September 16, 2025

finance  
Nvidia, AMD Boost Nasdaq; Meta AI Investments Draw Loeb

The artificial intelligence sector continues to see significant investment and expansion across various applications. Startups like Spara have raised $15 million in seed funding to develop AI agents for sales, aiming to automate customer interactions and qualify leads. Similarly, Terra Security secured $30 million in Series A funding for its AI-powered penetration testing services, which use AI agents to continuously identify security vulnerabilities. In the realm of autonomous mobility, Pony AI is expanding its robotaxi services to Qatar, partnering with the local Karwa transportation service. Meanwhile, the broader tech market is being influenced by AI, with the Nasdaq Composite reaching record highs, partly fueled by companies like Nvidia and AMD. Investor confidence in AI is also evident, with billionaire Dan Loeb repurchasing shares in Meta Platforms, citing the company's strong AI investments and their positive impact on its advertising business. Beyond software and services, AI's demand for power is driving major infrastructure investments, such as Blackstone's $1 billion acquisition of a power plant to support AI data center needs. The surge in AI applications is also boosting demand for data storage solutions, leading to stock gains for companies like Western Digital and Seagate as they increase prices for their products.

Key Takeaways

  • Spara raised $15 million in seed funding to develop AI agents for sales automation.
  • Terra Security secured $30 million in Series A funding for its AI-driven penetration testing platform.
  • Pony AI is launching robotaxi services in Qatar in partnership with Karwa.
  • The Nasdaq Composite index reached record highs, with AI companies like Nvidia and AMD playing a significant role.
  • Billionaire Dan Loeb has bought back into Meta Platforms stock, citing the company's AI investments.
  • Blackstone is investing $1 billion in a power plant to meet the electricity demand from AI data centers.
  • Demand for data storage solutions is surging due to AI applications, benefiting companies like Western Digital and Seagate.
  • Luminary Cloud raised $72 million for its AI-driven physical product design platform.
  • TENEX.AI secured $27 million in Series A funding for its AI-native cybersecurity operations.
  • AI's growing influence is impacting stock markets, infrastructure investment, and the development of new technologies across multiple industries.

Spara secures $15 million for AI sales agents

Spara, a startup using AI for sales, has raised $15 million in seed funding. The company's AI agents will handle customer interactions through voice, email, and chat. Cofounders David Walker and Zander Pease consulted industry experts to develop the platform. This funding will help Spara expand its team and develop its AI technology further. The goal is to make sales processes more efficient and convert leads into revenue.

Spara raises $15M seed for AI sales agents after expert consultation

Spara, an AI startup focused on sales automation, has raised $15 million in seed funding. The company uses AI agents to handle sales conversations via voice, email, and chat, aiming to qualify leads and book meetings. Cofounders David Walker and Zander Pease spent six months interviewing experts to refine their product. The funding will support research, development, sales, and marketing efforts. Spara aims to make inbound sales more efficient for mid-market and large businesses.

Terra Security raises $30M Series A for AI penetration testing

Terra Security, an AI-driven penetration testing company, has raised $30 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Felicis, with participation from Dell Technologies Capital and others. This funding brings Terra's total raised to $38 million. The company uses AI agents to perform continuous penetration tests, mimicking ethical hackers. The funds will expand R&D, scale U.S. sales, and improve AI capabilities for offensive security testing.

Terra Security secures $30M Series A for AI-powered security testing

Terra Security, an AI company focused on penetration testing, has raised $30 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Felicis, with support from Dell Technology Capital and SVCI. This brings their total funding to $38 million since its 2024 founding. Terra uses AI agents for continuous penetration testing to find vulnerabilities. The company plans to use the funds to expand its platform, hire more staff, and grow its customer base in offensive security.

Pony AI stock rises on Qatar robotaxi service plans

Pony AI, a Chinese AI company, saw its stock rise amid plans to launch a robotaxi service in Qatar. The company is partnering with Qatar's Karwa transportation service. Pony AI is testing robotaxis in Doha, Qatar's capital. Despite a large market cap, Pony AI has not yet achieved profitability. The company has about four years of cash remaining to prove its business model. This expansion into Qatar is seen as a significant step for the autonomous mobility company.

AI powers Nasdaq Composite to perfect week of record highs

The Nasdaq Composite index finished last week with five consecutive days of record closing highs, driven largely by AI-related technology companies. Nvidia's new chip announcement boosted its stock and related companies like AMD and Broadcom. Investors are anticipating a potential interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve this week, which could further benefit growth-oriented tech startups. The article also touches on trade discussions between the U.S. and China, China's economic slowdown, and the European IPO market.

Billionaire Dan Loeb buys back into Meta Platforms AI stock

Billionaire investor Dan Loeb has repurchased shares of Meta Platforms, an AI leader, after selling them earlier in the year. Loeb's hedge fund, Third Point, had divested from many 'Magnificent Seven' stocks due to valuation concerns. However, Meta's strong first-quarter earnings and its significant investments in AI infrastructure appear to have convinced Loeb to re-enter the position. Meta's AI strategy is reportedly driving growth in its advertising business, offering marketers better returns.

Luminary Cloud raises $72M for AI-driven physical product design

Luminary Cloud has raised $72 million in Series B funding to advance its AI-driven platform for physical product design. The company focuses on 'Physics AI,' aiming to simulate product performance in near real-time. This technology could significantly impact manufacturing by allowing engineers to iterate designs almost instantly. Luminary is developing industry-specific models, like Shift-SUV with Honda, to speed up development cycles. The funding will expand research, build a marketing and sales team, and enhance AI capabilities.

TENEX raises $27M Series A for AI-native security operations

TENEX.AI, an AI-native cybersecurity company, has secured $27 million in Series A funding led by Crosspoint Capital Partners. The company offers a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service that combines AI, automation, and human expertise. TENEX has achieved over $10 million in revenue in six months and serves Fortune 500 clients. The funding will accelerate engineering, sales, and marketing efforts to expand its AI-driven security operations platform.

Blackstone invests $1B in power plant for AI data center demand

Blackstone is investing $1 billion to acquire the Hill Top natural gas power plant near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company cited the increasing demand for electricity from data centers supporting artificial intelligence applications as a key driver for this investment. The 620-megawatt Hill Top plant is one of the newest and most efficient in the country. Blackstone plans to invest significantly in power and data center infrastructure, recognizing the growing need for reliable energy sources for AI technologies.

Data storage stocks surge as AI drives demand

Data storage stocks, including Western Digital, Sandisk, Seagate, and Pure Storage, have seen significant gains due to high demand driven by artificial intelligence applications. Western Digital and Seagate have reportedly raised prices for their hard disk drives and flash memory products. Analysts are bullish on these companies, with some naming Western Digital as a top pick for 2025. The increased demand for data storage is outpacing supply, leading to stock price surges and record highs for several companies.

Sources

AI Sales Agents Seed Funding Sales Automation AI Penetration Testing Series A Funding AI Security Robotaxi Service Autonomous Mobility Nasdaq Composite AI Technology Nvidia Meta Platforms AI Infrastructure AI-driven Product Design Physics AI Manufacturing AI-native Cybersecurity Managed Detection and Response (MDR) AI Data Center Demand Data Storage Stocks Artificial Intelligence Applications