Joyce Shen’s picks: musings and readings in AI/ML, March 23, 2026
📌 Musings and Readings
“AI Is Rewriting the Old Rules of Google Search and SEO” (Link)
“Cursor admits its new coding model was built on top of Moonshot AI’s Kimi” (Link)
“My AI Agent ‘Cofounder’ Conquered LinkedIn. Then It Got Banned” (Link)
“What Young Workers Are Doing to AI-Proof Themselves” (Link)
👏 Deals
Scanner, a CA-based company building a security data platform that enables teams to store massive volumes of log data in low-cost cloud storage, has raised $22m in series A funding.
Grodi, a Spain-based agtech startup developing robotics and AI-powered monitoring systems that scan greenhouse crops to detect pests, diseases, and plant stress early, has raised €2.5m in funding.
Certiv, a Seattle-based cybersecurity startup building security software that monitors and controls AI agents operating on employee computers, has raised $4.2m in pre-seed funding.
Understood Care, a NYC-based company using AI-driven tools and human patient advocates to help patients, has raised $5m in seed funding.
Zero RFI, a CA–based company developing solution for the AEC sector, focused on streamlining workflows by eliminating Requests for Information (RFIs), has raised $13.8m in seed funding.
Alomana, a Milan, Italy–based company building a solution that lets businesses deploy customizable AI agents to automate and optimize workflows, has raised €4m in seed funding.
SetSale, a NC–based company building a sales platform to help HVAC contractors and distributors improve overall sales performance, has raised $2m in seed funding.
VerbaFlo, a London, UK-based company providing a solution to automate customer interactions for real estate businesses, has raised $7m in seed funding.
Native, an Israel-based company offering solution to unify and automate security controls across multi-cloud environments, has raised $31m in series A funding.
Respan, a CA–based company developing an AI observability solution that enables engineering teams to monitor, test, and optimize AI agents at scale, has raised $5m in funding.
Manifold, a CA-based company building an agentic AI Detection and Response solution providing runtime visibility into agents’ activities, has raised $8m in seed funding.
Autoscience, a CA-based company building autonomous AI systems to accelerate scientific discovery by generating new models with minimal human intervention, has raised $14m in seed funding.
Rivia, a Zurich, Switzerland-based company developing a solution to unify clinical trial data and accelerate biopharma decision-making, has raised $15m in series A funding.
Health Universe, a CA-based company building the infrastructure layer for healthcare AI, enabling providers to seamlessly deploy, integrate, and scale AI applications across clinical workflows, has raised $6m in seed funding.
Chalkie, an UK–based company offering an AI copilot for educators to instantly generate and scale curriculum-aligned content, has raised $4m in funding.
Flexzo AI, a London-based company building a marketplace for healthcare staffing, enabling providers to instantly source vetted clinicians while eliminating agency costs and friction, has raised $12m in series A funding.
Parallel, a Paris, France-based startup providing AI agents that automate healthcare workflows, starting with medical coding, has raised $20m in series A funding.
