Nox Metals bets software-first metal service can win US reshoring; $11.5M seed
YC S25 alum Nox Metals runs a Detroit aluminum service center like a software company — AI-optimized cuts, instant quotes — and raised an $11.5M seed.
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2,086 PUBLISHED CASES · REGULARLY UPDATEDKitopi's cloud-kitchen bet: SoftBank unicorn, dine-in pivot, then profitability by 2026
Dubai's 2018 bet on multi-brand ghost kitchens drew a $715M Series C and unicorn status, then a pivot to physical stores — and profit.
Read the caseKagi: what a paid search business must prove
Kagi offers a useful test of subscription demand in a market accustomed to free search. Separate revenue, financing, historical usage and ongoing service costs before drawing a business lesson.
Read the caseInVision's $2B design-collaboration bet ended in a 2024 shutdown as Figma ate the market
The prototyping pioneer that hit a $2B valuation lost the design-tool race to Figma and shut its platform down on December 31, 2024.
Read the caseCifrato bets AI agents can automate Colombia's accounting firms; $1M ARR in a year
Bogotá startup replaces manual bookkeeping with AI agents wired to DIAN's e-invoicing; YC Winter 2025, >$1M seed, $1M ARR in under 12 months.
Read the casePicSee's AI photo-barter bet dies in 9 months; Koo founder returns 65% of ₹33 Cr
AI face-matching photo-sharing app launched Oct 2025, shut July 2026: retention was strong, but acquiring whole friend networks never scaled.
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