Warhound raises $200 million for genetically engineered working dogs
The funding values the startup at $1.2 billion. Anduril will supply hardware and software for equipment intended to assist dogs and their handlers.
Nirva adds $25 million in funding ahead of AI jewelry launch
The startup has raised $33 million in total and will open orders in November for a $249 wearable designed to capture its owner’s speech.
Nirva has secured a $25 million pre-Series A round ahead of the planned launch of its first AI wearable, a pendant intended to capture speech from its owner without recording nearby people. The financing lifts the startup’s total funding to $33 million.
An earlier round brought in $8 million from backers including Lightspeed and South Park Commons. Nirva will begin taking orders in November for the $249 device, with deliveries to initial customers targeted before the year ends.
According to Nirva, the pendant doubles as a bracelet, weighs around eight grams and can operate for up to three days between charges. Users supply samples of their voices when setting it up, allowing the system to distinguish their speech and exclude voices around them.
The company says its default setting removes both audio and transcripts after processing. Before deleting recordings, it examines vocal features including tone and speaking speed to generate observations about emotions. Its app also identifies communication patterns and provides reminders and suggested actions.
CEO Wei Lyu said the company emphasizes personal understanding rather than productivity alone. Established in 2025, Nirva’s founding team includes Lyu and Jason Chen, both previously at Meta Reality Labs, and Hanying Hu, a fashion and jewelry brand founder. Nirva also aims to introduce further devices.