Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report

The landscape of innovation continues to thrive across the United States, with startups across diverse ecosystems securing significant funding. This week, notable funding activity includes $3 billion raised by various companies, spotlighting exciting ventures like Duckbill, Ownwell, and Breaker, among others.

Ascent Funding – $45.0M

San Diego’s Ascent is paving the way for students to fund their higher education with options for and without a cosigner. Founded in 2015 by Ken Ruggiero, Ascent has now garnered a total of $86.2 million in equity funding, bolstered by the support of Endeavor and Framework Ventures.

Avantos – $25.0M

Avantos, based in New York, is revolutionizing the financial services industry with its AI-native operating system, designed to manage client data efficiently. Established in 2024 by Bassam Chaptini and Rabih Ramadi, Avantos has successfully raised $35.0 million, backed by entities such as Bessemer Venture Partners and Vanguard.

Braintrust – $80.0M

The San Francisco-based Braintrust is focused on AI observability, allowing teams to evaluate and improve AI models. Founded by Ankur Goyal in 2023, the company has attracted $121.1 million in total equity funding, supported by major players like Andreessen Horowitz and Greylock.

Breaker – $9.0M

In Austin, Breaker is transforming the human-machine interaction landscape with its advanced software. Founded by Matthew Buffa and Vanja Videnovic in 2023, Breaker has raised a total of $11.2 million, funded by Bessemer Venture Partners and Main Sequence Ventures.

Code Metal – $125.0M

Code Metal, based in Boston, provides an AI-enabled platform for code translation and optimization. Founded in 2023 by Alex Showalter-Bucher and Peter Morales, the company has an impressive total of $184.5 million raised thus far, with backing from Accel, B Capital, and Salesforce Ventures.

Cogent Security – $42.0M

Another San Francisco innovator, Cogent Security, specializes in AI solutions for vulnerability management. Founded in 2024 by Geng Sng, Thanos Baskous, and Vineet Edupuganti, the firm has raised $53.0 million in total funding, supported by Bain Capital Ventures and Greylock.

DG Matrix – $60.0M

DG Matrix, from Raleigh, focuses on solid-state power systems for electric vehicle charging. Founded by Haroon Inam and Subhashish Bhattacharya in 2022, DG Matrix has raised $80.0 million in total funding, with backing from prominent firms like Chevron Technology Ventures.

Duckbill – $7.8M

San Francisco’s Duckbill offers a specialized service in financial planning for enterprise infrastructure aimed at optimizing cloud spending. Established in 2019 by Corey Quinn and Mike Julian, the startup has raised a total of $7.8 million in equity funding through investors including Encoded Ventures.

Efficient Computer – $60.0M

Based in Pittsburgh, Efficient Computer leverages processor technology to enhance energy efficiency in compute-intensive tasks. Founded in 2022 by Alex Hawkinson and his team, the startup has successfully raised $76.0 million, backed by Toyota Ventures and Overmatch Ventures.

Heron Power – $140.0M

Heron Power, hailing from Scotts Valley, is dedicated to creating advanced power electronics tailored for modern electrical grids. Launched in 2024 by Drew Baglino, they have raised a staggering $178.0 million, supported by notable names like Andreessen Horowitz and Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

Hook – $15.8M

In New York, Hook combines social media with music, allowing creators to remix songs using AI-assisted tools. Founded in 2022 by Gaurav Sharma, Hook has raised $23.0 million in total funding from venture firms such as Khosla Ventures and The Raine Group.

Jump – $80.0M

Jump, based in Salt Lake City, is bringing AI to financial advisory with a platform for financial professionals. Founded by Adam Kirk and partners in 2023, the firm has achieved $109.2 million in equity funding with backing from Aaron Skonnard and Allianz Life Ventures.

Monark Markets – $8.1M

Monark Markets, established in New York by founders Ben Haber and Paul Davis, connects brokerages and advisors to private markets. The company has now raised $13.2 million in funding, backed by entities like Commerce Ventures.

Novig – $75.0M

The Novig platform enables sports predictions through a unique sweepstake-based setup. Founded in 2021 by Jacob Fortinsky, they have raised $99.9 million in total funding, supported by firms like Forerunner and NFX.

Onshore – $31.0M

Formerly focused solely on tax credits, Wilmington’s Onshore now automates corporate R&D tax incentive reporting through AI-powered software. Founded in 2020 by Dominic Vitucci, it has raised $43.5 million backed by ADP Ventures and Y Combinator.

Ownwell – $30.0M

Another Austin-based company, Ownwell aids property owners in minimizing real estate tax overpayments. Founded in 2020 by three co-founders, it has now raised $35.8 million, supported by investors including Alpha Edison.

Pepper – $50.0M

Pepper from New York serves as an e-commerce platform across various marketplaces. Founded in 2019 by a team of innovators, it has raised $100.0 million backed by renowned firms like Greylock.

Phoenix Tailings – $30.2M

Phoenix Tailings is transforming mining waste into usable rare earth metals. Founded in 2019 by Anthony Balladon, it has raised $132.5 million in total funding, supported by Aether VC and Traxys S.A.

ProSomnus Sleep Technologies – $38.0M

In Pleasanton, ProSomnus specializes in developing intraoral devices for dentists. Founded in 2016 by Laing Rikkers, the startup has raised $67.2 million, backed by Catalio Capital Management.

Render – $100.0M

Render offers a unified cloud environment for developers. Founded in 2018 by Anurag Goel, it has raised $256.8 million in funding, supported by Bessemer Venture Partners and General Catalyst.

Temporal Technologies – $300.0M

Temporal Technologies is simplifying workflow management with its open-source platform. Founded in 2019, it has raised an impressive total of $649.5 million with backing from major venture capitalists.

Utility Global – $100.0M

Based in Houston, Utility Global is innovating in emissions reduction and energy efficiency. Founded by a team including David Hall, it has raised $186.0 million in total equity funding.

Vestwell – $385.0M

New York’s Vestwell provides a digital savings platform for retirement plans. Founded in 2016, it has raised $623.8 million total, making strides to reshape the financial landscape.

VulnCheck – $25.0M

VulnCheck specializes in vulnerability intelligence for security teams. Founded by Anthony Bettini, it has successfully raised $45 million in equity funding.

World Labs – $1.0B

Based in San Francisco, World Labs is breaking ground with AI models for 3D spatial intelligence. Launched by a team including Fei-Fei Li, it has currently raised $1.2 billion in funding.

ZaiNar – $100.0M

ZaiNar focuses on real-time 3D location solutions. Founded in 2017 by Alexander Hooshmand and partners, they have raised $116.7 million in total equity funding.

Zero Homes – $16.8M

Zero Homes is a Denver-based tech company providing a digital platform for contractors and homeowners. Founded by Grant Gunnison, they have raised $16.8 million in total funding.

This week’s funding report showcases the diverse innovations reshaping industries from fintech to clean energy, underscoring entrepreneurs’ resilience and creativity in navigating the funding landscape.