Private Equity 24-Hour Briefing

Last updated: May 17, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

Private Equity

Securing a $2.5bn deal techcrunch.com propelled Eclipse’s physical‑world thesis into the spotlight, as the firm’s early‑stage bet on real‑world AI hardware finally materialised with Cerebras’ contract. The win follows a decade of capital scarcity for Lior Susan’s venture, underscoring private‑equity appetite for infrastructure‑level AI plays. Meanwhile, closing a $30 m round techcrunch.com gave Nectar Social a runway to expand its AI‑driven marketing operating system, with Menlo Ventures’ Anthology Fund leading the Series A alongside strategic partners from Anthropic. Together, the transactions highlight a shift toward deep‑tech and AI‑centric investments across the private‑equity spectrum.