Top-funded AI database Pinecone considers a sale, Meta’s $10B cloud deal and a $6B valuation for “ChatGPT for doctors”: key finance updates

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From billion-dollar fundraises to surprise acquihires, the pace of deals and capital in tech has entered a new phase. Startups and incumbents alike are recalibrating strategies as valuations swing, dry powder dwindles, and investors chase the next big winner.

At The Information, we show you how these financial shifts reveal where the industry is headed—and who stands to gain or lose. Subscribe now to get 25% off for exclusive access to our in-depth reporting.

Character.AI has been weighing a sale or new funding at a $1B valuation just a year after its founders defected to Google. Over in the coding wars, Cognition is offering buyouts to Windsurf staff after its takeover, highlighting the stark outcomes for employees caught in acquihires. And in infrastructure—the top-funded vector database, Pinecone—has talked with bankers about a sale as competition from AWS heats up.

Not all valuations are cooling: OpenEvidence, dubbed "ChatGPT for doctors," is fielding offers valuing it at $6B, nearly doubling its price tag in just a month. Meanwhile, former OpenAI staffers are launching the Zero Shot Fund, targeting $100M to back early AI startups. And Meta just signed a $10B+ cloud deal with Google— one of the largest in Google Cloud's history, as Zuckerberg doubles down on compute for AI.

Beyond AI, sectors from energy to retail are reshaping. Zach Dell's Base Power is plotting a $4B valuation to scale its grid-connected home batteries, while Faire, once valued at $5B, is aiming for $500M in revenue and eyeing Amazon-style logistics. In Europe, California startup Lyten seized on Northvolt's bankruptcy to snatch the entire battery giant.

The finance race isn't just about who raises the most—it's about who can turn capital into resilience. The Information delivers the play-by-play that others miss. Subscribe today for $299 and save 25% on the first year.