Startups news on February 18, 2026

1. 0104:18 UTC

   Coverage recordthehindu.com: “Galgotias University asked to vacate AI Summit Expo immediately: Sources”

   12 outlets · first: The Hindu

   Reports ran between 04:18 and 10:24 UTC on Feb 18.

   The outlets that reported this event are listed with links to their reports; no summary of ours passed our automated checks for it, which says nothing about the event (how they work).

   Reported by The Hindu, deccanherald.com, NDTV, bestmediainfo.com, The Hindu - Business Line and moneycontrol.com.

   Show the other 5 outletsHide them

   • freepressjournal.in
   • financialexpress.com
   • ianslive.in
   • U.S. News & World Report
   • WRAL

   • Unitree
   • Galgotias University

2. 0204:44 UTC

   Microsoft Pledges $50B to Bridge the Global South AI Divide by 2030

   9 outlets · first: marketscreener.com Market trends

   Reported by marketscreener.com, in.marketscreener.com, Seeking Alpha, Reuters, econotimes.com, dailyexcelsior.com, and 4 more outlets.

   • Microsoft
   • Global South

   Full coverage: every report, when each was published, and who was named (9 outlets)

3. 0304:46 UTC

   Qualcomm to invest up to $150M in India-focused AI venture fund

   6 outlets · first: newsbytesapp.com Funding

   Machine summary Qualcomm announced plans to invest up to $150 million in an India-focused Strategic AI Venture Fund aimed at the country's AI startup ecosystem, according to reports. The fund is intended for Indian AI startups.

   Reported by newsbytesapp.com, Storyboard18, Latestly, economictimes.indiatimes.com, Prokerala and Yes Punjab News.

   • Indian AI Startups
   • Strategic AI Venture Fund

   Full coverage: every report, when each was published, and who was named (6 outlets)

4. 0402:02 UTC

   Department of Defense and Anthropic differ on AI safety protocols and military needs.

   5 outlets · first: The Wall Street Journal Regulation

   Machine summary The Wall Street Journal reports an escalating dispute between the Pentagon and Anthropic over AI. In its headline, the Journal described the clash as a "woke" AI spat between the two.

   Reported by The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, nytimes.com and The New York Times.

   • Anthropic
   • Pentagon

   Full coverage: every report, when each was published, and who was named (5 outlets)

5. 0507:00 UTC

   Battery Ventures closes $3.25B fund for software and AI

   4 outlets · first: Bloomberg Funding

   Machine summary Bloomberg reported that tech investor Battery Ventures raised $3.25 billion for a new fund. Yahoo Finance Singapore reported the fund is intended to back innovative tech companies worldwide, and Business Matters reported it will invest in global technology and AI.

   Reported by Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance Singapore and Business Matters.

   • Battery Ventures
   • Software

6. 0604:42 UTC

   Coverage recordeconomictimes.indiatimes.com: “'Nice to be back': Google CEO Sundar Pichai arrives in India for AI Impact Summit - The Economic Times”

   4 outlets · first: economictimes.indiatimes.com Leadership

   Reports ran between 04:42 and 06:30 UTC on Feb 18.

   The outlets that reported this event are listed with links to their reports; no summary of ours passed our automated checks for it, which says nothing about the event (how they work).

   Reported by economictimes.indiatimes.com, firstpost.com, pragativadi.com and moneycontrol.com.

   • Google
   • Sundar Pichai
   • AI Impact Summit 2026

7. 0701:00 UTC

   Coverage recordstartupnews.fyi: “Stable Money raises $25 Mn led by Peak XV at $175 Mn valuation”

   4 outlets · first: startupnews.fyi Funding

   Reports ran between 01:00 and 06:39 UTC on Feb 18.

   The outlets that reported this event are listed with links to their reports; no summary of ours passed our automated checks for it, which says nothing about the event (how they work).

   Reported by startupnews.fyi, Livemint, dealstreetasia.com and VCCircle.

   • Peak XV Partners
   • Stable Money

8. 0801:44 UTC

   NVIDIA says it is deepening India partnerships amid $1B IndiaAI Mission

   3 outlets · first: devdiscourse.com Market trends

   Machine summary NVIDIA is deepening its partnerships in India, according to the company.

   Reported by devdiscourse.com, The Hindu - Business Line and Newsx.

   • NVIDIA
   • IndiaAI Mission

9. 0903:51 UTC

   Nvidia partners with Indian VC firms to back AI start-ups

   3 outlets · first: CNBC Market trends

   Machine summary Nvidia is partnering with major Indian venture capital firms in search of the country's next AI start-ups, according to CNBC. Benzinga reports the move comes amid a $1 billion national AI initiative focused on sovereign models, start-up funding and research. Moneycontrol reports Nvidia is partnering with top VC firms including Peak XV and Accel India.

   1. Nvidia is partnering with major Indian VC firms in search of the country's next AI start-ups, according to CNBC.
   2. Benzinga reports Nvidia is expanding India partnerships amid a $1 billion national AI initiative focused on sovereign models, start-up funding and research.
   3. Moneycontrol reports Nvidia is partnering with top VC firms Peak XV, Accel India and others to power Indian AI startups.

   Reported by CNBC, Benzinga and moneycontrol.com.

   • NVIDIA
   • Accel India
   • National AI Initiative

10. 1001:47 UTC

    Coverage recordpymnts.com: “Perplexity Pulling Sponsored Answers From AI Platform”

    3 outlets · first: Business Insider Market trends

    Reports ran between 01:47 and 13:19 UTC on Feb 18.

    The outlets that reported this event are listed with links to their reports; no summary of ours passed our automated checks for it, which says nothing about the event (how they work).

    Reported by Business Insider, The Verge and Pymnts.

    • Sponsored Answers

11. 1110:00 UTC

    Reports put African startup funding at $3.9bn to $4.1bn for 2025

    3 outlets · first: fundsforNGOs News Funding

    Machine summary Tech In Africa reported that African tech funding reached $4.1 billion in 2025, while fundsforNGOs News reported that African startups raised $3.9 billion in 2025 as venture investments stabilize. Semafor reported that venture capital funding for African startups is "stabilizing."

    1. Tech In Africa reported African tech funding hit $4.1 billion in 2025.
    2. fundsforNGOs News reported African startups raised $3.9 billion in 2025 as venture investments stabilize.

    Reported by fundsforNGOs News, Tech In Africa and Semafor.

    • Semafor
    • Tech In Africa
    • fundsforNGOs News

12. 1202:35 UTC

    Skyroot plans to raise up to $200M.

    3 outlets · first: Telecomliveweb Funding

    Machine summary Skyroot Aerospace plans to raise up to $200 million, according to BW Disrupt and other reports.

    1. Skyroot Aerospace is seeking to raise between $150 million and $200 million in new capital.
    2. Kotak Mahindra Capital has been appointed as the financial advisor for the transaction.
    3. Existing investors include Singaporean sovereign wealth funds GIC and Temasek.

    Reported by Telecomliveweb, bwdisrupt.com and freepressjournal.in.

    • Skyroot Aerospace
    • Temasek
    • GIC
    • Kotak Mahindra Capital

13. 1312:15 UTC

    Sundar Pichai calls India's technological trajectory a transformational moment

    2 outlets · first: news18.com Market trends

    Machine summary Sundar Pichai said India's AI event marked a transformational moment, and reports described India as turning the event into a global power statement.

    Reported by news18.com and morungexpress.com.

    • India
    • Sundar Pichai

14. 1401:43 UTC

    California builds AI oversight unit and presses on xAI investigation

    2 outlets · first: rappler.com Regulation

    Machine summary California is building an AI oversight unit and pressing on an investigation into xAI, according to reports.

    1. California is building an AI oversight unit, according to reports.
    2. California is pressing on an investigation into xAI, according to reports.

    Reported by rappler.com and yahoo.com.

    • xAI
    • AI oversight unit

15. 1504:46 UTC

    Vaishnaw: India focused on practical AI applications for population-scale challenges

    2 outlets · first: economictimes.indiatimes.com Regulation

    Machine summary Vaishnaw said India is focused on practical uses of AI for population-scale challenges.

    1. India is focused on practical applications of AI to solve population-scale challenges, according to Vaishnaw.
    2. India focused on practical applications of AI to solve population-scale challenges, Vaishnaw said.

    Reported by economictimes.indiatimes.com and orissapost.com.

    • India

16. 1611:29 UTC

    FYLD Secures €34M Series B to Scale AI-Driven Frontline Intelligence

    2 outlets · first: EU-Startups Funding

    Machine summary EU-Startups reports that AI field operations startup FYLD landed €34 million for its London-based frontline intelligence platform. Ventureburn reports that FYLD raised £32m in a Series B to scale an AI frontline intelligence platform.

    Reported by EU-Startups and Ventureburn.

    • Frontline intelligence platform
    • FYLD
    • AI field operations

    Full coverage: every report, when each was published, and who was named (2 outlets)

17. 1705:07 UTC

    Coverage recorddevdiscourse.com: “Switzerland and India Collaborate to Democratize AI at Summit”

    2 outlets · first: devdiscourse.com Regulation

    Reports ran between 05:07 and 10:38 UTC on Feb 18.

    The outlets that reported this event are listed with links to their reports; no summary of ours passed our automated checks for it, which says nothing about the event (how they work).

    Reported by devdiscourse.com and Hindustan Times.

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • India

18. 1806:40 UTC

    Federal Court Bars OpenAI from Using 'Cameo' Name in Sora 2 Video Model

    2 outlets · first: techcrunch.com Regulation

    Machine summary A federal court has issued an injunction against OpenAI, prohibiting the use of the name 'Cameo' for a feature in its Sora 2 video generation model.

    1. The ruling prohibits OpenAI from using the 'Cameo' trademark within its Sora 2 video model.
    2. OpenAI has officially renamed the disputed feature to 'Characters' following the court order.

    Reported by techcrunch.com and dataconomy.com.

    • OpenAI
    • Sora 2
    • Characters
    • Cameo

19. 1900:00 UTC

    Coverage recordAni (asian News International): “"India a very positive case study": Meta's Alexandr Wang lauds Indian AI startup ecosystem”

    2 outlets · first: Aninews Market trends

    Reports ran between 00:00 and 12:00 UTC on Feb 18.

    The outlets that reported this event are listed with links to their reports; no summary of ours passed our automated checks for it, which says nothing about the event (how they work).

    Reported by Aninews, bignewsnetwork.com (Big News Network) and cambodiantimes.com (Big News Network).

    • India
    • Meta
    • Indian AI startup ecosystem

20. 2013:30 UTC

    MTAP Technologies plans SME IPO listing to fuel global expansion

    2 outlets · first: Aninews IPOs

    Machine summary Laosnews.net reports that MTAP Technologies plans an SME IPO listing to support its global expansion.

    1. The company plans to list via an SME IPO to fund international market expansion.

    Reported by laosnews.net (Big News Network), Aninews and bruneinews.net (Big News Network).

    • MTAP Technologies

21. 2114:46 UTC

    Ambition Integrates Coaching Intelligence into AI Assistant for Revenue Teams

    2 outlets · first: PR Newswire Product launch Mostly press releases

    Machine summary Ambition has launched Coaching Intelligence, an upgrade to its AI Assistant for revenue teams.

    1. The new feature is integrated directly into Ambition's existing AI Assistant platform.

    Reported by PR Newswire and itnewsonline.com.

    • AI Assistant
    • Ambition
    • Coaching Intelligence

22. 2213:00 UTC

    Pathfinder Ventures Secures $4.2M Refinancing to Fuel Strategic Growth

    2 outlets · first: finanznachrichten.de Funding

    Machine summary Pathfinder Ventures Inc. announced a definitive refinancing of $4.2 million. According to the company's announcement, the transaction is aimed at supporting growth and strategic flexibility.

    1. Secured a definitive $4.2 million refinancing agreement to improve financial flexibility

    Reported by finanznachrichten.de and torontotelegraph.com (Big News Network).

    • Pathfinder Ventures Inc.

23. 2321:45 UTC

    Priyank Kharge engages with global leaders and startups at India AI Impact Summit

    1 outlet · first: batonrougepost.com (Big News Network) Market trends

    Machine summary According to orlandoecho.com, Priyank Kharge engaged with global leaders, startups and innovation initiatives at the India AI Impact Summit.

    Reported by orlandoecho.com (Big News Network) and batonrougepost.com (Big News Network).

Each summary and its key facts are a machine summary of the reports linked under it; the outlets, times and counts come from those reports' own records. How a rundown is built.