Startups

• Fable Security, een in San Francisco gevestigd platform voor human risk management, is opgenomen in de Rising in Cyber 2026-lijst, waarin de 30 meest veelbelovende private cybersecurity-startups worden erkend. • Het bedrijf maakt gebruik van AI en gedragswetenschap om organisatorische cybersecurity-risico's te verminderen door het gedrag van werknemers te sturen en social engineering-aanvallen te voorkomen. • De jaarlijkse lijst wordt onafhankelijk samengesteld door Notable Capital om innovatieve bedrijven in een vroeg stadium te belichten die kritieke cyberdreigingen aanpakken.

• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, providing federal grants to startups, has returned after a historic lapse, offering critical non-dilutive funding for technology innovation. • Founders need to know key changes in eligibility, application processes, and timelines for when funding may flow again to support R&D in AI, cybersecurity, and other tech areas. • This revival boosts US startup ecosystem amid competitive global pressures, enabling early-stage companies to advance prototypes without equity loss.

• TechCrunch correspondent Anna Heim identified 21 emerging European AI and tech startups positioned to capture venture investor attention beyond market leaders Mistral AI and Lovable. • The curated list of companies represents underreported opportunities in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that venture insiders are quietly tracking. • These startups compete in a market where established European firms continue securing massive funding rounds and launching competitive products.

• Y Combinator's security startup cohort has expanded to 103 funded companies, reflecting accelerating investment in cybersecurity solutions amid rising threat landscapes. • The proliferation of YC-backed security startups demonstrates investor conviction that emerging cyber threats create durable market opportunities and venture-scale business potential. • This growth underscores the strategic importance of security infrastructure across enterprise and consumer markets, with founders addressing gaps in traditional defense mechanisms.

• In the first quarter of 2026, AI‑driven insurance technology firms attracted significant capital, including Harper Group’s $47 million seed plus Series A and Indigo Technologies’ $50 million Series B, both focused on AI‑automated underwriting and claims workflows. • Platforms such as Mea Platforms, Pasito, General Magic, and Qumis raised between $4.3 million and $50 million to automate document‑heavy processes, reduce loss ratios, and compress quote and bind times for small and midsize businesses. • Investors are backing U.S.‑based vendors that use AI to scale distribution without proportional headcount growth, reduce friction in benefits selection, and improve risk selection in commercial lines.

• Cognizant announced the launch of its Innovation Network on April 28, 2026, a corporate investment arm targeting early to mid-stage enterprise software startups in the US. • The AI Lab validates promising innovations, while the network supports startups in turning them into products for Global 2000 clients like those in logistics and recruitment. • This initiative accelerates integration of breakthrough technologies into Cognizant's solutions, enhancing enterprise value amid rising AI adoption.

• Google announced a $750 million fund on April 27, 2026, targeting startups developing AI agents. • The fund aims to accelerate innovation in AI agent technologies amid intensifying competition. • This initiative underscores Google's commitment to fostering the AI ecosystem, potentially challenging rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic.

• Toronto-based Cohere Inc. and Germany's Aleph Alpha GmbH announced plans to merge, supported by a $600 million structured financing commitment from Schwarz Group. • Cohere, which has raised $1.6 billion since 2019 from Nvidia and others, offers multiple AI models; the Series E deal expects additional investors and closure later in 2026. • The merger combines expertise in enterprise AI, potentially accelerating development amid US-China tech tensions and boosting competitive edge for Western AI firms.

• Sequoia Capital announced a $7 billion expansion fund under new leadership specifically targeting late-stage AI startups across the U.S. and Europe. • The fund aims to accelerate growth for mature AI companies navigating scaling challenges in competitive markets. • This massive capital injection underscores surging investor confidence in AI's long-term potential amid rapid technological advancements.

• Andreessen Horowitz has successfully closed a $15 billion fund dedicated to artificial intelligence startups, representing one of the largest venture capital commitments to the AI sector. • The fund targets investment opportunities across healthcare, enterprise software, and robotics sectors, focusing on companies leveraging generative AI technologies. • The massive capital commitment reflects continued investor confidence in AI-driven innovation despite broader market dynamics and demonstrates venture capital's long-term commitment to the generative AI space.

• The Pentagon transitioned from pilot projects to long-term enterprise contracts with venture-backed defense tech firms, exemplified by deals with Anduril and Palantir totaling billions. • Anduril's contract covers AI-powered drones, autonomous systems, and counter-UAS hardware tied to live missions, setting new benchmarks for manufacturing and delivery. • Steven Simoni of Allen Control Systems called it a 'meaningful signal' that startups must prove operational reliability over prototypes.