Top 10 Startups Backed by Tech Giants in 2025
In the world of tech, some of the most successful startups are those that have secured backing from the industry’s leading giants. These partnerships provide startups with access to funding, technology, and resources, helping them accelerate growth and innovation. Whether it’s artificial intelligence, quantum computing, or sustainability tech, these startups are leveraging the expertise of their big-name investors to disrupt industries and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Here are the Top 10 Startups Backed by Tech Giants in 2025.
- Anthropic
Backed By: Google, Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX, and others
Sector: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Founded: 2021
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Description:
Founded by former OpenAI researchers, Anthropic is an AI safety and research company with a focus on building interpretable, steerable, and secure AI systems. Backed by Google and other investors, Anthropic’s AI models, like Claude, are designed to improve transparency, ethics, and accountability in machine learning systems. The company’s long-term goal is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits humanity while preventing unintended consequences.
Key Focus:- AI safety and ethics
- Developing Claude—a powerful AI assistant
- Aligning AI with human intent
- Stripe
Backed By: Amazon, Elon Musk, Tiger Global, and more
Sector: Fintech
Founded: 2010
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Description:
Stripe revolutionised payment processing by providing businesses of all sizes with simple APIs to manage online payments. Backed by major tech giants like Amazon and Elon Musk, Stripe has become one of the most successful startups globally, offering solutions like Stripe Connect for marketplace payments and Stripe Atlas for global business incorporation. With its rapid expansion into international markets, Stripe is leading the charge in making online payments seamless and secure.
Key Focus:- Simplifying online payment processing
- Stripe Radar for fraud prevention
- Stripe Atlas for global business expansion
- UiPath
Backed By: Microsoft, Accel, and Coatue
Sector: Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Founded: 2005
Headquarters: New York, New York
Description:
As a leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), UiPath is transforming the way businesses automate repetitive tasks. With backing from Microsoft, UiPath has expanded its capabilities, integrating AI into its RPA platform to enhance automation processes and business workflows. The company’s cloud-based RPA tools are now a key part of enterprise digital transformation, helping organisations increase efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Key Focus:- Automating business processes through RPA
- AI integration for smarter automation
- Helping enterprises with digital transformation
- Relativity Space
Backed By: Google, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, and Techstars
Sector: Aerospace
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Los Angeles, California
Description:
Relativity Space is using cutting-edge 3D printing technology to manufacture rockets, revolutionising the aerospace industry. With investments from Google and Paul Allen’s Vulcan Capital, the startup aims to make space travel cheaper and more accessible. By leveraging 3D printing for components like engines and structures, Relativity is pioneering the next generation of rocket production and reducing the time needed for development.
Key Focus:- Using 3D printing to manufacture rockets
- Reducing launch costs and improving space travel accessibility
- Focusing on reusable rocket technology
- SambaNova Systems
Backed By: Intel, Wellington Management, and BlackRock
Sector: AI Hardware
Founded: 2017
Headquarters: Palo Alto, California
Description:
SambaNova Systems is changing the AI landscape by building specialised hardware designed to run AI workloads more efficiently. Backed by investors like Intel and BlackRock, SambaNova is focusing on creating dataflow architecture that accelerates machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) tasks. Their systems, which include DataScale AI platforms, are enabling enterprises to deploy more powerful AI models while improving scalability and cost-efficiency.
Key Focus:- AI hardware for optimised machine learning
- Building specialised dataflow architecture
- Enabling enterprise AI workloads
- Quantum Machines
Backed By: Microsoft, Intel, and Sequoia Capital
Sector: Quantum Computing
Founded: 2018
Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel
Description:
Quantum Machines is developing quantum computing hardware and software to advance the field of quantum computation. With funding from Microsoft and Intel, this startup is making strides in quantum control systems, which are key to advancing quantum algorithms and enabling quantum computers to solve complex problems. Quantum Machines is also focused on developing solutions for quantum cloud computing.
Key Focus:- Building quantum computing hardware and software
- Advancing quantum control systems
- Enabling quantum cloud computing for enterprises
- Nuro
Backed By: Google, Greylock Partners, and SoftBank
Sector: Autonomous Vehicles
Founded: 2016
Headquarters: Mountain View, California
Description:
Nuro is pioneering autonomous delivery vehicles for goods, reducing the need for human drivers and improving the efficiency of last-mile logistics. With investment from Google and SoftBank, Nuro is creating small, self-driving vehicles that are optimised for deliveries rather than passenger transport. Their goal is to reduce traffic congestion, cut down on emissions, and revolutionise the way goods are delivered.
Key Focus:- Autonomous delivery vehicles
- Reducing last-mile logistics costs
- Cutting traffic congestion and emissions
- Cohere
Backed By: Google, Sequoia Capital, and Index Ventures
Sector: Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Founded: 2020
Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
Description:
Cohere is an NLP-focused startup that is building large-scale language models for enterprise applications. With backing from Google and other investors, Cohere is focused on making state-of-the-art language models more accessible and customisable for businesses. Their platform allows companies to integrate AI-powered language understanding into their operations, from customer service chatbots to content creation.
Key Focus:- NLP and AI-powered language models
- Customising models for enterprise use
- Providing easy-to-integrate tools for businesses
- Notion Labs
Backed By: Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Index Ventures
Sector: Productivity Software
Founded: 2013
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Description:
Notion has redefined the productivity software space by creating a highly customisable platform for note-taking, task management, and knowledge sharing. Backed by major investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Notion has become a favourite among startups, freelancers, and enterprises. In 2024, the company continues to expand its product offerings with integrations and collaboration features, aiming to be the all-in-one workspace for teams.
Key Focus:- Customisable productivity and collaboration tools
- Merging note-taking, task management, and project tracking
- Building an all-in-one platform for teams and individuals
- Figma
Backed By: Google, Sequoia Capital, and Index Ventures
Sector: Design Software
Founded: 2012
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Description:
Figma has transformed the way design teams collaborate by offering cloud-based vector graphics software that allows real-time collaboration. Backed by Google and other investors, Figma has become the go-to tool for UI/UX designers, making it easier for teams to work together remotely. In 2025, the company continues to innovate with new features, integrations, and AI-assisted design tools, cementing its place as the leader in collaborative design software.
Key Focus:
- Cloud-based design tools for real-time collaboration
- Revolutionising UI/UX design with intuitive software
- Building AI-assisted design features