Crusoe in Talks to Raise $3 Billion in Round That May Triple Firm’s Value
THE SO WHAT
If Crusoe closes ~$3B at a 3x valuation on the back of AI compute contracts with Meta and Oracle, “vertically integrated, power-aware data center” becomes a funded category, not a niche. For AI infra buyers, that means more leverage against hyperscalers—and for operators, power sourcing and waste-energy arbitrage just moved from ESG slideware to core strategy.
READ THE SOURCE
MORE FROM THE WIRE
Startups & Venture5 things to know about Jersey Mike’s ahead of its IPO
A sandwich chain heading to public markets with strong sales and tight family control is another data point that investors still like simple, unit-economics stories. If you're building in complex tech, expect a higher bar on clarity and cash conversion than what a proven consumer brand needs to clear.
Startups & VentureThiel Capital’s Jack Selby nabs stakes in hot startups like Etched through Arizona connections
A $300 million second fund out of Arizona backing companies like Etched is another proof point that deep-tech deal flow is decentralizing away from the coasts. Founders building hard tech should widen their capital map—regional networks with sector expertise are increasingly writing meaningful checks.
Startups & VentureMeet the 17 startups that took part in Creative Destruction Lab’s latest Seattle accelerator
CDL Seattle quietly compounds into a serious dealflow filter for frontier tech in the Pacific Northwest—nine months of structured mentoring creates a common operating cadence across otherwise noisy early-stage teams. If you’re scouting AI, quantum, or hard-tech founders in the region, treat CDL cohorts as a pre-vetted pipeline, not a random demo day.
Startups & VentureSource: crypto payments and settlement startup Mesh is raising funding led by Binance at a ~$2B valuation, six months after raising $75M at a $1B valuation
Crypto infra that actually moves money is back in a 2x-in-6-months valuation regime—Mesh’s payments and settlement focus is where exchanges and large holders feel real pain. If you touch fiat–crypto flows, assume competition for your margin and data is going to intensify over the next 12 months.