Key Takeaways
- • Fal, an San Francisco-based AI video, image, and audio models startup, raised $1.3B at a $16B valuation led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with Nvidia, Sound Ventures, and T. Rowe Price participating.
- • Nooks, an SF-based revenue agent platform, raised $500M from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund.
- • CrowdStrike (Nasdaq: CRWD) agreed to acquire Fiddler AI, an AI agent monitoring software developer, for $400M, and separately agreed to acquire Dreadnode, an automated AI security testing provider.
- • Salesforce (Nasdaq: CRM) agreed to acquire Cresta, a Sunnyvale-based AI call-center company, for a reported $2.7B.
- • Applied Compute raised $350M at a $3.25B valuation, led by Elad Gil, while Traversal raised $120M at a $1B valuation.
Summary
Axios reported a broad week of venture and M&A activity in AI and enterprise software. The largest funding round was Fal's $1.3B raise at a $16B valuation, led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Nvidia, Sound Ventures, and T. Rowe Price also joined the round. Fal develops AI video, image, and audio models.
Nooks, a San Francisco revenue agent platform, raised $500M from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund. Applied Compute, which develops custom open-source AI models for enterprises, raised $350M at a $3.25B valuation. Elad Gil led that round, joined by Kleiner Perkins, Lux Capital, Nvidia, Blackstone, and Shopify Ventures, among others.
Other notable rounds included Sentra, an Israeli AI security startup, which raised $150M led by Capital One Ventures, and Traversal, a New York observability startup, which raised $120M at a $1B valuation from Kleiner Perkins, Redpoint Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Sequoia Capital. Ocient, a Chicago data warehouse provider, raised $100M in Series C funding, according to Axios Pro.
On the M&A side, CrowdStrike agreed to acquire Fiddler AI, a Palo Alto-based observability software developer for monitoring AI agents, for $400M. Fiddler had raised nearly $100M from backers including Cisco Investments and Insight Partners. CrowdStrike also agreed to acquire Dreadnode, an automated AI security testing provider that had raised $14M. Salesforce agreed to acquire Cresta, a Sunnyvale AI call-center company, for a reported $2.7B. Dropbox plans to acquire Tigris Data for $350M. IonQ completed its $1.15B buyout of Elisity, a San Jose network microsegmentation provider. Alphabet is in late-stage talks to acquire Howie AI, according to Axios Pro.
Nooks, a San Francisco revenue agent platform, raised $500M from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund. Applied Compute, which develops custom open-source AI models for enterprises, raised $350M at a $3.25B valuation. Elad Gil led that round, joined by Kleiner Perkins, Lux Capital, Nvidia, Blackstone, and Shopify Ventures, among others.
Other notable rounds included Sentra, an Israeli AI security startup, which raised $150M led by Capital One Ventures, and Traversal, a New York observability startup, which raised $120M at a $1B valuation from Kleiner Perkins, Redpoint Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Sequoia Capital. Ocient, a Chicago data warehouse provider, raised $100M in Series C funding, according to Axios Pro.
On the M&A side, CrowdStrike agreed to acquire Fiddler AI, a Palo Alto-based observability software developer for monitoring AI agents, for $400M. Fiddler had raised nearly $100M from backers including Cisco Investments and Insight Partners. CrowdStrike also agreed to acquire Dreadnode, an automated AI security testing provider that had raised $14M. Salesforce agreed to acquire Cresta, a Sunnyvale AI call-center company, for a reported $2.7B. Dropbox plans to acquire Tigris Data for $350M. IonQ completed its $1.15B buyout of Elisity, a San Jose network microsegmentation provider. Alphabet is in late-stage talks to acquire Howie AI, according to Axios Pro.
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