Eclipse raises $1.3 billion to invest in AI infrastructure and defense startups

Investing.com – Venture capital firm Eclipse has raised $1.3 billion to invest in startups across real-economy sectors such as AI infrastructure, manufacturing, and defense.

As an early backer of Cerebras Systems Inc., Eclipse disclosed the funding in filings submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The total funding amount includes $720 million for investments in early-stage startups, and $591 million for late-stage deals.

Founded in 2015, Eclipse is a company focused on building technology for the real world. Its portfolio includes Wayve, an autonomous driving software startup, and Redwood Materials Inc., a battery supply-chain company. Eclipse founder Lior Susan also serves on the board of AI chip manufacturer Cerebras, which is expected to go public as early as this month.

The newly raised $1.3 billion is the largest funding round the company has raised to date, surpassing the $1.23 billion new fund it raised in 2023.

In a statement, Eclipse said the company has spent the past 11 years working to build a startup ecosystem focused on national strength, sovereignty, and security. “Companies in real-economy industries build differently,” the statement said. “We believe that with the support of the right partners, the next generation of builders can take the baton from the prior wave of industrial innovators—and go further.”

Other software-and-beyond companies that have recently attracted venture capital attention include nuclear power startup Valar Atomics, which has a valuation of $2.0 billion, and robotics AI startup Physical Intelligence, which is in talks for a valuation of $11.0 billion. Defense technology firm Anduril Industries Inc. has been discussing fundraising with investors this year at a valuation of more than $60.0 billion.

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