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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

• OpenAI launched ChatGPT deep research for in-depth knowledge work, initially available to Pro users with 100 queries per month.

• Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, suggesting it could be used to purchase TikTok.

• OpenAI co-founder John Schulman has joined former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s secretive new startup after leaving Anthropic.

• The Canadian government launched the $122 million Genomics Strategy to drive commercialization, support research, and expand applications.

• Asya Bradley joined Stripe as Startup & VC Partnerships lead, bringing experience as a fintech founder, investor, and venture partner.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• The AI funding craze is still on with OpenAI seeking up to $40 billion at a $340 billion valuation, Safe Superintelligence eyeing funding at $20 billion, and Anduril in talks to raise $2.5 billion at $28 billion.

• Toronto-based StackAdapt raised $235 million in a growth round led by Teachers’ Venture Growth, bringing its valuation to around $2.5 billion.

• XOi has raised $230 million from KKR to expand its field service technology, making KKR a majority owner of the company.

• Nuclear startup X-Energy raised an additional $200 million in its $700 million Series C round to advance its Xe-100 reactors and fuel fabrication plant.

• BlinkRx added Donald Trump Jr. to its board after securing a $140 million Series D led by 1789 Capital, aiming to enhance medication access.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Stripe acquired stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion, marking its largest deal and a major crypto push as it expands stablecoin adoption.

• Deel secured a $300 million secondary deal at a $12 billion valuation, bringing in General Catalyst and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala as new investors.

• OurSky and PlaneWave Instruments have merged to form Observable Space, integrating software and hardware to create more advanced telescopes.

• XOi has acquired Specifx to enhance its platform with data and improve predictive maintenance and device-specific insights for field service technicians.

• San Francisco-based Landbase acquired Toronto-based AI research tool LavaReach, with its co-founders joining to enhance go-to-market automation.

🏦 About Investors

• Boston-based Hitachi Ventures raised a $400 million fund to invest in deep tech sectors like AI, biotech, and fusion energy, focusing on Series A startups.

• Max Altschuler's GTMfund has raised a $54 million second fund backed by 300 operator LPs and six institutions.

• Andreessen Horowitz has hired Daniel Penny as an investor in its American Dynamism practice, focusing on government and defense tech.

• VC Mike Ghaffary has joined Burst Capital to back AI startups that create well-paying middle-class jobs, aiming to counter AI-driven job displacement.

• CDPQ launched a support program to help Québec businesses boost productivity and pivot to new markets amid looming US tariffs.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

StackAdapt

Toronto-based StackAdapt, a programmatic advertising platform leveraging AI for real-time audience targeting across multiple formats, has raised $235 million in a growth round led by Teachers’ Venture Growth, the investment arm of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Intrepid Growth Partners and four undisclosed investors also participated. This funding, which values StackAdapt at approximately $2.5 billion, marks one of the larger deals in Canada’s startup ecosystem, reflecting the broader trend of AI-driven companies attracting significant investment. Founded in 2013 by Ildar Shar, Vitaly Pecherskiy, and Yang Han, StackAdapt continues to expand its AI-powered advertising solutions amid a shifting venture landscape.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Hitachi Ventures

Hitachi Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of Hitachi Group, has raised a $400 million fourth fund to invest in deep tech sectors such as AI, biotech, fusion, quantum, nuclear, life sciences, and space tech, with a primary focus on Series A startups. Established in June 2019, the firm operates independently despite being backed solely by Hitachi, making investment decisions without corporate oversight while leveraging its parent company’s industry expertise to support portfolio companies. Headquartered in Munich with a U.S. office in Boston, Hitachi Ventures manages $1 billion in assets and follows a return-driven strategy. Led by CEO and Managing Director Stefan Gabriel, the fund will allocate an average of $5 million per initial investment, reserving 55% of its capital for follow-on rounds.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Y Combinator Spring 2025

Apply to the Y Combinator Spring 2025 Batch by February 11th, 2025 to join one of the world’s most prestigious startup accelerators. The batch, held in San Francisco from April to June 2025, offers access to $500,000 in funding, top-tier mentorship, networking opportunities, and a vibrant community of founders. Participants will work closely with experienced YC General Partners, attend weekly meetups, and gain insights from renowned startup leaders like the founders of Airbnb and Stripe. Don’t miss the chance to secure funding and accelerate your startup journey—apply now and unlock lifelong connections within YC’s powerful alumni network.