From the Stars to Silicon: Key Innovations in Security Tech, Fundings: Upwind, ORB Aerospace, Ulysses Ecosystem Engineering
13 November 2024 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
HawkEye 360: Hawkeye 360 was recently selected to join the US Space Force Commercial Integration Cell (CIC)! This invitation reflects Hawkeye 360’s distinguished contributions to remote sensing and space domain awareness, now recognized alongside the CIC's elite group of commercial partners.
As a part of this dynamic collective, Hawkeye 360 will enhance collaboration with the Space Force and US Space Command, supporting expanded mission areas that include Space Domain Awareness and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). We are proud of Hawkeye 360’s pivotal role in shaping a secure, advanced space environment.
Amazon Steps Up Effort to Build AI Chips That Can Rival Nvidia
Amazon is set to launch its latest AI chips, led by the efforts of Annapurna Labs, as part of its strategy to lessen its dependence on Nvidia and reduce costs for Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers. The new chip, Trainium 2, aims to efficiently handle large-scale AI training, already undergoing tests with companies like Anthropic, Databricks, and Deutsche Telekom. A
WS has invested significantly in creating proprietary chips such as Inferentia, which are designed to deliver high-performance AI solutions at a lower cost. This strategic shift reflects Amazon’s aim to become the preferred choice for AI workloads, even while remaining a major Nvidia customer, thus providing customers with alternatives in an increasingly competitive market.
Amid growing AI investment among tech giants, Amazon’s anticipated $75 billion in 2024 capital spending on technology infrastructure underscores the high stakes. Like Amazon, other tech leaders, including Microsoft, Meta, and Google, are moving towards proprietary chip designs to improve efficiency and control over AI-driven growth. Experts suggest that AWS’s custom chip architecture could offer more optimized solutions for specific applications compared to Nvidia's general-purpose GPUs, although AWS still has a long way to go in challenging Nvidia's market dominance.
Ultimately, Amazon’s focus on an integrated chip system and cost-effective infrastructure gives its customers more choices, a significant move in a sector where Nvidia’s market share remains dominant.
More Links to Explore:
SEC fines Invesco Advisers $17.5M over 'misleading' ESG investing claims.
China Issues New Export Control Regulations on Civil-Military Dual-Use Items.
Founded: 2022
Key People: CEO Amiram Shachar
Elevator Pitch: A cybersecurity company intended to protect and democratize internet security.
Funding: The company closed on $100 million of an undisclosed targeted amount of Series B venture funding from Greylock, CyberStarts and Leaders Fund on November 9, 2024, putting the company's pre-money valuation at $775 million.
Founded: 2017
Key People: CEO Alexander Taylor
Elevator Pitch: An electric aircraft designed to revolutionize the aviation sector, which has been destroyed due to natural disasters and conflict.
Funding: The company raised $3.20 million of venture funding through combination from undisclosed investors on 8 November 2024.
Key People: CEO Akhil Voorakkara
Founded: 2023
Elevator Pitch: A marine drone technology firm intended for seagrass ocean and other marine restoration.
Funding: The company raised $2 million of pre-seed funding led by Lowercarbon Capital with participation from Superorganism, ReGen Ventures, Ciaran Lee and Eoghan McCabe on 7 November 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.
