Startup Flash Report

STARTUP FLASH - July 16, 2025

Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab Raises Record $2B Seed Round at $12B Valuation

TOP 3 STORIES:
1. Thinking Machines Lab, led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has secured a historic $2 billion seed round, valuing the AI startup at $12 billion before product launch[2][3]. This unprecedented early-stage investment underscores the growing trend of backing elite founders and technical vision over immediate product-market fit, signaling a new era where founder reputation can drive massive capital inflows.
2. Zip Security, a New York-based cybersecurity startup, closed a $13.5 million Series A to automate IT protection and compliance for SMBs[1]. The funding will accelerate product integrations and team expansion, offering founders in regulated industries a streamlined path to security and audit-readiness without the need for large in-house teams.
3. New Zealand’s Icehouse Ventures is halfway to closing a $30 million seed fund, following a strong year with over NZ$122 million raised for later-stage scaleups[4]. This momentum highlights increased VC appetite for both early and growth-stage investments in the Australasian ecosystem, providing more options for founders seeking capital at different stages.

Flash Insight:
Investor confidence in proven founders is reaching new heights, as seen in the record-breaking seed round for Thinking Machines Lab. The surge in automation-focused startups like Zip Security reflects a broader market demand for scalable, compliance-ready solutions, especially among SMBs navigating complex regulatory environments. Meanwhile, the robust fundraising activity in regions like Australasia signals a maturing global ecosystem, with capital flowing more freely to both emerging and scaling ventures—founders should be prepared to leverage this liquidity, but also to differentiate on vision and execution as competition intensifies.

Sources:
1. https://techstartups.com/2025/07/15/top-10-startup-and-tech-funding-news-july-15-2025/
2. https://techfundingnews.com/2b-at-12b-valuation-meet-mira-murati-ex-openai-cto-and-now-a-founder-of-thinking-machines-lab/
3. https://www.bwdisrupt.com/article/former-openai-exec-mira-muratis-ai-startup-secures-2-bn-funding-reaches-12-bn-valuation-563627
4. https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/kiwi-vc-icehouse-ventures-is-halfway-to-nailing-a-new-30m-seed-fund/