February 2026 has seen a surge in venture capital flowing into high-impact sectors like AI infrastructure, energy storage, proptech, chip design, and spatial intelligence—reflecting investor confidence in technologies powering the AI boom, sustainable grids, and real-world efficiency. With U.S. startups raising over $100 billion in equity rounds so far in 2026 (per Tracxn data), mega-deals continue to dominate, especially in AI-adjacent fields.
Here’s a roundup of the top funding stories from mid-February 2026, highlighting key rounds and their implications for future tech landscapes.
Redwood Materials Closes $425M Series E – Boosting AI-Driven Energy Storage
Battery recycling and materials leader Redwood Materials (founded by ex-Tesla CTO JB Straubel) finalized its Series E at $425 million in late January/early February 2026, up from an initial $350 million close in October 2025. The round was led by Eclipse, with strategic participation from NVentures (NVIDIA’s VC arm), new investor Google, and returning backers Capricorn and Goldman Sachs Alternatives.
- Total raised to date: ~$2.3 billion.
- Post-money valuation: North of $6 billion.
- Focus: Accelerating grid-scale energy storage platforms to meet surging demand from AI data centers and industrial sites, while expanding integrated recycling for critical minerals (lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper) and cathode production.
This funding underscores the intersection of AI power needs and sustainable energy—Google’s investment highlights Big Tech’s push for reliable, low-cost storage to fuel compute-intensive workloads.
Ownwell Secures $30M Equity in $50M Total Round – AI-Powered Property Tax Relief
Austin-based proptech startup Ownwell raised $50 million in February 2026 (announced February 19), including $30 million in equity and $20 million in debt. The Series B was co-led by Alpha Edison and Mercato Partners, with participation from Intuit Ventures, Left Lane Capital, First Round Capital, Long Journey Ventures, PROOF Fund, and Wonder Ventures (debt from Western Alliance Bank).
- Total equity raised: $54 million (company claims $74 million overall including prior rounds).
- Milestone: Surpassed $400 million in property tax savings for homeowners.
- Expansion: Launching a national appeals service to streamline challenges amid rising U.S. property taxes, using AI to analyze assessments and appeal on behalf of users.
This round positions Ownwell as a leader in consumer fintech/proptech, helping homeowners combat affordability crises with automated expertise.
Other Notable February 2026 Rounds
- World Labs (spatial intelligence AI, founded by Fei-Fei Li): $1 billion financing to advance 3D world generation from text/images—backed by Nvidia, AMD, Autodesk, and others. A massive bet on next-gen generative AI for virtual environments.
- Taalas (AI chip startup, Toronto-based): $169 million to develop faster, cheaper AI accelerators challenging Nvidia—total raised $219 million from Quiet Capital, Fidelity, and Pierre Lamond.
- Novig (peer-to-peer sports prediction platform): $75 million Series B led by Pantera Capital for commission-free betting markets.
- Hook (social music remix app): $10 million Series A led by Khosla Ventures.
- Broader trends: AI dominance persists, with 17+ U.S. startups securing $100M+ rounds in early 2026 (including mega AI deals like Anthropic’s reported $30B Series G). Seed/Series A funding sees more “giant” rounds ($100M+ absorbing 40%+ of capital).
February’s activity—spanning clean energy, proptech, chips, and spatial AI—highlights investor focus on scalable solutions for AI’s energy demands, real-world applications, and infrastructure bottlenecks.
vFutureMedia tracks emerging tech funding, AI infrastructure, sustainable innovation, and startup ecosystems shaping the future. For the latest deals, valuations, and sector insights, follow Crunchbase, TechCrunch, Reuters, and company announcements. Which round excites you most—Redwood’s energy storage push or Ownwell’s homeowner relief? Let us know in the comments! Stay tuned for weekly funding updates.
I’m Ethan, and I write about the tech that’s actually going to change how we live — not the stuff that just sounds impressive in a press release. I cover AI, EVs, robotics, and future tech for VFuture Media. I was on the ground at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, walking the show floor so I could give you a real read on what matters and what’s just noise. Follow me on X for daily takes.
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