Etched announced a working inference chip and over $1 billion in signed contracts after emerging from stealth with $800 million raised and a $5 billion valuation. Their rack-scale system, built on TSMC’s N4P process, is already running models like DeepSeek, Qwen and Llama, and production is ramping at new Taiwan and San Jose facilities.

a16z Speedrun offers up to $1 million in funding and $5 million in credits for startups, plus hands-on support from operators across recruiting, marketing, go-to-market, HR, visa assistance, and more. The Summer/Fall SR007 cohort runs July 27–October 11, 2026; applications close May 17, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT. Late applications roll into the next cohort.

The article outlines significant mergers and acquisitions in the digital health sector during Q1 2026, highlighting deals like Hims & Hers acquiring Eucalyptus and Universal Health Services purchasing Talkspace. It also notes continued large funding rounds and the emergence of new unicorns, reflecting a shift toward strategic growth rather than public market exits.

Yupp, an AI model-picking service, is shutting down less than a year after launching despite initial user growth and backing from prominent investors. The founders cited an inability to achieve product-market fit and rapid changes in AI development as key reasons for the closure. Some employees will move to another AI company, while others are job hunting.

OpenAI raised $122 billion in its latest funding round, marking the largest in Silicon Valley's history. The investment, which values the company at $852 billion, includes major contributions from Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, and expands access for individual investors through ARK Invest's funds.