Startups
Adaption Labs raises $50M seed to build smaller AI models that learn on the fly
Ex-Cohere researcher Sara Hooker’s new startup is pitching adaptive models designed to improve with use.
Adaption Labs is positioning itself as an alternative to “bigger is always better,” focusing on models that can adapt to new tasks and data more efficiently.
What to know
- The pitch: smaller models that update and improve with use, instead of relying only on giant pretraining runs.
- The team and thesis are built around research experience in modern foundation-model training.
- Seed funding at this size signals that “efficiency” is becoming a first-class product story, not just a research goal.
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ElevenLabs raises $500M from Sequoia at an $11B valuation
The voice AI startup’s new round fuels expansion and keeps IPO chatter alive.
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EnFi raises $15M to deploy AI credit-analyst agents at banks
The startup is pitching agent-like workflows that automate parts of credit analysis and monitoring.
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Positron raises $230M Series B to take on Nvidia’s AI chips
The startup is building high-speed memory and inference-focused silicon for the next wave of AI workloads.
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SynthBee emerges from stealth with $100M for regulated-industry collaboration
The startup is pitching “collaborative intelligence” for teams working under strict compliance rules.
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Pasito raises $21M Series A for an AI-native employee benefits platform
The company is betting benefits administration can be rebuilt around automation and personalized guidance.
Startups
Startup funding snapshot: early February 2026
A quick roundup of notable February funding announcements across AI, fintech, and automation.