Elon Musk's $97.4B OpenAI Bid & OpenAI's Takeover Defense - AI Funding Brief #1

Hi there, In this edition of the AI Funding Brief, we're diving into the latest funding and investment news in the AI business world. Harrison.ai has successfully raised $112 million in Series C funding, marking a significant milestone in their journey. Meanwhile, Dream has secured a substantial $100 million to advance their cybersecurity AI initiatives, highlighting the growing importance of AI in safeguarding digital environments. Additionally, Figure AI is seeking a massive $1.5 billion in funding, aiming for a valuation of $39.5 billion, which underscores the increasing investor confidence in AI-driven solutions. On the startup front, Everstar has raised $4 million to enhance AI in nuclear compliance, showcasing the diverse applications of AI technology across various industries. Stay tuned as we explore these developments and more in the world of AI funding.

Phenom Enterprise Cloud has acquired Pixentia to enhance its digitalization and AI solutions, expanding capabilities in data engineering and analytics. TransPerfect has acquired Apostroph Group to strengthen its presence in the DACH region, with Philipp Meier continuing to lead. Railtown AI Technologies Inc. plans to acquire AI Partnerships Corp. to expand AI solutions and grow revenue through affiliate acquisitions.

Newmark Group Inc. saw a 6.3% stock increase following announcements of promising AI data center prospects and a return to office work. The company reported strong earnings and adjusted profit estimates for 2026, surpassing analyst expectations.

Tofu has raised $12 million to enhance martech for enterprise teams, while Mishcon de Reya invests in Ctrl AI for legal operations. Harrison.ai secures $112 million to expand AI diagnostics, and OpenAI considers special voting rights to prevent a takeover. Dream raises $100 million for cybersecurity AI, and Abridge secures $250 million to improve clinical AI platforms.

Everstar has secured $4 million to enhance its AI platform for nuclear compliance, while Markytics.AI raised $500K to expand its AI solutions in finance. SpotDraft received $54 million for its contract management platform, and OpenAI co-founder is raising $1 billion for safe superintelligence. Hightouch secured $80 million to boost AI decisioning, and Human.org raised $7.3 million for an identity verification platform.