PataBid secures $2 million to grow its AI construction estimating platform
BetaKit ·
Calgary-based PataBid raised $2 million in pre-seed funding led by Graphite Ventures, with participation from several other investors. The company plans to use the money to develop its Quantify estimating platform and expand across North America; its agentic AI, Newton, is in beta and planned to launch in 2027.
More from ringside
- 01
Nectar rolls out an AI agent for creator marketing
Nectar’s Creator Agent searches more than 300 million creator profiles, assesses content and brand fit, and can handle personalized outreach, partnership logistics, and campaign tracking. The startup says it also reviews content in context for brand safety and keeps a record of creator interactions; the article does not disclose pricing or funding.
TechCrunch ·
- 02
OpenAI acquires AI travel startup Odessia less than a year after launch
Odessia founder Francis Davidson says OpenAI acquired his AI travel agent, which generated bookable itineraries based on users’ preferences. The purchase price was not disclosed; Odessia had raised a $6-million round led by Sequoia, and Davidson says he will join OpenAI to work on travel.
BetaKit ·
- 03
OpenAI acqui-hires Odessia founder after shutting down its AI travel agent
OpenAI acquired Odessia, an AI travel startup founded by Sonder’s Francis Davidson, who is joining the company to work on the future of travel. Odessia raised a $6 million pre-seed round led by Sequoia, but its product has been shut down; the deal’s terms were not disclosed.
Startups | TechCrunch ·
- 04
Cyanogen co-founder plans a free, AI-focused alternative to Windows
Kora Systems, founded by former Cyanogen co-founder Kirt McMaster, is developing a Linux desktop OS that embeds AI models and autonomous agents across apps and files. Planned for 2027 as a free product for Intel-, AMD- and Qualcomm-powered PCs, it targets heavy AI users; the company says AI coding tools have sped development at least fivefold.
Startups | TechCrunch ·
- 05
Blue J raises $176M USD to expand AI tax workflows
Toronto-based Blue J raised a $176 million USD Series E led by JMI Equity, valuing the AI tax research company at more than $700 million USD. The company says its annual recurring revenue has grown 165% since its Series D 15 months ago, and plans to develop agentic tax-workflow tools and expand in the UK.
BetaKit ·
- 06
October Unicorn Cohort Adds 34 Companies as Early-Stage AI Surges
The Crunchbase Unicorn Board passed 1,900 private companies after 34 joined in October, adding more than $96 billion in value and $14.8 billion in funding. Half the newcomers were under four years old, including three-year-old Manus AI, which raised $500 million at a $4 billion valuation.
Crunchbase News ·