Proptech startup Smart Bricks raises $5 million pre-seed led by a16z
Smart Bricks is an AI-powered proptech that helps investors find high-quality real estate investments
Venture
Primary Ventures raises healthy $625M Fund V to focus on seed investing
Primary Ventures has closed a $625 million fund focused on seed investing nationwide. It’s a sizeable accomplishment for a seed-stage VC firm.
Call for speakers: TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026
Submit to speak at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 to lead a roundtable. Share scaling insights with 1,100 founders on June 23 in Boston. Apply here.
The battle begins: 2026 Startup Battlefield 200 nominations are open
Calling Pre-Series A founders: nominations for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 are open. Compete in the world’s most iconic pitch competition at Disrupt 2026 from October 13 – 15.
India has changed its startup rules for deep tech
India is adjusting startup rules to help more of its deep tech startups with funding and long-term success.
Benchmark raises $225M in special funds to double down on Cerebras
Benchmark Capital has been an investor in the Nvidia rival since 2016.
How Elon Musk is rewriting the rules on founder power
Elon Musk has merged SpaceX and xAI, creating what might be the blueprint for a new Silicon Valley power structure. With his $800 billion net worth already rivaling historic conglomerate GE’s peak market cap, and Musk being vocal about his view that “tech victory is decided by velocity of innovation,” the question isn’t whether a personal conglomerate can be built, but rather how far Musk himself is […]
Sapiom raises $15M to help AI agents buy their own tech tools
The startup — with backing from Accel — is building a financial layer that handles the authentication and micro-payments required for AI agents.