AI Application-Layer Startup Radar

Who entered the AI application layer this week — May 9–16, 2026

A weekly radar for early-stage AI founders covering May 9–16: 9 new application-layer companies that launched or emerged from stealth, 22 disclosed funding rounds ($1.25M to $2.1B), founder backgrounds including a $665M-exit founder going again, and a capital source map tracking Lightspeed, a16z, Accel, Peak XV, Khosla, and Nava Ventures across specific lanes.