capital, Spain’s State Society for Technological Transformation, and Norwegian investment firm Nysnø. Lace is developing a novel lithography machine that uses a beam of helium atoms (rather than EUV light) to pattern microchips.

This approach could produce chip features roughly 10 times smaller than those of current methods, addressing a critical bottleneck in next-generation AI chip fabrication. The capital will help Lace scale its engineering efforts as demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment grows.

• Startup: Lace
• Investors: Atomico (lead), M12 (Microsoft’s VC), Linse Capital, Sociedad Estatal de Tecnología de la Transformación (Spain), Nysnø
• Amount Raised: $40M
• Total Raised: $40M
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Doctronic raises $40M in Series B funding for AI doctor platform

Doctronic, an AI-driven health startup that automates medication refill approvals, secured a $40 million Series B round. The New York–based company’s platform can autonomously renew routine prescriptions with a chatbot, under a 24/7 digital “AI doctor” model. Abstract Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners co-led the round, with participation from existing backers Seven Stars, Union Square Ventures, Tusk Ventures, and Mantis Venture Partners.

This financing brings Doctronic’s total funding to $65 million. The new funds will allow Doctronic to expand its pediatric and chronic-care offerings and to partner with health systems and payers. The round underscores growing investor interest in healthcare AI and digital care models that reduce clinician workload.

• Startup: Doctronic
• Investors: Abstract Ventures (lead), Lightspeed Venture Partners (lead), Seven Stars, Union Square Ventures, Tusk Ventures, Mantis Venture Partners
• Amount Raised: $40M
• Total Raised: $65M
• Funding Stage: Series B
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Orbital Lasers raises $20M (¥3.02 billion) in Series A funding for space propulsion

Orbital Lasers, a Japanese aerospace startup spun out of satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT, has raised ¥3.02 billion (≈$20 million) in a Series A funding round. The company is developing advanced laser-based thrusters for small satellites and spacecraft. Laser propulsion can improve maneuverability and longevity for in-space vehicles compared to traditional chemical rockets.

The funding (via share allotment and convertible equity) brings Orbital Lasers’ total equity financing to about ¥3.92 billion since its seed round. SKY Perfect JSAT remains the primary backer following its carve-out of the venture. Orbital Lasers will use the capital to accelerate the development of its laser engine technology.

• Startup: Orbital Lasers
• Investors: SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (parent)
• Amount Raised: ≈¥3.02B (≈$20M)
• Total Raised: ≈¥3.92B (≈$25M)
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

SPARK Microsystems secures $17M in Series B funding for wireless chips

SPARK Microsystems, a Canadian fabless semiconductor company, announced CAD $17 million in Series B funding. The round was co-led by Idealist Ventures (Idealist Capital) and Real Ventures, with participation from Cycle Capital, ND Capital, and Export Development Canada. SPARK develops low-power ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless transceiver chips that can enable precise location tracking and high-throughput connections in IoT and consumer devices.

SPARK Microsystems will use the fresh capital infusion to advance its chip designs and bring UWB features to market, addressing growing demand for spatial computing applications.

• Startup: SPARK Microsystems
• Investors: Idealist Ventures (lead), Real Ventures (lead), Cycle Capital, ND Capital, Export Development Canada
• Amount Raised: CAD $17M
• Total Raised: CAD $17M
• Funding Stage: Series B (follow-on)
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Interloom raises $16.5M in funding to power enterprise AI workflows

Interloom, a Silicon Valley startup building AI “workflow agents,” raised $16.5 million in new venture funding. The round was led by DN Capital and included investments from Bek Ventures and existing backer Air Street Capital. Interloom’s platform analyzes an organization’s communications and documents to extract tacit knowledge, enabling AI assistants to learn company-specific processes and data.

The startup says the fresh funds will expand its agent infrastructure for automating business workflows. This investment reflects a broader interest in knowledge management tools that improve the context and productivity of AI agents in enterprise environments.

• Startup: Interloom
• Investors: DN Capital (lead), Bek Ventures, Air Street Capital
• Amount Raised: $16.5M
• Total Raised: ~$19.5M (including prior $3M seed)
• Funding Stage: Venture (Series A)
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

BlueFlag Security raises $16.5M in Series A funding for developer security

BlueFlag Security, a cybersecurity company focused on software development, closed a $16.5 million Series A round. The San Francisco–based startup’s platform treats each developer (and their tools or AI helpers) as an identity, granting just-in-time permissions and full visibility across code repositories.

The Series A was led by Maverick Ventures and Ten Eleven Ventures. BlueFlag will use the capital to accelerate its product development and expand into highly regulated industries. Its identity-centric approach addresses a gap in supply chain security as enterprises increasingly embed AI agents and automation into their software delivery pipelines.

• Startup: BlueFlag Security
• Investors: Maverick Ventures (lead), Ten Eleven Ventures
• Amount Raised: $16.5M
• Total Raised: $28M
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

GlobalComix raises $13M in Series A funding for digital comics platform

GlobalComix, a New York startup that provides a digital comics publishing and monetization platform, announced a $13 million funding round. The financing was co-led by SBI US Gateway Fund and Point72 Ventures. GlobalComix offers tools for independent comic creators and publishers to distribute, translate, and sell content worldwide across formats (including manga and webtoons).

The company will use the proceeds to enhance its “creator-first” platform and expand international reach for artists. The round reflects continued investor interest in niche media platforms that empower content creators.

• Startup: GlobalComix
• Investors: SBI US Gateway Fund (co-lead), Point72 Ventures (co-lead)
• Amount Raised: $13M
• Total Raised: $13M
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Littlebird raises $11M in Seed funding for an AI-powered personal memory tool

Littlebird, an AI productivity startup, has raised $11 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by Lotus Studio, with notable angels joining: Lenny Rachitsky, Scott Belsky (Adobe co-founder), Gokul Rajaram, Justin Rosenstein, Shawn “swyx” Wang, and Russ Heddleston.

Littlebird’s desktop app continuously reads a user’s on-screen content (while ignoring sensitive fields) and stores it as text. This allows users to later query their personal data—essentially an “AI recall” assistant—and automate notetaking from meetings and documents. The new capital will support scaling the product as more professionals adopt AI tools for knowledge management.

• Startup: Littlebird
• Investors: Lotus Studio (lead), Lenny Rachitsky, Scott Belsky, Gokul Rajaram, Justin Rosenstein, Shawn Wang, Russ Heddleston
• Amount Raised: $11M
• Total Raised: $11M
• Funding Stage: Seed
• Funding Date: March 23, 2026

Tech Funding Summary Table