The Weekly Tech Pulse: July 28- Aug 3, 2025

Gigi Kenneth
Aug 3
9 min read

TL;DR: This Week's Bottom Line

The tech industry showed its resilience this week with Nintendo Switch 2 smashing records at 6M+ sales, Figma's explosive 250% IPO debut, and $1.2B+ in fresh AI funding.

However, cybersecurity took center stage with the Tea app's devastating data breach exposing 72,000 women's images, Chrome's fifth zero-day of 2025 (CVE-2025-6558), and Microsoft Authenticator's password deletion deadline. Meanwhile, the EU's AI Act entered its next phase, FDA approved breakthrough treatments, and femtech continued its march toward a $50B market.

The Scene This Week: Records, Regulations, and Security Reckonings

August opened with a bang as tech companies delivered blockbuster earnings, regulatory frameworks took shape, and cybersecurity took center stage with major vulnerabilities and breaches. From Nintendo's hardware dominance to Europe's AI governance leadership, this week proved that 2025's second half is setting up to be transformative but also more dangerous than ever.

The underlying theme? Sustainable growth meeting security reality, companies are building for the long haul while navigating an increasingly hostile threat landscape and structured regulatory environment.

🤖 AI: The $1.2B Investment Surge

Funding Frenzy Continues

Ramp raised a hefty $500 million Series E-2 at a $22.5 billion valuation, led by Iconiq Capital, to accelerate AI-driven corporate finance tools
MapLight Therapeutics landed a colossal $372.5 million Series D round co-led by Forbion and Goldman Sachs to advance neuroscience drug pipeline
Apptronik secured $350 million Series A to scale production of Apollo humanoid robots for real-world work
Ambience Healthcare closed $243 million Series C co-led by Oak HC/FT and Andreessen Horowitz, reaching $1.25 billion valuation

Regulatory Milestone: EU AI Act Phase 2

August 2, 2025: EU rules on general-purpose AI models became effective, bringing transparency and copyright obligations
July 10, 2025: European Commission published the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice as voluntary compliance tool
Providers of GPAI models must now assess and mitigate systemic risks, with enhanced accountability measures

AI Agents Take Center Stage

$700 million invested in seed rounds for AI autonomous agents this year, with 16 of the largest recipients targeting sectors from drug discovery to construction
Google's Gemini 2.0 with advanced reasoning capabilities marks the "first step in making multi-modal agents even more powerful"

What this means for you: AI investment is maturing from experimental to enterprise-grade applications. If you're building in AI, focus on concrete business outcomes and compliance with emerging regulations. The EU's framework could become the global standard, so understanding these requirements now provides competitive advantage.

📈 Marketing: AI Transforms the Playbook

Google's Biggest Bidding Update in a Decade

Smart Bidding Exploration launched, pursuing "less obvious and potentially high-performing searches" to appear in more discovery moments
New agentic capabilities unveiled to give marketers "the power of their very own Google AI" for campaign optimization

Privacy Evolution Continues

Google's extension of third-party cookies provides "continued access to valuable data for targeted advertising" while alternatives develop
January 27, 2025: FCC requires written consent for robocalls and robotexts in marketing campaigns

Investment Patterns Shift

71% of marketers plan to invest at least $10 million in AI over the next three years, up from 57% in 2024
84% of CMOs report difficulty developing and executing marketing strategy, with only 15% planning beyond three years

Voice Commerce Acceleration

Voice commerce predicted to reach $80 billion by 2025, with voice searches comprising 20% of mobile queries

What this means for you: The marketing landscape is splitting between AI-enhanced efficiency and human authenticity. Invest in AI tools for optimization while maintaining genuine brand connections. Voice optimization is no longer optional, it's table stakes for reaching younger demographics.

🚀 Startups: The $100B M&A Boom

Record-Breaking M&A Activity

$100 billion in disclosed-price startup acquisitions in H1 2025, a staggering 155% increase year-over-year
Google's planned $32 billion Wiz purchase would be the largest startup acquisition on record
Other major deals include OpenAI's $6.5 billion purchase of Jony Ive's AI device startup Io

Funding Landscape Remains Strong

Caseflood.ai secured $3.2 million seed for AI-powered legal client intake platform with 30% higher conversion rates
Solidec raised funding for modular hydrogen reactors achieving over 50% energy savings in lab tests
Reveal Technology raised $30 million Series B to scale battlefield-ready intelligence platform for U.S. military

Geographic Trends

North America accounts for 70% of global startup funding in H1 2025
Asia-based startup investment hit multi-year low, with China posting just $5.1 billion in Q2 funding

What this means for you: The M&A market is red-hot, especially for AI infrastructure and cybersecurity companies. If you're building a startup, now is an excellent time to position for strategic acquisitions. Focus on AI integration and enterprise readiness, acquirers are paying premium multiples for proven business models.

🏥 Healthcare: FDA's Busy August Schedule

Recent Approvals Making Impact

July 28, 2025: FDA approved Sephience (sepiapterin) for phenylketonuria treatment by PTC Therapeutics
July 23, 2025: FDA approved Anzupgo (delgocitinib) cream for chronic hand eczema by LEO Pharma
July 15, 2025: FDA approved Kirsty (insulin aspart-xjhz) as interchangeable biosimilar to NovoLog

August Decisions to Watch

August 12, 2025: FDA decision on brensocatib for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis could be first approved treatment for this chronic respiratory disease
August 21, 2025: FDA response expected on donidalorsen for hereditary angioedema prevention
August 29, 2025: FDA decision on rilzabrutinib for chronic immune thrombocytopenia, showing 23% sustained platelet response vs. 0% placebo

Pipeline Breakthrough

August 31, 2025: FDA response expected on subcutaneous Leqembi injection pen for at-home Alzheimer's treatment

What this means for you: Healthcare innovation is accelerating with breakthrough

treatments addressing previously underserved conditions. For investors, focus on companies with novel mechanisms of action and strong clinical data. The FDA is moving quickly on first-in-class therapies that address significant unmet needs.

💊 Women's Health/Femtech: The $50B Market Reality

Privacy Concerns Emerge

Tea app breach exposed critical vulnerabilities in women's safety platforms, the viral dating safety app leaked 72,000 images including verification selfies and IDs, highlighting risks of identity verification in femtech
Enhanced focus on data protection following HIPAA strengthening for reproductive health data and state-level privacy legislation

Market Momentum Builds

Femtech market projected to expand from $28 billion in 2023 to $50 billion by 2025, fueled by rising demand for women-specific health solutions
$113 million awarded by Sprint for Women's Health at ARPA-H to 23 breakthrough projects addressing women's health

Innovation Spotlight

Cellular implants to improve ovarian health in postmenopausal women
Nanoparticles to boost immune systems for women with ovarian cancer
Finger-stick test for preeclampsia, addressing a leading cause of maternal death

UK Investment Surge

£6.1 billion funding for medical science research announced in UK government budget
Creation of pension 'megafunds' designed to boost investment in high-growth industries like femtech
£1 million+ awarded to UK companies through Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst for femtech development

Key Players to Watch

Vira Health: Supporting 2 million women through menopause care with Stella solution
Comanche Biopharma: Developing siRNA medicine for preeclampsia affecting 10 million women annually
Allara Health: Addressing PCOS diagnosis gap (70% remain undiagnosed)

What this means for you: Femtech is transitioning from niche to mainstream healthcare category, but the Tea app breach underscores critical privacy risks in women's safety platforms. The regulatory and reimbursement landscape is evolving favorably, creating opportunities for evidence-based solutions. Focus on conditions with clear unmet needs and robust data security, the market is ready to pay for proven results with strong privacy protections.

💻 Tech: Switch 2 Dominance & Cybersecurity Evolution

Nintendo's Record-Breaking Launch

Nintendo Switch 2 reached 5.82 million units sold by June 30, with over 6 million total by mid-July
Record-breaking launch surpassing PS4 and PS5's 4.5 million first-month sales
Mario Kart World achieved 96% attach rate with 5.63 million copies sold
Nintendo revenue jumped 132% year-over-year to ¥572.3 billion (~$3.8 billion)

Critical Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

Chrome CVE-2025-6558: Fifth actively exploited Chrome zero-day of 2025 patched on July 16, high-severity ANGLE/GPU vulnerability allowing sandbox escape discovered by Google's Threat Analysis Group
Microsoft Authenticator mass password deletion: August 1 deadline hit as Microsoft permanently removed password storage, forcing millions to migrate to Edge or third-party managers as part of passkey transition

Major Security Breach: Tea App Exposes 72,000 Women's Images

Tea app, the viral women-only dating safety platform, suffered a devastating data breach exposing 72,000 images including 13,000 selfies and photo IDs
4chan users discovered an unsecured Firebase database and leaked verification photos, driver's licenses, and direct messages online
Trolls weaponized the data, creating rating websites for leaked photos and maps showing user locations using metadata
App had claimed verification photos were "deleted immediately" but archived data violated their own privacy policy
Multiple class action lawsuits filed; incident highlights risks of identity verification requirements

Broader Cybersecurity Trends 2025

51 seconds: Fastest recorded eCrime breakout time, down from previous records
150% increase in China-nexus cybersecurity activity
79% of detections were malware-free, indicating shift to sophisticated attack methods
Global IT spending grew 8% in 2024 to $5.1 trillion, with 80% of CIOs increasing cybersecurity budgets

Google's Summer Security Push

Big Sleep AI agent discovered SQLite vulnerability (CVE-2025-6965), continuing to find real-world security holes
Sec-Gemini powers new agentic capabilities in Timesketch forensics platform

What this means for you: The Tea app breach and Chrome zero-day highlight that traditional security models are under severe pressure. The Microsoft Authenticator transition signals the industry's shift toward passwordless authentication. Now is the time to evaluate passkey adoption. Hardware success stories like Switch 2 prove there's still massive demand for well-executed products. For cybersecurity, the shift to malware-free attacks means traditional defenses are insufficient; invest in behavioral analytics and AI-powered detection. The talent shortage remains critical, so prioritize retention and managed security services.

🚀 Viral Moment: Figma's $20B Pop

The IPO That Broke Records

July 31, 2025: Figma shares jumped 250% on public debut, closing at $115.50 vs. $33 IPO price
Largest first-day pop in 30+ years for US companies raising over $1 billion
$1.22 billion raised in the offering, with shares reportedly oversubscribed by 30+ times
$16.4 billion valuation represents remarkable recovery from 2022's failed $20 billion Adobe acquisition

Why It Matters

The Figma IPO became an instant Silicon Valley legend, proving that well-positioned SaaS companies with strong fundamentals can still command premium valuations. The 250% pop signals renewed investor appetite for profitable growth stories, potentially opening floodgates for other tech IPOs in H2 2025.

What this means for you: Public markets are rewarding companies with clear paths to profitability and strong market positions. If you're considering going public, focus on demonstrating sustainable unit economics and market leadership. The IPO window is open for quality companies.

🔮 Analysis: The Maturation of Digital Innovation

This week's developments reveal four crucial trends shaping tech's future:

1. Cybersecurity Crisis Accelerates Innovation

With Chrome's fifth zero-day of 2025, the Tea app breach, and Microsoft's radical shift away from passwords, traditional security models are cracking under pressure. The industry's response, from passkey adoption to AI-powered detection, shows that security isn't just reacting but fundamentally transforming.

2. Regulatory Infrastructure Is Accelerating Innovation

The EU's AI Act implementation isn't stifling innovation; it's providing the legal framework that enables enterprise adoption. Companies with clear compliance strategies are raising larger rounds and commanding premium valuations.

3. Hardware Renaissance Continues

Nintendo Switch 2's record sales prove consumers still crave well-designed physical products. The success validates the enduring importance of user experience over pure technological specs.

4. Profit-First Investing Returns

From Figma's IPO pop to healthcare companies demonstrating clear clinical benefits, investors are prioritizing sustainable business models over growth-at-any-cost narratives.

The Strategic Takeaway: Companies building for long-term value creation, with strong fundamentals, regulatory compliance, and clear customer benefits, are significantly outperforming those chasing short-term metrics.

🎯 Conclusion: Building for the Long Game

This week demonstrated that the tech industry has found its footing after years of uncertainty. Whether it's Nintendo proving that great products still win, Figma showing that profitable companies command premium valuations, or the EU creating frameworks that enable responsible AI deployment, the message is clear: sustainable value creation trumps everything.

As we head into August, the companies positioning for long-term success are those that balance innovation with responsibility, growth with profitability, and ambition with execution. The future belongs to builders who understand that great technology serves people, not the other way around.