
AI Startups Draw Cross-Border Funding as Multiple Rounds Close
Fireworks AI, Fora, Whale and Syntetica have each closed new funding rounds, with backers spanning North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
AfroEuropa Newsroom
AfroEuropa desk
Several technology startups working on artificial intelligence and related deep-tech have announced fresh funding rounds, drawing investors from multiple regions.
Fireworks AI
Fireworks AI raised $1.5 billion in a Series D round that lifted its valuation to $17.5 billion, according to Ventureburn. The company said it now generates more than $1 billion in annualized revenue, a fivefold increase from a year earlier. The round was led by Atreides Management, Index Ventures and TCV, with participation from NVIDIA, Lightspeed, Evantic Capital, Bessemer, Menlo Ventures, Insight Partners, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Lone Pine Capital. Founded in 2022 by Lin Qiao and six former Meta engineers, Fireworks helps organizations fine-tune open AI models. The company plans to expand its computing capacity, hire more engineers and deepen ties with cloud providers.
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