Tech World Abuzz with Unicorn Sightings, Funding Rounds, and Orbital Ambitions
The tech industry is starting 2026 with a flurry of activity, including the emergence of new European unicorns, significant funding rounds for established players, and ambitious proposals for space-based infrastructure. January alone saw five European tech startups achieve unicorn status, reaching valuations above $1 billion, according to TechCrunch. Meanwhile, Waymo is reportedly finalizing a massive $16 billion funding round, and SpaceX has filed a request to launch a million solar-powered data centers into orbit.
The new European unicorns span various sectors and geographies, from Belgium to Ukraine. TechCrunch noted that these companies may be incorporated outside of Europe but maintain strong ties to the continent. The report cautioned that valuation does not guarantee commercial success, and it remains to be seen if these companies will achieve significant traction.
Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car subsidiary, is poised to receive a substantial financial boost. The Financial Times reported that the $16 billion funding round would value the company at $110 billion. According to the report, more than three-quarters of the funding will come from Alphabet itself. New investors like Dragoneer, Sequoia Capital, and DST Global are also participating, along with existing backers Andreessen Horowitz and Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala. When contacted by TechCrunch, a Waymo spokesperson stated, "While we dont comment on private financial matters, our trajectory is clear: with over 20 million trips completed, we are focused on the safety-led operational excellence."
SpaceX, known for its ambitious projects, has proposed launching a constellation of 1 million data center satellites into orbit. The Verge reported that the company filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking approval for the project. SpaceX claims this approach is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to land-based data centers. While the FCC is unlikely to approve such a large network, SpaceX has historically requested approval for an unrealistically large number of satellites.
In other news, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed reports of friction between his company and OpenAI. The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia was considering scaling back its investment in OpenAI, despite a previously announced plan for Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion and build 10 gigawatts of computing infrastructure for the AI company. The WSJ claimed that Huang had expressed concerns about OpenAI's business strategy and competitors. However, Huang dismissed the report as "nonsense," according to TechCrunch.
Consumers can also find deals on various tech products. The Verge highlighted deals on Apple's AirPods 4 and Google's 4K streamer, along with savings on Apple TV Plus, the latest Zelda game, and Qi2 charging pucks.
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