a16z Leads Special’s Funding Round; Former DOGE Team Bets on AI-Driven M&A Cost Reduction

According to Tech in Asia, Special, an AI-powered M&A firm co-founded by Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Fox—both former staff members of the U.S. government’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—has announced a funding round of undisclosed amount, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Investors include Antonio Gracias, founder of Valor Equity Partners; Anthony Armstrong, former CFO of xAI; Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase Global; and Shyam Sankar, CTO of Palantir Technologies. Special plans to acquire service-based businesses by automating workflows with AI to reduce costs, and has already reached an agreement to acquire a Texas-based healthcare company, which will be integrated into Figure Health—the company’s business line focused on aging populations.