Top 10 Startup and Tech Funding News – June 17, 2025

Applied Intuition Raises $600M Series F for Autonomous Vehicle and Defense Tech Expansion

Buzzy autonomous software maker Applied Intuition today announced it has secured a massive $600 million Series F funding round, pushing its valuation to about $15 billion. The Mountain View-based company provides simulation and software tools to develop self-driving vehicles and has recently been expanding into defense applications.

With this fresh capital, Applied Intuition plans to double down on autonomous vehicle technology investments and scale its platform to bring “intelligence into every moving machine.” The hefty raise, more than doubling its valuation from last year, underscores strong investor appetite for autonomous tech, as Applied Intuition’s software is already used by major automakers and government agencies looking to accelerate their autonomous and AI-driven projects.

“This Series F funding is a real milestone, not just for Applied Intuition, but for the future of mobility and American innovation. While we are known for our work in commercial segments such as automotive, we’re also deeply involved in defense. So as a dual-use company, we are bringing intelligence to everything from cars to mission-critical vehicles,” said Qasar Younis, Co-Founder and CEO. “Vehicle intelligence isn’t just about adding another feature—it’s a fundamental shift. It’s about making vehicles safer, smarter, and more adaptable, and doing it at scale.”

Funding Details:

Startup: Applied Intuition (Mountain View, CA – Autonomous vehicle software platform)

Investors: Co-led by BlackRock-managed funds and Kleiner Perkins; new participation from Franklin Templeton, Qatar Investment Authority, and others

Amount Raised: $600 million

Total Raised: Over $1.2 billion (to date)

Funding Stage: Series F (including a tender offer)

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Mach Industries Lands $100M to Scale Next-Gen Defense Technologies

Just two years after its founding, Mach Industries has closed a $100 million funding round aimed at advancing its cutting-edge defense technologies. The California-based startup, launched in 2023 by then-19-year-old Ethan Thornton, designs novel weapons systems such as jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles and high-altitude glider missiles capable of long-range precision strikes.

This new investment brings Mach’s valuation to roughly $470 million, only a modest uptick from its last round, reflecting cautious optimism in a crowded defense tech space. The company plans to use the funds to grow its team (now 140 strong) and fulfill significant contracts like a recent U.S. Army project, as it continues its rapid rise in the defense industry by developing innovative, “scrappy” solutions for modern military needs.

Funding Details:

Startup: Mach Industries (Huntington Beach, CA – Defense technology and weapons systems)

Investors: Led by Keith Rabois of Khosla Ventures and Geoff Lewis of Bedrock; participation from Sequoia Capital and others

Amount Raised: $100 million

Total Raised: Approximately $185 million

Funding Stage: Series B (new funding round at $470M valuation)

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Nabla Secures $70M Series C to Grow Its AI Copilot for Doctors

Nabla, a Paris-based healthtech startup, announced a $70 million Series C round to accelerate the development of its AI assistant for healthcare professionals. Nabla’s “copilot” technology automatically takes notes and drafts medical reports for doctors and clinicians, aiming to slash documentation time and reduce burnout. The company’s tools are already embedded in over 130 healthcare organizations and serving 85,000 clinicians, and with revenues growing fivefold in six months, Nabla is poised for expansion. The new funding will fuel the buildout of a broader “agentic” AI platform – including real-time coding assistants for medical billing and intelligent data retrieval agents – as Nabla sets its sights on becoming a comprehensive AI partner in clinical settings worldwide.

Funding Details:

Startup: Nabla (Paris, France – AI assistant platform for healthcare documentation)

Investors: Led by HV Capital; joined by Highland Europe, DST Global, and existing backers Cathay Innovation and Tony Fadell’s Build Collective

Amount Raised: $70 million

Total Raised: $120 million

Funding Stage: Series C

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Sword Health Raises €34.6M to Expand AI-Driven Healthcare into Mental Health

Portuguese scale-up Sword Health has raised €34.6 million in a new funding round at a €3.4 billion valuation, aiming to extend its AI-enabled care platform into the mental health arena. Founded in 2015, Sword Health pioneered an AI-first approach in digital physical therapy and has treated over half a million patients for musculoskeletal issues, saving healthcare systems nearly €1 billion in costs.

With this latest investment, the Porto-based company plans to accelerate global expansion, pursue strategic acquisitions, and deepen its R&D in foundational AI models. Notably, Sword will channel funds to launch an AI-powered mental health program, bringing its proven virtual care model to tackle the global mental health crisis, while continuing to innovate in other healthcare verticals like pelvic health and chronic pain management.

Funding Details:

Startup: Sword Health (Porto, Portugal – AI-powered digital healthcare platform)

Investors: Led by General Catalyst; participation from Khosla Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Lince Capital, Oxy Capital, Armilar Venture Partners, Indico Capital, and Shilling

Amount Raised: €34.6 million (approximately $38 million)

Total Raised: Over €259 million

Funding Stage: Late-stage funding round (growth investment)

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Kiwi Launches with $10M Seed Round to Tackle Latin America’s Healthcare Financing Gap

Miami- and Lima-based fintech Kiwi has emerged from stealth with a $10 million seed round to revolutionize healthcare financing in Latin America. Co-founded by brothers Sebastian and Gabriel Chirinos, Kiwi offers a platform that lets patients “buy now, pay later” for medical treatments and helps clinics access capital for equipment and expansion.

The startup’s model blends elements of consumer BNPL and small business financing, aiming to make essential health services affordable to millions who struggle with out-of-pocket costs. Armed with its new seed funding, Kiwi is launching initially in Peru with plans to expand to Mexico and beyond, building a financial backbone for healthcare in the region by providing interest-free payment plans for patients and leasing solutions for healthcare providers.

Funding Details:

Startup: Kiwi (Miami, USA / Lima, Peru – Healthcare fintech platform for patient and clinic financing)

Investors: Led by a group of private investors, including executives from HFD and MVRK Capital (Tyler Johnson, Jacob Panero, and others)

Amount Raised: $10 million (seed financing, including $2M equity and $8M in venture debt)

Total Raised: $10 million

Funding Stage: Seed Round

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Saswat Finance Grabs $2.6M Pre-Series A to Boost Rural Financial Inclusion in India

Saswat Finance, an Indian fintech startup focused on underserved rural communities, has raised $2.6 million in a pre-Series A round to deepen financial access in the country’s heartland. Founded in 2022, the Mumbai-based startup delivers credit, insurance, and advisory services to gig workers and farmers in remote areas where traditional banks have little reach.

Saswat leverages alternative data – from dairy production to local market trends – and on-the-ground agent networks to underwrite loans and offer “doorstep” banking solutions. With the new funding, the startup plans to scale its operations across additional states (beyond its current footprint in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh), broaden its product suite, and enhance its data infrastructure, all aimed at empowering the 65% of India’s population living in rural areas with better access to capital.

Funding Details:

Startup: Saswat Finance (Mumbai, India – Fintech platform for rural lending and financial services)

Investors: Led by Ankur Capital; participation from Incubate Fund Asia (returning investor) and others

Amount Raised: $2.6 million

Total Raised: ~$3 million (including prior seed funding)

Funding Stage: Pre-Series A

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Darwinz AI Raises $325K Seed to Scale AI Platform for PR and Marketing

Darwinz AI, a Saudi Arabia-based startup with Egyptian roots, has closed a $325,000 seed round to accelerate the growth of its AI-driven productivity platform for PR and marketing professionals. Operating under the product name “dima,” the company’s AI copilot helps communications and brand teams automate tasks and improve efficiency, reportedly boosting daily productivity for users by over 80%.

Founded in 2021 and now headquartered in Riyadh, Darwinz AI will use the seed funding to speed up product development, expand its team at its Riyadh hub, and prepare for a broader global launch. As part of a regional push, the startup (which began in Cairo’s ecosystem) is leveraging support from local investors to become a leading homegrown AI solution in the Middle East’s burgeoning tech scene.

Funding Details:

Startup: Darwinz AI (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – AI “copilot” platform for PR and marketing teams)

Investors: Led by Flat6Labs Saudi Arabia and Glint Ventures

Amount Raised: $325,000

Total Raised: $325,000

Funding Stage: Seed Round

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Winich Farms Attracts Pre-Series A Funding to Empower Nigeria’s Small Farmers

Lagos-based Winich Farms, an agri-tech startup transforming how smallholder farmers access markets and credit, has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from DisrupTech Ventures as part of its ongoing pre-Series A round. Winich operates a digital platform connecting over 180,000 farmers across 29 Nigerian states directly with food buyers and processors, eliminating middlemen to increase farmers’ profits.

The platform also issues “Winich Cards” for farmers, enabling digital payments to build credit history, and provides input financing and agronomy support in partnership with local agencies.

The infusion of new capital, marking the Egyptian investor’s first pan-African bet, will help Winich Farms expand its reach to more farmers, enhance its fintech offerings, and lay the groundwork for scaling into other African markets. The deal highlights growing investor interest in Africa’s agri-fintech sector, supporting startups that bolster food supply chains and financial inclusion.

Funding Details:

Startup: Winich Farms (Lagos, Nigeria – Digital marketplace and financing platform for small farmers)

Investors: DisrupTech Ventures (early-stage VC based in Egypt)

Amount Raised: Undisclosed (part of pre-Series A round)

Total Raised: Undisclosed

Funding Stage: Pre-Series A

Funding Date: June 17, 2025

Funding Summary Table