This week's startup news has been marked by significant funding rounds, acquisitions, and notable developments in various sectors, including defense, cybersecurity, and health. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, the startup ecosystem remains abuzz with activity.

One of the most notable stories of the week is the bankruptcy filing of Swedish unicorn Northvolt in the US, dealing a blow to Europe's ambitions in the battery manufacturing space. However, this setback was offset by the good news that German fintech unicorn N26 reported its first profitable quarter, with a net operating income of €2.8 million ($2.9 million) during the third quarter of 2024.

In the cybersecurity realm, Wiz, a heavyweight in the industry, acquired Dazz, a specialist in security remediation and risk management, in a cash-and-share deal valued at $450 million. This move is expected to bolster Wiz's capabilities in the space. Meanwhile, cloud company Snowflake announced its acquisition of data pipeline management company Datavolo for an undisclosed sum, further expanding its offerings.

The funding landscape was also active, with several notable raises. Indian quick-commerce startup Zepto secured $350 million in new funding, its third round in just six months, ahead of a planned IPO next year. Finnish smart ring maker Oura raised a $75 million investment from glucose device maker Dexcom, bringing its valuation to over $5 billion. Lighthouse, a data analytics platform for the hospitality industry, became a new unicorn with a $370 million Series C round led by KKR at a $1 billion valuation.

Other notable funding rounds include Tokamak Energy's $125 million raise to continue developing its egg-like reactor design, Tekever's €70 million ($74 million) Series B round to expand into new markets, and Lightning AI's $50 million raise to expand its platform to new markets and grow its customer base. OneCell Diagnostics, a startup working on limiting cancer recurrence with AI, raised $16 million in an oversubscribed Series A round to expand into the US and scale its business in India.

In the venture capital space, Blue Bear closed a $160 million third fund to back AI founders in climate, energy, and industry, while Bling Capital secured $270 million for its fourth fund, with half earmarked for follow-on investments.

Finally, Crunchbase reported that defense tech startups have raised almost $3 billion so far in 2024, surpassing the previous record of $2.6 billion in 2022. This significant investment in defense tech startups underscores the growing importance of this sector.

As the startup ecosystem continues to evolve, these developments highlight the ongoing innovation and investment in various sectors. With the holiday season approaching, it will be interesting to see how these trends shape the industry in the coming months.