This week's startup news is dominated by Big Tech companies expanding their reach through strategic acquisitions and investments, while startups in various sectors make significant progress. From AI chip startups going public to fintech companies raising millions, the tech landscape is witnessing a flurry of activity.

In the IPO space, Blaize, an AI chip startup founded by Intel engineers in 2011, went public on Tuesday after announcing its intention to do so via a SPAC the day before. This development marks a rare tech IPO in the U.S. market. Meanwhile, Amazon is set to acquire Indian BNPL startup Axio for over $150 million, which will help the e-commerce giant accelerate its push into financial services in India, one of its fastest-growing markets.

eBay plans to acquire Caramel, a startup that helps car sellers and buyers complete the final steps of the transaction. This move follows eBay's previous acquisitions of Cargigi, an advertising and marketing tech company for car dealerships, and U.K. classifieds site Motors.co.uk. Moody's has also agreed to acquire geospatial AI startup Cape Analytics for an undisclosed sum, which will enable the financial services firm to create a property database for delivering local risk insights to its insurance clients.

In the AI research space, high-profile AI researcher François Chollet and Zapier co-founder Mike Knoop have launched Ndea, an AI research and science lab focused on developing and operationalizing artificial general intelligence (AGI). This development has significant implications for the future of AI research and its potential applications.

In terms of funding, several startups have raised substantial rounds. Colossal Biosciences raised a $200 million Series C round at a valuation of $10.2 billion, with the ambitious goal of bringing back the woolly mammoth and two other extinct species. Fast-growing space infrastructure startup Loft Orbital raised $170 million in Series C funding, while Synthesia, a British startup, closed a Series D funding round of $180 million led by NEA at a valuation of $2.1 billion.

Other notable funding rounds include Bioptimus raising $41 million to develop a foundational AI model for biology, Nelly raising $51 million in Series B funding to help medical practices switch to a digital workflow, and Quantum computing startup SEEQC raising a $30 million Series A extension. Intel has also announced plans to spin off its corporate venture arm, Intel Capital, into a stand-alone fund, which will begin operating independently in the second half of 2025 with Intel as an "anchor investor."

In addition to these developments, Powerset, an investment program co-founded by AngelList alum Jake Zeller, will give five to 10 founders $1 million to invest in other startups. Nvidia has also expanded its AI empire with an investment in MetAI, a Taiwanese company that creates AI-powered digital twins.

Lastly, Rebecca Szkutak, who previously interviewed founders for TechCrunch's Found podcast, shared five recommendations for startups that stood out from her conversations. These insights offer valuable advice for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, this week's news highlights the ongoing expansion of Big Tech companies and the innovative strides being made by startups across various sectors. With significant funding rounds, strategic acquisitions, and groundbreaking research, the future of technology looks promising.