Etched fields funding offers at $40B+ valuation, sources say

Recapping this week in startups

View this email online in your browser  October 09, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Etched fields funding offers at $40B+ valuation, sources say: Just a couple of months after its last big raise, the AI chip startup is already being plied with investment offers at double or more its current value, sources tell TechCrunch. Read More At 19, founder raises $11M for Ghost, maker of a $3,499 computer for personal AI: Ghost's first product is Core, a personal computer designed specifically for AI agents that can take actions on a person's behalf. Read More Hark releases an AI personal assistant with a focus on privacy: The AI lab's personal assistant is an operating system from the future designed to compete with Muse, Dots, and Instinct. Read More A message from Altum Sequencing Altum Sequencing: hospital-born, built for patient impact Born from research at Hospital 12 de Octubre, Altum is turning clinical innovation into impact: 25+ customers and 6,000+ samples analyzed across pharma, hospitals and clinical research. We are raising €5M to accelerate regulatory development and international expansion. This company is part of Santander X 100, the global community of Santander X. See our traction Must-Reads Cal AI's 19-year-old founder just raised $10M for his new AI startup: Zach Yadegari, the teen co-founder of popular Cal AI calorie tracking app, has launched a new personal AI agent startup that competes with Instinct, Muse, and Bee. Read More A startup founder who served time in prison is looking to court an untapped market: ex-cons: Richard Bronson, a former Stratton Oakmont partner who served time in federal prison for securities violations, has launched Commissary Club, a startup that uses AI to help people leaving prison find jobs, housing, community, and even dates. Read More The complete Side Events lineup at Founder Summit 2026: Boston, are you ready?! TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 is about to explode with energy — and the real magic kicks off with an epic lineup of Side Events lighting up the city from November 3–6! Read More Vesta raises $30M to bring swarms of agents to mortgage lenders: Vesta, an AI-native software startup that helps lenders originate mortgages, announced a $30 million round led by Conversion Capital.  Read More Xona's commercial GPS alternative is about to go live: Xona's precision timing and navigation service will enter beta testing after SpaceX launches six satellites designed by the company. Read More A message from TechCrunch Events 5 days until Disrupt 2026 launches Moscone West doors open at 8 a.m. PT on October 13. Explore 200+ sessions across six stages, roundtables, and breakouts led by 250+ speakers from OpenAI, Anthropic, Rivian, Amazon, Science Corp, and more, plus Mark Wahlberg. See 300+ startups and connect with 10,000+ founders, investors, and operators. Save up to $100 and get 50% off a second pass. Register Now Last but Not Least Silicon Valley's AI wunderkind launches Underdog, the most private Instinct/Muse competitor yet: Sigil Wen, backed by a Silicon Valley who's who, has built an on-device AI assistant that promises to be free, fully private, and capable for everyday tasks. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107

Factory CEO just accused his VC board adviser of spying for Cognition

Recapping this week in startups

View this email online in your browser  October 02, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Factory CEO just accused his VC board adviser of spying for Cognition: VC Chris Degnan and former board adviser to Factory AI has taken a job as chief revenue officer for competitor Cognition -- and everyone is arguing on X about it. Read More Maritime intelligence startup Quartermaster raises another $140M: The tech enables real-time awareness for what Quartermaster calls the “largest blind spot on Earth.” Read More MAVI bets on the AI boom creating demand for a new kind of accountant: Accounting staffing company MAVI emerges from stealth with $4 million in funding. Read More A message from Altum Sequencing Altum Sequencing transforms cancer treatment monitoring Cancer treatment is becoming increasingly personalized. Monitoring should be too. Altum combines liquid biopsy, ultra-sensitive NGS and AI to monitor treatment response, detect molecular relapse earlier and identify emerging resistance. This company is part of Santander X, the global community of Santander X. Discover our technology Must-Reads AI voice startup ElevenLabs doubles valuation to $22B: The $300 million employee tender was co-led by Wellington and T. Rowe Price. Read More a16z-backed EliseAI raises $350M, doubles valuation to $4B: EliseAI raises $350M, doubles valuation in a year. Read More Kevin Mandia's new 'agent swarm' security startup Armadin raises $255.5M at $2.5B valuation: Kevin Mandia, best known as the founder of Mandiant, has a new startup that is using agent swarms to test and protect enterprises. Read More TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Blackstone’s Jas Khaira on building the next generation of AI giants: Blackstone's Jas Khaira will take the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 on building next-gen AI. Register for your pass and get 50% off a second. Read More Photon held a funeral for mobile apps. Now it has $4.5M to help replace them with agents.: The startup helps developers build AI agents that work over iMessage, SMS/RCS, email, and other messaging platforms. It's a bet that consumers will increasingly use agents instead of downloading apps. Read More A message from Invest Hong Kong Asia’s #1 Fintech Center Welcomes U.S. Fintechs to HONG KONG Hong Kong – Asia’s Fintech capital, Innovation Hub to the Greater Bay Area and gateway to the Chinese Mainland – invites U.S. Fintechs to join a U.S. delegation for Hong Kong FinTech Week 2026, November 2–6. Access a curated program, meet key players in Hong Kong’s fintech ecosystem and discover how YOU can grow YOUR Fintech in Asia’s World City! More Information Here Last but Not Least TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Clay’s Kareem Amin on the rise of the GTM engineer: Clay Co-founder and CEO Kareem Amin joins the AI Stage to discuss the rise of GTM engineer at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register for your ticket and get a second pass at 50% off. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107