Tag: Funding-Tech-Economic Times

JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF) has announced plans to invest Rs 80–100 crore in early-stage startups over the next 12 to 18 months, with a target of supporting 20–25 startups annually.

The announcement, published in April 2026, outlines a broad push by JIIF to expand its footprint in the startup ecosystem. As part of that effort, the foundation has also invested in Atomic Capital, a move aimed at broadening its investment opportunities.

JIIF is additionally planning a new accelerator program focused on the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative will concentrate on sectors including artificial intelligence, fintech, and climate.

The planned deployment of capital across a defined cohort of startups each year suggests JIIF is positioning itself as a consistent source of early-stage funding, which may provide more predictable support for founders in the targeted sectors.

Source: Funding-Tech-Economic Times

Robinhood Ventures Fund I has invested $75 million in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, according to a report published in April 2026. The move marks a notable step by the retail-focused investment platform into private technology financing.

The investment is aimed at giving retail investors access to private technology firms — a market segment that has historically been available only to institutional and accredited investors. OpenAI has drawn widespread attention for its advancements in generative AI.

The deal also appears to signal a resolution of past disagreements between Robinhood and OpenAI, though the source does not detail the nature of those prior disputes.

For retail investors, this could represent a broadened opportunity to gain exposure to high-profile private companies through Robinhood’s venture fund structure. The investment may also reflect growing interest from financial platforms in connecting everyday investors with the private tech sector.

Source: Funding-Tech-Economic Times

VAST Data has closed a $1 billion funding round in 2026, lifting its valuation to $30 billion — a more than threefold increase from the $9.1 billion valuation the company carried in 2023.

The company, which operates in the AI infrastructure space, attributed the fundraise to growing demand for AI infrastructure. Proceeds are intended to expand VAST Data’s global presence and develop its technology further.

The sharp rise in valuation over a relatively short period suggests strong investor confidence in the AI infrastructure market, and the round may reflect broader momentum in the AI sector as companies race to build out the underlying systems that support artificial intelligence workloads.

Source: Funding-Tech-Economic Times