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Wispr raises $280M Series B led by Menlo Ventures at $2B valuation to expand AI meeting transcription
Wispr, a San Francisco AI dictation startup, raised $280 million in a Series B led by Menlo Ventures at a $2 billion valuation to expand its meeting transcription and note‑taker product. The company will use the funds to grow its go‑to‑market teams in regions including India and the U.K. and develop new AI meeting transcription features.
Singularity Raises $80M Series A at $400M Valuation to Mass-Produce Low-Cost Air-Defense Interceptors
Los Angeles startup Singularity emerged from stealth with an $80M oversubscribed Series A at a $400M valuation to mass-produce low-cost air-defense interceptors using automotive-style assembly and a team from Tesla, Toyota, SpaceX, Anduril and Lockheed Martin; the company is already running multiple monthly flight tests. The round was led by Khosla Ventures and Felicis with participation from AE Ventures, NEA, Long Journey, Harpoon, Menlo Ventures, Y Combinator and others.
Stanford Founders Launch Known, AI-Powered Dating App Charging $15 Per Date to End Swiping Frustrations
Stanford dropouts Celeste Amadon and Asher Allen founded Known, a San Francisco-based dating app that charges users $15 per date, using AI to facilitate natural conversations and book dates, aiming to reduce ineffective swiping. They believe paying per successful date aligns incentives better than traditional subscription models, boasting a no-show rate under 1%.
Seattle Startup Arrived Proposes Fan-Based Private Equity Stake in $8 Billion Seattle Seahawks
Seattle startup Arrived is proposing a fan-based private equity model allowing everyday investors to collectively buy a minority stake in the Seattle Seahawks, leveraging NFL rules permitting private equity stakes. The initiative targets gathering 100,000+ fans to invest small amounts, aiming for a 3%-10% ownership share amid potentially an $8 billion team valuation.
Bezos-Backed Arrived Raises $27M to Expand Fractional Real Estate Investment Platform and Launch Secondary Market
Arrived, a Seattle-based startup backed by Bezos Expeditions, raised $27 million to expand its platform that allows investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties starting at $100. The company also launched a peer-to-peer Secondary Market enabling investors to trade shares directly, aiming to make real estate investing as accessible and liquid as the stock market.
Daydream Raises $50M Seed to Launch AI-Driven Online Clothing Shopping Platform Led by Julie Bornstein
Daydream, a startup led by e-commerce veteran Julie Bornstein, raised a $50 million seed round to develop an AI-powered platform aimed at transforming online clothing shopping. The platform, launching in beta later this year, partners with nearly 2,000 brands to offer a more intuitive and personalized shopping search experience.
Fabric raises $140M Series C led by SoftBank at $1.5B valuation to scale e-commerce platform
Seattle e-commerce platform Fabric, led by former Amazon executives and CEO Faisal Masud, raised $140 million in a Series C led by SoftBank at a $1.5 billion valuation, bringing total funding to $293.5 million. The 300-person company provides APIs and software for mid-market retailers (clients include Chico’s, McDonald’s, TriMark, L’azurde and The Honest Company) to manage pricing, inventory, storefronts and checkout as commerce moves online.
