security startup

AMD has acquired the startup cofounded by Fei-Fei Li, the Stanford AI researcher often called the 'godmother of AI', in a deal reported at $8.2 billion, according to Fortune. The move marks one of AMD's largest acquisitions as chipmakers race to secure position in the fast-growing artificial intelligence market. Li, renowned for her pioneering work in computer vision and ImageNet, cofounded the company, and the deal is drawing wide attention across the tech and investment worlds.

A young entrepreneur has built a defense technology company now valued at $3.7 billion, with backing from Sequoia Capital. The story highlights how the founder scaled the startup despite being part of Generation Z, drawing attention to the growing wave of young founders entering the defense sector as venture capital flows into military and security technology.

Japan's Defense Ministry is planning a new framework to back startups developing unmanned aerial vehicles and related products, according to the Japan Times. The initiative would give emerging defense technology firms a clearer route into supplying the Self-Defense Forces, reflecting Japan's broader push to strengthen its domestic defense industrial base and catch up on drone capabilities amid regional security concerns.

AMD has agreed to acquire World Labs, the spatial intelligence startup founded by AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li, in a deal reportedly worth $8.2 billion. The acquisition would mark one of AMD's largest moves in artificial intelligence, bringing the company behind advances in 3D world models into its AI portfolio. Tech coverage is highlighting the scale of the deal and what it means for AMD's competition with Nvidia and other chipmakers racing to secure top AI talent and technology.

Robin Radar, a Dutch company founded as a startup to protect aircraft from bird strikes, is expanding quickly as demand grows for systems that detect drones. Shifting security concerns, including unauthorized drone activity near airports and critical infrastructure, have turned its bird-tracking technology into a lucrative counter-drone business, Bloomberg reports.

Chipmaker Cerebras has agreed to supply 100 megawatts worth of AI processors to Gimlet Labs, a cloud computing startup. The deal marks a significant supply commitment for the emerging AI infrastructure company and highlights growing demand for alternative AI compute providers beyond Nvidia. The reported scale of the agreement underscores how power-hungry AI data center buildouts have become.

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced it will support startups working on unmanned aerial vehicle development, according to the Japan Times. The move aligns with Tokyo's broader push to strengthen its defense industrial base and tap private-sector innovation for military technology. Details on funding amounts and selected companies have not yet been reported.

Polish space startup Eycore is capitalizing on growing demand for satellite intelligence as governments boost defense and security spending following the end of the post-Cold War 'peace dividend' era. The company is positioning itself within a rapidly expanding market for commercial satellite imagery and geospatial data, driven by geopolitical tensions and renewed military investment across Europe.

Japan's Defense Ministry announced it will support startups involved in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones. The initiative aims to bring private-sector innovation into the country's defense technology base, as Tokyo moves to strengthen its domestic defense industry and catch up in areas where established contractors have lagged behind global peers.

The US government has taken equity stakes in four quantum computing startups, extending Washington's recent pattern of direct investments in strategic technology companies. The move signals federal interest in securing a foothold in quantum computing, a field seen as critical to national security and economic competitiveness, and is drawing attention to how far the government will go in backing private tech firms.

Ocean surveillance startup Quartermaster has raised $140 million in a new funding round, according to an exclusive report by TechCrunch. The company builds technology for monitoring activity at sea, a field drawing growing interest from governments and industry amid concerns over illegal fishing, shipping security and maritime domain awareness. Details on investors and valuation were not disclosed in the initial report.

Japan's Defense Ministry is set to launch a new framework for incorporating technology from startups into its defense capabilities. The initiative aims to give emerging companies a clearer route to work with the military, an area where small firms have traditionally struggled to gain entry. Defense officials hope the move will speed up adoption of cutting-edge civilian technology at a time of regional security tensions.

Quartermaster has raised a $140 million Series B funding round to expand its ocean surveillance network. The company, which monitors maritime activity, will use the capital to scale its detection and tracking capabilities across the seas. The deal is being noted as a significant investment in maritime security and ocean-monitoring technology.

The largest startup funding rounds of the past week were dominated by companies in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and healthcare, according to Crunchbase News's weekly roundup of the ten biggest deals. The list highlights continued strong investor appetite for AI and security startups, with health tech also drawing significant capital.

RealClearDefense has published a piece on 'The Strategic Technology Incubation Model', an approach to how militaries and governments can nurture emerging technologies from early concept to fielded capability. The article is drawing attention among defense and technology-policy readers interested in innovation pipelines, defense startups, and how national security establishments can better incubate critical technologies.

Broadcom has reportedly agreed to lend Anthropic up to $42 billion, with the AI startup using the funds to lease Broadcom chips. The deal, flagged in a market report on the chipmaker's Nasdaq-listed stock, would deepen Broadcom's position in the AI compute supply chain and give Anthropic access to custom silicon at scale. Investors are watching the arrangement closely as chipmakers increasingly finance their biggest AI customers.

Tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey are set to advise the US government on the future of warfare, according to Engadget. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Luckey, founder of defense startup Anduril and creator of the Oculus Rift, will bring private-sector perspectives on military technology to government decision-making. The pairing of two prominent figures from the commercial tech and defense industries is drawing attention to the growing role of Silicon Valley in national security policy.

The US Department of Defense has invested in a startup that aims to supply metal used in critical magnets, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move reflects growing Pentagon interest in securing domestic supply chains for magnet materials, which are essential for weapons systems, electronics and electric vehicles and currently rely heavily on foreign sources.

A Texas startup has been awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense to recover scandium, a rare metal used in aerospace and defense manufacturing. The deal supports US efforts to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals, most of which are currently sourced abroad. Further details on the contract's value and scope have not been reported.

A startup is testing geothermal energy systems placed on the seafloor, aiming to replace diesel generators that island communities rely on for electricity. The technology would tap heat beneath the ocean floor to provide steady renewable power where shipping fuel is costly. If proven, it could offer remote islands a cleaner, more secure alternative to imported diesel.

Portuguese aerospace firm Omnidea has acquired Orbex, the UK rocket launcher startup that ceased operations after struggling to secure funding. The deal hands Omnidea Orbex's assets, including its launch vehicle development work based in Scotland, as the small-launcher sector continues to consolidate amid financing difficulties.

London fintech startups can no longer attract venture capital simply by existing, according to reporting carried by The Japan Times. Founders in the UK capital are now expected to demonstrate real commercial success to secure funding, and those who cannot are being forced to change their strategies. The shift marks the end of an era in which a London fintech label alone was enough to dazzle investors.

Fortem Technologies, a startup focused on counter-drone defense systems, has raised $50 million in a Series B funding round. The company develops radar and autonomous interception technology designed to detect and neutralize unauthorized drones. The funding comes as demand grows for airspace security solutions amid increasing drone incidents near airports, critical infrastructure, and public events.