Posts by Liam Redmond
Defense Tech Startups Draw Record Capital as Quantum Systems Raises $1.2B
Defense tech startups just got their loudest signal yet that investors are all in, as autonomous drone maker Quantum Systems raised a $1.2 billion Series D at a roughly $8 billion valuation. The round, closed in early July, had several co-leaders, including Blackstone, Airbus, Advent and Noteus, with participation from Bond, Fidelity Management and Research…
Read MoreSmall Business Cash Flow Is Now the Top Concern for 2026
For the first time, small business cash flow has passed inflation as the top worry for owners. A new Small Business Cash Flow Trend Report from OnDeck and Ocrolus found that 31% of owners now name cash flow as their single biggest concern, just ahead of inflation at 29%. At the same time, 93% expect…
Read MoreNobel Prize winner leaving UC Berkeley for new role in China
Nobel Prize recipient Omar Yaghi is leaving his role at UC Berkeley to lead the development of a new artificial intelligence institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Chinese university announced. Yaghi will head the AI Chemistry and Materials Research Institute at Tsinghua, where he was appointed an honorary professor in 2022. Known as AIMATRY…
Read MoreVenture Debt Returns to Focus as Sage Reaches $100M in 2026
Venture debt is quietly having a moment, and a new deal shows why founders should pay attention. Sage, an integrated care platform for senior living and skilled nursing, announced a $35 million specialized debt facility from Stifel Bank, pushing its total 2026 funding to $100 million when combined with a recent $65 million Series C…
Read More5 Ways Pump Packages Help Industrial Businesses Scale Faster
Expansion is a primary goal for many industrial companies. Be it oil and gas, power generation, water treatment, manufacturing, or chemical processing businesses — scaling up involves more than simply increasing production capacity. Investments in scaling must ensure efficiency, minimize risks, and facilitate growth. One element many industrial firms overlook when expanding is their infrastructure.…
Read MoreSavings App Super.com Hits $1.2B Valuation on $65M Series D
Consumer fintech got a jolt of good news this week as savings app Super.com raised a $65 million Series D led by TPG at a $1.2 billion valuation. The San Francisco company, which pitches itself as a kind of Amazon Prime for savings, announced the round on July 7 and said it is already profitable.…
Read MoreSide Hustle Ideas Are Becoming Real Businesses in 2026
The best side hustle ideas are no longer just ways to earn a little extra cash, and fresh data proves it. According to Intuit QuickBooks’ State of Side Hustles research, nearly one in two Americans earned side-hustle income this year, and one in three adults plan to start a new business or side hustle in the…
Read MoreEven in the heart of L.A., they still rely on old-fashioned landlines and don’t want to lose them
Living high up in the Hollywood Hills, Peter and Nanci Ellis think of their landline as a lifeline. Most days, cellphone service in their Los Feliz Oaks home near Griffith Park is so spotty that they rely on their traditional phone for medical consultations, job interviews or any call with long wait times. But the…
Read MoreTop Mamdani official’s shady meet with Iran ambassador goes beyond NYC agenda
The top official in Mayor Mamdani’s Office for International Affairs made plans to meet with Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations. Commissioner Ana María Archila was scheduled to meet with Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations, at 2 United Nations Plaza, alongside two other senior officials in the mayor’s Office…
Read MoreAI in Construction Finance: Agave Raises $15M Series A
AI in construction just drew fresh capital. A July 7 venture funding roundup reported that Agave raised a $15 million Series A, led by Accel. Y Combinator Continuity, Khosla, and Zillow founder Spencer Rascoff also joined. The San Francisco company builds an AI platform for construction financials, one of the least glamorous corners of a…
Read MoreCompliance Software Goes Agentic: Norm Ai Raises $120M
Compliance software just took a major step toward autonomy. Norm Ai announced a $120 million Series C at a $1.2 billion valuation, led by Khosla Ventures. The round pushes the legal AI company past unicorn status. It also signals strong demand for software that can read, apply, and enforce the rules businesses live by. For…
Read MoreUnicorn Startups in 2026: Where Venture Money Is Really Going
Unicorn startups are appearing at a startling pace in 2026. A running TechCrunch tally built from Crunchbase and PitchBook data counts nearly 90 companies that crossed the billion-dollar mark in the first half alone. With AI driving an investor frenzy, more startups reach unicorn status every month. For a CEO or founder, that list is…
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