Google has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wiz, a fast-growing cloud security company based in New York, for USD 32 billion in an all-cash transaction. Once the deal closes, Wiz will become part of Google Cloud.

The acquisition shows Google Cloud’s growing focus on cloud security and multicloud use, especially as artificial intelligence changes how companies build and protect software. Google said security risks are rising as more data and systems move to the cloud.

Wiz is known for its simple security platform that connects across major cloud providers and code environments. It helps companies spot and fix risks before they turn into serious breaches. Wiz serves a wide range of customers, from startups to large enterprises and government bodies.

Google Cloud said bringing Wiz into its ecosystem will help customers design and manage security in a more automated way. The goal is to reduce costs, ease pressure on security teams, and respond faster to new threats linked to AI.

Wiz will continue to support all major cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud. Google Cloud said customers will still have freedom to choose tools from different partners through its marketplace.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said the deal builds on Google’s long history in online security and responds to growing demand for stronger protection and more choice in cloud providers. Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport said the partnership will give Wiz more resources and deep AI expertise while keeping its mission focused on preventing breaches.

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Deepgram, a voice artificial intelligence company based in San Francisco, said it has raised USD 130 million in a Series C funding round valuing it at USD 1.3 billion. The round was led by AVP, a global investment platform focused on fast-growing tech businesses. All major existing backers joined the round, and several new partners also took part in the investment.

Deepgram’s API platform lets developers and enterprises build live voice functions that can hear, speak and understand speech with low delay and strong accuracy. The company says more than 1,300 organisations already use its voice AI tools.

The startup also announced the purchase of OfOne, a voice AI platform originally built for restaurants and drive-thru services. The OfOne team will now help Deepgram build specialised voice AI for hospitality and food service.

Deepgram plans to use the funds to grow its products, expand into new markets, and support partners building voice AI features. As part of its push, it will open a new Voice AI Collaboration Hub in San Francisco.

Executives said the round shows strong belief in voice as a way for people to talk with machines, and will help Deepgram build tools that work more like the human voice.

Aikido has raised $60 million in a Series B round, pushing its valuation to $1 billion just three years after launch. The round was led by DST Global, with participation from PSG Equity, Singular, and Notion Capital, along with several new and existing backers.

Founded by former developers, Aikido builds security software aimed at engineering teams rather than compliance teams. The company says most security tools slow developers down and flood them with alerts that don’t matter.

Aikido’s platform pulls code, cloud, runtime, and supply chain security into one place. Instead of just flagging issues, it also helps teams fix them faster by adding context and automated remediation.

Over the past year, the company says revenue grew five times and its customer base more than tripled. Aikido is now used by over 100,000 teams worldwide, including the Premier League, SoundCloud, Niantic, and Revolut.

The company recently launched an AI-driven penetration testing product that runs simulated attacks using autonomous agents. The goal is to test and fix security issues continuously, without slowing down product releases.

Aikido employs around 180 people and ships product updates multiple times a day. The company says it plans to keep building toward software that can secure itself as code is written and deployed.

Articul8, an enterprise AI company spun out of Intel in 2024, has raised more than half of a planned $70 million Series B round. The round values the company at $500 million before the new money comes in.

The funding is being raised in two parts. The first close is led by Adara Ventures. Founder and CEO Arun K. Subramaniyan said the full round is expected to close in the first quarter of this year, though the exact amount of the first tranche was not shared.

The new valuation is a sharp jump from Articul8’s $100 million post-money Series A in early 2024. Since then, the company says it has signed contracts worth more than $90 million in total. Its customer list includes AWS, Intel, Hitachi Energy, and Franklin Templeton.

Subramaniyan said the company was not forced to raise money. Articul8 is already bringing in revenue and expects annual recurring revenue to cross $57 million this year, with nearly half of that already booked.

Articul8 builds AI systems that run inside a customer’s own IT setup. These systems are designed for regulated sectors like energy, manufacturing, finance, and aerospace, where data control and audit trails matter more than speed alone.

The fresh capital will be used to deepen product development and to grow outside the U.S. Europe is a key focus, helped by Adara’s local presence. The company is also expanding in Japan and South Korea, where it has started working with large enterprises.

India-based Aditya Birla Ventures is also part of the ongoing round. The company works closely with Nvidia and Google Cloud, while AWS acts as both a customer and a deployment partner.

Shapes raised $24 million in combined seed and Series A funding. Entrée Capital led the Series A. F2 Venture Capital led the seed. NFX also joined. The startup, formerly DreamTeam, makes an AI-native PeopleOS for HR, IT, and finance.

The investors back a system that adapts to fast-changing work. AI shifts jobs quickly, but most HR tools stay rigid. Shapes replaces scattered apps with one platform that learns and evolves. It handles onboarding, performance, pay, and more. Users build custom apps and agents.

The money will double headcount and grow into new markets. Shapes serves hundreds of customers in 14 industries and 79 countries already. Arnon Nir, co-founder and CEO, said AI forces rethink of people work. Their platform molds to each company’s way, not the reverse. Yoni Osherov from Entrée Capital said it’s a big chance to lead in AI-era operations.

Shapes creates an adaptive PeopleOS for managing people. It automates processes like time-off, reviews, and payroll for any organization size. Based in Tel Aviv, IL, it fits tech, manufacturing, retail, and services across 79 countries.

Opine raised $5 million, with $3 million new money. S3 Ventures led from Austin. Others include Knoll Ventures, Atlanta Seed Company, Gray Ventures, Propel Ventures, Triangle Tweener Fund, and Socket.dev CEO Feross Aboukhadijeh. Revenue grew 10x in 2025. Customers like Docker, Tailscale, Socket.dev, Gainsight, and BigID use it.

S3 backs the AI workspace for complex B2B sales. Deals span teams and tools, losing context. Opine connects presales to post-sales in one spot. It spots risks, automates work, and aligns handoffs. Funds boost AI features, deal smarts, data setup, and market push. Technical sales grows key in B2B.

Akash Ganapathi, CEO and co-founder, said it supports tough sales with AI that fits their world. Eric Engineer from S3 said it helps sales, success, and product teams win business. Mark Rida from a customer said it cuts calls and aligns teams. Jaime Lewis-Gross from another said it fits presales challenges.

Opine builds an AI workspace for technical sales teams. It links presales and post-sales for B2B tech sellers like Docker. Based in Raleigh, NC, it automates workflows and insights for complex deals.

CoreOps.AI raised USD 3.5 million in a pre-Series A round. Siana Capital Management led the investment. Kettlebrough, Aroa Venture Partners, and several individual investors also participated.

The funds will go toward expanding the engineering team, building out the product roadmap, and scaling global delivery of the platforms. CoreOps.AI was founded in 2024 by Rajesh Janey, Ankur Sharma, Rajnish Gupta, and Rajiv Srivastava. The company is based in Noida.

Its suite includes AgentCORE, DataCORE, and CORESight. These tools are already in use across more than 20 enterprise applications in manufacturing, financial services, retail, and healthcare.

CoreOps.AI develops AI-native enterprise software. It modernizes legacy systems, consolidates data, and automates operations. The company serves enterprises in multiple sectors from its base in Noida, India.