Startup news, 15 October 2026

9 briefs

• APAC fintech funding declines in H1 2026 despite global surge

  Fintech funding in the Asia Pacific region fell to $4.6 billion across 350 deals in the first half of 2026, down from the previous year’s comparable period, according to KPMG’s latest Pulse of…

  Reported by msn.com

• Dell pitches 13-to-1 server refreshes as agentic AI reshapes infrastructure demand

  Dell Technologies is marketing a 13-to-1 server refresh ratio to enterprises, arguing that agentic AI workloads are driving renewed demand for general-purpose processing. The pitch, reported by…

  Reported by siliconangle.com

• Bengaluru metro expansion plan unveiled at TechSparks 2026

  At TechSparks 2026, Karnataka’s Minister for Greater Bengaluru Development, Krishna Byre Gowda, announced plans to expand the city’s metro network to 400 km by 2037. The proposal aims to ease…

  Reported by yourstory.com

• German startup TimeTeller launches saliva test for circadian medicine

  Berlin-based TimeTeller has launched a saliva test kit that lets consumers map their circadian rhythm at home, TechCrunch reported. The startup aims to use the data to personalize drug timing and…

  Reported by techcrunch.com

• Tonbo Imaging raises ₹255 Cr from anchor investors ahead of IPO

  Tonbo Imaging, the defence technology startup, has raised ₹255 crore from anchor investors ahead of its ₹852 crore initial public offering, which opens for bidding on October 15. The round, reported…

  Reported by inc42.com

• Prime Intellect acquires Seattle AI startup Moondream for inference tech

  Prime Intellect, the $1 billion AI cloud company, has acquired Moondream, a Seattle-based vision AI startup founded by former AWS engineers Jay Allen and Vik Korrapati. The acquisition targets…

  Reported by geekwire.com

• Former Apple engineers launch adhesive-free health tracker for watches

  Former Apple engineers have launched Hiyd, a health tracker designed to attach to a user’s existing watch without magnets or adhesives. The device, recently highlighted in media coverage, aims to…

  Reported by techcrunch.com

• Canada doubles down on AI with $700M regional fund

  The federal government has increased its regional AI initiative to $700 million, adding a $500 million top-up to the original commitment. The funds are earmarked for AI adoption and…

  Reported by betakit.com

• Modal Labs raises $750M at $15.7B valuation

  AI infrastructure startup Modal Labs has raised $750 million at a $15.7 billion valuation. The round, reported by MSN, appears to reflect a slight premium over recent high-profile AI funding rounds…

  Reported by msn.com