Top Startup and Tech Funding News – September 3, 2025

It’s Wednesday, September 3, 2025, and we’re back with today’s top startup and tech funding news spanning the U.S. and international markets. From billion-euro AI megadeals to fresh rounds fueling biotech, fintech, and construction tech, today’s lineup underscores investor conviction in security, infrastructure, and next-generation applications.

Funding Highlights

Capital surged into late-stage AI and identity security as ID.me pulled in $340 million to combat AI-driven fraud, while French AI powerhouse Mistral is finalizing a massive €2 billion raise at a $14 billion valuation. Biotech momentum was strong with Treeline Biosciences emerging from stealth with $200 million to advance its oncology pipeline.

AI infrastructure remained a focal point: Exa secured $85 million to build its “search engine for AI,” You.com landed $100 million for enterprise AI search infrastructure, and HappyRobot brought in $44 million to expand its AI supply-chain teammates. Construction tech also drew attention as LightYX raised $11 million to bring laser-guided layout systems to global building sites.

Early-stage activity was vibrant across fintech and health: PlatinumRx raised $6 million to slash India’s drug costs with generics, Kea extended its seed round with €6 million to scale crypto-friendly banking, and GLHF drew $2.3 million to expand its Web3 RPG Gigaverse. Meanwhile, Vutto secured $7 million to grow its used two-wheeler marketplace in India, tapping into the country’s massive mobility demand.

Investor Activity

Today’s rounds brought together heavyweight backers such as Ribbit Capital, Benchmark, Base10 Partners, and Cox Enterprises, alongside global AI investors and specialized sector funds from biotech to blockchain. The scale and diversity of deals—from billion-euro AI labs to affordable medicine platforms—highlight the breadth of capital chasing both scale and frontier innovation in 2025.

Here’s the full breakdown. Until tomorrow, stay sharp and keep building.

ID.me Raises $340M in Funding to Combat AI-Driven Fraud in Digital Identity

ID.me, a McLean, VA-based digital identity verification startup, has secured $340 million in a new funding round, pushing its valuation above $2 billion. The round – a combination of equity and credit – was led by fintech-focused investor Ribbit Capital alongside existing backers Ares Capital and Moonshots Capital, with new investor Positive Sum also joining.

Founded in 2010, ID.me provides a secure digital identity wallet used by over 150 million people to prove and share their credentials online in sensitive contexts like government services and healthcare access. The company credited its platform with preventing more than $270 billion in unemployment fraud during the pandemic, underscoring its critical role as fraud threats escalate with AI.

CEO Blake Hall said the fresh capital will fuel expansion of ID.me’s services and the development of new AI-driven security measures as “fraud is evolving at the speed of AI—and so are we,” positioning ID.me at the forefront of fighting identity fraud in an increasingly digital, AI-powered world.

Funding Details:

• Startup: ID.me

• Investors: Ribbit Capital (lead); Ares Capital; Moonshots Capital; Positive Sum

• Amount Raised: $340 million

• Total Raised: ~ $500 million (estimated)

• Funding Stage: Series E

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

Mistral AI Finalizing €2B Mega Funding Round at $14B Valuation

Mistral AI, a two-year-old French artificial intelligence startup, is reportedly on the cusp of closing a colossal €2 billion investment round that would value the company at approximately $14 billion post-money. The Paris-based AI lab – founded by former DeepMind and Meta researchers and known for its open-source large language models and the “Le Chat” chatbot – has not officially confirmed the deal, but the funding would mark its first major raise since mid-2024 and make Mistral one of Europe’s most valuable tech startups.

This late-stage infusion is said to involve a consortium of global investors (details undisclosed), building on the support of previous backers like Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst. If completed, the financing will give Mistral a war chest to accelerate research and infrastructure for its AI models, cementing Europe’s growing influence in AI. The massive round also reflects the broader momentum in European AI this year, as startups across the continent attract unprecedented capital and multiple new AI unicorns emerge.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Mistral AI

• Investors: Undisclosed (previous backers include Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst)

• Amount Raised: ~ €2 billion (approx. $2.2 billion)

• Total Raised: ~ €1.1 billion (prior to this round)

• Funding Stage: Undisclosed (Late-stage)

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

Treeline Biosciences Lands $200M in Funding to Advance Stealth Cancer Pipeline

Treeline Biosciences, a secretive biotech startup co-founded by Loxo Oncology’s Josh Bilenker and former Novartis oncology head Jeff Engelman, has emerged from stealth with $200 million in new funding to propel multiple cancer drugs into clinical trials. The Watertown, MA-based company had operated under wraps since 2021, amassing a total of roughly $1.1 billion in capital to date from a dozen deep-pocketed investors, including Arch Venture Partners, OrbiMed, and GV.

Treeline’s model diverges from the typical biotech approach of betting on a single lead program – instead, the startup has been simultaneously developing a portfolio of therapies. It announced three cancer drug candidates now in Phase 1 studies, targeting tough oncogenic pathways like KRAS mutations and lymphoma drivers, with a fourth program nearing trials as well. The new $200M infusion will fund these early-stage trials and further pipeline expansion.

With the freedom of ample funding and heavyweight backers, Treeline aims to invent multiple breakthrough oncology medicines in parallel, unencumbered by the usual milestone-by-milestone constraints of biotech R&D.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Treeline Biosciences

• Investors: Arch Venture Partners; OrbiMed; GV; and others (total ~12 investors)

• Amount Raised: $200 million

• Total Raised: ~$1.1 billion

• Funding Stage: Undisclosed (Growth round)

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

Exa Raises $85M in Series B Funding to Build the ‘Search Engine for AI’

Exa, a San Francisco-based AI startup reimagining web search for AI applications, announced an $85 million Series B funding round led by Benchmark, valuing the company at around $700 million. Lightspeed Venture Partners, NVIDIA, and Y Combinator also participated in the round, which is a tenfold jump in valuation from Exa’s previous raise.

Co-founded in 2021, Exa has developed a novel search engine and API designed for use by AI systems rather than humans – enabling AI models to query the live web for up-to-date information and high-quality knowledge without the noise of ads or SEO spam.

Thousands of AI-driven apps and enterprises already rely on Exa’s search-as-a-service to augment their large language models. With veteran Benchmark partner Peter Fenton joining its board, Exa plans to use the new funds to scale up its web crawling infrastructure and GPU clusters, index far more of the internet’s data, and hire talent as it strives to become the go-to “Google for the AI era.”

Funding Details:

• Startup: Exa

• Investors: Benchmark (lead); Lightspeed Venture Partners; NVIDIA; Y Combinator

• Amount Raised: $85 million

• Total Raised: ~$102 million

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

You.com Secures $100M in Series C Funding for AI Search Infrastructure

You.com, the AI search and chatbot startup based in Palo Alto, has raised $100 million in a Series C round at a $1.5 billion valuation to expand its AI-driven search platform. The financing was led by Cox Enterprises – via its new tech fund Socium Ventures – with participation from existing investors Georgian, Salesforce Ventures, and Norwest.

Originally launched as a consumer web search engine with AI summaries and citations, You.com has since pivoted toward becoming an enterprise AI infrastructure provider, now handling over 1 billion API queries per month. Its platform allows developers and enterprises to integrate live web data and multiple AI models into their applications, offering features like zero data retention and custom model orchestration. With the fresh funds and Cox’s David Yang joining the board,

With this funding, You.com plans to scale its infrastructure and product offerings for businesses, enabling more organizations to build custom AI applications that blend proprietary data with real-time web information – all while maintaining speed, accuracy, and privacy.

Funding Details:

• Startup: You.com

• Investors: Cox Enterprises/Socium Ventures (lead); Georgian; Salesforce Ventures; Norwest

• Amount Raised: $100 million

• Total Raised: ~ $200 million

• Funding Stage: Series C

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

HappyRobot Lands $44M in Series B Funding to Automate Supply Chain Tasks with AI

HappyRobot, a San Francisco-based AI startup building automated “digital workers” for supply chain operations, has secured $44 million in Series B funding to scale its platform. The round was led by Base10 Partners, with strong support from existing investors Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Y Combinator, as well as new backers including Tokio Marine and World Innovation Lab. HappyRobot’s technology deploys AI-driven virtual agents to handle complex logistics tasks – from negotiating freight rates and scheduling shipments to processing payments – through natural conversations via phone, email, and chat.

Over 70 enterprise customers, including logistics giants like DHL and Ryder, already use HappyRobot’s AI teammates to streamline workflows that once took humans days or weeks. By vertically integrating multiple AI technologies (language models, voice synthesis, OCR, etc.) into a single orchestration platform, the startup dramatically reduces turnaround times and errors in freight coordination. HappyRobot’s founders, who have backgrounds in robotics and AI, say the new funding will enable the company to introduce advanced features (such as AI auditors for compliance) and expand into more industries beyond freight, ultimately building a versatile AI workforce to augment operations across global supply chains.

Funding Details:

• Startup: HappyRobot

• Investors: Base10 Partners (lead); Andreessen Horowitz (a16z); Y Combinator; Tokio Marine; World Innovation Lab

• Amount Raised: $44 million

• Total Raised: ~$ Fifty million (estimated)

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

LightYX Lights Up $11M in Series A Funding to Modernize Construction Layout

LightYX, an Israeli construction tech startup, has raised $11 million in Series A funding to accelerate the global rollout of its laser projection system for building sites. The round was led by NOVA by Saint-Gobain, the venture arm of materials giant Saint-Gobain, with participation from U.S.-based Yachad Capital Partners, Shibumi International, Somersault Ventures, and several construction industry angel investors.

LightYX’s solution tackles a longstanding pain point in construction: translating digital plans onto physical sites. Its electro-optical device projects precise laser guides directly onto floors, walls, and ceilings with 1/16-inch accuracy, showing crews exactly where to position elements like walls, pipes, and electrical conduits. This replaces the old method of chalk lines, tape measures, and paper blueprints, significantly reducing errors and rework.

Having already been used to lay out over 25 million square feet across hundreds of projects, LightYX will use the new capital to expand into the U.S. and European markets, form partnerships with major contractors, and further develop its technology. The goal is to triple growth by 2026, bringing “intelligent laser layout” to construction sites worldwide and boosting productivity in an industry ripe for tech transformation.

Funding Details:

• Startup: LightYX

• Investors: NOVA by Saint-Gobain (lead); Yachad Capital Partners; Shibumi International; Somersault Ventures; private construction-tech investors

• Amount Raised: $11 million

• Total Raised: ~$11 million (excluding grants)

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

PlatinumRx Secures $6M in Series A Funding to Cut India’s Medicine Bills with Generics

PlatinumRx, a Bengaluru-based online pharmacy and telehealth platform, has raised $6 million in Series A funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners, with participation from existing investor India Quotient. Founded in 2024, PlatinumRx focuses on providing affordable generic substitutes for expensive brand-name medications to patients with chronic conditions. The startup sources medicines directly from leading pharma manufacturers and ensures quality, allowing it to offer one vetted generic alternative for each prescribed drug.

By doing so, PlatinumRx claims to reduce monthly medicine costs by 50–60% for patients – a significant relief as India’s chronic disease burden and healthcare expenses rise. The new funds will be used to expand PlatinumRx’s operations by opening at least five additional fulfillment centers (adding to its facilities in Bengaluru and Delhi), enhancing its digital platform with AI-driven personalized recommendations, and growing its product and tech teams.

With this infusion, PlatinumRx aims to reach over 1 million customers in the next year and further its mission of making essential medicines more accessible and budget-friendly for Indian families.

Funding Details:

• Startup: PlatinumRx

• Investors: Stellaris Venture Partners (lead); India Quotient

• Amount Raised: $6 million

• Total Raised: ~$6.8 million

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

Kea Banks €6M Seed Extension to Build Crypto-Friendly Banking Platform

Kea, a fintech startup developing a crypto-friendly core banking infrastructure, has closed a €6 million extended seed round at a €40 million valuation to scale its services. The financing was led by an unnamed Switzerland-based private investor known for backing transformative fintech and blockchain ventures, with follow-on support from prominent financier Mark Carnegie, who had led Kea’s initial €2.5 million seed round in 2023.

Based between Europe and Australia, Kea offers a unified platform where businesses – especially those in underbanked markets – can manage traditional bank accounts, FX and SEPA transfers, as well as crypto assets and stablecoins, all through one compliant interface and a single KYB onboarding process. In just six months since launching its crypto payment processing module, Kea has helped clients achieve 20–30% revenue growth by adding crypto rails and significantly cutting transaction fees via direct crypto-to-fiat off-ramps.

The startup’s vision is to replace legacy banking bureaucracy with a modern, inclusive approach. Kea will leverage the new capital to acquire more customers in emerging markets, enhance its core banking and payments tech stack, and ensure regulatory compliance as it bridges conventional finance with digital assets.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Kea

• Investors: Private Swiss fintech investor (lead); Mark Carnegie (previous lead investor)

• Amount Raised: €6 million

• Total Raised: ~€8.5 million

• Funding Stage: Seed (extended)

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

GLHF Raises $2.3M in Funding to Boost Web3 Gaming with Gigaverse RPG

GLHF, a crypto-native game studio, announced a $2.3 million funding round aimed at scaling up its flagship Web3 game, Gigaverse. The round was led by 1confirmation, a venture firm prominent in the blockchain gaming space, and joined by several notable angel investors in crypto, signaling growing confidence in GLHF’s approach.

Founded by pseudonymous gaming enthusiasts “Dith” and “Garnish,” GLHF has built Gigaverse as an open-world crypto RPG that has quickly gained traction: the game boasts over 75,000 paying users, has generated $4.5 million in revenue, and has seen more than $9 million worth of player-to-player transactions in its integrated NFT marketplace. With this infusion of capital, GLHF plans to introduce new gameplay features – including player-vs-environment and player-vs-player battle modes – and expand Gigaverse’s immersive universe for its growing community.

The studio emphasizes a community-driven ethos, giving players true asset ownership and a role in the game’s evolution. As the crypto gaming market gradually matures, GLHF aims to leverage its head start and passionate user base to position Gigaverse as a leading title in the next generation of blockchain-based games.

Funding Details:

• Startup: GLHF

• Investors: 1confirmation (lead); prominent crypto angel investors (unnamed)

• Amount Raised: $2.3 million

• Total Raised: $2.3 million (first external round)

• Funding Stage: Seed

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

Vutto Revvs Up $7M in Series A Funding to Scale Used Two-Wheeler Marketplace

Vutto, a Delhi-based online marketplace for used two-wheelers, has raised $7 million in Series A funding to accelerate its growth in India’s booming pre-owned motorcycle market. The round was led by global VC firm RTP Global, with participation from Blume Ventures, which previously backed Vutto’s $1 million seed round.

Founded in 2024 by Rohit Khurana and Sitaram Ankilla, Vutto operates a full-stack platform for buying and selling second-hand scooters and motorbikes. Customers can browse certified used two-wheelers online, test-ride them at Vutto’s physical hubs, and purchase bikes that come with a six-month warranty plus assistance on paperwork, insurance, and financing. The startup differentiates itself by refurbishing vehicles to a high standard and partnering with banks to also resell repossessed bikes.

Vutto plans to use the fresh funds to deepen its presence across the Delhi-NCR region, expand into new metro markets, and enhance its operations in supply chain, reconditioning, and customer service. India sees nearly 9 million used two-wheelers sold annually, and Vutto is positioning to capture this demand by offering a trusted, convenient alternative to the fragmented local dealer network for pre-owned bikes.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Vutto

• Investors: RTP Global (lead); Blume Ventures

• Amount Raised: $7 million

• Total Raised: ~$8 million

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: Sept 3, 2025

Tech Funding Summary Table