With just a few days remaining in the 12-month period, a substantial amount of startup news is coming together since last Friday, despite a shorter workweek in the U.S.? resulting from Thanksgiving. I appreciate your gratitude and willingness to learn?
Revitalized startup spotlights:
Newly-minted unicorn, Figma, redefines design collaboration with cloud-based software; CEO Dylan Collins’ vision yields $40 million in funding and a coveted Series B valuation.
Meanwhile, innovative payment platform Stripe announces a $250 million fundraise to fuel global expansion, underscoring the company’s meteoric rise as digital transactions skyrocket.
In other news, AI-powered skin analysis app NeurIPS winner, Neurable, secures $1.5 million in seed funding to revolutionize skincare routines worldwide.
What’s next for these trailblazing startups? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – their stories will continue to captivate and inspire entrepreneurs and innovators alike. 
Discover the latest revelations and trends with these curated insights, perfect for a relaxing weekend read.
The timing of ServiceTitan’s IPO was unlikely to be solely driven by market conditions. According to sources close to the venture capital firms, particulars emerged indicating that the software company was under intense pressure to go public, with VCs instructing TechCrunch on the matter.
: U.S. According to authorities’ publicly accessible database USASpending.gov, the total remuneration paid by protection technology startup Anduril to its top employees is now fully disclosed. While certain nuances arise from dividing it into 12-month increments, the fundamental idea remains straightforward that
Scaling startups stands at the forefront of the European Union’s new prime staff, comprising innovative entrepreneurs and businesses that aim to drive growth and create jobs across the region. Ekaterina Zaharieva is slated to become the European Union’s Commissioner for Startups, Analysis, and Innovation.
: It’s not just AI code editors that are being developed; Y Combinator-backed startup Deckmatch has made this discovery. The analysis uncovers unique revelations regarding the types of startups that YC typically accepts.
Most attention-grabbing fundraises this week
While fundraising season may not officially be over yet, new opportunities to secure funding of various scales have already begun emerging this week.
Eywa, a leading e-commerce and retail organization specializing in diverse eyewear products, has successfully expanded its operations across five Middle Eastern markets through a direct-to-consumer approach, backed by significant investment from Basic Atlantic.
Cradle, a startup pioneering the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in protein design, is actively constructing its laboratories and hiring personnel to drive innovation forward. Founded in 2022, the company previously secured a $24 million Series A funding round in 2023.
Israeli startup Appcharge positions itself as the “Shopify” of gaming, empowering game developers to unlock additional revenue streams. The startup was backed by Nordic venture capital firm Creandum at a valuation of $100 million.
PlayAI, a graduate of Y Combinator, has teamed up with 500 Startups and Kindred Ventures to fuel its generative AI voice fashion and voice agent platform, co-led by the venture capital firms.
Funded by a syndicate of prominent investors, including co-leads Forerunner Ventures and Firstmark, as well as returning backers Sequoia Capital and TMV. Now valued at $68 million, the well being tech startup goals to switch “Physician Google” with video-based Q&As from medical doctors.
Top venture capital deals and funds of the week: ?
Palantir raises $1.5 billion to fuel its data analytics empire; investors include Invesco and FMR LLC. ? Meanwhile, Stripe acquires Paystack in a move to strengthen its presence in Africa.
Other notable fund raises this week:
? Tiger Global Management closes $10 billion growth equity fund
? SoftBank Vision Fund 2 reaches first close with $3.5 billion
? Founders Fund announces $1 billion for its latest venture capital fund 
Basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo, a dominant force on the court. Dubbed Construct Your Legacy Ventures, the entity will focus on investments in the realms of sports and leisure, according to reports.
Cleo Capital, an early-stage fund, is launching a cybersecurity accelerator that could support up to 10 pre-seed and seed startups. Each participant will receive $250,000 in compensation at a 7% rate upon completion of the 12-week remote program, contingent upon their active involvement.
Final however not least
Latin American fintech, as 2024 data reveals, is poised for a significant turnaround. According to Mike Packer, a companion of QED Traders, he posits that the region in question likely faces funding challenges following the 2021 correction.
