Funding Event
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Karman Announces Closing of its Upsized Initial Public Offering, with Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option
Karman Holdings Inc., a company specializing in the upfront design, testing, manufacturing, and sale of mission-critical systems for existing and emerging missile and defense, and space programs, announced the closing of its initial public offering of 26,450,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $22.00 per share. Karman currently intends to use the net proceeds it receives from this offering, together with its existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, for general corporate purposes, including additional development efforts, working capital and operating expenses.
Spain’s SENSIA secures €19M to scale infrared imaging innovation: Know more
SENSIA, a Madrid-based company, has secured €19M in funding to scale its infrared imaging innovation. The investment, led by A&G Energy Transition Tech Fund and SETT, will accelerate the development and production of SENSIA’s IR sensors based on nanotechnology, reducing dependence on external suppliers. With this funding, SENSIA will expand its international reach and operations, supporting Spain’s goal of self-sufficiency in producing IR imaging photodetectors. SENSIA’s AI-powered infrared imaging solutions are used in various applications, including sustainability of industrial activity, aerospace, and national security. The company operates in over 45 countries, serving industries like oil and gas, industrial chemical, security, and defence. According to Francisco Cortés, CEO and founder of SENSIA, the investment is a boost to the company’s commitment to creating cutting-edge technology to address global challenges.
Apptronik Raises $350 Million to Scale Production of AI-Powered Humanoid Robots and Meet Significant Customer Demand
Apptronik, the AI-powered humanoid robotics company, announced the successful closing of a $350 million Series A funding round co-led by B Capital and Capital Factory, with participation from Google. The new funding marks a pivotal moment for Apptronik, fueling the deployment of Apollo—its groundbreaking humanoid robot—while enabling the company to scale operations, accelerate innovation, and grow its world-class team to meet the surging demand for next-generation, AI-powered humanoid robots. Backed by key partners and investors, this new funding fuels the continued development and deployment of Apollo, positioning Apptronik at the forefront of creating scalable, AI-powered solutions for industrial applications and consumer applications in the near future.
Hydrostor Announces $200 Million in Funding from Leading Investors to Accelerate Canadian and Global Deployment of its Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage Projects
Hydrostor, a global long-duration energy storage (LDES) developer and operator, has secured a $200 million USD investment from Canada Growth Fund Inc. (“CGF”), Goldman Sachs Alternatives, and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPP Investments”). The transaction will support Hydrostor’s continued investment in Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) projects in Canada and around the world.
Hydrostor’s late-stage projects in New South Wales, Australia, and California, USA, are targeted to begin construction in 2025. Its A-CAES technology represents a critical solution underpinning the future reliability of energy systems globally, enabling utilities to replace end-of-life fossil generation with zero-emission storage and accelerate the integration of intermittent renewables.
EnCharge AI Closes Oversubscribed $100M Series B Funding Round Led by Tiger Global to Produce Transformative AI Accelerator Solutions with Unprecedented Efficiency for Client Computing
EnCharge AI has secured over $100 million in Series B funding to commercialize its first client computing-focused AI accelerator products in 2025. The funding round, led by Tiger Global, will help EnCharge AI bring its noise-resilient analog in-memory compute architecture to market, which can reduce power requirements for running AI workloads by up to 20 times compared to leading AI chips. This technology has the potential to transform the AI industry by enabling the deployment of AI in edge and client environments, beyond the limitations of current cloud-based solutions. EnCharge AI’s technology has been comprehensively derisked through research at Princeton and has the potential to bring advanced AI out of the cloud and onto consumer devices. The company plans to use the funding to scale its initial products and accelerate progress along an ambitious product roadmap, which includes moving to advanced technology nodes and offering a portfolio of solutions to tackle AI compute from edge devices to data centers.
K2 Space announces $110M Series B and first successful in-space demonstration
K2 Space has raised $110M in Series B funding to scale production of its multi-orbit, high power satellite platform, which provides a resilient and affordable solution for customers. The company’s platform is designed to proliferate across orbits, enabling global coverage with fewer satellites and launches. K2 Space has successfully demonstrated its technology in-space and has won over $50M in government and commercial contracts. The new funding will be used to scale production, hire talent, and bring additional components in-house. With its high power generation and versatile payload deck, K2 Space’s satellites can execute against critical mission areas and enable a wide variety of space applications. The company is poised to take advantage of the “Space Supercycle” with its mass-manufactured multi-mission satellites, delivering unprecedented capabilities and enabling multi-orbit constellations.
16-Year-Old Founder's Company CarbonZero.Eco Emerges from Stealth, Raising $3.5M in Seed Funding to Mainstream Biochar Use to Help Farmers Increase Crop Yields While Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere
CarbonZero.Eco, a Silicon Valley-based startup, has raised $3.5M in seed funding to mainstream Biochar use in farming, aiming to remove CO2 from the atmosphere while increasing crop yields. The company, founded by 16-year-old CEO Harper Moss and CTO Gregory Ray, has pre-sold $7M of Biochar and partnered with 300 almond farms in California to locate its first production site. Biochar production at scale benefits both farmers and the environment by stabilizing carbon within biomass, preventing its release during decomposition, and generating valuable carbon removal certificates. With the support of over 6,000 studies, Biochar has been proven to enhance soil quality and crop yields, and CarbonZero.Eco is addressing the substantial Biochar shortage in the US by building its plant in a location with aggregated biomass, minimizing transportation and carbon impact. The company’s mission is to introduce Biochar to roughly 525M acres of farmland in the US, requiring over 2.6 billion tons annually, and has teamed up with California almond farmers to convert up to 1.5M tons of almond shells into Biochar.
Oso Semiconductor Closes $5.2M Seed Round to Power the Next Generation of Phased Array Antennas in Satellite Communication, 5G and Radar Systems
Oso Semiconductor has raised $5.2 million in an oversubscribed seed round led by Engine Ventures to develop power-efficient, high-performance, low-cost chipsets for next-generation wireless communication and sensing applications. The company’s novel beamforming circuit technology, inspired by Dr. Matthew Anderson’s work at the University of California, Berkeley, enables up to 4x improvement in efficiency compared to existing electrically steerable antennas (ESAs). This innovation has the potential to accelerate the adoption of phased array antennas in satellite communication, 5G, and radar systems, and could support the growth of the satellite payloads market, projected to reach $11.3 billion by 2026. Oso Semiconductor’s chipsets will allow manufacturers to put more antennas on an access point while consuming less power, enabling them to serve more data and generate more revenue. The company’s founding team brings extensive experience in hardware system development, wireless architecture, and integrated circuit design, with Dr. Anderson previously serving as an electrical engineer at Apple.
Backed by €500K, Edmund brings AI to the factory floor to solve industry’s biggest data challenges
Edmund, a Czech startup, has secured €500,000 in pre-seed funding to develop its AI-powered platform for manufacturing. The platform combines large language models with industry expertise to simplify complex technical problems and provide actionable insights to engineers and technicians. Edmund’s solution addresses the industry’s biggest data challenges, including data incompatibility and the lack of skilled technicians. By creating data parsers that pass unstructured data to AI, Edmund provides a single interface for operators, technicians, and maintenance workers to access critical machine data. The company’s founders, Jakub Szlaur, Benjamin Przeczek, and Miroslav Marek, have developed a platform that is universally compatible and can process diverse data formats from various manufacturers. Edmund has already signed four paying customers, including industry leaders Festo and Vitesco Technologies, and plans to expand beyond Central Europe and explore a larger seed round in 2026. The funding, led by Lighthouse Ventures, will be used to finalize core features, expand into international markets, and scale Edmund’s team. With its unique approach to AI-powered manufacturing, Edmund aims to become a global leader in maintenance and address the growing skills gap in the industry.
Archer Raises $300M From Leading Institutional Investors To Accelerate Hybrid Aircraft Platform Development As Defense Opportunities Look Stronger Than Expected
Archer announced it has raised $301.75M, further reinforcing Archer’s strong financial position and strategically positioning it to accelerate the development of its hybrid aircraft platform for the defense market and beyond. Leading institutional investors participated in this financing, including funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. This raise brings Archer’s total liquidity position to ~$1B. Archer has long maintained one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry, and this additional capital further strengthens its position.
The financing provided for the purchase and sale of 35,500,000 shares of Archer’s Class A common stock at a price of $8.50 per share based on a volume-weighted average price of the Class A common stock, in a registered direct offering. The net proceeds from the offering announced will be used for the development of next generation aircraft manufacturing capabilities related to this effort, including batteries and composites, and the remainder for general corporate purposes.
Endera Secures $49 Million to Accelerate Growth as America’s Leading EV Shuttle and School Bus Manufacturer
Endera, a leading American EV shuttle and school bus manufacturer, has secured $49 million in funding to accelerate growth. The funding round, led by Magnetar, includes a $36M equity investment and a $13M credit facility. This investment will enable Endera to scale manufacturing, expand its product line, and create new American jobs at its Ohio production facility. As a vertically integrated OEM, Endera delivers high-quality vehicles with complete technology solutions, including a proprietary powertrain and in-house fleet management software. The company has built a reputation for providing cost-effective, sustainable solutions for the specialty vehicle industry, with a focus on clean mobility and electrification. With this funding, Endera aims to revolutionize the industry, creating jobs, driving economic growth, and advancing American ingenuity.
ANA, Inc. Announces $50M Strategic Investment from S2G Investments to Propel Innovation and Growth
ANA, Inc. has secured a $50 million strategic investment from S2G Investments to propel innovation and growth in the mobile power industry. The investment will accelerate the expansion of ANA’s hybrid power generation offerings, including its EBOSS hybrid energy system, which combines traditional generators with integrated battery storage solutions. With this partnership, ANA aims to drive industry-wide innovation and meet the increasing demand for sustainable power solutions. The investment will also enable ANA to expand its capabilities and infrastructure, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and explore emerging opportunities. S2G’s investment underscores its belief in ANA’s potential to deliver more sustainable industrial solutions that are fit-for-purpose, scalable, and highly cost-effective.
Relativity Networks Raises Funds to Scale Next-Generation Fiber Optics for the AI Economy's Data and Energy Needs
Relativity Networks has raised funds to scale its next-generation hollow-core fiber (HCF) cable technology, which transmits data nearly 50% faster than conventional glass fiber. The company’s HCF technology helps overcome a major obstacle limiting AI growth by reducing latency and enabling data to travel 1.5 times farther without impacting operations. With HCF, data centers can be positioned closer to power sources, addressing the critical power challenges of the AI-driven economy. Relativity Networks’ founder and CEO, Jason Eichenholz, a pioneer in laser and photonics-enabled technologies, aims to redefine the optical network of the future. The company has secured multimillion-dollar contracts, deployed its technology in several US field installations, and is well-positioned to support the entire industry with its business model based on high-volume production.
Tikehau Capital increases investment in Eclairion's modular HPC infrastructure to €160M
Tikehau Capital has increased its investment in Eclairion’s modular HPC infrastructure to €160M, with an additional €50 million investment. Eclairion’s infrastructure provides agility, speed, and precision, hosting high-density solutions from 30 kW to 200 kW per bay. The company is now hosting the deployment of Mistral Al’s first AI cluster in partnership with Fluidstack, at a facility with an initial power allocation of 60 MW. This investment will drive innovation in AI and HPC, as well as economic growth across Europe, according to Jean Odendall, Deputy Head of Tactical Strategies at Tikehau Capital.
Positron Secures $23.5M to Design And Manufacture Energy-Efficient, Made-In-America AI Chips
Positron, a rising force in AI inference technology, has secured $23.5 million in funding to scale production of its energy-efficient, made-in-America AI chips. The company’s Atlas systems achieve 3.5x better performance per dollar and 3.5x greater power efficiency than Nvidia H100 GPUs for inference, leveraging a memory-optimized architecture that hits >93% bandwidth utilization. Positron’s FPGA-powered servers support trillion-parameter models and offer plug-and-play compatibility with Hugging Face and OpenAI APIs, delivering 70% faster inference at 66% lower power consumption than H100/H200 setups. With its domestic manufacturing capabilities, Positron is reducing reliance on foreign supply chains and providing a cost-effective alternative to Nvidia’s AI hardware. The company’s leadership, including newly appointed CEO Mitesh Agrawal, is driving the next generation of AI compute, with a mission to deliver domestically made AI compute solutions that outperform conventional GPUs in both cost and energy efficiency.
ACT-ion Raises $7.5 million in Pre-Series A Round Led by BASF Venture Capital
ACT-ion Battery Technologies has raised $7.5 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by BASF Venture Capital. The investment will accelerate the development of ACT-ion’s innovative cathode active materials (CAM) production technology, which addresses the need to reduce CAM production costs and increase production throughput in the lithium-ion battery value chain. With this funding, ACT-ion aims to establish an operational pilot facility by 2025 and bring its solutions to market faster. The company’s continuous process generates coated single crystal CAM, leading to higher performance and longer cycle life lithium-ion batteries. This technology has the potential to make a significant impact on the global energy landscape, enabling growth in markets such as electric drones, electric vehicles, and power tools. The investment is a significant milestone for the US CAM industry, as it supports the domestic production of battery materials at cost. ACT-ion’s partners, including BASF Venture Capital, Hunt Energy Enterprises, Mirae Asset Capital, Arosa Capital Management, and LG Technology Ventures, share the company’s vision for battery materials and manufacturing, and are committed to supporting its mission to improve CAM.
Epicore Biosystems Raises $26M Series B to Scale Its Sweat-Sensing Wearables and Cloud Analytics Platform
Epicore Biosystems has raised $26M in Series B funding to scale its sweat-sensing wearables and cloud analytics platform. The funding, led by the Steele Foundation for Hope, will drive global adoption and expand biomarker targets for kidney health, women’s health, malnutrition, and environmental toxin exposures. Epicore’s technology provides real-time insights into hydration, stress, nutrition, and wellness by measuring sweat composition and fluid losses non-invasively. The company’s solutions, including the Gx Sweat Patch and Connected Hydration wearable, are used in various sectors, including sports, fitness, and industrial work. With this investment, Epicore aims to accelerate the validation of new biomarkers and expand its global reach, addressing critical health challenges faced by frontline populations due to climate change. The company has grown its customer base by 24x since its Series A funding, with leading multinational enterprises in the energy, construction, manufacturing, and aviation sectors.
Titan America Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering
Titan America SA, a subsidiary of Titan Cement International SA, has closed its initial public offering (IPO) of 24,000,000 common shares at $16.00 per share, raising approximately $136,800,000 in net proceeds. The company plans to use these funds for capital expenditures, investments in technologies, and strategic acquisitions to drive growth. Titan Cement International SA, which owns 87% of Titan America’s outstanding common shares, received approximately $228,000,000 in net proceeds from the sale of existing shares. The IPO was led by Citigroup and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, with other bookrunners including BofA Securities, BNP Paribas, Jefferies, HSBC, Societe Generale, and Stifel. The offering was made under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and a final prospectus has been filed with the SEC. Titan America’s common shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “TTAM” on February 7, 2025.
Nido secures €5 million to drive the energy transition through residential heat pumps
Nido, a Madrid-based platform, has secured €5 million in Seed funding to drive the energy transition through residential heat pumps. The investment, led by prominent investors including Iberdrola and Ship2B Ventures, will enable Nido to integrate artificial intelligence into its platform, expand its engineering team, and optimize its marketplace to connect installers, suppliers, and customers. Nido’s platform uses 3D modeling (BIM) technology to automatically generate material lists and installation guides, reducing execution times by up to 75%. The company aims to position itself as a key player in the energy transition in Spain and other European markets, such as France and Germany. With its holistic approach to heat pump installations, Nido is driving energy efficiency in homes and generating a systemic impact in the transition toward a more sustainable and resilient model.
Salience Labs Closed Series A Round Led by Applied Ventures and ICM HPQC Fund
Salience Labs Limited, a leader in photonic solutions, has closed a $30 million Series A funding round led by Applied Ventures and ICM HPQC Fund. The funding will be used to further develop its optical switches for large-scale AI connectivity. Salience Labs’ photonic switch solution has the potential to enable a new generation of interconnect network architectures for faster and more efficient AI systems. The company’s optical switches will enable unprecedented bandwidth and scalability for the next generation of AI and high-performance data centers, while decreasing power consumption and cost. With this funding, Salience Labs will be able to bring its product to customers and enable significant power savings and large cluster connectivity. The company has also appointed Dr. William Jeffrey as a new Board Member and Bonnie Tomei as Chief Financial Officer.
Founders Fund in talks to back defense firm Anduril at $28 billion valuation
AI-powered defense startup Anduril Industries is in talks for a new funding round that could hike the valuation of the Palmer Luckey-founded company to $28 billion, sources said on Friday. Tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund is set to lead the round, which could be as much as $2.5 billion, according to the sources, signaling strong appetite from investors in this fast-growing defense tech company. The round would come only months after its last raise of $1.5 billion at a $14 billion valuation in August.
Mantle8 bags €3.4M to revolutionise clean energy
Mantle8, a French startup, has secured €3.4 million in seed funding from Kiko Ventures and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures Europe to revolutionize clean energy by extracting natural hydrogen. The company’s proprietary technology combines geophysics, geochemistry, and seismic data to accurately detect natural hydrogen locations, enabling the identification of optimal reservoirs and targeting hydrogen production at $0.80/kg, a significant reduction from the current cost of $4 to $6 per kg. With the new funds, Mantle8 will run a technological pilot to image and quantify hydrogen systems, further develop its technology’s cross-border scalability, and expand its team with new AI and geochemistry experts. The company aims to find 10Mt of natural hydrogen by 2030, complementing the EU’s goal of producing and importing the same amount of hydrogen generated from renewable energy. Mantle8’s science-first approach is expected to make hydrogen discovery more scalable, accurate, faster, and profitable, potentially revolutionizing the clean energy market.
BMW i Ventures Invests in GreenSpark Software to Digitize Metal Recycling.
BMW i Ventures has invested in GreenSpark Software, a company providing modern operating software for the metal recycling industry. This investment will help GreenSpark fast-track its product roadmap and drive innovation in the $120bn+ recycled materials industry. GreenSpark’s platform leverages the latest technology to provide solutions for all segments of the recycled metals value chain, accelerating the circular economy and boosting operators’ profitability. With this investment, GreenSpark has raised ~$25 million in venture financing and plans to expand into larger enterprise segments. The company’s AI solutions have already helped it triple its customer base over the last twelve months, and it actively serves customers across the metals recycling and automotive industry. The investment echoes BMW i Ventures’s commitment to driving towards a circular economy, and is expected to have a significant impact on the metal recycling industry.
75F Raises Additional $45M Series B to Increase Energy Savings and Make Building Automation Easier
75F, a leader in IoT and AI-driven commercial HVAC automation, has raised $45M in a Series B funding round led by Accurant International’s Net Zero Alliance. The investment will help 75F expand its energy-saving technologies to a broader range of commercial properties, making building automation accessible to properties of all sizes. With over 1,800 installations across nine countries, 75F plans to leverage this funding to scale operations and invest in its AI platform, Saffron AI. The company’s mission is to make smart buildings easy, providing sophisticated energy management that is both powerful and user-friendly. The funding round brings together a coalition of tech investors and industry experts, including Carrier Global Corporation, Climate Investment, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Next47, and WIND Ventures, who recognize 75F’s potential to transform the commercial building sector. By offering hardware and software in an affordable solution, 75F is poised to accelerate the path to grid-connected buildings and bring widespread energy efficiency in the commercial sector.
Pendulum Secures $22M to Build AI-Driven Supply Chains That Predict, Optimize, and Self-Correct
Pendulum, a leader in real-time planning for global supply chains, has secured $22 million in funding to develop an AI-driven platform that predicts, optimizes, and self-corrects supply chains. The platform leverages proprietary AI to build a complete picture of the enterprise and its market, connecting inventory, marketing, procurement, and pricing decisions. With the addition of Jean-François Gagné, co-founder of Element AI, as Chief Strategy and Product Officer, Pendulum aims to deliver a platform that enables businesses to forecast, optimize, and self-adjust across supply and demand. The platform has already delivered measurable results, including a 16% reduction in stockouts for Adore Me and improved vaccine availability in Tanzania through AI-driven allocation. Pendulum’s AI-driven supply chain platform is designed to help businesses stay ahead of growing complexity and external forces, offering predictive and adaptive solutions that align supply with demand at scale.
Clean Core Thorium Energy Raises $15.5M in Series Seed
Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) raises $15.5M in Series Seed funding to advance its patented ANEEL fuel, a blend of thorium and high assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The funding will be used to solidify technical partnerships, including irradiation tests at Idaho National Laboratory and validation work at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, and to support hiring, supply chain partnerships, and regulatory requirements. The investment syndicate is led by a Singapore-based family office and includes notable business leaders such as Sumant Sinha, Lakshmi Narayanan, and Deepak Parekh. CCTE’s ANEEL fuel aims to improve reactor economics, strengthen energy security, and enhance safety and proliferation resistance in existing nuclear reactors. The company plans to commercialize the ANEEL fuel in 2026, revolutionizing the nuclear energy industry.
Tyba raises $13.9M Series A to improve the profitability of energy storage projects
Tyba, an energy storage optimization platform, has raised $13.9 million in Series A funding led by Energize Capital. The investment will help Tyba scale its AI-enabled energy forecasting, trading, and optimization solution to maximize revenue for energy producers and support grid reliability. With the rapid growth of energy storage needs, Tyba’s platform is essential for managing storage assets and ensuring profitability. The company works with leading energy companies like TotalEnergies and supports over 1GWh of storage assets in Texas and California. Tyba’s platform automates dispatch and bidding strategies, empowering operators to make strategic adjustments and focus on high-leverage decisions. The funding will enable Tyba to expand its forecasting and optimization capabilities into new markets and asset classes, driving the clean energy transition.
All-In-One EV Charging Platform Presto Raises $15M in Seed Funding, Partners with Uber, Avis, Hertz, and Zipcar
Presto, an all-in-one EV charging platform, raises $15M in seed funding from Union Square Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures, and Jetstream. The platform simplifies charging for fleets by enabling them to find, charge, and pay across thousands of charging stations operated by Presto’s charging partners through one easy-to-use app or API. Presto’s machine-learning recommendation engine recommends chargers to fleets for reliable charging, addressing a critical gap in the EV ecosystem. The company partners with Uber, Avis, Hertz, and Zipcar to provide seamless charging experiences for their customers. With the new funding, Presto plans to scale up its operations and continue investing in its technology to support more fleets and charging partners on their road to electrification.
Urban Sky Raises $30 Million in Series B Funding to Unlock Routine and Easy Global Access to the Stratosphere
Urban Sky, a stratospheric platform company, today announced it has closed a $30M Series B investment round. The funding will be used to develop and commercialize a connected suite of products that will unlock the full value of the tactical stratosphere for military and commercial customers. The funding round was led by Altos Ventures, with participation from New Legacy Ventures, Lerer Hippeau, Catapult Ventures, Lavrock Ventures, New Stack Ventures, TenOneTen, DA Ventures (a Denver Angels Affiliate), Union Labs VC, and Techstars.
Urban Sky’s existing tech stack includes the world’s most advanced high-altitude balloons, custom stratospheric payloads, control software, and AI-derived forecasting and autonomous flight control systems. Collectively, these systems enable high-resolution, persistent data monitoring above vast areas for commercial applications like real-time wildfire monitoring. These same systems provide U.S. and allied defense users with what amounts to a “personally deployable satellite,” or a novel platform that offers tactical, asymmetric, long-dwell and deep-reach access to the high-altitude environment for communications and intelligence mission support. Moving forward, Urban Sky will pioneer new technologies needed to deploy the first ever global constellation of long-duration, persistent stratospheric balloons for commercial use-cases including search & rescue, environmental monitoring, and disaster response.
X-energy Closes Upsized $700 Million Series C-1 Financing Round to Accelerate the Development of Advanced Small Modular Nuclear Technology
X-energy has closed a $700 million Series C-1 financing round, led by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, to accelerate the development of its advanced small modular nuclear technology. The funding will support the completion of X-energy’s reactor design and licensing, as well as the first phase of its TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility. X-energy’s Xe-100 advanced small modular nuclear reactor is designed to provide 80 megawatts of electricity and is optimized for multi-unit plants. The company is developing its initial Xe-100 plant at Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Amazon and X-energy are collaborating to bring over 5 gigawatts of new power projects online by 2039, with a focus on zero-carbon emissions and high-temperature steam. The partnership aims to establish a deployment and financing model for projects with infrastructure and utility partners.
MacroCycle raises $6.5M for cleaner recycled plastic
MacroCycle Technologies, a biotech company, has raised $6.5M in Seed funding to scale its patented SolvoGenesis technology, which recycles plastic waste into virgin-grade plastic with zero carbon emissions. The process uses 80% less energy than traditional plastic recycling and is powered by 20% renewable energy. MacroCycle’s technology can produce high-quality recycled PET from plastic waste, such as bottles, food trays, and polyester textiles, with a more efficient process that is competitive with fossil fuel-based plastic. The funding, led by Clean Energy Ventures and Volta Circle, will be used to hire and scale its pilot plant facilities to meet customer demand. MacroCycle’s technology has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production, which currently accounts for over 5% of global CO2 emissions. The company’s mission is to enable plastic circularity, allowing customers and suppliers to unlock the economic and environmental benefits of recycling.
Modern Synthesis secures $5.5M for bio-based alternatives to animal and plastic-based textiles
Modern Synthesis, a biomaterials company, has secured $5.5 million in funding to develop bio-based alternatives to animal and plastic-based textiles. The company’s technology transforms nanocellulose, a natural byproduct of fermentation, into durable and high-quality materials that rival traditional leathers in look and feel. With over 35 sustainability regulations looming, fashion brands that fail to adapt their material portfolios face significant financial risks. Modern Synthesis’ bio-based products can help reduce this risk by providing a sustainable alternative to animal leathers and plastic-based textiles, while also generating new textile possibilities for designers. The investment will enable the company to expand production and service more leading fashion brands, with the goal of delivering better, more cost-effective, and resilient materials that are also environmentally friendly. Modern Synthesis has already collaborated with Danish fashion brand GANNI on a prototype handbag and is working towards a commercial launch.
Trace.Space raises $4M to fix supply chain bottleneck holding back EV innovation
Trace.Space, a next-generation Latvian platform designed to tackle the very challenges that are slowing down the automotive industry. The company has just announced a $4 million seed round, led Cherry Ventures, with Outlast Fund and existing investors Nebular, Fiedler Capital, and Change Ventures. This marks Cherry Ventures’ first investment in the Baltics. This funding will fuel engineering, product development and go-to-market efforts as the company continues to attract the best engineers in Europe.
Trace.Space is leveraging modern cloud computing and AI models to enhance collaboration and minimise response times in product development. The company aims to revolutionise requirements management for engineering teams. The platform integrates advanced AI, including GPT algorithms, to assist engineers in documenting and revising requirements up to ten times faster. This acceleration enables the development of higher-quality products with reduced time-to-market.
Heat2Power: a hot new startup that converts stored heat into electricity
Heat2Power, a startup co-founded by Profs. Stephen Forrest and Andrej Lenert, is revolutionizing energy generation with its high-efficiency, low-cost thermophotovoltaic technology. This technology converts stored heat into electricity, providing a low-cost and environmentally friendly solution for industrial users. Heat2Power’s modular panels can be paired with thermal energy storage systems to add on-demand capabilities to sustainable energy sources like wind and solar, and can also recycle wasted energy in industrial power plants. With the potential to serve the entire thermal energy storage industry, Heat2Power’s technology has already garnered interest from companies in the energy storage and waste heat recovery spaces. The company has raised funding and aims to demonstrate its product within two years, with a goal of achieving over 50% heat-to-power efficiency. Heat2Power’s technology was developed at the University of Michigan’s Lurie Nanofabrication Facility and has been supported by Innovation Partnerships and the Accelerate Blue Fund.
Tidal Vision completes $140M Series B to Scale Chitosan Technologies Globally
Tidal Vision, a biotechnology company, has completed a $140M Series B financing round, exceeding its original target due to high demand from strategically aligned investors. The funding will fuel the company’s global expansion, with new facilities being built in Europe, Texas, and Ohio, to increase production capacities and research and development resources for chitosan-based solutions. This expansion will enable Tidal Vision to better serve customers in critical industries, such as water treatment, agriculture, and material science, and make chitosan-based solutions more accessible globally. The company aims to create positive and systemic environmental impact by making its biomolecular solutions more economical, better performing, and easier to adopt. With this investment, Tidal Vision will accelerate its research and development in chitosan and adjacent technologies, adding to its already impressive intellectual property portfolio.
XOi Amplifies Field Service Innovation with New Strategic Investment and Acquisition
XOi, a leading provider of jobsite-focused technology solutions, has acquired Specifx, a data enrichment and metadata retrieval platform for field service equipment. The acquisition was enabled by a strategic investment from KKR, a global investment firm. This investment marks a significant milestone in XOi’s journey to build out its system of work for the field service ecosystem. The combined resources and capabilities of XOi and Specifx will deliver a unified framework of proprietary and operational data to fuel innovation in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industries. XOi’s platform provides AI-powered workflows, asset and team management functions, and a comprehensive knowledge base, aiming to modernize the field service industry. The acquisition of Specifx enhances XOi’s database offering, allowing for faster and more meaningful innovation. KKR’s investment will help XOi meet and exceed stakeholder expectations of sustainability, profitability, and transparency.
DeepTech IONATE raises €16.3 million to modernise global power systems
IONATE, a London-based DeepTech startup, has raised €16.3 million in a Series A funding round to modernise global power systems. The funding will fuel IONATE’s growth across key markets and help launch its US operations. IONATE’s full stack solution consolidates multiple power system functions into a single, cost-effective device, addressing the shortcomings of traditional offerings. With its AI-enabled software and Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT), IONATE aims to turn passive, old grids into smart decentralised energy platforms. This can handle 33% more distributed energy resources, carry 25% more power without upgrading poles and wires, and reduce wasted power by 6%. IONATE is collaborating with energy giant EDP, and has scaled its solution for data centers, with the potential to capture a vast market for grid modernisation, with at least €20.6 trillion needed to be invested in the electricity grid by 2050.
Estonian DriveX raises €1.2M to detect windshield damage quickly
DriveX, an Estonian deeptech company, has raised €1.2M to accelerate its windshield damage detection technology. The funding round was led by Carglass Estonia, along with other investors and a development grant from the Estonian applied research program. DriveX’s AI-powered solution enables customer self-service for damage assessments, reducing unnecessary windshield replacements and increasing repairs. The technology helps insurance and repair companies, such as Carglass Estonia, reduce labor costs and enhance customer experience. DriveX aims to expand its market reach and become a leader in the sustainable repair space, driven by the European Parliament’s ‘Right to Repair’ initiative.
SAEKI raises $6.7M to transform large-scale manufacturing
With global supply chains facing mounting pressures and costs continuing to rise, manufacturing is at a critical juncture. Industries like aerospace, automotive, and construction face long lead times and high costs for large-format components, relying heavily on fragmented supply chains and labor-intensive processes. SAEKI announced a $6.7M funding round to address these challenges through its innovative approach to digital manufacturing. The seed round was led by Lightbird with participation from Founderful, 2100VC, Danobat, and multiple high-profile business angels.
Unlike traditional manufacturers who rely on manual processes, SAEKI combines large-scale additive manufacturing with precision CNC machining in a unified production system. This hybrid approach enables the company to deliver precision-engineered components in days rather than weeks, while maintaining the highest quality standards through automated inspection processes. By incorporating automated quality assurance, the company ensures every part meets stringent industry standards, enabling faster delivery times and improved cost efficiency for large-format components.
SAEKI is also announcing the launch of its breakthrough instant quoting platform, enabling customers to upload designs, configure requirements, and receive immediate pricing for precision-engineered parts. By eliminating traditional quoting bottlenecks, SAEKI has reduced the procurement cycle from days to minutes.
Flō Optics secures $35 Million Series A for 3D printing of lens coatings
Flō Optics, an Israeli startup, has secured $35 million in Series A funding to revolutionize traditional coating methods for optical lenses. The round was led by the Jaglom family, with participation from Italian company MEI Systems, which acquired a minority stake. Flō Optics’ digital printing technology prints coatings directly onto lenses with pixel-level precision, eliminating inefficiencies in traditional wet processes. With this funding, the company will drive product development, scale production, and expand operations to meet growing demand in the global ophthalmic market. As demand for high-performance optical lenses grows, Flō Optics’ solution is set to redefine industry standards, offering a more efficient, sustainable, and precise alternative to traditional methods.
Desteia Leverages AI and Graph Theory to Alleviate Supply Chain Disruptions
Desteia, a New York-based startup, has raised $11.5M in funding to develop its SaaS technology, which leverages AI and graph theory to alleviate supply chain disruptions. The company’s platform provides real-time updates on container ETAs, predicts potential disruptions, and identifies opportunities for optimization. With minimal integration effort, logistics teams can access actionable insights to make informed decisions. Desteia’s goal is to be the decision-making tool for supply chain operators, helping them to anticipate delays and disruptions before they happen. The company has partnerships with major retailers, auto manufacturers, and CPGs in North America, and has helped users achieve full visibility without requiring integrations or manual work. The funding round was led by Autotech Ventures, Nazca, and Village Global, and included participation from Foundamental, Bridge Latam, and Nido Ventures.
Vienna-based sequestra gasps €1.1M to revolutionise CO2 utilisation in heavy industry — TFN
sequestra, a Vienna-based company, has secured €1.1 million in pre-seed funding to revolutionize CO2 utilisation in heavy industry. The funding, backed by climate-focused investors, will drive the development of sequestra’s globally patented CO2 utilisation technology, including a rapid testing facility for automated material analysis and scaling industrial applications. The technology platform enables the permanent binding of CO2 in industrial residues, such as steel slag and demolition waste, making carbonated materials usable for construction applications. This innovation offers a sustainable alternative to conventional waste disposal, reducing CO2 emissions and addressing key challenges faced by the heavy industry, with a potential impact of 4 to 8.5 billion tonnes of annual CO2 reduction. sequestra’s approach has been recognized through prestigious accelerator programs and awards, including the Climate Founders program and the Greenstart program of the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund.
Procurement meets AI and eAuctions: Crown lands €2M from BeReal investor and former COO of SAP Ariba to shape the future of negotiations — TFN
Crown, a Paris-based procurement software company, has secured a €2M investment in a pre-seed round led by Heartfelt, with participation from several other investors. The company’s innovative electronic auction (eAuction) technology streamlines procurement negotiations, empowering procurement teams to maximize competition, transparency, and value. By using Crown’s platform, suppliers and buyers can complete negotiations in just 20 minutes, with clients achieving an average savings of 9%. Crown aims to develop a comprehensive AI-powered procurement suite, transforming business negotiations through enhanced efficiency, transparency, and results. The company’s approach combines software scalability with deep negotiation expertise, setting it apart from traditional procurement platforms like SAP Ariba, Jaggaer, and Coupa. With the integration of AI in procurement expected to extend beyond eAuctions, Crown is well-positioned to drive the industry forward, with predictions including AI-driven automation for tasks throughout the procurement lifecycle.
Nibertex Raises Pre-Series A Funding to Scale Production Amid Surging Demand
Nibertex, a deep-tech startup, has raised pre-Series A funding from Foxmont Capital Partners and ADB Ventures to scale production of its PFAS-free electrospun polyurethane membranes. The funding will ramp up production capacity to meet growing demand from the consumer textiles market and position the company for expansion into adjacent sectors. Nibertex’s breakthrough in developing PFAS-free membranes delivers eco-conscious solutions to meet consumer and regulatory demands, with global brands seeking sustainable, high-performance materials amidst tightening regulatory restrictions on harmful chemicals like PFAS. The company’s technology has gained traction in high-value sectors such as firefighter fabrics and professional applications, with plans to push the boundaries of electrospinning technology for new applications in mattresses, automotive, and healthcare solutions. With the support of ADB Ventures and Foxmont Capital Partners, Nibertex aims to lead the charge in sustainable, high-performance nanofiber technology, setting its sights on a Series A round in 2025 to further build out production capacity.
HEXANA secures €25 million to accelerate the deployment of its Sodium Fast Reactor system
With support from leading investors such as Blast. Club, Eren Industries, CEA Investissement and Région Sud Investissement, as well as the strategic guidance of Avolta and Villechenon teams, this financing will enable HEXANA to achieve critical milestones. These include completing the Conceptual Design phase (Avant-Projet Sommaire), submitting the Safety Options File (Dossier d’Options Sûreté) to the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR), and progressing to the Basic Design phase (Avant-Projet Détaillé). The funding also plays a pivotal role in securing HEXANA’s first industrial customers and strategic sites across Europe.
Stratasys Announces $120 Million Equity Investment from Fortissimo Capital
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), leader in polymer 3D printing solutions, announced that Fortissimo Capital, a leading Israeli private equity fund investing in technology and industrials, has entered into an agreement to invest $120 million in the Company, acquiring approximately 14% of Stratasys’ issued and outstanding ordinary shares through a direct purchase of 11,650,485 newly issued ordinary shares at $10.30 per share, reflecting a premium of 10.6% over the closing market price on January 31, 2025. Prior to this transaction, Fortissimo held approximately 1.5% of Stratasys’ issued and outstanding ordinary shares. With this transaction, Fortissimo will hold approximately 15.5% of Stratasys’ issued and outstanding ordinary shares. The terms of the agreement also include an 18-month lock-up, as well as customary standstill provisions, subject to certain caveats specified below.
Antwerp-based ADLC secures €2.08M funding
ADLC, a drone logistics company, has secured €2.08M in seed funding led by Galactic Beacon Ventures. The funding will accelerate ADLC’s international expansion, delivering drone logistics services in key ports and offshore energy sites worldwide. ADLC’s drones have already shown significant benefits, including cutting delivery times and decreasing environmental impact, with a six-fold increase in efficiency and up to 80% reduction in CO2 emissions for petrochemical sample deliveries at the Port of Antwerp. With the support of investors like LRM, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and NXT II, ADLC aims to make industrial drone logistics as reliable and commonplace as traditional forms of transportation, transforming the maritime and offshore industry.
Oxyle raises $16m to lead the fight against the "forever chemicals" contaminating our water
Oxyle, a Swiss startup, has raised $16m in funding to scale its breakthrough solution for destroying PFAS, toxic “forever chemicals” that contaminate water supplies. The company’s technology achieves over 99% elimination rates while consuming 15 times less energy than alternative methods. With this funding, Oxyle plans to expand its solution across industries, treating 100 million cubic meters of contaminated water in the next five years. The company’s system combines foam fractionation, catalytic destruction, and real-time monitoring powered by machine learning, eliminating the need for secondary waste disposal. Oxyle’s solution has been proven effective in multiple applications, including groundwater treatment and soil wash water, and has secured prestigious recognition, including the Swiss Technology Award. The funding round was led by 360 Capital, with participation from Axeleo Capital and returning investors Founderful and SOSV.
German e-fuel producer INERATEC receives €70M funding commitment
INERATEC, a German e-fuel producer, has received a €70M funding package from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst. The funding will support the development of INERATEC’s carbon-neutral e-fuel plant in Frankfurt, set to be Europe’s largest when it opens in 2025. The plant will produce up to 2,500 tonnes of e-fuel and e-chemicals, including e-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF), and will help meet EU mandates for synthetic fuel use in aviation. The EIB’s financing commitment is a sign of confidence in INERATEC’s technology and approach, while Breakthrough Energy Catalyst’s investment will help accelerate the adoption of e-fuels. The partnership aims to decarbonise aviation and support the EU’s goal of achieving a competitive net-zero economy. INERATEC’s pioneering plant will demonstrate the scalability of e-fuel production, enabling the reliable production of certifiable e-SAF on a commercial scale. The funding is part of the EU’s InvestEU programme, which aims to attract at least €372B in additional investment to support long-term goals like the European Green Deal and the digital transition.
Delft-based Villari secures €4M funding
Villari, a Delft-based company, has secured €4M in funding from FORWARD.one and InnovationQuarter Capital, with participation from two key individuals. This investment extends their earlier seed round, driven by strong demand from customers in the Netherlands and abroad. Villari’s sensor technology detects tiny fractures in steel structures, ensuring safety and preventing costly downtime by monitoring assets 24/7 and automatically notifying operators of cracks. The company aims to strengthen its market leadership in Europe and enter international markets with this new investment. Villari’s patented sensor solution has already been installed for several customers, including bridges owned by the Dutch Government and industrial cranes at harbors and steel manufacturing sites in Europe. The company has received key certifications, including the DNV seal of approval, and has increased the number of sensors installed with customers in the Benelux region, including steel companies, port terminals, and infrastructure projects.
Variolytics Growth Financing
Variolytics, a leading provider of sensor technology for wastewater treatment, has secured a growth financing round led by Nordic Alpha Partners. The investment will support Variolytics’ mission to decarbonize the wastewater sector, which accounts for 2% of global CO2 emissions. Variolytics’ EmiCo solution uses advanced sensor technology and AI to detect and reduce nitrous oxide levels, enabling treatment plant professionals to adjust processes and prevent harmful emissions. The company’s technology can reduce emissions by up to 50% and energy consumption by up to 20% within 12 months of installation. The investment is a significant milestone for Variolytics, which has developed a market-leading solution for the wastewater sector. Nordic Alpha Partners’ operational approach and expertise in the water technology sector will support Variolytics’ growth and scaling. The European Innovation Council and High-Tech Gründerfonds also participated in the financing round, which is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Omnitron Sensors Secures $13M+ Series A Funding, Fueling Next Generation of MEMS Sensors
Omnitron Sensors has secured $13M+ in Series A funding to fuel the expansion of its engineering and operations teams, accelerating the mass production of its MEMS step-scanning mirror. This innovation streamlines the production of MEMS sensors, which have been limited by expensive and laborious manufacturing methods. Omnitron’s fabrication IP enables the production of high-performance, affordable, and durable MEMS sensors for various markets, including AI data centers, autonomous vehicles, and XR headsets. The investment will help Omnitron meet demand in sensor-driven markets, with potential applications in AI workflow enhancement, LiDAR subsystems, and display quality improvement. With this funding, Omnitron aims to deliver on the promise of its technology, offering a new paradigm for mass-producing affordable and precise sensors at scale.
Motif Raises $46 Million from CapitalG and Redpoint to Revolutionize The AEC Software Industry
Motif, a startup founded in 2023 by design software luminaries Amar Hanspal and Brian Mathews, has secured $46 million in seed and Series A funding to develop a next-generation platform for buildings. The Series A was led by Alphabet’s independent growth fund, CapitalG, and the previously undisclosed Seed round was led by Redpoint Ventures. Pre-seed venture firm Baukunst participated in both rounds.
Amar Hanspal, former Co-CEO and CPO of Autodesk, and Brian Mathews, former VP of Platform Engineering at Autodesk, aim to modernize the $8 billion AEC software industry dominated by legacy 20th century technology. “This is a massive market, but it’s also massively complex and requires absolute precision. We’ve hired a team of experts in the fields of cloud computing, machine learning and BIM with meaningful experience at companies including Autodesk, OnShape, Twitter, Vimeo and Tesla,” said Brian Mathews, Motif co-founder and CTO. “Together we’re tackling some of the hardest– and most exciting–technical frontiers in software”
Castelion Announces $100M Financing
Castelion – a new defense manufacturer helping America and its allies preserve peace through deterrence with long range hypersonic strike weapons – announced today it has raised $100M in debt and equity financing. With rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the United States and its allies need a non-nuclear deterrent capability. Affordable, mass-produced hypersonic long-range strike weapons are required to build a decisive combat power advantage and deter future aggression.
The Series A financing round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from a16z, Lavrock Ventures, Cantos, First In, BlueYard Capital, and Interlagos. The financing includes $30M in Venture Debt financing provided by Silicon Valley Bank, with final close expected in February.
Funding will be used to continue Castelion’s rapid flight test campaign and invest in scaled manufacturing infrastructure for key missile subsystems.
Smart Wires Raises $65 Million in Growth Capital to Unlock Electric Grid Capacity with Backing from BP Energy Partners
Smart Wires has raised $65 million in growth capital from investors including BP Energy Partners and Keystone Group to accelerate its development of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs). The company’s SmartValve advanced power flow control (APFC) device has already helped utilities unlock nearly 4 GW of firm capacity from their existing networks, providing a cost-effective and sustainable solution to meet growing energy demands. With this funding, Smart Wires plans to further scale its commercial operations and address the growing market opportunity, driven by increasing demand from data centers and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The company’s solutions are being adopted by leading utilities worldwide, including Central Hudson Gas & Electric, National Grid Electricity Transmission, and ISA TRANSELCA, to address critical grid challenges and integrate clean energy sources. By providing a flexible and reliable way to manage capacity and load issues, Smart Wires is poised to play a critical role in the global energy transition, enabling utilities to meet growing electricity demand while reducing costs and enhancing security of supply.
Optical networking engine revs up as iPronics raises €20M to enhance AI data centres — TFN
iPronics, a Spanish company specializing in software-defined photonic engines, has raised €20M in a Series A funding round to develop its Optical Networking Engine (ONE) technology. The funding, led by Triatomic Capital, will accelerate the deployment of iPronics’ Optical Circuit Switch market, enabling customers to build next-gen AI infrastructure with faster, scalable, and energy-efficient communication. iPronics’ ONE technology addresses the limitations of current electronic switches in AI data centres by introducing an optically switched fabric for AI architectures, allowing on-the-fly topology changes and seamless programmability. The innovative design ensures lossless operation, higher reliability, and a lower cost-per-port, making it a game-changer for data centre management. With this investment, iPronics aims to deliver unprecedented speed, efficiency, and scalability, propelling AI innovation into a new era. Industry leaders, including Bosch Ventures and Fine Structure Ventures, have endorsed the funding, citing the transformative potential of iPronics’ Optical Networking Engine in reshaping AI data centre infrastructure.
UK Government Invests in UK Orbital Launch Capability for First Time
The UK Government has invested £20 million in Orbex, a UK-owned launch services company, as part of its Series D fundraising. This investment will accelerate the development of Orbex’s Prime rocket, a 19-metre long, two-stage rocket designed to transport small satellites into Low Earth Orbit. With a total of £23 million raised so far, Orbex plans to launch its first Prime rocket towards the end of 2025. The company’s use of bio-propane, a renewable bio-fuel, reduces carbon emissions significantly compared to other similarly sized rockets. The investment is expected to bring highly skilled jobs and investment to communities across the UK, supporting the country’s growing space industry. Orbex’s technology has two active patents in several European countries and the United States, covering various parts of its rocket technology.
UVeye Secures $191M in Funding to Meet Soaring Demand for AI-Powered Vehicle Inspection Systems
UVeye, the global leader in AI-driven vehicle inspection technology, announced $191 million of funding, bringing total capital raised to date to $380.5 million. This latest infusion, combining equity and debt, will fuel UVeye’s efforts to meet surging global demand for its innovative systems and solidify its position as the market leader in the industry as the company nears a million vehicles scanned every month. The round was led by Woven Capital with participation from UMC Capital and MyBerg along with existing investors W.R. Berkley, Menora Mivtachim, and More Investment House for $41M in equity financing; Trinity Capital structured the $150 million debt facility.
The new funding will drive UVeye’s global expansion, increase large-scale manufacturing capacity, and strengthen strategic partnerships. In 2025, the company plans to deploy hundreds of systems worldwide, enabling the scanning of millions of vehicles annually and spearheading innovation across the automotive industry. The $150 million debt facility, structured by Trinity Capital, includes an initial $100 million commitment with an option for an additional $50 million, specifically allocated to support the production of these advanced systems.
Frenos Closes $3.88 Million Seed Financing Round Led by DataTribe to Transform Proactive Defense in Critical Infrastructure Environments
Frenos, an autonomous operational technology (OT) security assessment platform, has closed a $3.88 million seed financing round led by DataTribe. The funding will accelerate the advancement of the Frenos Platform and expand the company’s go-to-market presence across critical infrastructure sectors. Frenos’ AI-native platform assesses, prioritizes, and defends mission-critical environments without operational disruption, providing contextual, prioritized remediation guidance specific to OT environments. This enables organizations to reduce risk faster and maximize efficiency. With the funding, Frenos will help critical infrastructure operators understand and build preemptive defenses across their expansive service territories and complex environments cost-effectively and efficiently. DataTribe, a leading global cyber foundry, is dedicated to partnering with innovators who are pushing the boundaries of modern cybersecurity solutions, and is proud to join Frenos in its mission to transform OT security.
Tradeverifyd announces Series A round to transform the standard for global supply chain risk
Tradeverifyd has raised an $8m Series A round led by Silicon Road VC and Bread & Butter Ventures to transform the standard for global supply chain risk management. The company’s AI-driven platform helps teams mitigate supply chain risks by automatically identifying potential disruptions and non-compliance issues. With the new funding, Tradeverifyd will accelerate go-to-market efforts and improve support for supply chain leaders responding to changing regulations and compliance needs. The company’s solution is tailored for senior leaders in compliance and procurement, aiming to protect operations from supply chain disruptions and regulatory non-compliance. Tradeverifyd’s Tradeverifyd Score provides a consistent way to measure each supplier’s ability to deliver products and volumes, including their compliance and financial posture. The company’s use of AI and machine learning enables it to scale sourcing and compliance teams exponentially, providing personalized decision-making for customers. With the increasing need for comprehensive supply chain risk management solutions, Tradeverifyd is positioning itself to meet the demand and transform supply chains worldwide.
Bonsai Robotics Secures $15 Million in Series A Funding to Advance Its Physical AI Solutions for Agriculture Applications
Bonsai Robotics Inc. has secured $15 million in Series A funding to advance its physical AI solutions for agriculture applications. Led by Bison Ventures, the funding round will enable Bonsai to enhance its software capabilities, expand its physical AI platform and data set, and drive additional OEM partnerships. Bonsai’s flagship product, Visionsteer, provides technology designed to meet grower needs, offering data insights, crop analysis, notifications, job planning, and autonomous vehicle control. With over 40 units deployed and data collected from operations on over 500,000 acres, Bonsai is helping orchard growers reduce costs, increase yields, and gain unparalleled insights. The company is re-thinking basic autonomy from a first principle perspective for agriculture applications, addressing urgent challenges such as climate change, food security, labor shortages, and rising grower costs.
Eclypsium Strengthens its Leadership Position in Global Supply Chain Security with $45 Million in Series C Funding
Eclypsium, a leader in infrastructure supply chain security, has raised $45 million in Series C funding from investors including Qualcomm Ventures, Pavilion Capital, and Singtel Innov8. The funding will be used to scale operations and expand into new markets, including critical GenAI hardware and smart connected devices. As AI processing shifts to edge devices, securing the supply chain is becoming increasingly important. Eclypsium’s AI-powered platform helps enterprises and government agencies mitigate risks from complex technology supply chains by validating IT components, detecting hidden threats, and responding quickly with automated updates. With this funding, Eclypsium solidifies its position as a market leader in supply chain security, addressing the urgent need to protect organizations’ foundational infrastructure from nation-state and ransomware threats.
Mangrove Lithium Secures $35M in Strategic Financing for Construction of North America's First Electrochemical Lithium Refining Facility
Mangrove Lithium has secured $35M in strategic financing to construct North America’s first electrochemical lithium refining facility in Delta, British Columbia. The state-of-the-art facility will produce enough battery-grade materials to power approximately 25,000 electric vehicles per year, enhancing the lithium supply chain and regional energy security amidst China’s proposed export ban on lithium processing technology. Mangrove’s electrochemical process is cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and eliminates harmful reagents, reducing waste and production costs. The company’s platform offers flexibility in producing lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, allowing customers to respond to evolving market demands. Key investors include Mitsubishi Corporation, Asahi Kasei Corporation, InBC Investment Corp., Orion Industrial Ventures, and Export Development Canada, validating Mangrove’s technology and position as a market leader in the space.
VEIR Closes $75M Series B to Deliver Superconducting Solutions for AI Data Centers and High-Capacity Power Lines, Driving Grid Resilience and Global Decarbonization
VEIR, a leader in superconducting power delivery, has closed a $75 million Series B funding round led by Munich Re Ventures. The investment will accelerate VEIR’s commercialization efforts for its innovative superconducting solutions, which provide up to 10 times the power of traditional cables while operating at the same voltage. This technology enables data centers to achieve efficiency, improved server latency, and simplified campus designs, while also supporting the integration of renewable energy resources onto the grid. With global energy demand projected to increase by over 30% in the next two decades, VEIR’s solutions address the challenges of bottlenecked transmission and distribution systems, enabling existing transmission lines to carry significantly more power. The company’s technology has the potential to drive grid resilience and global decarbonization, and has garnered support from investors such as Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund, which seeks to enable a decarbonized grid.
From art conservation to air purification: CleanTech Adsorbi secures €1 million to build pilot plant
Adsorbi, a Gothenburg-based CleanTech startup, has secured €1 million in funding to build a pilot plant for its cellulose-based air purification material. The material, developed from Nordic tree cellulose, captures gaseous air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides and aldehydes, and is designed for use in air filters, products that remove odours, and museums to protect artefacts and works of art. Unlike activated carbon, the current market standard, Adsorbi’s material lasts longer, doesn’t release hazardous VOCs, and is water and fire-resistant. The funding, provided by investors including Metsä Spring and Chalmers Ventures, will be used to construct and operate the pilot plant, develop new products, and grow Adsorbi’s customer base. With the EU’s new Ambient Air Quality Directive introducing stricter air quality standards, Adsorbi’s innovative material is poised to play a crucial role in improving indoor air quality and reducing the risks associated with air pollution, which causes over 3.2 million deaths annually.
Whizzo raises $4.2 mn from Lightspeed to transform textile manufacturing
Whizzo secures $4.2 million in funding from Lightspeed, set to revolutionize textile manufacturing. This investment will enable Whizzo to transform the textile manufacturing process, increasing efficiency and productivity. With this funding, Whizzo is poised to make a significant impact on the textile industry.
DeepTech Keey Aerogel raises €18 million to produce “green” aerogel on an industrial scale
Keey Aerogel, a DeepTech company, raises €18 million in Series A funding to produce “green” aerogel on an industrial scale. The funding, co-led by SPI 2 fund and WIND, will enable Keey Aerogel to create new production sites, expand its team, and fuel a wide-scale expansion. Keey Aerogel’s innovative production process uses construction waste and recycled solvents to create a high-performance, affordable, and environmentally friendly thermal insulator. The company aims to develop a network of local factories to address European sovereignty and energy transition challenges, with applications in construction, industry, and aerospace, including electric vehicle batteries. Keey Aerogel’s technology has the potential to disrupt the traditional insulation market, offering a sustainable and competitive solution, and aligns with the mission of the SPI Fund to support innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.
Helion Announces $425M Series F Investment to Scale Commercialized Fusion Power
Helion, a fusion energy company, announced a $425 million Series F investment round that will be used to scale commercialization efforts for the company’s groundbreaking fusion technology. The oversubscribed and upsized round had participation from new investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and a major university endowment, and existing investors including Sam Altman, Mithril Capital, Capricorn Investment Group, Dustin Moskovitz through Good Ventures Foundation, and Nucor. This latest round of funding will bring the total invested in Helion to over $1 billion and values the company at $5.425 billion post-money.
Helion recently began operating its 7th generation prototype, Polaris, which is expected to demonstrate the first electricity produced from fusion. With its previous prototype, Trenta, Helion was the first private company to achieve a fuel temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, which is generally considered the required operating temperature for a commercial fusion power plant.
World’s First “Universal” Robotics Software Platform BOW Raises £4 Million Seed to Reduce Cost and Complexity of Programming Robots
BOW, the universal robotics software company, has announced closing a £4 million seed round. The round was led by Northern Gritstone, the investment business focused on science and technology businesses in the North of England, with co-investors Finance Yorkshire and Praetura Ventures as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. This news follows the appointment in November 2024 of Liz Upton, Co-Founder of Raspberry Pi (LSE:RPI), as Chair of BOW’s board.
The BOW platform – which stands for “Bettering our Worlds” – and the BOW robot-agnostic software development kit (SDK) solve this industry bottleneck, making it possible for the first time to program different robots using the operating system and programming language of choice.
Originally spun-out from the University of Sheffield in 2020, BOW is now working with Original Equipment Manufacturers, System Integrators and Software Development Houses who are using the platform and SDK to accelerate their robotics innovation and application development.
Earth AI Closes Oversubscribed Round; Raising $20M for AI Driven Mineral Exploration
Earth AI, a predictive explorer for clean energy metals using artificial intelligence (AI), has announced $20M in Series B funding. The oversubscribed round was led by Tamarack Global and Cantos Ventures. Participating investors include Overmatch, Alpaca, Sparkwave Capital, and significant support from existing investors including Y Combinator and Scrum Ventures. New funding will drive AI and drilling technology development and accelerate project value discovery. The company plans to increase the project pipeline to over 50 sites and increase drilling capacity to 100,000 meters at an industry beating ~$100/meter cost.
Earth AI’s model is focused on identifying mineral deposits using AI, validating them through drilling and then selling the multi-billion-dollar mining rights to large cap mining companies. The company’s predictive technology has been extensively trained using continental scale data sets that combine and contextualize 400 million pieces of disparate information along with satellite remote sensing to identify greenfield prospects–a key differentiator to other exploration technologies that focus on identifying resources near existing mines. This ability makes Earth AI an integral partner for the mining industry as it seeks to meet the exponential growth in demand for critical minerals resulting from the global energy transition.
Xaga Surgical Secures € 700 k to Revolutionize Medical Needles and Expand to the U.S.
Xaga Surgical, a HealthTech startup, has secured €700,000 to expand its operations to the U.S. and develop innovative medical needles that reduce infection risks and improve cancer diagnostics. The company’s technology, which reduces bacterial transmission by 96%, addresses significant risks associated with traditional needle usage, affecting over 50 million people annually. With the funding, Xaga Surgical aims to commercialize its patented needle technology, secure FDA approval, and position itself as a leader in infection prevention and cancer diagnostics. The investment round included €250,000 from Almi and a similar amount from SmiLe Inject Capital, alongside private investors. Xaga Surgical’s innovative approach has the potential to transform patient safety and outcomes, addressing the estimated 3.4 million hospital-acquired infections caused by needles annually.
Recoma Secures €2.6M to Scale Circular Construction Solutions
Recoma, a circular economy innovator, has secured €2.6 million in funding to scale its sustainable construction materials business. The company transforms hard-to-process composite waste into durable building boards, rivalling traditional materials. With this funding, Recoma aims to triple its sales in 2025 and achieve profitability by 2027. The funds will also help secure an additional €2.9 million grant from Sweden’s Klimatklivet program to double production capacity. Key investors include South Bay Ventures, Kiilto Ventures, and GES, a Czech industrial group and supplier to Recoma. Founded by Max Rosenberg in 2021, Recoma has carved out a niche in the construction sector’s sustainability challenges and is now preparing for international expansion.
Leiden-based electrical data analytics company Samotics secures €20M from EIB
Samotics, a Leiden-based electrical data analytics company, has secured €20M in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to accelerate research and development of its AI-powered technology. The technology boosts reliability and energy efficiency in electrical motors by analysing electrical data and predicting potential faults. The EIB’s financing, supported by the European Commission’s InvestEU initiative, aims to accelerate digitalisation and innovation in Industry 4.0-related technology. Samotics’ solution uses Electrical Signature Analysis to monitor electric motors, detect energy waste, and predict problems, offering recommendations based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The funding will enable Samotics to further accelerate its growth and innovation journey, with the potential to revolutionise industrial reliability and sustainability.
Supernova awarded $2 million DOD contract to 3D print military-grade energetic materials
Supernova has been awarded a $2 million subcontract by ACMI to 3D print military-grade energetic materials, overcoming design constraints of conventional manufacturing methods. The company’s Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) technology enables new formulations, such as high solid-loading used in energetic materials, which can release significant amounts of energy through chemical and physical reactions. These materials have potential applications in explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics, including solid rocket motors, bombs, countermeasure flares, and bullet grains. The contract will support the DOD’s production of critical weapon system components, with Supernova’s technology expected to enhance national security by enabling the production of critical components for weapon systems.
Stoke Space: Rocket Company Raises $260 Million (Series C)
Stoke Space, a rocket company, has raised $260 million in Series C funding to drive growth and innovation, bringing its total funding to $480 million. The funding round, led by new and existing investors, reflects the demand for Stoke’s ultra-low-cost on-demand space transportation and its progress in developing fully reusable solutions. Stoke has made significant progress, including a successful vertical test firing of its Zenith engine and developing the world’s first actively cooled metallic reentry heat shield. The new funding will be used to complete construction at Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, finalize the development of its Nova launch vehicle, and enhance its private test facility and manufacturing headquarters. With this investment, Stoke aims to accelerate the development of technologies that will redefine access to and from space, enabling rapid and reliable reuse of a rocket’s upper stage and opening up new business opportunities in the space economy.
Stratus Raises $32M in Series B Funding to Accelerate the Future of Construction Technology
Stratus, a leading cloud-based platform for MEP contractors, has secured $32 million in Series B funding from Radian Capital to accelerate its mission to revolutionize the construction industry. This investment will fuel Stratus’ expansion of its platform’s capabilities, including enhancing user efficiency, collaboration, and data reporting, as well as growing its go-to-market and customer success initiatives. Stratus’ platform integrates with industry-standard design tools like Autodesk’s Revit and AutoCAD, allowing contractors to optimize prefabrication and fabrication workflows, reducing errors and improving productivity. With this funding, Stratus plans to scale its operations, invest in key hires and infrastructure, and provide additional resources to support its growing customer base. As a result, Stratus will be able to deliver more value to its customers, empowering them to work smarter and faster, and achieve unparalleled results in the construction industry.
Firestorm Labs Awarded $100 Million IDIQ Contract by U.S. Air Force to Accelerate UAS Development and Integration
Firestorm Labs has been awarded a $100 million, 5-year IDIQ contract by the U.S. Air Force to accelerate UAS development and integration. The contract enables the Air Force to issue multiple task and delivery orders, providing flexibility to adapt to shifting operational demands. Firestorm’s systems leverage advanced manufacturing processes and modular design principles to deliver scalable, low-cost UAS solutions. The company’s vision is to enable production of systems, parts, and prototyping at the edge, agnostic of vendor, to address the challenges of uncertain supply chains, isolated geography, and contested logistics. This award reflects the Air Force’s confidence in Firestorm’s ability to deliver innovative UAS solutions, ensuring operational agility and strategic dominance in evolving combat environments.
Ati Motors Raises $20M Series B for Global Expansion of its AI-Powered Robotics Workforce
Ati Motors, a leader in AI and autonomous robotics, has raised $20M in Series B funding led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and NGP Capital. The funding will accelerate the development and deployment of Ati Motors’ robotic workforce, which leverages a large and diverse factory dataset for autonomous movement. Ati Motors’ autonomous robots have been deployed globally in dynamic and complex manufacturing environments, delivering industry-leading uptime and helping customers achieve exceptional productivity gains. The company’s unique combination of advanced AI capabilities and robotics positions them to lead the next wave of industrial automation. The funding will be used to accelerate product development, expand market presence in North America and APAC, and strengthen its position as a leading provider of industrial automation solutions.
ZuriQ raises $4.2M to break quantum computing's scaling barrier
ZuriQ has raised $4.2M in seed funding to commercialize a new architecture that breaks through the scaling barrier in quantum computing. The company’s technology uses a combination of electric and magnetic fields to trap ions, allowing them to move freely in all spatial directions and enabling faster growth in computing power. Unlike existing quantum computer scaleups, ZuriQ has redesigned the fundamental computational building block from the ground up, maintaining compatibility with proven control techniques. The company aims to demonstrate its first prototype with dozens of ions in a reconfigurable 2D grid by the end of the year and is building towards thousands of qubits required for industrially useful quantum computing. With applications in quantum chemistry, chemical engineering, and high-performance computing, ZuriQ believes its platform will provide the strongest possible foundation for developers to discover innovative applications. The funding round was led by Founderful, with participation from SquareOne, First Momentum Ventures, OnSight Ventures, and QAI Ventures.
Emerald Backs StormHarvester with $10.2M Series A to Innovate AI-Infused Smart Water Management
StormHarvester, a market-leading AI analytics and SaaS provider, has secured $10.2M in Series A funding from Emerald Technology Ventures and YFM Equity Partners. The investment will drive the company’s expansion, doubling its workforce over the next three years, and accelerate growth into new markets including Australasia and North America. StormHarvester’s AI-infused smart water management platform uses machine learning and rainfall forecasting to help wastewater utilities prevent flooding and pollution, and is currently used by 75% of UK wastewater utilities. The company’s innovative approach has earned it a market-leading position, and the funding will facilitate the expansion of its product range, sales, and marketing capabilities. With a strong focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability, StormHarvester’s technology is setting a new standard in reducing pollution and flooding, and is poised for international expansion.
InMotion Ventures Invests $2 Million in Cyclic Materials, Extending Series B to $55 Million
Cyclic Materials, an advanced recycling company, has secured a $2 million investment from InMotion Ventures, the investment arm of Jaguar Land Rover, extending its Series B round to $55 million. This investment highlights the growing importance of sustainable solutions in the automotive industry. Cyclic Materials’ proprietary MagCycle and REEPure technologies recycle rare earth elements from end-of-life products, establishing a circular supply chain for recycled mixed rare earth oxides. With this funding, the company will accelerate its expansion across North America and Europe, enhancing processing capabilities and refining its cutting-edge recycling technologies. The investment aligns with InMotion Ventures’ commitment to the circular economy, supporting the automotive industry’s transition towards a cleaner and more resilient future.
Tive Secures $40 Million in Series C Funding Led by WiL & Sageview Capital
Tive, a global leader in supply chain and logistics visibility technology, has secured $40 million in Series C funding led by WiL and Sageview Capital. The investment will be used to expand Tive’s innovative real-time shipment tracking and monitoring solutions. Tive’s technology helps supply chain and logistics teams improve risk management, on-time performance, customer experience, and quality assurance by monitoring the real-time location and condition of in-transit shipments. With over 900 businesses trusting Tive to monitor and optimize millions of shipments globally, the company is poised to continue its growth and expansion. Tive’s commitment to sustainability is also evident in its Green Program, which has nearly doubled the number of returned and recycled trackers in the past year. The funding will enable Tive to deliver real-time shipment visibility and actionable insights to customers worldwide, setting a new standard in the industry.
Baya Systems Raises $36M+ to Propel AI and Chiplet Innovation
Baya Systems has raised $36+ million in a Series B funding round led by Maverick Silicon, with strategic investment from Synopsys, to accelerate AI and chiplet innovation. The funding will support the development and deployment of Baya’s software-driven system IP technology portfolio for system-on-chip (SoC) designs and the emerging chiplet economy. As intelligent computing grows, its demands for AI capabilities, efficient data movement, and compute density drive the evolution of SoCs into “system-of-chips” models, which offer scalable performance, optimized power, and reduced costs. Baya’s modular solutions, including WeaverPro and WeaveIP, are designed to adapt to changing needs and take advantage of these benefits for next-gen designs in AI, automotive, and data center infrastructure. The company’s holistic approach to design, analyze, and build complex, highly performant multi-die systems overcomes traditional semiconductors’ bottlenecks of data movement and scalability. With a strong team and growing traction, Baya is positioned to grow its market share and capitalize on the opportunity to solve the high-performance system design challenge for the semiconductor industry.
Spaceium Closes $6.3M Seed Round to Build Refueling Stations in Space
Spaceium, a company building a network of in-space refueling stations, has closed a $6.3 million seed round led by Initialized Capital. With this funding, Spaceium will demonstrate refueling technology in orbit and recruit a team of engineers. The company’s groundbreaking technology enables spacecraft to extend lifespans, conduct more operations in space, reduce launch costs, and carry heavier payloads. Spaceium’s refueling stations will store propellant in space for multiple years using proprietary fuel tanks and advanced robotic arms. The company has a robust pipeline of customers requiring up to multiple metric tons of fuel per mission and plans to partner with government or commercial space programs. By enabling refueling in space, Spaceium will transform the possibilities and economics of human activity in space, allowing for longer missions and more efficient use of resources.
Basetwo Raises $11.5M Series A to Transform Chemical Manufacturing with Physics AI Platform
Basetwo, an AI platform for manufacturing engineers, announced it has raised USD $11.5M in Series A funding led by AVP with participation from existing investor Glasswing Ventures, Deloitte Ventures, Global Brain Ventures, Shimadzu Corporation, Chiyoda Corporation, and prominent UAE angel investors via Qora71. The investment allows the company to accelerate its mission to revolutionize how pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers optimize their production processes.
When launching new drug compounds or chemical formulations to market, manufacturers must precisely determine numerous production parameters — from reactor temperatures to mixing speeds — while maintaining strict quality standards. At the commercial scale, teams must continuously verify production performance, identify issues, and implement corrective actions to ensure optimal batch quality. Traditional machine learning approaches relying solely on historical data struggle with these complex manufacturing processes, as they can only learn from correlations rather than the underlying physics and chemistry engineers use to control and troubleshoot these systems. This technology gap leads to significant inefficiencies, with 20 cents of every dollar spent in manufacturing going to waste — a staggering global loss of $8 trillion annually.
Basetwo’s Physics AI platform uniquely combines fundamental chemical engineering principles with artificial intelligence to optimize pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing processes. This results in an up to 40% improvement in cycle times and raw material usage while helping customers achieve a 25% improvement in product quality. The platform enables manufacturers to run virtual experiments and simulate process changes before implementation, significantly reducing the time and cost traditionally required to optimize production processes and eliminating the risks associated with live testing.
The funding will accelerate the development of Basetwo’s AutoPilot technology for autonomous, real-time manufacturing control while expanding the company’s presence in the US, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East. Basetwo will continue growing its business development, AI, and software engineering teams to support increasing market demand.
FlexGen Boosts Growth with $75 Million Revolving Credit Facility
FlexGen Power Systems, LLC has secured a $75 million revolving credit facility (RCF) with J.P. Morgan to support its growth plans and deliver advanced energy storage technologies. The RCF provides FlexGen with financial flexibility to expand operations, strengthen technology offerings, and meet increasing demand for reliable energy storage solutions worldwide. With the rapid expansion of AI and cloud computing driving growth in data center power demands, FlexGen’s energy storage solutions are critical for maintaining grid stability. The company’s HybridOS software platform has deployed over 8 Gigawatt-hours of energy storage capacity, delivering advanced operational performance and grid integration capabilities. J.P. Morgan’s support underscores FlexGen’s commitment to providing bankable energy storage solutions for the 21st century, enabling a more efficient, reliable, and resilient energy system.
Cancrie raises $1.2 Mn in seed funding round
Cancrie, a startup focused on advanced nanocarbon materials for energy storage, has raised $1.2 million in a seed funding round led by Roots Ventures along with participation from IIMA Ventures, Foundation Botnar, and Sagana. The fund will be used to scale production, accelerate research and development, forge strategic partnerships to integrate its advanced nanocarbon materials into next-generation energy storage devices, and meet the growing demand for its products, Cancrie said in a press release.
Bedrock Energy Raises $12M Series A to Scale Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Bedrock Energy, a geothermal heating and cooling startup, has raised $12M in Series A funding led by Titanium Ventures. The funding will support the advancement of Bedrock’s technologies and expanded deployment in Colorado, Utah, and neighboring states. Bedrock’s innovations make geothermal installations affordable, allowing real estate developers and owners to generate a strong financial return and boost their property values. The company’s geothermal heat pump systems can cut energy bills in half, improve resilience, and reduce air pollutants by 90%. With the potential to save billions of dollars for property owners and utilities, Bedrock aims to unlock scalable geothermal heating and cooling as a resilient, always-on category of distributed clean energy. The company plans to deploy new geothermal systems across Colorado, Utah, and other Mountain West states, building upon its recently completed project in Morgan County, Utah, and ongoing work on a district geothermal system in Hayden, Colorado.
Matchory raises €6M Seed extension for supplier discovery
Matchory, a ‘ProcureTech’ startup, has raised €6M in a seed extension funding round led by Munich-based VC Capmont, with participation from existing investors Earlybird-X and angel investors. The funding will be used to expand internationally and further develop its matching technology. Matchory’s platform uses AI models and web scraping to collect and centralize supplier information, currently boasting over 14 million supplier profiles, covering 98% of relevant manufacturers globally. The company is also a consortium partner in the Factory-X project, aiming to advance supply chain digitization, develop industry standards, and provide funding for developments, alongside companies like SAP, Siemens, and 50 other IT and industrial companies. With customers such as DMG Mori, Tesa, Bosch, and Jungheinrich, Matchory’s SaaS solution enables efficient and sustainable decision-making in manufacturing and supplier selection. The fresh capital will enable Matchory to integrate additional data sources and offer new features, addressing the key needs of global companies for reliable supply chains.
Sonocharge Energy Announces US$23.5M round with participation from Honda, Cycle Capital and current investors Khosla Ventures and Temasek
Sonocharge Energy has secured $23.5M in funding from investors including Honda, Cycle Capital, Khosla Ventures, and Temasek. The investment will accelerate the commercialization of Sonocharge Energy’s innovative battery technology, which uses acoustic waves to extend battery life and improve charging speed. Honda, a leading mobility company, sees potential in Sonocharge Energy’s technology to reduce environmental impact and improve convenience for electric vehicle (EV) users. The funding will enable Sonocharge Energy to advance its R&D, work with customers to optimize its technology, and prepare for manufacturing. This investment marks a significant milestone for the company, following customer-funded lab tests demonstrating improved performance with lithium-ion batteries using Sonocharge Energy’s technology.
Hydrogen equipment pioneer H2SITE successfully raises EUR36 million from a consortium of investors co-led by Hy24 and SC Net Zero Ventures
H2SITE, a deep-tech pioneer of hydrogen separation solutions, has successfully raised EUR36 million in a Series B funding round led by Hy24 and SC Net Zero Ventures. The funding will support the company’s next industrialization and commercialization milestones, including multi tons per day hydrogen production capacity in operation by 2026. H2SITE’s proprietary membrane reactor technology enables hydrogen separation from gas streams and easy-to-transport molecules, such as ammonia or methanol. The company has built and operated 15 projects in Western Europe and is now developing large-scale infrastructure projects in North America, the EU, and Asia Pacific. The investment will help H2SITE tackle the challenge of hydrogen supply chain and support the growth of the clean hydrogen economy. Hy24 and SC Net Zero Ventures, along with other investors, will provide H2SITE with access to a broad international ecosystem of stakeholders who share the unified vision of hydrogen as a vital energy vector for achieving European and global industrial decarbonization targets.
NovoLINC Secures Investments to Assist AI Computing with Groundbreaking Thermal Interface Technology
NovoLINC, a thermal technology startup, has secured seed funding led by M Ventures, with participation from Foothill Ventures and TDK Ventures. The investment will help NovoLINC accelerate the development of its groundbreaking thermal interface technology, which reduces thermal resistance to an industry-record low (< 1mm²-K/W). This technology addresses the growing heat generation issue in electronic chipsets, particularly in AI data centers. NovoLINC’s solution offers outstanding thermal performance and reliability for cooling high-power electronics, such as CPUs and GPUs. The company is collaborating with industrial partners to scale up manufacturing and commercialize its technology to meet the surging needs of high-power computing and sustainable AI data center operations. With this investment, NovoLINC aims to revolutionize thermal management for high-performance computing, data centers, and other industries. The company’s unique nanostructured materials system and proprietary manufacturing process have the potential to make chip cooling more efficient, reducing energy consumption and heat dissipation.
Strategic Investment in Evertrak, a North American Composite Railroad Tie Manufacturer
Sumitomo Corporation, through its subsidiary Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, has made a strategic investment in Evertrak, a US-based manufacturer of composite railroad ties. This partnership aims to reduce environmental impacts and build a more sustainable railroad infrastructure in North America. Evertrak’s composite ties, made from recycled plastics and fiberglass, offer superior environmental performance, extended durability, and long-term cost savings. The investment will enhance Evertrak’s production capacity and accelerate the development of competitive and sustainable product solutions. With the North American freight railroad industry being one of the most environmentally friendly transportation modes, Sumitomo Corporation Group is committed to contributing to the development of sustainable railroad infrastructure through the provision of railroad products and solutions. Evertrak’s flagship product, the “Evertrak 7000,” offers an unparalleled lifespan of over 50 years in High Decay Zones, compared to the average 8-12 years of wood railroad ties.
H2, Inc. Secures $16 Million in Bridge Funding to Expand Flow Battery Manufacturing Capacity
H2, Inc., an industry-leading vanadium flow battery (VFB) developer and manufacturer headquartered in South Korea, successfully raised $16 million in recent bridge funding, finalized in the second half of 2024. This brings the company’s total accumulated funding to $77 million. The round was led by STIC Investments which is one of the largest and a leading private equity firm in Korea, with participation from KRUN Ventures and Lighthouse Combined Investment.
The newly raised capital will be primarily allocated to constructing the company’s new, state-of-the-art K2 Plant. This facility will significantly expand H2’s manufacturing capacity to 1.2 GWh per annum, marking a major milestone in the global flow battery and long-duration energy storage industry. Scheduled to begin operations in 2026, the K2 Plant will triple the current capacity of the K1 Plant, which stands at 330 MWh per year. The company has already secured the land for the K2 Plant to achieve its target annual production capacity as quickly as possible.
Addis Energy Introduces Novel Technology to Unleash the Earth’s Potential for Clean Ammonia Production
Addis Energy introduced its technology platform, which harnesses the Earth’s chemical and thermal potential for clean ammonia production at low cost through a net energy-positive process. The platform unlocks energy abundance and affordability by combining next-generation chemical innovation with legacy expertise from the oil and gas industry, and will create new economic opportunities for domestic energy production with zero emissions. Addis Energy has raised $8.75 million total to date: $4.5 million from ARPA-E through its Vision OPEN program and $4.25 million in pre-seed funding from Engine Ventures, Pillar VC and Voyager Ventures. This month, the company’s co-founder Dr. Iwnetim Abate published a paper in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Joule outlining how ammonia can be produced directly from iron-rich rocks using only the injection of nitrate-source water into the Earth’s subsurface. The novel process leverages established oil and gas drilling techniques to access subsurface heat and pressure, offering a low carbon intensity alternative to conventional ammonia synthesis at cost parity.
Aegis Energy raises €118M
Aegis Energy, a UK-based company, has secured €118M in funding from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners to build a network of clean energy hubs across the UK. The funds will be used to construct multi-energy recharging and refuelling facilities for commercial vehicles, including electric, HVO, hydrogen, and bio-CNG. The initial five-station network is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with plans to expand to up to 30 hubs by the end of the decade. Each hub will have the capacity to charge/refuel approximately 40+ HGVs and 25+ vans simultaneously, reducing carbon equivalent emissions by 14,300 tonnes per annum. Aegis Energy aims to provide essential infrastructure to support the decarbonisation of commercial vehicle fleets, addressing the growing pressure from regulators and consumers for greener options. The company is actively looking to partner with fleet operators to help them navigate the transition to cleaner fuels.
alteva secures €1.7 MPre-Seed financing
Alteva, a Cologne-based battery start-up, has secured €1.7 million in pre-seed funding to develop ultra-lightweight batteries for the decarbonisation of global transport. The funding round was led by HTGF with participation from UnternehmerTUM Funding for Innovators, NRW.BANK, and renowned angel investors. Alteva’s innovative batteries are up to three times lighter than existing market options, offering increased energy density and long life, and have the potential to electrify much of the transport sector. The new capital will accelerate the development of prototypes, with series production projected within the next two to three years. Alteva’s breakthrough technology represents a significant step forward in reducing dependency on fossil fuels and will aid in transforming the economy towards sustainability.
Sereact raises €25M to boost AI-powered robotics
At Sereact, we are on a mission to redefine what’s possible with AI-driven robotics. This marks a major milestone in our journey as we secure €25 million in Series A funding. The Series A round was led by Creandum, alongside significant participation from existing investors Point Nine and Air Street Capital, and prominent business angels, including former Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, Mehdi Ghissassi (ex Google DeepMind), Ott Kaukver (Skype), Lars Nordwall (ex neo4j), Rubin Ritter (ex Zalando), Torsten Reil and Niklas Köhler (both Helsing).
This funding will allow us to accelerate our mission in several key areas:
- Expanding R&D efforts to support additional robotic platforms, including mobile robots and humanoids.
- Developing AI solutions for more complex tasks beyond logistics and manufacturing.
- Expanding our U.S. presence, building strategic partnerships, and growing our local team.
Toyoda Gosei Invests in DigitalArchi, a Startup Manufacturer of 3D Printer Formwork
Toyoda Gosei has invested in DigitalArchi, a startup that manufactures 3D printed formwork for construction. DigitalArchi’s innovative approach aims to alleviate the construction industry’s worker shortage and increase efficiency by using 3D printed formwork made from recycled plastic, replacing traditional wooden formwork. This collaboration enables Toyoda Gosei to recycle its painted or plated plastic automotive parts, reducing environmental impact. By working together, the companies can promote a decarbonized society by recycling resources and reducing waste.
Great Lakes Crystal Technologies Awarded $2.7M from National Security Innovation Capital
Great Lakes Crystal Technologies (GLCT) has been awarded $2.7M from National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC) to advance the manufacturing readiness level (MRL) of large-area high-performance single-crystal diamond substrates. This technology will impact applications in quantum sensing, thermal management in microchip packaging, and advanced electronics, giving GLCT and the US a first-mover advantage in the supply of device-capable high-performance diamond substrates. GLCT, founded in 2019 as a Michigan State University startup, has received over $20M in federal investments to expand its product roadmap for target applications in electronics, quantum sensors, and detection. The award represents a major milestone in GLCT’s growth trajectory, supporting NSIC’s mission to secure America’s future by providing improved technology solutions for defense and national security applications. GLCT designs and builds proprietary CVD diamond crystal growth reactors entirely in the US, holding a licensed portfolio of 10 issued and 4 pending diamond materials technology patents from Michigan State University.
Global Software Investor Insight Partners Closes on $12.5B in Capital to Invest in the Next Generation of Software Leaders
Insight Partners, a global software investor, has closed its thirteenth flagship fund with $12.5 billion in capital to invest in leading software companies worldwide. The fund will support growth at any stage, from the earliest institutional check to IPO. With a 30-year history of driving innovation in the software industry, Insight Partners has honed its investment strategies and dedication to the software sector, resulting in strong support from both long-standing and new investors. The firm’s employees have made the largest aggregate commitment to the funds, demonstrating their confidence in the company’s mission. With over $90B in regulatory assets under management, Insight Partners is well-positioned to continue advancing innovation, fostering growth, and supporting the next generation of software leaders.
Moment Energy Secures US$15 Million Series A Funding to Build World's First Second-Life Gigafactory in the U.S.
Moment Energy has secured US$15 million in Series A funding to build the world’s first second-life gigafactory in the US. The funding, co-led by Amazon Climate Pledge Fund and Voyager Ventures, will support the production of high-performing battery energy storage systems (BESS) from repurposed EV batteries. This investment brings Moment Energy’s total financing to over US$52 million and will enable the company to expand its operations and lead the charge in transforming retired EV batteries into valuable BESS. The new gigafactory is expected to create over 250 skilled jobs in clean technology and renewable energy, and will help bolster North America’s lithium security. Moment Energy’s second-life battery solution offers a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional battery recycling, with prices up to 30% lower than traditional first-life battery systems.
Netradyne® Raises $90 Million in Series D Funding Led by Point72 Private Investments
Netradyne, a leader in AI-powered fleet safety solutions, has raised $90 million in Series D funding led by Point72 Private Investments. The funding will accelerate growth through R&D investments, go-to-market strategies, and global expansion, solidifying Netradyne’s position as a global industry leader in commercial fleet technology. Netradyne’s Driver•i solution uses AI and edge computing to analyze 100% of drive-time data, providing accurate driver performance assessments and promoting safer driving behaviors. With over 18 billion vision-analyzed driving miles, Netradyne’s technology has reduced accidents, improved driver retention, and lowered insurance costs for fleets. The company plans to use the funding to expand its technology capabilities, deliver greater value to customers, and advance safety and efficiency across the transportation industry.
Progressive Robotics secures €1.55 million to democratise robotic automation
Progressive Robotics, a robotics startup, has secured €1.55 million in seed funding to make advanced robotic automation accessible to SMEs. The funding, led by Marathon Venture Capital, will enable the company to scale its AI-powered, no-code platform, which simplifies robotic deployment and management, allowing operators to configure and reprogram robots in minutes. This significantly lowers costs and improves flexibility, empowering SMEs to achieve operational efficiencies typically reserved for larger enterprises. Progressive Robotics’ mixed-case palletizer, leveraging machine learning and 3D perception, enables robots to dynamically adapt to various product shapes and sizes in real-time. The company has already delivered notable results, including 20% faster operations and substantial cost reductions in sectors like food production and logistics. With partnerships with prominent robotic OEMs, Progressive Robotics aims to bring advanced robotics to the forefront of the growing robotics market.
Partners Group to invest in green flexibility, a developer of large-scale battery storage systems in Germany
Partners Group is investing up to EUR 400 million in green flexibility, a developer of large-scale battery storage systems in Germany, with an additional EUR 600 million in debt financing, totaling over EUR 1 billion. This investment will drive Europe’s energy transition by developing and operating battery energy storage systems (BESS) to stabilize the grid, reduce curtailment, and smooth energy costs. green flexibility aims to become a leading Independent Flexibility Provider (IFP) by executing an extensive pipeline of BESS projects and monetizing storage capacity through long-term contracts. The company’s management team, led by serial entrepreneur Christoph Ostermann, will work with Partners Group to transform the company into a leading battery storage platform. The investment will enable green flexibility to benefit from thematic growth trends in Germany, including the expansion of renewables and increasing need for grid flexibility. Partners Group’s infrastructure business has USD 27 billion in assets under management, and the company was advised by A&O Shearman as legal advisor.
Flowco Holdings Inc. Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering
Flowco Holdings Inc. has announced the pricing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 17,800,000 shares of its Class A common stock at $24.00 per share. The company plans to use the net proceeds to redeem certain equity interests and repay indebtedness under its existing credit agreement. Flowco provides production optimization, artificial lift, and methane abatement solutions for the oil and natural gas industry, enabling producers to maximize the profitability and economic lifespan of their assets. The IPO is expected to close on January 17, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, with the company’s Class A common stock trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “FLOC”.
NEURA Robotics Secures €120 Million in Series B Funding to Propel Cognitive and Humanoid Robotics Vision
NEURA Robotics, cognitive robotics pioneer and the only humanoid robotics company in Germany, today announced it has raised €120 million in a Series B funding round. This substantial investment underscores NEURA Robotics’ key role in cognitive robotics, showing how it is uniquely positioned to lead the European robotics industry and become a major force in the global robotics landscape, alongside strong players in the US and China. The round was led by Lingotto Investment Management, with participation from BlueCrest Capital Management, Volvo Cars Tech Fund, InterAlpen Partners, Vsquared Ventures, HV Capital, Delta Electronics, C4 Ventures, L-Bank, founder David Reger, and others.
Founded in 2019, NEURA Robotics has quickly become a global leader in cognitive and humanoid robotics, creating robots designed to work seamlessly with humans in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. With its unique sensor technology and AI integration, NEURA Robotics has the world’s first cognitive cobot in the market and is now leading the way in the development of market-ready humanoid robots. In the last year alone the NEURA team doubled its number of employees to over 300 people and achieved a remarkable 10x revenue growth. Under the leadership of founder and CEO David Reger, NEURA Robotics has already secured an impressive €1 billion order book.
Shippeo Raises $30m Strategic Round Led by Woven Capital to Accelerate US and APAC Expansion
Shippeo, a global leader in real-time multimodal transportation visibility, today announced a $30 million strategic funding round led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, with participation from existing investors: Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good, and Yamaha Motor Ventures. This new funding will support Shippeo’s accelerated expansion across North America and APAC while driving enhancements to its industry-leading Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform. With this round, Shippeo’s total funding exceeds $140 million.
Shippeo offers real-time shipment tracking across all transport modes, helping companies create sustainable, resilient supply chains. Its platform enables users to reduce logistics-related carbon emissions by making informed trade-offs between modes and carriers based on carbon footprint data. In response to years of global supply chain disruptions, Shippeo has prioritized transportation risk management as a core capability, with a strong emphasis on data quality and customer-focused innovation that distinguishes its solutions.
Amogy Raises $56 Million to Bolster Commercialization of Pioneering Ammonia-to-Power Solutions
Amogy, a provider of mature, scalable, and efficient ammonia-to-power solutions, today announced that it raised $56 million in venture financing, bringing total raised since inception to more than $270 million. The round was co-led by existing investor Aramco Ventures and new investor SV Investment. Additional new investors participating in the round include Samsung Heavy Industries, BHP Ventures, Hanwha Investment & Securities, AFW Partners, Quantum Ventures Korea, Kibo Invest, and Seoul IP, along with existing investors Temasek, MOL Switch, Yanmar Ventures, AP Ventures, and Marunouchi Innovation Partners.
This financing follows the latest successful demonstration of Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system where it sailed the world’s first carbon-free, ammonia-powered maritime vessel in September 2024. In earlier demonstrations, the company successfully used its technology to power an aerial drone, commercial farm tractor, and semi-truck. Amogy’s patented ammonia-powered system splits, or “cracks,” ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is then funneled into a hydrogen-to-power system, either an integrated fuel cell or hydrogen engine, generating high-performance power with zero carbon emissions.
Cyngn Raises $33m in December to Scale Customer Deployments and Fuel Its Growth
Cyngn has raised $33 million in funding to scale production and deployment of its autonomous industrial vehicles, including DriveMod Tuggers and DriveMod Forklifts. This funding will accelerate the company’s growth and deliver on its mission to proliferate industrial autonomous vehicles. With increasing demand for automation solutions, especially in the automotive, heavy machinery, and logistics industries, Cyngn is well-positioned to address labor shortages and rising operational costs. The company’s autonomous vehicle technology, powered by AI and advanced autonomy, provides a seamless path for businesses to integrate self-driving vehicles into their workflows. Cyngn’s solutions aim to enhance productivity and safety, and the company is focused on scaling its autonomous vehicle deployments, accelerating product innovation, and expanding its market reach.
Booz Allen Ventures Invests in Quantum Hardware Innovation for National Security
Booz Allen Hamilton’s corporate venture capital arm, Booz Allen Ventures, has made a strategic investment in SEEQC, a quantum computing company. This collaboration will accelerate the development and deployment of quantum computing technology to support government clients. Quantum computing has the potential to transform areas such as drug discovery, financial modeling, and logistics optimization. SEEQC is developing innovative approaches to quantum hardware to enable the rapid scaling of quantum computers, addressing barriers such as latency, energy, accuracy, and cost. The partnership will drive forward hardware and software improvements essential for scalable quantum computing, helping unlock new levels of problem-solving power for national security, civil, and commercial missions.
Electric Vehicle Company Harbinger Raises $100 Million in Series B Funding Co-Led by Capricorn's Technology Impact Fund and Leitmotif
Harbinger, a leading medium-duty electric vehicle (EV) company, has raised $100 million in Series B funding co-led by Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund and Leitmotif. The funds will be used to accelerate growth, increase production capacity, and expand sales and service operations. Harbinger’s EV platform is designed for medium-duty vehicles, such as walk-in vans and box trucks, and is priced at parity with traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles after federal tax incentives. The company’s vertically integrated approach to building its proprietary EV stripped chassis allows for tight control over quality and cost. With a strong order book and growing customer interest, Harbinger is poised for rapid growth and is leading the medium-duty trucking industry towards electrification.
Announcing Loft's $170M Series C
Loft announces $170M Series C funding to reach fleet scale in 2025, with a goal of operating one of the largest heterogeneous satellite fleets in Low Earth Orbit. The company has developed a modular and universal payload adapter, Hub, and flexible mission operations software, Cockpit, to enable rapid and reliable satellite deployments. With over $500M in lifetime bookings, Loft has established itself as a leader in the space industry, with a focus on simplicity, speed, and reliability. The company is also investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, with the launch of satellites equipped with high-value sensors, compute, and always-on connectivity. Loft’s vision is to provide real-time insights directly from space, and the company is working to build an ecosystem of AI application partners to achieve this goal.
XtremeX Mining Technology Announces Plans for First Deployment of Its Revolutionary Mineral Drilling Rig with Ivanhoe Electric Following an $11M Series-A Financing Led by GoGreen Partners
XtremeX Mining Technology Inc. (XMT), a leader in innovative drilling solutions, is excited to announce its cutting-edge AC-electric automated coiled tubing and electric top-drive diamond core drilling rig. This state-of-the-art technology will perform a funded field trial with Ivanhoe Electric (NYSE: IE ; TSX: IE) at the Santa Cruz copper project in Arizona, targeting depths of up to 2,000 meters by twinning historic holes. Under the agreement, Ivanhoe Electric secures exclusivity on three XMT rigs for contracts lasting up to five years.
The XMT rig adapts proven oil and gas technology for the mining sector, enabling faster, safer, and more sustainable drilling. This patented hybrid drilling system builds on the success of an earlier prototype developed by the XMT team, offering a revolutionary approach to identifying critical minerals. By improving drilling speed, core recovery, and producing anticipated high-fidelity drill chips, the XMT rig is designed to deliver a versatile and efficient solution that surpasses conventional methods.
The XMT Series-A funding of $11M will drive the development and field deployment of the first hybrid rig at Santa Cruz. To support the successful manufacture and launch of this rig, GoGreen Partners have assembled a consortium of companies to collaborate, including Precision Drilling (TSX: PD ; NYSE: PDS), preferred supplier Baker Hughes and other strategic partners including the Mines Venture Fund 1, LP.
Overhaul Secures $55 Million in Funding Led by Springcoast Partners to Accelerate AI Innovation and Strategic Growth
Overhaul, a leader in active supply chain risk management and intelligence, has secured $55 million in funding led by Springcoast Partners. The investment will fuel Overhaul’s advancements in artificial intelligence and support its strategic acquisition roadmap. With this funding, Overhaul aims to expand its portfolio of solutions through product investment and acquisition, establishing itself as the ultimate integrated solution for supply chain risk management, efficiency, and visibility. Overhaul safeguards over $1.4 trillion in cargo trade, achieving a 99.9% shipment protection rate, and delivers actionable visibility for millions of shipments with an industry-leading 96% recovery rate for cargo theft. The company plans to advance its AI-driven capabilities, enhance customer value, and pursue strategic M&A to lead the market in active risk management.
🚀 Phase Four Series C First Closing
Phase Four, a leader in advanced in-space propulsion design and manufacturing, announced the first close of its Series C funding round, securing nearly 60% of the target raise with strong participation from new and existing investors. “This funding is a pivotal milestone for Phase Four as we scale to meet surging global demand for in-space propulsion from the government and private sector,” said Dr. Umair Siddiqui, Chief Technology Officer at Phase Four. The growth of Phase Four’s manufacturing capabilities addresses a critical supply-demand gap in the space industry. Phase Four is partnered with Redwire Space (RDW: NYSE) on the Valkyrie propulsion system, reflecting both companies’ view that the market for such thrusters will continue to be robust for the foreseeable future.
Origis Energy Closes $415M Funding Package for Texas-sited Swift Air Solar
Origis Energy, one of America’s leading renewable energy and decarbonization solution platforms, today announced the close of financing for the Swift Air Solar project in Ector County, Texas. The $415 million funding package includes construction, term debt and tax equity financing from Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) and Advantage Capital. The project is under agreement with Houston-based Occidental (Oxy) and its subsidiary, 1PointFive, to provide zero-emission solar power for the Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility, STRATOS, currently under construction in the Permian Basin. Origis is the builder, owner, and operator of Swift Air Solar. “This is an exciting project, helping to power the world’s first large-scale direct air capture plant. This directly aligns with our mission to supply decarbonization solutions,” said Vikas Anand, Chief Executive Officer, Origis Energy.
XOCEAN Secures €115 Million Investment to Accelerate Growth of Its Ocean Data Services Platform
XOCEAN Secures €115 Million Investment to Accelerate Growth of Its Ocean Data Services Platform. This financing will support XOCEAN in accelerating the growth of its platform servicing the offshore energy and civil hydrography sectors. It will also help enable the company’s geographic expansion and product innovation efforts to meet the rapidly growing demand for high-quality data solutions across the blue economy. Founded in Ireland in 2017, XOCEAN has revolutionized offshore geophysical data delivery with its fleet of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). These USVs combine mission endurance, advanced sensors, real-time communications, and post-processing expertise to offer clients a flexible, cost-effective solution for the delivery of their offshore geophysical data needs.
Loenbro Acquires Revolution Industrial, Expanding Regional Service Capabilities
Loenbro, LLC (“Loenbro” or the “Company”), a provider of highly technical, specialized services to the data center, infrastructure and diversified industrial markets, announced today that it has acquired Revolution Industrial (“Revolution”), a diversified industrial services provider based in Arizona. The addition of Revolution represents a strategic milestone for Loenbro, further enhancing its industrial service capabilities in high-growth end markets in the Southwest U.S. and complementing Revolution’s specialized service offering to data center and infrastructure customers. The acquisition highlights Loenbro’s continued investment in scaling operations to meet the evolving needs of its customers while maintaining a commitment to safety, quality and operational excellence.
Southwire Announces Investment in Ndustrial to Scale Industrial Energy Efficiency
Southwire Company, LLC has made a strategic investment in Ndustrial.Io, Inc., an AI-powered energy intensity platform for industry. Ndustrial’s platform empowers industrial facilities to optimize production processes, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. With the investment, Southwire plans to deploy Ndustrial’s technology at its own manufacturing facilities to support its Growing Green initiative. The partnership will also enable Southwire to serve as a wire and cable solutions supplier to Ndustrial’s electric transport refrigeration units (eTRU) power infrastructure customers, which can lower operational costs by up to 33% and reduce emissions by up to 70%. Ndustrial’s platform has already helped customers avoid over $100M in energy spend to date. The investment reflects Southwire’s commitment to advancing solutions that drive both operational efficiency and sustainability.
⚡️ Gridware Announces $26.4M Series A Funding Round led by Sequoia Capital
Gridware, a continuous power grid monitoring solution provider, today announced its Series A funding of $26.4 million led by Sequoia Capital. The funds will empower Gridware to further scale production of Gridscope devices and the Gridware monitoring and analytics service, which provides continuous power grid monitoring 24 hours per day to help utilities prepare for and respond to a growing number of risks. Gridware technologies enable a comprehensive service for power utilities to measure, understand, and take decisive action to protect the grid. By leveraging a network of advanced Gridscope sensors and on-device analysis, Gridware continuously monitors key grid assets, providing real-time insights into grid health. With multiple communication methods, including cellular, satellite, and device-to-device networking, Gridware ensures that grid operators receive timely alerts about hazards and faults, no matter when or where they occur. This integrated approach empowers utilities to take proactive action, improve safety, and enhance grid reliability.
Manufacturing Decarbonization Startup Karman Industries Raises $7.5 Million
Manufacturing Decarbonization Startup Karman Industries Raises $7.5 Million Cleantech startup Karman Industries announced that it has raised an additional $7.5 million in VC funding – following a $4 million pre-seed financing announced in September 2024 – for its solutions aimed at decarbonizing manufacturing by addressing emissions from industrial heat. Industrial heat is essential to manufacture nearly all goods and commodities – from chemicals and ethanol to textiles and food and beverage. Historically, manufacturers have used gas boilers to produce industrial heat, an expensive and emissions-intensive approach. Launched in 2024 by CEO David Tearse and Chief Technology Officer Chiranjeev (CJ) Kalra, California-based Karman Industries provides solutions aimed at electrifying industrial thermal energy use to help global enterprises significantly reduce both manufacturing costs and onsite Scope 1 emissions. The company has developed Thermal01, a self-contained electric heat pump, which the company has said removes onsite CO2 emissions, while dramatically lowering costs for industrial manufacturing.
Electric tractor technology startup Moonrider raises $2.2 million
Electric tractor technology startup Moonrider has raised $2.2 million (about Rs 19 crore) in a funding round co-led by mobility technology funds AdvantEdge Founders and Micelio Technology Fund, with participation from a group of angel investors. The funds will be used for driving innovation and building capabilities in vehicle engineering, vehicle software and battery technology.
Advanced Ionics Raises $6.7M to Accelerate Technology Commercialization and Deployment
Advanced Ionics, the developer of a new class of green hydrogen electrolyzers aimed at accelerating decarbonization, announced that it has raised an additional $6.7 million in funding from strategic investors JERA, Lummus Venture Capital, and the Argosy Foundation as well as existing investors Clean Energy Venture Group and bp Ventures. This new capital will be used to increase the pace of development of its water-vapor electrolyzer technology, as well as build out the company’s manufacturing and research and development facility.
Inari Raises $144 Million, Paving Path to Long-Term Growth
Inari, the SEEDesign™ company, announced the completion of a $144 million fundraise fueled by the performance of its first-generation products and progress toward commercialization. With cumulative equity raised of more than $720 million, the new capital underpins the leading pure-play seed technology company’s financial strength and paves the way for long-term growth. The fundraise attracted significant support from new investors, who represented most of the capital raised in the round - including a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and a large financial investor collaborating on forthcoming agriculture projects. Existing investors including Hanwha Impact, NGS Super, the State of Michigan Retirement System and company founder Flagship Pioneering also contributed.
Inari is at the forefront of breeding innovation, combining AI-powered predictive design with an unmatched multiplex gene editing toolbox to deliver step-change outcomes. The company is singularly focused on seed technology for large-acre crops with its first wave of products, and its progress in soybeans, corn and wheat to date is generating excitement from seed companies both within and outside the U.S. The company brings a unique approach to the seed industry by focusing purely on innovation and operating an asset-light business model that reflects the company’s commitment to supporting, not rivaling, its customers.
Alta Resource Technologies Raises $5.1M in Seed Funding to Transform Mineral Separation With Advanced Biochemistry
Alta Resource Technologies, a pioneer in using advanced biochemistry to transform mineral separation, announced it has raised $5.1 million in an oversubscribed seed round co-led by DCVC and Voyager Ventures, with participation from Orion Industrial Ventures, Overture, and WovenEarth Ventures.
lta, whose technology uses custom-designed proteins that act like microscopic robots to separate high-purity rare earth elements and other critical minerals with unprecedented selectivity and cost-effectiveness, is poised to dramatically reduce the environmental footprint of mining while expanding access to essential raw materials. As it emerged from stealth mode, Alta also announced that it has secured nearly $1 million in grant funding from the federal government, including the Department of Defense’s DARPA, and the State of Colorado. Earlier funding was provided by Baruch Future Ventures and Climate Capital (now Juniper).
Alta’s advanced biochemistry platform, which leverages technology licensed from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory co-developed with collaborators including researchers at Pennsylvania State University, represents a step-change over existing approaches. The ability to tailor proteins to bind selectively to individual elements greatly expands the scope and scale of what’s possible in mineral separation and processing. With its first products, the company aims to increase supplies of rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium – essential for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and defense technologies – by cost-effectively separating them from abundant low-grade sources and end-of-life products that cannot be processed using conventional methods.
StruxHub Secures $4 Million to Transform Construction Site Coordination and Maximize Efficiency Across Projects - StruxHub
StruxHub, a purpose-built construction operations platform, has secured $4 million in Seed funding to transform construction site coordination and maximize efficiency across projects. The platform is designed to streamline logistics, safety, and quality workflows for general contractors, specialty trades, and suppliers. With a field-first approach, StruxHub aims to reduce coordination delays, enhance trade accountability, and streamline on-site communication. The company plans to use the funding to expand its reach across North America and select international regions, accelerate product innovation, and grow its team.
RoboForce Secures $10M Early Stage Funding for AI-Powered Robo-Labor
RoboForce, the world’s most advanced “Robo-Labor” provider, announced it has raised $10M early stage funding with support from investors such as Nobel Laureate Myron Scholes, co-founder of Softbank VC (SBVC) Gary Rieschel, and Carnegie Mellon University. With this funding, RoboForce is emerging from stealth as it prepares to deploy its Robo-Labor this year for early customers, for whom robots can fulfill labor shortages in harsh outdoor conditions, complete the most hazardous tasks in dangerous work environments, and maximize project efficiency and cost savings. With 1mm accuracy in performing fine motor skills like picking, placing, pressing, twisting and connecting, the Robo-Labor has all-terrain mobility, precise manipulation, learning, communication, and safety compliance capabilities. RoboForce’s robots are unparalleled in the emerging field of AI Robotics.
The end use applications for RoboForce are diverse. The startup’s target industries include solar, space, manufacturing and mining, sectors which the U.S. Bureau of Labor found were among the most impacted by injuries and loss of labor due to unsafe summer temperatures and other work-related hazards. RoboForce’s first customers are developing commercial and utility-scale solar projects and are struggling to hire and retain skilled workers, due to extreme temperatures in remote locations where most large scale solar projects are being developed. By providing robots that can withstand harsh and extreme environmental conditions throughout a years-long project duration, RoboForce is helping solar developers complete the construction and installation of large-scale projects faster or on schedule, and at a reduced cost—pushing critical sustainability and renewable energy developments across the finish line faster than ever for immediate impact.
Flint secures $2M for cellulose-based paper batteries
Flint, a deep-tech startup based in Singapore specializing in cellulose-based paper batteries, has raised $2 million in seed funding to accelerate the commercialization of its sustainable energy storage solutions. The funding round, led by a consortium of international angel investors and AI-driven venture capital firm Hatcher+, will support pilot production, intellectual property development, and expansion into global markets. Flint’s paper batteries, made from natural and compostable materials like cellulose, zinc, and manganese, offer a sustainable, safe, durable, and cost-efficient alternative to conventional batteries. Flint is targeting the $500 billion global energy storage market projected for 2030.
Mining startup KoBold Metals valued at $2.96bn after closing $537m Series C
To ring in the new year, KoBold announced the close of its $537m Series C in an interview with the Financial Times. Berkeley-based KoBold Metals said its series C funding round valued the company at $2.96bn, and was co-led by existing investor T Rowe Price, which has been joined by Durable Capital Partners.
The company — which uses OpenAI’s generative AI technology as well as more traditional AI — planned to “add at least three jurisdictions” including Finland and Botswana, House said, adding that he was excited about the prospects for lithium mining in Canada.
KoBold plans to hire “aggressively” and add data scientists who have a more traditional technology background to its teams, as well geoscientists to survey possible deposits and collect data, said House. The company was likely to go public within three to five years, he added.
Swave Photonics Raises €27M ($28.27M) Series A Funding for Introduction of Dynamic 3D Holographic Display Products
Swave Photonics, the true holographic display company, announced the close of its €27M ($28.27M) Series A funding round. This significant investment in Swave will catalyze the advancement of its Holographic eXtended Reality (HXR) platform, enabling a reality-first user experience for AI-powered augmented reality (AR) smartglasses and heads-up displays.
The funding round was co-led by investors imec.xpand and SFPIM Relaunch, with participation from new investors EIC Fund, IAG Capital Partners, and Murata Electronics North America, Inc., as well as existing investors Qbic Fund, PMV, imec, and Luminate. Swave previously raised a €10M ($10.47M) Seed round in 2023, which propelled the launch of Swave’s HXR technology, as well as the expansion of Swave’s team, which proudly leverages the top minds in photonics and semiconductors.
Swave’s HXR technology uses the world’s smallest pixel to shape light and sculpt high-quality 3D holographic images that create a reality-first user experience, where digital information interacts and adapts to the user’s surroundings. The images allow for the human vision system to process them naturally leveraging patented DynamicDepth technology.
Qolab Secures over $16.0 Million in Series A Financing
Qolab, Inc. a leader in superconducting quantum computing, announced today that it secured over $16.0 million to date in its Series A financing round, led by Octave Ventures with co-investment from the Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ), Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), and Phoenix Venture Partners. This investment represents a significant step in Qolab’s mission to develop utility-scale quantum computing technology by advancing scalability in quantum systems. Qolab is developing a new generation of high-coherence qubits that will overcome the limitations of current technologies. The Series A funding will enable Qolab to expand its team of quantum scientists and engineers, accelerate development cycles, and scale its superconducting quantum processors.
First Resonance Secures Major Investment to Drive Digital Manufacturing with ION Factory OS
First Resonance, a leader in digital manufacturing solutions, announced the successful close of its latest funding round, led by Third Prime, with support from Craft Ventures, Blue Bear Capital, and E12. This investment, which brings total funding raised to $32M, marks a critical step in advancing First Resonance’s ION Factory OS platform, introducing new levels of efficiency, responsiveness, and sustainability to manufacturing. The funding will fuel product development, expand customer support, and launch the ION Marketplace — a dynamic ecosystem for application developers and integration partners to build digital solutions on ION Factory OS.
PFN Raises Total of 19 Billion Yen in Latest Round
Preferred Networks, Inc. (PFN) announced that it has raised a total of 19 billion yen in the first close of the latest equity financing round led by SBI Group combined with debt financing from financial institutions. PFN intends to use the new capital for talent acquisition efforts as well as for development, production and sales of the low-power AI processors in its MN-Core™ series, especially MN-Core L1000, the generative AI inference processor currently under development. The new capital will also be used for enhancing its Japan-made generative AI foundation model PLaMo™, development of solutions and products in a range of domains powered by these technologies, and the large-scale computing infrastructure that supports them.
InoBat snaps €100M to supercharge European EV battery industry
Slovakia-based battery maker InoBat has raised €100 million in equity funding. The investment came from strategic investors Amara Raja and Rio Tinto, with significant contributions from SIH (Slovakia’s sovereign wealth fund), Lilium, Bromo Capital, IPM Group, and Cielo Capital. Gotion, the Chinese battery cell maker, backed by the Volkswagen Group, also cements its partnership with InoBat by becoming a cornerstone investor in the round.
Over the next year, InoBat aims to ramp up production of European-designed battery cells, start an energy storage business in partnership with Gotion, and launch another investment round to support the scaling of its operations in Slovakia, Serbia, and Spain and accelerating growth in new regions.
Volta 1, InoBat’s R&D and low-volume, high-performance battery manufacturing facility in Volderady became fully operational with 150 people from 19 nationalities combining to make Europe’s only high silicon anode cell. The advancement of the GIB (Gotion InoBat Batteries) gigafactory in Šurany, Slovakia. This state-of-the-art facility is set to address Europe’s rising demand for safe, sustainable batteries.
💡 Toyoda Gosei Invests in Pi Photonics, a Startup Developing LED Lighting for Industrial Use
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has invested in Pi Photonics, Inc., which develops and sells LED lighting equipment for industrial use that can project light patterns with high visibility. Pi Photonics’ LED lights, which form light patterns, differ from general light sources in which the edge of the light becomes indistinct when projected at a distance. Using high-brightness LEDs and originally designed optical elements, patterns such as straight lines or rings can be displayed distinctly. These lights can be used in safety displays, such as in manufacturing sites to visualize restricted areas or fall zones of loads during crane work, as well as in stage lighting and more.
Halifax Invests in Q-mation, a Leading Industrial Automation Solution Partner
Halifax Group (“Halifax”), a middle-market private equity firm that partners with management to invest in market-leading companies, announced that it has completed an investment in Q-mation (the “Company”), a leading industrial automation software and hardware distributor and services provider in North America. Q-mation’s CEO, Bob D’Agostino, and the Company’s founders will invest alongside Halifax, and existing management will continue to lead the business. Additional terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1987 by Russ Fadel and Tom Holden and based in Horsham, PA, Q-mation is known for its focus on selling and supporting mission-critical industrial automation systems, such as SCADA, HMI and MES software, through its consultative selling approach, high-touch customer support, training and integration services. The Company is a leading partner to AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software driving digital transformation and sustainability, and Strongarm, a premier industrial automation hardware OEM. Q-mation serves a blue-chip customer base across the pharmaceutical & life sciences, CPG, food & beverage, power & utilities, oil & gas, and light industrial manufacturing end markets and benefits from the continued digitization of these sectors’ industrial footprints.
AI-driven drone technology propels SkyVisor’s €1.2M funding for renewable energy inspections
SkyVisor, the Paris-based startup specialising in in-house AI-driven drone technology inspection and asset management software for wind and solar energy, has secured €1.2M in funding. The round was led by Tomcat, alongside contributions from BPIfrance, Région Île-de-France, and other industry-leading investors. This funding will accelerate the company’s international expansion and product development while reinforcing its position in the renewable energy market.
For operators of wind and solar parks, inspecting assets accurately and efficiently is a constant challenge. With over 10 GW of wind and solar assets inspected annually, SkyVisor offers a cutting-edge solution that combines automatic drone flight with AI-driven defect detection. The company’s AI-driven drone technology has revolutionised how renewable energy providers conduct preventive maintenance by detecting more than 200,000 defects per year through 8,000 inspections.
This fresh injection of funding will allow SkyVisor to expand its services into new markets across Europe and North America.
boon Secures $20.5M in Funding and Launches AI Workflow Platform to Double Efficiency and Profitability for Commercial Fleets
Supply chain and logistics are the backbone of our economy but remain one of the most overlooked areas for technological innovation. These operations run on razor-thin margins, are inundated with legacy technology that lacks connectivity, and meanwhile are responsible for the movement of every physical product in our lives. boon AI (boon), the AI-powered workflow platform for commercial fleets, is launching to transform supply chain and logistics by delivering a single system to automate repetitive manual tasks. boon already works with dozens of companies, deploying its AI agent to take on tasks for customers after mimicking manual workflows for just a few days. Its Series A round, led by Marathon and Redpoint Ventures, will accelerate the benefits it brings to customers, ranging from food delivery to powering the teams that ensure holiday gifts arrive on time.
Developed by seasoned engineers and industry insiders from Apple, DoorDash, Google, Samsara, and Shell, the team brings deep customer insight and expertise. boon’s AI agent is already helping customers and generating repeatable revenue. New funding will enable boon to grow its engineering and go-to-market (GTM) teams over the next 18 months. The company is seeking developers who are passionate about solving hard problems, including building complex agentic workflows in the physical world; helping customers retain an aging workforce; and applying solutions across verticals from transportation and warehousing to field services, food and beverage, construction, and beyond.
🛰️ Finland’s ICEYE closes €62M extension
Espoo, Finland-based ICEYE, a microsatellite manufacturer and operator, announced on Wednesday that it has secured $65M (approximately €62M) in extension to the existing growth round. The financing consists of a mix of debt and equity instruments. The funding round extension included participation from funds managed by Solidium Oy, BlackRock, Seraphim, Plio Limited, and Christo Georgiev.
The company will use the funds to further develop its SAR satellite constellation, its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, and related systems.
Cadstrom Raises $6.8M in Seed Funding to Streamline Validation for Electronic Hardware Design
Cadstrom, an AI expert system that enables electrical engineers to design electronic devices correctly on the first try, announced that it has raised $6.8M in Seed funding. The round was led by Bison Ventures and included participation from Innovation Endeavors and AI2 Incubator, which previously invested $650K in a pre-Seed round. Cadstrom builds AI tools enabling electrical engineers to create devices that work correctly on their first attempt. Core to Cadstrom’s approach is its proprietary Sigma Engine, which leverages a first-principles understanding of physics, electronics, and generative AI to identify mistakes while automatically validating complex designs—cutting development costs, accelerating GTM timeline, and shortening design cycles up to 66% by eliminating respins. The average printed circuit board undergoes three “respins,” or reconfigurations of its design, due to unanticipated electrical design mistakes, requirements changes, or other manufacturing realities–adding over $100K to development costs, which can delay a PCB’s production timeline by a whopping six months.
Fervo Energy Secures Additional $255 Million Funding to Meet Unprecedented Energy Demand
Fervo Energy, the leader in next-generation geothermal development, announced that it has secured $255 million in new funding and capital availability as it continues to build the world’s largest enhanced geothermal systems (“EGS”) power development. The announced funding comprises both opportunistic corporate equity and new debt financing.
Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund II led the $135 million corporate equity round. Fervo is excited to welcome new investment and continued support from a suite of high-caliber investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, CalSTRS, Congruent Ventures, CPP Investments, DCVC, Devon Energy, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Liberty Mutual Investments, Mercuria, and Sabanci Climate Ventures.
In addition to corporate equity, Fervo secured a $120 million letter of credit and term loan facility from Mercuria, one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups. The facility will provide additional liquidity for Fervo to accelerate the deployment of EGS projects across the U.S. as it seeks to meet skyrocketing demand for clean, firm power.
AI-powered spare parts management drives €4M funding for Stuttgart’s Synthavo
Stuttgart-based Synthavo has secured €4M in seed funding to revolutionise spare parts ordering with its AI-powered spare parts management platform. The round was co-led by Samaipata, a pan-European VC specialising in digital businesses, and Senovo, an investor backing European B2B software startups. The funding round also included participation from active business angels such as Rainer Hundsdörfer, and Oliver Bendig. The capital will drive strategic hiring, European expansion, and lay the groundwork for Synthavo’s entry into the U.S. market.
The company’s cutting-edge AI solution enables machine manufacturers to streamline spare parts ordering, boost operational efficiency, and reduce costly machine downtime. Synthavo AI spare parts management is transforming a traditionally manual process, allowing clients to identify and order spare parts instantly.
Mojave Secures $9.5M Series A to Fuel Adoption of the Most Energy Efficient Commercial Air Conditioner
Mojave Energy Systems, founded to change the nature of air conditioning, announced that it has raised $9.5 million in Series A funding. The Series A round was led by existing investors Fifth Wall and At One Ventures, with participation from returning investors Myriad Venture Partners, Starshot Capital, Alumni Ventures Group, and new investor Earth Venture Capital.
The new capital will be used to accelerate the adoption of Mojave’s groundbreaking Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) solution, ArctiDry, which sets new a new standard for energy efficiency, and began shipping earlier this year. The funding will support the company’s sales and marketing expansion, new ArctiDry product launches, electrochemical regeneration research, and the completion of its Department of Energy manufacturing scale-up efforts. This latest round brings Mojave’s total funding to $25.6 million.
ArctiDry is a patented, easy-to-install, liquid desiccant HVAC system with an unparalleled ISMRE2 efficiency rating of up to 11 lbs/kWh that dramatically lowers electricity consumption by up to 50 percent. Its ability to efficiently dehumidify the air without overcooling makes it ideal for many commercial building applications such as healthcare, education, hospitality, manufacturing, and more.
Deep Sky Secures $40M Grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst to Scale Direct Air Capture
Deep Sky, the Quebec-based carbon removal project developer, announced that it has secured a USD $40 million grant commitment from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst (“Catalyst”). The funds, subject to the satisfaction of funding conditions, will be allocated to the construction of Deep Sky Alpha (formerly Deep Sky Labs) and its associated research and testing of direct air capture (“DAC”) technologies. Deep Sky Alpha will deploy multiple innovative DAC technologies to test and identify the most promising technologies, as part of Deep Sky’s aggressive initiative to lower the cost of large-scale commercial carbon removal. This marks Catalyst’s first-ever investment in both a Canadian and Direct Air Capture (DAC) project.
The Catalyst program funds large demonstration projects and invests in first-of-a-kind commercial projects that use emerging climate technologies. It prioritizes projects with high-impact and scalable climate tech that need additional capital to reach commercial scale. Alpha is Deep Sky’s first facility and is scheduled to be operational and delivering carbon removal credits by Spring 2025.
With this grant commitment, Catalyst is supporting Deep Sky’s efforts to build large-scale carbon removal and storage infrastructure in Canada. As a project developer, Deep Sky is working to bring together the most promising direct air and ocean capture technologies to accelerate delivery of high-quality carbon removal credits to the market. Powered by renewable energy, Deep Sky’s facilities are strategically located in Canada, a region with all of the natural resources to become a world leader in carbon removal. Hydroelectric power, wind power potential, and a rich geological makeup make it an ideal place for engineered carbon removal and storage.
Uni spin-out secures £340,000 investment to transform efficiency of electric vehicles and accelerate journey to NetZero with groundbreaking power electronics
University of Nottingham spin-out, The Thinking Pod innovations (TTPi), has secured £340,000 in its first investment round to commercialise pioneering power electronics technology, which reduce the environmental impact and cost of electric vehicles. TTPi has developed groundbreaking technology in collaboration with the University of Nottingham, which will boost the efficiency and range of electric cars.
The company was founded in 2017 and to date, the firm has been funded through grants from Innovate UK, UKRI, Driving the Electric Revolution and income generated from commercial development agreements with partners such as Advanced Electric Machines, National Grid ESO and Infineon Technologies.
TTPi’s novel technology enables the creation of smaller, lighter, more efficient power converters and motor drive systems, which are essential in electric vehicles, aircraft, and any dynamic industrial processes that rely on electricity as a power source.
TTPi’s converters are lighter than existing products and are currently in prototype testing. TTPi is now working towards Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and samples will be available for third-party testing in Q2 2025. The company plans to undertake a second investment round late next year.
London-based TG0 snaps £4.5M to advance AI-powered physical products
London-based TG0, a startup reshaping the human-machine interface landscape, has snapped £4.5 million in Series B funding. The round was led by NetmindAI with additional support from WP Health. This round follows the £2 million funding secured a few months back.
The investment will enable TG0 to expand its global team, enhancing capabilities across the entire client journey from product design to mass manufacturing. With an increasing demand for innovative, sustainable, and design-driven solutions, the funding positions the company to solidify its role as a leader in the AI hardware tech industry.
Jolt Energy Storage Completes $4M Series A Raise to Revolutionize Long Duration Grid Energy Storage
Jolt Energy Storage Technologies, a pioneer in sustainable organic energy storage materials, has successfully raised $4MM in its Series A offering. The funding will accelerate prototype development, field testing, design and manufacturing processes to pave the way for commercial scalability of its organic flow battery design.
Jolt is developing the world’s first scaled organic flow battery, which harnesses proprietary, all-organic materials for long duration energy storage. Organic materials do not rely on mined metals or overseas supply chains for manufacturing, which can be harmful to the environment and economically unreliable. The company plans to complete its 3kW, four-hour prototype by December 2025, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of energy storage technology.
Engineered Arts Restructures as U.S. Company, Secures Series A Funding to Scale Social, Interactive Humanoid Robot Production
Engineered Arts, a global leader in the design and manufacture of humanoid robotics founded in the U.K., has restructured as a U.S. entity to expand its footprint and meet U.S. growing demand. Alongside this move, the company successfully closed its Series A funding round, raising $10 million to accelerate product refinement, manufacturing readiness, scale production, and investment in advanced business systems.
Helium-3 Ventures led the Series A funding, with additional participation from AppDirect Chairman and CEO Nicolas Desmarais, Belvoir Investments and a consortium of investors, including ThirtySeven Holdings Inc. and Figueira Capital. Matthew Bellamy, frontman of the English rock band Muse and a partner in Helium-3 Ventures, will join Engineered Arts’ board as an observer.
The new funding will enable Engineered Arts to make its full-sized and desktop robots more accessible, launch a virtual robot character platform, and expand its cloud-based AI services to enhance product features and fleet deployment. Focusing on next-generation robot hardware development, Engineered Arts will enhance dexterity and locomotion to bring humanoid robots closer to everyday functionality. Additionally, scaled support and regional offices will enable Engineered Arts to provide customization for specific use cases. The company plans to hire approximately 20 new employees for the Redwood City location over the next year-and-a-half, ranging from top-level execs and sales to software, assembly, and support engineers.
eLstar Dynamics Announces Ten Million Euros in Funding
eLstar Dynamics, a leading developer of dynamic glass, has secured a ten-million-euro investment from an innovative top 100 Dutch company. The funding will further support the technological development of adaptive glass aimed at bringing eLstar’s products to market. eLstar intends to leverage the growing demand for energy-efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions in the building and automotive sectors.
Prior to this round of funding, eLstar raised a total of 13 million euros from two Dutch family offices with strategic interests in eLstar’s sustainability-focused technology
🚌 bp Ventures invests $9M in Zingbus to supercharge India’s EV-powered future
bp Ventures, a UK-based VC, has invested $9 million into ZingBus, leading its Series A funding round. The investment will work to scale operations and grow the existing team, addressing pressing safety and reliability challenges in India’s intercity transport network. Zingbus builds a tech solutions platform for electric bus operators and their customers travelling between cities, providing front and back-end digital infrastructure for bus operators, including pricing, fleet administration, and route optimisation services, together with a dedicated ticketing marketplace. The company has worked with small and medium-sized bus operators to serve more than two million users across 300 Indian cities, with the goal of supporting over 3000 electric buses on Indian highways in the next 5-6 years.
Databricks is Raising $10B Series J Investment at $62B Valuation
Databricks, the Data and AI company, announced its Series J funding. The company is raising $10 billion of expected non-dilutive financing and has completed $8.6 billion to date. This funding values Databricks at $62 billion and is led by Thrive Capital. Along with Thrive, the round is co-led by Andreessen Horowitz, DST Global, GIC, Insight Partners and WCM Investment Management. Other significant participants include existing investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and new investors ICONIQ Growth, MGX, Sands Capital and Wellington Management.
The company has seen increased momentum and accelerated growth (over 60% year-over-year) in recent quarters largely due to the unprecedented interest in artificial intelligence. To satisfy customer demand, Databricks intends to invest this capital towards new AI products, acquisitions, and significant expansion of its international go-to-market operations. In addition to fueling its growth, this capital is expected to be used towards providing liquidity for current and former employees, as well as pay related taxes. Finally, this quarter marks the first time the company is expected to achieve positive free cash flow.
Slip Robotics Raises $28M Series B Financing Led by DCVC
Slip Robotics, a next-generation provider of automated truck-loading robots-as-a-service, has raised a $28 million Series B financing led by DCVC, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm specializing in deep tech. The investment reflects Slip’s rapid growth with industry-leading customers – including John Deere, GE Appliances, Valeo, and Nissan – who are using SlipBots to load and unload any truck in just 5 minutes.
Slip Robotics is tackling one of the supply chain’s universal inefficiencies: truck loading and unloading. For over 100 years, truck trailers have been loaded and unloaded using the same basic methods. Because of this, truckers spend 23% of their workday idling at loading docks waiting for forklift operators to load and unload their trailers, while forklift operators rush to carry freight between the trailer and staging area despite 25% of all industrial accidents taking place at the loading dock.
Slip empowers people to auto-load and auto-unload any truck in just 5 minutes using SlipBots. SlipBots cut conventional 30 to 60-minute loading times to just 5 minutes, providing a faster, safer, and scalable solution for growing logistics demands. Unlike other automated solutions, SlipBots handle any type of freight, at any dock, with no infrastructure modification, and with zero Wi-Fi or complex IT integration required. This broad applicability and ease of deployment has fueled Slip’s rapid adoption and expansion with customers.
Valeo, a multinational automotive parts manufacturer, used SlipBots to reduce their trailer load/unload times from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes. SlipBots seamlessly integrated into their operations, enabling employees to increase dock throughput by 6x, reduce forklift traffic by 8x, and increase safety at the loading dock.
T-robotics Secures $5.4M Seed Funding and Applies AI to How Industrial Robots Understand, Learn, and Adapt to Complex Manufacturing Environments
T-robotics, a developer of programming for any robot using natural language and skill models with no code required, announced it has raised a $5.4 million Seed round, co-led by Emergent Ventures and Engine Ventures with Berkeley Skydeck and Raisewell participating. T-robotics will use the fresh capital to expand its U.S. and E.U. operations. Additionally, the company was selected as one of just two winners, from among a group of more than 100 global applicants, in the ABB AI Startup Challenge.
T-robotics’s software, ActGPT, is robot-agnostic and integrates with a variety of commercial robotic solutions, such as robotic arms or mobile robots, and leverages multi-modal data streams from vision, haptics, and language inputs to empower robots with enhanced problem-solving capabilities.
Bnewable raises €40M to expand operations and boost energy transition efforts in Belgium and Europe
Belgium-based Bnewable, an energy company specialising in battery systems and energy management for businesses, has secured €40M in new growth capital from its existing investors. Bnewable’s three external investors, RGREEN INVEST, Wallonie Entreprendre, and Dovesco Fund Investments, have invested in this round to help establish Bnewable as a leading player in the Belgian and European energy transition.
Founded in 2022 by Christophe Degrez and Kristof Vereenooghe, Bnewable is an independent energy company specialising in on-site “behind the meter” battery systems and energy management. It helps businesses reduce energy costs and adopt sustainable practices. The company finances battery investments and optimises their use through its proprietary Energy Management Platform, Voltana. This platform balances local energy consumption, trades surplus electricity, and provides grid support services. Bnewable uses Voltana to intelligently control batteries with data-driven algorithms and machine learning for optimal use. By trading excess energy and leveraging an in-house team, the company maximises solar production returns for its customers while supporting grid stability.
BILT Secures $21 Million Series B Funding to Scale 3D Instructions Platform
BILT Incorporated, the leader in 3D Intelligent Instructions, has closed a $21 million funding round, led by Austin-based Silverton Partners with participation from Amex Ventures, Fifth Growth Fund, and Silicon Valley Bank. The funding will be used to expand operations as demand for 3D interactive and extended reality (XR) immersive instructions increases.
BILT is the leading platform for 3D-guided work instructions, serving consumer, commercial, and government customers. For consumer brands like Weber and Whalen, BILT enables a better customer experience and increases consumer satisfaction. For commercial businesses like Siemens and Clearfield, BILT accelerates training, improves productivity, and reduces errors. For government clients, BILT enhances accessibility, speeds initial knowledge acquisition, and increases readiness. Currently, BILT features more than ten thousand SKUs from almost 300 brands, delivering instructions to more than ten million users in 12 languages.
The funding will allow BILT to expand growth into additional categories and industries. “By transforming a traditional pain point into an empowering experience, we create promoters of the brands we serve,” said BILT Chairman & CEO Nate Henderson. “Whether it’s a consumer assembling a product, a professional technician improving efficiency, or a military maintainer cross-skilling, BILT delivers clarity, precision, and confidence.”
Mantis Robotics Secures $5M to Redefine Robotics through Physical AI
Mantis Robotics, a pioneer in Physical AI for robotic automation, announced it has secured $5M in new investments led by Emerald Technology Ventures with participation from the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. This cash infusion will enable Mantis Robotics to scale its operations, enhance its product portfolio, and expand its presence in the rapidly growing industrial robotics market.
Mantis has entered the next frontier in robotics by creating the first adaptive, human-centered robots. The company makes industrial robotic arms that are inherently safe for human interaction, eliminating the need for costly and complex external safeguards such as fences or laser barriers. Mantis’ technology learns and understands its environment based on sensor data from a proprietary built-in sensor-suite. This enables Mantis Robots to detect obstacles and humans in its direct environment and adjust the robot’s behavior accordingly in real-time, making robot arms safe and autonomous.
The robot’s intuitive deployment software with a 3D real-time Digital Twin, requires no technical or coding knowledge to use, making them accessible for diverse industries and users. By reducing operational complexity, Mantis’ robot systems can result in savings of as much as 75% in a typical robotic deployment. The company’s transformative technology has the potential to advance industries far beyond manufacturing and warehousing, paving the way for a new era of human-machine collaboration.
Bpacks logs €1M pre-seed funding for world’s first bark-based, 100% compostable packaging
Bpacks, which claims to have developed the world’s first bark-based packaging technology to replace plastics, has secured €1 million in pre-seed funding. This move underscores investor confidence in its innovative, sustainable packaging technology. This funding comes amid a surge in investments in packaging startups, including recent deals of Movopack and IonKraft.
The company will use the investment to accelerate its growth by establishing a manufacturing facility in Spain by 2025. The funding will also support scaling the production of bark-based pellets and packaging products, advancing its R&D capabilities in Belgrade, and laying the groundwork for expansion into the US market by 2026. This will enable Bpacks to meet the rising demand for sustainable packaging solution.
Archer Announces Strategic Partnership With Anduril to Develop Hybrid VTOL Military Aircraft; Raises An Additional $430M
Anduril and Archer (NYSE: ACHR) announced an exclusive partnership to jointly develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft for critical defense applications targeting a potential program of record from the DOD.
With Archer’s ability to rapidly develop advanced VTOL aircraft using existing commercial parts and supply chains and Anduril’s deep expertise in artificial intelligence, missionization, and systems integration, the partnership will accelerate speed to market for critical hybrid VTOL capabilities at a fraction of the cost of more traditional alternatives.
Archer’s efforts on this project will be part of its new Archer Defense program. To support this initiative and for other general corporate purposes, Archer raised $430M in additional equity capital, with participation from Stellantis, United Airlines, and new institutional investors, including Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi investment holding company 2PointZero, a subsidiary of UAE’S largest listed entity, IHC. Archer ended Q3’24 with $502M of cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet and this raise brings Archer’s total capital raised to nearly $2B to date. Following this capital raise, and together with Archer’s other announced financing arrangements, Archer believes it is now well-positioned with one of the sector’s leading balance sheets with no near-term financing needs.
Ayar Labs, with Investments from AMD, Intel Capital, and NVIDIA, Secures $155 Million to Address Urgent Need for Scalable, Cost-Effective AI Infrastructure
Ayar Labs, the leader in optical interconnect solutions for large-scale AI workloads, announced it has secured $155 million in financing led by Advent Global Opportunities and Light Street Capital to break down the AI bottleneck of data movement with its optical I/O technology. This brings the company’s total funding to $370 million and raises the company’s valuation to above $1 billion. The strength of the round and caliber of investors, including participation from AMD Ventures, Intel Capital, and NVIDIA, marks another key milestone as Ayar Labs prepares its optical solution for high volume manufacturing strategically aligned to customer roadmaps. Other new strategic and financial investors participating in the round include 3M Ventures and Autopilot. They join existing investors such as Applied Ventures LLC, Axial Partners, Boardman Bay Capital Management, GlobalFoundries, IAG Capital Partners, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Playground Global, and VentureTech Alliance.
Ayar Labs has developed the industry’s first in-package optical I/O solution to replace electrical I/O that is standards-based, commercial-ready, and optimized for AI training and inference. Optical I/O allows customers to maximize the compute efficiency and performance of their AI infrastructure, while reducing costs and power consumption, to dramatically improve profitability metrics for AI applications.
Electrified Thermal Secures $19 Million in Venture Financing from Leading Global Industrials and Venture Capital Firms to Electrify Industry
Boston-based Electrified Thermal Solutions, a leader in electrified heating and thermal energy storage solutions, has raised $19 million to accelerate the commercial demonstration and growth of its MIT-developed Joule Hive Thermal Battery (JHTB) system. The round is backed by world-leading industrials in the mining, metals, building materials and energy sectors, including Holcim MAQER Ventures, Vale Ventures, TechEnergy Ventures, EDP Ventures and Tupras Ventures alongside financial investor GVP Climate and follow-on investors, Clean Energy Ventures and Starlight Ventures, with participation from Mass Ventures and Clean Energy Venture Group.
Industrial heat processes, a critical yet overlooked source of global emissions, continue to challenge decarbonization efforts. Accounting for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions – 85% of which are derived from fossil fuel combustion – these energy-intensive sectors lack cost-effective options for decarbonization. Electrified Thermal’s innovative solution leverages renewable electricity sources to generate zero-carbon heat at unprecedented temperatures. Its patented brick technology is the first thermal energy storage system to reliably deliver ultra-high temperatures reaching up to 1,800°C / 3,275°F. This breakthrough enables cost-efficient electrification across industrial sectors and applications, by providing zero-carbon heat generation that matches the flame temperatures industrial processes require.
This funding keeps Electrified Thermal on course to have its first-of-a-kind commercial demonstration operational in 2025, the critical next step in decarbonizing industry. The investment will help Electrified Thermal lay the foundation for scaling manufacturing and support efforts to expand its industrial customer base and secure contracts. Electrified Thermal’s 2025 JHTB demonstration will propel it forward on its mission to deploy 2GWs of thermal power capacity by 2030.
Embotech Receives CHF 23.5 M in Funding to Expand Autonomous Driving Solutions for Logistics in Europe and Beyond
Embotech, an innovator in autonomous driving solutions for industrial logistics, has received 23.5 million CHF (~$27 million USD) in Series B funding to help the company scale its Automated Vehicle Marshalling (AVM) and Autonomous Terminal Tractor (ATT) solutions in Europe, and ultimately in the United States, Middle East, and Asia. The funding round is led by Emerald Technology Ventures and Yttrium, with additional funds from BMW i Ventures, Nabtesco Technology Ventures, Sustainable Forward Capital Fund, RKK VC and existing investors.
Embotech, short for embedded optimization technologies, has already secured landmark multi-year rollout contracts for its AVM solution in finished vehicle logistics and its ATT solution for port and yard logistics applications.
For its AVM business, Embotech has signed a multi-year contract with automaker BMW to install its solution in six passenger car factories worldwide by the end of 2025. With the rollout ongoing since late 2023, Embotech’s technology is already driving hundreds of cars per day through final production and is set to scale up to several thousands of vehicles per day in early 2025. The solution is already operational in BMW’s Dingolfing and Leipzig plants with Regensburg currently in progress. By the end of 2025, the technology will also be operational at BMW’s plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Embotech is the only vendor in the market with a certified AVM solution and the only player with experience in a production environment.
New BMW vehicles are guided along a one-kilometer route between two assembly facilities, through a squeak and rattle track, and to the finishing area – with no driver needed at any stage of the journey. The Embotech AVM system requires no changes to the vehicles and uses off-the-shelf LiDAR sensors installed on existing infrastructure. The technology can be adapted for all vehicle models and to changing factory layouts to accommodate growing production volumes and new production layouts. BMW expects to log millions of kilometers over the next decade with this system.
D-Wave completes $175-million USD stock sale to fuel quantum computing development
D-Wave Quantum has raised $175 million USD ($246 million CAD) in gross proceeds through a recent stock sale. The Canadian-founded, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)-listed quantum computing company plans to use this capital to fuel its technical development efforts and business operations. Following this financing, D-Wave expects to close out 2024 with at least $160 million in cash.
Over the past two years, D-Wave has faced multiple non-compliance warnings for failing to meet the NYSE’s continued listing standard for minimum stock price, as its shares repeatedly fell below $1 apiece for more than 30 consecutive days.
ANYbotics Raises Additional $60 Million to Drive U.S. Expansion
ANYbotics, a global leader in AI-driven robotic inspection solutions, has raised an additional $60 million, bringing its total funding to over $130 million. The new funding is led by Qualcomm Ventures and Supernova Invest, with participation from TDK Ventures and other new investors. Backed by existing investors from Silicon Valley and Europe, including Walden Catalyst, NGP Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Swisscanto, and Swisscom Ventures, the funding will accelerate ANYbotics’ global scaling and recent expansion in the U.S. to meet the growing demand for its industrial inspection robots and enhance the company’s ability to deliver exceptional services and seamless integrations worldwide.
ANYbotics is revolutionizing safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the energy, power, metals, mining, and chemical industries. Thanks to large orders from industry leaders such as BP, Equinor, Petrobras, Novelis, and Outokumpu, the company is experiencing unprecedented growth and is expanding globally. Recent milestones include opening an office in Silicon Valley strategically positioned to enhance support and accelerate deployments for its growing North American customer base. With its innovative technology and trusted partnerships, ANYbotics is poised to redefine industrial inspection worldwide.
Global scaling efforts are further backed by collaborations with leading partners, including AWS, NVIDIA, SAP, SLB, Equans, and Siemens Energy. These alliances strengthen ANYbotics’ ability to deliver cutting-edge AI-driven solutions, integrate seamlessly into complex industrial environments, and broaden ANYbotics’ global reach.
Nanoramic Raises $44 Million Funding Co-Led by GM Ventures and Catalus Capital, With Participation from Samsung Ventures, to Advance the Commercialization of Neocarbonix®
Nanoramic, a pioneer in advanced battery technology, today announced a successful $44 million financing. The round was co-led by General Motors Ventures and Catalus Capital, with participation from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, Top Material, and existing investors, including Fortistar Capital and WindSail Capital Group. The investment will significantly bolster Nanoramic’s efforts to commercialize its groundbreaking Neocarbonix® technology across a broad range of industries and applications.
Nanoramic’s proprietary Neocarbonix® technology breaks down key barriers to mass electrification, targeting dramatic improvements in cost, performance, and sustainability of batteries. The technology is a PFAS (“forever chemical”)-free solution for lithium-ion batteries and eliminates the need for conventional NMP solvents, allowing for sustainable solvent alternatives for improved manufacturing worker safety. Neocarbonix® offers a powerful and practical solution for battery manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve and be at the forefront of environmentally friendly battery manufacturing. It drops into existing manufacturing lines for rapid adoption under Nanoramic’s flexible and asset-light business model.
Cofactr Raises $17M Series A to Streamline Supply Chain So Hardware Manufacturers Can Iterate Fast While Complying With Regulations and Policies
Cofactr, a supply chain and logistics management platform that streamlines production, processes and policies for critical hardware manufacturers, today announced the close of its $17.2M Series A funding round. The raise was led by Bain Capital, one of the world’s leading private investment firms, which invests in companies that are transforming traditional industries. It was joined by existing Seed investors Y Combinator, Floating Point Ventures, Broom and DNX. The new investment brings Cofactr’s total funding to $28.8 million.
Cofactr’s platform is already in use by 50+ companies, representing a mix of hardware manufacturers and R&D groups at major digital enterprises with ambitious plans to diversify into hardware products. These customers span both high-compliance sectors, such as aerospace, defense, robotics and medical technology, and consumer-facing industries, such as autonomous vehicles and wearables. With an initial focus on electronics, Cofactr is now seeing significant demand from companies navigating electromechanical and mechanical supply chains as well.
The company will use the funding to build on this momentum by scaling go-to-market efforts and growing its suite of supply chain risk management and process tools. The company plans to introduce additional product categories, with multiple applications slated to launch each year.
Eureka Robotics Raises USD 10.5 Million Series A to Accelerate Deployment of Physical AI for Precision Manufacturing and Logistics
Singapore-based start-up Eureka Robotics has raised a USD 10.5 million Series A round led by B Capital (a global multi-stage investment firm), with participation from new investors Airbus Ventures, Maruka Corporation, G. K. Goh Ventures, and returning investors UTEC and ATEQ.
The financing round positions the company to accelerate the development and deployment of its main products, Eureka Controller and Eureka 3D Camera. Eureka Controller, a comprehensive solution for vision and robotics applications, enables high-precision calibration and robust force control, and acts as a central hub for connecting and controlling a wide range of industrial devices. Eureka 3D Camera, designed to add efficient and cost-effective 3D vision capabilities to robotic systems, uses ground-breaking AI-based, projector-free 3D reconstruction technology. Together, these products enable System Integrators and Manufacturers to deploy High Accuracy – High Agility (“HA-HA”) applications including picking, object recognition, inspection in factories and warehouses, allowing robots to perform tasks with greater precision.
The funding will also help scale the company’s operations in existing markets of Singapore and Japan, as well as enable Eureka to fully enter the US market, where the company has already acquired initial customers. Using the funds obtained in the previous Pre-Series A round led by UTEC, Eureka had established a branch office in Tokyo and gained significant traction in the Japan market. With additional funding, Eureka plans to expand operations into new major Japanese cities, such as Nagoya and Osaka.
Eureka’s proprietary HA-HA (High Accuracy – High Agility) technology bridges the gap between AI and physical manufacturing, combining high-agility intelligence with high-accuracy spatial precision. This innovation enables robots to handle complex tasks, such as autonomously assembling car engines, with both adaptability and micron-level precision. Eureka has successfully implemented this technology in real-world factory settings, completing over 25 million operations for industry leaders in Japan and the United States, including Toyota, Denso, Bridgestone, Mitsui Fudosan, Sumitomo Bakelite, Pratt & Whitney, and Coherent.
Haber Raises $44M to Scale Smart Manufacturing Solutions in North America
Haber, a leading smart manufacturing startup, has successfully raised $44 million in its Series C funding round, which included $38 million in equity and $6 million in debt. The funding round was led by Creaegis, BEENEXT, and Accel, demonstrating strong investor confidence in the company’s innovative AI-driven solutions and its vision for global expansion.
This infusion of capital will fuel Haber’s expansion into North America — a region where the demand for cutting-edge manufacturing technology is soaring. Haber’s AI-powered automation solutions are designed to optimize manufacturing processes, enhance efficiency, and minimize environmental impact, transforming industries from the inside out.
Syncell Announces $15 Million Series A Funding to Accelerate the Global Commercial Growth of Its Protein Purification and Spatial Proteomics Technology
Syncell, a leader in next-generation subcellular protein purification and spatial proteomics analysis, announced the close of a $15 million Series A funding round, bringing its total raised to $30 million. The investment will be used to expand and accelerate the global commercialization and commercial support for the company’s groundbreaking Microscoop platform. The round was led by Taiwania Capital, with participation from new and existing investors.
The pioneering Microscoop platform enables high-precision, unbiased, spatial proteomic discovery in subcellular tissues or cells, and has the ability to accurately discover new protein components from predetermined regions of interest. The technology also enables spatial protein purification for proteomic discovery, helping researchers identify cell subtypes and states, novel protein drug targets at disease-associated locations, biomarkers for disease, and mechanisms of biological pathways. The technology can power research focused on oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, and developmental biology, as well as a range of drug discovery applications. Syncell recently won a Biotech Breakthrough Award with the Microscoop platform named “Proteomics Solution of the Year” for 2024.
Leading Materials Science R&D Platform Albert Invent Announces $22.5 Million Series A and Launches Breakthrough™ to Accelerate Chemical Innovation
Albert Invent, whose end-to-end R&D platform accelerates chemical innovation in materials science using AI, announced a $22.5 million Series A funding round led by Coatue, with participation from TCV, Index Ventures, F-Prime, and Homebrew. The capital will be used to expand the engineering team, enhance the platform’s capabilities, and scale operations to meet growing demand.
As part of the announcement, the company also introduced Albert Breakthrough™, the first-ever AI solution built specifically for chemists. Albert Breakthrough combines centralized, structured data with specialized, user-friendly AI to optimize complex experiments, predict molecular properties, and generate novel formulations. As a core component of Albert’s end-to-end platform, Breakthrough marks a paradigm shift in material science innovation, enabling chemical companies to develop new products with unprecedented speed and performance.
The news builds on the company’s momentum over the last six months, in which it added customers like Chemours, Solenis, Keystone Industries, and Applied Molecules. Additionally, Henkel and Nouryon have expanded their relationship with Albert Invent. Now, thousands of scientists around the world leverage Albert’s solution to accelerate innovation and get products to market faster.
Azimuth AI: Edge Computing Silicon Company Closes $11.5 Million In Funding
Azimuth AI Inc. a startup specializing in producing highly customized silicon products for edge and embedded computing markets has closed a $11.5M venture round. Founded in 2022, Azimuth AI is focused on developing purpose-built SoCs (System-on-chip) products for, smart city, 2/3-wheeler vehicles, and other edge computing applications. The Team at Azimuth has designed and delivered 30+ silicon products to market working at leading semiconductor companies in the Silicon Valley and India. Currently Azimuth AI has offices in Sacramento, USA and Hyderabad, India.
The venture round was led by Cyient, a global Intelligent Engineering services company headquartered in Hyderabad, India. The company had announced previously that the strategic investment to acquire a stake in Azimuth AI, marks a significant milestone in its efforts to expand its capabilities and drive innovation across the semiconductor industry.
Fleet Space Closes USD$100M Series D with USD$525M Valuation
Fleet Space Technologies (Fleet Space), Australia’s leading space exploration company, announced the closing of a USD$100M Series D funding round, led by Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG), the late-stage venture and growth investment arm of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and joined by existing investors Blackbird Ventures, Hostplus, Horizons Ventures, Artesian Venture Partners, and Alumni Ventures. The new investment will be used to expand the capabilities of Fleet Space’s global end-to-end exploration platform, ExoSphere, to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals needed for Earth’s clean energy future.
“The ability to meet the rapidly increasing demand for critical minerals presents a significant challenge to achieving global net-zero targets,” said Rick Prostko, Senior Managing Director, Teachers’ Venture Growth. “Current mineral exploration methods are inadequate for efficient discovery and production. Fleet Space addresses this with advanced 3D subsurface imaging and AI analysis tools, which have the potential to sustainably transform the industry. We are proud to support the multidisciplinary team at Fleet Space in their efforts to accelerate the global energy transition.”
RapidCanvas gets $16M as it successfully puts AI agents to work, addressing tech talent shortage
As AI adoption accelerates, a critical shortage of technical talent threatens to bottleneck progress for many companies. RapidCanvas is breaking this barrier by democratizing AI-driven business transformation. The company announced a $16M funding round for its AI agents that automate up to 75% of complex tasks traditionally performed by data scientists and engineers. These agents, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), can process vast amounts of information, identify patterns, and make decisions, effectively replicating many human skills.
The Series A funding round was led by Peak XV, with additional participation from Titanium Ventures and existing investors Accel and Valley Capital Partners. This brings RapidCanvas’s total funding to over $23.5M since its inception in 2021.
Nysnø invests in the Norwegian Water Technology Company Flocean
Flocean, a pioneer in subsea desalination technology, has successfully closed its Series A funding round, raising 90 million NOK. The round was led by Burnt Island Ventures, Nysnø Climate Investments and Freebird Partners, with additional support from Norway- and U.S.-based energy and ocean industry investors.
The funding round positions Flocean to expand globally. By deploying its patented technology, the company will offer a sustainable and robust solution to freshwater scarcity.
With expertise from its parent company, FSubsea, which has installed over 70 deep-water pumps, Flocean is well-positioned to deliver sustainable, scalable, and reliable solutions for freshwater supply. It is great to see that expertise from Norway’s oil and gas industry can be applied to address a global challenge with new Norwegian technology, Johannessen adds.
Powernaut raises €2.4 million to decentralise the energy sector
Belgian software startup Powernaut has raised €2.4 million from leading European investors to accelerate the energy transition away from fossil fuels by building the next generation of power plants. The funding round was led by Berlin-based Revent, joined by Seedcamp (London), Pitchdrive (Antwerp), and Syndicate One (Brussels). The fresh capital will support Powernaut on its mission to decentralise the energy sector and reduce the reliance on fossil fuels entirely, all while lowering costs for consumers.
Traditionally, large centralised power plants generated electricity for everyone, but now millions of decentralised devices—such as solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, and heat pumps—are generating and consuming power locally. The European Commission predicts up to 10 million electric vehicle charging stations will be needed by 2030, along with more than doubling the current solar panel installations. This rapid growth in decentralised infrastructure presents significant challenges for energy suppliers and grid operators. While this shift is reducing our dependency on fossil fuels, our electricity grids weren’t designed for these new interconnections, and urgent changes are needed to support ongoing electrification and decarbonisation efforts.
Powernaut’s software helps energy suppliers manage this design shift by optimising millions of decentralised devices. Rather than just focusing on local energy generation, it ensures these devices are integrated effectively with the wider grid, balancing local production with grid demands. This coordination enables energy suppliers to offer new, cost-effective solutions to consumers while eliminating dependence on fossil fuels.
Uplift360 targets niche materials recycling
More than $1 million in funding raised by Luxembourg-based recycling firm Uplift360 will go toward developing chemical recycling technologies for materials such as Kevlar, used in body armor applications, and Twaron, used in cable production and transportation applications. Uplift360’s latest funding round includes support from Chicago-based Promus Ventures and London-based Twin Track.
“This funding will enable Uplift360 to scale its recycling technology and expand its team of scientists as it develops a first-of-its-kind concept demonstrator,” the recycling research firm says.
Founded in 2021 and led by CEO Jamie Meighan and Chief Technology Officer Sam Staincliffe, Uplift360 has operations in Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. The firm says its low-temperature recycling processes address “a critical challenge in European industries” such as defense, aerospace, and automotive, which face growing pressure to reduce waste and environmental impact while retaining access to high-performance materials.
The company cites materials producers, including United States-based DuPont and Japan-based Teijin Ltd., as companies it engages with to develop its emerging materials recycling processes. Uplift360 also says it is working with materials producers to develop on-site recycling facilities designed to minimize disposal costs and reclaim material for their production processes.
Molten Salt Solutions Secures $3 Million in Silicon Valley Seed Funding to Advance Adoption of Nuclear Energy
Molten Salt Solutions is pleased to announce the successful close of its Seed funding, securing $3 million from Silicon Valley firms Future Ventures and True Ventures. This investment will support the development of the company’s first commercial-scale lithium isotope enrichment process.
Currently, there is no commercial source of enriched lithium isotopes, and conventional enrichment methods are not suitable for industrial-scale production. Molten Salt Solutions addresses this demand with its enrichment process, paving the way for a sustainable isotope supply.
Molten Salt Solutions developed and demonstrated the company’s proprietary technology with SBIR funding from the National Science Foundation and in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The company will use equity funding to refine its technologies and establish the first pilot production. These advancements will position Molten Salt Solutions as a primary supplier to the advanced nuclear and fusion sectors, facilitating commercial deployment of MSRs and fusion systems.
Reveal Technology raises $11M to scale ‘decision dominance’ tools for DOD
Reveal Technology is one notable standout in this effort. The 6-year-old startup has been working with multiple branches of the U.S. Department of Defense to put its flagship software product into the hands of operators. That software, called Farsight, can rapidly convert video from drones into 3D maps that live on a smartphone. The company is already in production with a number of programs with the Army, Special Operations Command, Marine Corps, and some foreign militaries.
Farsight offers major advantages over the status quo, which is generally smartphones preloaded with two-dimensional maps. Those maps are often generated from years-old satellite data, and they frequently fail to reflect the changing nature of a battlefield, Reveal co-founder and CEO Garrett Smith explained in a recent interview.
Along the way, the startup also acquired DFL Technology to onboard its product, Identifi, a mostly smartphone-based biometrics and human identity data collection and verification system. The through line between Reveal’s two products is the decision dominance piece: providing tactical information at the edge and in mobile environments. If Farsight is all about navigating the physical terrain, Smith said, “Identifi is all about the human terrain.”
Investors have been paying attention: The company just closed a $11.2 million Series A led by Next Frontier Capital, with participation from defy.vc and 8VC, to scale its team and build out its product lineup — to do nothing less than, as Smith put it, “dominate the mobile and edge space.”
AQEMIA Hits $100 Million Funding Milestone, Paving Way to Clinical Trials and Global Expansion Starting with London, UK
AQEMIA, a pioneering techbio that teaches atomic scale physics to a generative AI to invent innovative medicines, announces two major milestones: $100 million in cumulative funding and the beginning of a global expansion starting with London (United Kingdom).
The new $38 million funding round, led by new investor Cathay Innovation, brings total funds raised since inception to over $100 million. This round, coming less than a year after the previous one, follows the successful validation of AQEMIA’s drug discovery platform through outstanding results in internal preclinical programs and pharmaceutical partnerships, particularly in oncology. The funding will support AQEMIA’s development goals, including preparations for clinical trials.
AQEMIA will also use the proceeds to continue to advance its technology platform—teaching quantum-inspired, atomic-scale physics to generative AI—to transform drug discovery, designing innovative and safe small-molecule drugs with high efficiency. By teaching theoretical physics to the generative AI, AQEMIA does not need experimental data to train on, unlocking truly innovative molecular designs, further away from existing molecules—a key challenge for genAI. The drug discovery platform is now proven to work, as demonstrated by AQEMIA’s recent preclinical successes: (i) in their most advanced oncology programs with in vivo results, which continue to progress toward clinical trials, and (ii) through AQEMIA’s $140 million collaboration with Sanofi, announced in December 2023, which already underscored the platform’s potential and strong industry recognition.
Raptor Maps Closes $35 Million Series C Financing to Drive Next-Generation Solar Asset Management Solutions
Booming electricity demand. Record-breaking supply of low-cost, clean power at unprecedented scale. These are the fundamentals of the global energy economy and the backdrop to which Raptor Maps announces its oversubscribed Series C financing round. The $35 million growth investment was led by Maverix Private Equity (“Maverix”), with significant participation from existing investors MKB, Blue Bear Capital, Congruent Ventures, Buoyant Ventures, and Y Combinator.
The investment underscores the critical need for the industry to address years of solar asset underperformance and highlights the increasing impact of advanced analytics and digital solutions in the solar market. Since its inception, Raptor Maps has developed software to help solar energy scale and has digitized the leading solar portfolios in the North American and global markets. With the recent introduction of Raptor Solar Sentry, an industry-first software product that orchestrates solar operations and maintenance work by people and robotics, the company has proven the path for owners to realize double digit gains on solar financial returns.
The Series C financing will accelerate Raptor Maps’ product development, including enhancements in solar automation, work management, and machine-learning insights. Additionally, the company plans to expand its team with further investments in software engineering and data science.
Arctic Instruments raises €2.3 million to advance quantum computing amplifiers
Arctic Instruments, a spinout from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, has secured €2.3 million in funding for the research, development and commercialisation of its superconducting microwave amplifier technology. The funding round was led by the Finnish venture capital firm Lifeline Ventures. This investment will support Arctic Instruments in its mission to meet the increasing demand for high-quality amplifiers needed for scaling quantum computing.
The company’s ability to manufacture near-quantum-limited amplifiers consistently and in volume is critical for enabling the construction of large-scale quantum computers with accurate qubit state readout. According to Arctic Instruments, they are the only manufacturer already capable of supplying thousands of amplifiers of the required quality and consistency.
Semicon startup Netrasemi raises Rs 10 crore in Pre Series A round from Unicorn India Ventures to build Edge AI
Kerala-based Semiconductor startup Netrasemi has raised Rs 10 crore in a Pre Series A round from Unicorn India Ventures to build Edge AI for IoT products. Funds raised will be used for fabrication of two ML SoC chips (Netra A2000 and Netra R1000)
Founded in 2020 by Jyothis Indirabhai, Sreejith Varma and Deepa Geetha, Netrasemi is an Indian Edge AI semiconductor technology company building system-on-chips (SOC) to enable the new-age need for optimal computing for smart IoT products. With a strong 61 member team, the company is bringing a family of AI/ML capable SOCs and reference designs for solving 100+ AI/ML use cases making Edge AI product development efficient, simple and economical. These chips go into motherboards that make these products capable of doing advanced AI-based analytics without the need for sending the data to servers and the cloud hence, making them smart, cheap, responsive and independent. The company is bringing a family of AI/ML capable SOCs and reference designs for solving 100+ AI/ML use cases making Edge AI product development efficient, simple and economical.
Partful’s 3D models ‘explode’, and so does its funding with €6 million secured to develop SaaS platform
Partful, a Manchester-based startup specialising in interactive 3D technology, has raised €6 million to accelerate the automation of its 3D aftersales SaaS platform for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The funding round was led by Northern Gritstone, with participation from Par Equity and US-based Blumberg Capital. This latest investment brings Partful’s total funding to €13.5 million since receiving €2.8 million in July 2023 and its first seed round in January 2022.
Since its inception in 2017, Partful has focused on creating user-friendly, accessible solutions to streamline aftersales operations for OEMs. Available in 71 languages, the platform seeks to reduces costly order errors, improves manufacturer revenues, and limit product downtime by enabling faster parts fulfilment and repair processes.
According to Partful, the manufacturing aftersales market is valued at €607 billion globally, and Partful’s technology is well-positioned to engage in its digital transformation. The platform has already been adopted by OEM customers such as Lotus, Lear, Kolpak, and Ideal Heating.
MakersHub: Accounts Payable Company Raises $7 Million
MakersHub, a next-generation accounts payable platform for data-driven businesses and their accounting partners, announced it has raised an additional $7 million of Seed funding. QED Investors and TTV Capital led the round, which brings MakersHub’s total funding to $11.5 million.
The funding round included participation from existing investors Dash Fund, four angel investors, and new investor TRB Advisors. This funding round will support MakersHub’s rapid customer growth by accelerating investment in platform infrastructure and scaling the sales and marketing teams. QED Partner Laura Bock and independent advisor Athletic Brewing Company CEO Bill Shufelt will join the Board of Directors.
MakersHub helps companies with heavy accounts payable process needs by capturing data and enabling users to utilize it meaningfully. It Also saves businesses and accounting professionals time, reduces errors, and facilitates deeper, more accurate business insights.
Pixxel: Space Tech Company Raises $24 Million (Series B Extension)
Pixxel – a US-India-based space technology company building the world’s highest-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation – announced the closing of $24 million in additional funding as part of its Series B round. This new funding brings the total Series B funding to $60 Million. Pixxel has raised $95 million with this round across all funding rounds.
The Series B extension round added new investors, M&G Catalyst and Glade Brook Capital Partners, who join existing backers Google, Radical Ventures, Lightspeed, and others. And this funding positions Pixxel as one of the highest-funded space-tech startups in India and the highest-funded hyperspectral imaging company globally, reinforcing its goal to build a health monitor for the planet through advanced earth observation satellites and drive impactful climate action.
The funding will enable Pixxel to accelerate the development and launch of its entire constellation of 18 commercial hyperspectral satellites, which are planned for the near future. It will also support the growth of Pixxel’s software offerings, including Aurora, its AI-based Earth Observation platform, which enables seamless analysis and actionable insights for diverse applications from hyperspectral data.
Humtown and Fabri: two visions shaping the future of AM in foundries
Fabri completed a $5 million seed funding round, led by Lavrock Ventures with participation from RTX Ventures, Tenon Ventures, and SBXi. This funding represents a major step forward in the company’s mission to revolutionize the investment casting industry by delivering precision metal castings with unparalleled speed and cost-effectiveness.
Fabri’s strategy addresses long-standing challenges in the investment casting sector, which is crucial for industries such as aerospace, automotive, and industrial equipment. By combining rapid manufacturing processes with precision engineering, Fabri helps businesses stay ahead of evolving market demands. Its advanced design software optimizes casting designs to minimize waste while ensuring superior quality, delivering a seamless, cost-effective experience to its customers.
The $5 million seed funding will enable Fabri to scale its operations and enhance proprietary technologies. This investment also facilitates broader market reach, allowing the company to provide its transformative solutions to a wider audience and empowering businesses to innovate without compromise. The company’s backers’ support highlights the industry’s recognition of Fabri’s ability to deliver value and transformative change.
Oxford Flow receives $25M funding from bp Ventures and EIP
bp Ventures and EIP co-led the $25 million Series C funding round that will be used to scale up Oxford Flow’s operations.
Originally founded by Professor Thomas Povey in 2015, Oxford Flow is a spin-out of the Oxford Thermofluids Institute (OTI), an internationally renowned facility for aerospace solutions for jets and rockets, at the University of Oxford. The company’s technology has no mechanical drive train, stem or diaphragm, mitigating failure modes and leak paths and helping to address some of the challenges faced by the energy sector including improving valve reliability, reducing maintenance costs, and minimising fugitive emissions.
Oilfield services provider Flowco shows revenue surge in US IPO filing
Oilfield services provider Flowco showed a surge in revenue when it filed paperwork for a U.S. initial public offering, becoming the latest to capitalize on a recent revival in investor appetite for newly listed stocks. Flowco did not reveal the number of shares it intends to sell or the potential size of its offering, but Reuters reported in September, citing sources, it could seek a valuation of as much as $2 billion.
Flowco’s business is divided into two segments - production solutions and natural gas technologies. It saw total revenue surge to $349.3 million in the nine months ended Sept. 30, versus $167.9 million a year earlier.
Prima Secures $42.5 Million to Transform Manufacturing Across North America
Prima, a technology-first manufacturing and supply chain integrator creating a more reliable procurement experience for North American companies, announced that it has raised USD $23 million in funding, bringing its total funding in previously-undisclosed rounds to USD $42.5 million. Prima’s investors include Acrew, Quona Capital, Nazca, Greenoaks, Canary, NXTP, Picus Capital, Endeavor, Fluent Ventures, K50 Ventures, Marathon Ventures, Box Group and WTI, as well as 110+ angel investors from the industrial ecosystem. The funds will allow Prima to expand its operations and continue its quest to elevate Mexico’s manufacturing base to higher standards and address key industry issues of availability, quality, fulfillment rates, and cost – all of which have long plagued manufacturing and supply chains in Mexico in particular.
Prima manages every step of the manufacturing process, from design, engineering and raw material procurement to factory floor operations, quality control and delivery. The company currently works with more than 150 companies across North America across mining, cement and energy; retail and hospitality; industrial equipment procurement; electrical and electronic components and more. Prima’s innovative and holistic approach has fueled the company’s rapid growth, as it gains a foothold in the U.S.
Rl Core Technologies Announces Successful Close of $5 Million Seed Round Funding Led by TQ Ventures
RL Core Technologies, (RLCore) has closed a USD $5 million Series Seed funding round led by TQ Ventures, a leading New York-based venture capital fund, with participation from Flying Fish Ventures. RL Core Technologies provides deep learning software which boosts the efficiency and reliability of industrial control systems.
RLCore has proven that its software solutions can lower two of the largest drivers of cost in water treatment- energy and chemical consumption - resulting in increased efficiency, reduced operational expenses, and consistent regulatory compliance. For its customers, RLCore has conducted automatic PID tuning improving flow rate 50% over default, achieved fully automatic chlorine injection allowing for precise dosing and attained a 20% improvement in backwash.
RLCore employs reinforcement learning to improve the efficacy and performance of industrial control systems. Reinforcement learning is a branch of artificial intelligence where software learns to make decisions to achieve improved performance while interacting with its environment as opposed to imitating humans. It was inspired by animal learning and psychology and mimics trial-and-error learning processes used by humans to achieve goals.
Cocoa-Tech Company Celleste Bio Closes $4.5M Seed Round to Scale Production of Cell Cultured Cocoa
Celleste Bio, an early-stage cocoa-tech company, announced the closing of a $4.5M seed financing round led by Supply Change Capital, with participation from Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Ventures, Consensus Business Group, The Trendlines Group, Barrel Ventures and Regba Agriculture. Celleste will use the funding to accelerate R&D, infrastructure, and technological capabilities needed to pilot and scale production of its cell-cultured cocoa ingredients.
Celleste was founded in 2022 to meet the world’s rising demand for chocolate in the face of supply chain challenges created by climate change and outdated, conventional farming practices. Celleste uses a combination of AgTech, BioTech and AI computational models to grow 100% natural cocoa from one or two beans in optimal, controlled conditions, year-round.
Tractian Raises $120M to Eliminate Industrial Downtime Worldwide
Tractian, a leader in Manufacturing AI, secured $120M in Series C funding led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from General Catalyst, Next47, and NGP Capital. This latest investment solidifies the Atlanta-based company as a key player in the industrial maintenance space.
This funding will accelerate Tractian’s mission to optimize machine performance and ensure unprecedented uptime. As the Industrial Copilot, Tractian stands out by providing integrated hardware and software solutions for industrial asset monitoring, physical operations, and maintenance management, helping companies ensure zero downtime and improve technicians’ productivity.
Tractian continues to drive innovation with a team of 200+ engineers dedicated to R&D across data, software, and hardware. In 2024, the company filed 12 patents, highlighting its commitment to proprietary technologies. Tractian plans to expand its portfolio of patented solutions in 2025 while attracting top-tier talent in engineering, data science, and go-to-market teams.
AMP Raises $91 Million in Series D Funding to Revolutionize Waste
AMP Robotics Corp. (“AMP”), a leading provider of AI-powered sortation at scale for the waste and recycling industry, has raised $91 million in corporate equity in a Series D financing led by Congruent Ventures. The round featured participation from current and new investors, including Sequoia Capital, XN, Blue Earth Capital, Liberty Mutual Investments, California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS), Wellington Management, Range Ventures, and Tao Capital Partners.
AMP will use the latest funding to accelerate the deployment of its AMP ONE™ systems, which are capable of cost-effectively sorting municipal solid waste (MSW), as demonstrated by the first-of-its-kind system AMP operates in Portsmouth, Virginia. Last month, AMP also entered into an agreement with Waste Connections, Inc. (TSX/NYSE: WCN) to equip and operate one of Waste Connections’ single-stream recycling facilities in Colorado. AMP ONE provides a full-scale facility solution to sort various material streams and capture more of the billions of dollars in value otherwise lost to landfills or incinerated annually.
FibreCoat, world leader in materials technology, secures close to €20m from NewSpace Capital and other investors
FibreCoat, a world leader in materials technology, has raised close to €20 million from NewSpace Capital, Goose Capital, Nova Saint-Gobain, 212 NexT, Otto Krahn New Business, Convergent Ventures and TiE in its Series B raise.
The company, which was founded in Germany in 2020 but has been developing its technology since 2014, has invented a novel technology to coat metals and plastics onto fibers, thus combining the properties of the fibers and the coating material, during the fibre spinning process. Its products offer strength, conductivity, and recyclability at a fraction of the weight and cost of their competitor products. This is thanks to the team’s extensive expertise and strong research-and-development background at RWTH Aachen University, where the founding team worked at the Institute for Textile Technology.
FibreCoat’s materials, which are lightweight, cost-effective, high-performance and have widespread applications, have proven themselves in a number of industries, and are now well-positioned to meet surging demand in the space and defense sectors. Robust material is essential for the durability and reliability of military equipment in hostile environments.
Quindi raises €525K Seed for smart manufacturing production co-pilot
Smart manufacturing startup Quindi has raised €525,000 in initial Seed funding. Founded in 2022, Quindi has developed the first Production copilot, an advanced AI solution that integrates all data from machinery, orders, and people to optimise production flows.
Through the combined use of proprietary data and algorithms, Quindi enables production roles to know in real-time any critical event, such as a machine anomaly or the unexpected absence of an employee, and to act proactively. Staff receive operational guidance to overcome critical issues, while production managers can re-schedule production in real-time, choosing from different production scenarios proposed by Quindi.
The funding was raised from Open Venture, a venture capital vehicle born within the Open Advisory ecosystem and ELIS Group, a consortium of more than 140 companies pursuing open innovation, vocational education and sustainable development goals.
D-Fend Solutions Raises $31M to Fortify Cyber Counter-Drone Technology and Market Leadership
D-Fend Solutions, the leader in field-proven radio frequency (RF) cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone – takeover technology, announced that it has secured $31M in the initial closing of a new investment round. The round was led by Israel Growth Partners (IGP), with participation from existing investor Vertex Ventures and new investor Vertex Growth. This funding underscores the critical role of D-Fend’s proven innovations in enabling full control, safety, and continuity for security agencies in multiple sectors, while acting against continually rising rogue drone incidents across complex and sensitive environments. With this investment round, IGP General Partner Uri Erde join’s D-Fend’s Board of Directors, joining existing investor board members Yoram Oron of Vertex Ventures and Rami Hadar of Claridge Israel.
The funding will enable D-Fend to solidify its technological leadership and capabilities, expand its market reach into new territories and sectors, and advance its ability to tackle new and evolving drone risks. The funding round comes on the heels of strong continuous year-over-year revenue growth of over 60% and diverse and balanced expansion across geographies, sectors, and use cases. D-Fend’s global installed base has now reached nearly 30 countries, including Five Eyes (FVEY) alliance, G7 and major NATO member states. This investment will further support efforts to address constantly changing threats, penetrate additional market segments, integrate with more partners and technologies, and establish a stronger global presence for the company.
Rosy Soil Raises $3.6 Million to Create Gardening Soil From Captured CO2
Rosy Soil, a sustainable soil company created to offset the negative environmental impact of producing traditional peat-based potting mixes announces the closing of a $3.6 million seed round. The funding will fuel the company’s mission to transform the horticulture industry by creating high-performance soils that capture CO2.
Founded in 2022, Rosy Soil has rapidly expanded its reach, scaling direct-to-consumer, and partnering with major retailers like Target, as well as hundreds of independent plant shops and nurseries across the United States. The company’s innovative approach to soil science has garnered significant attention, with a dedicated team of researchers, PhD advisors, and an in-house soil lab conducting hundreds of plant trials.
With the new funding, Rosy Soil will accelerate its product development efforts, expand its retail footprint, and grow its team of talented individuals. Rosy Soil’s investors include Draper Associates, Superorganism, Climate Capital, and Boost VC. Rosy Soil is also backed by Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea, Brandin Cohen, founder of LiquidIV and Ben Chesler, co-founder of Imperfect Foods.
enSights Raises $10M to Scale its AI-Powered Clean Energy Optimization Business
enSights, an AI-powered, cloud-based clean energy optimization and management platform company, announced that it completed a $10 million Series A funding round, co-led by venture capital firms JAL Ventures and XT VC, with the participation of the Menomadin Foundation. The infusion of funds will support the company in expanding its global footprint, especially in the US market, by establishing local headquarters and hiring a team of industry professionals. In addition, the company will continue strengthening its ecosystem of SaaS solutions that simplify the business of energy management and optimization.
Experienced renewable energy entrepreneurs Alon Mashkovich, CEO, and Roy Fadida, CPO, co-founded enSights in 2021 with Dekel Yaacov, CTO, to develop a 360-degree, AI-powered energy optimization and management platform that scales business operations while maximizing the financial and energy performance of renewable assets. Since its inception, enSights became its local market leader in the distributed generation segment and expanded into the European market in 2022. With hundreds of active users managing more than 1.6 GWp on enSights’ platform, its automation and smart workflows currently help optimize the daily operations of over 6,000 clean energy assets. Already a financially stable company, this latest capital raise ideally positions the company for sustained long-term growth.
HappyRobot Raises $15.6 Million Series A Funding Led by a16z to Transform Logistics with Agentic AI
HappyRobot, a pioneer in AI-powered voice solutions for the logistics sector, announced it has secured $15.6 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Y Combinator and strategic industry investors, including RyderVentures. This latest funding follows an earlier, previously undisclosed, pre-seed round raised 1.5 years ago, backed by Array Ventures and other angel investors.
HappyRobot’s conversational AI platform uses agentic AI to simplify logistics operations, with an initial focus on the complex communication needs of freight brokerage. Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can autonomously make decisions and take actions to achieve specific goals, adapting their behavior based on their environment and experiences. It goes beyond simple task execution by exhibiting a degree of initiative and goal-directed behavior. By automating tasks like inbound and outbound calls, carrier negotiations, and data capture, HappyRobot enables brokers to significantly enhance efficiency and capacity, improve margins, and free up human agents to focus on higher-value activities.
Heirloom Raises $150 Million Series B to Rapidly Scale Commercial Direct Air Capture
Heirloom, America’s leading Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology provider, has raised $150 million in Series B funding. The round was co-led by Future Positive, and Lowercarbon Capital - which also invested in Heirloom’s Series A. A range of new industrial investors, including Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and Siemens Financial Services, representing difficult to decarbonize sectors of the economy – automotive, shipping, aviation, and advanced manufacturing — also participated. This is a strong vote of confidence in Heirloom’s ability to be a leading pathway to net zero. The funding will be used to continue to drive down the cost of the technology, develop additional projects and provide the funding needed to subsequently access infrastructure capital.
New investors in Series B include: Future Positive, H&M Group, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Mitsui & Co., Ltd., MOL Switch LLC, Quantum Innovation Fund, and Siemens Financial Services among others. Repeat investors include leading climate and carbon removal investors like Ahren Innovation Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Carbon Direct Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, and MCJ Collective.
Since its founding in 2020, Heirloom has progressed rapidly to become one of the world’s leading DAC companies. Heirloom is part of the team building Project Cypress — a Department of Energy supported DAC Hub, which is eligible for up to $600 million in government funding, and which will bring one million tons of yearly CO2 removal capacity to Louisiana and will create nearly 1,000 new jobs. Heirloom has received strong bi-partisan U.S. political support, as demonstrated by their recently unveiled plans for a number of Louisiana facilities, including an initial 17,000 ton facility set to be operational in 2026. Late last year, Heirloom began operating North America’s first commercial DAC facility in Tracy, California, shortly after signing one of the largest CO2 removal deals to date with Microsoft. The company has also signed deals to provide carbon removal to Stripe, Meta, Shopify, JPMorgan, McKinsey, Workday, H&M Group, Autodesk, and others.
CleanFiber secures $20M in federal funds to help expand nationally
With $20 million in grants secured from the U.S. Department of Energy, CleanFiber is opening new plants in Washington and Texas. These grants are part of more than $75 million in financing vehicles, grants, and tax credits the Buffalo-headquartered startup has secured in 2024.
The company, which makes building insulation from recycled corrugated cardboard supporting energy efficiency, moved to Buffalo after winning $500,000 in the 43North business competition in 2016. The company was founded in Massachusetts in 2013 and was originally named UltraCell.
Eagle Electronics Announces Formation of State-of-the-Art Electronics Manufacturing Facility, $14mm of Funding, and Customer Commitments
Eagle Electronics, a new leader in high-tech electronics and cellular module production, is proud to announce it has raised $14mm, led by the O.H.I.O. Fund with participation from Asymmetric Capital Partners, to establish cutting-edge manufacturing technology and operations in Solon, Ohio, in partnership with CO-AX Technology. This strategic initiative marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to onshoring the advanced high-tech supply chain to the United States.
Eagle Electronics’ new facility aims to be the most advanced electronics manufacturing plant in the United States, leveraging cutting-edge surface-mount technology manufacturing equipment. The Solon, Ohio manufacturing operation is also expected to create numerous jobs in Ohio, further establishing the state as a key player in the U.S. semiconductor industry. Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor, Jon Husted, added, “Eagle is further proof that Ohio is becoming one of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturing hubs. With the addition of Eagle, we’re bringing more jobs in this sector to Northeast Ohio, reinforcing our commitment to the ‘Made in Ohio’ strategy.”
Acceleron Fusion Secures $24M Series A Led by Lowercarbon Capital and Collaborative Fund to Revolutionize Clean Energy with Muon-Catalyzed Fusion
Acceleron Fusion, a pioneer in muon-catalyzed fusion energy, has closed a $24 million Series A funding round. The round was co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Collaborative Fund. This funding marks a significant step in advancing a breakthrough fusion technology that could redefine the future of clean energy while enhancing energy security and independence.
The funding will fuel Acceleron’s efforts to advance its unique approach to clean, safe, and abundant energy. Traditional fusion machines require extreme temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius. Acceleron’s technology uses muons—heavy subatomic particles—to achieve fusion reactions at temperatures below 1,000 degrees Celsius. This approach could speed the transition of fusion from the lab to practical, deployable power plants. Muon-catalyzed fusion, first discovered in the 1950s, is a proven and well-understood physical process. In the mid 1980s, several groups worldwide demonstrated more than 100 fusion reactions per muon, raising the possibility that the process could be used to generate energy. However, calculations done at the time concluded that it would take more energy to power the muon source than could be released by the fusion.
Acceleron is developing an intense, high-efficiency muon source to produce beams of muons using significantly less energy than current facilities, and a high-density fusion cell to allow each of these muons to catalyze larger numbers of fusion reactions. The company is building on decades of previous work in muon production and muon-catalyzed fusion by university and national lab researchers – and leveraging recent advances in materials science, computer simulation, and machine learning to develop the technology to the level of efficiency needed for energy production.
SRTX secures US$25M funding from Investissement Québec
SRTX has announced a $25 million USD investment from Investissement Québec as a lead participant in its current fundraising round. This funding will support the company’s efforts to expand and solidify its position as a leader in the textile sector, while continuing to grow its vertical manufacturing operations in Quebec.
This latest round of fundraising is supporting SRTX’ drive to scale its manufacturing capacity and strengthen its research and development capabilities as it grows across all its distribution channels and innovates new materials. In 2023, the company expanded its operations into a new 300,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Pointe Claire (Montreal) where it has established a highly automated, vertically integrated manufacturing plant within a building that has room to expand to meet its growth. This new facility is unique, converting UHMWPE powder into finished products, and will enable SRTX to continue to drive its costs down as it expands the market leading position of its tights product, Sheertex.
Italian energy storage startup Reefilla raises €4.5M in funding, launches equity crowdfunding campaign
Reefilla, a Turin, Italy-based energy storage startup that provides mobile power generation using second-life batteries, has secured €4.5 million in funding. The round was led by CDP Venture Capital through its Green Transition-PNRR fund.
The new funding will enable Reefilla to grow its footprint in Italy and international markets while advancing its research and development efforts. The company is working on “Made in Italy” technologies to repurpose end-of-life batteries, turning them from waste into valuable resources.
Tenstorrent closes $693M+ of Series D funding led by Samsung Securities and AFW Partners
Tenstorrent is announcing that it has closed over $693M in its Series D funding round at a pre-money valuation of $2B. Samsung Securities and AFW Partners led the round, which was oversubscribed due to strong demand from investors. Samsung and AFW both have deep relationships with Tenstorrent, and a strong history of investing in pioneering technology companies. In addition to the leads, many notable investors joined the round including XTX Markets, Corner Capital, MESH, Export Development Canada, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Baillie Gifford, Bezos Expeditions, and more.
Tenstorrent builds and sells computers for artificial intelligence that are built using its Tensix cores. In addition to selling hardware, the open-source software stacks really set Tenstorrent apart from other players in the market. Tenstorrent licenses AI and RISC-V intellectual property to customers that want to own and customize their silicon.
Tenstorrent Raises $693 Million Series D
AI chip and IP startup Tenstorrent has raised $693 million in an oversubscribed Series D round including both financial and strategic investors, based on a pre-money valuation of $2 billion. The round was led by Samsung Securities and AFW Partners and new investors include XTX Markets, LG Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group and Bezos Expeditions. The funding will support Tenstorrent’s plans to deploy its IP, silicon and system products.
Tenstorrent’s $693 million Series D follows competitor Groq’s $640 million round in August 2024. Prior to that, it seemed the investment climate for AI chip companies had cooled, in part due to the AI chip industry’s failure to take any significant market share from leader Nvidia.
Vooma Scores Over $16 Million in Seed and Series A Funding Led by Index and Craft Ventures
Vooma, a powerful and fast-growing AI platform designed for freight brokers and carriers of all sizes, announced it secured $13 million in Series A funding led by Craft Ventures. The Series A adds to a previous $3.6 million seed round led by Index Ventures with participation from angel investors including founders and executives from major logistics and technology companies such as Motive, Project44, Ryder and Uber Freight. The investments in Vooma, driven by strong customer demand, underscore the company’s market potential and technology, and accelerate its trajectory for continuing growth.
Vooma’s AI platform empowers logistics companies to more rapidly and efficiently scale their operations by reducing time spent on tedious and manual work and creating space to solve real logistical challenges, while also investing in relationships that are critical to success. The company has built Vooma Agents, the first-of-its-kind multi-channel AI platform for logistics. Agents built on Vooma’s platform can operate across email, text and voice channels, allowing for automation in workflows that were previously unaddressable by existing systems.
Since its launch in 2023, Vooma has attracted many of the logistics industry’s top brokers and carriers as customers, including Echo, MODE, Arrive Logistics and NFI. Vooma has grown revenue by 12.5x, increased transaction volume by over 32x and built hundreds of thousands of loads. The company is also partnering with leading communication, pricing and transportation management systems including Front, Greenscreens.ai, McLeod and Turvo.
POSCO to buy Korean robotics firm stake for steel business
South Korea’s steel-to-battery materials conglomerate POSCO Group will invest in the leading domestic robotics company to boost its ailing steel business through factory automation as it seeks a new growth engine.
Neuromeka Co., Korea’s top collaborative robotics maker, announced on Friday it will issue 10 billion won ($7.2 million) in convertible bonds to POSCO Holdings Inc., parent of the world’s No. 7 steelmaker POSCO and EV battery materials producer POSCO Future M Co.
POSCO Holdings is set to secure a 3.81% stake in Neuromeka if the conglomerate converts the debt securities into the Kosdaq-listed company’s stocks.
Italian startup Movopack raises £2 million to launch circular e-commerce packaging in UK via Royal Mail
Movopack, a company providing e-commerce platforms with circular and sustainable packaging, has raised a £2 million seed funding round led by early-stage investor 360 Capital, with participation from Greiner Innoventures and Techstars. The cash will go towards the firm’s official launch in the UK - its first expansion outside of Italy.
The aim is to allow consumers to easily return packaging through the Royal Mail postal system, providing access to any of its 115,000 postboxes across the country.
Akhetonics gets fresh funding for a contrarian bet on all-optical chips
Photonics — a field that underpins light-based systems for manipulating data — has a bright future, as the rise of AI demands better computing performance, but it has yet to be fully applied to a new generation of chips. German startup Akhetonics hopes to change that. It has raised a €6 million seed funding round (approximately $6.33 million) to deliver on this promise, TechCrunch can exclusively reveal.
While several companies are working with photons on tangential issues or point solutions that mix electronics and photonics, Akhetonics — whose name is a portmanteau of Akhet, an Egyptian hieroglyph for “horizon,” and photonics — is outright aiming to build a general-purpose chip.
This will still take time, but maybe not as much as some may think; Akhetonics plans to deliver its first commercial product to customers mid-next year. Kissner is confident that it’s already confirmed feasibility thanks to its previous funding round by deep tech VC firm Runa Capital in 2023. “Our big goal was to show that you can do general purpose computing using only optics, and that is something that we have now shown,” he said.
Long-duration battery startup lands $5M on journey to one day power data centers and metro areas
Skip Technology raised $5 million to help the grid-scale battery startup begin deploying prototypes for field testing. The Portland, Ore., company is building long-duration batteries that use hydrogen bromine to produce power instead of the more common lithium-ion chemistry. Compared to conventional batteries, Skip Tech devices hold power for a longer time, are much less flammable, and require components that are easy to source domestically, according to the team.
The company’s smaller batteries will be able to power offline operations like a food truck, while a collection of about 10 shipping container-sized batteries could provide enough juice for a large data center, said co-founder and CEO Brennan Gantner. Tech giants such as Amazon and Microsoft are searching for data center energy storage solutions to provide clean power when wind and solar aren’t available.
The new investment round is being led by Puyallup Tribal Enterprises, which also invested in a previous round. Skip Tech and the Washington-based tribal organization are additionally partnering in production of the batteries. Puyallup Tribal Enterprises is building a manufacturing facility south of Seattle to make the devices.
The startup also recently announced a partnership with Continuous Solutions, a fellow Portland company that will provide the electronics needed to convert the DC energy produced by the battery into standard AC voltages comparable to the electricity delivered from wall outlets.
Advanced Recycling Technologies Announces Growth Investment from Ember Infrastructure
Advanced Recycling Technologies Holdings, LLC (“ART” or the “Company”), announced that it has received a growth investment from funds managed by Ember Infrastructure (“Ember”) to scale its metals recovery and recycling platform.
ART designs, installs, owns, and operates distributed systems that are co-located with waste stream assets to recover and monetize incremental, high-value metals. The Company’s systems provide upstream asset owners with the dual benefit of reduced waste volumes and the recovery of incremental recycled metals for additional revenues, all while enhancing their sustainability profile through increased recycling of recovered metal materials for lower carbon metals refining and production as compared with the use of virgin mined materials.
ART’s systems are deployed onsite at upstream infrastructure assets including waste-to-energy (“WTE”) power plants, auto shredder residue (“ASR”) operations, other metal recycling operations, and ASR or WTE ash landfills. While these upstream sites may already have some metals recovery systems, ART’s systems can extract significant quantities of additional, smaller metal units from waste materials. Recycling recovered metals is an eco-efficient way of reintroducing valuable materials back into the economy. Compared to the primary production of virgin mined materials, the recovered recycled materials process uses up to 90 percent less energy and results in a significant reduction in annual CO2 emissions. The Company owns three operating metals recovery assets, comprised of an ASR tailings recovery project located at a metal recycling site in the Mid-Atlantic region; a WTE ash recovery project in Kent County, Michigan, in partnership with Kent County, through its Department of Public Works; and a metal recycling operation located in Westport, Massachusetts (“Mid-City Scrap”), which ART acquired in connection with Ember’s investment.
Molyon powers up with $4.6M funding to develop next-gen Lithium-sulfur batteries for robots and drones
Molyon, which develops next-generation batteries with double the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries, has landed $4.6 million in first funding. The round was co-led by IQ Capital and Plural, which recently invested in VSParticle and The Exploration Company. The funding will enable Molyon to expand the team and begin manufacturing at its pilot facility. This will enable the company to develop Li-S batteries for drones and robots, which will benefit from the lighter weight and improved range that Molyon’s batteries will provide.
Molyon has emerged from 15 years of material science research in the Chhowalla Group at the University of Cambridge. It was founded by Dr. Ismail Sami and Dr. Zhuangnan Li, who met whilst studying under co-founder Professor Manish Chhowalla. Dr. Sai Shivareddy (co-founder and CEO of battery technology startup Nyobolt) also joined the founders to discover and develop this high-performance cathode technology. Molyon’s technology is based on metallic molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which allows sulfur to remain stable and provide high energy density over hundreds of cycles. It revolutionises the Li-S battery field.
HyperHeat raises €3.5M to decarbonise the world’s most energy-intensive industries
Offenburg-based HyperHeat, a German startup focused on creating zero-carbon industrial heat using renewable energy, has raised €3.5M in funding. The company will use the funds to develop and test its first industrial products, which are set to launch by 2025. The investment was led by Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, with support from Finindus, Possible Ventures, E44 Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Fellows, and several business angels.
Heavy industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals account for over 25 per cent of global CO2 emissions, largely due to the high temperatures required in their production processes. These sectors face significant challenges in reducing emissions. To address these challenges, HyperHeat is developing a technology for emission-free, high-temperature heating to help decarbonise these industries. “The cutting-edge technology of HyperHeat allows decarbonising the demand for heat at well over 1000 °C, even up to 2000 °C. This electric heater technology offers a unique value proposition in terms of cost and durability, ideally suited for heavy industries.”
Echion Technologies lands £10M: How this startup brought sustainable fast-charging tech to life from labs
UK-based Echion Technologies, which develops niobium-based, fast-charging battery materials, has landed £10 million in funding. The investment came from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, which backed Sustainable Ventures, and existing investor BGF, which recently backed Twenty7tec and ForeFront RF.
This round follows the $35 million investment it secured a few months back. This funding will enable Echion to accelerate the speed at which its network of partnered cell manufacturers can produce commercially available cells that utilise its innovative niobium-based XNO® anode material. It will also support Echion’s growth in key markets by providing additional resources to connect cell manufacturers with industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This will see XNO® utilised in more real-world applications, at volume, soon.
Echion’s XNO® anode material enables lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to fast charge in under 10 minutes while maintaining high energy density and delivering over 10,000 charge cycles. XNO® is based on proprietary mixed niobium oxide compositions and microparticle designs protected by 13 international patent families. It delivers lithium-ion battery performance highly suited for industrial, commercial, and high-value applications that demand the highest up-time, lowest total cost of ownership, and highest safety.
Four Growers raises $9M to keep picking tomatoes, cucumbers with robots
The most recent Series A, led by Bassett Capital, builds on a previous raise of $6 million from Y Combinator and other venture funds. Since the company spun out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2018, it’s been a slog of slow, low-cost development, Mr. Contino said. “Now that we’ve got it working, and it’s really been proven, it’s now ramping up the production.”
Four Growers’ main robot, GR-100, harvests produce in greenhouses, which makes it easier to test and iterate, and also means that the bot can operate almost continuously. There are still hurdles though. “Making it cost effective for not only our customers but the consumers is an incredibly difficult challenge,” Mr. Contino said.
Liquid Wind raises €44 million in Series C financing with Uniper, HYCAP and Samsung Ventures to meet increasing demand for low-carbon fuels
Liquid Wind, the leading Swedish eFuel facility developer has raised €44 million in Series C financing led by Uniper, HYCAP Fund I SCSp (“HYCAP”) and Samsung Ventures. The financing will support the development of 10 eFuel facilities by 2027 as part of the company’s vision of reaching 500 facilities globally by 2050. The raise represents one of the largest European funding rounds in the eFuel sector this year.
METRON secures €12.5M for industrial energy management
METRON, a management provider for energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions, has raised €12.5M. Led by the German GET Fund, a highly reputed venture capital investor in the energy sector, alongside long-standing investors (BNP Paribas, Climate Investment and Vertigo) who have renewed their confidence in the French cleantech company. The investment of the GET Funds coincides with METRON’s market entry in Germany.
Ubitium Debuts First Universal RISC-V Processor to Enable AI at No Additional Cost, as It Raises $3.7M
For over half a century, general-purpose processors have been built on the Tomasulo algorithm, developed by IBM engineer Robert Tomasulo in 1967. It’s a $500B industry built on specialised CPU, GPU and other chips for different computing tasks. Hardware startup Ubitium has shattered this paradigm with a breakthrough universal processor that handles all computing workloads on a single, efficient chip - unlocking simpler, smarter, and more cost-effective devices across industries - while revolutionizing a 57-year-old industry standard.
Alongside this, Ubitium is announcing a $3.7 million in seed funding round, co-led by Runa Capital, Inflection, and KBC Focus Fund. The investment will be used to develop the first prototypes and prepare initial development kits for customers, with the first chips planned for 2026.
Echion raises a further £10 million to accelerate commercial growth
Echion has secured £10 million investment from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital and existing investor BGF. This funding will enable Echion to accelerate the speed at which its network of partnered cell manufacturers is able to produce commercially available cells which utilise Echion’s innovative niobium-based XNO® anode material. It will also support Echion’s growth in key markets by providing additional resources to connect cell manufacturers with industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This will see XNO® utilised in more real-world applications, at volume, in the near future.
Echion’s XNO® niobium-based anode material enables lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to safely fast charge in less than ten minutes, maintain high energy densities even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power across a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles. XNO® has been specifically engineered to allow electrified heavy-duty industrial, commercial and mass-transport vehicles to operate with the highest productivity and lowest total cost of ownership.
XNO® is available at scale thanks to Echion’s manufacturing partnership with the world’s leading producer of niobium, CBMM. In November, Echion opened the world’s largest niobium-based anode production facility, capable of producing 2000 t/year of XNO®, equivalent to 1 GWh of Li-ion cells. This will enable Echion to meet the significant demand for XNO® across its global customer base of cell manufacturers and OEMs.
Iontra Closes $45 Million Series C to Deliver Launch of the Industry's First Integrated RISC-V Charge Control and Fuel Gauge Microcontroller
Iontra Inc, a Colorado-based leader in next-generation battery charging technology, announced that it has successfully completed its $45M Series C funding round with support from both current and new investors. The company has raised $120.3 Million to date. Combined with the recent DOE award of the $2.15 million ARPA-E circular grant, this solidifies Iontra’s leadership position in battery charging technology. Iontra’s funding round was led by repeat prominent energy sector investor Volta Energy Technologies, with additional support from others.
This funding will advance Iontra’s leadership position as a fabless supplier of low-cost, small-footprint battery charger microcontrollers (MCUs). With embedded Iontra charge technology, Iontra’s MCU will maximize battery performance and efficiency across a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including power tools, smartphones, and wearables.
Iontra’s MCU also includes industry standard cyber security capabilities, and advanced high-speed peripherals, allowing OEMs to unlock options for further system integration, reducing electronic Bill-of-Material (e-BOM) costs and carbon footprint.
Through Iontra’s state-of-the-art design centers and semiconductor supply chain partners, Iontra is committed to delivering a robust and reliable solution for its customers with initial samples of its custom MCU expected by mid-2025 and release to production in 2026.
Pivot Energy Secures Over $450 Million in Major Financing of Distributed Generation Portfolios from First Citizens, ATLAS SP, and HASI
Pivot Energy, a leading, national renewable energy provider and independent power producer, announced two transformational financing arrangements, marking a critical step toward establishing innovative and scalable financing facilities. Pivot has successfully secured a $450 million debt warehouse facility, led by long-time partner, First Citizens Bank, which includes new strategic partner ATLAS SP Partners (“ATLAS”), the warehouse finance and securitized products business majority owned by Apollo funds.
In addition, Pivot closed on a structured equity investment from HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (“HASI”) in a new project joint venture (JV). Together, these innovative financing structures will support the construction of 300 Megawatts DC (MWdc) of distributed generation projects that Pivot is developing across the U.S. The portfolio consists of 96 projects, the majority of which are community solar with the remaining being single off-take Power Purchase Agreements for commercial clients. The projects are expected to be operational within the next two years, located across nine states: California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, and Virginia.
Ferment Launches $20M Studio Fund to Accelerate Biotech Solutions Across Vital Industries
Ferment, a venture studio that creates bio-enabled product companies, has launched a new $20 million studio fund to rapidly translate biology into products that solve targeted problems across sectors including energy, agriculture, materials, and health. The new fund’s first creation and $2.5 million investment is Alchemyca, a company that uses enzymes, sensors, and AI to dramatically improve how we convert organic waste into renewable natural gas. It joins existing Ferment companies that have all launched revenue-generating products within their first three years, and have attracted corporate partners like Vale, Suncor, Chanel, and Nutreco.
Faircraft Raises $15.8 Million to Accelerate the Development of Lab-Grown High-Quality Leather Goods
Faircraft, a pioneer of lab-grown leather using unique and patented tissue engineering techniques, has announced a $15.8 million fundraising round. The round was backed by internationally-renowned investment funds, including Kindred Ventures (USA), Cap Horn (France), BPI (France), Sake Bosch (Netherlands), Entrepreneur First (UK), Alliance for Impact (France), and Heirloom (USA). This funding will enable Faircraft to expand its team, notably by recruiting more engineers and biologists, and accelerate its efforts to scale operations and meet growing demand.
Faircraft is developing lab-grown leather that leverages cellular biology to create materials for a wide range of uses with a low environmental impact. The start-up develops lab-grown material derived from animal skin cells that replicates the structure and composition of traditional leather through cellular agriculture processes. Inspired by the medical and cosmetics industries, this material is genuine leather, made in a lab. Embracing traditional leather goods craftsmanship, Faircraft also relies on master tanners specializing in luxury leather goods to perfect the finishing of this sustainable leather.
Epic Cleantec Secures $12M in Series B Funding to Expand Innovative Water Reuse Solutions for Commercial Real Estate
Epic Cleantec (“Epic”), a leading innovator in water reuse technology for the built environment, announced the close of its $12 million Series B funding round. This investment will accelerate the expansion of Epic’s pioneering water reuse and resource recovery solutions across a growing portfolio of projects, positioning Epic as one of the fastest-growing providers of water reuse systems for commercial and residential real estate globally.
The Series B round was led by the family office of Drs. Kathy Fields and Garry Rayant, noted entrepreneurs, impact investors, and philanthropists known for their commitment to sustainability, healthcare, and technology. “We are thrilled to partner with the Epic team as they pioneer groundbreaking solutions to urban water challenges,” said Drs. Fields and Rayant. “Their innovative approach not only addresses immediate water scarcity issues but also lays the foundation for resilient, sustainable cities, aligning perfectly with our commitment to big, impactful, world-changing ideas.” They are joined by existing investors J-Ventures, Echo River Capital, and other prominent family offices with deep real estate ties. Epic will use the funding to scale operations, advance product development, and drive further adoption of water reuse systems across the U.S. and around the world.
Silfab Solar Raises $100 Million to Scale Its Cell Manufacturing Facility in Fort Mill, S.C.
Silfab Solar Inc. (“Silfab”), North America’s leading photo-voltaic (“PV”) module manufacturer, announced that it has closed on $100 million of new financing to scale its state-of-the-art solar cell manufacturing plant. The $50 million equity investment was led by funds advised by ARC Financial Corp. (“ARC”) and includes investment from their existing co-investors. The company additionally raised a $50 million senior secured financing (the “Green Loan”) led by Breakwall Capital, an energy-focused asset manager and employee-owned firm committed to supporting the growth and improvement of conventional, renewable, and next generation energy companies, and includes an investment from SR Alternative Credit LLC (“SRAC”).
The Green Loan and equity financing will advance the overall capacity of Silfab’s cell production and PV module manufacturing within its new facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina, and to reshore US-made solar products that are in high demand by the company’s customers. Silfab’s newest US facility is scheduled to be operational by the end of this year.
‘Flying ferry’ startup Candela raises $14m extension and enters US market
Swedish hydrofoil ferry Candela has raised a $14m extension to its Series C, following a €24.5m raise in March. The investment was led by Swedish bank SEB’s Private Equity section, with the participation of existing investors EQT Ventures and KanDela AB. The new capital will be used to “aggressively target the rapidly expanding global market for electric waterborne transport,” which is projected to reach $15.3bn by 2032.
The funding news comes a month after Candela’s 30-passenger vessels started being used for public transport in Stockholm and the signing in August of Candela’s largest order to date — eight vessels for Saudi Arabia’s Neom project. It has also signed contracts for its vessels to serve commuters in Berlin and New Zealand this year.
Teleo Raises $16.2 Million in Series A Extension Funds Led by UP.Partners
Teleo, a company building autonomous technology for heavy equipment, announced it has raised $16.2 million in Series A extension funds in addition to the company’s previously announced Series A funding round. The company will primarily use the funds to scale customer deployments and continue its expansion in new industries that use heavy machinery, such as wheel loaders, terminal tractors, excavators, and more. Teleo will also use the funds to enhance its AI capabilities, including advancing autonomous features; integrating large language models (LLMs) to further unlock operator efficiency; and collecting real-world data to continue training AI models. Teleo’s first extension round, totaling $9.2 million, was led by UP.Partners, with participation from other investors, including new investor Trousdale Ventures and return investor F-Prime Capital, among others. The second extension, totaling $7 million, was also led by UP.Partners, with participation from new investor Triatomic Capital, as well as returning investors F-Prime Capital and Trucks Venture Capital, among others. Since inception in 2019, Teleo has raised $29.8 million.
Teleo converts any make, model, and vintage of heavy equipment, such as bulldozers, wheel loaders, and excavators, into autonomous and remote-operated robots. The combination of remote and autonomous operations, called Supervised Autonomy, allows one operator to supervise multiple autonomous machines working simultaneously by enabling the operator to remotely perform complex tasks as needed. The operator sits at a central command center that can be stationed locally or thousands of miles away. There are many industries that use heavy machines to perform repeatable and predictable tasks where Teleo’s technology can help, especially amid historic labor shortages. For example, the Associated General Contractors of America estimates that 91% of construction firms are having a hard time finding workers to hire, driving up costs and project delays.
Aira Technologies Raises $14.5 Million Series B From AT&T Ventures, Intel Capital and In-Q-Tel (IQT) to Accelerate RAN Automation Using GenAI
Aira Technologies, a leader in applying AI to cellular network infrastructure, has raised $14.5 million in Series B to expand and accelerate its AI/ML-based solutions to drive improvements in operating, energy, and spectral efficiency. With the new funding, Aira will accelerate the advancement of its GenAI product roadmap. Aira’s Series B investment round was a strategic investment round, and the company is thrilled to have AT&T Ventures, Intel Capital, IQT, Juniper, and JTM LLC joined by existing investors NeoTribe and Acrew.
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are experiencing exponential data traffic growth and are under pressure to improve profitability by pushing down the Total Cost of Ownership while generating new streams of revenue. Aira’s vision is to use a data-driven, ML-powered approach to radically re-imagine wireless design, deployment, and control to improve efficiency and performance. Aira’s innovations allow MNOs to vastly improve their radio access network (RAN) architecture and performance. This new round of funding will support Aira’s visionary approach to enabling the RAN of the future—a fully autonomous, self-learning RAN.
Most recently, Aira launched Naavik, a GenAI platform that revolutionizes network operations via advanced automation and natural language processing. Enabling intuitive, conversational interactions with network data and reducing task times from months to days, Naavik enhances visibility, control and automation across the RAN to empower fully autonomous networks.
Tekever raises $74M for dual-use drone platform deployed to Ukraine
Dual-use drone startup Tekever has raised €70 million ($74 million) to develop its product and expand into new markets, specifically the U.S. The news is part of a trend of smaller tech-driven startups moving into markets normally dominated by large “defense primes.”
Tekever’s funding round was led by Scottish investment company Baillie Gifford & Co. (which has previously backed SpaceX) and the NATO Innovation Fund, the €1 billion defense and dual-use VC fund announced in 2023. The fund is connected to NATO and focused on backing startups that build tech for categories like defense, security, and resilience.
OceanWell Secures $11 Million in Series A to Build Deep-Sea Water Farms and Supply Abundant Fresh Water
OceanWell, a water technology company, announced $11 million in Series A funding to scale its next-generation modular deep-sea water farm solution and launch California’s water farm pilot with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD). Kubota Corporation, a century-old leader in water infrastructure manufacturing, the family office of Jon Hemingway of Carrix Ports, and Charles McGarraugh, former head of metals trading at Goldman Sachs, participated in the round.
OceanWell is developing modular deep-sea water farms made up of pods that harness natural hydrostatic pressure at depths of 400 meters for reverse osmosis desalination. Each pod can produce up to one million gallons of fresh water daily, and the modular design allows for scalable projects based on demand. This technology ensures ultra-clean water by filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and PFAS, while its robust components are engineered for durability in harsh deep-sea environments. Unlike traditional desalination methods that are energy-intensive and threaten marine life, OceanWell’s technology reduces energy consumption by up to 40 percent, while protecting marine life and eliminating toxic brine disposal.
Pickle Robot Closes $50 Million Series B Funding and Secures New Orders for 30+ Unload Robots
Pickle Robot Company, a pioneer in Physical AI delivering robotic automation systems that unload trucks, announced it has raised $50 million in series B funding with participation from a strategic customer, Teradyne Robotics Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Ranpak, Third Kind Venture Capital, One Madison Group, Hyperplane, Catapult Ventures, and others.
Additionally, in Q3 2024 six customers placed orders for over 30 production robots to deploy in the first half of 2025. The new orders include pilot conversions, existing customer expansions, and new customer adoption. The funding will be used to accelerate the development of new feature sets and build out the company’s commercial teams to unlock new markets and geographies for global robotic truck unloading customers.
Pickle Robot is laser-focused on applying its Physical AI technology to one of the most labor-intensive, physically demanding, and highest turnover work areas in logistics operations: truck unloading. Pickle’s Physical AI combines a powerful vision system with generative AI foundation models trained on millions of data points from real logistics and warehouse operations that enable Pickle’s robotic hardware platform to perform physical work at human-scale or better.
EarthOptics Secures $24 Million in Financing to Drive Expansion and Revolutionize Soil Digitization
EarthOptics, the industry leader in soil digitization and Predictive Agronomy, has announced the successful completion of $24 million in financing. This capital raise includes new partners Cibus Capital, RuralWorks Partners and Norinchukin Bank and is led by current investors Conti Ventures and The Production Board, with notable participation from Leaps by Bayer, S2G Ventures, Middleland Capital’s VTC Ventures, Cooperative Ventures, iSelect Fund, Serra Ventures, TO VC, Route 66 Ventures, Shell Ventures, Pappas Capital, CNH Ventures, and Rabo Ventures.
This investment underscores EarthOptics’ unwavering commitment to advancing soil intelligence and enabling farmers, ranchers, and their advisors to make data-driven decisions that maximize profitability and sustainability. The funds will be deployed to accelerate technological innovation, broaden the company’s geographic reach, and solidify its position as the authoritative source for soil insights.
The strategic merger between EarthOptics and Pattern Ag has created a powerhouse in the soil intelligence space. EarthOptics’ proprietary field-based sensing technologies are combined with Pattern Ag’s cutting-edge lab-based analysis. The newly formed entity is poised to redefine predictive agronomy by offering the market’s most comprehensive and precise soil data.
Distyl Secures $20M from Lightspeed and Khosla Ventures to Deliver Biggest, Most Impactful Enterprise AI Outcomes
Distyl has raised $20 million in Series A funding to supercharge its growth and to meet the accelerating demand from its Fortune 100 customers. This round adds Lightspeed Venture Partners, who led the round, and Khosla Ventures, early investors in OpenAI. Existing investors Coatue, Dell Technologies Capital and Nat Friedman also joined, along with strategic and angel investors. This funding will accelerate Distyl’s efforts to build the best-in-class AI engineering and research team to meet increasing customer demand.
Distyl unites AI-native software with a premier engineering and research team that customizes AI building blocks for rapid implementation and results at enterprise scale. The company is trusted to deliver transformative outcomes by Fortune 100 leaders across healthcare, telecommunications, CPG, retail and manufacturing industries. For example, one Fortune 500 company estimated a 47% increase in resolution time around daily tasks after partnering with Distyl to deploy AI in their supply chain.
Keychain Hits Over $500 Million Per Month in Project Volume, Secures $15 Million in Additional Funding, and Adds General Mills and Schreiber Foods as Investors
Keychain, a manufacturing platform for the packaged goods industry, announced that it has raised $15 million in new funding. The round was led by BoxGroup, with support from major food companies General Mills and Schreiber, and existing investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, and SV Angel. Looking toward 2025, Keychain will continue building its depth in the United States food and beverage manufacturing ecosystem. Keychain is ultimately building the platform for all CPG manufacturing globally.
One year after announcing $18 million in seed funding, Keychain has already enabled over 20,000 brands and retailers to search for manufacturers using Keychain’s AI-powered platform. This brings Keychain’s total funding to $33 million. Prior to Keychain, the search and discovery process was time-intensive and convoluted, preventing brands, retailers, and manufacturers from reaching their full potential.
Emerson Ventures Invests in EECOMOBILITY
Emerson (NYSE: EMR) announced it has made a strategic investment through its corporate venture capital arm Emerson Ventures in EECOMOBILITY, a startup that specializes in advanced battery testing and monitoring software for electric vehicle, energy storage and industrial markets. Emerson Ventures will co-invest with Automotive Ventures, RISC Capital and a North American OEM (original equipment manufacturer).
EECOMOBILITY builds AI software, rapid battery testing and characterization systems designed to identify defects that may lead to fires or performance issues. Combining advanced characterization techniques and AI, EECOMOBILITY’s solutions portfolio can be applied at the cell, module or full battery pack level, making the company a key asset in the automotive sector.
Revv Secures $20M to Transform Auto Repair with AI Technology
As the complexity of modern vehicles escalates, the auto repair industry faces a critical challenge: adapting to the sophisticated needs of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which are now standard in 92% of new vehicles. Addressing this head-on, Revv is thrilled to announce it has secured over $20 million in funding. The round, led by Left Lane Capital, with continued participation from Soma Capital, 1984, and Agalé Ventures, underscores the industry’s confidence in Revv’s potential to transform auto repair services.
Revv was born in an auto repair shop, where founder Adi Bathla, an early Product Leader at Misfits Market, observed the difficulties technicians faced with increasingly software-dependent vehicles. Together with Rashmi Sinha, an engineer with a shared passion for modernizing offline industries, they developed a platform that not only tackled the technical demands, but also captured the invaluable, intricate OEM data sitting in the brains of the most experienced technicians. This foundation enabled their initial product to rapidly gain traction, servicing over 30 auto repair shops prior to taking on any funding.
Revv’s platform leverages advanced large language models to condense hours of diagnostic research into seconds, aggregating data from over 60 sources to provide clear, actionable repair packages for complex ADAS systems like automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warnings. The hardware-agnostic system integrates seamlessly with all shop equipment and the full estimation software suite, ensuring immediate access to essential diagnostic information for all team members. Additionally, the embedded feedback loop from technicians enables continuous self-learning and improvement.
Tokamak Energy raises $125m to commercialize transformative fusion and magnet technologies
Tokamak Energy has raised $125 million to accelerate ambitious plans to commercialize fusion energy and grow its transformative high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology solution, TE Magnetics. The round was co-led by East X Ventures and Lingotto Investment Management with participation from new investors including Furukawa Electric Company, British Patient Capital, global maritime company BW Group and U.S.-based Sabanci Climate Ventures.
The investment from new strategic partners alongside existing shareholders is recognition of the world-class talent and expertise at Tokamak Energy, the only private fusion company with more than 10 years’ experience designing, building and operating tokamaks.
It brings the total raised since forming as a spin-out from UK Atomic Energy Authority in 2009 to $335m, comprising $275m from private investors and $60m funded from the UK and U.S. governments.
The investment round will support the rapid growth of TE Magnetics to address demand from the fusion energy market and open new fields of performance in other industries including science, mobility, renewable energy and security.
Lightsynq Comes Out of Stealth with $18M in Series A Funding to Scale Quantum Computing
Lightsynq Technologies Inc., a startup developing quantum interconnect technology solutions for commercial use, announced it has raised approximately $18 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Cerberus Ventures, the venture investing platform of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (Cerberus), with participation from Murata Electronics North America Inc., IAG Capital Partners, Safar Partners, QVT, Element Six and In-Q-Tel (IQT).
Founded by former Harvard quantum networking experts and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Center for Quantum Networking leaders, Dr. Mihir Bhaskar (CEO), Dr. Bart Machielse (CTO) and Dr. David Levonian (CPO), Lightsynq is developing state-of-the-art optical quantum interconnects that enable hardware providers to link quantum processors. Lightsynq’s technology will help solve the core challenge of linking together individual quantum computers into a broader network, overcoming the limitations of single system scaling.
The funds will be used to build Lightsynq’s quantum interconnect technology, which is based on color centers in diamond photonic devices, combining a leading quantum networking platform with scalable photonic fabrication. This proprietary solution will provide a pathway to foundry-scale production of quantum interconnects, enabling more usable qubits across networks and accelerating wider industrial and commercial applications of quantum computing.
Ample Secures $25 Million Investment from Mitsubishi Corporation to Drive Expansion of Battery Swapping Technology
Ample, a leading provider of battery swapping technology for electric vehicles, announced a $25 million investment from Mitsubishi Corporation. This strategic collaboration goes beyond just a financial investment, where Mitsubishi Corporation will support Ample’s ongoing efforts to expand its battery-swapping business. Mitsubishi Corporation will collaborate closely with Ample, leveraging their expertise in mobility, renewable energy, energy storage, and battery reuse and recycling to help accelerate the deployment of sustainable energy solutions.
Since its last funding round, Ample has made significant progress in expanding its battery-swapping infrastructure. The company has kicked off operations in Japan, signing key partnerships to accelerate the deployment of swapping services. Additionally, Ample has formed partnerships with major OEMs such as Stellantis and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, part of Daimler Truck, to integrate its battery-swapping technology with a wide range of EV models, ensuring versatility and accessibility.
Prism Worldwide Raises $40 Million in Series A and A1 Funding Co-Led by Columbia Pacific Advisors and former Costco CEO Jim Sinegal
Prism Worldwide, a leader in innovative material solutions that is dedicated to advancing end-of-life tire recycling technology, announced it has raised $40 million in Series A and Series A1 funds. Prism is using the funds to consolidate operations, make capital investments in technology and equipment, and expand its team. To date, the funding has provided a foundation from which Prism has reached commercial viability, demonstrated by an initial round of sales and sales commitments for its thermoelastic polymers (TPEs). The development of these TPEs marks the first time any company has successfully created a sustainable, high-performance polymer derived from end-of-life tires. The funding rounds were co-led by return investors Columbia Pacific Advisors, a Seattle alternative investment firm, and Jim Sinegal, co-founder and former CEO of Costco. The combination Series A and Series A1 funding round also includes participation from Robert “Spike” Anderson, former CEO of Anderson Daymon Worldwide. Anderson is Chairman of Prism Worldwide’s board of directors.
The first deployment of Series A capital was for the acquisition of CRC Polymer Systems, a custom compounding company that supplies compounds, resins, and colors to the plastics industry. The acquisition enabled Prism to increase its capacity for product development, manufacturing and distribution throughout the United States and North America.
Prism breathes new life into end-of-life rubber tires, which traditionally have limited high-value uses. Tires are often burned or ground into final-stage materials used on playground surfaces or sporting fields. With its environmentally friendly technology, Prism reverses the polymerization of the end-of-life tire rubber in a novel, energy-efficient, and low capital-intensive manner that allows the end material to be functional and flexible in a wide range of elastomer and plastic applications. Notably, Prism makes it possible to integrate a higher concentration of recycled materials to be used in both rubber-based and plastic-based products without conceding product quality. Its technology can help companies scale revenues and profitability while helping them achieve sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions and reliance on virgin petrochemical-based materials.
ARRAY Announces $3 Million Investment in Swap Robotics to Drive Automation in PV Installation
ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) (“ARRAY” or the “Company”), a global leader in solar tracker technology, is proud to announce its strategic $3 million investment in Swap Robotics, a pioneer in utility-scale solar robotic operations, maintenance, and automation solutions. This investment aligns with ARRAY’s ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and its goal of future-proofing the business through new growth opportunities.
Swap Robotics is currently in the process of closing a pre–Series A funding round targeting strategic investors, including ARRAY. With this investment, ARRAY positions itself at the forefront of the rapidly developing automation sector within the utility-scale solar industry, particularly focused on photovoltaic (PV) installation technology. Under the investment agreement, ARRAY has agreed to provide two additional investments of $1 million each if Swap attains certain agreed-upon milestones.
The integration of Swap Robotics’ cutting-edge technology with ARRAY’s existing products opens new possibilities for enhanced project cycle time efficiency and field installation savings. Automated module installation, powered by Swap Robotics, offers the potential for significant savings that would strongly benefit developers and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies looking to streamline project costs. In addition, Swap Robotics’ innovations promise to enhance the value of other disruptive technologies.
ANELLO Photonics Secures Series B Funding to Propel the Future of Inertial Navigation for Autonomous Applications
ANELLO Photonics, the creator of the Silicon Photonic Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG™), announced the successful closure of its Series B funding round reflecting robust investor confidence in the company’s groundbreaking approach to inertial navigation in GPS-denied environments. The investment was co-led by Lockheed Martin, Catapult Ventures and One Madison Group. Additional investors included New Legacy, Build Collective, Trousdale Ventures, In-Q-Tel (IQT), K2 Access Fund, Purdue Strategic Ventures, Santuri Ventures, Handshake Ventures, Irongate Capital and Mana Ventures. This funding round will accelerate ANELLO’s mission to revolutionize navigation and positioning in GPS-denied environments across both Industrial and Defense applications.
The participation of new investors highlights the significant interest in ANELLO’s groundbreaking SiPhOG technology which brings high precision optical fiber gyro performance onto an integrated silicon photonics platform. ANELLO’s solutions are perfectly designed to meet the rigorous demands of navigation, positioning, and motion tracking for autonomous applications in challenging GPS-jammed and spoofed environments.
Ecore Secures Strategic Investment from General Atlantic’s BeyondNetZero Fund to Accelerate Circularity and Net-Zero Initiatives
Ecore International, a global leader in circularity, transforming reclaimed rubber materials into innovative, high-performance products that drive sustainability and reduce environmental impact, announced it has received a minority growth investment from General Atlantic, a leading global growth investor, through the firm’s BeyondNetZero climate growth fund. Ecore will leverage this capital and strategic partnership to support continued organic and inorganic growth initiatives, strengthen core operational and technology infrastructure, and accelerate the execution of its industry-leading circularity and net-zero strategies.
For more than 150 years, Ecore has built a pioneering circular business model that transforms used tires into rubber surfacing and flooring applications. Through its hallmark TRUcircularity program, Ecore then reclaims its own products and re-purposes them back into surfacing applications, creating a continuous cycle of rubber usage, thereby preventing rubber waste from entering landfills.
A leader in rubber circularity, Ecore reclaims more than 430 million pounds of waste rubber, avoids 9.5 million pounds of CO2 emissions annually and operates UL-certified zero waste plants. Ecore boasts more than 1,500 different products in its portfolio, including high-performance flooring with Floorscore certifications and EPDs, IPEMA-certified pour-in-place playgrounds, and athletic tracks and fields. Ecore was recently honored as a finalist in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 2024 Citizens Awards for The Best Sustainability Program, recognizing its long-standing commitment to sustainability and its pursuit of a planet free from rubber waste.
Juna.ai wants to use AI agents to make factories more energy-efficient
At its core, Juna.ai wants to help manufacturing facilities transform into smarter, self-learning systems that can deliver better margins and, ultimately, a lower carbon footprint. The company focuses on “heavy industries” — industries such as steel, cement, paper, chemicals, wood and textile with large-scale production processes that consume lots of raw materials.
The Berlin-based startup said that it has raised $7.5 million in a seed round from Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, Sweden-based Norrsken VC, and Kleiner Perkins’ chairman John Doerr.
Juna.ai’s software integrates with manufacturers’ production tools, like industrial software from Aveva or SAP, and looks at all its historical data garnered from machine sensors. This might involve temperate, pressure, velocity, and all the measurements of the given output, such as quality, thickness, and color.
Plantible Foods Closes $30 Million Series B to Meet Growing Demand for Rubi Protein™
Plantible Foods, a technology company unlocking the power of plants to promote the health and longevity of people and the planet, announced the closing of a $30 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Piva Capital and Siddhi Capital, with participation from new investors Betagro Ventures, Cultivate Next (the venture arm of Chipotle Mexican Grill), Nourish Ventures (the venture arm of Griffith Foods), and existing investor Astanor Ventures.
Since its founding, the company has seen insatiable demand for its products driven by global agri-food supply chain issues and the need for a cleaner, healthier, and allergen-friendly food system currently polluted by unhealthy and unsustainable ingredients. Plantible’s Rubi Protein outperforms the functional and nutritional properties of traditional proteins (both animal and plant) enabling food companies to innovate while optimizing costs and delivering products with improved taste, texture, health and environmental footprint.
Naturbeads raises £7.8M to combat microplastic pollution
Naturbeads, a Bath, UK-based startup commercialising sustainable and biodegradable cellulose ingredients, raised £7.8 million in Series A funding. St. Andrews-based Eos Advisory led the round alongside existing investor Progress Tech Transfer, and new investors CDP Venture Capital, which invested in Foreverland, through its Corporate Partners I Fund, PI-NB, and Paragon Capital Management in Singapore through its early-stage VC fund, Paragon Ventures I.
The funding will enable the company to significantly increase its production capacity to meet the growing demand for sustainable ingredients from multiple industries. The company is set to build its first production plant in Puglia, Italy.
GiantLeap Capital Invests in Firefly Aerospace in an Oversubscribed $175 Million Series D Capital Raise Round
GiantLeap Capital, a U.S-based alternative investment firm that partners with companies developing technologies for critical industries, announced an investment in Firefly Aerospace, the leader in end-to-end responsive space services.
The $175M Series D round was oversubscribed at a valuation of more than $2 billion. The Series D round was led by new investor, RPM Ventures, a venture capital firm that has been investing in revolutionary, category-defining companies for more than two decades and existing investor, AE Industrial Partners, a private investment firm with over $6bn in AUM focused on highly specialized markets including national security, aerospace and industrial services.
Firefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space transportation company with launch, lunar, and on-orbit services. Firefly’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide the space industry with a single source for missions from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond.
Elicit Plant Announces €45 Million Investment Round to Accelerate Global Expansion
Elicit Plant, a pioneering agri-biotech company specializing in biosolutions for broadacre crops, has raised €45 million to accelerate its global expansion as farmers face mounting climate challenges. This investment round was led by Carbyne with participation from existing investors Sofinnova Partners, ECBF, and BPI. Primary net proceeds to the company will enhance commercialization of existing products and support further development of new solutions, aimed at providing farmers worldwide with effective products to combat the climate uncertainties affecting their yields and ability to feed populations.
The oversubscribed investment round was led by Carbyne Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in growing European businesses with strong market positions and a focus on R&D in its key sectors: agricultural technology, healthcare, and nutrition. Moreover, the existing investors Sofinnova Partners, European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), and Bpifrance Investissement reaffirmed their commitment.