An unidentified foreign hacker broke into the FBI’s field office in New York in 2023 and compromised files related to the bureau’s investigation into the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Reuters.

The newswire cited a source familiar with the breach, as well as court documents, and reported that the hack took advantage of a server at the Child Exploitation Forensic Lab in the FBI’s New York field office that was inadvertently left vulnerable by an FBI special agent working on the case. The breach “included combing through certain files pertaining to the Epstein investigation,” according to a court document. 

An FBI spokesperson said that the investigation is ongoing. “Following the 2023 cyber incident, the FBI contained the affected network and determined the incident to be an isolated one. The FBI restricted access to the malicious actor and rectified the network,” the spokesperson said in a statement sent by email to TechCrunch.

A source told Reuters that the hacker did not realize they had broken into the FBI until the agents asked them to join a video call where they showed their credentials to the hacker.

For years, venture capitalists have been skeptical of beverage startups, citing thin margins and brutal distribution as reasons most brands never break out. But a new wave of “functional soda” companies has been challenging that assumption, including Poppi, the prebiotic soda brand that grew from a kitchen experiment into a $1.95 billion acquisition by PepsiCo. 

On this episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, is joined by Poppi co-founder Allison Ellsworth to talk about building a beverage startup in a venture world dominated by SaaS and AI. From pitching on Shark Tank while nine months pregnant to going viral on TikTok and buying a last-minute Super Bowl ad, Ellsworth breaks down what it really takes to build a category-defining consumer brand — and what she looks for now that she’s back on Shark Tank as an investor herself.

Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. 

With AI igniting an investor frenzy, more startups are achieving unicorn status every month. 

Using data from Crunchbase and PitchBook, TechCrunch tracked down the VC-backed startups that became unicorns in 2026. While most are AI-related, a surprising number are focused on other industries like healthcare and even a few crypto companies. This list will be updated throughout the year.

February

Positron — $1 billion: This AI semiconductor startup was founded in 2023 and announced a $230 million Series B in February. It’s now raised more than $300 million in funding to date from investors like Valor Equity Partners and Jump Trading, according to PitchBook.  

Skyryse — $1.1 billion: This semi-automated flight operating system, founded in 2016, last raised a $300 million Series C. It has raised more than $540 million in funding from investors like Autopilot Ventures, Fidelity, and Venrock, according to PitchBook.  

TRM Labs — $1 billion: This platform helps crypto businesses investigate and prevent fraud. It was founded in 2018 and last raised a $70 million Series C. It has raised around $219 million in funding to date from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and PayPal Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Midi Health — $1 billion: This telemedicine platform aimed at menopausal health was founded in 2021. It last raised a $100 million Series D. It has raised more than $250 million in funding to date from investors like GV and Emerson Collective, according to PitchBook.   

Lunar Energy — $1 billion: This company makes batteries for homeowners to store their own energy. Founded in 2020, Lunar Energy last raised a $102 million Series D. It has raised more than $230 million in funding to date from investors like B Capital and Prelude Ventures, according to PitchBook.   

Bedrock Robotics — $1.8 billon: This AI-powered system lets construction equipment operate without much human control. Founded in 2024 by a former Waymo employee, it last raised a $270 million Series B. It has raised $350 million in funding to date from investors like 8VC and Valor Equity Partners, according to PitchBook.  

Fundamental — $1.4 billion: This AI Lab offering foundational models is designed to analyze large datasets. Founded in 2024, it last raised a $255 million Series A. The bulk of it comes from the firm Oak HC/FT, according to PitchBook.  

Goodfire — $1.3 billion: This company is building tools to help researchers inspect and understand how AI models work. Founded in 2013, it last raised a $150 million Series B, according to PitchBook.   

Iterative Health — $1.4 billion: This medical research company, focused on the digestive system, was founded in 2017 and last raised a $75 million Series C. It has raised more than $270 million in funding to date from investors like Insight Partners and Obvious Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Oxide — $1.6 billion: This company builds cloud infrastructure so companies can run their own private cloud inside their own data center. It was founded in 2019 and last raised a $200 million Series C. It has raised more than $360 million in funding to date from the U.S. Innovative Technology Fund and Eclipse, according to PitchBook.  

Solace — $1 billion: This healthcare marketplace, founded in 2022, last raised a $130 million Series C. It has raised more than $200 million in funding to date from investors, including Menlo Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Garner — $1.4 billion: This company uses data to help patients find better doctors. Founded in 2019, it last raised a $118 million Series D and has raised $179 million in funding to date from investors like Rounders Fund and Redpoint Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Apptronik — $5.3 billion: This humanoid robotics company, founded in 2016, last raised a $935 million Series A from investors like B Capital Group and Capital Factory. It has raised $935 million in funding to date, according to PitchBook.   

Talkiatry — $1.4 billion: This startup is trying to make psychiatric services more accessible to patients and providers. It was founded in 2019 and last raised a $210 million Series D. It has raised almost $430 million in funding to date from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Left Lane Capital, according to PitchBook.  

Erebor Bank — $4 billion: Founded in 2025 by Palmer Luckey, this bank specializes in working with crypto clients. It last raised a $635 million seed round from investors like Lux Capital, according to PitchBook.  

Render — $1.5 billion: This cloud app hosting company, tuned for AI and agentic apps, was founded in 2018. It last raised a $100 million Series C1 round and has raised more than $250 million in funding to date from investors like General Catalyst and Bessemer Venture Partners, according to PitchBook. Render won the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield competition in 2019.  

ZaiNar — $1 billion: Founded in 2017, this company offers wireless location tracking technology to physical assets like vehicles and drones. It last raised a $100 million Series A and has raised around $118 million in funding to date from investors like SoftBank Investment Advisers and AME Cloud Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Code Metal — $1.3 billion: This AI coding assistant platform, founded in 2023, last raised a $125 million Series B. It has raised more than $170 million in funding to date from investors like Salesforce and J2 Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Flapping Airplanes — $1.5 billion: This AI research lab was founded in 2025 and last raised $180 million in seed funding, valuing it at $1.5 billion. It has funding from investors like Index Ventures and GV, according to PitchBook.  

Profound — $1 billion: This SEO platform is designed to help companies show up in AI search answers. Founded in 2024, it last raised a $96 million Series C at a $1 billion valuation. It has raised around $148 million in funding to date from investors, including Sequoia and Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to PitchBook.  

Basis — $1.1 billion: Founded in 2023, this accounting automation software last raised a $100 million Series B at a $1.1 billion valuation. It has raised more than $130 million in funding to date from investors such as Khosla Ventures and Accel, according to PitchBook.  

January

Aalyria — $1.3 billion: Founded in 2021, this AI-powered orchestration software, spun out of Google, last raised a $100 million Series B, valuing the company at $1.3 billion. Investors in the company include Battery Ventures and J2 Ventures. It has raised $130 million to date, according to PitchBook.  

Gecko — $1.8 billion: This AI and robotics company, founded in 2013, last raised a $125 million Series D, valuing the company at $1.8 billion. It has raised more than $300 million in funding to date, from investors including Founders Fund and Cox Enterprises, according to PitchBook.  

Arena — $1.7 billion: This AI platform helps business leaders make decisions. It was founded in 2022 and last raised a $150 million Series A, valuing the company at $1.7 billion. The company has raised $250 million in funding to date, from investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Felicis, according to PitchBook.  

humans& — $4.5 billion: This AI research lab, which focuses on creating AI that collaborates with humans, last raised a $480 million seed round led by SV Angel and Georges Harik, per Crunchbase.  

webAI — $2.5 billion: This company lets organizations build their own private enterprise models. It was founded in 2019 and last raised an undisclosed Series A round, per PitchBook. 

Tandem — $1 billion: This company helps doctors effectively fill prescriptions. Founded in 2013, it last raised a $100 million Series B from investors including Accel, per PitchBook and Crunchbase.

Higgsfield — $1.3 billion: Launched in 2023, this generative AI video startup, founded by an ex-Snap executive, raised a $180 million Series A, per Crunchbase. 

Pomelo Care — $1.7 billion: Founded in 2021, this virtual maternity care company last raised a $92 million Series C, valuing the company at $1.7 billion. It has raised more than $170 million to date from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and First Round Capital, according to PitchBook.  

Rain — $1.9 billion: This crypto wallet company, founded in 2021, last raised a $250 million Series C. It has raised $338 million to date from investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners and ICONIQ Capital, according to PitchBook.  

Deepgram — $1.3 billion: This voice AI infrastructure company lets software communicate with humans. It was founded in 2015 and last raised a $143 million Series C at a $1.3 billion valuation. It has raised more than $240 million in funding to date from investors like VC and Tiger Global Management, according to PitchBook. 

Alpaca — $1.1 billion: Founded in 2013, this API and crypto brokerage platform last raised a $150 million Series D, giving it a $1.1 billion valuation. It has raised more than $340 million in funding to date from investors like Tribe Capital and Drive Capital, according to PitchBook.  

Tulip — $1.3 billion: This platform helps factories monitor their operations using data and insights. It last raised a $120 million Series D and has raised more than $270 million in funding to date. Investors include Insight Partners, New Enterprise Associates, and Vertex Ventures US, according to PitchBook. 

Preply — $1.2 billion: This language learning platform last raised a $150 million Series D at a $1.2 billion valuation, led by WestCap. The company has raised nearly $300 million to date, with investors including Owl Ventures and Full-In Partners.  

Upscale AI — $1 billion: This AI infrastructure company last raised a $200 million Series A, giving it a $1 billion valuation. It was founded in 2025 and has raised $300 million in funding to date from investors like Tiger Global Management and Xora Innovation, according to PitchBook.  

GlossGenius — $1.1 billion: This software helps enterprises handle appointments. It was founded in 2015 and last raised a $44 million Series D, giving it a $1.1 billion valuation. It has raised around $115 million in funding to date from investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners and Imaginary Ventures, according to PitchBook.  

Recursive Intelligence — $4 billion: This AI-powered chip design startup, founded in 2025, last raised a $300 million Series A, giving it a $4 billion valuation. It has raised around $335 million in funding to date, from investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital, according to PitchBook.   

Varda — $1.6 billion: This company mines raw materials from space for product use on Earth. It last raised a $250 million Series D, giving it a $1.6 billion valuation. It has raised more than $570 million in funding to date from investors like Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, and Lux Capital, according to PitchBook.   

PaleBlueDot AI — $1 billion: Founded in 2013, this company helps developers manage GPU computing by using AI agents and automation. It last raised a $150 million Series B, giving it a $1 billion valuation. It has raised $160 million in funding to date from investors like B Capital Group and Sky Arc Capital, according to PitchBook.