startup valuations

Sam Altman announced OpenAI will invest $2 million in AI tokens in each startup from the latest Y Combinator batch in exchange for equity. This move aims to reduce startups' AI infrastructure costs and encourage the use of OpenAI's technology.

Investment part of broader $730 million round; valuation up 30% since last secondary transaction.

For the first time in J&K, multiple investment units with a valuation of more than ₹500 crore each have been set up

Unacademy co-founder Sumit Jain has stepped down from his operational role, a significant leadership change ahead of the company's proposed merger with upGrad. Jain, instrumental in building the creator platform Graphy and making the offline business profitable, expressed gratitude for his six years with the edtech giant.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos dismissed fears of an AI bubble, stating that even if current valuations are unsustainable, the long-term benefits will outweigh the risks. He likened the AI boom to the 1990s biotech bubble, where initial losses led to significant advancements.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has clarified that Pershing Square's sale of Alphabet (Google) shares was not a bearish call on the company. Ackman said his hedge fund offloaded its long-held Google stake to fund a fresh $2.1 billion Microsoft position, betting on the software giant's AI prospects, Azure cloud growth, and Copilot adoption after a steep stock decline this year.

Mistral AI co-founder Arthur Mensch warns Europe has a two-year window to build its own AI infrastructure or face long-term dependence on US tech giants. He emphasized that control over chips, energy, and computing power, not just software, will determine AI competitiveness, urging swift action to avoid becoming a "vassal state."

OpenAI is reportedly preparing to file for an initial public offering as early as this week, working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on the paperwork. This significant move for the AI industry could see shares sold to the public by September, following a court's rejection of Elon Musk's lawsuit.

A former American football coach, David Steele, sees India's sports tech potential as immense. He believes the nation's ability to connect its vast grassroots networks with technology is key. Steele, now scouting startups, highlights how Indian innovators are building entire sporting systems, unlike the US focus on optimizing existing ones. This approach promises to democratize talent identification and development.

At Galgotias University, students are building careers across leading global organisations, startups, research, innovation, and entrepreneurship-driven ventures.

Skyroot Aerospace has achieved unicorn status by raising $60 million at a $1.1 billion valuation, becoming India's first space tech unicorn. Co-led by Sherpalo Ventures and GIC, the funding will accelerate Vikram-1 launches, scale manufacturing, and develop Vikram-2. This investment underscores global confidence in India's private space sector.

A jury in Oakland ruled Elon Musk waited too long to sue OpenAI and its leaders, a decision that significantly benefits the AI company and its founders. The jury found Musk's lawsuit barred by the statute of limitations, a finding the judge indicated she agrees with. This ruling comes as OpenAI prepares for a potential IPO.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang emphasizes operational rigor, learned from washing dishes, as crucial for hyper-growth, debunking the myth that only engineering brilliance and funding suffice. He advocates for first principles thinking and meticulous attention to mundane tasks, arguing that this foundational discipline builds resilient, scalable tech companies capable of sustainable excellence.

OpenAI has enabled over 600 employees to sell shares worth $6.6 billion, with some cashing out up to $30 million. This significant wealth creation is fueled by the intense AI talent war, particularly after Meta's substantial compensation offers, prompting OpenAI to boost salaries and equity packages to retain its workforce.

The Pentagon is forging new partnerships with companies like Anduril and Leidos to rapidly boost US strike capabilities. The Low-Cost Containerized Missiles (LCCM) program aims to procure over 10,000 affordable cruise missiles by 2027, while a separate deal with Castelion will scale low-cost hypersonic solutions. This initiative emphasizes speed, innovation, and private sector investment to rebuild America's military might.

Skyroot Aerospace has achieved unicorn status, valued at $1.1 billion after raising $60 million. This funding propels India's first private orbital rocket, Vikram-1, closer to launch. The capital will scale production and develop future rockets, marking a significant leap for India's burgeoning private space sector and its global ambitions.

19-year-old Samrath Singh Chadha's story is one of passion for computers and AI, and an amazing capacity for persistence. He's been selected to the Y Combinator and Z Fellows accelerator programmes. He is currently training a small, highly specialised model, sub-one-billion parameters, to get coding agents to search faster. He tells youngsters there is big demand for those who can build using AI tools

New-age insurer Acko, backed by General Atlantic and Accel, is gearing up for its IPO, aiming for an early 2027 launch. The company has appointed Morgan Stanley, ICICI Securities, and Kotak Securities as bankers. Acko targets a valuation of $2-2.5 billion, a significant increase from its previous $1.4 billion. This move comes as India's IPO market navigates global volatility.