Entrepreneurs are invited to apply through Sept. 26 for Ohio Wesleyan’s second annual U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition. The ‘Shark Tank’-style contest will be held Oct. 25 as part of OWU’s three-day Kickstart Ohio conference, featuring Apple Computer Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak. (Photo by Paul Vernon)
​
​DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University will accept applications through Sept. 26 for its second annual U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition – the largest and most invested business plan contest in Ohio.


Those chosen to compete in the “Shark Tank”-style contest will present their ideas to a panel of judges Oct. 25 as part of OWU’s three-day Kickstart Ohio entrepreneurial education conference, said Phil Smith, director of the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at OWU, the university’s on-campus business accelerator.


The U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition (USEC) includes both student and professional tracks. The student track is open to current college students and 2025 college graduates. The professional track is open to all others. First-, second-, and third-place winners in each category will earn cash investments from New Albany, Ohio-based Cyrannus Inc. and be invited to utilize their choice of COhatch workspaces to help them advance their business ideas.


Those applying to compete in the U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition will complete the online application at www.owu.edu/USEC and then receive instructions to transfer some of the required information to the Cyrannus app – the first venture polling platform to tap into the collective wisdom of thousands of industry experts from disciplines, including AI, fintech, climate, biotech, and more to provide a prediction market for early-stage equities.


The applicants with the highest Cyrannus app scores will be invited to compete in the live Oct. 25 competition at Ohio Wesleyan. Cyrannus’ prediction market ranks startups by success probability, with the highest-rated startups receiving funding opportunities from Cyrannus’ $100 million in assets under influence.


Those applying to be part of the 2025 U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition must be able to provide:

• Business plans, potentially including an executive summary, industry overview, market analysis, sales and marketing plan, management plan, operating plan, and financial plan.
• Media materials, including a business logo, social media links, and 100-word business description.

Applicants also must be able to answer a series of questions, including:

• What primary and secondary markets are you seeking to serve?
• Has your startup generated any sales revenue? (How much?)
• Has your startup received any funding? (How much and what types?)

Up to 10 teams (five student and five professional) will be selected to participate Oct. 25 in the live competition. The semifinalists will make 60-second “elevator” and five-minute full pitches to the expert judges, who will follow up with three minutes of questions to determine each plan’s viability and potential. Winners will be announced that day by Apple Computer Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak, keynote speaker at the Kickstart Ohio conference.


The three-day entrepreneurial conference and competition is organized by the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University (DEC OWU), a first-of-its-kind liberal arts business accelerator, as well as a first-of-its-kind city, county, and educational institute partnership. The conference will be held Oct. 23-25, 2025, on the Ohio Wesleyan campus in Delaware, Ohio.


Smith said Kickstart Ohio will have five program tracks – Conceptual, Startup & Early Stage, Growth & Expansion, Rapid Growth & Maturity, and Exit – to benefit attendees wherever they are in their entrepreneurial journeys. Companies scheduled to share insights at the conference include Ohio-based Big Kitty Labs, Cyrannus Inc., and JumpStart Inc., as well as New York-based Whop, a social commerce platform.


Ohio’s “can’t-miss entrepreneurship opportunity” will be highlighted by a conversation between OWU President Matt vandenBerg and Wozniak, who co-founded Apple Computer with Steve Jobs in 1976, Smith said. Wozniak single-handedly created Apple’s first line of products, the Apple I and II, and he influenced its popular Macintosh.


Learn more about Kickstart Ohio, including ticket options and prices, at www.kickstartohio.com; more about the U.S. Entrepreneurial Competition, including application information, at www.owu.edu/USEC; and more about the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at OWU and all opportunities for up-and-coming entrepreneurs at www.owu.edu/DEC. Admission is free Oct. 25 to watch the USEC competitors pitch their ideas.


About the Delaware Entrepreneurial Center at Ohio Wesleyan University
Opened in 2018, the DEC OWU, 70 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, was launched in collaboration with the City of Delaware and Delaware County. Its benefits include connecting members with Ohio Wesleyan student-interns able to assist with accounting, data analysis, event planning, graphic design, market research, volunteer coordination, website creation, or other needs. As the students work, they also gain hands-on experience to help them fulfill their personal entrepreneurial ambitions. Learn more about the DEC OWU and its opportunities for up-and-coming entrepreneurs at www.owu.edu/DEC.


About Ohio Wesleyan University
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “Best Colleges” lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at www.owu.edu/experts or learn more at www.owu.edu.

InnerActiv, a Worthington, OH-based risk intelligence cybersecurity company, raised a funding round of undisclosed amount.

​The round was co-led by Blu Ventures and North Coast Ventures (NCV), with participation from strategic angels in the cybersecurity sector.

Led by Ray Shealy, CEO, InnerActiv delivers risk intelligence that unifies Insider Threat Prevention, Fraud Detection, and Next-Generation DLP. Purpose-built for the modern enterprise, the platform uses micro endpoint agents and embedded AI risk sensors to detect high-risk activity in real time, with unmatched forensic clarity and minimal operational overhead. The platform detects and blocks high-risk activity such as data grazing, shadow IT usage, policy testing, and low-and-slow reconnaissance, empowering security teams to act proactively rather than reactively. Used by enterprises worldwide, it empowers security teams to proactively identify and mitigate threats before they become events.

by Manny Larcher - Miami, FL – Kira, a Miami-based provider of next-generation payments infrastructure, announced today that it has raised $6.7 million in Seed funding. The round was led by Blockchange Ventures, Vamos Ventures, Stellar Blockchain, Grit Ventures, Credibly Neutral Ventures, along with notable individual investors Michael Seibel and Oso Trava.

The funding will be used to accelerate strategic partnerships with regional banks and payment processors, expanding Kira’s footprint in the embedded finance ecosystem.

Founded by Edrizio De La Cruz (CEO), Camilo Jiménez (CTO), and José Alberto “Beto” Díaz (COO), Kira offers a fintech infrastructure platform that enables businesses of all sizes—from startups to enterprises—to launch embedded financial products. The platform leverages stablecoins and Vertical AI Agents to provide seamless, scalable, and secure financial services.

“Kira is building the infrastructure that makes embedded finance accessible for any business,” said Edrizio De La Cruz, CEO. “This funding will allow us to deepen partnerships and accelerate adoption across the market.”

Sources;
Certainly! Here are two sources that provide information about Kira's recent $6.7 million seed funding round:

1. Futubull
   
2. ​Miami-Based Kira Raises $6.7M Funding to Build Fintech Platform 2025
   artificialintelligenceposts.com
   

New Orleans, LA – Nest Health, a New Orleans–based in-home, whole-family care provider for families on Medicaid, today announced it has raised more than $12.5 million in Series A funding. The round was co-led by returning investors 8VC and Blue Venture Fund, with new participation from Amboy Street Ventures, alongside Alumni Ventures, Health 2047, Nicholas Jarboe, and others.

The funding will enable Nest to expand its family-focused clinical products, harnessing artificial intelligence to deliver care at the right time and for the right need. The company also plans to deepen its presence in existing markets and enter new geographies through expanded payer partnerships.

Founded and led by Dr. Rebekah Gee, Nest Health delivers comprehensive medical, behavioral, and social care to America’s highest-risk families through in-home visits supported by wraparound virtual services. The company also helps families maintain coverage—reducing churn by half—by guiding them through enrollment and ensuring timely access to benefits.
​
Even as Medicaid eligibility requirements tighten, Nest focuses on areas states continue to prioritize and protect, including children’s health, maternal care, and addiction services. By meeting families where they are, Nest is building a stronger, more equitable healthcare system.

by Manny Larcher - Sacramento, Calif. — The Better Meat Co., a Sacramento-based innovator in plant-based protein solutions, today announced the close of its $31 million Series A funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to date to $43 million.

The round was led by Future Ventures and Resilience Reserve, with additional participation from Epic Ventures and Sigmas Group.

The new capital will be used to expand operations and accelerate the development of next-generation products featuring the company’s flagship ingredient, Rhiza™ mycoprotein.

Led by Paul Shapiro (CEO), Nikhil Prashar (CFO), Moran Farhi (EVP of Tech), and Andrea Choe (VP of Ops), The Better Meat Co. harnesses fermentation technology to create sustainable, nutrient-rich mycoprotein ingredients. Rhiza is a whole-food, clean-label protein that is shelf-stable, free from common allergens, and neutral in both taste and color, making it highly versatile across various applications. It also delivers a naturally meat-like texture.

According to the company, incorporating Rhiza into meat and alternative protein products enhances nutrition, improves mouthfeel, and reduces saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories—offering a healthier and more sustainable option for both consumers and food producers.

"This funding marks a major milestone for our mission to build a more sustainable protein supply," said Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co. "We’re excited to scale our operations and bring Rhiza to more partners and consumers worldwide."

sources;

• FinSMEs – The Better Meat Co. Raises $31M in Series A Funding (Aug 22, 2025)
  Key coverage: Round led by Future Ventures and Resilience Reserve; total funding now $43M; leads, plans for expansion. FinSMEs
• AgFunderNews – Better Meat Co raises $31m Series A… (Aug 19, 2025)
  Key coverage: Production scaling plans (9,000 to 90,000 liters), oversubscribed round details, executive leadership photo. AgFunderNews
• Green Queen Wire – The Better Meat Co Brews Up $31M… (Aug 19, 2025)
  Key coverage: Broader product applications, pricing strategy (undercutting commodity beef by 2026), ingredient benefits, strategic commercial agreements. Green Queen
• Food Business News – The Better Meat Co. raises $31 million (Aug 21, 2025)
  Key coverage: Implementation of continuous fermentation, 10× capacity scale-up, new board members including Steve Jurvetson and Glenn Hickman. Food Business News

by Manny Larcher, CEO, Colaeb

Every business needs the right tools to grow. From reaching your ideal customers to finding investors and building the perfect team, Colaeb.com is designed to help you connect the dots and scale faster.

And right now, there’s never been a better time to start. For a limited time, new users can get 50% off their first month with promo code SUMMER50.

What You Can Do with Colaeb.com:

✅ Reach Your Ideal Customers — Access the right markets and connect with the audiences that matter most.=
✅ Find Capital & Partnerships — Discover opportunities to secure funding and strategic partners to fuel your growth.
✅ Hire Top Talent — Attract skilled professionals who can take your vision to the next level.
✅ Advertise Smarter — Leverage targeted solutions to maximize your visibility and ROI.

The Summer Deal You Can’t Miss
This summer, Colaeb.com is giving new users the chance to explore powerful growth tools for half the price. Just sign up, use promo code SUMMER50, and unlock 50% off your first month.
​
👉 Visit Colaeb.com today and start building the future of your business with Colaeb.

by Manny Larcher - New York, NY – EliseAI, a New York–based company revolutionizing complex healthcare and housing systems through artificial intelligence, today announced it has raised $250 million in Series E funding to accelerate product innovation and expand its impact across healthcare and property management.

The funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from new investor Bessemer Venture Partners and existing investors Sapphire Ventures and Navitas Capital.

“We are committed to transforming the way healthcare and housing systems operate,” said Minna Song, CEO of EliseAI. “This funding enables us to grow our team, enhance our AI platform, and deliver seamless experiences for patients, residents, and operational teams alike.”​

by Manny Larcher, Woodinville, WA – Group14 Technologies, a global leader in advanced silicon battery materials, today announced it has raised $463 million in Series D funding to expand production of its breakthrough material, SCC55®, in the United States and South Korea.

The round was led by SK, Inc., with participation from existing investors including Porsche Investments, ATL, OMERS, Decarbonization Partners, Lightrock Climate Impact Fund, Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund, and others.

“Scaling next-generation battery materials is critical to meeting global demand for electrification and energy storage,” said Rick Luebbe, CEO of Group14 Technologies. “This funding enables us to bring SCC55 to mass production and deliver the performance needed for everything from electric vehicles to AI-enabled technologies.”
Group14’s SCC55® material is engineered to deliver higher energy density and faster charging for any battery chemistry, unlocking superior performance for a wide range of applications.

by Manny Larcher - New York City

Eight Sleep, the “sleep fitness” startup, has raised $100 million in Series D financing, led by prominent investors including HSG, Valor Equity Partners, Founders Fund, Y Combinator, and sports figures like Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc and McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

What's Driving the Momentum?

• Total funding now stands at approximately $260 million, including the $86M Series C in 2021, which valued the company at around $500M.
• The fresh capital will accelerate development of the Sleep Agent AI, a system that creates thousands of “digital twins” per user. It leverages biometric data to optimize sleep variables like temperature, altitude, and bedtime routines—all aimed at maximizing nightly recovery.
• Eight Sleep generated over $500 million in Pod sales since launching in 2019, and has grown its revenue more than tenfold—backed by insights derived from over one billion hours of sleep data.

Vision for Growth: Where This Capital Is Headed

1. Medical Applications & FDA Approval:
   The company is pursuing clinical pathways—targeting menopausal symptom relief (e.g., hot flashes), sleep apnea solutions, and other health-specific interventions—with the goal of securing FDA clearance and achieving prescribable-device status.
2. International Expansion, Particularly into China:
   Already serving more than 30 countries, including Canada, the UK, EU, Australia, Mexico, and the UAE, Eight Sleep is now setting its sights on China, tapping into its rising health-conscious middle class.
3. Brick-and-Mortar Retail & Brand Marketing:
   To offer hands-on experience with its Pod technology, the company plans to open retail showrooms. Simultaneously, it's ramping up TV advertising and influencer campaigns to push beyond its core early-adopter user base.
4. AI-Powered Personalization & Health Monitoring:
   The Sleep Agent builds on the existing Autopilot system, which continuously adapts to variables like travel, stress, and seasonal changes. New enhancements include Health Check, offering contactless cardiovascular and respiratory monitoring with medical-grade accuracy—no wearables required.

sources;

1. https://www.finsmes.com/2025/08/eight-sleep-raises-100m-in-new-funding.html
2. https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/19/eight-sleep-grabs-100m-to-bring-ai-into-your-bed/
3. https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/ai-powered-startup-eight-sleep-fitness-funding/
4. https://www.webpronews.com/eight-sleep-raises-100m-to-advance-ai-sleep-tech-and-expand-to-china/
5. https://www.wsj.com/articles/musk-and-zuckerberg-praise-this-3-000-smart-mattress-cover-will-regular-people-buy-too-587c41a5
6. https://www.indexbox.io/blog/eight-sleep-secures-100m-to-fuel-ai-driven-sleep-tech-expansion/

by Manny Larcher

New York, NY – Topline Pro, the AI-powered engine transforming how home service professionals grow and run their businesses online, today announced the successful close of a $27 million Series B funding round. This infusion of capital marks a significant milestone as the company scales its AI-native platform to better serve the underserved long tail of local service providers.

The funding round was led by Northzone, represented by Partner Molly Alter, and features new strategic participation from Tactile Ventures and Industry Ventures, alongside continued support from trusted backers Forerunner Ventures, Bonfire Ventures, TMV, Flybridge, and BBG Ventures.

“Topline Pro is flipping the script on business software. Instead of asking local entrepreneurs to become software experts, they use AI to take those tasks off their plate entirely,” said Molly Alter, Partner at Northzone. She added that the company’s internal AI tooling enables support ranging from solo operators to growing teams—unlocking a massive, historically underserved market.

All your alternative investments. One clear view.

If you’re a VC, wealth manager, or individual investor, you already know the drill: managing alternative investments is supposed to be exciting. Instead, it often feels like a full-time job in document chasing.

The Pain Points Everyone Knows (But Nobody Likes to Talk About)

For VCs:

• Endless K-1 chases every spring.
• A dozen different portals for LPs, each with its own password reset purgatory.
• Answering the same investor questions multiple times because the information is scattered.

For Wealth Managers & Investors:

• Investment statements spread across multiple platforms and asset classes.
• Spreadsheets that are never quite “final.”
• No single, accurate view of all private equity, venture capital, real estate, and other alternatives in one place.

It’s a broken system—and it eats away at time you could spend making decisions, not managing files.

​San Jose, CA — Hyphen Technologies, a pioneer in automated meal production for the foodservice industry, has raised $25 million in Series B funding. The round included participation from CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA).

The new funding will accelerate the expansion of Hyphen’s automated makeline from the factory floor to the restaurant floor, enabling large-scale production and deployment across the U.S.

Founded and led by CEO Stephen Klein, Hyphen automates digital order fulfillment for restaurants, boosting throughput and order accuracy while reducing peak wait times. Its technology also augments staff productivity, allowing restaurant teams to focus more on guest experience.

Hyphen’s platform addresses growing industry challenges around labor shortages and rising demand for digital ordering. By integrating seamlessly into existing kitchen operations, the system empowers operators to meet customer expectations faster, more consistently, and at scale.

Founded and led by CEO Maor Sason, Appcharge empowers game makers to sell directly to their players — boosting profits by up to 35% while strengthening player loyalty and engagement. The platform offers publishers everything they need to operate a fully-branded, end-to-end DTC channel, including custom web stores, gamified offers, global payment solutions, and mobile in-app payments SDKs.

The funding follows the launch of two major products: the iOS Payments SDK and AppDirect. Together with Appcharge’s popular Payment Links, these tools give publishers a comprehensive, compliant, and scalable DTC suite — enabling them to reduce dependence on traditional app store platforms and unlock more profitable player relationships.

San Mateo, CA — Refold AI, a global startup reimagining how enterprises connect systems and automate workflows, has raised $6.5 million in funding. The round was led by Eniac Ventures and Tidal Ventures, with participation from Better Capital, Ahead VC, Karman Ventures, Z21, and prominent angel investors.

The new capital will fuel the expansion of Refold AI’s engineering team, accelerate product integrations, and enhance support for its growing base of enterprise customers.

Founded by Jugal Anchalia and Abhishek Kumar, Refold AI delivers an AI-native integration platform that replaces traditional outsourced service work with scalable, autonomous infrastructure. Leveraging autonomous agents, memory-based orchestration, and secure edge deployment, Refold AI enables organizations to move from integration requests to live, production-ready workflows in hours instead of months.

With operations in both the Bay Area and Bangalore, Refold AI serves customers worldwide, helping them unlock faster innovation, reduce integration costs, and drive operational agility.

Jump, a New York City–based fan experience and sports technology startup, has raised $23 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Alexis Ohanian’s Seven Seven Six, with participation from Courtside Ventures, Will Ventures, Forerunner, and Steve Malik, owner of the NC Courage.

Founded by Jordy Leiser, Marc Lore, and Alex Rodriguez, Jump offers a purpose-built platform for sports teams and venues, integrating ticketing, content, commerce, and gameday operations. The announcement follows the company’s recent partnership with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx of the NBA and WNBA.

Learn more on 🔗 jump.com

London, 12 August 2025 – TILKI, a London-based AI-powered game creation platform, announced today it has closed $2.2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was spearheaded by Twin Path Ventures, with strategic participation from Atlas AI^VB Fund I (Atlas SGR), XTX Ventures, and SFC Capital.

A New Era of AI-First Game BuildingTILKI sets itself apart as an AI-first platform, built from the ground up to generate dynamic, evolving video games—not by retrofitting AI into standard game engines, but by placing AI at the core of creation and distribution.
​
Creators begin with prompts and conceptual graphs, and TILKI dynamically interprets and expands these into immersive game worlds that evolve based on both creator vision and player actions. This approach offers unbounded narratives, where every player interaction influences the ongoing story.

Dynamic Gameplay & Emergent StorytellingTILKI’s unique structure enables true dynamism in gaming:

• Layered architecture: Games are constructed with three layers—a creator’s overarching vision, a log of player session events, and individual player histories—enabling both multiplayer interactions and deeply personalized solo experiences.
• Endless narrative potential: Rather than follow rigid storylines or limited dialogue choices (A, B, or C), TILKI generates complex, unscripted gameplay. For example, an innkeeper NPC might simply rent a room—but with the right persuasion, could incite an uprising that spreads across an entire town.

Led by a Stellar Cross-Discipline TeamTILKI is helmed by Barn Cleave (Co-Founder & CEO) and supported by a multidisciplinary leadership team:

• Kasper Hunt, Chief Technology Officer
• Luke Robinson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer
• Eleanor Stefanik, PhD, Chief Product Officer
• Colleen Farrelly, MS, Chief Mathematician Officer
• Siddharth Deshpande, PhD, Chief Machine Learning Officer

The 17-person team includes experienced video game developers, AI and ML scientists, and engineers who have worked with Atari, Sony, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. Many have also led platforms serving over 14 million users, founded previous AI ventures, are avid D&D enthusiasts, and published creative writers.

Funding Use: Beta Build-Out & Marketplace DevelopmentTILKI will deploy the fresh capital to drive key milestones:

• Closed beta launch in six months
• Open beta rollout within one year
• Development of a creator marketplace: This upcoming platform will foster collaboration—allowing creators to share strategies, modular components, and co-develop gameplay elements.

Vision to Transform a $176B MarketTILKI aims to upend the conventional development model by granting individual storytellers and creators unprecedented access to game design tools—without the need for code. CEO Barn Cleave captured the ethos:
“We see a future where anyone with a game idea can bring it to life, creating experiences that grow and evolve alongside the players. By democratising game creation, we’re not just changing how games are made; we’re opening the door for entirely new voices to shape the medium.”

About TILKI
TILKI is an AI-powered game creation platform redefining how interactive experiences are built and enjoyed. By enabling creators—from children and novelists to professional designers—to build immersive, dynamic games driven by narrative choice rather than static coding, TILKI reimagines story and gameplay for the AI era.

About Twin Path Ventures
Twin Path Ventures is an early-stage VC firm focused on AI and game-technology startups. Their backing of TILKI reflects confidence in the company’s vision and diverse, deep-tech founding team.

Co-founded by Pablo Casadio and Andrei Manuel, Bit2Me is officially registered with Spain’s CNMV as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP).

​The company places a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and cybersecurity, holding numerous certifications, including:

• ISO 27001 (Information Security Management)
• ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management)
• ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery and Corporate Ethics)
• ISO 37301 (Compliance Management Systems)
• UNE 19601 (Criminal Compliance Management)
• CSA STAR Level 1 (Cloud Security)

Tether’s strategic investment, coupled with Bit2Me’s recent acquisition of an EU regulatory license, positions the company to significantly scale its presence across Europe. At the same time, it aims to consolidate its leadership in Spanish-speaking crypto markets, particularly in Argentina and Latin America.
​
For more information, visit bit2me.com.

The company was co-founded by Rotem Weiss (CEO), Assaf Elovic, and Yuval Rozio, who serves as Managing Director at Alpha Wave Global, which initially incubated the company. In just a year, Tavily has built a robust platform now supporting mission-critical use cases such as fraud prevention at leading financial institutions, logistics optimization for major shipping providers, and high-level academic research at top-tier universities.

With this new funding, Tavily plans to double its team, scale its go-to-market operations, and deepen its partnerships with developers and within the LLM ecosystem. The company is actively expanding its reach among enterprise customers and AI infrastructure providers.

Tavily’s current client base includes Fortune 500 enterprises, cutting-edge AI startups, and major players in the generative AI space such as Cohere and Groq. The company is headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, reflecting its global ambitions and access to top-tier technical talent.
​
For more information, visit www.tavily.com.

Doughlicious, a London, UK-based frozen snack brand, raised $5m in funding.

The round was led by Rich Products Ventures (RPV), the corporate venture capital fund of global, family-owned food company Rich Products (Rich’s), and private investor collective The Angel Group, along with participation from existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its expansion across the U.S. and international markets.
Led by Kathryn Bricken, Founder and CEO, Doughlicious makes frozen cookie dough & gelato bites certified gluten-free, free from added refined sugars and white bleached flour, and contain no artificial additives or preservatives. All frozen snacks are crafted and produced at the brand’s facility in London, England. Products are available in over 10,000 retail stores across the US, including Target, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and GoPuff, UK, parts of Europe, and the Middle East.

Learn more here.

by Manny Larcher


Y Combinator’s Fall 2025 Requests for Startups (RFS) outline a clear new direction for innovation: it’s time to move beyond proving AI works and start building the infrastructure of the AI-driven economy.

Rather than focusing on marginal improvements to foundation models, YC is now calling for startups that rethink real-world systems—education, enterprise, labor, government, and digital media—using AI as the starting point, not an afterthought.

This represents a significant shift from past startup cycles, which were often dominated by simple AI wrappers and hype-driven applications. The new focus? High-leverage solutions that unlock productivity, scale, and entirely new categories.

Below are six of the most striking areas of opportunity from YC’s latest RFS:

1. AI-Powered Vocational SchoolsAs companies build out massive AI data centers, a new bottleneck has emerged: the shortage of skilled labor—electricians, welders, HVAC technicians, and others needed to bring physical infrastructure online. YC sees a major opportunity in AI-powered vocational schools that can train people in months instead of years. These programs could leverage multimodal AI and immersive AR/VR to simulate hands-on training remotely, making trade education scalable, accessible, and high-ROI.

2. Video as the New Computing PrimitiveThe cost of generating high-quality video has plummeted, and capabilities are advancing fast. YC argues that video is no longer just a format—it’s becoming a base layer for computing. Applications span from personalized retail to infinitely customizable training data and gaming experiences without traditional engines. Startups that treat video like code—programmable, composable, and functional—will define the next wave of computing.

3. The $100B, 10-Person CompanyArtificial intelligence is fundamentally shifting startup economics. With the right AI tooling, a small team can now operate with the output and efficiency of a much larger organization. YC predicts that the first $100 billion company with only 10 employees is not only possible—it’s coming. They’re looking for startups building lean, AI-first companies where revenue per employee is the primary metric.

4. Multi-Agent Systems as InfrastructureThe era of multi-agent AI systems—where hundreds or thousands of autonomous agents perform tasks in parallel—is just beginning. However, the infrastructure to reliably deploy, monitor, and scale these agents is still missing. YC is seeking founders who can build core tools for agent orchestration, reliability, and coordination, much like what Kubernetes did for containerized applications.

5. Replacing Legacy SaaS with AI-Native ToolsEnterprise giants like Salesforce and ServiceNow were built in the cloud-native era. Now, they are ripe for disruption. YC is calling for AI-native enterprise software designed from the ground up with autonomous workflows, adaptive learning, and embedded intelligence. The future of productivity won’t just integrate AI—it will be built around it.

6. Rethinking Government Consulting with LLMsGovernments worldwide spend over $100 billion annually on consulting services. Much of this work—report writing, analysis, documentation—can already be replicated or enhanced by today’s large language models. YC sees a massive opportunity to rebuild government services with AI-first tools, reducing inefficiencies and driving transparency across public systems.

The Next Frontier: AI as InfrastructureAcross all categories, Y Combinator’s Fall 2025 RFS reinforces one central idea: AI is no longer just a feature—it’s infrastructure. The most impactful startups won’t be those focused on AI hype, but those who use it to reimagine core systems and services across the economy.

The call is out for builders who want to do more than create demos—they're being asked to reshape the foundations of how industries operate. From workforce training and cloud-native video, to streamlined government operations and next-gen enterprise software, the next decade of innovation will be led by those who treat AI not as a tool, but as the platform itself.
​
To explore the full list of Requests for Startups, visit: www.ycombinator.com/rfs