This Week In Technology
Big moves this past week: OpenAI’s $100M media play, SiFive’s $400M semiconductor surge, Eclipse’s $1.3B fund, and Anthropic’s stealth acquisition.
Hey Readers!
Welcome back to your weekly digest - a quick roundup of the latest tech news to keep you updated.
To help you make sense of it all, we’ve rounded up the most talked-about startup stories from the past week - organized into the following categories:
🗝️ Read of the week
🔍 Top tech news
💰 Startup funding news
👀 New VC funds
🤝 Acquisitions
🎤 Must-watch interviews
📊 Read of the week: The Dawn of NEW MEDIA
TBPN, the popular daily tech news show, was recently acquired by OpenAI for over $100M. What does this signal about where the media industry is heading? Are we on the brink of a wave of similar acquisitions this year? And if so, who might be next?
Was this a meaningful acquisition for OpenAI, and how might the show change now that it sits under one of the most powerful AI companies in the world? A few thoughts:
The acquisition is a relatively small line item for OpenAI, given its scale and revenue. From a balance sheet perspective, it’s unlikely to make any difference.
But strategically, it’s far more interesting. OpenAI’s brand and scrutiny will only intensify. Owning a trusted media platform within Silicon Valley’s most influential tech circles could help shape the narrative, clarify messaging, and build goodwill.
There’s an open question about editorial independence. It’s likely that direct competitors to OpenAI will be less inclined to appear as guests. That said, the show’s live format, where guests speak candidly without heavy editing, remains a strong advantage and could continue to attract high-quality voices.
TBPN was reportedly on track to generate ~$30M in revenue this year, supported by a consistent roster of sponsors featured prominently in its ticker. Those sponsors have now been removed, signaling a shift in monetization strategy and, for the founders, a very solid exit.
Zooming out, this deal points to a broader trend: distribution is a moat. If you own attention, you shape the conversation and increasingly, that may be just as valuable as the technology itself.
NEW ECONOMIES recently published two pieces on this growing trend: directing attention through new media - specifically the rising influence of technology podcasts and the surge in popularity of Substack newsletters. You can discover hundreds of new media creators here.
🔍 Top tech news
OpenAI acquired the new media channel TBPN for $100M+.
Oracle is cutting up to 30,000 employees - 18% of their workforce, to pay for AI data centers.
NASA Artemis II splashes down in the Pacific Ocean in a ‘perfect’ landing for Moon mission.
💰 Startup funding news
SiFive, a semiconductor company that delivers scalable processor core IP solutions, raised $400M Series G led by Atreides Management.
Avec, a Tinder-style email app that allows you to swipe through your inbox, raised $8.4M from Lightspeed and Haystack.
Chapter, which offers a Medicare navigation platform that provides advisory services for seniors seeking health coverage, raised $100M Series E led by Generation Investment Management.
Conductor, which enables you to run a team of coding agents on your Mac, raised $22M Series A led by Matrix.
Haast, provides an AI-powered platform that automates marketing and content compliance workflows, raised $12M Series A led by Peak XV Partners.
Crosby, an AI-powered legal services company that accelerates contract review and negotiation processes, raised $60M Series B led by Index Ventures and Lux Capital.
Manna Air Delivery, which provides drone delivery as a service stack to restaurant chains, dark kitchens, and online food delivery platforms, raised $50M Series B led by ARK Investment Management, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, and Schooner Capital.
Luminai, which automates workflows by taking any multi-click process and making it one click, raised $38M Series B led by Peak XV Partners.
Patlytics, provides AI-driven patent intelligence solutions to enhance research and efficiency, raised $40M Series B led by Signalfire.
Insight Health, a clinical AI agent platform that automates patient communication and clinical documentation for medical practices, raised $11M Series A led by Standard Capital.
Nas.io, helps anyone go from idea to revenue in 1 minute with AI, raised $27M Series A led by Khosla Ventures.
Linx Security, provides an AI-powered platform for identity security, governance, and administration, raised $50M Series B led by Insight Partners.
Juno, offers automation for modern tax firms, focusing on research, preparation, review, and advisory services, raised $12M Seed led by Bonfire Ventures.
👀 New VC funds
Collide Capital raised $95M fund II to back fintech, future-of-work startups.
Eclipse raised a $1.3B new fund.
Gateway Capital announced first close of $25M Fund II.
Eka Ventures raised $107M Fund II.
🤝 Acquisitions
Anthropic acquired AI startup Coefficient Bio for $400M.
Savvy Games acquired Mobile Legends developer Moonton for $6B.
Unilever acquired vitamin gummies brand Grüns in wellness push.
HubSpot acquired Futurepedia.
SAP acquired Reltio.
🎤 Must-watch interviews
Subscribe to our podcast to hear from founders, investors, and operators behind some of the most enduring companies. Previous episodes include:
Watch or listen now on… YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Yahoo CEO Takes Us Inside The Comeback | Jim Lanzone.
Why Hand-Typing Code Will End Your Career in 2026 | Dan Shipper.
The $1.7B Mistake That Ended a Founder’s Dream | Colin Angle.
Andreessen Horowitz General Partner: Venture Capital’s Future | David Haber.
He Built A $1.8B AI Company With No Experience | Max Junestrand.
Forget AI: Inside the Meltdown That Made Airalo #1 eSIM Unicorn | Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir.
The Hidden Skill Behind Every Successful Founder | Lindsay Kaplan.
The Harsh Truth About Building a Startup in the AI Era | Anish Acharya.
The AI Version of You Will Outperform You | Emad Mostaque.
How Solana Survived When Most Other Coins Fell | Anatoly Yakovenko.
Watch and subscribe now!
When you become an annual paid subscriber, you automatically access these best-in-class AI tools for free - for 12 months. Save thousands of dollars now!