Startup news, 16 September 2026

15 briefs

• Moroccan legaltech Charikaty secures pre-seed at $3.5M valuation

  Charikaty, a Morocco-based legaltech startup, has closed a pre-seed round at a $3.5 million valuation. The funding will support expansion into accounting, compliance services, and regional markets bey

  Reported by weetracker.com

• OriginalVoices secures £1m pre-seed for digital twin network expansion

  OriginalVoices has raised £1 million in pre-seed funding, with Iona Star taking the lead. The startup plans to use the capital to hire, grow its network of AI-powered digital replicas of real people,

  Reported by bmmagazine.co.uk

• Quantum cybersecurity firm QClairvoyance targets Finland expansion

  A quantum cybersecurity startup, QClairvoyance, is set to enter Finland as part of its push into Europe. The move follows rising demand for quantum-resistant security solutions in the region. No detai

  Reported by thehindubusinessline.com

• Australia launches climate tech funding program for early-stage startups

  The Australian Government’s new Launchpad program targets early-stage climate and renewable energy startups. Climate Capital Forum has publicly supported the initiative, marking a push to back homegro

  Reported by miragenews.com

• Ending a business partnership: steps for clean separation

  Dissolving a partnership often proves challenging due to legal, financial, and personal factors. The process requires clear communication, documented agreements, and adherence to terms outlined in the

  Reported by msn.com

• Seattle AI lab Nuance Labs secures $50M for full-duplex conversational model

  A Seattle-based research lab founded by former Apple PhD researchers has raised $50 million to build an AI model capable of processing and generating conversational cues at the same time. Nuance Labs,

  Reported by geekwire.com

• India to co-invest in chip startups under Semicon 2.0 plan

  India’s Semiconductor Mission will match venture capital investments in domestic chip startups under its updated Semicon 2.0 initiative. The program, outlined by ISM CEO Amitesh Kumar Sinha, aims to a

  Reported by yourstory.com

• Abwaab acquires Egypt's Eduact in second 2026 deal

  Jordan’s edtech platform Abwaab has bought Egyptian startup Eduact, its second acquisition this year. The deal brings teacher and learning center software into Abwaab’s portfolio, extending its focus

  Reported by msn.com

• xSeek buys Montreal AI startup to expand GEO platform tools

  Canadian SaaS provider xSeek has acquired Montreal-based LLMonade, integrating its AI-driven visibility measurement and strategic execution features into xSeek’s GEO platform. The deal aims to enhance

  Reported by finance.yahoo.com

• AI coding startup Factory triples valuation to $5B in five months

  Factory, an AI coding company developing autonomous 'Droids' for clients like Nvidia, Adobe, and Morgan Stanley, secured $200 million at a $5 billion valuation. The funding round marks a threefold inc

  Reported by cryptobriefing.com

• Profound raises $180M at $1.8B valuation for AI brand visibility tools

  AI search startup Profound has secured $180 million in funding, bringing its valuation to $1.8 billion. The company develops tools to track brand visibility within AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT an

  Reported by seekingalpha.com

• Buildots raises $130M for AI-powered construction site tracking

  An Israeli startup using AI and computer vision to monitor construction sites has secured $130 million. Buildots targets a global market projected to exceed $1 trillion, focusing on real-time progress

  Reported by msn.com

• CADDi hits $1.2B valuation with $114M Series D for manufacturing AI

  A Tokyo-based AI startup focused on manufacturing has secured $114 million in Series D funding, pushing its valuation to $1.2 billion. CADDi aims to address what it describes as a 'physical bottleneck

  Reported by msn.com

• Exein becomes Europe’s top cybersecurity startup with $270M round

  Rome-based Exein has secured $270 million at a $1.7 billion valuation, positioning itself as Europe’s most valuable cybersecurity startup. The funding targets expansion in the U.S. and APAC, focusing

  Reported by finance.yahoo.com, finance.yahoo.com

• Profound reaches $1.8B valuation in under a year with $180M raise

  New York-based AI marketing startup Profound has secured a $1.8 billion valuation after closing a $180 million Series D. The round follows a $96 million Series C raised less than seven months ago, acc

  Reported by bizjournals.com, msn.com