Startup Spotlight

Startup Spotlight

Whatnot Hit $20 Billion Without an AI Slide

A live-shopping app selling sneakers and Pokemon cards just outraised half the AI startups this summer. Here is what that tells you.

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Spencer Gareiss
Aug 12, 2026
∙ Paid

While Silicon Valley funnels nearly every dollar into foundation models, a company that started in a rental house stacked with Funko Pop figurines just raised $545 million.

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