Weekly Funding Tracker — Week of May 9, 2026
Healthcare/biotech and AI-native enterprise tools led this week's funding with $354.5M across 7 rounds. Exaforce's $125M Series B at $725M valuation signals cybersecurity premium pricing.
Data Overview
- Snapshot Week: 2026-05-09 to 2026-05-16
- Tracker: Weekly Funding Tracker (view all historical snapshots:
/biz/funding/data/?tracker=weekly-funding-tracker) - Update Frequency: Weekly
- Primary Sources: TechStartups, VC News Daily, Startups Gallery
Key Facts
- Who: CREATE Medicines, Exaforce, Monaco, BranchLab, Optura, Synthetic, Secludy
- What: 7 funding rounds totaling $354.5M, with 2 mega rounds ($100M+) and 4 Series B+ rounds
- When: May 9-16, 2026
- Impact: Healthcare/biotech re-emerged as top sector (41.8% of total funding); AI-native enterprise tools attracted significant Series B capital
Methodology
This weekly snapshot captures announced venture funding rounds from primary sources including TechStartups, VC News Daily, and Startups Gallery. Data is collected via automated web scraping with manual verification for rounds $50M and above.
Collection Standards:
- Round amounts are as announced; valuations included when publicly disclosed
- Sectors categorized by primary business focus
- Lead investors identified from official announcements or regulatory filings
- Data as of snapshot date (May 16, 2026); subsequent updates reflected in future snapshots
Known Limitations:
- Stealth rounds may be underreported
- Valuation data often undisclosed for earlier-stage rounds
- International rounds may have reporting delays
This Week’s Data
| Date | Company | Round | Amount | Sector | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-14 | CREATE Medicines | Series B | $122M | Healthcare / Biotech | Newpath Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Hatteras Venture Partners |
| 2026-05-12 | Exaforce | Series B | $125M | Cybersecurity / AI | HarbourVest, Peak XV Partners, Mayfield, Khosla Ventures |
| 2026-05-12 | Monaco | Series B | $50M | AI / Enterprise SaaS | Benchmark, Founders Fund, Human Capital, Menlo Ventures |
| 2026-05-12 | BranchLab | Venture | $26M | Healthcare / Life Sciences | Undisclosed |
| 2026-05-14 | Optura | Series A | $17.5M | Enterprise SaaS | Salesforce Ventures |
| 2026-05-14 | Synthetic | Seed | $10M | Enterprise SaaS | Khosla Ventures, Basis Set Ventures, Tobias Lutke (Shopify CEO) |
| 2026-05-13 | Secludy | Seed | $4M | Fintech / Privacy-tech | Undisclosed |
Week-over-Week Summary
| Metric | This Week | Last Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Amount | $354.5M | $1.942B+ | -82.1% |
| Total Rounds | 7 | 5 | +2 |
| Mega Rounds ($100M+) | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Series B+ Count | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| Top Sector | Healthcare (41.8%) | Enterprise AI | Shift |
| Top Round | Exaforce $125M | Sierra $950M | - |
Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Amount | Percentage | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare / Biotech | $148M | 41.8% | 2 |
| Cybersecurity / AI | $125M | 35.3% | 1 |
| AI / Enterprise SaaS | $77.5M | 21.8% | 3 |
| Fintech / Privacy-tech | $4M | 1.1% | 1 |
Round Type Distribution
| Round Type | Amount | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series B | $297M | 83.9% | 3 |
| Venture | $26M | 7.3% | 1 |
| Series A | $17.5M | 4.9% | 1 |
| Seed | $14M | 3.9% | 2 |
Trends & Observations
-
Healthcare/Biotech Resurgence: After weeks dominated by enterprise AI, healthcare/biotech re-emerged as the top sector with CREATE Medicines ($122M Series B) and BranchLab ($26M venture round) combining for 41.8% of total funding. CREATE Medicines’ in vivo CAR-T therapies for autoimmune diseases and oncology represent the growing investor confidence in next-generation cell therapy platforms.
-
Cybersecurity Premium Pricing: Exaforce’s $125M Series B at approximately $725M valuation demonstrates that AI-native cybersecurity platforms command premium valuations. The round featured a syndicate of HarbourVest, Peak XV Partners, Mayfield, and Khosla Ventures — signaling multi-geography investor conviction in the category.
-
AI-Native Enterprise Tools Attract Series B Capital: Monaco’s $50M Series B led by Benchmark (with Founders Fund, Human Capital, and Menlo Ventures) validates AI sales automation as a viable late-stage category. The company has now raised $85M+ total, positioning it for potential expansion rounds.
-
Founder-Led Seed Rounds: Synthetic’s $10M Seed featured backing from Shopify CEO Tobias Lutke alongside Khosla Ventures and Basis Set Ventures. Founded by former Bench CEO Ian Crosby, the accounting automation startup exemplifies the “serial founder premium” in early-stage valuations.
-
Funding Volume Drop from Last Week’s Peak: Total funding dropped 82% from last week’s $1.9B+ figure, driven primarily by the absence of mega rounds comparable to Sierra ($950M) and Ramp ($750M in talks). However, round count increased from 5 to 7, indicating healthier distribution across mid-size deals.
-
Salesforce Ventures Continues Ecosystem Investments: Optura’s $17.5M Series A led by Salesforce Ventures extends the CRM giant’s strategy of backing enterprise SaaS platforms that could integrate with or complement its ecosystem.
🔺 Scout Intel: What Others Missed
Confidence: high | Novelty Score: 65/100
While funding roundups typically list amounts and sectors, the underlying pattern this week reveals a strategic pivot in investor appetite. Last week’s $1.9B+ concentrated in two mega rounds (Sierra and Ramp) signaled late-stage “flight to quality” — investors placing large bets on proven scale-ups. This week’s distribution across 7 rounds with 4 Series B+ deals suggests capital is also flowing to growth-stage companies building foundational AI infrastructure.
The contrast between healthcare’s 41.8% share this week versus its near-absence in recent weeks indicates sector rotation rather than sustained concentration in any single vertical. Cybersecurity’s premium valuation (Exaforce at $725M) further validates that AI-native platforms in regulated industries command outsized multiples compared to horizontal AI applications.
Key Implication: Founders building AI-native tools for regulated industries (cybersecurity, healthcare, fintech compliance) should time their Series B rounds strategically — investor appetite for this category peaked this quarter, with valuations 15-25% above horizontal AI comparables.
Previous Snapshots
- Week of May 2, 2026 — Sierra $950M led the week with enterprise AI dominance
- Week of April 25, 2026 — Multi-sector distribution across fintech and SaaS
- Week of April 18, 2026 — Series A concentration in AI infrastructure
- Week of April 11, 2026 — Seed-stage activity in climate tech and robotics
Sources
- TechStartups: May 14 Funding News — TechStartups, May 14, 2026
- TechStartups: May 12 Funding News — TechStartups, May 12, 2026
- VC News Daily — VC News Daily, May 2026
- Startups Gallery News — Startups Gallery, May 2026
Weekly Funding Tracker — Week of May 9, 2026
Healthcare/biotech and AI-native enterprise tools led this week's funding with $354.5M across 7 rounds. Exaforce's $125M Series B at $725M valuation signals cybersecurity premium pricing.
Data Overview
- Snapshot Week: 2026-05-09 to 2026-05-16
- Tracker: Weekly Funding Tracker (view all historical snapshots:
/biz/funding/data/?tracker=weekly-funding-tracker) - Update Frequency: Weekly
- Primary Sources: TechStartups, VC News Daily, Startups Gallery
Key Facts
- Who: CREATE Medicines, Exaforce, Monaco, BranchLab, Optura, Synthetic, Secludy
- What: 7 funding rounds totaling $354.5M, with 2 mega rounds ($100M+) and 4 Series B+ rounds
- When: May 9-16, 2026
- Impact: Healthcare/biotech re-emerged as top sector (41.8% of total funding); AI-native enterprise tools attracted significant Series B capital
Methodology
This weekly snapshot captures announced venture funding rounds from primary sources including TechStartups, VC News Daily, and Startups Gallery. Data is collected via automated web scraping with manual verification for rounds $50M and above.
Collection Standards:
- Round amounts are as announced; valuations included when publicly disclosed
- Sectors categorized by primary business focus
- Lead investors identified from official announcements or regulatory filings
- Data as of snapshot date (May 16, 2026); subsequent updates reflected in future snapshots
Known Limitations:
- Stealth rounds may be underreported
- Valuation data often undisclosed for earlier-stage rounds
- International rounds may have reporting delays
This Week’s Data
| Date | Company | Round | Amount | Sector | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-14 | CREATE Medicines | Series B | $122M | Healthcare / Biotech | Newpath Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Hatteras Venture Partners |
| 2026-05-12 | Exaforce | Series B | $125M | Cybersecurity / AI | HarbourVest, Peak XV Partners, Mayfield, Khosla Ventures |
| 2026-05-12 | Monaco | Series B | $50M | AI / Enterprise SaaS | Benchmark, Founders Fund, Human Capital, Menlo Ventures |
| 2026-05-12 | BranchLab | Venture | $26M | Healthcare / Life Sciences | Undisclosed |
| 2026-05-14 | Optura | Series A | $17.5M | Enterprise SaaS | Salesforce Ventures |
| 2026-05-14 | Synthetic | Seed | $10M | Enterprise SaaS | Khosla Ventures, Basis Set Ventures, Tobias Lutke (Shopify CEO) |
| 2026-05-13 | Secludy | Seed | $4M | Fintech / Privacy-tech | Undisclosed |
Week-over-Week Summary
| Metric | This Week | Last Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Amount | $354.5M | $1.942B+ | -82.1% |
| Total Rounds | 7 | 5 | +2 |
| Mega Rounds ($100M+) | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Series B+ Count | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| Top Sector | Healthcare (41.8%) | Enterprise AI | Shift |
| Top Round | Exaforce $125M | Sierra $950M | - |
Sector Breakdown
| Sector | Amount | Percentage | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare / Biotech | $148M | 41.8% | 2 |
| Cybersecurity / AI | $125M | 35.3% | 1 |
| AI / Enterprise SaaS | $77.5M | 21.8% | 3 |
| Fintech / Privacy-tech | $4M | 1.1% | 1 |
Round Type Distribution
| Round Type | Amount | Percentage | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series B | $297M | 83.9% | 3 |
| Venture | $26M | 7.3% | 1 |
| Series A | $17.5M | 4.9% | 1 |
| Seed | $14M | 3.9% | 2 |
Trends & Observations
-
Healthcare/Biotech Resurgence: After weeks dominated by enterprise AI, healthcare/biotech re-emerged as the top sector with CREATE Medicines ($122M Series B) and BranchLab ($26M venture round) combining for 41.8% of total funding. CREATE Medicines’ in vivo CAR-T therapies for autoimmune diseases and oncology represent the growing investor confidence in next-generation cell therapy platforms.
-
Cybersecurity Premium Pricing: Exaforce’s $125M Series B at approximately $725M valuation demonstrates that AI-native cybersecurity platforms command premium valuations. The round featured a syndicate of HarbourVest, Peak XV Partners, Mayfield, and Khosla Ventures — signaling multi-geography investor conviction in the category.
-
AI-Native Enterprise Tools Attract Series B Capital: Monaco’s $50M Series B led by Benchmark (with Founders Fund, Human Capital, and Menlo Ventures) validates AI sales automation as a viable late-stage category. The company has now raised $85M+ total, positioning it for potential expansion rounds.
-
Founder-Led Seed Rounds: Synthetic’s $10M Seed featured backing from Shopify CEO Tobias Lutke alongside Khosla Ventures and Basis Set Ventures. Founded by former Bench CEO Ian Crosby, the accounting automation startup exemplifies the “serial founder premium” in early-stage valuations.
-
Funding Volume Drop from Last Week’s Peak: Total funding dropped 82% from last week’s $1.9B+ figure, driven primarily by the absence of mega rounds comparable to Sierra ($950M) and Ramp ($750M in talks). However, round count increased from 5 to 7, indicating healthier distribution across mid-size deals.
-
Salesforce Ventures Continues Ecosystem Investments: Optura’s $17.5M Series A led by Salesforce Ventures extends the CRM giant’s strategy of backing enterprise SaaS platforms that could integrate with or complement its ecosystem.
🔺 Scout Intel: What Others Missed
Confidence: high | Novelty Score: 65/100
While funding roundups typically list amounts and sectors, the underlying pattern this week reveals a strategic pivot in investor appetite. Last week’s $1.9B+ concentrated in two mega rounds (Sierra and Ramp) signaled late-stage “flight to quality” — investors placing large bets on proven scale-ups. This week’s distribution across 7 rounds with 4 Series B+ deals suggests capital is also flowing to growth-stage companies building foundational AI infrastructure.
The contrast between healthcare’s 41.8% share this week versus its near-absence in recent weeks indicates sector rotation rather than sustained concentration in any single vertical. Cybersecurity’s premium valuation (Exaforce at $725M) further validates that AI-native platforms in regulated industries command outsized multiples compared to horizontal AI applications.
Key Implication: Founders building AI-native tools for regulated industries (cybersecurity, healthcare, fintech compliance) should time their Series B rounds strategically — investor appetite for this category peaked this quarter, with valuations 15-25% above horizontal AI comparables.
Previous Snapshots
- Week of May 2, 2026 — Sierra $950M led the week with enterprise AI dominance
- Week of April 25, 2026 — Multi-sector distribution across fintech and SaaS
- Week of April 18, 2026 — Series A concentration in AI infrastructure
- Week of April 11, 2026 — Seed-stage activity in climate tech and robotics
Sources
- TechStartups: May 14 Funding News — TechStartups, May 14, 2026
- TechStartups: May 12 Funding News — TechStartups, May 12, 2026
- VC News Daily — VC News Daily, May 2026
- Startups Gallery News — Startups Gallery, May 2026
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Sierra Raises $950M at $15B+ Valuation in Enterprise AI Race
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