Issue #9August 13, 202610 links

River AI raises $1.1bn for user-owned models

Igor Babuschkin's River AI has $1.1bn to hand model ownership back to users, and it lands the same day xAI ships Grok Bot — agents with their own computers, working your tools around the clock. The bet on both sides is that the scarce thing is no longer the model but the labour it replaces.

Cool Company Raises

YC F26

Hemlock launches at YC (Fall 2026)

Force-sensing wristband for training robotic AI

Hard-Tech Hardware Industrials YC

YC F26

Simulithic launches at YC (Fall 2026)

Simulate how any product change will perform before shipping.

AI B2B YC

YC S26

TryNearby launches at YC (Summer 2026)

Local creators for local businesses

Restaurant-Tech Marketing Creator-Economy YC Smb B2B

YC S26

Moving Atoms launches at YC (Summer 2026)

Virtual Reality for Robots (World Models)

Artificial-Intelligence Robotics Virtual-Reality YC Industrials

YC S26

Tenor launches at YC (Summer 2026)

Turn every employee into a manager of AI workers

Artificial-Intelligence B2B Automation YC

$1.1B

River AI raises a $1.1B round

River AI is a full-stack AI company founded by xAI co-founder Igor Babuschkin. The company focuses on building powerful personal AI and providing tools for developers and companies to train, tune, and serve their own AI models. River AI aims to give ownership of AI directly to users.

Software Artificial-Intelligence Machine-Learning Temasek Y Combinator Amd Ventures+7 more

$4.0M

Soctera raises a $4.0M Seed round

Soctera builds power amplifiers that extend the range, fidelity, and reliability of modern systems that detect threats and carry critical communications. From defense radar and electronic warfare to satellite and commercial networks, Soctera is building the semiconductor foundation these next-generation systems will run on.

Manufacturing Satellite-Communication Red Bear Ventures Mana Ventures 9 Yards Capital Multiball Capital+2 more

$30.0M

Pathway raises a $30.0M Seed round

Pathway is building live AI systems that think and learn in real-time as humans do. Underpinned by the fastest data processing engine on the market and an AI framework, it lays the foundations for an organization’s full and evolving AI transformation journey without the need for re-platforming. Pathway is trusted by the likes of NATO, La Poste and Formula 1 racing teams.

Software Jonathan Frankle Ws Investment Co.Kadmos Capital Red Bridge Ventures Tq Ventures+2 more

$30.5M

Silicon Data raises a $30.5M Series A round

Silicon Data is on a mission to revolutionize compute markets through unparalleled data transparency. As pioneers in the field, Silicon Data is dedicated to developing cutting-edge products that provide essential intelligence and efficiency to compute markets worldwide.

Software Analytics So Gal Ventures Sancus Ventures Blank Vc Hack+12 more

Interesting

x.ai

Introducing Grok Bot

Grok Bot is your team of always-on agents. They have their own computer, work inside tools and apps like you do, and keep working 24/7.

Agents AI AI coworker

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