New developments happen every day in the technology and startup sectors. This week, significant innovations and progress were recorded across various fields—from artificial intelligence to digital design, retail to social gaming. Below, you can find the most notable startup news and trends of the week.
Figma’s IPO: A New Era in Digital Design
Figma carried out one of the most talked-about IPOs of 2025. Listing its shares on the Nasdaq exchange, Figma reached a market valuation of $45 billion. This is considered a major success in the field of digital design and collaboration platforms. Figma’s IPO demonstrated that tech startups can create significant value through independent growth and competition, offering an alternative to the acquisition strategies of large tech companies.
Record Investments and Growth in the AI Sector
Investor interest in artificial intelligence is higher than ever. For example, the startup Ramp increased its market valuation from $16 billion to $22.5 billion in just 45 days. This rapid growth reflects investors’ strong confidence in AI technologies. Meanwhile, the valuation of the startup Anthropic is approaching $170 billion. Anthropic develops advanced AI models and is preparing for larger funding rounds, underscoring AI’s status as a top investment priority.
Women-Led Startup in Semiconductor Technology: SixSense
The semiconductor industry saw the startup SixSense raise $8.5 million in investment. This startup focuses on specialized chips and hardware solutions for AI applications. Notably, SixSense was founded by a woman, positively contributing to gender balance in technology. Advances in semiconductors accelerate AI development both on the software and hardware sides.
New Payment Technology in European Retail: Handwave
Handwave, a startup in European retail, is gaining attention with its innovative technology. It offers contactless and fast payment systems as an alternative to Amazon’s “palm payments.” This technology meets the growing demand for touchless payments, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, and accelerates technological transformation in retail.
Indian Market and Google-Backed STAN Social Gaming Platform
Google has recently increased its focus on India’s dynamic social gaming market. The social gaming platform STAN is rapidly gaining popularity and receives substantial financial backing from Google. India’s large and youthful population, along with the increasing number of internet users, creates favorable conditions for the growth of such startups. Social games are becoming important both for entertainment and social connections.
AI Application in Defense Technologies: Mach Industries
Technology startups are showing strong development not only in commercial fields but also in the defense sector. Mach Industries’ CEO, Ethan Thornton, will present extensively on the use of artificial intelligence in defense technologies at the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 event. This highlights AI’s critical role in strategic areas and its broad range of applications.
New Trends in Startups: Less VC, More Agile Strategies
In 2025, many startups are moving away from traditional venture capital (VC) funding models, seeking more flexible, private, and independent financial solutions. This topic was a key discussion point at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Startups are designing their business models and growth paths in more agile and personalized ways, gaining competitive advantages in the market.
