Weekly TOP Startup / VC news of October 30, 2025

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Neolix secured over $600M in record Series D funding, dominating China's autonomous delivery sector. This L4 RoboVan leader holds over 60% market share. Its advanced AI, including map-free navigation and vision-action models, redefines logistics. Funds fuel global expansion, new product development, and R&D. Neolix's 10,000+ deployed RoboVans operate across 300+ cities, accumulating over 50 million autonomous kilometers. The firm scales rapidly across express, cold chain, and urban freight, serving over 300,000 clients. Strategic partnerships in UAE, Japan, and South Korea propel worldwide growth. Neolix accelerates the future of efficient, automated urban logistics, setting industry benchmarks globally.

Crusoe secured over $1.3 billion in a Series E round, pushing its valuation past $10 billion. The company transforms wasted energy into critical infrastructure for massive AI data centers. Its vertically integrated model delivers gigawatt-scale computing power, exemplified by major projects like OpenAI's Texas campus. This strategic funding positions Crusoe as a dominant force in high-performance AI computing, meeting unprecedented global demand for intelligence infrastructure. The capital will accelerate hardware acquisition, expand data center development, and drive international growth, cementing Crusoe's role in the future of artificial intelligence.

Mercor, an AI-focused talent network, just closed a $350 million Series C funding round. This new investment propels its valuation to $10 billion, a fivefold increase. The company's strategic pivot to providing human experts for AI model training proved key. It capitalized on market shifts, specifically a competitor's neutrality issues. Funds will fuel expansion of its specialized talent pool, enhance AI-driven matching technologies, and accelerate service delivery. Mercor now manages over 30,000 contractors, essential for developing advanced artificial intelligence. This capital injection reinforces its position in the booming AI data-labeling sector. The future of AI relies on human insight, and Mercor provides that crucial link.

Mondra, a London-based AI climate tech, secured £10M Series A funding. This investment fuels aggressive European expansion, targeting the Netherlands, Germany, and France. It also significantly enhances product capabilities, extending beyond emissions to tackle critical supply chain disruption and climate risk management. Mondra’s platform delivers vital product-level intelligence. It employs digital twin technology to precisely map intricate food supply chains, from farm to fork. The system provides real-time tracking of carbon footprints, broader environmental impacts, and climate-related supply risks. This empowers food companies to precisely measure sustainability, bolster resilience, and adeptly navigate increasingly volatile global markets. The integrated AI-powered Sherpa assistant further aids complex strategic decision-making. Mondra is now strategically poised for impactful global growth and industry transformation.

Chainguard, a leader in open-source software security, secured $280 million in growth financing. General Catalyst’s Customer Value Fund led the investment. This significant capital injection accelerates Chainguard’s market expansion and product innovation. The company hardens critical open-source components, minimizing vulnerabilities and supply chain attack risks for global enterprises. Its platform delivers secure, production-ready software builds. Chainguard offers over 1,700 minimal, zero-vulnerability container images and robust language libraries. It is readily available on major cloud marketplaces. The investment underscores the critical and growing need for trusted open-source infrastructure across industries. This latest round brings Chainguard’s total funding to approximately $892 million, solidifying its position in defining software supply chain integrity standards.

London's Rightcharge secured £1.6M in seed funding, spearheaded by Soulmates Ventures. This pivotal investment fuels its European expansion. Rightcharge simplifies complex fleet EV charging payments. It automates home charging reimbursements, linking directly to energy accounts. Drivers get a single public charge card. This system drastically cuts costs for businesses, up to 90%. It reduces administrative burden and slashes carbon emissions by 30%. The platform addresses major inefficiencies in current EV fleet management. Key partnerships, including Octopus Electroverse, will expand its reach across Germany, France, and other European nations. Rightcharge accelerates corporate EV adoption by removing financial and logistical barriers for a rapidly electrifying world.

Boston-based VitVio, an AI pioneer, closed an $8M seed funding round. This brings total funding to $10M. VitVio’s platform transforms hospital operating rooms. It autonomously coordinates surgical teams and flags procedural delays. Real-time 3D digitization, powered by computer vision and ambient sensing, provides unmatched clarity. The system deploys AI agents to streamline tasks. It predicts case completion and issues dynamic alerts. Funds will drive aggressive expansion and commercialization across US hospitals. Team growth is also a priority. VitVio offers crucial efficiency and financial visibility. It addresses the estimated $1.4 million annual inefficiency per operating room. This AI innovation tackles rising costs and staffing challenges directly.

Nvidia makes a monumental $1 billion equity investment in Nokia. This strategic partnership reshapes the future of AI in telecoms. Nvidia acquires a 2.9% stake, cementing its AI leadership. Nokia gains crucial capital to accelerate 5G and 6G software on Nvidia’s advanced architecture. The collaboration extends to AI networking solutions and integrating Nokia’s data center technologies into Nvidia’s infrastructure. This move places AI firmly at the core of global connectivity. It expands Nvidia’s ecosystem. Nokia bolsters its position in the AI supercycle. The market reacted strongly, with Nokia shares surging. This alliance defines next-generation network development and data processing, promising significant advancements across the tech landscape. It's a bold step forward for both industry titans, driving innovation at an unprecedented pace.

Norse Atlantic ASA just closed a NOK 113.7 million private placement. It issued nearly 14.8 million new shares at market value to a mix of new strategic international investors and its largest current shareholders. This capital injection significantly strengthens the airline's financial standing and operational flexibility. The move validates Norse Atlantic's long-haul, low-cost strategy, backed by strong load factors and improved cost efficiency. It expands the international ownership base, possibly leading to new board representation. A subsequent offering could follow, allowing other eligible shareholders to participate, further boosting financial resilience. This financing fuels Norse's plans for sustained growth and long-term value creation.

Cellcolabs, a Swedish biotech, secured $12 million from Titian Capital, boosting total funding to $37 million. The company drives industrial-scale production of GMP-certified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Its mission: slash MSC costs by 90% by 2035. This investment powers technical development and global expansion. Cellcolabs aims to revolutionize access to high-quality, affordable stem cells. It addresses surging demand for scalable cellular therapies, building vital infrastructure for regenerative medicine's future. The firm supplies hospitals and private clients worldwide. Its proprietary protocol ensures rigor and consistency, positioning Cellcolabs as a leader in advanced therapy solutions.

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