Top Startup and Tech Funding News – March 26, 2025

It’s Thursday, March 26, 2026, and we’re back with today’s top startup and tech funding news. Today’s rounds highlight a sharp surge in capital flowing into AI infrastructure, defense autonomy, healthcare automation, and financial systems modernization. From billion-dollar bets on autonomous warfare and open AI ecosystems to steady investment in vertical SaaS and fintech, investors are doubling down on platforms shaping both digital intelligence and real-world operations.

Large late-stage financings signal growing confidence in AI-native systems with national and enterprise-level implications, while early and mid-stage rounds continue to fund workflow automation across healthcare, legal services, and industrial sectors. At the same time, emerging players in stablecoin infrastructure, mental health platforms, and semiconductor innovation are attracting capital as markets shift toward efficiency, speed, and resilience. Today’s deals span AI, defense, fintech, healthcare, and deep tech—and reflect a broader push toward systems that integrate intelligence directly into critical infrastructure.

Tech Funding News

Funding Highlights

• Shield AI raises $1.5B Series G to advance autonomous defense systems
• Cents raises $140M Series C to modernize laundromat operations with AI
• Reflection eyes $2.5B round at $25B valuation to scale open-source AI models
• eMed raises $200M Series A to expand AI-driven telehealth and GLP-1 platform
• Steno raises $49M Series C to grow AI-powered legal services platform
• Normal Computing raises $50M to accelerate AI-driven chip design
• Worth raises $30M Series A to automate SMB underwriting and risk analysis
• Blossom Health raises $20M to build AI-powered psychiatry platform
• XFX raises $17M Series A to bridge stablecoins and fiat infrastructure
• Plum raises $20.6M Series B to expand corporate insurance and health services

Investor Activity

Today’s funding rounds drew strong participation from a mix of private equity firms, venture capital, and strategic backers targeting AI infrastructure, healthcare systems, and financial platforms. Advent International and JPMorgan leaned into defense autonomy, while Samsung Catalyst Fund backed next-generation chip design. In fintech and insurance, Fulcrum, American Express Ventures, and Peak XV focused on modernizing underwriting and employee benefits. Meanwhile, crypto-native investors like Castle Island and Coinbase Ventures continued to support stablecoin infrastructure. Across the board, capital is concentrating around platforms that combine automation, data, and real-world application at scale.

Shield AI Raises $1.5B in Series G Funding for Autonomous Warfare Tech

San Diego-based Shield AI develops AI autonomy software (Hivemind) for drones and aircraft. Today, the AI defense startup announced a $1.5 billion Series G round at a $12.7 billion valuation. Advent International led the funding, co-led by JPMorgan Chase’s Strategic Investment Group; backers Snowpoint Ventures, InnovationX, Riot Ventures, Disruptive, and Apandion also participated. Shield’s Hivemind enables U.S. and allied military aircraft to execute missions in GPS-denied, contested environments.

Shield AI plans to use part of the new capital to acquire Aechelon Technology, a defense simulation specialist. This funding round more than doubles Shield AI’s valuation from a year ago, reflecting growing defense budgets and demand for autonomous systems.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Shield AI
• Investors: Advent International (lead); JPMorgan Chase Strategic Investment Group; Snowpoint Ventures; InnovationX; Riot Ventures; Disruptive; Apandion
• Amount Raised: $1.5 billion
• Total Raised: ~$2 billion (including prior rounds)
• Funding Stage: Series G
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Cents Raises $140M in Series C Funding for Modernizing Laundromat Operations

Laundry-tech startup Cents is building an AI-driven management platform for coin laundromats and shared laundry rooms. Today, Cents closed a $140 million Series C round led by Sumeru Equity Partners, with participation from Camber Creek. Cents’ system combines software, payment processing, and hardware to automate laundry businesses (billing, maintenance monitoring, etc.).

The startup already serves thousands of locations and processes roughly $1 billion in annual payments. The new funds will help Cents expand sales and product features to modernize the largely untapped laundromat market.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Cents
• Investors: Sumeru Equity Partners (lead); Camber Creek
• Amount Raised: $140 million
• Total Raised: Not disclosed
• Funding Stage: Series C
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Reflection Eyes $2.5B Funding Round at a $25B Valuation for Open-Source AI Platform

Reflection, a New York-based AI startup backed by Nvidia, is in talks to raise about $2.5 billion at a $25 billion valuation. The company is building open-source large-language models and agentic AI systems for software development. NVIDIA previously invested roughly $800 million in Reflection (at an $8 billion valuation).

JPMorgan Chase is reportedly considering participating in the new round through its venture unit. Reflection’s funding push comes amid a U.S. effort to create homegrown, efficient AI models to rival foreign systems. If completed, the round would be one of the largest ever for an open-AI project. The capital will be used to scale Reflection’s AI platform and attract top talent in the competitive AI model market.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Reflection
• Investors: Nvidia (backer); JPMorgan Chase Strategic Investment Group (potential)
• Amount Raised: $2.5 billion (proposed)
• Total Raised: ~$800 million (prior)
• Funding Stage: Series D (rumored)
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

XFX Raises $17M in Series A Funding to Bridge Stablecoins and Fiat

Miami-based XFX provides ultra-fast forex infrastructure for U.S. dollars, pesos, and dollar-pegged stablecoins. The startup closed a $17 million Series A on March 26, led by Castle Island Ventures, with Haun Ventures and Coinbase Ventures also participating. XFX’s platform matches buyers and sellers of fiat and stablecoins in real time.

In a booming stablecoin market, XFX aims to speed up large-scale currency trades that traditionally require days of bank settlement. The new capital will help hire quant traders and expand banking partnerships. Earlier investors in XFX include Castle Island, Haun, and Coinbase, all of whom also backed its $9 million seed round.

Funding Details:

• Startup: XFX
• Investors: Castle Island Ventures (lead); Haun Ventures; Coinbase Ventures
• Amount Raised: $17 million
• Total Raised: ~$26 million (including seed)
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Steno Raises $49M in Series C Funding to Expand AI Court Reporting

Steno, a Los Angeles startup providing tech-enabled court reporting and legal support, announced a $49 million Series C funding round. The round was led by Savano Capital Partners, with First Round Capital, The Legal Tech Fund, and other investors participating. Steno’s platform combines human court reporters with AI tools (like its Transcript Genius analysis software) to serve law firms nationwide.

The company says thousands of firms use its service, and it plans to use the funding to grow into new markets and enhance its AI litigation tools. This round brings Steno’s total funding to about $150 million to date. The capital will accelerate product R&D and expansion into the AmLaw 200, reinforcing Steno’s position as a leading legal-tech services provider.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Steno
• Investors: Savano Capital Partners (lead); First Round Capital; The Legal Tech Fund
• Amount Raised: $49 million
• Total Raised: ~$150 million
• Funding Stage: Series C
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Worth Raises $30M in Series A Funding for AI-Powered SMB Underwriting

Worth, a New York-based fintech, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to automate small-business underwriting. The round was led by Fulcrum Equity Partners, with American Express Ventures and TTV Capital also participating. Worth offers an AI-driven platform that consolidates KYC/KYB checks, credit scoring, and fraud detection into a real-time engine.

The funding will be used to refine its decision-intelligence platform and expand its product lineup. Worth’s founders believe banks and fintechs have lagged in SMB onboarding; this new capital will enable them to scale development and meet growing demand for faster, data-powered small-business financing.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Worth
• Investors: Fulcrum Equity Partners (lead); American Express Ventures; TTV Capital
• Amount Raised: $30 million
• Total Raised: $30 million
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Blossom Health Raises $20M in Funding to Expand AI Psychiatry Platform

Blossom Health, a startup developing an AI “operating system” for psychiatry, secured $20 million across its seed and Series A rounds. The round was led by Headline Ventures, with participation from returning backers Village Global and TA Ventures, as well as new investor Operator Partners. Blossom’s platform unifies all stakeholders in psychiatric care (clinicians, patients, insurers, pharmacies) within a single system to address fragmented mental healthcare. It provides AI “copilots” that assist psychiatrists with symptom evaluation, diagnosis, and personalized treatment plans.

Amid a national shortage of psychiatrists, Blossom aims to scale access to mental healthcare by making it more efficient and affordable. The funding will support expansion into new states, payer partnerships, and development of advanced AI assistants (for clinical and administrative tasks) that further reduce clinician workload.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Blossom Health
• Investors: Headline Ventures (lead); Village Global; TA Ventures; Operator Partners
• Amount Raised: $20 million
• Total Raised: $20 million
• Funding Stage: Seed/Series A
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

eMed Raises $200M in Series A Funding to Scale GLP-1 Telehealth Platform

eMed, a Miami-based telehealth startup co-founded by Tom Brady, announced a $200 million Series A funding round, valuing the company at over $2 billion. The round was led by Aon Consulting; investors include Brady (also eMed’s Chief Wellness Officer), CEO Linda Yaccarino, and biotech investor Jeff Aronin. eMed’s AI-driven platform helps employers and insurers manage coverage for GLP-1 medications for obesity/diabetes, as well as other treatments.

The company plans to use the proceeds to advance its “agentic” AI health platform and roll out a new payment model aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. Industry analysts note eMed’s growth in at-home diagnostics and telehealth, and this funding will accelerate its push into chronic disease management in corporate health plans.

Funding Details:

• Startup: eMed
• Investors: Aon Consulting (lead); Tom Brady; Linda Yaccarino; Jeff Aronin
• Amount Raised: $200 million
• Total Raised: $200 million
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Normal Computing Raises $50M in Funding to Revolutionize AI Chip Design

Normal Computing, a San Francisco startup at the intersection of AI and semiconductor design, has raised $50 million in funding, led by Samsung Catalyst Fund. This strategic round brings the company’s total financing to about $85 million. Normal’s technology uses advanced AI (including novel formal methods) to dramatically shorten chip development cycles.

Its “Normal EDA” platform helps engineers specify and verify chip designs using machine learning.  The company is also pioneering new hardware: it recently taped out its first ‘Carnot’ thermodynamic ASIC, a physics-based chip designed to achieve orders-of-magnitude gains in energy efficiency for generative AI workloads. The new capital will accelerate both product development and partnerships, addressing industry challenges of escalating chip complexity and energy demand.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Normal Computing
• Investors: Samsung Catalyst Fund (lead)
• Amount Raised: $50 million
• Total Raised: ~$85 million
• Funding Stage: Strategic funding round
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Plum Raises $20.6M in Series B Funding to Expand Corporate Insurance and Health Services

Plum, an Indian insurtech focused on corporate employee benefits, raised ₹1.93 billion (about $20.6 million) in a Series B round led by Peak XV Partners. Existing investors, GMO Venture Partners and Tanglin Venture Partners, also participated. Founded in 2019, Plum provides companies with insurance broking and custom healthcare plans (including a rising telehealth service).

The startup plans to use the new funding to scale sales and marketing in India’s corporate insurance market and deepen its AI-driven claims processing and preventive healthcare offerings. As regulatory changes increase uninsured populations, Plum’s technology aims to make employee benefits more efficient. CEO Abhishek Poddar noted the company’s health vertical is growing rapidly, and this capital will fuel geographic expansion and technology investments (especially AI for claims automation).

Funding Details:

• Startup: Plum (India)
• Investors: Peak XV Partners (lead); GMO Venture Partners; Tanglin Venture Partners
• Amount Raised: $20.6 million (₹1.93B)
• Total Raised: $20.6 million
• Funding Stage: Series B
• Funding Date: March 26, 2026

Tech Funding Summary Table