Top Startup and Tech Funding News – May 7, 2025

Today is Thursday, May 7, 2026, and we’re back with the latest startup and tech funding news from around the world. Today’s funding activity highlights where investors continue placing their biggest bets: sovereign AI infrastructure, quantum computing, satellite communications, defense manufacturing, enterprise automation, and next-generation biotech. From multibillion-dollar AI investments to fresh capital flowing into Europe’s growing quantum ecosystem, the latest rounds show that deep-tech infrastructure is no longer a niche category—it’s becoming the foundation of the next industrial cycle.

Large strategic financings dominated today’s market, particularly in AI and quantum systems, as companies race to secure compute capacity, semiconductor advantage, and enterprise AI positioning. At the same time, investors continued backing startups building the physical backbone of future industries, including orbital infrastructure, explosives manufacturing, and AI-powered financial operations. Biotech also remained active, with major capital flowing into late-stage cancer therapies as investors search for high-conviction healthcare breakthroughs.

Today’s deals span AI, quantum computing, defense, biotech, space, enterprise software, and fintech—and together they reflect a broader shift toward infrastructure-heavy platforms designed to power both digital and physical economies for the next decade.

Tech Funding News

Funding Highlights

• Moonshot AI raises $2B strategic round to scale open-source AI models
• Prior Labs secures $1.16B investment from SAP to build enterprise AI infrastructure
• Astranis raises $450M Series E to expand high-orbit satellite production
• CellCentric raises $220M Series D to advance multiple myeloma therapy
• Quantum Motion raises $160M Series C for silicon-based quantum computers
• eleQtron raises €57M Series A to scale quantum computing hardware
• Swebal raises €30M to rebuild Europe’s TNT supply chain
• Ethos raises $22.75M Series A for AI-powered expert networking
• Vori raises $22M Series B to expand AI-native grocery operations platform
• Fazeshift raises $17M Series A for AI-driven finance automation

Investor Activity

Today’s funding rounds drew strong participation from strategic corporates, sovereign-backed funds, deep-tech specialists, and infrastructure-focused venture firms positioning for the next wave of AI and industrial transformation. SAP, DCVC, Andreessen Horowitz, Franklin Templeton, Venrock, and Mundi Ventures were among the most active backers across enterprise AI, biotech, quantum systems, and space infrastructure.

Investors also showed increasing appetite for technologies tied to national resilience and industrial independence. Defense manufacturing, quantum hardware, satellite systems, and semiconductor-adjacent infrastructure attracted fresh capital as governments and institutions push to localize critical supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign technologies. Across sectors, capital continues consolidating around startups building foundational systems with long development cycles, defensible technology, and long-term strategic value.

Prior Labs Raises $1.16B Strategic Investment from SAP to Build Enterprise AI Lab

Prior Labs, an 18-month-old German AI research lab, has secured a massive corporate investment from SAP to accelerate enterprise AI development. The deal involves SAP acquiring the startup (pending regulatory approval) and committing €1 billion (about $1.16 billion) over four years to grow Prior Labs into an “open AI lab” for enterprise data infrastructure. Prior Labs, spun out of the University of Freiburg, focuses on building AI models that handle tabular (structured) data, aiming to improve machine learning for complex business datasets. SAP’s investment (led by its venture arm, Long-Z Investment, and co-investors such as Tsinghua Capital and China Mobile) will give Prior Labs access to SAP’s global enterprise customer base and resources, while helping SAP bolster its own AI offerings.

This deal underlines two key trends: global tech giants’ quest to strengthen in-house AI platforms, and Europe’s push to nurture sovereign AI capabilities. Prior Labs now has a strong corporate backer and will expand its engineering team and labs using SAP’s funding. With the combined funding, SAP effectively brings Prior Labs’ total capital raised to several billion, reflecting one of Europe’s largest single investments in an AI startup so far.

• Startup: Prior Labs (AI lab, acquired by SAP)
• Investors: SAP (Long-Z Investment, lead; also Tsinghua Capital, China Mobile, CPE Yuanfeng)
• Amount Raised: $1.16 billion (investment)
• Total Raised: ~$1.16 billion (new)
• Funding Stage: Strategic Investment (Acquisition)
• Funding Date: May 5, 2026

Moonshot AI Raises $2B to Advance Open-Source AI Models

Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI announced a roughly $2 billion funding round, valuing the company at about $20 billion. Moonshot (Beijing) is known for its “Kimi” series of open-weight large language models, which rival Western counterparts. The round was led by Meituan’s VC arm (Long-Z Investment), with participation from Tsinghua Holdings, China Mobile, and other investors. In the past six months, Moonshot has already raised nearly $3.9 billion, bringing its total funding to nearly $4 billion and more than doubling its valuation since late 2025.

This massive raise highlights the global boom in interest in AI and China’s push to fund homegrown AI technology. According to the fundraising announcement, Moonshot’s latest model (K2.6) is now one of the most widely used AI models in China, and its annual revenue recently topped $200 million. Backers say the funding will support scaling of Moonshot’s infrastructure and model development to meet surging customer demand. In effect, Moonshot becomes one of the best-funded AI startups globally – a sign that investors still have a healthy appetite for AI, especially those willing to adopt open-source approaches.

• Startup: Moonshot AI (AI lab)
• Investors: Long-Z Investment (lead, Meituan VC); also Tsinghua Holdings, China Mobile, CPE Yuanfeng Capital
• Amount Raised: ~$2.00 billion
• Total Raised: ~$3.90 billion to date
• Funding Stage: Late-stage (strategic round)
• Funding Date: May 7, 2026

Astranis Raises $450M Series E to Accelerate Satellite Production

Satellite manufacturer Astranis announced a $450 million Series E round, bringing its total funding to over $1.2 billion. The financing – one of the largest space-tech funding rounds this year – was co-led by Snowpoint Ventures and Franklin Templeton. Astranis builds small geostationary and high-orbit satellites for telecom and internet connectivity. The new capital will be used to ramp up production of Astranis’ next-generation spacecraft to meet “surging demand” from both commercial and government customers. In particular, Astranis has contracts to deliver satellites to companies providing broadband and to U.S. defense programs.

For the space industry, this round is significant both for its size and timing. Astranis’ CEO said it will help the company scale its factory and supply chain, as governments and companies worldwide invest heavily in satellite networks. The funds will also support R&D on newer platforms and expansions into international markets. With this injection, Astranis aims to shorten production lead times and capture a growing share of the space communications market.

• Startup: Astranis (satellite manufacturer)
• Investors: Snowpoint Ventures (lead), Franklin Templeton (lead); also Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, etc.
• Amount Raised: $450 million
• Total Raised: >$1.2 billion (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series E
• Funding Date: May 6, 2026

CellCentric Raises $220M Series D for Myeloma Drug Development

CellCentric, a clinical-stage biotech developing novel blood cancer therapies, has closed a $220 million Series D financing to advance its lead drug candidate. Headquartered in Cambridge (UK) and Boston, CellCentric is developing inobrodib, a first-in-class therapy for multiple myeloma (a type of blood cancer). The Series D round was led by Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, with participation from new and existing investors (including Sofinnova, RA Capital, HBM Healthcare, and Pfizer among others). The round brings CellCentric’s total funding to over $400 million.

CellCentric said the new funding will support late-stage clinical trials (Phase 2/3) for inobrodib and expand the company’s manufacturing and R&D capabilities. The company is also preparing for a potential IPO down the line. This financing comes amid a general pullback in biotech funding, underscoring strong support for promising oncology therapies. By securing this capital, CellCentric can accelerate development of its “transformative” myeloma treatment. The financing indicates continued investor interest in next-generation cancer drugs as the industry seeks breakthroughs for hard-to-treat cancers.

• Startup: CellCentric (biotech; developing inobrodib for myeloma)
• Investors: Venrock Healthcare (lead); also Fidelity Management, Sofinnova Partners, HBM Healthcare, RA Capital, Forbion, Pfizer Ventures, ACS Ventures.
• Amount Raised: $220 million
• Total Raised: ~$400 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series D
• Funding Date: May 6, 2026

Quantum Motion Raises $160M Series C to Scale Silicon Quantum Computers

Quantum Motion, a UK-based quantum computing startup, has secured $160 million in Series C funding to commercialize its silicon-based quantum processors. The round was co-led by Spain’s Mundi Ventures and U.S. VC DCVC, with British Business Bank and Oxford Science Enterprises also participating, alongside strategic investors Porsche and Bosch Ventures. Quantum Motion’s technology uses standard silicon transistors (the same processes as conventional chips) to build quantum bits, a novel approach aimed at dramatically reducing cost and size. According to the company, its full-stack quantum computer fits into three standard server racks thanks to this design.

This funding milestone is significant in quantum tech: it ranks among the largest VC raises for a European quantum startup. Quantum Motion plans to use the investment to expand manufacturing and R&D of its quantum devices and to increase staff in both the UK and new European labs (it recently opened an office in Spain). The round also signals strong public-private backing: Mundi’s €1 billion Kembara fund is partly backed by EU institutions, reflecting Europe’s strategic push in quantum computing. Industry analysts note that by tapping familiar semiconductor processes, Quantum Motion aims to overcome the scalability challenges faced by other quantum architectures. If successful, its technology could accelerate real-world applications in encryption, simulation and complex optimization.

• Startup: Quantum Motion (silicon-based quantum computing)
• Investors: Mundi Ventures (lead), DCVC (co-lead); also British Business Bank, Oxford Science Enterprises, Porsche, Bosch Ventures.
• Amount Raised: $160 million
• Total Raised: >$230 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series C
• Funding Date: May 7, 2026

eleQtron Raises $67M Series A to Scale Quantum Computing Hardware

German quantum computing startup eleQtron has closed a €57 million (about $67 million) Series A round to build its superconducting quantum processors. The round was led by Schwarz Digits (the digital arm of the Schwarz Group) with support from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund. Other new and existing investors include Earlybird, Ankaa Ventures, Precitec, and several German development banks. EleQtron (founded in 2020 as a spin-off from the University of Siegen) uses a proprietary “MAGIC” technology to control qubits using magnetic field gradients. The startup says this Series A is among the largest global raises for quantum hardware at this stage.

EleQtron plans to use the funding to expand its hardware production, scale up its clean-room manufacturing, and offer cloud access to its quantum systems. The company already reports a large backlog of commercial orders (over €54 million), indicating strong demand for quantum processors in Europe. The new capital will also help extend its hardware team and move toward volume production. In the broader context, this funding reflects Europe’s efforts to develop a local quantum computing supply chain and reduce dependence on US/Asian tech. EleQtron’s CEO emphasized that the round will help transition quantum computing from lab prototypes to industrial use cases.

• Startup: eleQtron (quantum computing hardware)
• Investors: Schwarz Digits (lead); European Innovation Council Fund; Earlybird, Ankaa Ventures, Precitec, NRW.Bank, IFB Innovationsstarter.
• Amount Raised: ~$67 million (€57M)
• Total Raised: ~$67 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: May 7, 2026

Swebal Raises $35M Equity Round to Rebuild Europe’s TNT Supply

Swebal (Sweden Ballistics), a Swedish defense-tech startup, has raised €30 million (about $35 million) in equity funding to build Europe’s first new TNT explosives plant since the Cold War. Swebal was co-founded in 2024 to address shortages of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and other propellants needed for ammunition manufacturing. This Series A round brings in backing from a group of investors including retired Swedish General Karl Engelbrektson, e-commerce entrepreneur Pär Svärdson, and veteran EQT executive Thomas von Koch, along with family offices. The funding will finance the construction of a new TNT production facility in Nora, Sweden, with full-scale output planned by 2028.

The financing comes as European nations rapidly expand ammunition production in response to geopolitical tensions, and modernizing the explosive supply chain has become critical. Swebal’s founder says Europe currently imports most of its TNT, creating a strategic vulnerability. By establishing domestic production, Swebal aims to supply European arms manufacturers and reduce reliance on imports. In essence, this raise highlights how defense-oriented startups can attract venture capital for “munition supply chain” solutions. Analysts note that the $35M is significant for a munitions tech startup and underscores growing investor interest in national security industrial projects.

• Startup: Swebal (Sweden Ballistics; TNT explosives production)
• Investors: Major General (ret.) Karl Engelbrektson (lead); also Pär Svärdson, Thomas von Koch, and Swedish family offices.
• Amount Raised: $35 million (€30M)
• Total Raised: $35 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series A (Equity round)
• Funding Date: May 7, 2026

Ethos Raises $22.75M Series A Funding for AI-Enhanced Expert Networking

London-based Ethos, which is building an AI-enhanced expert networking platform, announced a $22.75 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz. Ethos’s platform uses voice interviews to onboard industry experts, capturing nuanced data about their skills and experience. The startup then uses that data to match experts with client firms more effectively. In addition to a16z, the round included General Catalyst, XTX Markets, Evantic Capital, and Common Magic. Ethos will use the capital to expand its network of experts, further develop its voice-AI technology, and grow its team.

This funding signals investor confidence in “people-as-data” platforms amid the AI boom. Company CEO James Lo (a former SoftBank executive) says traditional expert networks rely on superficial signals like job titles, whereas Ethos’s voice-driven approach unlocks deeper insights into expertise. With this new funding, Ethos aims to scale up its professional databases across industries. Observers note that the round strengthens Ethos’s position in a competitive expert-networking market and underscores the trend of AI-powered talent platforms. The company’s lead investor, a16z’s Acharya, commented that using voice as a data source can significantly improve expert matching.

• Startup: Ethos (AI-powered expert network)
• Investors: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z, lead); General Catalyst, XTX Markets, Evantic Capital, Common Magic.
• Amount Raised: $22.75 million
• Total Raised: $30 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: May 6, 2026

Vori Raises $22M Series B for AI-Powered Grocery Store Platform

Grocery-tech startup Vori has raised $22 million in a Series B round led by Cherryrock Capital. Vori provides an “AI-native operating system” for independent supermarkets to handle checkout, inventory, ordering, pricing, and payments. This latest financing (from a VC led by ex-TaskRabbit CEO Stacy Brown-Philpot) will be used to expand Vori’s engineering team and roll out new AI tools for grocers. Vori’s platform has already been adopted by 140+ stores nationwide, and the company says it has processed over $500 million in payments across those stores since its 2024 launch.

The funding brings Vori’s total capital to $50 million to date. The round comes as grocery stores seek tech solutions to compete with major chains. CEO Brandon Hill (himself a third-generation grocer) says Vori aims to serve the 75% of U.S. grocery operators outside the Walmart/Amazon “big box” orbit. By automating key store functions with AI, Vori hopes to help small grocers improve margins and efficiency. Industry analysts note that this round underlines continued investor interest in retail automation and point-of-sale innovation. With the new capital, Vori plans to significantly expand its store count (targeting thousands more grocers) and accelerate the development of AI agents for tasks such as inventory management and dynamic pricing.

• Startup: Vori (supermarket AI operations platform)
• Investors: Cherryrock Capital (lead; Stacy Brown-Philpot), Greylock Partners, The Factory (Chris Ré’s fund)
• Amount Raised: $22 million
• Total Raised: $50 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series B
• Funding Date: May 6, 2026

Fazeshift Raises $17M Series A for AI-Driven Finance Operations

New York fintech startup Fazeshift announced a $17 million Series A to accelerate its AI-powered accounts receivable automation platform. Fazeshift’s product uses machine learning to handle invoicing, payment matching, and collections for businesses, reducing manual billing workload. The round was led by F-Prime Capital, with participation from Gradient Ventures, Y Combinator, Wayfinder Ventures, Pioneer Fund, Ritual Ventures, and others. This Series A will allow Fazeshift to expand sales and engineering teams and move beyond beta into broader market rollout.

Investors say Fazeshift addresses a long-neglected area of enterprise finance by applying modern AI to legacy AR processes. The funding announcement highlights that traditional accounting workflows are ripe for automation. Fazeshift’s founder noted that automating receivables can free finance staff for higher-value work and improve cash flow. This deal is notable as one of the larger fintech seed/A rounds in Spring 2026, signaling ongoing VC interest in practical enterprise AI applications.

• Startup: Fazeshift (AI-enabled accounts receivable automation)
• Investors: F-Prime Capital (lead); Gradient Ventures, Y Combinator, Wayfinder Ventures, Pioneer Fund, Ritual Ventures.
• Amount Raised: $17 million
• Total Raised: $17 million (post-round)
• Funding Stage: Series A
• Funding Date: May 7, 2026

Tech Funding Summary Table