AI Billions Fund

Silicon Valley chip startup SiMa.ai has raised $150 million at a $1.45 billion valuation to develop processors for physical AI, targeting real-world applications such as robotics and autonomous systems. The funding round makes the company a new unicorn and signals continued investor appetite for specialised edge AI semiconductors despite a challenging market for chip startups.

US edge-AI chip startup SiMa.ai has raised $150 million in new funding at a $1.45 billion valuation, positioning itself as a challenger to Nvidia in edge artificial intelligence. The company builds machine-learning processors designed to run AI workloads directly on devices rather than in data centres. The funding round is drawing attention in semiconductor circles as investors seek alternatives to Nvidia's dominance in AI computing hardware.

SiMa.ai, a startup making custom chips for physical AI applications such as robotics and embedded machine learning, has raised $150 million in a funding round that values the company at $1.45 billion. The San Jose-based firm is positioning itself in the growing market for specialized silicon that lets AI run efficiently on edge devices rather than in the cloud, and the fresh capital signals continued strong investor appetite for AI hardware.

SiMa AI, a developer of chips for physical AI applications such as robotics and edge devices, has reached a valuation of $1.45 billion following its latest funding round. The San Jose-based startup builds machine learning processors designed to run AI workloads locally on hardware rather than in the cloud, a growing area of investor interest as demand for edge AI accelerates.

Legal AI startup Harvey has raised a $550 million funding round co-led by Diffusion and Lightspeed Venture Partners, lifting its valuation from $8 billion to $15.5 billion in just nine months. Commenters are highlighting the speed of the re-rating as a sign of investor enthusiasm for legal AI.

Germany has reached a record number of startups valued at €1 billion or more, driven largely by investment in artificial intelligence companies and a resurgent defence industry. Growth in the arms sector reflects rising European defence spending, while AI firms have attracted strong venture capital. The trend marks a notable shift for Germany's startup landscape.

Instinct, a startup building AI agents, has raised $1 billion in a new funding round that values the company at $10 billion. The deal places the young firm among the most highly valued private companies in the fast-growing AI agent sector, underscoring continued investor appetite for automation and agent-based artificial intelligence businesses despite broader market caution about startup valuations.

Seligman Ventures has doubled its capital to $1 billion, betting that the artificial intelligence boom will revive investor interest in hardware startups. The move signals renewed venture appetite for chips and other physical computing infrastructure powering AI development. Observers see it as a sign that capital is flowing back into hardware after years of focus on software, as AI demand reshapes investment priorities.

The AI Billions Fund has been announced to support technology nonprofits working in the AI and development space. The initiative, promoted through the ICTworks community, aims to channel funding toward nonprofit organisations applying artificial intelligence for social impact. Details on funders, amounts, and eligibility criteria are limited so far, but the announcement is being shared among practitioners in ICT for development.

Data security startup Cyera has reached a new $2 billion valuation, while legal AI company Chamelio raised $26 million to build in-house legal tools, and document software firm Adlib acquired Paperbox. The three deals point to continued investor appetite for enterprise software and artificial intelligence startups despite a broader slowdown in venture funding.