Lambda, an AI data center provider, has secured $1.5 billion in a funding round led by TWG Global. This investment comes after Lambda's multibillion-dollar deal with Microsoft to supply AI infrastructure using Nvidia GPUs.

TWG Global, backed by billionaires Thomas Tull and Mark Walter, also invests in AI through a partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and Palantir. Lambda competes with CoreWeave and sells AI factories to hyperscaler clouds.

Prior to this funding, Lambda raised $480 million in a Series D round, valuing the company at an estimated $2.5 billion. Discussions about a potential IPO also surfaced before the recent $1.5 billion raise.

Burks Tractor, an Idaho dealership, is suing Monarch Tractor for breach of contract and warranty violations. The lawsuit alleges that Monarch's tractors failed to operate autonomously as promised and experienced significant problems.

Burks Tractor claims it purchased 10 tractors from Monarch in early 2024 based on representations that they would be fully autonomous. However, upon delivery, the tractors did not perform as represented, and Monarch's team allegedly admitted the autonomy was limited.

Burks Tractor is seeking legal recourse after Monarch allegedly refused to take back the defective tractors. This lawsuit adds to Monarch's recent challenges, including layoffs and changes in manufacturing and business strategy.

In 2023, Tayla Cannon, an Australian native with a background in physiotherapy and interventional cardiology, moved to the U.S. and, driven by her disillusionment with traditional rehab models and a passion for proactive, holistic care, she began creating content online. This led to a significant social media following and the establishment of AthleticRebuild. Now, she is launching Rebuildr, a HIPAA-compliant mentorship app for rehab professionals, set to launch early next year.

Cannon's work caught the attention of Slow Ventures, which invested $1.1 million in a seed round from its Creator Fund. Cannon credits her success to authentic content creation and realized the need to scale her business beyond her individual efforts, leading to the development of Rebuildr.

Rebuildr aims to shift from localized, reactive care to a proactive, holistic approach, combining consumer solutions, education, and software. Cannon connected with Slow Ventures at an event and, despite not initially seeking funding, secured investment to expand her vision for Rebuildr. She envisions Rebuildr fundamentally reshaping the rehab industry, making high-quality rehab accessible globally.

Toyota is investing $912 million across five U.S. factories to increase hybrid vehicle production in response to rising demand. This investment is part of Toyota's broader $10 billion commitment to the U.S. over five years, amidst industry challenges like tariffs and EV tax credit changes.

The funds will support new production lines for hybrid components in West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Missouri. A significant portion, $125 million, will enable the first U.S.-assembled hybrid-electric Toyota Corolla.

The largest investment, $453 million, will expand production of hybrid-compatible engines, transaxles, and motor components at Toyota's West Virginia plant.

Agentio, a startup connecting brands with YouTube creators for sponsored videos, has raised $40 million in Series B funding led by Forerunner. This brings their total funding to $56 million, valuing the company at $340 million.

The company's platform automates the ad buying process using AI, helping brands achieve better returns. For example, Bombas saw 5.3x better return on ad spend and a 90% net new customer rate compared to video ad spending on other platforms.

Agentio has also integrated AI-powered features for campaign management and content review, saving brands time and ensuring brand safety. The company is expanding to Meta platforms and plans to support TikTok and Snap in 2026.

Since last year, Agentio has scaled its team from 12 to 35 employees and plans to increase its headcount to over 100 in the next year.

Roblox is implementing mandatory facial verification for all users to access communication features, starting in January, alongside age-based chat to limit contact between minors and adults.

Users can voluntarily verify their age to secure access to communication features, with initial enforcement in select markets like Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand in December.

The move addresses lawsuits and concerns over child safety, requiring users to open the Roblox app, grant camera access, and follow on-screen instructions for facial verification via a third-party vendor, Persona, which will delete images after processing.

Verified users will be assigned to age groups, enabling them to chat with others in similar age ranges. Roblox is also launching a new Safety Center to provide parents with guidance and tools for parental controls.

Limited partners (LPs) are facing challenges in the venture capital landscape due to extended fund lifespans and valuation disconnects. Funds are lasting longer, up to 18-20 years, impacting LP allocation models.

A significant gap exists between VC valuations and what buyers are willing to pay, with potential markdowns of up to 80%. Emerging managers are struggling to raise funds, as institutional LPs concentrate investments in larger platform funds.

The panel discussed the idea that venture is not an asset class because of the wide dispersion of returns, also addressed the normalization of GPs selling into up rounds. For fundraising, new managers should network with family offices and offer co-investment opportunities, hustling to refresh networks.

AI and American dynamism dominate, with a focus on San Francisco-based managers.

Sphere, a tax software vendor, has raised a $21 million Series A round led by a16z to automate and streamline global tax compliance for companies. Founded by Nicholas Rudder and Adrian Sarstedt, Sphere helps companies with registration, calculation, filing, and remittance obligations across borders.

Sphere's AI-powered tax review and assessment model engine (TRAM) codifies tax rules in every jurisdiction, providing tax determinations with reasoning and citations. The platform integrates with billing platforms like Stripe and Campfire and directly connects to over 100 tax authorities worldwide.

The funding will be used to expand infrastructure, grow the AI and engineering team, and build an international sales team. Sphere aims to become the indispensable tool for finance teams expanding into new markets, covering all forms of transactional compliance.

Indian edtech startup Physics Wallah experienced a successful IPO, with shares closing 44% higher than the listing price. This suggests a possible recovery for the Indian edtech sector after a period of decline.

The company's shares closed at ₹156.49, valuing it at ₹448 billion (around $5 billion), significantly above its listing valuation. The IPO raised ₹34.8 billion (around $393 million).

Physics Wallah's success contrasts with the struggles of other major players like Byju’s and Unacademy, which have faced financial difficulties and operational scaling back.

Physics Wallah plans to use the IPO proceeds to expand offline centers, enhance its technology, and pursue acquisitions. The company reported a 49% revenue increase to ₹28.9 billion (approximately $326 million) in FY25 and has 4.5 million paying subscribers.

Hank Green's Focus Friend, a screen time assistant, has been named Google Play's app of the year. The app, launched in August, helps users manage screen time by blocking distracting apps and encouraging them with a virtual friend.

Focus Friend gained popularity, reaching No. 1 on Apple's App Store and achieving over 1 million installs on Android. Google recognized it as a helpful and cute app that effectively aids users in disconnecting.

Other app winners in various categories include Pokémon TCG Pocket (best game), Luminar (best multi-device app), and Disney Speedstorm (best multi-device game). Additional winners were recognized in categories such as Best for Fun, Personal Growth, Everyday Essential, and more.