After betting the firm on Anthropic, Menlo Ventures raises victorious $3B fund

Menlo has created a solid rep for itself as an AI investor, all based on one gutsy $750 million move in 2024.

HaloBraid raises $7M from Seven Seven Six to end the six-hour hair salon appointment

HaloBraid aims to help salons speed up braiding with its first device, slated to launch later this year, that acts as a braiding assistant for professional stylists.

4 days left to save up to $190 on TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026

Four days left to save up to $190 on your pass to TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 – the ultimate founder bootcamp – before Early Bird rates end on June 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here.

Fika Jobs raises $4M to build a video-first hiring platform where AI agents interview candidates

The hiring process has long been criticized for its inefficiency and opacity. Candidates spend hours writing applications and submitting cover letters, only to disappear into what often feels like a black box. Generative AI has only made things messier…

The founder conference built for growth: TechCrunch Founder Summit pass rates increase June 26

Save up to $190 on your pass to TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 by June 26, 11:59 p.m. PT. Designed for founders first on November 4 in Boston. Register here.

AI inference startup Baseten reportedly raising $1.5B months after its last mega-round

Startup Baseten is reportedly close to finalizing a $1.5 billion round at a $13 billion as the “inference gold rush” marches on.

General Intuition in talks to raise $300M at around $2B valuation

General Intuition is in talks to raise around $300 million at a roughly $2 billion valuation from backers including Jeff Bezos. The startup trains AI agents on spatial-temporal reasoning.

World model maker Odyssey nabs $1.45B valuation backed by Amazon and other big names

World models are the next big thing in AI beyond LLMs and, with this round, Odyssey has cemented itself as one of the startups to watch.

Two Stanford grads raise $11M to build a noninvasive wearable for hormone tracking

Clair Health’s wearable will cost $369 and will an app-based subscription of $9.99 per month

SpaceX alum nabs $22M to turn rocket engines into geothermal power plants

Critical Energy is turning rocket engines into geothermal power plants, and it wants to build 300 GW per year by 2045.