TechCrunch Startup News Cavela lands $6.6M to help brands beat pre-tariff manufacturing costs; plus Function Health raises $298M Series B at $2.5B valuation
Nov 20, 2025
Explore how Cavela is transforming supplier sourcing with AI, offering brands a way to navigate new tariffs and save costs with claims of 35% savings. Discover Function Health's ambitious mission to streamline health tracking through an AI-driven lab service, bolstered by a recent $298 million funding round. They focus on creating personalized health insights, utilizing a doctor-trained AI and strict data privacy measures, while boasting impressive scalability with 50 million lab tests conducted since 2023.
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AI Enables End‑to‑End Supplier Sourcing
- Cavella uses LLMs and image models to let brands upload full product specs and blueprints for sourcing automation.
- The AI agent finds manufacturers across 40+ countries and collects quotes, cutting sourcing time and costs significantly.
Get Many Quotes And Insist On Samples
- Ask for many quotes and samples to find lower prices and better suppliers by chance and comparison.
- Shortlist factories and request product samples before committing to final production to reduce risk.
Founder's Trade Background And Early Wins
- Cavella's customers found manufacturers who produced goods below pre‑tariff pricing, despite new China tariffs.
- Anthony Sardain traces his sourcing knowledge to three generations and years living across Asian trade centers.