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OpenAI Secures $40B Investment Led by SoftBank, Valuation Hits $300B
In April 2025, OpenAI closed a landmark $40 billion funding round led by Japan’s SoftBank Group, boosting its valuation to $300 billion—surpassing the market capitalization of major corporations such as Chevron.
The round began with an initial $10 billion injection, including $7.5 billion from SoftBank and participation from Microsoft, Thrive Capital, Altimeter Capital, and Coatue Management. The remaining $30 billion will be released if OpenAI completes its transition to a for-profit entity by year-end 2025.
The capital is earmarked for accelerating AI research, scaling computing infrastructure, and enhancing products such as ChatGPT, which now counts over 500 million weekly active users. Despite its soaring valuation, OpenAI reported a $5 billion loss on $3.7 billion in revenue in the previous fiscal year.
In parallel, OpenAI launched Stargate LLC, a joint venture with SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, targeting up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure investments across the U.S. by 2029.
DATABRICKS
In 2025, Databricks completed its Series J fundraising, securing $10 billion in equity and $5.25 billion in debt, bringing its valuation to $62 billion. The round attracted major backers such as Meta, QIA, Temasek, and prominent global financial institutions. The capital will be directed toward advancing AI product development, strategic acquisitions, worldwide market expansion, and employee liquidity initiatives.
That March, Databricks formed a partnership with Palantir to strengthen AI-driven offerings and pledged to host its Data and AI Summit in San Francisco until 2030. The company also entered into a $100 million, five-year agreement with Anthropic to create AI agents for enterprise data, integrating Anthropic’s Claude models directly into its platform.
SPACEX
In 2025, Starlink — SpaceX’s satellite internet arm — is expected to generate $11.8 billion in revenue, fueled by robust consumer adoption and major U.S. military deals, including a previously unreported $537 million Pentagon contract to support Ukraine’s armed forces through 2027. The company is also accelerating its international footprint, particularly in India, through a partnership with Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms to boost connectivity in underserved rural and remote areas.
Starlink is also reshaping inflight internet services, with United Airlines planning to outfit its entire fleet with Starlink’s high-speed network, offering complimentary access to MileagePlus members. In addition, the company is positioned to secure a $2.4 billion project to modernize the U.S. air traffic control communications system, underscoring its expanding role in critical national infrastructure.
KLARNA
In 2025, Klarna's most significant investment and financial news revolves around its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KLAR." The company officially launched its IPO, aiming to raise up to $1.27 billion, with a target valuation of up to $14 billion. This move is a major step for Klarna, which seeks to expand its presence in the competitive U.S. market and secure capital for further growth in technology, marketing, and international expansion. A large portion of the shares being sold are from existing investors, but Klarna will also sell shares to raise its own capital.
Beyond the IPO, Klarna has continued to expand its business through strategic partnerships and funding deals. A key investment this year is a multi-year forward flow agreement with Nelnet, a U.S.-based financial services firm, to purchase up to $26 billion of Klarna's U.S. "Pay in 4" loans. This deal provides Klarna with scalable and efficient funding to support the rapid growth of its U.S. operations. Additionally, Klarna has secured other significant partnerships with major financial and retail players, including a collaboration with Walmart to power its "OnePay Later" service and a strengthened partnership with Stripe. The company also announced a €1.4 billion structured financing facility with Santander to further support its business. These investments and partnerships highlight Klarna's strategy to diversify its funding sources and solidify its position in the global payments and financial services landscape.
KRAKEN
In March 2025, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced plans to acquire NinjaTrader, a U.S.-based retail futures trading platform, in a $1.5 billion deal. The acquisition is designed to broaden Kraken’s reach beyond digital assets, adding futures and derivatives to its product lineup while attracting a wider investor base.
The move comes amid a crypto-friendly regulatory environment under President Donald Trump, whose administration has taken a supportive stance toward the sector. In a recent boost for the company, the SEC dropped its lawsuit alleging Kraken operated as an unregistered securities exchange. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2025, enabling Kraken to offer crypto-linked futures and derivatives in the U.S. while helping NinjaTrader expand its presence in global markets.
SNOWFLAKE
In February 2025, Snowflake Inc. reported fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal 2025 results that topped market expectations. Revenue rose 27% year-over-year to $986.8 million, with product revenue reaching $943.3 million — exceeding analyst estimates. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.30, well above the projected $0.18. The company maintained a strong net revenue retention rate of 126% and grew its customer count to more than 11,000.
Looking ahead, Snowflake forecasts a 24% increase in product revenue for fiscal 2026, targeting $4.28 billion. The company also expanded its collaboration with Microsoft, integrating OpenAI’s models into its Cortex AI platform, further cementing its role in the AI-powered cloud services space.
STRIPE
In 2025, Stripe has made significant moves to solidify its position as a global financial infrastructure company, with a particular focus on investments in AI and stablecoins. A key development was the February acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin platform, for $1.1 billion. This strategic purchase underscores Stripe's commitment to integrating emerging financial technologies to improve cross-border payments and offer new, programmable money solutions. This aligns with the company's broader focus on helping businesses leverage AI-driven sales channels, with 78% of the Forbes AI 50 companies already building on its platform. In addition, Stripe has continued to expand its physical and digital infrastructure in key markets, rolling out new services and products in Japan, Germany, and France to support global growth.
Beyond acquisitions and product launches, Stripe's financial status and corporate strategy also saw major updates. The company announced a tender offer in February at a valuation of $91.5 billion, providing liquidity to current and former employees. This is a clear indicator of strong investor confidence, even without a confirmed IPO date. Stripe has also emphasized its profitability, a notable shift from the "growth-at-all-costs" mentality of previous years. This profitability is allowing the company to reinvest heavily in research and development, particularly in its growing revenue automation suite and its long-standing investments in AI. These moves signal that Stripe is not only focused on expanding its market share but also on building a more sustainable and technologically advanced financial ecosystem for its customers.
ABOUT WEB3
In July 2024, ONEFi — a leading Open Banking wealth management platform — announced its transition into a full-scale Web3 wallet, aiming to connect traditional finance with decentralized ecosystems. Scheduled for launch in Q4 2024, the ONEFi Web3 ecosystem will provide users with access to their Digital Identity through ONE-ID, allowing verification of nationality and wealth status via open banking APIs and AI-powered sentiment analysis.
The platform will also enable borrowers to unlock liquidity by pledging primary market assets, such as pre-IPO shares, commodities, and premium real estate, to approved local financial institutions. This expansion positions ONEFi at the intersection of open banking innovation and Web3 finance.