Emergence Capital vs Neotribe Ventures

Verda Raises $189M to Expand AI Cloud and Compute Capacity

European AI cloud company Verda, formerly DataCrunch, has raised $189 million (€164.8 million) in Series B funding, propelling it to unicorn status with a valuation over $1 billion. The oversubscribed round was led by Emergence Capital, with participation from MUFG Innovation Partners, Supermicro, Varma, Lifeline Ventures, 6 Degrees Capital, byFounders, Tesi, and angel investors including Ola Tørudbakken and Mark Saroufim. This brings Verda's total funding to over $450 million (€392.3 million). The company plans to scale its full-stack AI cloud, accelerate product development, multiply compute capacity, and expand internationally, including deploying Nvidia's upcoming VR200 NVL72 generation. Verda's renewable-powered data centres in Finland support its operations across Europe, the US, and Asia. The company reported an annualized revenue run rate of $165 million (€143.85 million) in July 2026, serving customers in over 50 countries.

• Verda raised $189 million (€164.8 million) in Series B funding led by Emergence Capital.
• The funding values Verda at over $1 billion, making it Europe's latest unicorn, with total funding exceeding $450 million (€392.3 million).
• Investors include MUFG Innovation Partners, Supermicro, Varma, Lifeline Ventures, 6 Degrees Capital, byFounders, Tesi, and angel investors.

Emergence Capital Publishes New Thought Leadership on AI Workforce and Open-Weight AI

Emergence Capital's thoughts page now features two new articles: 'Building the AI Workforce for Construction Finance' (September 17, 2026) and 'Our Open-Weight Bet on American AI Leadership' (September 16, 2026). The latter discusses the firm's investment in Arcee, an open-weight AI company, and its stance on American AI competitiveness.

AI-Native Services (AINS) as the Next SaaS

Investor Jake Saper and Emergence Capital are promoting the idea of AI-Native Services (AINS): startups that pair human professionals (lawyers, accountants, insurance brokers) with AI-focused engineers to sell the underlying services rather than standalone software. AINS firms aim to boost practitioner productivity with AI and price by outcome (e.g., per completed contract) instead of billable hours. The concept was presented at a small summit held at AI-native law firm Crosby in New York City; Saper shared a private deck outlining a playbook for founders building these businesses.

• Jake Saper (Emergence Capital) is promoting the concept of AI-Native Services (AINS).
• AINS combines human professionals (accounting, insurance, legal) with AI-focused software engineers.
• AINS business models often charge for outcomes/results rather than billable hours.

Legato Launches AI Hearing Glasses for Mild Hearing Loss

Legato, a hearing tech startup, announced the commercial launch of its AI-powered hearing glasses, Legato Frames, now available for purchase starting at $999. Designed for adults with up to moderate hearing loss, the glasses integrate patented hearing-assistance technology into eyewear frames, addressing cost, comfort, and stigma associated with traditional hearing aids. The AI system distinguishes voices from background noise and amplifies speech while reducing unwanted sounds. The open-ear design uses a dual-speaker system to direct sound to the wearer while canceling escape, reducing sound by 99% inches away. All processing happens on-device with no cameras or recording. The glasses weigh 34 grams, offer 10-12 hours battery, support prescription lenses and Bluetooth streaming. The launch follows the startup's emergence from stealth with $12 million funding from Neotribe Ventures, Listen, and Village Global. Legato was founded in 2024 by Mehul Trivedi and Steve Romine, former Bose and EssilorLuxottica executives.

• Legato announced the commercial availability of its AI hearing glasses, Legato Frames, starting at $999.
• Legato Frames target adults with up to moderate hearing loss and weigh 34 grams with lenses.
• The glasses feature an AI system that amplifies voices and reduces background noise, with all processing on-device.