Big Wins and Bold Moves in the Tech World, Fundings: Raptor Maps, SDG, Agape-1
11 December 2024 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
HavocAI: We’re excited to share that The Tech Tribune has named HavocAI one of the Top 10 Best Tech Startups in Rhode Island! This recognition highlights HavocAI’s exceptional revenue potential, strong leadership team, impressive brand traction, and competitive position.
To qualify, companies must be independent, privately owned, under 10 years old, and backed by at least one round of funding. HavocAI continues to lead the charge in innovation and excellence in the tech space! Congrats to the HavocAI team for this outstanding achievement!
China Announces Countermeasures Amid Tensions Over Taiwan: HavocAI is also making waves on the international front! China responded to U.S. support for Taiwan with measures targeting thirteen US companies, including HavocAI. While these actions carry minimal practical impact, they underscore a broader recognition: technological advancement serves as a powerful form of deterrence. It’s clear China is paying attention. History shows us that maintaining peace requires readiness, and readiness stems from strength.
HawkEye 360: HawkEye 360 is heading to AOC 2024! Catch them at the Association of Old Crows' annual event at National Harbor. Visit Booth #711 from December 11-13 to explore the forefront of ELINT and EW technologies. Dive into their latest insights and innovations on their YouTube channel.
Reality Defender: Leveraging the power of Oracle’s cloud infrastructure and NVIDIA’s AI capabilities, Reality Defender is on the front lines of combating financial fraud in an era of rapidly evolving AI-powered threats. As Co-Founder and CEO Ben Colman explains, “AI is accelerating so quickly, much faster than regulations can keep up.” Reality Defender bridges this gap, delivering cutting-edge solutions to protect businesses and consumers while supporting AI innovation.
Prelude: Wrap up 2024 with Matt Hand, Prelude’s Director of Security Research, in an exclusive retrospective on his career in offensive security and the evolution of control validation—from manual, point-in-time exercises to automated, continuous monitoring. This event will be simulcast on Tuesday, Dec 17, 2024, from 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM (your local time) in Prelude’s Discord community. Join here!
Anduril Industries and OpenAI have announced a strategic partnership to develop and responsibly deploy cutting-edge AI solutions for national security missions. This collaboration combines OpenAI's advanced AI models with Anduril’s defense technologies and Lattice software platform to enhance the U.S. and allied military’s ability to counter aerial threats.
In the context of the U.S.-China AI competition, this partnership underscores the importance of maintaining America’s technological edge in national security. Both Anduril and OpenAI are committed to developing AI-driven solutions that prioritize safety, ethics, and democratic values. Their collaboration will provide the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community with world-class technologies under robust oversight and ethical guidelines.
U.S. Officials Urge Americans To Use Encrypted Apps Amid Unprecedented Cyberattack
U.S. officials have urged Americans to adopt encrypted messaging apps amid a significant cyberattack on major telecommunications companies, including AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies.
The hacking campaign, dubbed "Salt Typhoon" by Microsoft, is attributed to Chinese operatives, though Beijing denies the allegations. Described as one of the largest intelligence breaches in U.S. history, the attack has compromised sensitive call records, live phone communications, and metadata, particularly in the Washington, D.C., area.
The breach’s scale has made it impossible for authorities to predict when the telecommunications systems will be fully secure. While the FBI has not alerted individuals whose metadata may have been accessed, several high-profile targets, including political campaigns and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have been informed of live call monitoring attempts.
As the investigation continues, officials have refrained from setting a timeline for full remediation, underscoring the enduring threat posed by advanced cyber espionage campaigns.
More links to explore:
Congress pushes Apple to remove Deepfake after 404 investigation.
Scientific breakthrough gives new hope to building quantum computers.
Founded: 2015
Key People: CEO Nikhil Vadhavkar Ph.D
Elevator Pitch: A lifecycle management platform designed to increase performance, reduce costs, and standardize solar photovoltaic assets across a portfolio.
Funding: The company raised $35 million of Series C venture funding in a deal led by Maverix Private Equity on December 10, 2024.
Founded: 1993
Key People: CEO Ajay Gupta
Elevator Pitch: Advisory, implementation, and managed cybersecurity services focused on identity and access management, threat, and risk.
Funding: The company received an undisclosed amount of development capital from Recognize Partners on December 9, 2024.
Key People: CEO David Fong Ph.D
Founded: 2019
Elevator Pitch: Artificial intelligence-based mobile security robots designed to deter crime and protect citizens.
Funding: The company is in the process of raising $5 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on December 5, 2024.
Look for a new episode of the Securing the Future Podcast wherever you listen. In our most recent episode, general partner Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with journalist Tim Mak for a powerful discussion on national security, his experiences reporting from Ukraine, and insights from his acclaimed work on the NRA and global conflict.
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