🚀 Who Got Funded + The Future of Company Building in the AI Era

👋 Hey Founder,

Funding is still flowing, but the way we build companies is shifting fast.

This week, we’re tackling:
✅ Who got funded & why investors are betting on them
✅ The future of company building—people-first or AI-first?
✅ What the “modern company” looks like in 2025

Let’s dive in.

💰 Early-Stage Funding Highlights

🚀 Swirepay ($3.4M Seed, Feb 26, 2025) – AI-powered invoice & payments automation.
✅ Why they got funded: Fintech investment is still hot, and AI-driven payments are reducing friction for businesses.
✅ Investors: Advantage Partners [+6]

🐾 Goose ($13.4M Seed, Feb 25, 2025) – Business management software for pet care platforms.
✅ Why they got funded: The pet tech sector is booming, and niche SaaS plays are attracting capital.
✅ Investors: B Capital [+4]

💻 SmartSuite ($13M Series A, Feb 26, 2025) – Cloud-based ERP software for enterprises.
✅ Why they got funded: The next wave of enterprise SaaS is all about flexible, AI-enhanced workflows.
✅ Investors: Canapi Ventures [+2]

🌱 Cambium Carbon ($18.5M Series A, Feb 24, 2025) – Carbon waste management for businesses.
✅ Why they got funded: ESG & sustainability startups are still attracting large capital rounds.
✅ Investors: MaC Venture Capital [+19]

🤖 Vana (Series A, Feb 25, 2025) – Decentralized AI & open internet infrastructure.
✅ Why they got funded: The intersection of AI + Web3 is creating new decentralized business models.
✅ Investors: Coinbase [+5]

🤖 The Future of Company Building: People-First or AI-First?

Startups used to scale with people. Now, AI is changing the equation.

📌 What’s the New Model?

✅ Traditional Approach – Hire for every function, scale up teams as you grow.
✅ Modern Model – Hire fewer but more strategic people, use AI to automate and extend capabilities.

🛠 The Future of Teams: Who Do You Actually Need?

🔹 AI-augmented specialists – Employees who can leverage AI to 10x their impact.
🔹 Strategic operators – Founders & execs who know when to automate vs. when to hire.
🔹 AI-first GTM teams – Sales, marketing, and CS teams that use AI tools to drive efficiency.

Question for you:
👉 Are you hiring the old way or building a lean, AI-powered team?

Reply and let’s discuss.

🚀 What Will the Modern Company Look Like?

The startups that win in 2025 and beyond will look different.

Old model:
✅ Large teams
✅ Slow processes
✅ High overhead

New model:
✅ Lean, AI-driven teams
✅ Automated workflows replacing manual tasks
✅ Faster iteration, data-driven decisions

📊 Key Traits of the Modern Company

🚀 AI as a core competency – AI won’t replace humans, but founders who master AI will replace those who don’t.
📈 Efficiency over headcount – Fewer people, better tools, higher output.
🧠 Execution speed = competitive edge – The fastest teams will win.

How are you structuring your company? Hit reply and let’s talk.

Final Thoughts

✅ Funding is flowing, but the game is changing.
✅ The best teams of tomorrow aren’t bigger—they’re smarter.
✅ AI won’t replace founders, but founders who don’t use AI will get left behind.

Until next time,
Apryl Syed
Founder’s Edge