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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - North America and Israel, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌎️

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📰 Important News

• Meghan Markle is launching the podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder” on April 8, featuring candid talks with female entrepreneurs.

• OpenAI is calling Chinese AI lab DeepSeek “state-controlled” and urges bans on “PRC-produced” models over security risks.

• Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is taking over as CEO of Relativity Space after making a significant investment and gaining a controlling stake.

• Elon Musk claims X experienced a massive cyberattack, allegedly from Ukraine-linked IP addresses, after thousands of users faced outages for hours.

• David Sacks divested over $200 million in digital assets before taking office, while Trump and Musk retain significant crypto-related investments.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Rapyd secured $500 million at a $4.5 billion valuation to finalize its $610 million acquisition of PayU, expanding its workforce to 1,600.

• Flock Safety raised $275 million at a $7.5 billion valuation, driven by its rapid growth in surveillance technology for law enforcement and businesses.

• Celestial AI closed $250 million in Series C1 funding to advance its Photonic Fabric technology, enabling high-bandwidth, low-latency AI infrastructure.

• Flagship Pioneering launched Lila Sciences with $200 million in funding to develop a scientific superintelligence platform and autonomous labs.

• Cybereason has announced the completion of a $120 million round led by SoftBank Corp., SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Liberty Strategic Capital.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Hinge Health, a digital therapy firm, filed for a New York IPO, reporting $390 million in 2024 revenue with reduced losses.

• ServiceNow is acquiring AI startup Moveworks for $2.85 billion in cash and stock to enhance its AI-driven solutions.

• Magic Software and Matrix are set to merge in a $2.2 billion deal under Formula Systems creating a major IT player in Israel and internationally.

• Rocket Companies is acquiring real estate firm Redfin in a $1.75 billion all-stock deal to integrate mortgage services with Redfin’s real estate network.

• Kraken Robotics acquired 3D at Depth for $17.04 million to expand its subsea imaging capabilities, strengthen its presence in the US Gulf region.

🏦 About Investors

• Bessemer Venture Partners has launched a $350 million fund to back early-stage Indian startups across AI, SaaS, fintech, digital health, and cybersecurity.

• Tech veterans launch Qbeat, a VC fund targeting $100 million to invest in early-stage quantum computing startups in Israel and abroad.

• SeaX Ventures launched SeaX Zero, a $6 million fund to invest in 15-20 startups by 2025, supporting zero-carbon innovations through deep tech.

• Norwest Venture Partners appointed Jonathan Schwartz to strengthen its later-stage investments in Israel, expanding beyond early-stage focus.

• Vertu Capital promoted long-time principal Eric Kafka to partner, recognizing his role in shaping the firm’s culture and investment strategy.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Rapyd

Israeli fintech Rapyd has raised $500 million at a $4.5 billion valuation to finalize its $610 million acquisition of European payments company PayU, expanding its workforce to 1,600 and surpassing $1 billion in revenue. Founded in 2015 by Arkady Karpman, Arik Shtilman, and Omer Priel, Rapyd provides an international payments platform supporting bank transfers, digital wallets, and cash payments across multiple regions. With regulatory approvals secured, the company is now focusing on scaling operations in Europe, the UK, South America, Asia, and the U.S., while planning new expansion into Israel in 2025.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners, a leading American venture capital firm with a history dating back to 1911, has launched a $350 million fund dedicated to early-stage Indian startups. With nearly two decades of presence in India, the firm aims to back founders in AI, SaaS, fintech, digital health, and cybersecurity, reinforcing its commitment to the country’s growing digital economy. Leveraging its roadmap-driven investment approach, Bessemer has previously supported high-growth companies like Swiggy, Urban Company, and Perfios, and with this new fund, it seeks to further accelerate innovation in India's startup ecosystem.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

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