The workstation company Steve Jobs founded in 1985 after being forced out of Apple (Redwood City). Its NeXTSTEP OS — object-oriented, BSD-Unix-based — was ahead of its time (the World Wide Web was built on a NeXT machine). NeXT's lasting impact ran two ways: Apple acquired it in 1996, making NeXTSTEP the foundation of Mac OS X (BSD/Darwin) and returning Jobs to Apple; and via Jobs — who simultaneously owned and funded Pixar — it underwrote the computer-animation revolution. Never a film workstation (SGI/Sun were the boxes Hollywood ran on); NeXT's film reach was entirely through Jobs and Pixar.

Egoist Machines, a Y Combinator-backed startup focused on permission-based systems for sharing AI, launches AI Passport product for secure data sharing.

AI data labeling and training platform. San Francisco CA. Accel + Tiger Global. Meta acquired 49% 2025 for $14B+. CEO: Alexandr Wang. Critical infrastructure for LLM training.

AI software / coding startup (Chamath Palihapitiya).

Abstract Security, a Palo Alto startup that helps security teams route data across tools and detect threats in motion, raised $25 million in a Series A extension co-led by Cheyenne Ventures and Atlantic Vantage Point, with prior investors Crosslink Capital and Rally Ventures also participating. Total raised ~$50 million.

Creative software, document services. NASDAQ: ADBE. Acquired Omniture $1.8B 2009 (becoming Adobe Analytics).

San Francisco CA. Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) fintech. Founded by Max Levchin (PayPal CTO) + others. NASDAQ: AFRM. $2.6B+ revenue FY2025. One of largest BNPL platforms globally.

Online marketplace for short-term rentals and experiences. San Francisco CA. Y Combinator W09 + Sequoia + a16z. IPO Dec 2020 at $47B. Co-founders: Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, Nathan Blecharczyk.

AMD designs CPUs and GPUs, competing directly with Nvidia and Intel in both traditional computing and AI accelerator chips.

The multimedia computer that ran a decade ahead — custom chips (Agnus, Denise, Paula) for graphics, animation, and sound. Founded 1982 (as Hi-Toro) in Santa Clara by a team including Jay Miner, the "father of the Amiga," who had designed Atari's earlier chips; acquired by Commodore in 1984. Pioneered desktop video and prosumer multimedia — NewTek's Video Toaster turned it into a TV-production and early-CGI workstation (Babylon 5's effects ran on Amigas). A progenitor of democratized digital media — the prosumer branch, distinct from Pixar/Hollywood's high end.

Clinical-stage therapeutics company. Canaan Partners portfolio company.

Provider of safety-critical operating system software for autonomous vehicles. Has raised over $75 million from investors including AGCO and Airbus Ventures.

Applied Intuition, a $15 billion startup that supplies software infrastructure for self-driving cars and military drones, unveiled Dana, a new service that allows users with minimal technical expertise to use natural language to build and test autonomous machines. Dana is starting with large enterprise customers like Isuzu and Komatsu before expanding to hobbyists.

Array Labs — constellation of formation-flying radar satellites delivering global, real-time 3D imagery. Founded 2021 by Andrew Peterson (CEO) and Isaac; Palo Alto, CA. ~$35M raised; $20M Series A (Jan 2026) led by Catapult Ventures with Washington Harbour, Kompas VC, Y Combinator, Maiora Capital, Animal Capital, Aera VC, Cultivation Capital, Clearance Ventures; seed from Seraphim Space and Agya Ventures.

Healthcare AI — patient-journey automation.

Ayar Labs, which makes equipment for ultrafast connections between AI chips, is raising capital at a sharply higher valuation than previously.

Ultra-compact, high-torque electric drive / actuator-motor systems with category-leading torque density (43% over Bosch/Shimano e-bike drives), designed and assembled in the USA. Flagship Elevate is a removable bolt-on e-bike powertrain; also a search-and-rescue (SAR) kit and a mid-drive in development. Born in mobility, expanding into robotics and automation — modular motors and motion control. Engineering team from Tesla, Formula 1, and aerospace.

Spend management and corporate cards for startups. San Francisco CA. Y Combinator + Ribbit + DST. Raised $200M 2024. Shifted focus from SMB to enterprise.

Semiconductor/networking; Galloway comparable for SpaceX $2T target valuation

Bunkerhill Health, an eight-year-old San Francisco hospital AI startup, raised $25 million Series B led by Khosla Ventures with Sequoia, Felicis, Optum Ventures, and Y Combinator, bringing total raised to $55 million.