Startups

• No primeiro trimestre de 2026, empresas de tecnologia de seguros baseadas em IA atraíram capital significativo, incluindo os US$ 47 milhões da Harper Group em rodada seed plus Series A e os US$ 50 milhões da Indigo Technologies em Series B, ambas focadas em fluxos de trabalho de subscrição e sinistros automatizados por IA. • Plataformas como Mea Platforms, Pasito, General Magic e Qumis arrecadaram entre US$ 4,3 milhões e US$ 50 milhões para automatizar processos com uso intensivo de documentos, reduzir índices de sinistralidade e agilizar os tempos de cotação e fechamento para pequenas e médias empresas. • Investidores estão apoiando fornecedores sediados nos EUA que utilizam IA para escalar a distribuição sem um aumento proporcional no número de funcionários, reduzir o atrito na seleção de benefícios e melhorar a seleção de riscos em linhas comerciais.

• A Cognizant anunciou o lançamento de sua Rede de Inovação em 28 de abril de 2026, um braço de investimento corporativo voltado para startups de software empresarial em estágio inicial e intermediário nos EUA. • O AI Lab valida inovações promissoras, enquanto a rede apoia as startups a transformá-las em produtos para clientes do Global 2000, como empresas de logística e recrutamento. • Esta iniciativa acelera a integração de tecnologias disruptivas nas soluções da Cognizant, aumentando o valor empresarial em meio à crescente adoção de IA.

• 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.