Startup news, 13 September 2026

12 briefs

• Fusion startups revive defense ties with new partnerships

  Fusion energy startups are securing contracts with defense entities, reviving a historical link between the sector and national security. These deals suggest renewed interest in fusion’s potential app

  Reported by msn.com

• Enigmata exits stealth with $6.5M to secure AI data in use

  A new cryptographic platform called Enigmata Cipher lets AI models process data while it stays encrypted. The company has raised $6.5 million in seed funding, with Blockchange Ventures leading the rou

  Reported by pulse2.com

• India semiconductor funding hits $1.4B, half since 2025

  India’s semiconductor industry has secured $1.4 billion in equity funding across 281 companies, with nearly half of that total raised in the last two years. Bengaluru emerges as the leading hub for in

  Reported by msn.com

• Indian startup funding dips 3% in early September week

  Indian startups secured $258.6 million across 19 rounds last week, a slight decline from the previous week’s $267 million. The drop reflects fewer deals, with 22 rounds recorded the week before. Data

  Reported by cnbctv18.com

• BrainChild Bio secures $116M for pediatric brain tumor CAR-T therapy

  A company developing an autologous CAR-T cell therapy for a rare, aggressive brainstem cancer in children has closed a $116 million Series A. The funding will support a pivotal trial for its lead cand

  Reported by genengnews.com

• France's AI startups face Europe's late-stage funding gap

  France is emerging as a hub for high-value AI and tech startups, but these companies are increasingly looking to the U.S. for growth-stage capital. The trend underscores Europe’s shortage of late-stag

  Reported by finance.yahoo.com

• Workers face job insecurity as layoffs continue unchecked

  Recent layoffs have left employees questioning job stability, with reports of terminations occurring during personal time, such as family vacations. The trend reflects broader unease in the workforce,

  Reported by msn.com

• Indian startups secure $321.9M in mid-September funding rebound

  After a slower period, Indian startups closed 20 deals worth $321.9 million in the week of September 7–11. The uptick marks a recovery in funding activity for the sector, though deal volume and size w

  Reported by techstory.in

• Positron AI secures $875M for HBM alternative chip at $5B valuation

  Positron AI has raised $875 million to develop Asimov, an inference chip using commodity LPDDR5X memory instead of high-bandwidth memory (HBM). The company claims its approach achieves over 90% memory

  Reported by techtimes.com

• Cohere in talks to raise $2B-$3B at $20B valuation

  Cohere is reportedly in advanced discussions to secure $2 billion to $3 billion in funding, valuing the company at $20 billion. This follows a $7 billion valuation just twelve months ago, marking a ne

  Reported by finance.yahoo.com

• Ayar Labs extends funding round by $150M with chip industry backing

  A Silicon Valley startup focused on optical connections for AI chips has secured an additional $150 million. Ayar Labs, which aims to replace traditional electrical links between processors, announced

  Reported by msn.com

• MENA startups accelerate funding, expansion, and M&A activity

  Startups in the Middle East and North Africa reported a surge in funding rounds, acquisitions, and regional expansion this week. Activity spanned e-commerce and artificial intelligence, with multiple

  Reported by arabnews.com