Valor Equity Partners looks to raise a $2.5B Fund VII, per Bloomberg

New details have emerged about Valor’s latest fund, which last year announced it was raising an unspecified amount of capital.

Superhuman acquires AI detection startup GPTZero

Superhuman, which also has an AI detection tool as part of Grammarly, has snapped up GPTZero.

HaloBraid raises $7M from Seven Seven Six to end the six-hour hair salon appointment

HaloBraid aims to help salons speed up braiding with its first device, slated to launch later this year, that acts as a braiding assistant for professional stylists.

4 days left to save up to $190 on TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026

Four days left to save up to $190 on your pass to TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 – the ultimate founder bootcamp – before Early Bird rates end on June 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here.

Fika Jobs raises $4M to build a video-first hiring platform where AI agents interview candidates

The hiring process has long been criticized for its inefficiency and opacity. Candidates spend hours writing applications and submitting cover letters, only to disappear into what often feels like a black box. Generative AI has only made things messier…

AI chipmaker Groq confirms $650M raise, re-staffs after Nvidia’s $20B not-acqui-hire deal

What does an AI company do after one of those not-acqui-hire deals? Groq raised money, is leaning into its neocloud business, and is hiring new execs.

WhatsApp gets new chief as Meta taps India’s CRED founder Kunal Shah, and invests $900M in startup

WhatsApp gets a new boss, as Will Cathcart moves to a new role at Meta, while Shah steps down as CEO of Indian fintech giant CRED to replace Cathcart.

The founder conference built for growth: TechCrunch Founder Summit pass rates increase June 26

Save up to $190 on your pass to TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 by June 26, 11:59 p.m. PT. Designed for founders first on November 4 in Boston. Register here.

Thanks to AI, a Chinese startup has figured out the priciest fusion energy bottleneck

Fusion energy has spent decades trapped in an expensive cycle of trial and error. Now, a Chinese startup believes AI-powered simulation software could dramatically accelerate reactor development by helping scientists test designs virtually before commi…