Rillet raises $100M Series C at $1B valuation — 2 years after emerging from stealth

Source: Tech Crunch

Rillet raises $100M Series C at $1B valuation — 2 years after emerging from stealth

Startups

"AI accounting startup Rillet has raised $100 million in a Series C round led by Iconiq, valuing the company at $1 billion. With support from Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia, Rillet uses AI to automate financial bookkeeping and data integration. The company reports over 600 customers and a doubling of its annual recurring revenue in three months, positioning itself as a disruptive force against legacy ERP software.".

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Gwyneth Paltrow allegedly set to throw dinner in honor of Sam Altman

Startups

Gwyneth Paltrow, founder of Goop and investor via Kinship Ventures, is reportedly hosting a private dinner for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on August 29th in the Hamptons. Paltrow has increasingly integrated AI into her business operations and invested in several AI firms, including OpenAI. This event highlights the intersection of celebrity influence and technology, coinciding with OpenAI's recent hiring of a "celebrity whisperer" to manage high-profile relations.

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Gambling on the Little League World Series? Sports bettors have gone too far

Startups

Have we tried turning off society and turning it back on again?

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AI was supposed to win people over by now — it hasn’t

Startups

Public sentiment toward AI is declining as concerns over job loss, trust, and rapid advancement grow. Polls show a majority of Americans are more concerned than excited, while young people increasingly distrust industry leaders. This backlash is impacting business, forcing tech companies to offer local incentives for data centers. Industry leaders acknowledge a crisis of trust, admitting they must deliver tangible benefits to regain public support.

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Google launches new study tools for students across Search and Gemini

Startups

"Google has introduced several AI-powered study tools across Search and Gemini to compete with OpenAI and education startups. New features include interactive 3D simulations, customized practice quizzes, and a dedicated student hub for flashcards and notebooks. Additionally, students can use Lens for problem-solving guidance and generate study documents from uploaded files. Gemini Live now supports multi-step research reports, allowing users to discuss findings conversationally via voice.".

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Researchers say OpenAI revoked their access to limited cyber program

Startups

"OpenAI recently revoked access to its Trusted Access for Cyber program for several security researchers, particularly those in the Daybreak Blue tier. The company attributed the issue to a technical error and requested that affected users, many of whom reside outside the U.S. and Europe, re-verify their identities. The program provides vetted researchers with advanced AI models featuring reduced guardrails to facilitate legitimate cybersecurity research and vulnerability discovery.".

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Meet the startup helping Wall Street put a price on AI compute

Startups

Silicon Data has raised $30 million in Series A funding to establish a reference price and index for GPU rentals. As compute costs dominate AI development, the startup aims to provide a way for firms to hedge exposure. Pending regulatory approval, Silicon Data plans to launch compute futures trading on the CME on October 5th, offering a standardized pricing mechanism for the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market.

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T-Mobile ‘chopped a cable’ to expel Chinese hackers from its network

Startups

T-Mobile successfully expelled Chinese government-backed hackers from the group Salt Typhoon in 2024, avoiding a widespread data breach. While other providers like AT&T and Verizon were compromised in a campaign targeting U.S. government officials' data, T-Mobile's security team detected the intrusion early. To stop the attack, cybersecurity chief Jeff Simon and his team physically cut the cable to a compromised system in Washington.

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TerraPower’s nuclear reactor has a secret weapon for powering AI data centers

Startups

TerraPower's nuclear power plant possesses a strategic advantage over competitors, especially when chasing after data center deals.

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Rivian spinout Also raises another $150 million

Startups

"Also, a micromobility startup spun out of Rivian, has raised $150 million in a Series D round led by Prysm Capital. Bringing total funding to $455 million, the company aims to develop autonomous delivery vehicles and driving technology. Also previously launched electric bikes and cargo quads, with a strategic partnership with DoorDash. Despite initial delivery delays, the company is now shipping its launch edition e-bikes to customers.".

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How Indian D2C Brands Are Rewriting Their Playbook For Profitable Growth

Business

Indian D2C brands are shifting their focus from top-line revenue growth toward sustainable profitability and contribution margins. At Inc42’s D2C & Retail Summit, leaders from Neeru’s, The Bear House, and Elements Wellness discussed adapting channel strategies and store formats to reduce acquisition costs. Key tactics include leveraging experiential retail, optimizing channel mixes, and employing regional marketing to ensure long-term efficiency and protect gross margins over aggressive discounting.

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Sachin Bansal’s fintech Navi raises first outside capital with $100M Prosus investment

Startups

Indian fintech Navi, founded by former Flipkart co-founder Sachin Bansal, has raised $100 million from Prosus in its first institutional funding round. This investment values the company at approximately $1.3 billion. Navi offers various financial services, including lending and digital payments, and is currently preparing for an initial public offering to raise about $314 million. The startup recently reported consolidated profitability in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.

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Amazon makes its AI-powered Alexa+ free on Fire TV, no Prime required

Startups

Amazon is making its AI assistant, Alexa+, free and automatic for all compatible Fire TV devices in the U.S., regardless of Prime membership. The update introduces conversational search, AI-powered recommendations, and smart home controls. This move aligns with industry trends from Google and Roku to integrate AI into consumer electronics. Amazon reports increased user engagement, allowing customers to search for content by theme, popularity, or specific characteristics.

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Amazon’s Prime Air is taking off in nearly 500 U.S. cities

Startups

Amazon is expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service to nearly 500 U.S. cities by 2026, increasing its current reach sixfold. The service, which delivers items under five pounds in as little as 30 minutes, will soon launch in 11 new locations. Despite past accidents, Amazon emphasizes safety through its Detect-and-Avoid system and FAA certification, competing with rival drone networks operated by Walmart and Alphabet's Wing.

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Why Hammer Prefers Cables Over Premium Headphones For Quick Commerce

Business

For D2C consumer brand Hammer Lifestyle, quick commerce is not a channel for replicating its entire ecommerce catalogue. Instead, the.

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Calendly throws its hat into meeting note-taker circus

Startups

Calendly is entering the AI note-taking market with a tool that records, transcribes, and generates summaries and follow-up emails. The company is also introducing Callie, an AI assistant for scheduling and meeting context. Targeting sales and marketing professionals, Calendly aims to differentiate itself by automating post-meeting workflows. To address privacy concerns, the tool notifies participants of recording and allows them to remove the assistant.

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The founder’s secret weapon: Work at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 and learn how the pros do it

Startups

"TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is seeking volunteers for its event from October 13-15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Participants gain insider access to startup culture, networking opportunities with founders and venture capitalists, and knowledge of event logistics. In exchange for committing at least 12 hours and attending a mandatory orientation on October 12, volunteers receive free general admission for all three days of the conference.".

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Sachin Bansal's Navi raises $100M from Prosus

Startups

Sachin Bansal's financial services company, Navi Limited, has raised $100 million from Prosus in its first institutional funding round. Founded in 2018, Navi provides loans, insurance, mutual funds, and UPI payments, with assets under management exceeding Rs 13,000 crore. The company reached consolidated profitability in the fourth quarter of FY26. This investment, pending regulatory approvals, reflects Prosus's confidence in Navi's technology-driven approach and scaling capabilities.

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D2C Brands Should Use Influencers Only After Finding PMF: Emami’s Dhruv Aggarwal

Business

D2C brands should scale influencer marketing only after establishing product-market fit, as creator-led campaigns cannot compensate for a weak product,.

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Home batteries are suddenly cheap and everywhere. Here’s why.

Startups

Tesla and startups like Base Power are competing in the home battery market, utilizing virtual power plants (VPPs) to lower consumer costs. VPPs aggregate distributed batteries to support the grid during peak demand, offering a faster, cheaper alternative to traditional peaker plants. Driven by AI data centers and electrification, the VPP market is projected to reach $30 billion by 2033, providing critical grid resiliency and speed.

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