TechCrunch Startup News

AppsForBharat, the Indian startup behind the Hindu devotional app Sri Mandir, has raised $20 million in a new round — just over nine months after securing $18 million — as the app continues to attract not only devotees but also strong investor interest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tailor, a San Francisco- and Tokyo-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, has raised $22 million in a Series A funding round. Investors include ANRI, JIC Venture Growth Investments (JIC VGI), New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Spiral Capital and Y Combinator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Predibase helps companies train and fine-tune open source AI models which will help Rubrik customers deploy AI agents faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google will invest in Commonwealth Fusion Systems and buy 200 MW of electricity from its forthcoming power plant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PetLibro launched an AI-powered smart camera that provides users with real-time insights into their pets' activities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henrik Werdelin has spent the last 15 years helping entrepreneurs build big brands like Barkbox through his startup studio Prehype. Now, with his new, New York-based venture Audos, he’s betting that AI can help him scale that process from “tens” of startups a year to “hundreds of thousands” of aspiring business owners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wind power has run into some headwinds, and not the kind that spin its turbines.  Recently, President Trump has decided to wage war against the technology, an unwelcome bit of friction that coincides with rising costs in recent years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Indian drone startup Raphe mPhibr has raised $100 million in an all-equity Series B round led by General Catalyst, as the startup aims to boost its R&D and local production capabilities amid growing demand for drones in battlefields and for border surveillance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GoKwik, an Indian startup that offers a suite of integrated e-commerce products, has raised a small round of $13 million, which it calls a “growth” round, that has boosted its valuation to $450 million pre-money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Startups developing voice AI technology and applications are having their moment. Model builders like ElevenLabs and Cartesia have raised millions of dollars in the last few months. Applications such as AI-powered notetaker Granola, and meeting tools Read AI and Fireflies AI have also received investor attention and backing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices