Volta Software grabs €5M to digitise €360B French B2B commerce market with AI
Link: techfundingnews.com → Volta Software raises €11M
Summary: The French‑Italian startup Volta Software has secured a €11 million round (including €5 M extension) to build an AI platform that automates up to 90 % of manual tasks for B2B distributors and suppliers. With the French B2B e‑commerce market at ~€360 billion, this underscores significant opportunity for digital transformation in B2B commerce.
Tech (USA)
OpenAI enters browser wars with ‘ChatGPT Atlas,’ challenging Google Chrome’s AI‐powered web dominance
Link: Storyboard18 → OpenAI launches AI browser
Summary: OpenAI is preparing to launch its first AI‑powered web browser, ChatGPT Atlas, initially for macOS (with Windows, iOS and Android to follow), positioning itself head‑to‑head with Google’s Chrome in the browser market. For B2B tech consultants, this signals new potential in browser‑based enterprise workflows, extensions and integrations.
Industrial / Supply‑Chain
Raplas Technologies offers accuracy, repeatability and flexibility in SLA 3D printing for automotive & defence
Link: 3Dnatives → Raplas Technologies interview
Summary: UK‑based Raplas Technologies is developing high‑precision resin SLA 3D printing systems targeting automotive and defence markets, offering repeatability and flexibility where existing machines fall short. For industrial B2B players, this illustrates how additive manufacturing is moving from prototyping to production‐grade use cases.
Marketing / Sales
Smart demand‑gen marketing: What matters in the age of lean budgets & AI
Link: PR Newswire → 9th Annual State of Demand Gen Report
Summary: The latest report reveals that B2B demand‑generation teams are operating under shrinking or flat budgets, yet leadership still demands more pipeline. The key takeaway: Success in 2026 will likely come from smarter use of AI, better measurement and targeted optimization — an area your AI consulting business could lean into.
Wildcard (Asia / FinTech)
Riverchain International Limited completes US$5M Series A to accelerate working‑capital solutions for SME contractors
Link: Taiwan News via MediaOutReach → Riverchain raises US$5M
Summary: Hong Kong‑based fintech Riverchain announced a US$5 million Series A funding round to support start‑to‑finish working‑capital financing for SME contractors in the construction industry across Asia. This highlights the growing infusion of tech into traditional B2B sectors (financing, construction) and the broader opportunity for digital services.
