PixVerse raised $439 million, pushing its valuation above $2 billion. The company plans to use the capital to expand its world-model product and sell into more geographies.
8:00 PMTechCrunch7 stories from 5 sources
Mega AI rounds keep venture appetite alive
Day’s Recap
Supporting Articles
Nous Research is in talks to raise at least $75 million at an implied $1.5 billion valuation, with Robot leading and notable participation expected from USV and other investors. The round would further capitalize the company behind Hermes, an open-weight model line positioned for agent-style applications.
7:31 PMTechCrunchMiddle East venture funding fell 22% in the first half of the year, while deal count dropped 41%, according to Magnitt. A large share of reported deals were agreed before the recent Iran-related escalation, with the tougher read-through expected over the summer.
2:20 AMBloomberg Markets8:00 PMTechCrunch
Video-generation startup PixVerse raises $439M, valuation soars past $2B
Summary
PixVerse raised $439 million, pushing its valuation above $2 billion. The company plans to use the capital to expand its world-model product and sell into more geographies.
Why it matters
The round signals that investors will still fund expensive generative video bets when a company can plausibly turn model performance into global go-to-market leverage.
7:31 PMTechCrunch
Hermes agent maker Nous Research in talks for new funding at $1.5B valuation
Summary
Nous Research is in talks to raise at least $75 million at an implied $1.5 billion valuation, with Robot leading and notable participation expected from USV and other investors. The round would further capitalize the company behind Hermes, an open-weight model line positioned for agent-style applications.
Why it matters
It sets a new valuation marker for open-weight AI model companies and tests whether agent-first positioning can translate into defensible revenue fast enough to justify late-stage pricing.
2:20 AMBloomberg Markets
Bahoshy: Mideast Venture Funding Plunges in 1H
Summary
Middle East venture funding fell 22% in the first half of the year, while deal count dropped 41%, according to Magnitt. A large share of reported deals were agreed before the recent Iran-related escalation, with the tougher read-through expected over the summer.
Why it matters
A sustained drop in deal count is an early warning that startup formation and follow-on funding will tighten across the region.
Other Developments
A curated list of other prominent stories from this day.
Auger raised $50 million in Series B funding to speed development of an autonomous operating system for supply chain operations, according to a post by founder and CEO Dave Clark. The company says it is building software to run and optimize physical-economy workflows end to end.
3:03 PMPYMNTSGauntlet Networks raised $125 million in a Series C round to expand globally and deepen its onchain risk and yield optimization products. The company positions itself as a yield curator for capital allocators, fintechs, financial institutions, and stablecoin issuers deploying capital onchain.
1:46 PMPYMNTSAuger, the supply chain startup founded by former Amazon and Flexport executive Dave Clark, raised a $50 million Series B. The round follows new enterprise traction, including additional Fortune 100 customers such as Meta and Fanatics, amid strong AI-focused venture demand.
9:00 AMWWDGauntlet, a digital-asset risk and optimization firm, closed a $125 million Series C led by SBI Holdings via its US subsidiary. The round positions Gauntlet to expand its role in risk management and tooling for crypto markets.
5:38 AMFinextra3:03 PMPYMNTS
Auger Raises $50 Million to Build Autonomous Supply Chain Operating System
Summary
Auger raised $50 million in Series B funding to speed development of an autonomous operating system for supply chain operations, according to a post by founder and CEO Dave Clark. The company says it is building software to run and optimize physical-economy workflows end to end.
Why it matters
Capital is moving toward software that can directly operate supply chains, not just analyze them, raising the stakes for logistics tech incumbents and enterprise buyers.
1:46 PMPYMNTS
Gauntlet Raises $125 Million to Power Institutional Crypto Vaults Globally
Summary
Gauntlet Networks raised $125 million in a Series C round to expand globally and deepen its onchain risk and yield optimization products. The company positions itself as a yield curator for capital allocators, fintechs, financial institutions, and stablecoin issuers deploying capital onchain.
Why it matters
Late-stage capital is flowing to crypto risk and yield infrastructure, signaling that institutional onchain deployment is moving from experiments to repeatable allocation.
9:00 AMWWD
Amazon, Flexport Alum Dave Clark’s Supply Chain Startup Raises $50M
Summary
Auger, the supply chain startup founded by former Amazon and Flexport executive Dave Clark, raised a $50 million Series B. The round follows new enterprise traction, including additional Fortune 100 customers such as Meta and Fanatics, amid strong AI-focused venture demand.
Why it matters
Fresh capital plus marquee customers accelerates consolidation in AI-driven supply chain software and raises the bar for incumbents and startups competing for enterprise logistics budgets.
5:38 AMFinextra
SBI Holdings leads $125 million investment round in digital asset firm Gauntlet
Summary
Gauntlet, a digital-asset risk and optimization firm, closed a $125 million Series C led by SBI Holdings via its US subsidiary. The round positions Gauntlet to expand its role in risk management and tooling for crypto markets.
Why it matters
Institutional capital flowing into crypto risk infrastructure signals maturation and raises the bar for the next wave of digital-asset services.
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