ClickHouse Secures $400M, Wasabi Technologies Hits $1.8B Valuation, and BlackRock & Microsoft Raise $12.5B - AI Funding Brief #48
January 20, 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 spotlight a diverse range of companies making significant strides in the AI sector. Ahead Health has raised €5.1 million to expand its AI-driven healthcare services across Europe, while CrowdStrike has acquired Seraphic Security to bolster its enterprise browsing security. In a major funding round, Deepgram secured $130 million and acquired Ofone to enhance its voice AI solutions.
Additionally, Wasabi Technologies has raised $70 million to advance its AI-first cloud storage solutions, and Mal has secured $230 million to develop an AI-driven Islamic digital bank. These stories, among others, highlight the dynamic landscape of AI investments and the continuous innovation driving the industry forward. Stay tuned as we delve into these exciting developments and more in this edition.
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 spotlight a diverse range of companies making significant strides in the AI sector. Ahead Health has raised €5.1 million to expand its AI-driven healthcare services across Europe, while CrowdStrike has acquired Seraphic Security to bolster its enterprise browsing security. In a major funding round, Deepgram secured $130 million and acquired Ofone to enhance its voice AI solutions.
Additionally, Wasabi Technologies has raised $70 million to advance its AI-first cloud storage solutions, and Mal has secured $230 million to develop an AI-driven Islamic digital bank. These stories, among others, highlight the dynamic landscape of AI investments and the continuous innovation driving the industry forward. Stay tuned as we delve into these exciting developments and more in this edition.
Ahead Health Secures €5.1 Million for AI Healthcare Expansion
Ahead Health, a Zurich-based company, has raised €5.1 million to enhance its AI-driven preventive healthcare platform and expand services in Germany, the Netherlands, and Austria. Read more
CrowdStrike Acquires Seraphic Security for Enhanced Browser Protection
CrowdStrike has announced its acquisition of Seraphic Security to integrate browser protection with its Falcon platform, enhancing enterprise browsing security. Read more
Deepgram Raises $130 Million and Acquires Ofone
Deepgram has raised $130 million in a Series C funding round, reaching a $1.3 billion valuation. The company also acquired Y-Combinator startup Ofone to enhance its voice AI solutions for the restaurant sector. Read more
Affinity Group Acquires Mascari NXT to Boost Food Industry Sales
Affinity Group has acquired Mascari NXT, an AI and data integration company, to enhance sales and customer engagement in the food industry through AI-powered capabilities. Read more
Wasabi Technologies Raises $70 Million, Valued at $1.8 Billion
Wasabi Technologies has secured $70 million in equity funding, led by L2 Point Management, valuing the company at $1.8 billion. The funds will enhance its AI-first cloud storage solutions and support expansion into AI infrastructure. Read more
Mal Secures $230 Million for AI Islamic Digital Bank
UAE-based fintech Mal has raised $230 million to develop an AI-driven Islamic digital bank, focusing on underbanked communities. The funding will aid in product development and market entry, with plans to launch in 2026. Read more
Flip Raises $20M After Reaching 300M Automated Calls
Flip, an AI company specializing in automating customer service calls, has secured $20 million in Series A funding to enhance its operations and product development. The company has successfully managed over 300 million calls for brands like Under Armour and Tory Burch. Read more
Terra Industries Secures $11.75 Million for Defense Tech
Terra Industries, a defense technology company in Nigeria, has raised $11.75 million to develop autonomous security systems for Africa's infrastructure. The funding will help expand manufacturing and deployment across the continent. Read more
WitnessAI Secures $58 Million in Funding
WitnessAI, an AI security platform, has raised $58 million to boost its global market presence and product offerings. The funding round was led by Sound Ventures with contributions from several other investors. Read more
Cerebras Systems Seeks $1 Billion Funding at $22 Billion Valuation
AI chip startup Cerebras Systems is in discussions to raise $1 billion, valuing the company at $22 billion, as it plans for a 2026 IPO. This marks a substantial increase from its previous valuation, with the funds intended to boost data center and manufacturing capabilities. Read more
Defense Unicorns Raises $136 Million for AI in Military
Defense Unicorns has secured $136 million in Series B funding to enhance AI infrastructure for military applications. The investment will aid in developing advanced AI technologies for defense purposes. Read more
OpenAI Invests in Brain-Computer Interface Startup Merge Labs
OpenAI has invested in Merge Labs, a brain-computer interface startup founded by CEO Sam Altman. The investment is part of a $250 million seed round, with OpenAI contributing the largest single check. Read more
Higgsfield AI Video Startup Valued at $1.3 Billion
AI video generation startup Higgsfield, founded by former Snap executive Alex Mashrabov, has achieved a $1.3 billion valuation following an extension of its Series A funding to $130 million. Read more
Pinch AI Raises $5 Million to Combat E-commerce Return Fraud
Pinch AI has secured $5 million in seed funding, co-led by Dynamo Ventures and Infinity Ventures, to enhance its platform aimed at reducing e-commerce return fraud. Read more
WeLab Secures $220M for AI Banking Expansion in Asia
WeLab has raised US$220 million in a Series D funding round to expand its AI-driven banking operations in Southeast Asia. The funds will also enhance its partnership with Google for digital banking innovation. Read more
Diligent Acquires 3rdRisk for AI Risk Management
On January 14, 2026, Diligent announced its acquisition of 3rdRisk, aiming to enhance its AI-native third-party risk management capabilities. Read more
ClickHouse Secures $400M and Acquires Langfuse
ClickHouse Inc. has raised $400 million in a Series D funding round, reaching a valuation of $15 billion. The company also acquired Langfuse GmbH to enhance AI application development. Read more
Shaperon Secures ¥730 Million in Series B Funding
Shaperon, a compliance AI platform provider, has raised ¥730 million in its Series B funding round to enhance its AI solutions for regulated industries. Read more
Tulip Secures $120 Million in Series D Funding Led by Mitsubishi Electric
On January 13, 2026, Tulip announced it has secured $120 million in Series D funding led by Mitsubishi Electric. This investment aims to enhance AI in manufacturing by addressing challenges like supply chain volatility and labor shortages. Read more
Cloudflare Acquires Human Native to Boost AI Tools
The acquisition of UK-based AI data marketplace Human Native by Cloudflare aims to enhance transactions between AI developers and content creators, focusing on improving access to high-quality data. Read more
Parambil Raises $6 Million for AI in Litigation and Healthcare
Parambil has announced securing $6 million in seed funding to advance its AI solutions for complex litigation and healthcare, with Bling Capital leading the investment. Read more
Korea Development Bank Launches ₩7.5 Trillion Fund for AI and Tech
The Korea Development Bank has initiated a ₩7.5 trillion fund to boost investments in AI, semiconductors, and deep tech, aiming to strengthen Korea's industrial competitiveness. Read more
Quadric Secures $30 Million for AI Chip Development
Quadric, Inc. has raised $30 million in a Series C funding round to advance its on-device AI chip technology, specifically its General Purpose NPU processor IP. Read more
Optum Ventures Invests in AI Oncology Startup Risa Labs
Optum Ventures, part of UnitedHealth Group, has co-led an $11.1 million Series A investment in AI oncology startup Risa Labs. The funding aims to support the deployment of Risa Labs' AI platform across various healthcare systems in the U.S. Read more
Aikido Security Secures $60M in Series B Funding
Aikido Security has raised $60 million in a Series B funding round, achieving a valuation of $1 billion. The investment will be used to enhance their security platform for code, cloud, and runtime environments. Read more
Hydrosat Raises $60 Million for Satellite Expansion
Hydrosat has secured $60 million in Series B funding to expand its AI-driven satellite constellation. The investment aims to enhance water management and agriculture through improved satellite data and analytics. Read more
University of Washington Receives $10 Million for AI Research
The University of Washington has been awarded $10 million in federal funding to improve its AI research infrastructure, focusing on enhancing its computing platform, Tillicum. Read more
CPP Investments Allocates C$750 Million for AI and Private Company Growth
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has committed C$750 million to support AI development and the growth of private companies in Canada through its partnership with Northleaf Capital Partners. Read more
AZIO AI Acquires Azio Corp's AI Division
AZIO AI has agreed to acquire the AI division of Azio Corp to strengthen its focus on AI infrastructure. The deal is pending customary closing conditions. Read more
VoiceRun Raises $5.5 Million for Voice AI Platform
VoiceRun has raised $5.5 million in seed funding to develop a full-stack voice AI platform for enterprises. The funding will aid in launching solutions to improve voice technology in business settings. Read more
Vista AI Raises $29.5M for MRI Technology
Vista AI has secured $29.5 million in Series B funding to enhance its automated MRI scanning technology, with contributions from health systems and investors like Cedars-Sinai and Khosla Ventures. Read more
Nvidia Invests in AI Startup Harmonic
Nvidia has invested in Harmonic, an AI startup focused on solving complex mathematical problems, as part of a $120 million Series C funding round. Read more
Columbia State Community College Receives $2.02 Million for AI Division
Columbia State Community College has been awarded a $2.02 million federal grant to establish a new AI division. The COMPASS initiative will focus on enhancing AI literacy and integrating AI tools in academic programs. Read more
CesiumAstro Secures $200 Million for Texas Expansion
CesiumAstro Inc. has received a $200 million financing package from the Export-Import Bank of the United States and J.P. Morgan to boost its manufacturing capabilities in Texas. The investment will support the acquisition of a new facility and the creation of over 500 jobs by 2030. Read more
Skene Technologies Raises €800,000 for AI Development
Helsinki-based Skene Technologies has secured €800,000 in pre-seed funding to develop AI agents aimed at boosting user engagement and growth. Read more
AI Processor Market Sees $28.5 Billion Investment
A report by Jon Peddie Research indicates that the AI processor market has seen over $28.5 billion in investments, involving 120 startups, 17 IPOs, and 21 acquisitions. Read more
AMI Labs Attracts Investment Interest
Yann LeCun's AI startup, AMI Labs, is drawing investment interest from Cathay Innovation and Hiro Capital, with a potential valuation of €3 billion. The company plans to raise €500 million for AI development. Read more
Syntys Acquires Q Data QFZ LLC for AI Expansion
In a strategic acquisition, Syntys has purchased Q Data QFZ LLC to enhance its AI infrastructure in Qatar, adding two Tier III-certified data centers to its portfolio. Read more
Ramsey Theory Capital CEO on AI Funding and Governance
Research from Ramsey Theory Capital indicates that by 2026, over 60% of enterprises will tie AI funding approvals to governance maturity, highlighting the impact of global AI regulation on enterprise budgets. Read more
Cast AI Valued at $1 Billion, Launches OMNI Compute
Cast AI has achieved a valuation of over $1 billion following an investment from Pacific Alliance Ventures. The company has launched OMNI Compute, a platform enabling multi-cloud GPU access without altering application code. Read more
Plume Acquires Sweepr to Boost AI Customer Care
On January 12, 2026, Plume Design, Inc. announced its acquisition of Sweepr, aiming to enhance AI-based customer support for ISPs by integrating network intelligence with orchestration capabilities. Read more
AlphaLit Secures $3.2M to Enhance Legal Services
AI startup AlphaLit has raised $3.2 million in seed funding to improve access to legal services for smaller cases, particularly in working-class communities. The company uses AI to screen and score cases before connecting them with lawyers. Read more
Accelsius Secures $65 Million for AI Data Center Cooling
Accelsius has raised $65 million in a Series B funding round led by Johnson Controls and Legrand to enhance its liquid cooling technology for AI data centers. Read more
Patmos Hosting Secures $100M Loan for AI Campus
Patmos Hosting Inc. has obtained a $100 million C-PACE loan to develop an AI Campus in Kansas City, Missouri, marking the largest C-PACE loan in the state's history. Read more
Assail Launches Ares for AI Penetration Testing
Assail has launched Ares, a system of autonomous AI agents for continuous penetration testing, and secured $250,000 in funding to support this project. Read more
Onebrief Secures $200M in Series D Funding
Onebrief, an AI-powered platform, has raised $200 million in a Series D funding round, increasing its valuation to $2.15 billion. The company plans to use the funds to enhance its AI Assist product and integrate new capabilities. Read more
Etched Raises $500 Million to Challenge Nvidia
Etched has secured $500 million in funding to compete with Nvidia in the AI chip market. The funding round, led by Stripes, values the company at $5 billion. Read more
Replit Nears $9 Billion Valuation with New Funding
Replit is in talks to raise $400 million, boosting its valuation to $9 billion. The funding round, led by Georgian, aims to enhance its AI coding tools. Read more
Runpod Hits $120M Revenue After Reddit Launch
AI cloud startup Runpod has achieved a $120 million annual revenue run rate, following its growth from a Reddit post launch. The company now serves 500,000 developers worldwide, including major clients like OpenAI and Zillow. Read more
Luna Systems Secures €1.5M for AI Rider Safety Tech
Luna Systems, based in Dublin City University, has received €1.5 million to develop AI-powered safety systems for cyclists and motorcyclists. The funding will aid in launching a dual AI camera system with features like collision warnings and blindspot detection. Read more
GovDash Secures $30 Million in Series B Funding
GovDash has raised $30 million in Series B funding to enhance its AI platform for government contractors. The investment will support the expansion of engineering teams and platform integration. Read more
Purpose Legal Acquires Hire Counsel for AI Legal Services
On January 15, 2026, Purpose Legal announced its acquisition of Hire Counsel to enhance its AI-powered legal services by integrating human expertise with technology. Read more
FOBECON Secures Pre-Series A Funding for AI Construction Solutions
Korea-based AI construction startup FOBECON has raised pre-Series A funding from Xplor Investment and Magellan Technology Investment to enhance its AI platform, AutoQTO. Read more
Equal1 Raises $60 Million for Quantum Computing
Equal1 has secured $60 million in funding to advance its silicon-based quantum computing technology. This investment will aid in deploying its Bell-1 quantum server at high-performance computing centers, including the European Space Agency in Italy. Read more
Moonshot AI Valued at $4.8 Billion After Funding
Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI, supported by Alibaba, has reached a valuation of $4.8 billion following a recent funding round, increasing from its previous $4.3 billion valuation. Read more
Orbem Secures €55.5M for AI Egg Inspection Tech
Munich-based startup Orbem has raised €55.5 million in Series B funding to enhance its AI-driven MRI technology for non-invasive biological analysis, including poultry egg inspection. Read more
GrazeMate Raises $1.2 Million for Autonomous Livestock Tech
GrazeMate has secured $1.2 million in funding to advance its drone-based system for automating cattle movement. The investment round was led by Y Combinator and included contributions from Antler, NextGen Ventures, and Meat & Livestock Australia. Read more
Olelo Intelligence Secures $1 Million for AI Platform
Hawaii-based startup Olelo Intelligence has raised $1 million to enhance its AI-driven sales coaching platform, focusing on improving sales performance with advanced technology. Read more
Parloa Raises $350 Million in Series D Funding
Parloa has raised $350 million in Series D funding, bringing its valuation to $3 billion. The company plans to use the funds for global expansion and improvements to its AI Agent Management Platform. Read more
Sequoia Capital to Invest in AI Startup Anthropic
The Financial Times reports that Sequoia Capital plans to invest significantly in AI startup Anthropic, known for its chatbot Claude. The funding round seeks to raise at least $25 billion, valuing Anthropic at $350 billion. Read more
Phenom Acquires Included AI for HR Analytics
Phenom has acquired Included, an AI-native people analytics platform, to enhance workforce planning and decision-making for HR professionals. Read more
BlackRock and Microsoft Secure $12.5 Billion for AI Infrastructure
BlackRock and Microsoft have secured $12.5 billion to develop AI infrastructure, focusing on data centers and energy. This is part of a larger partnership aiming for $30 billion in commitments. Read more
Nukkleus Inc. Acquires Nimbus Drones Technologies
Nukkleus Inc. has acquired Nimbus Drones Technologies to enhance its AI-driven drone capabilities, involving shares and a convertible note to strengthen its defense technology portfolio. Read more
SpacemiT Raises $86 Million for RISC-V AI Chips
Chinese chipmaker SpacemiT has secured $86 million in funding to boost the commercialization of its RISC-V-based chips, particularly for robotics and AI devices. Read more
Aule Space Secures $2 Million for Satellite Tech
Aule Space has raised $2 million in funding led by pi Ventures to develop autonomous satellite servicing technology, aiming to extend satellite lifespans and improve space sustainability. Read more
Micron to Acquire Powerchip's P5 Plant for $1.8 Billion
Micron Technology plans to acquire Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing's P5 fabrication site in Taiwan for $1.8 billion, aiming to boost DRAM production by 2027. The deal awaits regulatory approval and is expected to close by mid-2026. Read more
EQT Life Sciences Co-Leads Funding for Exciva's Alzheimer's Therapy
A €51 million Series B funding round, co-led by EQT Life Sciences and Gimv, will support Exciva's Phase 2 clinical trial of Deraphan, targeting agitation in Alzheimer's patients. Read more
UST Acquires Tailwind Business Ventures
UST has acquired Texas-based fintech company Tailwind Business Ventures to expand its AI-driven banking solutions. This acquisition enhances UST's capabilities in digital banking and strengthens its operations in South America. Read more
Syspro Acquires Evocon for AI Manufacturing Insights
Syspro has acquired Evocon, an Estonian company, to enhance its AI-driven manufacturing insights and improve operational efficiency for manufacturers globally. Read more
LER TechForce Acquires Siemens' Altair Division
On January 5, 2026, LER TechForce announced the acquisition of the Resource Solution division from Siemens' Altair business unit, aiming to enhance its AI workforce solutions. Read more
IIFL Fintech Raises Rs 500 Crore for AI Startup Fund
IIFL Fintech, part of the IIFL Group, has closed its second fund, raising Rs 500 crore to invest in generative AI startups. Read more
Decisions and ProcessMaker Acquire Configurable Management
On January 15, 2026, Decisions and ProcessMaker announced their acquisition of Configurable Management to enhance AI automation for SAP environments. Read more
GeneralMind Raises $12 Million for AI Automation
GeneralMind, a Berlin-based AI startup, has secured €10.2 million ($12 million) in equity financing to enhance enterprise automation solutions. The funding aims to support the automation of repetitive tasks and boost efficiency in mid-sized and large companies. Read more
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