Startup Jazz #18: AI's Funding Frenzy — 10 Stories This Week

Episode 18 of Startup Jazz. This week, George and Michelle dive into funding rounds, AI innovation, founder insights, covering 10 compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. Stories featured in this episode: 1. Q&A: Why Deep Tech Investors Are Turning To The Secondary Market For Liquidity (Crunchbase News) 2. As AI Disrupts the Workforce, These Small Businesses Are Still Safe to Start in 2026 (Entreprenuer) 3. 6 Trends In Tech And Startups We’re Watching In 2026, From An IPO Boom To More Huge AI Deals (Crunchbase News) 4. Xunlin Technology Completes Nearly 100 Million Yuan Series A, Launches Dark Factory for Full Glass Substrate-to-Packaging Production Line (36KR) 5. How This Founder Turned 'Dry January' Into a Year-Round Movement — And Built America's #1 Non-Alcoholic Beer Brand (Entreprenuer) 6. Former Big Tech Chip Executive Founds AI Startup Spacemit, Secures Top-Tier VC Funding After Shipping 150,000 Units (WeChat Startup News) 7. Global VC Investment Surged In January, With U.S. Dominating Funding But A Pair Of AI Model IPOs In China (Crunchbase News) 8. Soaring Veradermics IPO Shows Investor Interest In Hair-Loss Companies Isn’t Thinning (Crunchbase News) 9. Y Combinator Was By Far The Most-Active Fintech Investor in 2025, Data Shows (Crunchbase News) 10. Google Is A $4T Company That’s Still In The Startup Game (Crunchbase News) Bringing you the latest in startup funding with a smooth jazz vibe.