Issue #5August 7, 20268 links

Aurelius raises $40m for anti-drone laser weapons

Most of today's raises buy instruments rather than software: smart balloons in the stratosphere, radar satellites, subsurface models for geothermal drilling, and a scanner that photographs your entire skin. Meanwhile YC's newest cohort shipped two more trading terminals, which suggests the contested frontier is measurement, not the transaction layer built on top of it.

Cool Company Raises

YC F26

Forward launches at YC (Fall 2026)

Unifying Global Private Credit

Artificial-Intelligence Fintech B2B YC

YC S26

Arbital launches at YC (Summer 2026)

The trading terminal for perps, memes, and stocks.

Defi Crypto-Web3 Trading YC Fintech

$37.0M

WindBorne Systems raises a $37.0M Series B round

Global sensing for better weather forecasts. WindBorne designs, builds, and operates a constellation of long-duration smart weather balloons targeting the most critical data in the atmosphere.

Information-Technology Lux Capital Trans Link Capital Galvanize Khosla Ventures $10M+

$68.4M

Integrated Biosciences raises a $68.4M round

Integrated Biosciences is a biotechnology company specializing in synthetic biology and machine learning to develop advanced therapeutics for age-related diseases. Founded in 2022, the company focuses on innovative drug discovery methods, utilizing AI and synthetic biology to increase efficiency in drug development. Its cutting-edge approach allows for the identification and modulation of biological pathways, alongside the discovery of novel small-molecule drug candidates. The company's mission is to achieve healthier human aging through scientific advancements.

Biotechnology Artificial-Intelligence Therapeutics $50M+Machine-Learning

$40.0M

Aurelius Systems raises a $40.0M Series A round

Aurelius Systems is developing autonomous laser weapons to counter modern drone threats. Based in San Francisco, the company fuses advanced optics, AI-guided tracking, and high-powered directed energy into a compact platform that can eliminate low-cost drones for a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. Aurelius is accelerating the deployment of practical, scalable, and field-ready innovation to restore the technological edge in defense.

Manufacturing Information-Technology Cyber-Security Decisive Point Detroit Venture Partners Bravo Victor Venture Capital (Bvvc)+7 more

$6.0M

Zanskar raises a $6.0M Seed round

Zanskar's mission is to make geothermal power the most affordable form of widely-deployable, 24/7, carbon-free energy generation on the planet.

Energy Oil-And-Gas Artificial-Intelligence Bessemer Venture Partners $1M+Biomass-Energy

$6.0M

SkinBit raises a $6.0M Pre-Seed round

SkinBit raises $6M in a Pre-Seed round led by Boost VC, Cleo Capital, Manna Ventures, and Profluent Capital to develop full-body skin scanning technology.

Logan Green Profluent Capital Manna Ventures Cleo Capital Boost Vc $1M+

iceye.com

ICEYE US announces a funding round

ICEYE US is a leader in persistent Earth monitoring with radar satellite imaging.

Aerospace Image-Recognition Satellite-Communication General Atlantic Eqt Ab

Was this forwarded to you?

One brief each weekday morning. One-click unsubscribe.