META DESCRIPTION: Explore the biggest tech business and industry funding rounds from July 25 to August 1, 2025, including fintech, AI, and startup innovation trends.

Tech Business & Industry Moves: The Week’s Biggest Funding Rounds and What They Mean for the Future

If you want to know where technology is headed, follow the money. This week, the tech business and industry landscape was abuzz with funding rounds that didn’t just break records—they set the tone for what’s next in fintech, AI, and digital consumer experiences. From billion-dollar capital infusions to nimble startups redefining how we buy homes or manage our finances, the latest funding news reads like a crystal ball for the industry’s future.

Why does this matter? Because every dollar invested is a vote of confidence in a vision of tomorrow. When venture capitalists and institutional investors open their wallets, they’re not just betting on founders—they’re shaping the products, platforms, and services that will soon be woven into our daily lives. This week’s funding stories reveal more than just numbers: they spotlight the technologies and business models poised to disrupt everything from banking to home buying.

In this week’s roundup, we’ll unpack the most significant funding rounds between July 25 and August 1, 2025, and connect the dots to broader industry trends. You’ll meet the fintech giants scaling new heights, the AI-powered startups making home buying smarter, and the innovation engines fueling the next wave of digital transformation. Along the way, we’ll explore what these moves mean for consumers, businesses, and the future of tech itself.

Bilt, iCapital, and the Fintech Funding Frenzy: Big Bets on the Future of Finance

If there’s one sector that refuses to slow down, it’s fintech. This week, the industry saw a cascade of headline-grabbing funding rounds, each one a testament to the sector’s resilience and relentless innovation—even as global fintech funding dipped 38% year-over-year in the first half of 2025[2].

Bilt: Turning Rent into Rewards, and Now, a $10.75 Billion Valuation

Bilt, the platform that lets renters earn points on their monthly payments, closed a $250 million funding round, catapulting its valuation to a staggering $10.75 billion[2]. For context, that’s more than the GDP of some small countries—and a clear signal that investors see massive potential in reimagining how we interact with one of life’s biggest expenses.

Bilt’s model is deceptively simple: transform rent payments into a loyalty program, much like airlines did with frequent flyer miles. But the implications are profound. By turning a traditionally “dead” expense into a source of value, Bilt is rewriting the rules of consumer finance and loyalty. As more landlords and property managers integrate with Bilt, expect a ripple effect across the real estate and payments industries.

iCapital: $820 Million to Democratize Alternative Investments

Meanwhile, iCapital, the platform making private equity and hedge funds accessible to a broader swath of investors, raised a jaw-dropping $820 million, pushing its valuation to $7.5 billion[2]. In an era where retail investors crave access to the same opportunities as institutional giants, iCapital’s growth is a bellwether for the democratization of finance.

Industry analysts point out that as traditional investment returns flatten, platforms like iCapital are well-positioned to capture a new generation of investors seeking diversification and higher yields. The influx of capital will likely accelerate product development and global expansion, making alternative assets a mainstream part of personal finance.

Xelix and Quavo: The Back-Office Revolution

Not to be outdone, accounts payable startup Xelix secured $160 million in Series B funding, while dispute management software provider Quavo landed a $300 million investment from Spectrum Equity[2]. These aren’t just back-office tools—they’re the digital plumbing that keeps the financial world running smoothly.

By automating and streamlining complex processes, Xelix and Quavo are helping businesses reduce errors, cut costs, and focus on growth. As regulatory scrutiny and transaction volumes increase, expect these platforms to become indispensable for enterprises of all sizes.

Jitty’s $3.8 Million Seed Round: AI is Coming for Your House Hunt

If you’ve ever tried to buy a home and felt like you were stuck in a time warp, you’re not alone. Enter Jitty, the London-based AI-powered home search platform that just raised $3.8 million in seed funding, led by REA Group and joined by heavyweights like Goodwater Ventures and Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI fund)[4].

Jitty’s mission? To make property discovery as immersive and intuitive as scrolling through your favorite social app. By leveraging advanced computer vision and AI, Jitty lets buyers visualize homes as if they’re physically there—think of it as Google Street View meets Zillow, but smarter.

REA Group’s Chief Product & Audience Officer, Melina Cruickshank, summed it up: “We believe the next frontier in property discovery is highly immersive, helping buyers visualise a home as if they’re physically there. Jitty's pace of growth in redefining traditional property discovery via computer imagery in a short time is impressive”[4].

For consumers, this means less guesswork and more confidence in one of life’s biggest purchases. For the industry, it’s a wake-up call: the days of static listings and grainy photos are numbered. As Jitty eyes international expansion and product development, expect the home-buying experience to become faster, smarter, and more personalized.

Techstars Portfolio: A Funding Bonanza Across Sectors

While fintech and proptech grabbed the headlines, the Techstars accelerator network quietly orchestrated a symphony of funding rounds across its portfolio, touching everything from AI and robotics to medtech and Web3[1].

Orbit Fab, Cariqa, and the Rise of Vertical Innovation

Among the standouts:

• Orbit Fab: At the forefront of AI, robotics, and space tech, Orbit Fab secured new investment from CoreNest Capital, signaling continued momentum in the race to commercialize space infrastructure[1].
• Cariqa: This EV charging payments startup raised €4 million to simplify how drivers pay for and access charging stations—a crucial step as Europe and North America accelerate their electric vehicle transitions[1].
• Asepha: The pharmacy AI agent closed a $4 million round to double its staff and open a New York office, aiming to streamline medication management and pharmacy operations[1].

Other notable raises included Rwazi ($12 million Series A for consumer insights), H2Ok Innovations ($12 million Series A for precision manufacturing), and Kilsar ($3.7 million seed for AI-driven maintenance training)[1].

What ties these diverse startups together? A relentless focus on solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology. Whether it’s making manufacturing more precise, EV charging more accessible, or healthcare more efficient, these companies are building the infrastructure for the next digital decade.

Analysis & Implications: The New Rules of Tech Investment

This week’s funding rounds aren’t just isolated events—they’re signposts pointing to deeper shifts in the tech business and industry landscape.

1. Fintech’s Enduring Allure

Despite a global funding slowdown, fintech remains the darling of investors, especially in the US, which captured 70% of the top deals in the first half of 2025[2]. The sector’s resilience is driven by:

• Ongoing digital transformation in banking and payments
• Consumer demand for transparency, rewards, and access
• The rise of platforms that democratize complex financial products

For consumers, this means more choices, better rewards, and easier access to sophisticated investment tools. For businesses, it’s a call to innovate or risk obsolescence.

2. AI Everywhere—From Home Buying to Healthcare

AI is no longer a buzzword—it’s the engine powering everything from property search (Jitty) to pharmacy operations (Asepha) and industrial manufacturing (H2Ok Innovations)[1][4]. The common thread? AI’s ability to turn data into actionable insights, automate tedious tasks, and personalize user experiences.

As these technologies mature, expect them to quietly reshape daily life—making everything from finding a home to managing your health faster, smarter, and more intuitive.

3. The Rise of Vertical SaaS and Infrastructure Plays

Startups like Cariqa and Orbit Fab illustrate a growing trend: the move toward highly specialized, vertical solutions that address industry-specific pain points[1]. Rather than building generic platforms, these companies are embedding themselves deep within sectors like EV charging, space tech, and manufacturing.

For investors, this means bigger bets on fewer, more focused companies. For end users, it means tools that actually fit the unique contours of their industries.

Conclusion: The Future Is Funded—Are You Ready?

This week’s funding news is more than a ledger of who raised what—it’s a preview of the technologies and business models that will define the next era of tech. As capital flows into fintech, AI, and vertical SaaS, the boundaries between industries blur, and the pace of innovation accelerates.

For consumers, the message is clear: expect smarter, more personalized, and more accessible digital experiences. For businesses, the stakes have never been higher—adapt, partner, or risk being left behind.

As we look ahead, one question lingers: In a world where every funding round is a vote for the future, what kind of tomorrow are we building? The answer, as always, will be written in code—and in capital.

References

[1] Techstars. (2025, August 1). Techstars Update: July 2025. Techstars Blog. https://www.techstars.com/blog/innovation-in-action/techstars-update-july-2025
[2] Emanuel-Burns, C. (2025, July 31). July 2025: Top five fintech funding rounds of the month. FinTech Futures. https://www.fintechfutures.com/venture-capital-funding/july-2025-top-five-fintech-funding-rounds-of-the-month
[3] Codina, O. G. (2025, August 1). Weekly funding round-up! All of the European startup funding rounds we tracked this week (Jul 25 – Aug 01). EU-Startups. https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/08/weekly-funding-round-up-all-of-the-european-startup-funding-rounds-we-tracked-this-week-jul-25-aug-01/
[4] Online Marketplaces. (2025, August 1). Jitty Raises $3.8 Million Seed Round, Led By REA Group. Online Marketplaces. https://www.onlinemarketplaces.com/articles/jitty-raises-3-8-million-seed-round-led-by-rea-group/
[5] Fintech Global. (2025, August 1). Brazil FinTech QI Tech lands $63m in Series B extension. Fintech Global. https://fintech.global/2025/08/01/brazil-fintech-qi-tech-lands-63m-in-series-b-extension/