Startup ecosystem stories - Page 3

Elyos AI raises USD $13m to grow its AI agents that answer calls, book jobs and automate admin for trades and field service firms.

German sustainability software firm osapiens raises USD $100m Series C led by Decarbonization Partners, propelling it to unicorn status.

YAP Global appoints Otto Jacobsson as CEO, signalling expansion and a broader service mix as the crypto and digital assets sector matures.

MongoDB expands its AI-focused startup programme and bakes Voyage AI models into Atlas to unify retrieval and operational data in one stack.

Accenture to acquire UK AI specialist Faculty for USD $1bn, in its biggest British AI startup deal and a major bet on AI safety expertise.

Barcelona cyber start-up Zynap raises EUR €6 million seed extension to scale its AI-driven preventive defence platform globally.

Airwallex secures USD $330m at a USD $8b valuation and names San Francisco a dual global HQ as it ramps US expansion and AI investment.

Airwallex has named James Teodorini Head of ANZ to spearhead growth in Australia and New Zealand after hitting USD $235 billion in volume.

J.P. Morgan's Fusion platform has integrated Crunchbase AI, giving institutional investors live startup forecasts and early risk signals.

Auror opens a new global headquarters in central Auckland as it scales overseas and steps up efforts to combat organised retail crime.

AI is tipped to run entire corporate workflows by 2026, forcing firms to rebuild software and reorganise staff around skills, not hierarchies.

NEC X invites founders to join Elev X! Ignite, offering hands-on AI access and up to USD $250,000 funding for seed-ready B2B SaaS startups.

Nebius launches global awards with USD $100,000 in AI Cloud credits for startups advancing robotics and physical AI across Asia, Europe and the US.

Peak XV launches Surge 11 with 23 startups across AI, fintech, consumer brands, and infrastructure from India, APAC, and global markets.

Cloudflare will recruit 1,111 interns globally in 2026, expanding its programme to support students with hands-on tech experience and mentorship worldwide.

Wellington's Taiawa Tech Hub has boosted the economy by NZD $11.9 million GDP and created 127 jobs in its first year, supporting 20 startups and innovation.

New Zealand startups pitching at Icehouse Ventures' Showcase have raised nearly USD $2 billion in funding over 15 years, boosting local innovation and jobs.

Cognition has acquired Windsurf's core assets post-failed OpenAI and Google deals, reshaping the competitive AI coding tools market in July 2025.

Accel launches fifth Atoms programme, offering Indian founders up to USD $1 million funding and support in AI and LeapTech innovation.

Tim Dacombe-Bird has been named Head of Google Cloud New Zealand, leading local AI and digital transformation efforts from Wellington.