Norwest
Alice (formerly ActiveFence) Raises $140M Led by Apax Digital to Advance AI Safety and Security Platform
Alice, an Israeli AI safety and security company formerly ActiveFence, raised $140 million in a funding round led by Apax Digital to advance its platform for testing, defending, and monitoring AI models across their lifecycle; Samsung, SentinelOne and several other investors participated. The company will use the funds to further develop its AI safety and security technology for enterprises and model labs.
Zenity Raises $125M Series C Led by Norwest to Expand AI Security and Governance Platform
Zenity, a New York–based AI security and governance platform for enterprise AI agents, raised $125 million in a Series C led by Norwest to accelerate global expansion, platform innovation, and research hires. Investors include Qumra Capital, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Hitachi Ventures, LG Technology Ventures, Vertex Ventures, Third Point Ventures, DTCP, and Intel Capital.
Zenity raises $125M Series C led by Norwest with SoftBank, Hitachi and LG to secure enterprise AI agents
Tel Aviv-based cybersecurity startup Zenity raised $125 million in a Series C led by Norwest, with SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Hitachi Ventures, and LG Technology Ventures joining, to secure autonomous AI agents inside enterprise systems. Its platform offers visibility, posture management, and real-time threat detection for agentic AI deployments, building on prior work securing Microsoft Copilot and low-code automation.
VCs Add AI, Policy and Capital Experts as Norwest Hires Ken Yagen; Quantum Funding Grows Amid Talent Shortage
Venture capital firms are hiring AI product specialists, government affairs staff and capital-formation experts to better support founders navigating AI, regulatory risks and funding trade-offs; Norwest recently added Ken Yagen in such a role. Investment in quantum computing is accelerating, but industry growth is constrained by a talent shortage — roughly one qualified candidate per three open quantum positions.
AlleyWatch lists 19 Biggest Global Startup Funding Rounds of July 2026, including a ¥50B Chinese AI raise and $1.4B German robotics deal
An AlleyWatch roundup, using CrunchBase data, lists the largest global startup funding rounds in July 2026, highlighting major multi‑hundred‑million and billion‑dollar investments across AI, robotics, nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and military AI.
SAP Acquires Data Platform Startup Dremio; Vertiv Buys Strategic Thermal Labs in May Austin Tech M&A Deals
In May's Austin tech M&A activity, SAP announced the acquisition of data platform startup Dremio, and Vertiv acquired Strategic Thermal Labs. Additionally, Gyde expanded by acquiring We Know Medicare, highlighting continued consolidation in the local technology and industrial sectors.
Flyhomes Exits Brokerage Business to Focus on 'Buy Before You Sell' Financing with $15M Series D Funding
Seattle-based Flyhomes is exiting its real estate brokerage business to concentrate on its 'Buy Before You Sell' financing product, supported by a $15 million Series D round. The company is transitioning its agents to The Real Brokerage and expanding its financing offerings nationwide through a large network of loan officers.
Flyhomes Raises $15M to Pivot from Consumer Platform to Wholesale 'Buy Before You Sell' Lending Across 40 States
Seattle-area real estate startup Flyhomes raised $15 million to pivot from a consumer real estate platform to a wholesale lending model focused on its 'Buy Before You Sell' product, partnering with loan officers and agents to offer services in 40 states. The shift follows Flyhomes' previous consumer-facing brokerage and financing model, aiming to expand its reach while having raised $208 million to date.
Alation Acquires AI Startup Numbers Station, Backed by Madrona and Others, to Enhance Data Intelligence Platform
Alation, a Silicon Valley data intelligence company valued at $1.7 billion, acquired Numbers Station, an 18-person AI data analysis startup backed by Madrona, to integrate its natural language data automation technology. Numbers Station, founded in 2021 and backed by prominent investors, will have its product incorporated into Alation's platform to enhance enterprise data intelligence.
AI Company Xembly to End Services and Wind Down by June 1, 2024 Amid AI Platform Challenges
Enterprise AI company Xembly announced it will cease its customer-facing services and wind down operations due to challenges with underlying AI platforms, effective June 1, 2024. The Seattle-based firm, founded in 2020 and backed by $20 million in funding, plans to pursue a new direction in AI development.
Flyhomes Conducts Another Round of Layoffs Amid Persistent Real Estate Market Challenges
Seattle-based real estate startup Flyhomes has conducted another round of layoffs due to persistent industry challenges, continuing a pattern of workforce reductions since 2022. The company, which raised over $200 million, cited worsening market conditions driven by high mortgage rates and economic headwinds.
Seattle Startup Flyhomes Moves from 9,000 Sq Ft Waterfront Office to Smaller Downtown Space Amid Remote Work Shift
Seattle real estate tech startup Flyhomes vacated its 9,000 sq ft waterfront office near Pier 56 on September 1, relocating to a smaller 4,000 sq ft space downtown due to a shift to remote work. The move follows Flyhomes' multiple layoffs amid a slowing market and increasing Seattle office vacancies.
Seattle Startup Flyhomes Lays Off Staff Third Time in a Year, Workforce Shrinks from 700 to 470 Amid Housing Market Downturn
Seattle real estate startup Flyhomes, led by CEO Tushar Garg, laid off employees for the third time in a year to focus on profitability amid a challenging housing market. The company's workforce has declined from about 700 in November to roughly 470 currently, reflecting broader layoffs in the Seattle real estate tech sector amid declining home prices and sales.
Flyhomes Acquires Seattle’s Loftium to Expand Host-to-Own Real Estate Services
Flyhomes has acquired Seattle-based host-to-own real estate platform Loftium, expanding its home-buying services while retaining Loftium’s team and operations amid a challenging market. Loftium’s unique model enables buyers to use rental income from Airbnb hosting to finance down payments, a program launched a year ago.
Flyhomes Cuts Nearly 40% of Staff Amid Housing Market Recession and Cooling Demand
Seattle-based real estate startup Flyhomes has laid off nearly 40% of its workforce in a second round of cuts due to a recession in the housing sector and a cooling market. The company, led by CEO Tushar Garg, has about 700 employees and has raised over $200 million since its 2016 founding.
Seattle Startup Diagrid Raises $20M Series A Led by Norwest, Backed by Microsoft Azure CTO and Kubernetes Co-founder
Seattle startup Diagrid, co-founded by former Microsoft engineers who created the Dapr project, raised $20 million in a Series A led by Norwest Venture Partners to provide managed Dapr on Kubernetes services. The company’s software supports cloud-native applications and has backing from prominent industry figures including Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich and Kubernetes co-founder Joe Beda.
Seattle Startup Xembly Raises $15M Series A to Enhance AI ‘Chief of Staff’ Automating Meeting and Workflow Tasks
Seattle startup Xembly raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered ‘chief of staff’ that automates meeting notes, scheduling, and to-do lists. The AI uses advanced natural language processing to reduce repetitive tasks and has customers like Twilio and Convoy.
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.
Karat raises $110M Series C at $1.1B valuation to scale remote technical interviewing
Karat, a Seattle startup that runs technical interviews through a vetted network of interviewers, raised $110 million in a Series C at a $1.1 billion valuation while more than doubling revenue and customers year-over-year.
Flyhomes launches ‘Flyhomes Guarantee for Buyers’ to let clients exit within a year with waived seller commission
Seattle-based real estate startup Flyhomes launched the Flyhomes Guarantee for Buyers, which lets clients who want to move within a year of closing have Flyhomes list the home and waive its commission (buyers still pay the buyer’s agent and selling costs). Founded in 2016, Flyhomes has helped over 3,000 families buy nearly $3 billion in homes with cash-offer short-term loans and faces competition from traditional brokerages, iBuyers like Opendoor and Offerpad, and Zillow.
DataRobot buys Seattle ML startup Algorithmia and raises $300M Series G at $6.3B valuation
Boston-based DataRobot acquired Seattle startup Algorithmia and announced a $300 million Series G at a $6.3 billion valuation; Algorithmia CEO Diego Oppenheimer will remain at DataRobot after the deal. Algorithmia, founded in 2013, had raised $37.9 million, served over 130,000 users, and employed 58 people.
Fabric raises $100M Series B at $850M valuation as revenue jumps 800% and headcount hits 161
Seattle e-commerce startup Fabric raised $100 million in a Series B that values the four-year-old company at $850 million after reporting revenue growth of more than 800% year-over-year and expanding headcount to 161.
Flyhomes raises $150 million to scale cash-offer homebuying and mortgage services nationwide
Seattle startup Flyhomes raised $150 million to expand its cash-offer homebuying model and integrated mortgage and selling services nationwide, positioning itself against iBuyers and Zillow. CEO Tushar Garg said the funding supports building an end-to-end home-buying experience that gives clients a competitive edge in a chaotic market.
Fabric raises $43M Series A from Norwest to sell headless commerce platform to mid-market retailers
Seattle-area e-commerce startup Fabric raised $43 million in a Series A led by Norwest Venture Partners to help mid-market retailers build modular, headless commerce systems and compete with Amazon amid a pandemic-driven online shopping surge. Founded by Faisal Masud, Fabric offers commerce APIs used by brands like GNC and Juicy Couture and had raised $9.5 million in seed funding five months earlier.
Fabric announces $43 million Series A led by Norwest Venture Partners to scale its headless commerce platform
Fabric, a headless commerce platform, announced a $43 million Series A funding round led by Norwest Venture Partners on February 9, 2021 to scale its platform; the company is led by former Amazon, Google, eBay and Staples executives and counts brands like GNC, abc carpet & home and Juicy Couture as customers.
