Anthropic's $10B Round, xAI's $20B Funding, and Meta's $2B Acquisition Scrutiny - AI Funding Brief #47
January 13, 2026 -
AI Funding Brief
Hi there,
Welcome to the latest edition of the AI Funding Brief, where we bring you the most recent developments in AI funding and investments. This week, we have a diverse array of stories highlighting significant financial movements in the AI sector. Jacobs has made a strategic move by acquiring the remaining stake in PA Consulting for £1.216 billion, aiming to bolster its advisory and AI services. Meanwhile, xAI, founded by Elon Musk, has secured a staggering $20 billion in Series E funding, with contributions from major players like Nvidia and Cisco, to expand its data center capabilities and enhance the Grok chatbot.
In other news, Blackbird.AI has raised $28 million to strengthen its platform against narrative attacks, while Accenture is set to acquire Faculty to enhance its AI capabilities. Additionally, Mobileye has announced a $900 million acquisition of Mentee Robotics to advance its physical AI capabilities. These stories, among others, reflect the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI investments and acquisitions. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the world of AI business funding.
Welcome to the latest edition of the AI Funding Brief, where we bring you the most recent developments in AI funding and investments. This week, we have a diverse array of stories highlighting significant financial movements in the AI sector. Jacobs has made a strategic move by acquiring the remaining stake in PA Consulting for £1.216 billion, aiming to bolster its advisory and AI services. Meanwhile, xAI, founded by Elon Musk, has secured a staggering $20 billion in Series E funding, with contributions from major players like Nvidia and Cisco, to expand its data center capabilities and enhance the Grok chatbot.
In other news, Blackbird.AI has raised $28 million to strengthen its platform against narrative attacks, while Accenture is set to acquire Faculty to enhance its AI capabilities. Additionally, Mobileye has announced a $900 million acquisition of Mentee Robotics to advance its physical AI capabilities. These stories, among others, reflect the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of AI investments and acquisitions. Stay tuned for more updates and insights into the world of AI business funding.
Siemens CEO Explores AI and Life Sciences M&A
At the 2026 CES event, Siemens CEO Roland Busch discussed potential mergers and acquisitions in AI, life sciences, and operations software, referencing the company's past acquisition of Dotmatics. Read more
Accenture to Acquire Faculty for AI Enhancement
Accenture has announced its plan to acquire Faculty, a UK-based AI services company, to boost its AI capabilities. The acquisition will integrate Faculty's team into Accenture and is pending regulatory approval. Read more
Mobileye Acquires Mentee Robotics for $900 Million
Mobileye Global Inc. has announced its acquisition of Israeli AI humanoid robotics startup Mentee Robotics Ltd. for $900 million. The deal includes cash and shares, aiming to enhance Mobileye's capabilities in physical AI. Read more
WithPoints Raises $2.77M for AI Robotics Expansion
Korean startup WithPoints has secured $2.77 million in pre-Series A funding to enhance its AI-driven robotics platform, WeNect, aimed at automating manufacturing tasks. Read more
Anthropic Plans $10 Billion Funding Round
Anthropic is reportedly planning to raise $10 billion at a $350 billion valuation, following a recent $13 billion Series F round. The new funding will be led by Coatue Management and GIC. Read more
Backboard.io Launches with Pre-Seed Funding
Backboard.io, founded by Rob Imbeault, has launched to provide a memory-native layer for AI models, securing pre-seed funding led by Mistral Venture Partners. Read more
Prosperr.io Raises $4 Million for AI Tax Platform
Bengaluru-based FinTech SaaS company Prosperr.io has secured $4 million in seed funding to enhance its AI-driven tax management platform, with the round led by Jungle Ventures. Read more
Cyera Raises $400 Million for AI Data Security
Cyera Ltd. has secured $400 million in a Series F funding round, boosting its valuation to $9 billion. The company plans to enhance its AI data security solutions amid growing AI adoption. Read more
AgileRL Raises $7.5 Million for AI Training
AgileRL has secured $7.5 million in seed funding to enhance its AI model training solutions, with plans to open a new office in San Francisco and expand its team. Read more
Tucuvi Raises $20 Million for Clinical Voice AI Expansion
Spanish startup Tucuvi has secured $20 million in Series A funding to enhance its AI Care Management platform and expand operations in Europe and the US. Read more
Aivar Raises $4.6M in Seed Funding
AI services firm Aivar has secured USD 4.6 million in seed funding led by Sorin Investments, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners. The company plans to expand its operations in India, the US, and the Middle East. Read more
Oasys Health Raises $4.6 Million for AI in Behavioral Health
Oasys Health has secured $4.6 million in funding to advance its AI-based operating system for behavioral health, with plans to enhance its platform and expand partnerships. Read more
Magnet Defense Acquires Advanced Technology Group
Magnet Defense LLC has announced its agreement to acquire Advanced Technology Group (ATG) to integrate ATG's AI solutions into its DefendAI suite, enhancing maritime defense capabilities. Read more
Magnet Defense Acquires Metal Shark for AI Maritime Expansion
On January 6, 2026, Magnet Defense LLC announced its acquisition of Metal Shark to enhance capabilities in AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels and improve U.S. shipbuilding capacity. Read more
Alice Raises €1M for AI Legal Workflows
Ghent-based startup Alice has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding to develop AI workflows that enhance accuracy and traceability in legal work for European lawyers. Read more
i10X Raises $1 Million for AI Model Access
i10X has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding to enhance access to large language models, supporting their AI technology initiatives. Read more
ThreatModeler Acquires IriusRisk for Over $100 Million
ThreatModeler has acquired IriusRisk for over $100 million to enhance its AI cybersecurity solutions. This acquisition aims to combine the capabilities of both companies to improve productivity and cost efficiency in the application security market. Read more
NIIT Acquires SweetRush for AI Learning Expansion
NIIT Learning Systems Limited has acquired SweetRush, Inc. for up to USD 26 million to enhance its AI-enabled learning solutions. The acquisition aims to expand NIIT's service offerings and strengthen its position in the managed learning services market. Read more
Arrowhead Raises $3 Million in Funding Round
Voice AI startup Arrowhead has secured $3 million in funding, with the round led by Stellaris Venture Partners and contributions from angel investors. Read more
Skylight Health Acquires Stellation Care
Skylight Health has acquired Stellation Care to enhance its AI-driven provider analytics. This move aims to improve their platform with advanced provider intelligence and referral optimization. Read more
Apollo Invests $5.4 Billion in xAI Infrastructure
On January 7, 2026, Apollo announced a significant investment of $5.4 billion to enhance xAI's data center capabilities through a partnership with Valor Equity Partners. Read more
Korea Deep Learning Secures $8.3M for Expansion
Korea Deep Learning, a South Korean startup, has raised $8.3 million in Series A funding to expand its AI solutions from document automation to workflow automation. Read more
X Square Robot Secures $140 Million in Series A++ Funding
X Square Robot, a China-based company focused on embodied intelligence, has raised 1 billion yuan (around $140 million) in a Series A++ funding round. The investment was led by ByteDance and Meituan, with participation from Sequoia China and Shenzhen Capital Group. Read more
MySize Inc. Pursues AI-Driven Retail Expansion
MySize Inc., based in Tel Aviv and New York, is advancing its strategy to build an AI-driven platform by targeting acquisitions of complementary technology companies. This approach aims to enhance innovation, expand market reach, and improve value for retailers and brands. Read more
Macquarie Group Invests in Polarise GmbH
Macquarie Group is providing up to €117 million to Polarise GmbH for the development of a Deutsche Telekom AG data center and other European projects, reflecting the rising demand for AI data centers in Europe. Read more
Welsh Government Funds AI Adoption for SMEs
The Welsh Government has allocated £2.1 million to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Wales adopt artificial intelligence, aiming to boost productivity and competitiveness. Read more
Zeya Health Raises $575,000 to Boost AI in Healthcare
Zeya Health, a Singapore-based healthcare technology company, has secured $575,000 in pre-seed funding led by Antler to improve AI infrastructure for healthcare providers in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more
Torq Raises $140 Million at $1.2 Billion Valuation
Torq, an Israeli cybersecurity startup, has secured $140 million in funding, elevating its valuation to $1.2 billion. The investment will support the enhancement of its AI-driven security platform and expansion into the U.S. market. Read more
EOS Acquires MARSS for AI Counter-Drone Tech
Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited has announced its acquisition of MARSS, a European provider of counter-drone systems. This acquisition includes MARSS' AI-enabled NiDAR technology, aiming to enhance EOS' capabilities in military and civil domains. Read more
Pablo José Hernández Allocates $2 Million for AI Education at Atenas University
Pablo José Hernández announced $2,018,800 in federal funding for an AI initiative at Atenas University, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities in Puerto Rico. Read more
Jacobs Acquires Remaining Stake in PA Consulting
Jacobs has agreed to purchase the remaining shares of PA Consulting for £1.216 billion, aiming to enhance its advisory and AI services. Read more
Blackbird.AI Secures $28 Million in Funding
Blackbird.AI has raised $28 million in new funding, achieving a 118% increase in annual recurring revenue and tripling its customer base. The funds will enhance its AI platform against narrative attacks. Read more
Swap Secures $100M for AI and Global Expansion
E-commerce company Swap has raised $100 million in Series C funding to enhance its AI-driven digital payments infrastructure and expand its operations in Europe and North America. Read more
Hadrian Secures $1.6 Billion for AI Manufacturing Expansion
Hadrian has announced a $1.6 billion funding round led by T. Rowe Price to enhance its AI-driven manufacturing capabilities, focusing on aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure. Read more
Aliado Raises R$ 13 Million for AI Platform
Brazilian startup Aliado has secured R$ 13 million in seed funding from Headline and Nestal to enhance its AI-driven Conversion Intelligence platform for retail. Read more
Ex Nunc Intelligence Raises $2.15M for Legal AI Platform
Swiss startup Ex Nunc Intelligence has secured $2.15 million in funding to advance its Silex platform, which focuses on enhancing trust in legal AI through improved reliability and confidentiality. Read more
Bluecopa Raises $7.5 Million in Series A Funding
Bluecopa, a finance operations platform, has secured $7.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Analog Partners. The investment will support the enhancement of its AI-driven finance platform and expansion into new markets. Read more
Harmattan AI Raises $200M, Becomes Defense Unicorn
French defense tech company Harmattan AI has secured $200 million in a Series B funding round led by Dassault Aviation, reaching a valuation of $1.4 billion. The funding will support expansion and development of AI capabilities for defense applications. Read more
Haveli Investments Acquires Majority Stake in Sirion
Haveli Investments has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Sirion, a leader in contract lifecycle management software. The investment is intended to support Sirion's growth and global expansion. Read more
Hippocratic AI Acquires Grove AI to Boost Biopharma AI
Hippocratic AI has acquired Grove AI to enhance its capabilities in biopharma and medtech. The acquisition aims to improve patient engagement and streamline clinical operations. Read more
xAI Secures $20 Billion in Series E Funding
xAI, founded by Elon Musk, has raised $20 billion in a Series E funding round with strategic investors including Nvidia and Cisco. The funds will be used to expand data centers and improve the Grok chatbot. Read more
Lambda Seeks $350 Million in Pre-IPO Funding
AI cloud infrastructure provider Lambda is looking to raise $350 million before a potential IPO, with Mubadala Capital leading the funding round. The funding involves selling stock at a discount to the IPO price. Read more
Autonomous Technologies Group Secures $15M for AI Financial Advisor
Autonomous Technologies Group has raised $15 million in pre-seed funding to develop its AI financial advisor platform, Autonomous. The app is expected to launch in Q1 2026, offering personalized investment advice without advisory fees. Read more
Pluto Financial Launches AI Lending Platform with $8.6M Funding
Pluto Financial Technologies has introduced an AI-driven lending platform designed to enhance liquidity in private markets. The platform has secured $8.6 million in seed funding from notable investors, enabling borrowing against private equity and alternative assets without the need for selling them. Read more
Meta's $2 Billion Manus Acquisition Faces Regulatory Scrutiny
Meta's acquisition of AI platform Manus is under regulatory review, with Chinese authorities expressing concerns over technology export controls after Manus moved from Beijing to Singapore. Read more
Articul8 Secures Funding Led by Adara Ventures
Articul8, an AI company, has raised over half of its $70 million funding round at a $500 million valuation, led by Adara Ventures. The funds will support growth in regulated industries and international expansion. Read more
ElevenLabs Expands in NYC with $33M Investment
ElevenLabs is set to expand its operations in New York City, creating 230 new jobs and investing $33 million in research and development. The company will move to a larger space in Manhattan and benefit from tax credits provided by the Empire State Development's Excelsior Jobs Program. Read more
Spangle Reaches $100M Valuation After Funding
Spangle, an AI e-commerce startup, has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round, increasing its valuation to $100 million. The company plans to use the funds for development and expansion. Read more
TakeMe2Space Secures $5 Million for Space Data Centre
Hyderabad-based space tech startup TakeMe2Space has raised $5 million in seed funding led by Chiratae Ventures to develop India's first orbital data centre, with plans to deploy six satellites for its OrbitLab platform. Read more
Nitro Commerce Secures $5M in Series A Funding
Nitro Commerce, an AI-driven growth platform, has raised $5 million in Series A funding led by Cornerstone Ventures to enhance platform growth and AI capabilities. Read more
Marvell Technology to Acquire XConn Technologies for $540 Million
Marvell Technology has announced its plan to acquire XConn Technologies for approximately $540 million. This acquisition is intended to enhance Marvell's data center hardware capabilities in response to the increasing demand for AI infrastructure. Read more
Boltz Partners with Pfizer and Secures $28M Funding
Boltz has partnered with Pfizer to enhance biomolecular AI for drug discovery, combining scientific data with AI models. The company also raised $28 million to support its initiatives. Read more
OpenAI Acquires Convogo Team
OpenAI is acquiring the team behind Convogo, an AI tool for executive coaching. The acquisition will not include Convogo's technology, and its product will be discontinued. Read more
Project Studio AI Secures Funding for Expansion
Project Studio AI has announced a new funding round led by Modulor Capital to enhance its AI capabilities and expand its presence both in India and internationally. Read more
Suvoda Merges with Greenphire and Launches AI Assistant
On January 12, 2026, Suvoda announced its merger with Greenphire to enhance clinical trials through the launch of 'Sofia', an AI assistant aimed at improving information access for study teams. Read more
Cloudforce Secures $10M Series A Funding
Cloudforce, an AI firm, has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Owl Ventures and Microsoft to expand its AI solutions in education and healthcare. Read more
Rollo Robotics Secures €3.7 Million for Security Robot
Estonian startup Rollo Robotics has raised €3.7 million in pre-seed funding to develop its autonomous monowheel security robot, focusing on enhancing gyroscopic stabilization technology. Read more
Harmattan AI Raises $200 Million in Series B Funding
Harmattan AI has secured $200 million in a Series B funding round led by Dassault Aviation. The investment will enhance AI integration in combat aviation systems and support global expansion. Read more
Converge Bio Secures $25M in Series A Funding
Converge Bio, a startup specializing in generative AI for drug discovery, has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The funding will support their work in antibody design, protein yield optimization, and biomarker discovery. Read more
8VC Invests $11.8 Million in Nigerian AI Drone Startup Terrahaptix
8VC has led an $11.8 million investment in Nigerian startup Terrahaptix, which focuses on producing drones and autonomous vehicles for security purposes in Africa. The investment is part of the growing interest in the global defense drone market. Read more
Spector.ai Secures $6.7 Million for AI Expansion
AI startup Spector.ai has raised $6.7 million in a funding round led by IvyCap Ventures to enhance its industrial AI solutions and expand globally. Read more
MiniMax Shares Double on Hong Kong Debut
MiniMax Group experienced a significant surge in share value during its debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, closing at HK$345 per share. The company raised HK$4.8 billion in its IPO, marking it as the second Chinese 'AI tiger' to go public. Read more
Zepo Intelligence Raises €12.8 Million for AI Cybersecurity
Zepo Intelligence, a cybersecurity startup from Spain, has secured €12.8 million in Seed funding to advance its technology against AI-driven social engineering threats. The investment will aid in global expansion and team growth, particularly in data engineering and AI roles. Read more
Etraveli Acquires AI Startup Wenrix
International flight booking company Etraveli has acquired Israeli AI startup Wenrix in a deal valued between $200 million and $300 million to enhance its B2B platform. Read more
Apella Raises $80 Million for AI Health Platform
US-based health technology company Apella has secured $80 million in Series B funding to enhance its AI platform for hospitals, focusing on improving operational efficiency through autonomous documentation of surgical events. Read more
MagicCube Raises $10M for AI Security Solutions
MagicCube has secured $10 million in funding to enhance its AI-driven device security solutions, with Verifone as a strategic investor. The company aims to expand its technology beyond tap-to-phone applications. Read more
BrainCo Files for IPO in Hong Kong
BrainCo, a Chinese company specializing in bionic limbs and brain technologies, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong, aiming to raise several hundred million dollars. Read more
OpenAI Acquires Torch for $100 Million
OpenAI has acquired the healthcare startup Torch for $100 million. The acquisition aims to integrate Torch's technology into OpenAI's ChatGPT Health service. Read more
Hupo Raises $10M to Shift Focus to AI Sales Coaching
Hupo, initially a mental wellness startup, has secured $10 million in Series A funding to pivot towards AI-powered sales coaching for the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors. Read more
Snowflake to Acquire Observe for $1 Billion
Snowflake has announced its intention to acquire the observability platform Observe for approximately $1 billion. This acquisition aims to integrate Observe's capabilities into Snowflake's offerings to enhance data system management. Read more
CrowdStrike Acquires SGNL for $740 Million
Cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike has announced its acquisition of identity management startup SGNL for nearly $740 million to enhance its Falcon platform's security against AI-driven cyberattacks. Read more
Zhipu AI Launches $558 Million IPO in Hong Kong
Chinese AI company Zhipu AI has successfully raised $558 million through its initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, marking its entry into the public market and positioning itself against global AI leaders like OpenAI. Read more
Elorian Founders Seek $50M for Visual AI Startup
Andrew Dai and Yinfei Yang, former leaders at Google and Apple, have launched a new AI startup, Elorian. They aim to raise $50 million to develop advanced multi-modal AI models capable of processing various data types simultaneously. Read more
BookAI Secures Seed Funding and AIoT Partnership
BookAI has announced its Seed Round financing after a successful presentation at CES 2026. The company aims to innovate the global IP economy by transforming static content into interactive IntelliBooks. Read more
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