🎧 Listen on Spotify: Next Big Thing Radar Podcast
This week’s radar features eight standout raises across AI infrastructure, healthcare, entertainment, and wireless power — all grounded in verified data, no fluff.
The A.I. Frontier Fund (IRA)
Sector: Venture Fund, AI
Platform: StartEngine
Stage: Fund Vehicle
Minimum Investment: $14,987
What They Do:
Provides single-investment exposure to eight AI innovators (including Groq and Glean) via a self-directed IRA-eligible series on StartEngine Private.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Packages access to late-stage AI companies that individual investors normally can’t reach. Groq recently hit a $6.9 B valuation, showing the strength of the fund’s target segment.
Snapshot:
Accredited-only IRA series structure.
Groq and Glean valuations surged in 2025.
Shares priced at ~$48.66 each.
My Take:
A convenient, diversified way to get IRA exposure to elite AI names without managing secondary deals yourself.
SambaNova IRA-1
Sector: AI
Platform: StartEngine
Stage: Late Stage Exposure
Minimum Investment: $15,000
What They Do:
Offers indirect exposure to SambaNova Systems, a leading AI hardware and software company focused on large-scale inference solutions.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Backed by SoftBank Vision Fund 2, BlackRock, Intel Capital, and GV, SambaNova is building full-stack infrastructure for enterprise AI.
Snapshot:
$1 B+ raised to date.
Partnerships with SoftBank Corp and global enterprises.
Targeting the high-growth AI inference market.
My Take:
For investors seeking concentrated AI hardware exposure, this offers a rare window into a heavily funded, late-stage company.
Series Cerebras IRA-1
Sector: AI, Hardware
Platform: StartEngine
Stage: Late Stage Exposure
Minimum Investment: $14,962.4
What They Do:
A StartEngine Private series giving accredited investors access to Cerebras Systems, developer of wafer-scale AI compute chips.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Cerebras raised $1.1 B this year at an ~$8 B valuation, reinforcing its position as a credible NVIDIA alternative in training and inference.
Snapshot:
Investors include Fidelity, Atreides, Tiger Global, Valor Equity Partners.
Focused on large-scale compute and AI supercomputing.
Accredited-only series structure for IRA access.
My Take:
For AI infrastructure purists, this is a focused bet on one of the sector’s deepest tech stacks.
SohoMD
Sector: Healthcare
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Growth
Minimum Investment: $100
What They Do:
A national telepsychiatry and therapy network combining mental and physical health care under one virtual platform.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Bridges a persistent gap in behavioral health access, with insurance integration and $20 M+ in annual revenue already achieved.
Snapshot:
70,000+ patients served nationwide.
$115 M+ lifetime revenue.
Operating across 15+ states.
My Take:
A proven operator in digital psychiatry with established payer partnerships—rare for a Reg CF raise.
Same Same But Different Music Festival
Sector: Entertainment, Music, Festivals
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Growth
Minimum Investment: $100
What They Do:
An independent California festival offering fans actual equity ownership in the company behind the event.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Fan-ownership could redefine festival loyalty; 40 % + return attendance and $2.5 M annual revenue highlight traction.
Snapshot:
Valuation: $10 M pre-money.
25,000 + total attendees to date.
7-year operating history.
My Take:
A creative, community-driven model that converts fans into stakeholders—worth watching as ownership culture expands into live events.
Sector: Retail, Manufacturer
Platform: Wefunder
Stage: Early Growth
Minimum Investment: $250
What They Do:
Reengineered wheel geometry into a sine-wave design used in skateboards, luggage, farming, and industrial applications.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Unique IP and cross-category licensing make it more than a novelty—diversification across mobility and industrial markets adds resilience.
Snapshot:
Valuation around $42.8 M (past campaign).
Expanding licensing deals in multiple sectors.
Revenue-positive hardware brand.
My Take:
Hard-tech IP in consumer and industrial categories—execution quality will define whether it stays niche or scales.
Kapena Tequila
Sector: Alcohol, Beverages
Platform: StartEngine
Stage: Early
Minimum Investment: $500
What They Do:
Craft tequila brand combining 100 % Jalisco agave with Hawai‘i-inspired infusions such as Li Hing Mui, distributed in several US states.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
Blends authentic origin with regional storytelling; early retail traction and distinctive flavor profiles stand out in the crowded spirits market.
Snapshot:
$530 K revenue (2024).
42 % gross margin.
Multi-state retail footprint.
My Take:
Authenticity and distribution depth could build long-term brand equity if marketing execution keeps pace.
Etherdyne Technologies
Sector: Wireless Power, Power Electronics
Platform: StartEngine
Stage: Early
Minimum Investment: $600
What They Do:
Develops patented “wire-free power zones” that deliver energy safely through the air to multiple devices simultaneously.
Why It Might Be the Next Big Thing:
With 43 patents and 8 years of R&D, Etherdyne is targeting retail and office applications where cords are still standard.
Snapshot:
$384 K revenue in 2024.
SAFE with $46 M valuation cap.
Commercialization already underway.
My Take:
If early deployments succeed, Etherdyne could shift wireless power from lab demos to real commercial environments.
Wrap-Up
From AI infrastructure and fintech to craft spirits and entertainment, this week’s radar highlights startups combining real traction with differentiated positioning. Discover them early—before they scale.
📖 Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or investment solicitation.