Zendesk, known for delivering comprehensive AI solutions for customer experience, has officially unveiled its global venture fund aimed at supporting AI-centric companies enhancing customer and employee experiences.

SurrealDB, the multi-model database, has secured a $20 million investment round led by FirstMark and Georgian, with contributions from Crew Capital and Alumni Ventures, bringing its total funding to $26 million.

Myria Biosciences AG, a pioneering drug discovery company based in Basel, has successfully closed its pre-seed funding round, surpassing its initial undisclosed target.

Skynopy, a Paris-based space startup specialised in satellite connectivity, announces a fundraising of $3.1M closed in only three weeks, just months after its creation.

When you had that incredible idea for a new venture, a business where you could be your own boss, leave that unrewarding career, change the world and/or set yourself and your family up for the future, you didn’t think your nemesis, your night time insomnia gremlin, your palpable stress and relationship breaker would be….cashflow.

Prewave, the AI-enabled sustainability, risk and compliance platform, has raised $67m (€63m) in its Series B funding round, led by the global investment firm Hedosophia, with participation from existing investors Creandum, Ventech, Kompas, Speedinvest and Working Capital Fund.

From 2007 to 2018, women-owned companies grew 58% in volume and 46% in revenue. Despite this growth, a significant challenge remains: estimates indicate a roughly $1.7 trillion financing gap for women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises globally.

Zeti has announced a £5m investment from HYCAP Group, the UK-based net zero energy transition investor, as part of Zeti’s series A financing.

Vertus Energy, a Waste-to-X industrial biotech startup specialising in advanced control of bacteria behaviour, has closed a €8.75 million seed funding round.

Mountside Ventures, an accelerator and early-stage advisory firm in Europe, has unveiled its 2024 'Navigating Corporate Venture Capital' report, produced in collaboration with Love Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm specialising in FinTech, Future of Work, and ConsumerTech.

After a lacklustre 2023 for UK fintech investment, 2024 has shown promising growth for London's fintech sector. Current sentiment from the city indicates a significant rise in job opportunities as investors return.

Saltroad, founded by a couple from Northern Ireland are looking to tackle the waiting list backlog for accessing speech and language therapy in the UK with a new online platform that matches parents with qualified practitioners. Saltroad is backed by a £575,000 pre-seed funding round, led by Techstart Ventures and London-based Ascension VC.

LiveEO, a global player in transforming high-resolution satellite data and AI into actionable insights for managing climate risks and resilience, has secured €25 million in a Series B funding round led by NordicNinja and DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF).

Startup funding options include ‘traditional’ loans with fixed monthly repayments, but also highly flexible alternatives that address the cash flow needs of a new business and bring expensive asset purchases within reach.

Cluby, a Finnish startup changing the way restaurants connect with its customers digitally, has successfully raised €2.9 million in a seed round.

Gendo, an AI platform transforming the architectural design process, has secured an oversubscribed $1.1 million (£855,000) pre-seed round led by Concept Ventures, with participation from Ascension Ventures, Carles Reina’s Baobab Ventures, and notable angels from the AI and architecture sectors, including the former Global Head of Design Studios at WeWork.

Securing VC funding is crucial for any startup to transform innovative ideas into reality, fuel growth, and create value. Despite tighter market conditions, early-stage capital remains available for promising teams and visionary entrepreneurs addressing significant industry problems. Late-stage capital is also widely accessible once companies reach scale and prove their business models.

Zedify, the cargo bike delivery network, has secured an additional £4 million investment from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, Mercia Ventures (from its own funds and the Midlands Engine Investment Fund), and Green Angel Ventures.

Finding funding for a startup is challenging for anyone. You may worry a lack of degree could hold you back. Fortunately, many have gone before to prove you can confidently handle finances without a master’s in business administration and build a thriving company. Here’s what you need to know and focus on to find success.

Contrary to predictions of a slowdown in AI funding for 2024, the sector is experiencing a surge. AI startups are not only breaking records but doing so at an unprecedented pace, raising more capital than ever before.