Investment

Databricks raises at $188B valuation to push its multi-AI governance and agent platform

Databricks announced a new strategic funding round at a $188B valuation, led by Coatue, to accelerate Unity AI Gateway, Genie, and Lakebase.

Etched targets a $20 billion valuation with back-to-back rounds as inference chip demand hits $1 billion

AI inference chip startup Etched is in talks to close two concurrent funding rounds valuing it at $10B and $20B, signaling surging enterprise demand.

Apple Just Reclaimed the World's Most Valuable Company Title From Nvidia. Here Is What the Tech Rotation Means for Enterprise Strategy.

Apple reclaimed the title of world's most valuable company today, July 17, 2026, surpassing Nvidia at $4.91 trillion as a semiconductor sell-off and a broader technology rotation rewarded Apple's ecosystem durability over AI infrastructure spending. Here is what the shift means for enterprise technology strategy.

Databricks raises $3 billion at $188 billion valuation, with Coatue leading its second round of 2026

Databricks signed a term sheet for a $3B Coatue-led round at $188B, up 40% from a $134B valuation just months ago, to fund acquisitions and AI platform expansio

Anduril CEO signals no IPO urgency as new funding round targets $28 billion valuation

Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf told CNBC the defense tech company can stay private indefinitely as it pursues a new round valuing it at $28 billion.

Microsoft Frontier Co. launches with $2.5 billion and 6,000 engineers to fix AI's ROI problem

Microsoft's new subsidiary puts 6,000 engineers inside enterprise clients to close the gap between AI ambition and actual business returns.

Only 26% of enterprises have operationalized AI at scale, FPT-Forrester study finds

A Forrester Consulting study commissioned by FPT surveyed 397 global decision-makers and found a wide gap between AI investment and real enterprise-wide deploym

B2B ecommerce is posting real numbers — and operators are taking notice

MSC Industrial's Q3 sales crossed $1B, Kawasaki Engines USA grew AOV 500%, and Global Industrial posted 9.2% Q1 growth — all tied to digital channel investment.

OpenAI's five-step framework for managing agentic AI spend

OpenAI lays out a practical governance and investment framework for enterprise leaders as AI shifts from chat to longer-running agentic workflows.

Buying AI tools isn't enough: two reports show strategy, not spend, drives enterprise returns

BCG and Ramp/Revelio Labs data show 66% of regular AI users get little guidance, and strategic clarity outperforms tool access in measurable impact.

Buying AI tools isn't enough: two reports show strategy, not spend, drives enterprise returns

High-intensity AI adopters grew headcount 10%+ in 24 months, but 66% of workers got no guidance on using the time saved.

AI budgets are burning out before year-end, and CFOs are rethinking every token

Enterprise AI costs are outpacing value, with annual budgets exhausted in months and CFOs now weighing headcount against token spend.

Microsoft launches $2.5B AI implementation subsidiary with 6,000 embedded engineers

Microsoft Frontier Co. deploys 6,000 engineers directly into enterprise clients, following similar moves by AWS, Anthropic, and OpenAI.

Southeast Asia's enterprise AI push hits a familiar wall: data, talent, and integration debt

SEA enterprises are accelerating AI investment, but legacy infrastructure, talent gaps, and ERP friction continue to stall real deployment.

Enterprise AI's adoption gap: investment is up, but security, data, and accountability are lagging

86% of C-suites are raising AI budgets, yet only 32% report sustained impact. Prompt injection, shadow AI, and data gaps explain why.

Uber, Starbucks AI investments expose enterprise ROI gap

Uber burned its full 2026 AI budget in four months. Starbucks killed an AI inventory system after nine. Here's what enterprise operators must do differently.

Enterprise AI's adoption gap: investment is up, but security, data, and accountability are lagging

86% of C-suites are boosting AI spend, yet only 32% report sustained impact—and new threats like prompt injection and shadow AI are compounding the gap.

AI cost reality bites: Uber, Starbucks, and the enterprise ROI reckoning

Uber burned its entire 2026 AI budget in four months. Starbucks scrapped its AI inventory system after nine months. Enterprise operators are now demanding proof

Nexchip, Meituan, Apptronik and more: the B2B tech moves shaping global markets this week

From a $890M Hong Kong share sale to humanoid robot training hubs, a wave of B2B tech developments landed on June 30, 2026.

AWS launches $1 billion Forward Deployed Engineering unit to accelerate enterprise AI adoption

AWS is investing $1 billion in a new Forward Deployed Engineering unit, seeding it with thousands of engineers to embed directly within enterprise customers.

Healthcare AI shifts from admin tasks to care transformation, virtual care growth stalls on finances

Health systems pour more into AI than other industries but focus it on admin work. Virtual care use rises even as digital services lose money.

Enterprise AI hits an inflection point as companies rein in spending and demand real results

OpenAI reports enterprise now tops 40% of revenue, but a growing efficiency push among corporate users is reshaping how AI budgets are managed.

AI is the only growth budget: Ramp, Supabase, and AlphaSense headline a month of mega-rounds

OpenAI's $122B raise, Shield AI's $1.5B defense round, and Microsoft's $10B Japan commitment signal a structural shift in how capital flows into AI.

AI is the only growth budget: Ramp, Supabase, and AlphaSense headline a month of mega-rounds

OpenAI's $122B raise, Shield AI's $1.5B defense round, and Microsoft's $10B Japan pledge signal a structural shift in how capital flows to AI.

Google extends financial lifeline to power Anthropics AI ambitions

Google is providing vital financial backing to Anthropic, underwriting $35 billion for AI-driven data centers. Tracking the strategic alliances in AI development.

Amazon partners with Corning to power AI data centers in the U.S.

Amazon's billion-dollar deal with Corning highlights a critical shift in AI data infrastructure demands.

How AI Is Transforming Private Equity Deal Evaluation and Portfolio Strategy

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how organizations evaluate risk, analyze markets, and drive operational efficiency. In financial services alone, global AI spending is projected to surpass $97 billion by 2027, reflecting how deeply data-driven technologies are reshaping decision-making. For private equity firms—where hundreds of potential investments may be screened each year—the ability to analyze information…

AI Is Reshaping Hiring Strategy And Critical Roles Are Shifting to Permanent Talent

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future-state discussion—it’s a present-day leadership priority. As enterprises accelerate the adoption of generative AI and automation tools, hiring strategies are evolving alongside broader business transformation. According to McKinsey’s 2025 State of AI report, 88% of organizations now report using AI in at least one business function, underscoring how…

Broadband State of the Union: Urban Innovation & Rural Challenges Part II

In Part II of this episode of Wavelengths, hosted by Amphenol Broadband Solutions, Daniel Litwin discusses the evolution of smart cities and the crucial role of fiber broadband with Tyler Cooper, Editor-in-Chief at Broadband Now. As urban and rural areas adapt to new technological advancements, the need for robust connectivity, strategic investments, and inclusive…

Verizon Partner Network Co-Sell Connection 2025 Kick Off

The Co-Sell Connection 2025 webinar kicked off with a warm welcome from the host, Cesar Teran. The series aims to spotlight Verizon products and solutions and provide insights from top thought leaders to help navigate the evolving business landscape. Key Speakers and Topics In this session, Verizon’s partner leadership team, including Mark Tina the…