Top Startup and Tech Funding News – February 24, 2025

It’s Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and we’re back with today’s top startup and tech funding news. Today’s rounds highlight sustained investor appetite for AI infrastructure, enterprise automation, next-gen semiconductors, and emerging space and crypto platforms. As enterprises move from experimentation to production AI, capital continues to concentrate around companies building the data, compute, and software layers that make autonomous systems viable at scale.

Notably, large growth rounds in AI chips and enterprise automation signal that investors are prioritizing performance, efficiency, and real-time intelligence across industries. At the same time, early-stage bets in orbital computing, interactive video, and Web3 finance show venture firms are still hunting for the next breakout platform category. Today’s mix spans AI hardware, fintech, biotech, marketing tech, cybersecurity, and space infrastructure, pointing to a market that is both consolidating around proven winners and seeding the next wave of deep-tech challengers.

Tech Funding News

Funding Highlights

• SambaNova Systems raises $350M Series E for AI inference chips
• Axelera AI raises $250M Series B for edge AI semiconductors
• Basis raises $100M Series B for AI accounting platform
• Profound raises $96M Series C for AI marketing infrastructure
• Nimble raises $47M Series B for real-time AI data pipelines
• Astelia raises $35M Seed for AI cybersecurity platform
• Turbine raises $25M Series B for AI-driven drug discovery
• Based raises $11.5M Series A for Web3 crypto super app
• Sophia Space raises $10M Seed for orbital computing platform
• ValkaAI raises €12M Pre-Seed for interactive AI video technology

Investor Activity

Today’s funding drew strong participation from both venture heavyweights and strategic backers focused on the AI stack. Lightspeed, Accel, Norwest Venture Partners, and Insight-tier firms concentrated on enterprise AI, marketing intelligence, and data infrastructure, while semiconductor-focused investors continued deploying capital into next-generation inference hardware.

Meanwhile, specialized funds and corporates showed growing interest in frontier categories including space-based compute, virtual biology, and on-chain financial platforms. Across the board, the signal is clear: investors are doubling down on companies building durable infrastructure for the agent-driven software era while selectively seeding early platforms that could define the next computing cycle.

SambaNova Raises $350M Series E for AI Inference Chips

SambaNova Systems, a California startup developing advanced AI inference chips and cloud hardware, has closed a $350 million financing round to capitalize on surging demand for real-time AI hardware. The round was led by Vista Equity Partners (with Cambium Capital) and included Intel Capital, among others. The investment arrives as SambaNova expands its SN50 AI chip and SambaCloud platform for data centers. According to Reuters, the funding will be used to ramp up production of the new SN50 inference chip, scale the SambaCloud service, and deepen its enterprise software integrations. Notably, SoftBank Corp. will be the first customer deploying SambaNova’s SN50 chips in its AI data centers in Japan, signaling early commercial traction.

• Startup: SambaNova Systems

• Investors: Vista Equity Partners (lead), Cambium Capital, Intel Capital (notable)

• Amount Raised: $350M

• Total Raised: ~$1B (total since founding)

• Funding Stage: Series E

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Axelera AI Raises $250M Series B for Edge AI Chips

Axelera AI, a Netherlands-based semiconductor startup, has secured $250 million in new funding to accelerate the development of its energy-efficient edge AI chips. The round was led by Innovation Industries and brought in new investors, including BlackRock and SiteGround Capital. Founded in 2021, Axelera develops “Europa” AI inference chips for low-power applications, targeting industries such as manufacturing and public safety.

The new capital will expand production of its Europa chips and further develop the software stack that makes them easier to deploy. This round is one of the largest ever for a European AI-chip maker, as demand grows for hardware that can run AI models efficiently outside massive data centers. Axelera’s total funding now exceeds $450 million since inception.

• Startup: Axelera AI

• Investors: Innovation Industries (lead), BlackRock, SiteGround Capital, Bitfury, CDP Venture Capital, Samsung Catalyst Fund, others

• Amount Raised: $250M

• Total Raised: >$450M

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Basis Raises $100M in Series B Funding for AI Accounting Platform

Basis, an AI-driven accounting software startup, has raised $100 million in a Series B round at a $1.15 billion valuation. The funding was led by Accel, with participation from GV (formerly Google Ventures), former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, and Khosla Ventures. Basis uses autonomous AI agents to handle multi-step accounting tasks tailored to each client.

The platform now serves several of the top accounting firms in the U.S., automating processes that traditionally require large accounting teams. The new capital will support Basis’s product development and sales expansion in an industry where AI is rapidly transforming professional services. The company has now raised roughly $134 million in equity, including a $34 million Series A in 2024.

• Startup: Basis

• Investors: Accel (lead), GV (Google Ventures), Lloyd Blankfein, Khosla Ventures

• Amount Raised: $100M

• Total Raised: ~$134M

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Profound Raises $96M in Series C Funding for AI Marketing Platform

Profound, a startup building an AI-driven marketing infrastructure, has raised $96 million in Series C funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. Other participants included Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Saga VC, South Park Commons, and Evantic. The funding values Profound at $1 billion and brings its total capital raised to over $155 million. Profound’s platform uses AI “agents” to analyze how brands are discovered and recommended in AI-driven search and answer engines.

The company serves over 700 enterprise customers worldwide (including Target, Walmart, and MongoDB) with tools to monitor and influence brand visibility in an era when AI systems increasingly act on consumers’ behalf. The new funding will fuel the growth of Profound’s autonomous marketing agents, which help brands adapt to a future where AI agents drive the first consumer interactions.

• Startup: Profound

• Investors: Lightspeed Venture Partners (lead), Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Saga VC, South Park Commons, Evantic

• Amount Raised: $96M

• Total Raised: $155M

• Funding Stage: Series C

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Based Raises $11.5M in Series A Funding for Web3 Crypto SuperApp

Based, a Singapore-based crypto/Web3 startup, has raised $11.5 million in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital. The round also included Coinbase Ventures, Wintermute Ventures, and Karatage. Based has built a “composable” super app that lets users trade, spend, and earn crypto in one interface, including a crypto debit card and prediction markets.

Launched just eight months ago, the platform has attracted over 100,000 users and handled about $40 billion in cumulative trading volume. The new funding will support Based’s global expansion and scaling of its on-chain financial infrastructure. The co-founders say Based aims to become the go-to app for an “on-chain” financial life, enabling users to invest in global crypto markets and spend seamlessly in daily life.

• Startup: Based

• Investors: Pantera Capital (lead), Coinbase Ventures, Wintermute Ventures, Karatage

• Amount Raised: $11.5M

• Total Raised: $11.5M

• Funding Stage: Series A

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Turbine Raises $25M in Series B Funding for AI-Powered Drug Discovery Platform

Turbine, a London–and–Budapest virtual biology startup, has raised $25 million in a Series B round to expand its AI-driven drug discovery tools. The round was led by Interactive Venture Partners and included Beiersdorf Venture Capital (the VC arm of a skincare company), with participation from existing backers MSD Global Health Innovation, Accel, and Mercia.

Turbine’s platform uses AI models to “virtualize” biological experiments – simulating how drugs and ingredients interact with cells – dramatically speeding up R&D. The new funding will broaden Turbine’s platform into new assay types (including an immunology collaboration with a top-10 pharma company) and scale its “Virtual Lab” deployment. This investment underscores growing investor interest in deep‑tech biotech that uses AI to accelerate pharmaceutical and healthcare research.

• Startup: Turbine

• Investors: Interactive Venture Partners (lead), Beiersdorf Venture Capital, MSD Global Health Innovation, Accel, Mercia

• Amount Raised: $25M

• Total Raised: ~$30M

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Sophia Space Raises $10M in Seed Funding for Orbital Computing Platform

Sophia Space, a California-based startup, has closed a $10 million seed round to develop its novel orbital computing modules. Founded by Leon Alkalai, a former fellow at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who now serves as the company’s chief technology officer, the Pasadena startup is building “TILE” satellites – compact compute modules that integrate solar power generation with a specialized cooling system for low-Earth-orbit AI applications. Each satellite rack can be connected in orbit to form a scalable data-processing array.

The funding was led by Alpha Funds (China) and included KDDI Green Partners Fund and Unlock Venture Partners, and was built on Sophia’s $3.5 million pre-seed investment. Sophia Space will use the proceeds to hire engineers, mature the TILE platform design, and form partnerships in the emerging space-based data center ecosystem. The startup aims to conduct on-orbit demonstrations later this year, as interest grows in leveraging spaceborne infrastructure for AI and data services.

• Startup: Sophia Space

• Investors: Alpha Funds (lead), KDDI Green Partners Fund, Unlock Venture Partners

• Amount Raised: $10M

• Total Raised: $13.5M

• Funding Stage: Seed

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

ValkaAI Raises €12M Pre-Seed for Interactive AI Video Platform

ValkaAI, a Czech startup developing real-time interactive AI video technology, has secured €12 million in a pre-seed round led by Rockaway Ventures. ValkaAI’s platform generates dynamic video content on the fly – for example, AI-powered commentators or characters that react instantly to live events and user input. The company’s avatars deliver personalized responses to each viewer, enabling novel experiences in sports, gaming, and entertainment. The pre-seed round saw participation from J&T Ventures, Tensor Ventures, BD Partners, and Fond Naše Česko, among others. The funding will accelerate ValkaAI’s development of fully controllable digital avatars and expand its technical infrastructure for large-scale deployment. With about 45 team members across San Francisco, Prague, and Dubai, ValkaAI plans to pilot its technology in sports and e-sports applications where real-time interactivity is key.

• Startup: ValkaAI

• Investors: Rockaway Ventures (lead), J&T Ventures, Tensor Ventures, BD Partners, Fond Naše Česko

• Amount Raised: €12M

• Total Raised: €12M

• Funding Stage: Pre-Seed

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Astelia Raises $35M Seed for AI Cybersecurity Platform

Astelia, an AI-powered cybersecurity startup cofounded by former Israeli intelligence officers, has raised $35 million in a combined Seed/Series A round. The round was led by Index Ventures and Team8. Astelia’s platform uses artificial intelligence to audit enterprise networks and pinpoint the small fraction of vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit, helping companies focus on the highest-risk fixes. The funding will be used to expand Astelia’s go-to-market and R&D teams as it brings its AI-driven vulnerability management tools to market. The investment reflects a broader industry shift: as cyber attackers adopt AI, companies are investing heavily in AI-based defenses. Astelia’s new capital positions it to help enterprises “shift from assumed risk to provable exposure” in cybersecurity.

• Startup: Astelia

• Investors: Index Ventures (lead), Team8 (lead)

• Amount Raised: $35M

• Total Raised: $35M

• Funding Stage: Seed

• Funding Date: Feb 24, 2026

Nimble Raises $47M in Series B Funding to Power Real-Time Data for AI Agents

Nimble, a New York–based data infrastructure startup, has raised $47 million in Series B funding to help AI agents access cleaner, real-time web data. The round was led by Norwest Venture Partners as demand grows for reliable data pipelines that autonomous AI systems can trust.

The company builds AI-powered web search and data extraction tools that structure live internet information into queryable datasets. As enterprises deploy more AI agents into production workflows, the need for verified, continuously updated data sources has become a bottleneck. Nimble is positioning itself as the connective tissue between the open web and enterprise AI systems.

The fresh capital will be used to expand the platform’s data coverage, improve validation accuracy, and scale enterprise adoption. The funding reflects rising investor interest in the infrastructure layer supporting agentic AI, where data quality is becoming as critical as model performance.

Funding Details:

• Startup: Nimble

• Investors: Norwest Venture Partners (lead)

• Amount Raised: $47M

• Total Raised: Not disclosed

• Funding Stage: Series B

• Funding Date: February 24, 2026

Tech Funding Summary Table

These ten announcements span AI hardware, fintech, biotech, space, marketing tech, crypto, and cybersecurity – reflecting broad venture interest.