US VENTURE FUNDING SURGES 30% IN H1 2026
■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE
U.S. venture capital deal value reached $412.7 billion in the first half of 2026, according to PitchBook data, nearly matching the entire $318 billion invested throughout 2025. AI startups dominated funding activity, capturing 86% of capital at $355.9 billion.
■ MORE FROM THE STARTUPS DESK
Indian AI coding startup Emergent reached a $1.5 billion valuation in its latest funding round, raising $130 million in Series C and joining the unicorn club after a five-fold valuation jump in six months.
Rime, an AI platform processing over 100 million calls monthly, secured $24 million in Series A funding to expand its customer service solutions for enterprises.
A former SpaceX engineer has secured $65 million in funding to revolutionize wire harness manufacturing for aerospace and defense. The startup aims to replace decades-old production methods still used in rockets, missiles, and satellites.
Israeli identity management startup Oak has emerged from stealth with $60 million in seed funding. The company, cofounded by veteran entrepreneur Shai Morag, addresses identity management challenges created by the proliferation of AI agents.