Episode 21 of Startup Jazz. This week, George and Michelle dive into AI innovation, valuations, investment trends, covering 7 compelling stories from the startup ecosystem.

Stories featured in this episode:

1. 5 Interesting Startup Deals You May Have Missed: Plant-Based Clothing Dyes, A Shoebox-Picking Robot, And Power Generated On The Moon (Crunchbase News)

2. AI Is Disrupting the College-to-Career Pipeline. Here’s Where Young Workers Are Placing Their Bets Now. (Entreprenuer)

3. This Fitness Trainer Built a $191 Million Activewear Brand by Solving a Problem Every Woman at the Gym Faces (Entreprenuer)

4. How This GV Investor Looks For The Next Stripe And Other ‘Compounding’ Startups In Fintech And AI (Crunchbase News)

5. IPOs Are Holding Up In 2026, But SaaS Debuts Aren’t Happening (Crunchbase News)

6. Fintech Plaid Completes Tender Offer At $8B Valuation (Crunchbase News)

7. Fintech Giant Stripe’s Valuation Soars to $159B In Latest Secondary Stock Sale (Crunchbase News)

Bringing you the latest in startup funding with a smooth jazz vibe.