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 Once considered a taboo sector to funnel money into by venture capitalists, defense tech has seen a remarkable shift over the past few years. It raised just $869 million globally in 2020, according to deal-counting platform Dealroom — a figure that rose more than tenfold to hit $11.2 billion in 2025. A lot can change in five years. Rising geopolitical tensions across the world have led states scrambling to modernize militaries and increasing commercial opportunities for new defense startups. Russia’s war in Ukraine has given rise to a new kind of drone warfare. It also provided a test bed for new defense technology developed by startups, and now tech companies have their sights set on opportunities brought about by the conflict in the Middle East. Over the past week, defense tech startups in the U.S. and Europe have told reporters at CNBC that they’re seeing increased demand and are eyeing commercial deals as a result of the conflict. Frankenburg Mark I interceptor missile live-fi...

 Spring in Full Bloom: Top 10 Japan Destinations to Visit in April 2026 April is arguably the most magical month to visit Japan. As the chill of winter fades, the country transforms into a sea of pink and white. While the 2026 cherry blossom season started slightly early in southern hubs like Tokyo and Kyoto, April remains the peak time to catch breathtaking blooms and unique spring festivals as the "Sakura Front" moves north. If you are planning to book flight tickets for a spring getaway, here are the top 10 destinations to add to your itinerary this April. 1. Osaka: The Soul of Kansai While Tokyo’s peak has passed, Osaka is currently in full swing. April is the perfect time to visit Osaka Castle Park, where over 3,000 cherry trees create a stunning backdrop for the historic fortress.  * Don't Miss: The Nemophila Festival at Osaka Maishima Seaside Park (starting mid-April), where 1 million blue flowers meet the sea. 2. Nara: Deer and Ancient Petals A short trip from Osa...

 A Seattle startup founded by former Google and Microsoft engineers is betting that companies will increasingly want to build and own smaller, specialized AI models rather than relying on general-purpose alternatives from the likes of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. Oumi, which launched its open-source platform last year, moved into its commercial phase Tuesday with technology that it says can automate the process of building custom AI models in hours rather than the weeks or months it would take with traditional approaches. The company says users can describe what they want a model to do in plain language, and the platform handles everything from generating training data to fine-tuning and evaluation. “One of the last things still standing that has not been automated with AI is the building of AI itself,” said Oumi CEO Manos Koukoumidis, demonstrating the platform on a call this week. The case for custom models: The argument comes down to cost, performance, and control. General-pur...