AI control layer startups dominate funding

CuspAI raised a $450 million Series B at a $2.6 billion valuation for AI-driven materials discovery, leading a day of venture capital concentrated on infrastructure, security, and AI control-layer software. Neo emerged from stealth with $100 million for AI-era cybersecurity. Investors favored companies shaping compute economics, data control, or mission-critical enterprise processes over thin model wrappers.