Dual-Use Tech Roundup - Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Supply Chain Management & Semiconductors

2 May 2022- Featuring alphaMountain, Securden, X-Bow, Source Defense, Ayar Labs & BETA Technologies

BETA Technologies - Aerospace Tech for Electric Vertical Takeoff Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft

Deal Roundup:

alphaMountain: 🤖

alphaMountain.ia leverages machine learning and AI in order to provide their customers with up-to-date domain and IP intelligence for cyber security. The company raised $2.7 M in Seed Funding in a round led by Prelude Venture Fund on April 21, 2022. Crosspoint Capital Partners, Andrew Peterson, and other undisclosed investors also participated in the round. The company will use the funds to grow its team and develop its threat intelligence program.

Securden: 🔐

Securden’s IT security platform is designed to prevent cyber-attacks and provide next-gen privileged access governance. The company raised $10.5 M in Series A venture funding on April 13th, 2022. The round was led by Tiger Global Management and saw participation from Accel, Together Fund, and other undisclosed investors. The company plans to use the funds to scale its research and development, sales, and marketing operations.

X-Bow: 🚀

X-Bow Systems develops aerospace solutions and manufactures affordable rocket propellant for government and commercial use. The company raised $27 M of Series A funding on April 26, 2022. The deal was co-led by Crosslink Capital and Razor’s Edge Ventures and saw participation from Lockheed Martin Ventures and Broom Ventures. The funds will be used to expand the team and further develop the product.

Source Defense: 🌎

Source Defense has developed a web application that extends website security to the client side. Their cloud-based system helps their clients monitor third party vendors’ activity on their websites and protect against digital skimming, formjacking, and magecart attacks. The company raised $27 M of Series B funding on April 26th, 2022. This round of funding was led by Springtide Ventures and six other undisclosed investors participated. The funds will be used to expand the company through sales, marketing, and research and development.

Ayar Labs: ⌨

Ayar Labs has developed an electronic photonic chipset which is tailored towards applications that require high bandwidth, low latency, and power-efficient short-reach interconnects. The company raised $130 M of Venture Funding on April 26th, 2022 in a round led by Boardman Bay Capital Management. Intel Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Nvidia, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and several other investors also participated in the round. The funds will be used to commercialize their breakthrough optical I/O solutions.

BETA Technologies: 🛫

BETA Technologies has developed aerospace technologies designed for electric vertical takeoff landing (eVTOL) aircraft and they have also designed recharging pad systems for those aircrafts. The company’s propulsion system is proprietary and their products are used in the cargo, passenger, and emergency response markets. The company raised $375 M of Venture Funding on April 19, 2022 from undisclosed investors.

What We’re Reading:

• As Silicon Valley Tries to Enlist, The Pentagon Strangles Innovation - War on the Rocks

• SHARPE Focus: The Recent Emergence of Defense Unicorns - Avascent

• China’s Vision of Victory - Jonathan D.T. Ward 

• 1 Big Thing: $2 Trillion for Militarian Around the World - Axios

• The Case for American Seriousness - Common Sense, Katherine Boyle