Funding

• Artificial intelligence dominated the largest U.S. startup funding rounds this week, with AI companies securing the majority of the top 10 deals. • The week's most significant financing event was a $1.5 billion Series F round for Baseten, a provider of AI inference technology. • Biotech emerged as the second-largest sector for venture capital investment, though it trailed significantly behind the AI spree.

• King Charles has become the first monarch to publicly disclose his tax bill, revealing he paid £12.9m in tax last year. • The royal public funding is set to double to £100m, with the new figures showing an increase in financial transparency from the monarchy. • The detailed breakdown of how the tax was calculated has not been disclosed, sparking potential questions about the royal family's financial dealings.

• The European Union has opened a call for applications for the AI Startup Award to honor the most transformative AI startups and scaleups across Europe. • Eligible companies must be developing innovative AI solutions in strategic sectors, including healthcare, robotics, manufacturing, climate, energy, defense, and the creative media industries. • This initiative aims to recognize and elevate European technological leadership in critical industries by highlighting high-impact AI implementations.

• Startups across Africa and the Middle East raised a total of $336.7 million during Week 26. • The funding period was dominated by a single massive $260 million raise by Dream, which overshadowed other regional deals. • Despite the outlier, investors continued to target diverse sectors including fintech, electric mobility, climate tech, AI, and cybersecurity.

• Amazon has announced a massive $13 billion investment in India, specifically targeting the expansion of its artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure. • Several other startups have successfully secured fresh capital, including healthtech and beauty-focused companies SuperLiving, Bodycraft, and Zave. • These developments highlight a significant surge in funding for AI and specialized consumer services, signaling strong investor confidence in the Indian tech ecosystem.

• The Trump administration has implemented an indefinite refugee ban and stop-work orders, causing significant delays in funding and reimbursements for resettlement agencies. • These policies have negatively impacted tens of thousands of refugee families and communities both within the United States and globally. • In a recent legal development, the Supreme Court ruled in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado that the administration may legally prevent individuals from seeking asylum at U.S.-Mexico border ports of entry.

• India's tech startups secured $7.2 billion in funding during the first half of 2026, representing a 12% increase compared to the previous year. • Despite the rise in total capital, the number of funding rounds declined sharply as investors shifted focus toward fewer, more mature companies. • Investment trends show a clear preference for deep-tech and infrastructure sectors over consumer-facing businesses, signaling a more disciplined approach to capital.