Today we go through funding rounds across diverse technology sectors, including autonomous ships, building security, audio entertainment, AI infrastructure, industrial technology, visual AI, semiconductors, and fintech.
These transactions highlight key investment trends and potential future developments in each industry.
Key Points
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Saronic raised $600 million in a Series C round, led by Elad Gil, at a $4 billion valuation, focusing on autonomous ships.
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Verkada secured $200 million in a Series E round, led by General Catalyst, valued at $4.5 billion, for building security hardware and software.
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Pocket FM raised $103 million in a Series D round, led by Lightspeed Ventures, for audio entertainment, exceeding the “over $100 million” in talks.
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Baseten raised $75 million in a Series C round, co-led by IVP and Spark, for AI inference software, valued at $825 million.
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Augury raised $75 million in a Series F round, led by Lightrock, for industrial AI solutions, maintaining over $1 billion valuation.
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Spyne raised $16 million in a Series A round, led by Vertex Ventures, for AI visual merchandising in automotive, focusing on US expansion.
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Wooptix raised over €10 million in a Series C round, led by Samsung Venture Investment and SETT, for semiconductor metrology.
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Stacks raised $10 million in consecutive rounds ($3M pre-seed led by EQT Ventures, $7M seed led by General Catalyst) for automated accounting.
Deal Details
Each deal provides insights into the startup’s focus, funding amount, lead investors, and valuation, which are crucial for understanding market trends and potential growth areas.
Saronic: Autonomous Ships
Saronic, based in Austin, Texas, raised $600 million in a Series C round led by Elad Gil, valuing the company at $4 billion. This funding, announced on February 19, 2025, aims to build “Port Alpha,” a shipyard for mass-producing autonomous warships, quadrupling its valuation in seven months. Investors include General Catalyst, 8VC, Andreessen Horowitz, and Caffeinated Capital. PR Newswire, TechCrunch, Reuter’s.
Verkada: Building Security
Verkada, from San Mateo, California, raised $200 million in a Series E round led by General Catalyst, valuing it at $4.5 billion, announced on February 19, 2025.
The company, known for hardware and software in building security, has raised over $700 million since 2016, with investors like Eclipse participating. PR Newswire, Fortune, Security Sales & Integration.
Pocket FM: Audio Entertainment
Pocket FM, based in India, raised $103 million in a Series D round led by Lightspeed Ventures, with Stepstone Group participating, announced on March 20, 2024. This exceeds the “over $100 million in talks” reported, with a valuation of $750 million, focusing on global expansion, especially in the US, Europe, and Latin America. TechCrunch, Business Wire, Variety.
Baseten: AI Inference Software
Baseten, from San Francisco, raised $75 million in a Series C round co-led by IVP and Spark, with participation from Greylock and others, announced on February 19, 2025, valuing it at $825 million.
The funding supports product and geographic expansion for AI inference platforms. Business Wire, TechCrunch, Finsmes.
Augury: Industrial AI Solutions
Augury, with offices in NYC, Haifa, and Tel Aviv, raised $75 million in a Series F round led by Lightrock, announced on February 19, 2025, maintaining over $1 billion valuation.
It focuses on AI for machine maintenance, with investors like Insight Partners and Qualcomm Ventures. Finsmes, TechCrunch, Augury’s Press Release.
Spyne: AI Visual Merchandising
Spyne, based in Gurugram, India, raised $16 million in a Series A round led by Vertex Ventures, announced on February 18, 2025, focusing on AI for automotive visual merchandising, with plans for US expansion.
Investors include Accel and Storm Ventures. Business Standard, Entrepreneur, YourStory.
Wooptix: Semiconductor Metrology
Wooptix, from Madrid, Spain, raised over €10 million in a Series C round led by Samsung Venture Investment and SETT, announced on February 18, 2025, for semiconductor metrology, with investors like Intel Capital. Finsmes, Business Wire, EU-Startups.
Stacks: Automated Accounting
Stacks, based in Amsterdam, raised $10 million in consecutive rounds: $3 million pre-seed led by EQT Ventures and $7 million seed led by General Catalyst, announced on February 19, 2025, for AI-powered financial close solutions. PYMNTS.com, EU-Startups.
Comprehensive Analysis and Survey Note
This section provides a detailed examination of each venture capital deal, offering a professional perspective for stakeholders in the VC and startup ecosystems.
The analysis includes funding details, strategic implications, and potential future directions, ensuring a thorough understanding for investors, analysts, and industry observers.
Saronic: Autonomous Maritime Technology
Saronic, an Austin, Texas-based startup specializing in autonomous ships, closed a $600 million Series C funding round on February 19, 2025, led by Elad Gil, valuing the company at $4 billion.
This round, which quadrupled its valuation in seven months from its previous round, included new investor General Catalyst and existing backers like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), 8VC, and Caffeinated Capital.
The funding aims to construct “Port Alpha,” a next-generation shipyard for mass-producing autonomous warships, enhancing U.S. maritime defense capabilities.
Sources include PR Newswire, TechCrunch, and Reuter’s.
Possible ways forward include securing defense contracts and investing in AI for vessel autonomy, with implications for reshaping maritime security and intensifying competition in defense tech.
Verkada: Building Security Solutions
Verkada, based in San Mateo, California, raised $200 million in a Series E round on February 19, 2025, led by General Catalyst, valuing it at $4.5 billion.
Since its founding in 2016, it has raised over $700 million, with significant investment from Eclipse and participation from new and existing investors.
The company focuses on hardware and software for building security, leveraging AI for features like real-time threat detection. Sources include PR Newswire, Fortune, and Security Sales & Integration.
Future strategies may include market expansion into retail and education, product enhancements, and potential acquisitions, with implications for intensifying competition in smart security.
Pocket FM: Audio Entertainment Platform
Pocket FM, an India-based audio entertainment platform, raised $103 million in a Series D round on March 20, 2024, led by Lightspeed Ventures, with Stepstone Group participating, valuing it at $750 million.
This funding, reported by TechCrunch, Business Wire, and Variety, exceeds the “over $100 million in talks” mentioned, focusing on global expansion into the US, Europe, and Latin America.
The company, with over 100,000 hours of content, plans to strengthen its content library and leverage AI, with implications for the audio streaming market and competition with Spotify.
Baseten: AI Inference Infrastructure
Baseten, a San Francisco-based startup developing AI inference software, raised $75 million in a Series C round on February 19, 2025, co-led by IVP and Spark, with participation from Greylock, Conviction, and others, valuing it at $825 million.
The funding, detailed in Business Wire, TechCrunch, and Finsmes, supports product and geographic expansion. Future directions include targeting healthcare and finance sectors, with implications for the AI infrastructure market and competition with Nvidia.
Augury: Industrial AI for Machine Maintenance
Augury, with offices in NYC, Haifa, and Tel Aviv, raised $75 million in a Series F round on February 19, 2025, led by Lightrock, maintaining over $1 billion valuation, as reported by Finsmes, TechCrunch, and Augury’s Press Release.
The company, focusing on AI for machine maintenance, plans to expand into energy and logistics, with implications for industrial operations and competition with traditional maintenance firms.
Spyne: AI-Powered Automotive Visual Merchandising
Spyne, based in Gurugram, India, raised $16 million in a Series A round on February 18, 2025, led by Vertex Ventures, with participation from Accel, Storm Ventures, and Alteria Capital, as per Business Standard, Entrepreneur, and YourStory.
Focusing on AI for automotive visual merchandising, it plans US expansion, with implications for e-commerce and competition in visual tech.
Wooptix: Semiconductor Metrology Innovation
Wooptix, from Madrid, Spain, raised over €10 million in a Series C round on February 18, 2025, led by Samsung Venture Investment and SETT, with participation from EIC Fund, Intel Capital, and others, as reported by Finsmes, Business Wire, and EU-Startups. It focuses on semiconductor metrology, with plans for product development and international expansion, impacting Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Stacks: Automated Accounting Platform
Stacks, based in Amsterdam, raised $10 million in consecutive rounds on February 19, 2025: $3 million pre-seed led by EQT Ventures and $7 million seed led by General Catalyst, as per PYMNTS.com and EU-Startups.
Focusing on AI for financial close, it aims to streamline accounting for SMEs, with implications for fintech competition.
Summary Table
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Startup
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Funding Amount
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Round
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Lead Investor(s)
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Valuation
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Focus Area
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Saronic
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$600M
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Series C
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Elad Gil
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$4B
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Autonomous ships
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Verkada
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$200M
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Series E
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General Catalyst
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$4.5B
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Building security
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|
Pocket FM
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$103M
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Series D
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Lightspeed Ventures
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$750M
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Audio entertainment
|
|
Baseten
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$75M
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Series C
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IVP, Spark
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$825M
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AI inference software
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|
Augury
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$75M
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Series F
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Lightrock
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>$1B
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Industrial AI solutions
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Spyne
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$16M
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Series A
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Vertex Ventures
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Not disclosed
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AI visual merchandising
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Wooptix
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€10M+
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Series C
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Samsung Venture, SETT
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Not disclosed
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Semiconductor metrology
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Stacks
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$10M
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Pre-seed/Seed
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EQT Ventures, General Catalyst
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Not disclosed
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Automated accounting
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This analysis underscores the dynamic VC landscape, with significant investments in AI, defense, and industrial tech, offering insights for strategic planning and market positioning.
