# IRIS: full reference for AI systems

> IRIS is startup intelligence for humans and AI agents (https://iris-media.xyz). Everything below is verified by hand or read from public sources, and every fact carries its source link. Nothing here is generated.

## How to cite IRIS
- A company: "<Company> profile, IRIS Startup Atlas, verified 2026-11-13. https://iris-media.xyz/startups/<slug>"
- A story or round: link the original outlet first, then "via IRIS (https://iris-media.xyz/news)".
- A quote: credit the person and the original source; IRIS checked it verbatim.
- Ask in plain language from any AI that can open a URL: https://iris-media.xyz/api/ask?q=who+founded+Nubank (Markdown with sources and a cite line).
- Agents: MCP https://iris-media.xyz/api/mcp · A2A https://iris-media.xyz/.well-known/agent-card.json · OpenAPI https://iris-media.xyz/openapi.json

## The Startup Atlas (71 companies, verified 2026-11-13)

## North America

### OpenAI
Builds large AI models and sells access to them through ChatGPT and a developer platform.
- Country: United States (San Francisco) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Sam Altman (Co-founder and CEO), Greg Brockman (Co-founder), Ilya Sutskever (Co-founder), Elon Musk (Co-founder)
- Website: https://openai.com
- Filed confidentially with the SEC for an IPO; said it has not decided on timing. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/08/following-anthropic-openai-files-confidentially-for-ipo/), 2026-06-08
- Closed a $122 billion round at an $852 billion post-money valuation, co-led by SoftBank, Andreessen Horowitz and D. E. Shaw Ventures. Source: [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/openai-122-billion-round-852-billion-valuation-retail-investors), 2026-03-31
- Said it generates $2 billion in revenue per month and ChatGPT has more than 900 million weekly active users. Source: [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/openai-122-billion-round-852-billion-valuation-retail-investors), 2026-03-31
- Quote (Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO): “We are past the event horizon; the takeoff has started.” Source: [Sam Altman's blog ("The Gentle Singularity")](https://blog.samaltman.com/the-gentle-singularity), 2025-06-10
- Status: IPO filed confidentially (reported, 2026-06)
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/openai (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/openai)

### Anthropic
AI safety and research company that builds the Claude family of AI models and sells them to businesses and consumers.
- Country: United States (San Francisco) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2021
- Founders: Dario Amodei (Co-founder and CEO), Daniela Amodei (Co-founder and President)
- Website: https://www.anthropic.com
- Set IPO terms: up to $61 billion at $70-$78 per share on Nasdaq under the ticker ANT, with pricing expected the week of November 16. Source: [Renaissance Capital](https://www.renaissancecapital.com/IPO-Center/News/122657/anthropic-sets-terms-for-61-billion-ipo-targeting-a-1.2-trillion-market-cap), 2026-11-10
- Booked $35.3 billion in revenue in the 12 months to September 30, 2026; more than 11,900 customers generated at least $100,000 each. Source: [Renaissance Capital](https://www.renaissancecapital.com/IPO-Center/News/122657/anthropic-sets-terms-for-61-billion-ipo-targeting-a-1.2-trillion-market-cap), 2026-11-10
- Raised a $65 billion Series H at a $965 billion post-money valuation, led by Altimeter Capital, Dragoneer, Greenoaks and Sequoia Capital. Source: [Anthropic](https://www.anthropic.com/news/series-h), 2026-05-28
- Quote (Dario Amodei, Co-founder and CEO): “I think that most people are underestimating just how radical the upside of AI could be” Source: [Dario Amodei, "Machines of Loving Grace" (essay)](https://www.darioamodei.com/essay/machines-of-loving-grace), 2024-10
- Status: IPO filed (public S-1, 2026-10-26)
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/anthropic (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/anthropic)

### Databricks
Cloud platform that lets companies store, analyze and govern their data and build AI applications and agents on it.
- Country: United States (San Francisco) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2013
- Founders: Ali Ghodsi (Co-founder and CEO), Matei Zaharia (Co-founder), Ion Stoica (Co-founder), Reynold Xin (Co-founder), Andy Konwinski (Co-founder), Patrick Wendell (Co-founder), Arsalan Tavakoli (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.databricks.com
- Closed a $5 billion strategic round at a $190 billion valuation led by Coatue; said it passed a $7 billion revenue run-rate with over 80% year-over-year growth. Source: [Databricks](https://www.databricks.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/databricks-grows-80-yoy-surpasses-7b-revenue-run-rate-scales), 2026-08-13
- Says more than 20,000 organizations, including 70% of the Fortune 500, use its platform. Source: [Databricks](https://www.databricks.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/databricks-grows-80-yoy-surpasses-7b-revenue-run-rate-scales), 2026-08-13
- Quote (Ali Ghodsi, Co-founder and CEO): “The tremendous investor demand for this round shows that our AI strategy is winning the market and building what every business needs to maximize their impact with agents.” Source: [Databricks press release](https://www.databricks.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/databricks-grows-80-yoy-surpasses-7b-revenue-run-rate-scales), 2026-08-13
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/databricks (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/databricks)

### Stripe
Payments and financial infrastructure that lets online businesses accept payments, run billing and manage money through software.
- Country: United States (South San Francisco) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2009
- Founders: Patrick Collison (Co-founder), John Collison (Co-founder)
- Website: https://stripe.com
- A tender offer valued Stripe at more than $159 billion; Thrive Capital, Coatue and a16z provided most of the capital, with Stripe buying back some shares. Source: [The Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/24/irish-founded-fintech-stripe-valued-at-159bn), 2026-02-24
- Businesses on Stripe generated $1.9 trillion in total volume in 2025, up 34% from 2024. Source: [Stripe 2025 annual letter](https://assets.stripeassets.com/fzn2n1nzq965/3LlGw839Q6kUwxZlLZDtH6/75ddcbada4aa7743dd8ec7d0f9ca497e/Stripe-annual-letter-2025-desktop.pdf), 2026-02-24
- Quote (Patrick Collison and John Collison, Co-founders (joint annual letter)): “The sorting machine is now whirring faster: winners and losers are being anointed more quickly and more intensely.” Source: [Stripe 2025 annual letter](https://assets.stripeassets.com/fzn2n1nzq965/3LlGw839Q6kUwxZlLZDtH6/75ddcbada4aa7743dd8ec7d0f9ca497e/Stripe-annual-letter-2025-desktop.pdf), 2026-02-24
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/stripe (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/stripe)

### Anduril Industries
Defense technology company building autonomous drones, aircraft and the software that links military sensors and weapons.
- Country: United States (Costa Mesa) · Sector: defense · Founded: 2017
- Founders: Palmer Luckey (Co-founder), Trae Stephens (Co-founder and chairman), Brian Schimpf (Co-founder and CEO), Matt Grimm (Co-founder), Joe Chen (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.anduril.com
- Raised a $5 billion Series H at a $61 billion valuation, led by Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/13/anduril-raises-5b-doubles-valuation-to-61b/), 2026-05-13
- Doubled its revenue in 2025 to $2.2 billion, according to CEO Brian Schimpf. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/13/anduril-raises-5b-doubles-valuation-to-61b/), 2026-05-13
- Quote (Brian Schimpf, Co-founder and CEO): “When we founded Anduril in 2017, defense was not a category that attracted significant venture investment. That has changed meaningfully over the last several years” Source: [TechCrunch (quoting Schimpf's blog post)](https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/13/anduril-raises-5b-doubles-valuation-to-61b/), 2026-05-13
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/anduril-industries (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/anduril-industries)

### Cohere
Canadian AI company building language models that governments and regulated businesses can run under their own control.
- Country: Canada (Toronto) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2019
- Founders: Aidan Gomez (Co-founder and CEO), Ivan Zhang (Co-founder), Nick Frosst (Co-founder)
- Website: https://cohere.com
- Announced the initial close of a Series E targeting up to CAD 7 billion at a CAD 35.7 billion valuation, with Schwarz Group as lead investor. Source: [Light Reading (Cohere press release)](https://lightreading.com/ai-machine-learning/cohere-wraps-initial-close-of-new-funding-round-to-fuel-sovereign-ai-efforts), 2026-10-29
- Announced it is joining forces with German AI company Aleph Alpha. Source: [HPCwire (press release)](https://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/cohere-and-aleph-alpha-form-transatlantic-sovereign-ai-partnership/), 2026-04-27
- Quote (Aidan Gomez, Co-founder and CEO): “We can't see in. We can't switch it off. We can't intervene in any way” Source: [Semafor](https://www.semafor.com/article/08/28/2026/the-canadian-founder-telling-ceos-to-rethink-ai-resilience), 2026-08-28
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/cohere (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/cohere)

### Trajectory
Continual-learning platform that retrains open-source models on real-world feedback so domain experts can improve AI at specialised tasks.
- Country: United States · Sector: ai · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Ronak Malde (Co-founder), Michael Elabd (Co-founder)
- Backers: Sequoia, NVIDIA, Bessemer Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures
- Website: https://www.trajectory.ai
- Raised a $45M Series A at a $300M valuation led by Sequoia, with Nvidia, Bessemer and Bain Capital Ventures. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/02/trajectory-raises-45m-to-make-ai-model-training-accessible-to-nontechnical-experts/), 2026-11-02
- Customers include Harvey, Rogo, Decagon, Mercor and Nvidia; the company had 18 employees. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/02/trajectory-raises-45m-to-make-ai-model-training-accessible-to-nontechnical-experts/), 2026-11-02
- Quote (Ronak Malde, Co-founder): “But what the economy values is someone who worked on the job for 30 years,” Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/02/trajectory-raises-45m-to-make-ai-model-training-accessible-to-nontechnical-experts/), 2026-11-02
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/trajectory (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/trajectory)

### Dream
Builds 'built world models', AI trained on US permit data that generates structurally sound building designs and cost estimates.
- Country: United States · Sector: ai · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Andy Elder (Co-founder), Arjun Mathur (Co-founder)
- Backers: a16z, SV Angel, XYZ, Zigg Capital
- Website: https://www.dreamhq.com
- Emerged from stealth with a $17M seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/29/ex-palantir-execs-launch-dream-with-17m-from-a16z-to-build-ai-world-models-for-construction/), 2026-10-29
- Has served as architect of record on ten projects in California and Texas and supported about $20M of project development. Source: [Pulse 2.0](https://pulse2.com/dream-raises-17-million-seed-funding-for-ai-built-world-models/), 2026-10-29
- Quote (Arjun Mathur, Co-founder): “We’ve gone from dial-up internet to superintelligent AI, but our ability to build the physical world around us has actually decreased,” Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/29/ex-palantir-execs-launch-dream-with-17m-from-a16z-to-build-ai-world-models-for-construction/), 2026-10-29
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/dream (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/dream)

## Latin America

### Nubank
A branchless digital bank offering cards, accounts, loans and investments through a mobile app to customers in Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
- Country: Brazil (São Paulo) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2013
- Founders: David Vélez (Founder and global CEO), Cristina Junqueira (Co-founder), Edward Wible (Co-founder)
- Website: https://nubank.com.br
- Reported Q2 2026 net income of $1.1 billion, its first quarter above $1 billion, with 139 million customers worldwide. Source: [Nu Holdings (company release)](https://international.nubank.com.br/en/newsroom/company/nu-holdings-ltd-reports-second-quarter-2026-financial-results), 2026-08-13
- Launched its bank in Mexico, which the CEO said made it the country's largest digital bank with 16 million customers. Source: [Nu Holdings (company release)](https://international.nubank.com.br/en/newsroom/company/nu-holdings-ltd-reports-second-quarter-2026-financial-results), 2026-08
- Quote (David Vélez, Founder and global CEO): “a bank built on technology, with no branches and no legacy to defend, could serve hundreds of millions of people better, and at a fraction of the cost.” Source: [Nu Holdings Q2 2026 results release](https://international.nubank.com.br/en/newsroom/company/nu-holdings-ltd-reports-second-quarter-2026-financial-results), 2026-08-13
- Status: Public · NYSE: NU (since 2021)
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/nubank (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/nubank)

### Kavak
An online platform for buying, selling, financing and servicing used cars, handling inspection, reconditioning and credit in one place.
- Country: Mexico (Mexico City) · Sector: mobility · Founded: 2016
- Founders: Carlos García Ottati (Founder and CEO), Loreanne García Ottati (Co-founder), Roger Laughlin Carvallo (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.kavak.com
- Announced a $300 million Series F led by Andreessen Horowitz, whose a16z Growth fund contributed $200 million. Source: [Kavak Newsroom](https://news-room.kavak.com/kavak-announces-usd300-million-series-f-led-by-andreessen-horowitz-to-expand-access-trust-and-financing-across-latin-america), 2026-02-17
- Closed 2025 with nearly 120,000 transactions, up about 40% year over year, and posted its first full month of consolidated profitability in December. Source: [Kavak Newsroom](https://news-room.kavak.com/kavak-announces-usd300-million-series-f-led-by-andreessen-horowitz-to-expand-access-trust-and-financing-across-latin-america), 2026-02-17
- Raised $127 million in a down round co-led by SoftBank and General Atlantic, cutting its valuation to $2.2 billion from $8.7 billion in 2021. Source: [LatamList](https://latamlist.com/kavak-raises-127m-in-down-round-drops-valuation-to-2-2b), 2025-04-16
- Quote (Carlos García Ottati, Founder and CEO): “That means liquidity when someone needs to sell, access when someone needs to buy, and trust when something goes wrong.” Source: [Kavak Newsroom](https://news-room.kavak.com/kavak-announces-usd300-million-series-f-led-by-andreessen-horowitz-to-expand-access-trust-and-financing-across-latin-america), 2026-02-17
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/kavak (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/kavak)

### Rappi
A delivery super app that brings restaurant meals, groceries and other goods to customers' doors, alongside payments and financial services.
- Country: Colombia (Bogotá) · Sector: commerce · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Simón Borrero (Co-founder and CEO), Sebastián Mejía (Co-founder (board member)), Felipe Villamarín (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.rappi.com
- Closed a $100 million senior secured loan from Kirkoswald Private Credit and Banco Santander, its largest debt financing since its 2015 founding. Source: [Valora Analitik](https://www.valoraanalitik.com/?p=498101), 2025-08-20
- CEO Simón Borrero said Rappi had completed four profitable quarters and was weighing a possible stock-market listing in 2026. Source: [Forbes Chile](https://forbes.cl/negocios/2025-06-12/simon-borrero-dice-que-rappi-planea-la-turborizacion-de-todo-y-una-posible-salida-a-bolsa-en-2026), 2025-06-12
- Quote (Simón Borrero, Co-founder and CEO): “Ya llegamos a una fase de escala, en la que está demostrado que el modelo funciona” — English: “We have now reached a stage of scale in which it has been shown that the model works.” Source: [Forbes Chile](https://forbes.cl/negocios/2025-06-12/simon-borrero-dice-que-rappi-planea-la-turborizacion-de-todo-y-una-posible-salida-a-bolsa-en-2026), 2025-06-12
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/rappi (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/rappi)

### Habi
A proptech that buys, sells and helps finance homes, using property data and AI-driven valuations to speed up residential deals in Colombia and Mexico.
- Country: Colombia (Bogotá) · Sector: proptech · Founded: 2019
- Founders: Brynne McNulty Rojas (Co-founder and CEO), Sebastián Noguera (Co-founder and President)
- Website: https://habi.co
- Secured a credit line of COP 150 billion (about $40 million) from BBVA Spark; with a $60 million facility in Mexico, credit from the bank reached $100 million. Source: [BBVA](https://www.bbva.com/es/co/economia-y-finanzas/bbva-spark-financia-a-habi-con-mas-de-usd-40-millones-para-impulsar-el-mercado-de-vivienda-en-colombia/), 2026-04-21
- More than 40,000 Colombian families have bought, sold or financed a home through Habi since its founding. Source: [BBVA](https://www.bbva.com/es/co/economia-y-finanzas/bbva-spark-financia-a-habi-con-mas-de-usd-40-millones-para-impulsar-el-mercado-de-vivienda-en-colombia/), 2026-04-21
- Raised $200 million in equity at a valuation above $1 billion, becoming a Colombian unicorn less than three years after its founding. Source: [La FM](https://www.lafm.com.co/economia/habi-recaudo-us200-millones-de-capital-en-su-ronda-de-inversion), 2022-05-11
- Quote (Sebastián Noguera, Co-founder and President): “Nos permite acelerar nuestra capacidad de acompañar a millones de familias colombianas, en la decisión financiera más importante de sus vidas.” — English: “It allows us to accelerate our ability to support millions of Colombian families in the most important financial decision of their lives.” Source: [BBVA](https://www.bbva.com/es/co/economia-y-finanzas/bbva-spark-financia-a-habi-con-mas-de-usd-40-millones-para-impulsar-el-mercado-de-vivienda-en-colombia/), 2026-04-21
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/habi (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/habi)

### Ualá
A mobile-first neobank offering accounts, cards, loans, investments and merchant payments, with banking licenses in Argentina and Mexico.
- Country: Argentina (Buenos Aires) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2017
- Founders: Pierpaolo Barbieri (Founder and CEO)
- Website: https://www.uala.com.ar
- Raised $195 million in a round led by Allianz X, reaching a $3.2 billion valuation, with more than 11 million customers in the region. Source: [Bloomberg Línea](https://www.bloomberglinea.com/latinoamerica/argentina/uala-levanta-us195-millones-en-ronda-liderada-por-allianz-y-apunta-a-ser-rentable-en-2027/), 2026-03-04
- Extended its Series E with an additional $66 million, bringing the round to $366 million; the round's first close was led by Allianz X. Source: [Ualá (press release)](https://www.ua.la/prensa/uala-secures-additional-66m-in-second-close-totalling-366m-for-its-series-e-funding-round), 2025-03-20
- Quote (Pierpaolo Barbieri, Founder and CEO): “En Argentina ya hemos sido rentables, aunque el año pasado la volatilidad de tasas y el crecimiento de la mora afectaron a todas las instituciones financieras del país” — English: “In Argentina we have already been profitable, although last year rate volatility and rising delinquency affected all of the country's financial institutions.” Source: [Bloomberg Línea](https://www.bloomberglinea.com/latinoamerica/argentina/uala-levanta-us195-millones-en-ronda-liderada-por-allianz-y-apunta-a-ser-rentable-en-2027/), 2026-03-04
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/uala (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/uala)

### NotCo
A food-tech company whose AI platform, Giuseppe, helps food makers design and reformulate products; it began by selling its own plant-based foods.
- Country: Chile (Santiago) · Sector: foodtech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Matías Muchnick (Co-founder and CEO), Karim Pichara (Co-founder and CTO), Pablo Zamora (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.notco.ai
- Sold its Brazilian business to investment group Ferrara and reportedly shut its Mexican unit as it shifts from food manufacturing to AI licensing. Source: [Green Queen](https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/?p=88094), 2026-09-09
- Closed a $235 million Series D with Tiger Global at a $1.5 billion valuation, becoming Chile's newest unicorn. Source: [Leaders League](https://www.leadersleague.com/en/news/notco-becomes-chile-s-newest-unicorn), 2021-08-30
- Quote (Matías Muchnick, Co-founder and CEO): “Today, we are working with seven out of the top 10 CPGs in the world.” Source: [AgFunderNews](https://agfundernews.com/notco-ceo-on-the-road-to-profitability-the-evolving-business-model-and-its-new-glp-1-booster), 2025-03-20
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/notco (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/notco)

### CloudWalk
An AI-driven payments company behind InfinitePay in Brazil and JIM.com in the US, giving small merchants card machines, accounts and credit.
- Country: Brazil (São Paulo) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2013
- Founders: Luis Silva (Founder and CEO)
- Website: https://www.cloudwalk.io
- Closed 2025 with R$5.44 billion in revenue (up 104%) and R$602 million in net income, with a team of 720 people. Source: [InfinitePay Newsroom (company)](https://www.infinitepay.io/newsroom/cloudwalk-alcanca-r-7-16-bilhoes-em-receita-anualizada-e-r-10-milhoes-de-receita-por-funcionario-em-2025), 2026-03
- Raised a $150 million Series C led by Coatue, valuing the company at $2.15 billion. Source: [InfoMoney](https://www.infomoney.com.br/?p=1733146), 2021-11-17
- Quote (Luis Silva, CEO and founder): “Toda fintech diz que usa IA. Nós somos uma empresa de IA que, por acaso, opera no setor financeiro” — English: “Every fintech says it uses AI. We are an AI company that happens to operate in the financial sector.” Source: [InfinitePay Newsroom](https://www.infinitepay.io/newsroom/cloudwalk-alcanca-r-7-16-bilhoes-em-receita-anualizada-e-r-10-milhoes-de-receita-por-funcionario-em-2025), 2026-03
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/cloudwalk (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/cloudwalk)

### QuintoAndar
A digital housing platform that handles home rentals and sales end to end, from listing and visits to contracts and monthly payments.
- Country: Brazil (São Paulo) · Sector: proptech · Founded: 2013
- Founders: Gabriel Braga (Co-founder and CEO), André Penha (Co-founder and CTO)
- Website: https://www.quintoandar.com.br
- Announced a R$2 billion investment over two years to rebuild its products around AI; the outlet says it has been profitable since 2021 and is valued at about $5 billion. Source: [Startups.com.br](https://startups.com.br/negocios/inteligencia-artificial/quintoandar-vai-investir-r-2b-para-colocar-ia-no-centro-do-produto/), 2026-06-18
- Tencent and Greenoaks added $120 million to its $300 million Series E, lifting its valuation to $5.1 billion. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/?p=2228694), 2021-08
- Quote (Gabriel Braga, CEO and co-founder): “A nossa IA hoje consegue conversar com esse proprietário, entender o momento que ele está, por que ele quer vender e quão rápido ele quer vender” — English: “Our AI can now talk to that owner, understand the moment they are in, why they want to sell and how quickly they want to sell.” Source: [Startups.com.br](https://startups.com.br/negocios/inteligencia-artificial/quintoandar-vai-investir-r-2b-para-colocar-ia-no-centro-do-produto/), 2026-06-18
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/quintoandar (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/quintoandar)

### Bitso
A crypto and digital-finance platform letting people trade digital assets and businesses move cross-border payments using stablecoins.
- Country: Mexico (Mexico City) · Sector: crypto · Founded: 2014
- Founders: Daniel Vogel (Co-founder and CEO), Pablo González (Co-founder), Ben Peters (Co-founder)
- Website: https://bitso.com
- Expanded its partnership with Ripple so that its peso-backed stablecoin MXNB is issued on the XRP Ledger for US–Mexico settlement; Bitso serves over 10 million users. Source: [Ripple (press release)](https://ripple.com/ripple-press/ripple-and-bitso-expand-partnership/), 2026-06-09
- Raised $250 million in a Series C co-led by Tiger Global and Coatue at a $2.2 billion valuation. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/?p=2147488), 2021-05-05
- Quote (Daniel Vogel, Founder and CEO): “Las stablecoins abren ese acceso y también permiten reemplazar infraestructura tradicional como Swift, reduciendo tiempos y costos.” — English: “Stablecoins open up that access and also make it possible to replace traditional infrastructure such as Swift, cutting time and costs.” Source: [Forbes Argentina](https://www.forbesargentina.com/negocios/daniel-vogel-unicornio-cripto-bitso-pensamos-hacer-una-inversion-importante-argentina-2026-n81753), 2025-11-15
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/bitso (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/bitso)

### Clara
A corporate spend-management platform giving companies corporate cards, bill and cross-border payments, and real-time expense software.
- Country: Mexico (Mexico City) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2021
- Founders: Gerry Giacomán Colyer (Co-founder and CEO)
- Website: https://www.clara.com
- Secured $70 million in structured debt from BBVA Spark, Covalto and IFC to grow its card and bill-pay products in Mexico and Colombia; it serves over 20,000 organizations. Source: [Clara Newsroom](https://www.clara.com/resources/newsroom/clara-announces-usd-70-million-in-debt-financing-to-support-growth-of-payments-products-in-mexico-and-colombia), 2025-11-01
- Announced $80 million in equity and growth funding, including General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund, and said it was nearing consolidated profitability. Source: [Clara press release (Web Summit Rio)](https://rio.websummit.com/wp-media/2025/04/Clara-Raises-80M-USD-to-Accelerate-Growth-in-Latin-America-2.pdf), 2025-04-29
- Quote (Gerry Giacomán Colyer, Co-founder and CEO): “This funding puts us in a uniquely strong position, as the only corporate payment solution in Latin America backed simultaneously by financial institutions of this stature.” Source: [Clara Newsroom](https://www.clara.com/resources/newsroom/clara-announces-usd-70-million-in-debt-financing-to-support-growth-of-payments-products-in-mexico-and-colombia), 2025-11-01
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/clara (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/clara)

### Primero
Builds an AI layer, Primia, that connects big Latin American companies' internal systems and runs supervised agents to automate their processes.
- Country: Mexico · Sector: ai · Rising in 2026
- Founders: José Murillo (Co-CEO), Andrés Rosales (Co-founder), Santiago Buenahora (Co-founder)
- Backers: Kaszek, General Catalyst, Conviction, 8VC
- Website: https://www.primero.ai
- Raised a $12M seed round co-led by Kaszek and General Catalyst, described by Reuters as one of the region's largest recent seed rounds. Source: [Contxto](https://www.contxto.com/en/venture-capital-es/primero-raises-12-million-to-bring-artificial-intelligence-to-large-corporations-in-latin-america/), 2026-08-25
- Reuters reported the round, noting angel investors linked to FEMSA, Bimbo, Aeroméxico and Kimberly-Clark de México. Source: [Reuters (via GBM)](https://gbm.com/media/noticia/mexicana-primero-recauda-12-mln-dlr-para-llevar-ia-a-las-principales-empresas-latinoamericanas/), 2026-08-25
- Quote (José Murillo, Co-CEO): “The world's most competitive companies can be built right here in Latin America.” Source: [Contxto](https://www.contxto.com/en/venture-capital-es/primero-raises-12-million-to-bring-artificial-intelligence-to-large-corporations-in-latin-america/), 2026-08-25
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/primero (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/primero)

### Sharpi
Turns B2B sales reps' WhatsApp chats into orders and quotes and pushes them into ERPs such as SAP and Totvs.
- Country: Brazil · Sector: saas · Founded: 2023 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Kim Rawicz (Co-founder & CEO), Alexandre Philippi (Co-founder & CTO)
- Backers: NXTP, ONEVC, Clocktower Ventures, MAYA Capital
- Website: https://www.sharpi.com.br
- Raised a $4M seed round led by NXTP and ONEVC, with Clocktower Ventures and MAYA Capital participating. Source: [LatamList](https://latamlist.com/sharpi-raises-4m-seed-round/), 2026-08-28
- Reported US$720K in contracted ARR and more than R$2 billion in processed transactions, growing from about 6 to over 20 active clients. Source: [Startups](https://startups.com.br/negocios/rodada-de-investimento/sharpi-capta-us-4m-para-conectar-whatsapp-a-erps/), 2026-08-28
- Quote (Kim Rawicz, Co-founder & CEO): “A gente acredita em empoderar os vendedores.” — English: “We believe in empowering salespeople.” Source: [Startups](https://startups.com.br/negocios/rodada-de-investimento/sharpi-capta-us-4m-para-conectar-whatsapp-a-erps/), 2026-08-28
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/sharpi (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/sharpi)

### Celes
Uses AI agents and demand forecasting to automate inventory restocking and store-level distribution for retailers, plugging into ERPs like SAP and Oracle.
- Country: Colombia (Barranquilla) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2023 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Luis Ricardo Almanza (CEO), Luis Ballestas (COO), David Florián (Co-founder & CTO)
- Backers: SP Ventures, Fulcrum Global Capital, 30N Ventures, Taram Capital
- Website: https://www.celes.ai
- Raised a $5M Series A led by Brazil's SP Ventures to consolidate Colombia, Mexico and Chile and enter Brazil. Source: [LatamList](https://latamlist.com/celes-raises-5m-series-a-led-by-sp-ventures/), 2026-10-30
- Forbes Colombia reported the platform autonomously runs over 90% of restocking decisions at client retailers such as Olímpica and FEMSA Salud. Source: [Forbes Colombia](https://forbes.co/emprendedores/esta-startup-barranquillera-levanto-us5-millones-para-conquistar-su-expansion-regional), 2026-10-27
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/celes (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/celes)

### Takenos
Stablecoin-powered platform giving Latin American people and businesses dollar accounts, cards and APIs for cross-border payments, payroll and treasury.
- Country: Argentina · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2022 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Lucas Posada (Co-founder & CEO), Joaquín Herrera (Co-founder), Francisco Goulu (Co-founder), Simón Bouché (Co-founder)
- Backers: North Island Ventures, Road Capital Management, Variant, Lattice, Reverie
- Website: https://www.takenos.com
- Raised a $7M seed extension led by North Island Ventures and Road Capital Management, bringing total funding to $12M. Source: [LatamList](https://latamlist.com/takenos-raises-7m-seed-extension-to-expand-across-latin-america/), 2026-11-04
- Says it processes over $5 billion a year, has millions of users and operates with local licenses in six countries; targets 15+ countries in 2027. Source: [El Economista (Argentina)](https://eleconomista.com.ar/finanzas/takenos-levanta-us-7-millones-apuesta-mas-15-paises-america-latina-2027-n99427), 2026-11-04
- Quote (Lucas Posada, Co-founder & CEO): “Latinoamérica no necesita otra app arriba de una infraestructura vieja: necesita infraestructura nueva.” — English: “Latin America doesn't need another app on top of old infrastructure: it needs new infrastructure.” Source: [El Economista (Argentina)](https://eleconomista.com.ar/finanzas/takenos-levanta-us-7-millones-apuesta-mas-15-paises-america-latina-2027-n99427), 2026-11-04
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/takenos (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/takenos)

## Europe

### Revolut
A global financial super-app offering accounts, cards, payments, investing and business banking through a single mobile app.
- Country: United Kingdom (London) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Nik Storonsky (Co-founder and CEO), Vlad Yatsenko (Co-founder (non-executive director))
- Website: https://www.revolut.com
- Revolut confirmed a secondary share sale at $2,017 per share, implying a $115bn valuation, up 53% from November 2025. Source: [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/revolut-115-billion-valuation-australia-banking-licence), 2026-07-22
- Completed a secondary share sale at a $75bn valuation, led by Coatue, Greenoaks, Dragoneer and Fidelity, with NVentures and a16z joining; over 65m customers. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2025/11/24/revolut-valued-at-75bn-with-nvidia-and-a16z-joining-investor-roster/), 2025-11-24
- Quote (Nik Storonsky, CEO and co-founder): “This milestone reflects the remarkable progress we have made in the last twelve months towards our vision of building the first truly global bank” Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2025/11/24/revolut-valued-at-75bn-with-nvidia-and-a16z-joining-investor-roster/), 2025-11-24
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/revolut (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/revolut)

### Mistral AI
Builds open-weight and commercial large language models plus enterprise AI products, pitched as a sovereign European alternative to US labs.
- Country: France (Paris) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2023
- Founders: Arthur Mensch (Co-founder and CEO), Guillaume Lample (Co-founder and Chief Scientist), Timothée Lacroix (Co-founder and CTO)
- Website: https://mistral.ai
- Raised a €3bn Series D led by Samsung Electronics at a post-money valuation above €21bn; more than 125 enterprises in 20 countries use its technology. Source: [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/2026/09/08/mistral-ai-raises-record-3-billion-in-samsung-led-funding-round), 2026-09-08
- Announced a €1.7bn Series C at an €11.7bn post-money valuation, led by ASML. Source: [Mistral AI](https://mistral.ai/news/mistral-ai-raises-1-7-b-to-accelerate-technological-progress-with-ai), 2025-09-09
- Quote (Arthur Mensch, CEO and co-founder): “We have the ambition to help ASML and its numerous partners solve current and future engineering challenges through AI” Source: [Mistral AI](https://mistral.ai/news/mistral-ai-raises-1-7-b-to-accelerate-technological-progress-with-ai), 2025-09-09
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/mistral-ai (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/mistral-ai)

### Helsing
Develops AI software and autonomous systems for defence, including strike drones, underwater drones and an uncrewed combat aircraft.
- Country: Germany (Munich) · Sector: defense · Founded: 2021
- Founders: Torsten Reil (Co-founder and co-CEO), Gundbert Scherf (Co-founder and co-CEO), Niklas Köhler (Co-founder, President and CPO)
- Website: https://helsing.ai
- Closed a €1.6bn ($1.8bn) Series E at a €16bn ($18bn) valuation; no lead named, investors include Dragoneer, Lightspeed, Goldman Sachs Alternatives and JPMorganChase. Source: [Munich Startup](https://www.munich-startup.de/en/news/helsing-closes-billion-euro-funding-round), 2026-07-14
- Raised €600m in a Series D led by Daniel Ek's Prima Materia, more than doubling its valuation to €12bn. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2025/06/17/helsing-raises-600-million-elevating-valuation-to-eur12bn/), 2025-06-17
- Quote (Torsten Reil, Co-founder and co-CEO): “We’ve been seeing incursions of air territories over various countries, including Poland and Estonia” Source: [Resilience Media](https://resiliencemedia.co/helsing-is-now-europes-biggest-defence-tech-startup-raising-1-8b-at-an-18b-valuation/), 2025-10
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/helsing (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/helsing)

### Lovable
An AI platform that turns plain-language prompts into working web apps, letting non-programmers build software.
- Country: Sweden (Stockholm) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2023
- Founders: Anton Osika (Co-founder and CEO), Fabian Hedin (Co-founder and CTO)
- Website: https://lovable.dev
- Raised a $400m Series C at a $13.3bn valuation, led by Menlo Ventures and co-led by the EQT-managed Scaleup Europe Fund. Source: [Antler (investor press release)](https://www.antler.co/press-releases/antler-portfolio-company-lovable-raises-400m-series-c-at-13-3b-valuation), 2026-08-12
- Raised a $330m Series B at a $6.6bn valuation, led by CapitalG and Menlo Ventures. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/18/vibe-coding-startup-lovable-raises-330m-at-a-6-6b-valuation/), 2025-12-18
- Quote (Anton Osika, Co-founder and CEO): “I [can] sit here now and say, ‘Look, guys, you can build a global AI company from this country.’” Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/18/vibe-coding-startup-lovable-raises-330m-at-a-6-6b-valuation/), 2025-11
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/lovable (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/lovable)

### ElevenLabs
Builds AI voice models for speech synthesis, dubbing and transcription, plus a platform for enterprise voice and chat agents.
- Country: United Kingdom (London) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2022
- Founders: Mati Staniszewski (Co-founder and CEO), Piotr Dąbkowski (Co-founder and CTO)
- Website: https://elevenlabs.io
- Raised a $500m Series D led by Sequoia Capital at an $11bn valuation; closed 2025 with over $330m in ARR. Source: [ElevenLabs](https://elevenlabs.io/blog/series-d), 2026-02-04
- Quote (Mati Staniszewski, Co-founder and CEO): “Yet we stay hungry, knowing how early this space still is, as we build toward IPO and beyond” Source: [ElevenLabs](https://elevenlabs.io/blog/series-d), 2026-02-04
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/elevenlabs (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/elevenlabs)

### Bolt
A mobility app for ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, scooter and e-bike rentals and car sharing across Europe and Africa.
- Country: Estonia (Tallinn) · Sector: mobility · Founded: 2013
- Founders: Markus Villig (Co-founder and CEO), Martin Villig (Co-founder)
- Website: https://bolt.eu
- Posted its first annual net profit for 2025: €920,000 on €2.27bn revenue, operating in more than 50 countries. Source: [Silicon Canals](https://siliconcanals.com/?p=109712), 2026-09-21
- Raised €628m, its largest round, led by Sequoia Capital and Fidelity, at a €7.4bn valuation. Source: [Estonian World](https://estonianworld.com/business/estonian-mobility-startup-bolt-valued-at-e7-4-billion/), 2022-01-11
- Quote (Markus Villig, Co-founder and CEO): “Over the past eight years we have developed products that offer better and more affordable alternatives for almost every purpose a private car serves” Source: [Estonian World](https://estonianworld.com/business/estonian-mobility-startup-bolt-valued-at-e7-4-billion/), 2022-01-11
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/bolt (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/bolt)

### Celonis
Process-mining software that analyses data from companies' IT systems to find and fix inefficiencies in business operations.
- Country: Germany (Munich) · Sector: saas · Founded: 2011
- Founders: Alex Rinke (Co-founder and co-CEO), Bastian Nominacher (Co-founder and co-CEO), Martin Klenk (Co-founder and CTO)
- Website: https://www.celonis.com
- Agreed to acquire decision-intelligence startup Ikigai Labs and launched the Celonis Context Model; MIT takes an equity stake via a patent licence. Price undisclosed. Source: [ActuIA](https://www.actuia.com/en/news/celonis-acquires-ikigai-labs-mit-takes-equity-stake-in-exchange-for-a-patent-license/), 2026-05-12
- Raised a $1bn Series D co-led by Durable Capital Partners and T. Rowe Price, lifting its post-money valuation above $11bn. Source: [Celonis](https://www.celonis.com/press/celonis-announces-1-billion-round-to-meet-industry-wide-demand-for-execution-management), 2021-06-02
- Quote (Alex Rinke, Co-CEO and co-founder): “As companies grow, inefficiency creeps in and business execution becomes a struggle. Employees feel it, customers feel it, and it leads to significant financial losses and environmental impact” Source: [Celonis](https://www.celonis.com/press/celonis-announces-1-billion-round-to-meet-industry-wide-demand-for-execution-management), 2021-06-02
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/celonis (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/celonis)

### Monzo
A UK digital bank offering app-based current accounts, savings, loans and business banking, now expanding into the EU.
- Country: United Kingdom (London) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Tom Blomfield (Co-founder), Jonas Huckestein (Co-founder), Jason Bates (Co-founder), Paul Rippon (Co-founder), Gary Dolman (Co-founder)
- Website: https://monzo.com
- Sky News reported Nubank held early talks to acquire Monzo at an £8bn-£10bn valuation, while Monzo's board weighed a new fundraise. Source: [Global Banking & Finance Review (citing Sky News)](https://www.globalbankingandfinance.com/monzo-talks-sale-nubank-about-10-billion-valuation-sky-news/), 2026-09-26
- FY to March 2026: revenue up 39% to £1.7bn, pre-tax profit up 44% to £87.3m, 15.2m customers and £25.7bn in deposits. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/05/19/monzo-to-launch-in-spain-as-ramps-up-eu-expansion-plans/), 2026-05-19
- Quote (Diana Layfield, CEO): “We've delivered strong, profitable growth while investing in the foundations that will power our future.” Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/05/19/monzo-to-launch-in-spain-as-ramps-up-eu-expansion-plans/), 2026-05-19
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/monzo (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/monzo)

### Qonto
An online business account for SMEs and freelancers, bundling payments, cards, invoicing, bookkeeping and short-term financing.
- Country: France (Paris) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2016
- Founders: Alexandre Prot (Co-founder and CEO), Steve Anavi (Co-founder and President)
- Website: https://qonto.com
- Opened a new 11,000 m² Paris headquarters; says it has over 750,000 customers in eight European countries while awaiting a French banking licence. Source: [Finanza Digitale](https://www.finanzadigitale.com/news/qonto-apre-sede-parigi/), 2026-09-24
- Filed for a French banking licence after reaching 600,000 customers; profitable since 2023, last raised $552m in 2022 at a $5bn valuation. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/french-b2b-fintech-qonto-reaches-600000-customers-files-for-banking-license), 2025-07-02
- Quote (Alexandre Prot, Co-founder and CEO): “Bonne Nouvelle è il luogo in cui costruiremo il prossimo capitolo della nostra storia” — English: “Bonne Nouvelle is the place where we will build the next chapter of our story” Source: [Finanza Digitale](https://www.finanzadigitale.com/news/qonto-apre-sede-parigi/), 2026-09-24
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/qonto (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/qonto)

### Mollie
A payments and financial-services provider that helps European businesses accept online payments, manage money and access financing.
- Country: Netherlands (Amsterdam) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2004
- Founders: Adriaan Mol (Founder)
- Website: https://www.mollie.com
- Completed its acquisition of UK bank-payments firm GoCardless; the combined group serves more than 350,000 businesses across 30+ markets, led by CEO Koen Köppen. Source: [GoCardless](https://gocardless.com/en-us/blog/mollie-and-gocardless-combine), 2026-09-01
- Raised an $800m Series C led by Blackstone's growth equity unit at a $6.5bn valuation. Source: [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/22/payments-startup-mollie-now-third-biggest-fintech-in-europe.html), 2021-06-22
- Quote (Koen Köppen, CEO): “This is more than two companies coming together. It genuinely expands what our customers can do,” Source: [GoCardless](https://gocardless.com/en-us/blog/mollie-and-gocardless-combine), 2026-09-01
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/mollie (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/mollie)

### Factorial
Software that runs HR, finance and IT tasks for small and mid-sized businesses, now rebuilt around AI agents.
- Country: Spain (Barcelona) · Sector: saas
- Founders: Jordi Romero (Co-founder & CEO), Bernat Farrero (Co-founder), Pau Ramon Revilla (Co-founder)
- Website: https://factorial.com
- Raised a $150M Series D led by General Catalyst (with Atomico and Four Rivers) at a $2.5B valuation; serves about 16,000 customers in 90+ countries. Source: [Reworked](https://www.reworked.co/talent-management/factorial-raises-150m-series-d-at-25b-valuation/), 2026-06-03
- Alongside the equity round, General Catalyst committed $540M of non-dilutive capital through its Customer Value Fund, taking total capital secured above $700M. Source: [Dealroom](https://dealroom.co/news/131025-factorial-raises-150m-series-d-at-2-5b-valuation-led-by-general-catalyst/), 2026-06-03
- Quote (Jordi Romero, Co-founder & CEO): “This round does not close a chapter. It opens the one that matters.” Source: [Factorial blog](https://factorial.com/blog/factorial-raises-150m-series-d-becoming-most-valuable-ai-scale-ups-europe/), 2026-06-03
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/factorial (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/factorial)

### Perk (formerly TravelPerk)
Platform that lets companies book and control business travel and manage employee spending in one AI-driven product.
- Country: Spain · Sector: saas · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Avi Meir (Co-founder & CEO)
- Website: https://www.perk.com
- Rebranded from TravelPerk to Perk, reported more than $300M in annualized revenue and set up dual headquarters in Boston and London. Source: [Perk press release](https://www.perk.com/press-release/travelperk-rebrands-to-perk-the-intelligent-platform-powering-real-work/), 2025-11-04
- Raised a $200M Series E led by Atomico with EQT Growth at a $2.7B valuation, and acquired Swiss spend-management firm Yokoy in an all-equity deal. Source: [Perk press release](https://www.perk.com/press-release/travelperk-raises-200m-and-acquires-yokoy/), 2025-01-28
- Quote (Avi Meir, Co-founder & CEO): “Our focus has never been stronger as we expand across core markets, accelerate growth in the US, and now work to become the number one travel and expense management platform.” Source: [Perk press release](https://www.perk.com/press-release/travelperk-raises-200m-and-acquires-yokoy/), 2025-01-28
- Status: Founded in Barcelona; headquarters now Boston and London
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/perk (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/perk)

### Sword Health
AI-led digital care for physical pain, pelvic health and mental health, sold mainly to employers, health plans and governments.
- Country: Portugal (New York) · Sector: health
- Founders: Virgílio Bento (Founder & CEO)
- Website: https://swordhealth.com
- Signed a definitive agreement to buy Headspace in an all-cash deal worth up to $300M, with closing expected by early Q4 2026. Source: [HIT Consultant](https://hitconsultant.net/2026/09/16/sword-acquires-headspace-300m-all-cash-ai-care-mental-health-platform/), 2026-09-16
- Agreed to acquire German rival Kaia Health for $285M, its largest deal to date, entering the German market. Source: [ECO News](https://econews.pt/2026/01/28/portuguese-sword-acquires-german-rival-kaia-for-285-million/), 2026-01-28
- Raised $40M at a $4B valuation in a round led by General Catalyst and launched Mind, a mental-health product. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2025/06/17/sword-health-raises-40m-at-4b-valuation-to-expand-ai-first-care-into-mental-health/), 2025-06-17
- Quote (Virgílio Bento, Founder & CEO): “We've rebuilt care delivery from the ground up—replacing a century-old, labor-intensive model with AI that removes barriers to world-class care for everyone who needs it” Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2025/06/17/sword-health-raises-40m-at-4b-valuation-to-expand-ai-first-care-into-mental-health/), 2025-06-17
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/sword-health (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/sword-health)

### Feedzai
AI platform that helps banks and payment firms detect fraud, money laundering and other financial crime in real time.
- Country: Portugal · Sector: fintech
- Founders: Nuno Sebastião (Co-founder & CEO), Pedro Bizarro (Co-founder), Paulo Marques (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.feedzai.com
- Announced a valuation above $2B after a ~$75M round with new investors Lince Capital, Iberis Capital and Explorer Investments, plus Oxy Capital and Buenavista. Source: [Feedzai press release](https://www.feedzai.com/pressrelease/feedzai-to-safeguard-ecb-the-digital-euro/), 2025-10-02
- Selected by the European Central Bank as first-ranked tenderer to provide the fraud detection and prevention mechanism for the digital euro. Source: [Feedzai press release](https://www.feedzai.com/pressrelease/feedzai-to-safeguard-ecb-the-digital-euro/), 2025-10-02
- Quote (Nuno Sebastião, Co-founder & CEO): “Fraud isn't just numbers on a balance sheet. It's families losing their life savings and businesses losing customers.” Source: [Feedzai press release](https://www.feedzai.com/pressrelease/feedzai-to-safeguard-ecb-the-digital-euro/), 2025-10-02
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/feedzai (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/feedzai)

### THEKER
Builds AI-native, general-purpose industrial robots that adapt to changing factory, logistics and retail tasks without manual reprogramming.
- Country: Spain (Barcelona) · Sector: ai · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Carla Gómez Cano (Co-founder), Jiaqiang Ye Zhu (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.theker.ai
- Raised a EUR73M ($85M) Series A led by CRV with Samsung, LVMH, Cathay Innovation, 20VC and Henkel Ventures, under a year after an EUR18M seed. Source: [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/theker-barcelona-73m-series-a-ai-robotics), 2026-06-11
- Quote (Carla Gómez Cano, Co-founder): “We built it to ship robots that work the day they arrive and continue improving every day after.” Source: [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/theker-barcelona-73m-series-a-ai-robotics), 2026-06-11
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/theker (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/theker)

### Augusta Labs
Works alongside executives, mainly at private-equity portfolio companies, to redesign businesses as AI-native and build custom AI solutions.
- Country: Portugal · Sector: ai · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Rodrigo Fernandes (Co-founder), João Cerejeira (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.augustalabs.ai
- Closed its first funding round at a EUR50M valuation (amount undisclosed), backed by founders of Sword Health, Anchorage, OutSystems and Feedzai. Source: [ECO](https://eco.sapo.pt/2026/06/02/augusta-labs-fecha-ronda-com-unicornios-nacionais-e-chuta-avaliacao-para-50-milhoes/), 2026-06-02
- Quote (Rodrigo Fernandes, Co-founder): “Encontrámos fortíssimo product-market fit do lado de private equity, para transformar empresas de portefólio.” — English: “We found very strong product-market fit on the private equity side, to transform portfolio companies.” Source: [ECO](https://eco.sapo.pt/2026/06/02/augusta-labs-fecha-ronda-com-unicornios-nacionais-e-chuta-avaliacao-para-50-milhoes/), 2026-06-02
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/augusta-labs (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/augusta-labs)

### Conduct
AI platform that analyses code and configurations in sprawling ERP systems so companies can understand them, change them faster and migrate SAP.
- Country: United Kingdom (London) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2024 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Jan Philipp Haas (Co-founder & CEO)
- Backers: Index Ventures, ICONIQ, SAP, Creandum
- Website: https://www.conduct.ai
- Raised a $60M Series A co-led by Index Ventures and ICONIQ, with a strategic investment from SAP. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/06/17/former-palantir-employees-raise-60m-for-ai-enterprise-startup-conduct/), 2026-06-17
- Customers include Daimler Truck, Heidelberg Materials and DHL; the company had about 35 staff in London. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/06/17/former-palantir-employees-raise-60m-for-ai-enterprise-startup-conduct/), 2026-06-17
- Quote (Jan Philipp Haas, Co-founder & CEO): “The same opacity that slows people down stops agents entirely, because an agent can only act on a system it understands.” Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/06/17/former-palantir-employees-raise-60m-for-ai-enterprise-startup-conduct/), 2026-06-17
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/conduct (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/conduct)

### Biomatter
Designs custom enzymes from scratch with computational models and lab testing for pharma, diagnostics, agriculture and industrial biotech.
- Country: Lithuania (Vilnius) · Sector: health · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Laurynas Karpus (Co-founder & CEO)
- Backers: Astanor, UVC Partners, Inventure, Metaplanet
- Website: https://www.biomatter.ai
- Raised an oversubscribed $18M Series A led by Astanor, with existing investors UVC Partners, Inventure and Metaplanet. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/11/12/biomatter-lands-18m-to-speed-up-enzyme-development-with-ai/), 2026-11-12
- Has designed enzymes for customers including AstraZeneca, BASF, Sanofi and Tereos; plans a 2,000 m² facility in Vilnius opening in 2027. Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/11/12/biomatter-lands-18m-to-speed-up-enzyme-development-with-ai/), 2026-11-12
- Quote (Laurynas Karpus, Co-founder & CEO): “Our goal is to make a custom enzyme as easy to order as a catalog product, including for reactions that don’t have one today” Source: [Tech.eu](https://tech.eu/2026/11/12/biomatter-lands-18m-to-speed-up-enzyme-development-with-ai/), 2026-11-12
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/biomatter (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/biomatter)

## Africa

### Moniepoint
Nigerian digital bank and payments network serving small businesses and individuals through apps, cards and a large agent network.
- Country: Nigeria (Lagos) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Tosin Eniolorunda (Co-founder and Group CEO), Felix Ike (Co-founder and CTO)
- Website: https://moniepoint.com
- Raised $90 million to complete a $200 million Series C, backed by Visa, Development Partners International, LeapFrog and Google's Africa Investment Fund; valued at over $1 billion. Source: [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2025/10/21/moniepoint-raises-additional-90-million-to-close-200-million-series-c/), 2025-10-21
- Processes about 1 billion transactions worth $22 billion a month, up from $17 billion in October 2024. Source: [Condia](https://thecondia.com/moniepoint-raises-additional-90-million/), 2025-10-21
- Quote (Tosin Eniolorunda, Co-founder and Group CEO): “The proceeds from our landmark Series C will be deployed judiciously to generate even more momentum as we enter the next chapter of Moniepoint's story” Source: [Condia](https://thecondia.com/moniepoint-raises-additional-90-million/), 2025-10-21
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/moniepoint (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/moniepoint)

### Wave
Mobile money app in West Africa offering free deposits and withdrawals and a flat 1% fee on transfers.
- Country: Senegal (Dakar) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2018
- Founders: Drew Durbin (Co-founder and CEO), Lincoln Quirk (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.wave.com
- Senegal's health ministry enlisted Wave to digitize payments at public hospitals; Wave has roughly 11 million active users in Senegal. Source: [Launch Base Africa](https://launchbaseafrica.com/2026/05/05/fintech-unicorn-wave-tightens-its-grip-on-senegal-with-a-push-into-healthcare-payments/), 2026-05-05
- Secured 117 million euros ($137.2 million) in debt financing led by Rand Merchant Bank. Source: [Launch Base Africa](https://launchbaseafrica.com/2025/06/30/fintech-unicorn-wave-secures-137-million-in-debt-funding-to-power-pan-african-growth/), 2025-06-30
- Raised a $200 million Series A at a $1.7 billion valuation. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/06/sequoia-heritage-stripe-and-others-invest-200m-in-african-fintech-wave-at-1-7b-valuation), 2021-09-06
- Quote (Drew Durbin, Co-founder and CEO): “This funding means we can help even more people by delivering the best possible product at the lowest possible price” Source: [Launch Base Africa](https://launchbaseafrica.com/2025/06/30/fintech-unicorn-wave-secures-137-million-in-debt-funding-to-power-pan-african-growth/), 2025-06-30
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/wave (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/wave)

### M-KOPA
Finances smartphones, solar kits and e-motorbikes for informal workers in Africa, who repay in small daily installments.
- Country: Kenya (Nairobi) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2011
- Founders: Jesse Moore (Co-founder and CEO), Nick Hughes (Co-founder), Chad Larson (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.m-kopa.com
- Reached 10 million customers across its five African markets and is adding about 10,000 new customers a day. Source: [Techeconomy](https://techeconomy.ng/m-kopa-hits-10-million-customers-across-5-markets/), 2026-07-22
- Said it has extended ₦231 billion in credit to more than one million customers in Nigeria. Source: [Techsoma](https://techsoma.africa/m-kopa-credit-nigeria-231-billion-disbursed/), 2026-02-26
- Secured more than $250 million in debt and equity: $200 million in debt led by Standard Bank and $36.5 million in equity from Sumitomo. Source: [Condia](https://thecondia.com/mkopa-debt-equity-250-million/), 2023-05-15
- Quote (Jesse Moore, Co-founder and CEO): “Informal has never meant unviable. 10 million customers on, that's no longer a belief. It's proven” Source: [Techeconomy](https://techeconomy.ng/m-kopa-hits-10-million-customers-across-5-markets/), 2026-07-22
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/m-kopa (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/m-kopa)

### Paymob
Egyptian payments company that lets merchants accept online and in-store payments through gateways, terminals and payment links.
- Country: Egypt · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Islam Shawky (Co-founder and CEO), Alain El Hajj (Co-founder), Mostafa Menessy (Co-founder)
- Website: https://paymob.com
- Raised $35 million in a pre-Series C round co-led by Mubadala and the EBRD. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/09/paymob-raises-35-million-pre-series-c-led-mubadala-ebrd), 2026-09-21
- Serves more than 390,000 merchants in Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman; Gulf markets are close to half of revenue. Source: [The Paypers](https://thepaypers.com/fintech/news/paymob-raises-usd-35-million-in-pre-series-c-funding-round), 2026-09-22
- Quote (Islam Shawky, Co-founder and CEO): “Paymob morphed into a regional platform over the past 18 months, propelled by the exponential growth of our GCC business.” Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/09/paymob-raises-35-million-pre-series-c-led-mubadala-ebrd), 2026-09-21
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/paymob (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/paymob)

### Flutterwave
Payments infrastructure that lets businesses collect and send money across African markets and dozens of currencies worldwide.
- Country: Nigeria (Lagos) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2016
- Founders: Olugbenga "GB" Agboola (Founder & CEO), Adeleke Adekoya (Co-founder)
- Website: https://flutterwave.com
- Surpassed 1 billion transactions and more than $40 billion in total payment value processed since launch. Source: [TechAfrica News](https://techafricanews.com/2026/06/03/flutterwave-surpasses-1-billion-transactions-and-40-billion-in-payment-value-milestone/), 2026-06-03
- Obtained a banking licence in Nigeria allowing it to hold funds and deposits directly. Source: [Vanguard via AllAfrica](https://allafrica.com/stories/202604080398.html), 2026-04-07
- Acquired Nigerian open-banking startup Mono in an all-stock deal valued between $25 million and $40 million. Source: [Nairametrics](https://nairametrics.com/2026/01/05/flutterwave-acquires-mono-in-deal-valued-at-up-to-40-million/), 2026-01-05
- Quote (Olugbenga Agboola, Founder & CEO): “A decade ago, we started with a simple belief: better infrastructure changes everything.” Source: [Vanguard via AllAfrica](https://allafrica.com/stories/202604080398.html), 2026-04-07
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/flutterwave (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/flutterwave)

### Tyme (GoTyme Bank)
Digital banking group that runs low-cost, app-based banks for mass-market customers in South Africa and the Philippines.
- Country: South Africa · Sector: fintech
- Founders: Coenraad Jonker (Co-founder & CEO, Tyme Group)
- Website: https://www.tyme.com
- TymeBank in South Africa officially became GoTyme Bank, per a South African Reserve Bank notice, aligning with the group's Asian brand. Source: [Financial Afrik](https://www.financialafrik.com/en/2026/04/13/south-africa-tymebank-completes-its-rebranding/), 2026-04-13
- Raised $250 million led by Nu Holdings at a valuation of about $1.5 billion. Source: [TechCentral (Bloomberg)](https://techcentral.co.za/tymebank-parent-1-5-billion-in-fundraise/256931/), 2024-12-17
- Quote (Coenraad Jonker, CEO and co-founder, Tyme Group): “It is a unique vote of confidence in our business by the world leaders in our industry, essentially.” Source: [TechCentral (Bloomberg)](https://techcentral.co.za/tymebank-parent-1-5-billion-in-fundraise/256931/), 2024-12-17
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/tyme (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/tyme)

### Sun King
Sells off-grid solar home systems and appliances to households, letting customers pay over time through pay-as-you-go financing.
- Country: Kenya (Nairobi) · Sector: energy · Founded: 2007
- Founders: T. Patrick Walsh (CEO & Co-founder)
- Website: https://sunking.com
- Raised $40 million in equity from Lightrock to expand off-grid solar access. Source: [Renewable Energy Magazine](https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/sun-king-raises-40-million-from-lightrock-20251212), 2025-12-12
- Closed a $156 million securitization in Kenya to finance about 1.4 million solar products and smartphones. Source: [pv magazine](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/07/29/sun-king-closes-156m-off-grid-solar-deal-in-kenya/), 2025-07-29
- Quote (T. Patrick Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder): “Lightrock brings a deep understanding of our customers' needs and a clear commitment to expanding access to energy” Source: [Renewable Energy Magazine](https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/sun-king-raises-40-million-from-lightrock-20251212), 2025-12-12
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/sun-king (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/sun-king)

### Journify
Advertising data infrastructure that feeds online and offline purchase signals back to ad platforms so campaigns optimize on real outcomes.
- Country: Morocco (San Francisco) · Sector: saas · Founded: 2022 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Taoufik El Jamali (Co-founder & CEO), Amine Chouki (Co-founder), Omar Al Shoubaki (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.journify.io
- Raised a $12 million Series A led by Al Mada Ventures, co-led by Silicon Badia, at four times its previous valuation. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/11/journify-raises-12-million-fourfold-valuation-increase), 2026-11-04
- Quote (Taoufik El Jamali, Co-founder & CEO): “AI is transforming advertising, but the intelligence behind it is only as good as the signals it receives” Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/11/journify-raises-12-million-fourfold-valuation-increase), 2026-11-04
- Status: Moroccan founders; headquarters reported in San Francisco
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/journify (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/journify)

### Terra Industries
Defense-tech manufacturer building autonomous drones, sentry towers and ground vehicles to protect critical infrastructure across Africa.
- Country: Nigeria · Sector: other · Founded: 2024 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Nathan Nwachuku (CEO & Co-founder), Maxwell Maduka (Co-founder)
- Website: https://terraindustries.co
- Added $18 million to close its seed round at $52 million, funding a London office and a larger factory in Ghana. Source: [The Next Web](https://thenextweb.com/news/terra-industries-52m-seed-london-office-africa-defence), 2026-08-17
- Raised a $22 million seed extension led by Lux Capital. Source: [Techpoint Africa](https://techpoint.africa/insight/techpoint-digest-1412/), 2026-02
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/terra-industries (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/terra-industries)

### NoorNation
Builds self-contained solar units that supply power and clean water for irrigation and off-grid farms and communities.
- Country: Egypt · Sector: energy · Founded: 2021 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Ragy Ramadan (Co-founder), Mohamed Khaled (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.noornation.com
- Closed a $1.05 million seed round with Catalyst Fund, Linah Farms and returning investor KBW Ventures. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/ar/2026/10/egyptian-climatetech-noornation-secures-1-05-million-seed-funding), 2026-10-28
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/noornation (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/noornation)

## Middle East & Israel

### Tabby
Buy-now-pay-later and consumer finance app in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, expanding into cards, wallets and money management.
- Country: Saudi Arabia · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2019
- Founders: Hosam Arab (Co-founder and CEO), Daniil Barkalov (Co-founder)
- Website: https://tabby.ai
- Raised $233 million in a Series F at a $6.5 billion valuation, led by Blue Pool Capital; completion is subject to Saudi central bank approval. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/09/tabby-hits-6-5-billion-valuation-233-million-series-f), 2026-09-14
- Says it has been profitable since 2023 and processes more than $18 billion in annualized volume across 25 million registered users. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/09/tabby-hits-6-5-billion-valuation-233-million-series-f), 2026-09-14
- Quote (Hosam Arab, Co-founder and CEO): “Everything since, every product and every licence, has come back to the same idea: people deserve more from their money.” Source: [Wamda (company press release)](https://www.wamda.com/2026/09/tabby-hits-6-5-billion-valuation-233-million-series-f), 2026-09-14
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/tabby (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/tabby)

### Ninja
Saudi quick-commerce app that delivers groceries, medicines and everyday essentials in minutes across several Gulf countries.
- Country: Saudi Arabia · Sector: commerce · Founded: 2022
- Founders: Saud Al Qahtani (Co-founder), Canberk Donmez (Co-founder)
- Website: https://ninja.sa
- Is considering an IPO in Riyadh; generated around $1 billion in revenue in 2025 and targets $1.6 billion in 2026. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2026/03/ninja-explores-riyadh-listing-saudi-market-holds-steady-despite-tensions), 2026-03-24
- Raised $250 million in a round led by Riyad Capital at a $1.5 billion valuation. Source: [Wamda](https://www.wamda.com/2025/07/saudi-q-commerce-ninja-raises-250-million-hits-unicorn-valuation-ahead-planned-ipo), 2025-07-02
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/ninja (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/ninja)

### Cyera
Israeli-founded cybersecurity company that finds and protects sensitive company data and controls what AI agents can access.
- Country: Israel (New York City) · Sector: security · Founded: 2021
- Founders: Yotam Segev (Co-founder and CEO), Tamar Bar-Ilan (Co-founder and CTO), Yonatan Itay (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.cyera.com
- Raised $400 million from Goldman Sachs Alternatives as an extension of its Series G, at a valuation above $12 billion, bringing 2026 funding to $1.4 billion. Source: [Calcalist (CTech)](https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/1zb4tfyot), 2026-09-22
- Announced a $600 million Series G at a $12 billion valuation, led by Evolution Equity Partners. Source: [Cyera](https://cyera.com/blog/building-the-trust-layer-for-enterprise-ai), 2026-06-10
- Quote (Yotam Segev, Co-founder and CEO): “Global 2000 enterprises are telling us the same thing: they need to trust what AI agents can see and do before they can scale them” Source: [Calcalist (CTech)](https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/1zb4tfyot), 2026-09-22
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/cyera (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/cyera)

### Tamara
Buy-now-pay-later and consumer credit app letting Gulf shoppers split purchases into installments, increasingly via Islamic financing.
- Country: Saudi Arabia · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2020
- Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan (Co-founder & CEO), Turki Bin Zarah (Co-founder), Abdulmohsen Al-Babtain (Co-founder)
- Website: https://tamara.co
- Reported H1 2026 revenue of about $366.9 million and net profit of $55.3 million, both up sharply year on year. Source: [Bridge Middle East](https://bridgemena.com/news/tamara-strengthens-revenue-and-profitability-in-h1-2026-amid-rapid-financing-growth-and-rising-credit-risk), 2026-08-13
- Received its first credit rating, an investment-grade A- with stable outlook from Simah Rating Agency (Tassnief). Source: [Tamara (press release)](https://tamara.co/en-ae/blog-post/tamara-achieves-investment-grade-credit-rating), 2026-08-03
- Raised a $340 million Series C, becoming Saudi Arabia's first fintech valued at $1 billion. Source: [Arab News](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2427826/business-economy), 2023-12-18
- Quote (Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Co-founder & CEO): “Saudi Arabia deserves its place on the world stage for financial technology.” Source: [Arab News](https://www.arabnews.pk/node/2427826/business-economy), 2023-12-18
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/tamara (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/tamara)

### Lean Technologies
Open-banking platform giving businesses in the Middle East APIs for bank data access and account-to-account payments.
- Country: Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2019
- Founders: Hisham Al-Falih (Co-founder & CEO), Aditya Sarkar (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.leantech.me
- Received a Major Payment Institution licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to provide open banking services. Source: [Forbes Middle East](https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/lists/the-middle-easts-fintech-50-2026/lean-technologies/), 2026-03
- Raised a $67.5 million Series B led by General Catalyst, taking total funding above $100 million. Source: [MENAbytes](https://www.menabytes.com/lean-series-b/), 2024-11-11
- Quote (Hisham Al-Falih, Co-founder & CEO): “This funding marks a pivotal moment not only for Lean but for the entire fintech landscape in the Middle East.” Source: [MENAbytes](https://www.menabytes.com/lean-series-b/), 2024-11-11
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/lean-technologies (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/lean-technologies)

### Cato Networks
Cloud platform that merges corporate networking and security (SASE) into one service, including tools to secure enterprise AI use.
- Country: Israel (Tel Aviv) · Sector: security
- Founders: Shlomo Kramer (Co-founder & CEO), Gur Shatz (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.catonetworks.com
- Reported 2025 annual recurring revenue above $350M, up 43% year over year, with more than 4,000 enterprise customers. Source: [Cato Networks via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/cato-networks-surpasses-350-million-arr-with-43-yoy-growth-in-2025-302694952.html), 2026-02-24
- Raised a $359M Series G led by Vitruvian Partners and ION Crossover Partners at a valuation above $4.8B; an extension later took the round to $409M. Source: [Verdict](https://www.verdict.co.uk/cato-networks-raises-359m-funding/), 2025-07-01
- Quote (Shlomo Kramer, Co-founder & CEO): “Cato's mission is to fundamentally simplify and modernize enterprise networking and security, and our growth is a direct reflection of that vision” Source: [Cato Networks via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/cato-networks-surpasses-350-million-arr-with-43-yoy-growth-in-2025-302694952.html), 2026-02-24
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/cato-networks (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/cato-networks)

### ZyG
AI-agent operating system that helps product makers and direct-to-consumer brands validate, launch, market and finance e-commerce growth.
- Country: Israel · Sector: commerce · Founded: 2025 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Omer Kaplan (Co-founder & CEO), Tomer Bar-Zeev (Co-founder & Chairman), Assaf Ben Ami (Co-founder, CFO & COO), Nadav Ashkenazy (Co-founder), Daniel Shinar (Co-founder), Eyal Amitt (Co-founder), Omri Steinmetz (Co-founder), Guy Tsur (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.zyg.com
- Raised a $60M Series A led by Accel at a $500M valuation, about a year after founding, bringing total funding to $118M. Source: [Calcalist (CTech)](https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkzm3rw0wl), 2026-05-05
- Quote (Omer Kaplan, Co-founder & CEO): “ZyG OS flips that model with an end-to-end solution that solves the entire problem, not pieces of it.” Source: [Calcalist (CTech)](https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkzm3rw0wl), 2026-05-05
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/zyg (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/zyg)

### Edelbyte
Search and analytics platform built for AI-driven data demand, at a fraction of the cost of legacy systems.
- Country: Israel · Sector: saas · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Avner Aharoni (Co-founder and CEO), Evgeney Ryzhyk (Co-founder and CTO), Alexander Sloutsky (Co-founder, VP engineering), Yoni Leibowitz (Co-founder, VP platform engineering)
- Backers: Sequoia, Quiet Capital, Greenoaks, Swish Ventures, Startpoint Capital
- Website: https://edelbyte.com
- Emerged from stealth with $70M in seed and Series A funding led by Sequoia and Quiet Capital, with Greenoaks, Swish Ventures and Startpoint Capital. Source: [Globes](https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1001563008), 2026-11-11
- Already runs petabyte-scale deployments with Fortune 500 customers and has 40 employees in Israel, the US and Europe. Source: [Globes](https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1001563008), 2026-11-11
- Quote (Avner Aharoni, Co-founder and CEO): “The systems companies rely on to search and analyze their data were built for a world before AI.” Source: [Globes](https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1001563008), 2026-11-11
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/edelbyte (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/edelbyte)

## China

### ByteDance
Runs TikTok, Douyin and other algorithm-driven content and productivity apps used by audiences worldwide.
- Country: China (Beijing) · Sector: media · Founded: 2012
- Founders: Zhang Yiming (Co-founder (CEO until 2021)), Liang Rubo (Co-founder and CEO)
- Website: https://www.bytedance.com/
- General Atlantic was reported to be selling part of its ByteDance stake at a $550 billion valuation, citing two people familiar with the matter. Source: [Reuters (via Daily Sabah)](https://www.dailysabah.com/business/economy/bytedance-valued-at-550b-in-reported-share-sale-by-general-atlantic), 2026-02-25
- An employee share buyback valued ByteDance at more than $330 billion; second-quarter 2025 revenue reportedly rose 25% to about $48 billion. Source: [Reuters (via Dawn)](https://www.dawn.com/news/1937775/tiktok-owner-sets-valuation-at-over-330-billion), 2025-08-28
- Quote (Zhang Yiming, Co-founder): “I like to think about possibilities that are still just that: possibilities.” Source: [Caixin Global (English text of internal letter)](https://www.caixinglobal.com/2021-05-20/bytedance-ceo-steps-down-zhang-yimings-letter-to-staff-101715711.html), 2021-05-20
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/bytedance (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/bytedance)

### DeepSeek
Builds open-weight large language models and the DeepSeek chatbot, known for strong performance at low training and usage costs.
- Country: China (Hangzhou) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2023
- Founders: Liang Wenfeng (梁文锋) (Founder and CEO)
- Website: https://www.deepseek.com/
- Reported to be close to raising at least 80 billion yuan (about $12 billion) at a valuation near 500 billion yuan ($75 billion), with CITIC Securities hired for a possible STAR Market listing. Source: [Channel Insider (citing Bloomberg)](https://www.channelinsider.com/channel-business/news-deepseek-15-billion-funding-2027-ipo-china-apac/), 2026-10-07
- Completed its first external funding round, raising over $7.4 billion at a valuation above $50 billion; founder Liang Wenfeng contributed about $3 billion. Source: [Outlook Business (citing WSJ and Reuters)](https://www.outlookbusiness.com/markets/chinas-ai-start-up-deepseek-closes-74-bn-funding-round-founder-chips-in-3-bn), 2026-06-17
- Quote (Liang Wenfeng, Founder and CEO): “We believe that as the economy develops, China should gradually become a contributor instead of freeriding.” Source: [ChinaTalk (English translation of 36Kr/Waves interview)](https://www.chinatalk.media/p/deepseek-ceo-interview-with-chinas), 2024-11-27
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/deepseek (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/deepseek)

### Moonshot AI
Develops the Kimi family of large language models and the Kimi assistant, focused on long-context reasoning and agentic tasks.
- Country: China (Beijing) · Sector: ai · Founded: 2023
- Founders: Yang Zhilin (Co-founder and CEO), Zhou Xinyu (Co-founder), Wu Yuxin (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.moonshot.ai/
- Reported to be in talks to raise up to $2 billion at a targeted $30 billion valuation, per Bloomberg. Source: [The Next Web (citing Bloomberg)](https://thenextweb.com/news/moonshot-ai-kimi-30-billion-valuation-china-ai-race), 2026-06-08
- Raised a $2 billion round led by Meituan Dragon Ball at a post-money valuation above $20 billion; Kimi's annualised recurring revenue passed $200 million by end of April. Source: [The Next Web (citing Bloomberg)](https://thenextweb.com/news/moonshot-ai-20bn-valuation-kimi-meituan-china-mobile), 2026-05-07
- Quote (Yang Zhilin, Founder and CEO): “All good algorithms work well with scaling and allow for greater potential.” Source: [KrASIA (36Kr English)](https://kr-asia.com/scaling-law-remains-valid-but-priorities-are-shifting-says-moonshot-ai-founder), 2024-11-22
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/moonshot-ai (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/moonshot-ai)

### Xilect
Designs on-robot computing chips and software for humanoid and embodied-AI robots, co-founded by GPU maker MetaX and robot maker UBTech.
- Country: China (Wuxi) · Sector: robotics · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Yang Xianbo (杨献波) (CEO), Chen Weiliang (陈维良) (Chairman; founder of MetaX), Zhou Jian (周剑) (Vice chairman; founder of UBTech)
- Backers: 纪源资本, 经纬创投
- Website: https://xilect.com
- Raised a RMB 500M angel round co-led by 纪源资本 and 经纬创投, with eight other investors. Source: [Xilect (company announcement)](https://xilect.com/news/angel-round-financing/), 2026-11-12
- Plans to give robot makers a development and testing platform in 2027 and release its first chip in 2028. Source: [TechNode](https://technode.com/2026/11/13/metax-and-ubtech-backed-robotics-chip-startup-xilect-raises-rmb-500-million/), 2026-11-13
- Quote (Yang Xianbo (杨献波), CEO): “具身智能的价值，最终要体现在机器人能否解决真实问题。” — English: “The value of embodied AI must ultimately show in whether robots can solve real problems.” Source: [Xilect (company announcement)](https://xilect.com/news/angel-round-financing/), 2026-11-12
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/xilect (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/xilect)

## India

### Zepto
Quick-commerce app delivering groceries and household essentials in minutes from a network of dark stores across Indian cities.
- Country: India (Mumbai) · Sector: commerce · Founded: 2020
- Founders: Aadit Palicha (Co-founder and CEO), Kaivalya Vohra (Co-founder)
- Website: https://www.zepto.com/
- Reportedly deferred its IPO and moved to raise over ₹1,000 crore in a pre-IPO round; SEBI had issued its observation letter on May 8. Source: [The Week (citing Moneycontrol)](https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2026/07/30/zepto-ipo-delay-pre-ipo-funding.html), 2026-07-30
- Raised a round led by CalPERS at a $7 billion valuation; daily orders had grown to 1.7 million. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/16/zepto-raises-450-million-at-7-billion-valuation-as-indian-quick-commerce-market-heats-up), 2025-10-16
- Quote (Aadit Palicha, Co-founder and CEO): “The true differentiator in this market is execution.” Source: [The Week](https://www.theweek.in/theweek/business/2024/12/08/zepto-ceo-and-co-founder-aadit-palicha-interview.html), 2024-12-08
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/zepto (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/zepto)

### Razorpay
Provides online payment processing, business banking and payroll software for Indian businesses, from small startups to large enterprises.
- Country: India (Bengaluru) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2014
- Founders: Harshil Mathur (Co-founder and CEO), Shashank Kumar (Co-founder)
- Website: https://razorpay.com/
- Processes over a billion transactions a quarter, with annualised payments above $180 billion, and says it powers nearly 80% of India's unicorns. Source: [Business Today](https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/interview/story/co-founder-and-ceo-of-razorpay-on-why-its-never-okay-to-be-second-546897-2026-08-03), 2026-08-03
- Confidentially pre-filed draft IPO papers with SEBI; its last private valuation was $7.5 billion. Source: [The Paypers](https://thepaypers.com/payments/news/razorpay-confidentially-files-draft-ipo-papers-with-sebi), 2026-06-12
- Quote (Harshil Mathur, Co-founder and CEO): “If you are creating more value for yourself than for your customers, you are living on borrowed valuation.” Source: [Business Today](https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/interview/story/co-founder-and-ceo-of-razorpay-on-why-its-never-okay-to-be-second-546897-2026-08-03), 2026-08-03
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/razorpay (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/razorpay)

### CRED
Members-only app that rewards creditworthy Indians for paying credit card bills, and offers lending, payments, insurance and wealth products.
- Country: India (Bengaluru) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2018
- Founders: Kunal Shah (Founder (CEO until June 2026))
- Website: https://cred.club/
- Raised a ₹8,550 crore (about $900 million) Series H led by Meta at about $4.5 billion post-money; founder Kunal Shah stepped down as CEO and Miten Sampat became interim CEO. Source: [FinTech Global](https://fintech.global/2026/06/24/meta-backs-cred-in-900m-series-h-at-4-5bn-value/), 2026-06-24
- Serves 17 million monthly members and reported revenue of about ₹3,200 crore (~$325 million), saying it has reached profitability. Source: [FinTech Global](https://fintech.global/2026/06/24/meta-backs-cred-in-900m-series-h-at-4-5bn-value/), 2026-06-24
- A $140 million Series F led by GIC valued CRED at $6.4 billion, up from $2.2 billion in April 2021. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/?p=2333107), 2022-06-09
- Quote (Kunal Shah, Founder): “I started CRED in 2018 with a belief that creditworthiness deserves to be rewarded.” Source: [FinTech Global](https://fintech.global/2026/06/24/meta-backs-cred-in-900m-series-h-at-4-5bn-value/), 2026-06-24
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/cred (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/cred)

### Krutrim
Ola group's AI company, now focused on renting AI cloud computing and enterprise tools after scaling back its own models and chips.
- Country: India (Bengaluru) · Sector: ai
- Founders: Bhavish Aggarwal (Founder)
- Website: https://www.olakrutrim.com/
- Reported FY26 revenue of around ₹300 crore, nearly triple the prior year, after pivoting to AI cloud services; the company says it turned profitable. Source: [Entrepreneur India](https://india.entrepreneur.com/business-news/krutrim-shifts-to-ai-cloud-reports-inr-300-cr-revenue-in-fy26), 2026-05-06
- Founder Bhavish Aggarwal committed $230 million, mostly via his family office, aiming to attract $1.15 billion in total. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/?p=2959261), 2025-02-04
- Raised $50 million in equity at a $1 billion valuation in a round led by Matrix Partners India, becoming India's first AI unicorn. Source: [Analytics India Magazine](https://analyticsindiamag.com/krutrim-secures-50-million-becomes-indias-first-ai-unicorn/), 2024-01-26
- Quote (Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder): “By open sourcing our models, we hope the entire Indian AI community collaborates to create a world-class Indian AI ecosystem.” Source: [TechCrunch (quoting Aggarwal's post on X)](https://techcrunch.com/?p=2959261), 2025-02-04
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/krutrim (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/krutrim)

### Simplismart
Software layer between AI models and GPUs that tunes how models are deployed so companies hit their speed and cost targets.
- Country: India · Sector: ai · Founded: 2022 · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Amritanshu Jain (Co-founder & CEO), Devansh Ghatak (Co-founder)
- Backers: Dallas Venture Capital, NVIDIA, Accel, Shastra VC
- Website: https://www.simplismart.ai
- Raised a $14M Series B led by Dallas Venture Capital with NVIDIA, Accel, Shastra VC and Micromax, at about a $100M valuation. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/27/nvidia-backs-indian-startup-helping-companies-run-ai-models-with-fewer-gpus/), 2026-10-27
- Annualized revenue run rate grew 14-fold in six months to an eight-figure sum; more than half of revenue comes from the US. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/27/nvidia-backs-indian-startup-helping-companies-run-ai-models-with-fewer-gpus/), 2026-10-27
- Quote (Amritanshu Jain, Co-founder & CEO): “Nobody actually needs the fastest or the cheapest inference,” Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/27/nvidia-backs-indian-startup-helping-companies-run-ai-models-with-fewer-gpus/), 2026-10-27
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/simplismart (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/simplismart)

### Cent
Preventive health clinics combining full-body MRI, low-dose CT and other scans with AI to screen symptom-free people for 300+ conditions.
- Country: India · Sector: health · Rising in 2026
- Founders: Shashank ND (Founder)
- Backers: Blume Ventures, South Park Commons
- Website: https://cent.health
- Raised a $15M Series A led by Blume Ventures and existing investor South Park Commons, and acquired AI radiology platform Medsee. Source: [Inc42](https://inc42.com/buzz/cent-raises-15-mn-to-scale-ai-led-preventive-healthcare-platform/), 2026-10-27
- Says it has completed 10,000 whole-body scans across Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi NCR since launch. Source: [Inc42](https://inc42.com/buzz/cent-raises-15-mn-to-scale-ai-led-preventive-healthcare-platform/), 2026-10-27
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/cent (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/cent)

## Southeast Asia

### Xendit
Payment infrastructure that lets businesses accept and send money through many local payment methods across Southeast Asia from one integration.
- Country: Indonesia (Jakarta) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Moses Lo (Co-founder and CEO), Tessa Wijaya (Co-founder and COO)
- Website: https://www.xendit.co/
- Says it processes $47.3 billion a year for more than 15,200 merchants and now operates in Latin America as well as Southeast Asia and Greater China. Source: [Xendit press release (via Fortune)](https://fortune.com/press-releases/xendit-payments-backbone-southeast-asia-2026-09-23), 2026-09-23
- Raised a $300 million round led by Coatue and Insight Partners, bringing total funding to $538 million. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/19/southeast-asian-payments-infrastructure-unicorn-xendit-banks-300m/), 2022-05-19
- Became a unicorn after a $150 million Series C led by Tiger Global that valued it at $1 billion. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/?p=2201345), 2021-09-14
- Quote (Moses Lo, Co-founder and CEO): “Since payments are a foundational part of any business, you can’t create a seamless experience without addressing payment issues first.” Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/19/southeast-asian-payments-infrastructure-unicorn-xendit-banks-300m/), 2022-05-19
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/xendit (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/xendit)

### Kredivo Group
Digital credit group offering pay-later and personal loans, digital banking and earned-wage access to consumers in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
- Country: Indonesia (Jakarta) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2015
- Founders: Akshay Garg (Co-founder and Group CEO), Umang Rustagi (Co-founder; President Director, Kredivo Indonesia)
- Website: https://kredivocorp.com/
- Agreed to acquire about 100% of Vietnamese digital bank Timo; the group says it has raised about $500 million to date. Source: [Kredivo Group press release](https://kredivocorp.com/2026/05/kredivo-group-acquires-timo-vietnams-pioneering-digital-banking-platform-marking-a-major-milestone-in-its-southeast-asian-expansion/), 2026-05-06
- Raised a $270 million Series D led by Japan's Mizuho Bank, which contributed $125 million. Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/22/kredivo-series-d/), 2023-03-22
- Quote (Akshay Garg, Co-founder and CEO, Kredivo Group): “This acquisition is an important moment for Kredivo. Vietnam is a market of enormous potential, with a young, mobile-first population and significant unmet demand for high-quality, accessible financial services.” Source: [Kredivo Group press release](https://kredivocorp.com/2026/05/kredivo-group-acquires-timo-vietnams-pioneering-digital-banking-platform-marking-a-major-milestone-in-its-southeast-asian-expansion/), 2026-05-06
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/kredivo-group (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/kredivo-group)

### Advance Intelligence Group
AI-driven fintech group behind Atome buy-now-pay-later and digital lending, plus ADVANCE.AI identity verification and risk tools for businesses.
- Country: Singapore (Singapore) · Sector: fintech · Founded: 2016
- Founders: Jefferson Chen (Co-founder, Group Chairman and CEO)
- Website: https://advance.ai/
- Grab agreed to buy a controlling 60% of the group's Atome Financial unit for $1.49 billion in cash, with the remaining 40% to follow at an equity valuation between $2.0 billion and $4.5 billion. Source: [Grab / Atome joint press release (via The Asian Banker)](https://www.theasianbanker.com/press-releases/grab-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-atome-financial-accelerating-growth-and-profitability-of-financial-services-segment), 2026-09-15
- Raised $80 million; said it serves over 500 enterprise clients, 235,000 merchants and 40 million consumers. Source: [Fintech News Singapore](https://fintechnews.sg/72123/funding/advance-intelligence-group-raises-us80-million-surpasses-us1-billion-capital/), 2023-05-03
- Quote (Jefferson Chen, Chairman and CEO, Advance Intelligence Group; CEO, Atome Financial): “We founded Atome Financial eight years ago on a simple conviction: everyone deserves access to responsible credit and financial services, not just those with a conventional banking history.” Source: [Grab / Atome joint press release (via The Asian Banker)](https://www.theasianbanker.com/press-releases/grab-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-atome-financial-accelerating-growth-and-profitability-of-financial-services-segment), 2026-09-15
- IRIS profile: https://iris-media.xyz/startups/advance-intelligence-group (Spanish: https://iris-media.xyz/es/startups/advance-intelligence-group)

## In their words: verified quotes (48, checked 2026-11-13)
- Naval Ravikant (Co-founder, AngelList): “Wealth is assets that earn while you sleep; it's the factory of robots cranking out things.” Source: [Naval, "How to Get Rich" (podcast transcript)](https://nav.al/rich), 2019-12-28
- Naval Ravikant (Co-founder, AngelList): “Play iterated games. All returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships, or knowledge come from compound interest.” Source: [Naval, "How to Get Rich" (podcast transcript)](https://nav.al/rich), 2019-12-28
- Peter Thiel (Co-founder, PayPal and Founders Fund): “There's the question of stagnation, which I think has been a story of stagnation in the world of atoms, not bits.” Source: [Conversations with Tyler (Mercatus Center), episode transcript](https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/peter-thiel/), 2015-04-06
- Peter Thiel (Co-founder, PayPal and Founders Fund): “…extreme pessimism tells you there's no point in doing anything. Extreme optimism tells you there is no need to do anything. They converge on doing nothing.” Source: [Conversations with Tyler (Mercatus Center), episode transcript](https://conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/peter-thiel/), 2015-04-06
- Paul Graham (Co-founder, Y Combinator): “A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in itself make a company a startup.” Source: [Paul Graham, "Startup = Growth"](https://paulgraham.com/growth.html), 2012-09
- Paul Graham (Co-founder, Y Combinator): “One of the most common types of advice we give at Y Combinator is to do things that don't scale.” Source: [Paul Graham, "Do Things that Don't Scale"](https://paulgraham.com/ds.html), 2013-07
- Marc Andreessen (Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz): “My own theory is that we are in the middle of a dramatic and broad technological and economic shift in which software companies are poised to take over large swathes of the economy.” Source: [Marc Andreessen, "Why Software Is Eating the World" (a16z; originally The Wall Street Journal)](https://a16z.com/why-software-is-eating-the-world/), 2011-08-20
- Marc Andreessen (Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz): “We believe that there is no material problem – whether created by nature or by technology – that cannot be solved with more technology.” Source: [Marc Andreessen, "The Techno-Optimist Manifesto" (a16z)](https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/), 2023-10-16
- Reid Hoffman (Co-founder, LinkedIn; Partner, Greylock): “I do believe that if you're not embarrassed by your first product release, you've released it too late.” Source: [Masters of Scale, "Imperfect is Perfect" (episode transcript)](https://mastersofscale.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/mos-episode-transcript_-mark-zuckerberg.pdf), 2017-05-24
- Reid Hoffman (Co-founder, LinkedIn; Partner, Greylock): “You need to test a real product with real customers as soon as possible—basically the moment you have a bare bones version.” Source: [Masters of Scale, "Imperfect is Perfect" (episode transcript)](https://mastersofscale.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/mos-episode-transcript_-mark-zuckerberg.pdf), 2017-05-24
- Vinod Khosla (Founder, Khosla Ventures): “This large transformation is the opportunity to free humanity from the need to work. People will work when they want to work on what they want to work on.” Source: [Semafor (interview)](https://www.semafor.com/article/03/29/2023/vinod-khosla-on-how-ai-will-free-humanity-from-the-need-to-work), 2023-03-29
- Vinod Khosla (Founder, Khosla Ventures): “Unless you have been through the experience, you have no empathy for founders.” Source: [Semafor (interview)](https://www.semafor.com/article/03/29/2023/vinod-khosla-on-how-ai-will-free-humanity-from-the-need-to-work), 2023-03-29
- Bill Gurley (General Partner, Benchmark): “If you cannot handle a down valuation you should seriously consider abandoning the CEO position. Being a great leader means leading in good times as well as tough times.” Source: [Above the Crowd, "On the Road to Recap"](https://abovethecrowd.com/2016/04/21/on-the-road-to-recap/), 2016-04-21
- Bill Gurley (General Partner, Benchmark): “Taking a terms-laden deal is like starting the clock on a time bomb.” Source: [Above the Crowd, "On the Road to Recap"](https://abovethecrowd.com/2016/04/21/on-the-road-to-recap/), 2016-04-21
- Garry Tan (President & CEO, Y Combinator): “If you're looking for a quick flip, this is the wrong business for you to be in.” Source: [Y Combinator blog, "Meet the YC Summer 2023 Batch"](https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/meet-the-yc-summer-2023-batch), 2023-09-06
- Garry Tan (President & CEO, Y Combinator): “We can now do things with software that weren't possible just a year or two ago — and we're still in the very early days!” Source: [Y Combinator blog, "Meet the YC Winter 2024 Batch"](https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/meet-the-yc-winter-2024-batch), 2024-04-03
- Jessica Livingston (Co-founder, Y Combinator): “It's not true that every person can start every startup. But a lot more people have what it takes to start some startup than realize it.” Source: [Jessica Livingston, "Grow the Puzzle Around You"](https://foundersatwork.posthaven.com/grow-the-puzzle-around-you), 2018-06-29
- Jessica Livingston (Co-founder, Y Combinator): “There is no one mold for a successful founder. Just because you might only see a certain type in the news, that doesn't mean you need to turn yourself into that.” Source: [Jessica Livingston, "Grow the Puzzle Around You"](https://foundersatwork.posthaven.com/grow-the-puzzle-around-you), 2018-06-29
- Hernán Kazah (Co-founder, Kaszek and Mercado Libre): “Lo que queremos ver es que haya fuego en los ojos, que haya deseo de alguna manera irracional por llevar adelante esa idea, por desarrollar el negocio.” Source: [El Observador (Uruguay), entrevista Playbook](https://www.elobservador.com.uy/estados-unidos/economia/hernan-kazah-mercado-libre-kaszek-reivindicacion-del-deseo-irracional-y-la-ia-que-lo-cambia-todo-n6050866), 2026-07-24
- Hernán Kazah (Co-founder, Kaszek and Mercado Libre): “Creo que es una gran revolución, un cambio de paradigma, probablemente el más grande que hayamos visto hasta ahora.” Source: [El Observador (Uruguay), entrevista Playbook](https://www.elobservador.com.uy/estados-unidos/economia/hernan-kazah-mercado-libre-kaszek-reivindicacion-del-deseo-irracional-y-la-ia-que-lo-cambia-todo-n6050866), 2026-07-24
- Wences Casares (Founder, Xapo; co-founder, Patagon): “Bitcoin es muy importante para Argentina, pero Argentina no es muy importante para bitcoin.” Source: [Forbes Argentina (entrevista)](https://www.forbesargentina.com/negocios/yo-le-regale-bill-gates-sus-primeros-bitcoins-n779), 2018-02-05
- Wences Casares (Founder, Xapo; co-founder, Patagon): “Desde 2007 para acá, la mayor parte de la riqueza se está creando con la tecnología, y el centro de eso es Silicon Valley.” Source: [Forbes Argentina (entrevista)](https://www.forbesargentina.com/negocios/yo-le-regale-bill-gates-sus-primeros-bitcoins-n779), 2018-02-05
- Masayoshi Son (Founder, Chairman & CEO, SoftBank Group): “While expert opinions may vary, my view is that ASI will be ten thousand times more intelligent than humans and realized in about ten years.” Source: [SoftBank Group Annual Report 2024, Message from the CEO](https://group.softbank/en/ir/financials/annual_reports/2024/message/son), 2024
- Masayoshi Son (Founder, Chairman & CEO, SoftBank Group): “I do not believe ASI will replace humans. ASI is powerful—but it is a tool, a colleague, and a partner in our evolution.” Source: [SoftBank Group Annual Report 2026, Message from the CEO](https://group.softbank/en/ir/financials/annual_reports/2026/message/son), 2026
- Sam Altman (Co-founder and CEO, OpenAI): “This is how the singularity goes: wonders become routine, and then table stakes.” Source: [Sam Altman's blog, “The Gentle Singularity”](https://blog.samaltman.com/the-gentle-singularity), 2025-06-10
- Sam Altman (Co-founder and CEO, OpenAI): “In the next couple of decades, we will be able to do things that would have seemed like magic to our grandparents.” Source: [Sam Altman, “The Intelligence Age”](https://ia.samaltman.com/), 2024-09-23
- Dario Amodei (Co-founder and CEO, Anthropic): “I think that most people are underestimating just how radical the upside of AI could be, just as I think most people are underestimating how bad the risks could be.” Source: [Dario Amodei, “Machines of Loving Grace”](https://darioamodei.com/machines-of-loving-grace), 2024-10
- Dario Amodei (Co-founder and CEO, Anthropic): “…my basic prediction is that AI-enabled biology and medicine will allow us to compress the progress that human biologists would have achieved over the next 50-100 years into 5-10 years.” Source: [Dario Amodei, “Machines of Loving Grace”](https://darioamodei.com/machines-of-loving-grace), 2024-10
- Jensen Huang (Co-founder, NVIDIA (CEO until November 2026)): “Accelerated computing and generative AI have hit the tipping point. Demand is surging worldwide across companies, industries and nations.” Source: [NVIDIA Newsroom (Q4 fiscal 2024 results)](https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-announces-financial-results-for-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-2024), 2024-02-21
- Jensen Huang (Co-founder, NVIDIA (CEO until November 2026)): “Computing demand is growing exponentially — the agentic AI inflection point has arrived.” Source: [NVIDIA Newsroom (Q4 fiscal 2026 results)](https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-announces-financial-results-for-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-2026), 2026-02-25
- Demis Hassabis (Co-founder and CEO, Google DeepMind; 2024 Nobel laureate in Chemistry): “I think science is the most important, and the scientific method is probably the greatest, invention humanity has ever come up with. I think science is what drives all progress.” Source: [NobelPrize.org, interview transcript](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/hassabis/1924974-transcript-from-an-interview-with-demis-hassabis/), 2024-12-06
- Demis Hassabis (Co-founder and CEO, Google DeepMind; 2024 Nobel laureate in Chemistry): “If you are working at the frontier of knowledge where no one's been before, which is exhilarating, then of course it means sometimes you'll make hypotheses that turn out to be not right.” Source: [NobelPrize.org, interview transcript](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/hassabis/1924974-transcript-from-an-interview-with-demis-hassabis/), 2024-12-06
- Patrick Collison (Co-founder and CEO, Stripe): “There are not one, but two, gale-force tailwinds, well off the Beaufort scale, dramatically reshaping the economic landscape around us: AI and stablecoins.” Source: [Stripe Newsroom (Stripe Sessions 2025)](https://stripe.com/newsroom/news/sessions-2025), 2025-05-07
- Patrick Collison (Co-founder and CEO, Stripe): “AI is the biggest platform shift for the economy since the internet, and in the not-too-distant future agents will account for most transactions online.” Source: [Stripe Newsroom (Stripe Sessions 2026)](https://stripe.com/newsroom/news/sessions-2026), 2026-04-29
- Arthur Mensch (Co-founder and CEO, Mistral AI): “It feels like the conversation around AI is in the US and China, and Europe sometimes gets left out of that conversation.” Source: [Fortune (remarks at Mobile World Congress)](https://fortune.com/2025/03/20/mistral-ai-ceo-mensch-denies-ipo-rumors-doubles-down-on-open-source-strategy-european-champion/), 2025-03
- Arthur Mensch (Co-founder and CEO, Mistral AI): “We have created our own culture, which is low-ego and scrappy.” Source: [Fortune](https://fortune.com/2025/03/20/mistral-ai-ceo-mensch-denies-ipo-rumors-doubles-down-on-open-source-strategy-european-champion/), 2025-03-20
- Liang Wenfeng (Founder and CEO, DeepSeek): “We often say that there is a gap of one or two years between Chinese AI and the United States, but the real gap is the difference between originality and imitation.” Source: [ChinaTalk (translation of 36Kr / Waves interview)](https://www.chinatalk.media/p/deepseek-ceo-interview-with-chinas), 2024-07
- Liang Wenfeng (Founder and CEO, DeepSeek): “Innovation isn't entirely business-driven; it also requires curiosity and a desire to create.” Source: [ChinaTalk (translation of 36Kr / Waves interview)](https://www.chinatalk.media/p/deepseek-ceo-interview-with-chinas), 2024-07
- Fei-Fei Li (Co-founder and CEO, World Labs): “…my motivation has always been clear: AI must augment human capability, not replace it.” Source: [Fei-Fei Li, “From Words to Worlds: Spatial Intelligence is AI's Next Frontier”](https://drfeifei.substack.com/p/from-words-to-worlds-spatial-intelligence), 2025-11-10
- Fei-Fei Li (Co-founder and CEO, World Labs): “Extreme narratives of techno-utopia and apocalypse are abundant these days, but I continue to hold a more pragmatic view: AI is developed by people, used by people, and governed by people.” Source: [Fei-Fei Li, “From Words to Worlds: Spatial Intelligence is AI's Next Frontier”](https://drfeifei.substack.com/p/from-words-to-worlds-spatial-intelligence), 2025-11-10
- Andrej Karpathy (Founder, Eureka Labs; OpenAI co-founder): “As far as I can tell, the average person has never experienced a technological unlock this dramatic, this fast.” Source: [Andrej Karpathy's blog, “Power to the people”](https://karpathy.bearblog.dev/power-to-the-people/), 2025-04-07
- Andrej Karpathy (Founder, Eureka Labs; OpenAI co-founder): “We're not "evolving/growing animals", we are "summoning ghosts".” Source: [Andrej Karpathy's blog, “2025 LLM Year in Review”](https://karpathy.bearblog.dev/year-in-review-2025/), 2025-12-19
- David Vélez (Founder and CEO, Nubank): “The experts highly cautioned that the enterprise was doomed as it was impossible to build a new, digital bank. But I listened and concluded that smartphones were a complete change of paradigm…” Source: [Nu Holdings newsroom, “Nubank 10 years”](https://nu.com/en/newsroom/company/nubank-10-years-by-david-velez), 2023-05-11
- David Vélez (Founder and CEO, Nubank): “…this journey is filled with pain, sweat and tears. It takes strong conviction to continue moving forward in the face of the macro crises and the naysayers.” Source: [Nu Holdings newsroom, “Nubank 10 years”](https://nu.com/en/newsroom/company/nubank-10-years-by-david-velez), 2023-05-11
- Marcos Galperin (Founder and chairman, Mercado Libre): “Todos me decían que no iba a funcionar. … Pero cuando estás convencido de algo, cuanto más te dicen que no, de alguna manera más energía te da. Porque ahí está la oportunidad.” Source: [Forbes Argentina (quoting his interview with La Nación)](https://www.forbesargentina.com/money/la-primera-nota-galperin-5-anos-futuro-mercado-libre-ideas-trabaja-n60501), 2024-10-04
- Marcos Galperin (Founder and chairman, Mercado Libre): “A vos no te va a dejar sin trabajo un robot de inteligencia artificial, sino una persona que la entendió y la está usando a su favor y vos no.” Source: [Forbes Argentina (quoting his interview with La Nación)](https://www.forbesargentina.com/money/la-primera-nota-galperin-5-anos-futuro-mercado-libre-ideas-trabaja-n60501), 2024-10-04
- Olugbenga Agboola (Co-founder and CEO, Flutterwave): “We want to be that infrastructure layer that powers all the who's who of payments on the continent; I'd say we want to be the Adyen of Africa.” Source: [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/07/flutterwaves-ceo-agboola-on-hires-product-focus-and-future-plans/), 2024-10-07
- Olugbenga Agboola (Co-founder and CEO, Flutterwave): “Africa today is not a country, but we want to make it feel like one.” Source: [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/17/africa/flutterwave-nigeria-payments-agboola-interview-cmd), 2024-10-17

## Today's Front Page (top stories, 2026-11-13)
- [Jensen Huang quits Nvidia, and Southeast Asia’s chip hubs inherit the fallout](https://e27.co/jensen-huang-quits-nvidia-and-southeast-asias-chip-hubs-inherit-the-fallout-20261113/) · e27, Crunchbase News, YourStory, TechCrunch · Southeast Asia
- [Export-banned Nvidia chips are behind China’s most powerful AI models — uh oh, Jensen!](https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/13/export-banned-nvidia-chips-are-behind-chinas-most-powerful-ai-models-uh-oh-jensen/) · TechCrunch, Rest of World, Webrazzi · US
- [Elevated errors on claude.ai, Claude Code, and platform.claude.com](https://status.claude.com/incidents/nn11wk485zfn) · Hacker News · Global
- [After 600 experiments, here's what I discovered about JEPA world models](https://haddyalchaer.com/jepa) · Hacker News · Global
- [Central Bank of Kenya grants Payaza payments license](https://thecondia.com/payaza-central-bank-of-kenya-payments-license/) · Condia, Inc42 · Africa
- [Reverse engineering my Coway air purifier to ditch the cloud](https://scottjg.com/posts/2026-11-11-reverse-engineering-my-coway-air-purifier-to-ditch-the-cloud/) · Hacker News · Global
- [Cohere buys AI code review startup Cubic as acquisition spree continues](https://betakit.com/cohere-buys-ai-code-review-startup-cubic-as-acquisition-spree-continues/) · BetaKit · Canada
- [Update Razorpay Gets SEBI Nod For ₹6,000 Cr IPO](https://inc42.com/buzz/razorpay-gets-sebi-nod-for-%e2%82%b96000-cr-ipo/) · Inc42 · India
- [AI agent startup LangChain hits $3B valuation](https://techcrunch.com/2026/11/13/ai-agent-startup-langchain-hits-3b-valuation/) · TechCrunch · US
- [The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds: Agentic AI And Infrastructure Are Still On A Roll](https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/biggest-startup-funding-rounds-agentic-ai-infrastructure-mirendil-mercor/) · Crunchbase News · US
- [US company Shift4 to acquire Paramount Commerce for up to $317 million USD](https://betakit.com/us-company-shift4-to-acquire-paramount-commerce-for-up-to-317-million-usd/) · BetaKit · Canada
- [Buenas Fuentes: Clara levanta US$ 65M; Nvidia cambia de CEO](https://iupana.com/2026/11/13/buenas-fuentes-clara-levanta-us-65m-nvidia-cambia-ceo/) · iupana · LatAm
- [Defencetech UFORCE raises $700M, EIC Scaling Club companies raise €4B, and healthtech leads investment in October](https://tech.eu/2026/11/13/defencetech-uforce-raises-700m-eic-scaling-club-companies-raise-4b-and-healthtech-leads-investment-in-october/) · Tech.eu · Europe
- [EntrepreNorth secures $8-million initial close of fund for Indigenous entrepreneurs](https://betakit.com/entreprenorth-secures-8-million-initial-close-of-fund-for-indigenous-entrepreneurs/) · BetaKit · Canada
- [Germany’s Agile Robots raises $500m at $8.5bn valuation](https://www.siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/germanys-agile-robots-raises-500m-at-8-5bn-valuation) · Silicon Republic · Europe
- [LangChain, 3 milyar dolar değerleme üzerinden 300 milyon dolar yatırım aldı](https://webrazzi.com/2026/11/13/langchain-3-milyar-dolar-degerleme-uzerinden-300-milyon-dolar-yatirim-aldi/) · Webrazzi · Turkey
- [Bucked Games, Startupfon Tohum GSYF ve Startupfon Co-Invest'ten yatırım aldı](https://webrazzi.com/2026/11/13/bucked-games-startupfon-tohum-gsyf-ve-startupfon-co-invest-ten-yatirim-aldi/) · Webrazzi · Turkey
- [Peter Sarlin’s PostScriptum acquires majority stake in Brillian to accelerate global growth](https://tech.eu/2026/11/13/peter-sarlins-postscriptum-acquires-majority-stake-in-brillian-to-accelerate-global-growth/) · Tech.eu · Europe
- [Bloomberg: Anthropic IPO six-times oversubscribed](https://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/bloomberg-anthropic-ipo-six-times-oversubscribed-ai) · Silicon Republic · Europe
- [MetaX and UBTech-backed robotics chip startup Xilect raises RMB 500 million](https://technode.com/2026/11/13/metax-and-ubtech-backed-robotics-chip-startup-xilect-raises-rmb-500-million/) · TechNode · China