💸 Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Lab Raises $2B Seed Round
FemWealth Issue #215
Hi FemWealth Friends,
In the Spotlight 💸
Co-founded and led by Mira Murati (OpenAI’s former CTO), Thinking Machines Lab aims to make “AI systems more widely understood, customisable and generally capable.”
The San Francisco AI startup secured a $2 billion Seed round at a $10 billion valuation, according to the Financial Times. Andreessen Horowitz led the round, joined by Sarah Guo’s Conviction Partners. It is one of the largest initial funding rounds in Silicon Valley’s history.
FemWealth Favourites ❤️
Startups: Nabla raises $70 million as market for AI tools to help doctors heats up (STAT $) - Co-founded by Delphine Groll, Nabla provides AI assistants for clinical care. The New York-based company secured $70 million in Series C funding led by HV Capital, with support from Highland Europe, DST Global, Cathay Innovation, and Build Collective.
AI Wildfire Detection Startup Raises $44 Million (WSJ $) - Co-founded and led by Sonia Kastner, Pano AI uses AI to detect wildfires and alert emergency responders. The San Francisco startup raised a $44 million Series B round led by Giant Ventures, with Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, Initialized Capital, and Salesforce Ventures also joining.
PolyActiva secures $40 million AUD in Series C funding - Led by Vanessa Waddell, PolyActiva is developing proprietary polymeric prodrug technology that enables site-specific, precise and controlled drug delivery to the eye. The Australian biotech raised A$40 million ($25.72 million) in Series C funding led by an undisclosed Australian sovereign wealth fund, with Brandon Capital also contributing.
Dôen Raises Series A Funding Led by Silas Capital - Co-founded by sisters Margaret Kleveland and Katherine Kleveland, DÔEN is a direct-to-consumer label offering women’s apparel, footwear, and childrenswear. The Los Angeles-based startup raised $25 million in Series A funding from Silas Capital.
WorkWhile, a flexible labor platform, raises $23 million in Series B funding - Co-founded and led by Jarah Euston, WorkWhile connects businesses in industries such as warehousing, hospitality, and logistics with vetted hourly workers. The San Francisco startup raised a $23 million Series B round led by Rethink Impact and joined by Citi Impact Fund, GingerBread Capital, Illumen Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Reach Capital.
Local Infusion gets $30M capital injection (Axios Pro $) - Co-founded by Ashley Knapp, Local Infusion provides ambulatory infusion treatments and related digital health services. The US startup raised $30 million in Series B funding led by Transformation Capital.
Materna Medical Announces Ellora™ and Additional Close on $20M Series B2 - Led by Tracy MacNeal, Materna Medical provides a vaginal dilator that supports patients suffering from vaginismus and related painful sex. The Mountain View startup closed a $20 million Series B2 round from InnovaHealth Partners, GLIN Impact Capital, Wealthing VC Club, Citrine Angels, Wavemaker Three-Sixty Health, Kimera Limited, Women’s Venture Capital Fund, and Golden Seeds.
Tadaweb raises $20M to scale human-centric small data operating system - Co-founded by Genna Elvin, Tadaweb provides open-source intelligence for defence, cybersecurity, and public safety teams. The Luxembourg-based company secured $20 million co-led by Arsenal Growth and Forgepoint Capital International, with participation from Wendel.
This female founded deeptech startup is fixing the ‘Silent AI’ crisis and they just raised $18M to do it - Co-founded and led by Salma Bakouk, Sifflet is an AI-native data observability platform. The Paris and New York-based startup raised $18 million in funding from EQT Group, Mangrove Capital Partners, and Capmont Technology.
Tensec raises $12m to become Stripe for global trade - Co-founded by Sandrine Cousquer-Okasmaa, Tensec is a cross-border financial services platform. The Palo Alto-based startup raised $12 million in Seed funding led by Costanoa Ventures and joined by Quiet Capital, WillowTree Investments, Cambrian VC, Ignia Partners, Montage Ventures, Renegade Partners, and Endeavor Scale Up Ventures.
Elkedonia closes EUR 11 million seed round to advance neuroplastogens as novel therapeutics for depression and neuropsychiatric disorders - Co-founded and led by Delphine Charvin and Mélanie Rouillier, Elkedonia develops antidepressant therapies. The Strasbourg, France and Charleroi, Belgium-based startup raised €11.3 million in Seed funding co-led by Kurma Partners, WE Life Sciences, and the French Tech Seed fund, joined by Argobio, Angelini Ventures, CARMA Fund, Capital Grand Est, and Sambrinvest.
Alta raises $11M to bring ‘Clueless’ fashion tech to life with all-star investors - Founded and led by Jenny Wang, Alta provides an AI-powered personal stylist. The San Francisco startup raised an $11 million Seed round led by Menlo Ventures and including Benchstrength, Algaé Ventures, Phenomenal Ventures, Anthropic’s VC arm Anthology fund; and angel investors.
Infinity Bio Closes $8M Series A Financing - Led by Joy Nassif, Infinity Bio aims to map immune responses at scale. The Baltimore-based company closed an $8 million Series A round led by Illumina Ventures, with participation from PTX Capital, Blackbird BioVentures, and Propel Baltimore Fund.
Future Fields raises $8M to scale fly-based protein manufacturing (Axios Pro $) - Co-founded by Jalene Anderson-Baron, Future Fields is developing a synthetic biology system that uses fruit flies for recombinant protein production. The Canadian startup raised US$8 million in Series A funding led by Amplify Capital, Business Development Bank of Canada’s Climate Tech Fund, and R7 Partners. Toyota Ventures, BoxOne Ventures, Builders VC, TRAC VC and University of Alberta Innovation Fund also participated.
Digital Health Innovator Quilt Health Secures $6m Seed Funding and Announces Partnership With NASCC to Revolutionize Trial and Treatment Access for Complex Conditions - Co-founded by Jazmine Coleman, MBA, Quilt Health aims to streamline clinical trial recruitment, enhance patient access to therapies and strengthen provider networks for sickle cell disease. The Boston startup raised a $6 million Seed round co-led by MaC Venture Capital and Underscore Ventures, with support from Meridian Street Capital, BoxGroup, Watershed VC, and Coalition Operators.
Metabolic Health Company Veracity Raises $6M - Founded and led by Allie Egan, Veracity provides a health platform focused on root-cause solutions for metabolic dysfunction. The New York-based company closed a $6 million funding round led by Maveron and Melitas Ventures.
Superscale AI secures $5M Pre-Seed to build the future of autonomous marketing - Co-founded by Daniela Redding and Selina Huber, Superscale AI provides an AI-powered marketing solution for consumer companies. The Berlin startup raised a $5 million Pre-Seed round led by Creandum, with Interface and s16vc also participating.
Studio555 raises €4M to blend interior design with gaming - Co-founded by Stina Larsson, Studio555 is creating a next-generation experience that transforms interior design into a playable, interactive, and accessible experience. The Stockholm-based startup raised €4 million co-led by HOF Capital and Failup Ventures.
Dutch MaaS startup umob raises €3.5 million for unified mobility booking platform – all in one app - Co-founded and led by Bibi Jorissen, umob is a booking platform that combines local and international mobility providers in one single app. The Rotterdam-based startup raised €3.5 million.
AI-powered water purification startup Xatoms lands $3M to clean up with light-speed tech - Co-founded by Diana Virgovicova and Shirley Zhong, Xatoms is developing a solar-activated, infrastructure-free water treatment solution. The Toronto-based cleantech company raised $3 million in Pre-Seed funding led by Quantacet and supported by Genesis Ventures, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)’s Thrive Lab, and others. The funding round includes $1 million in previously secured non-dilutive grants.
BlueRedGold raises €2.73M for automated saffron cultivation system - Led by Nastaran Baleng-Soultani, BlueRedGold combines AI, robotics, hydroponics, and modular hardware to build a scalable, automated indoor saffron farming system. The Swedish agritech startup raised €2.73 million from PINC, the venture arm of international food company Paulig, The Food Tech Lab, and PolarVentures.
Helsinki’s Ovido secures seed funding to expand AI-powered compliance platform - Co-founded by Suvi Haimi and Loredana Moimas, Ovido provides an AI-powered platform that helps manufacturers and suppliers manage regulatory compliance, product traceability, and sustainability data. The Helsinki-based startup secured €2.4 million in Seed funding led by Lifeline Ventures and Kvanted, with additional support from Illusian and Business Finland.
Ghent medtech startup PointCaré secures near €1.5M for real-time data interpretation in ICUs - Co-founded and led by Veronique Pattyn, PointCaré interprets data from various sources in operating rooms and intensive care units in real time, providing caregivers with tailored advice based on the patient and the situation. The Ghent medtech raised nearly €1.5 million from a group of private investors.
AI meets OT: Steryon raises €1M to transform cybersecurity for industrial systems - Founded and led by Maria Taberna, Steryon enables industrial organisations to manage cyber risks. The industrial cybersecurity startup raised €1 million in Seed funding co-led by 4Founders Capital and Abac Nest Ventures.
Inne Receives UK and European Approval for Novel Saliva-Based Contraception Method - Founded and led by Eirini Rapti, London and Berlin-based healthtech startup Inne is the first saliva-based contraception method to receive regulatory certification in the UK and Europe.
VC: Prominent global VC Endeavor Catalyst is raising $300M, sources say - Co-founded and led by Linda Rottenberg, Endeavor Catalyst is raising a new $300 million fund, its fifth and largest fund yet, to back high-growth startups across Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Alexa von Tobel has high hopes for ‘fintech 3.0’ - An excellent interview featuring Alexa von Tobel, Founder and Managing Partner of US-based Inspired Capital
Backed by data, built for impact: UK’s first EIS Fund for female founders goes live - Angel Academe announced the launch of the UK’s first Enterprise Investment Scheme dedicated exclusively to backing women-led startups, in partnership with SyndicateRoom.
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Until next Sunday,
Anamaria
Founder & Writer of FemWealth