Innovating for National Security, Success for SensuQ, HawkEye 360, and Hubble Network, Our People in the Press, Fundings: Glass Point, Pivot Robots, Mamori
3 July 2024 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
In the latest episode of the Securing Our Future podcast, general partner Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with Don Dodge, a tech and investment veteran with a storied career spanning groundbreaking startups and tech giants like Google and Microsoft.
In the episode, Don shares his fascinating journey from early days at Forte Software and AltaVista to his pivotal roles at Napster, Groove Networks, and beyond. He delves into his transition from tech operator to investor, offering invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of startups, venture capital, and dual-use technologies.
Don also shares his excitement about joining New North Ventures as a partner, bringing his wealth of experience to the forefront of innovation in national security tech. This episode is packed with wisdom for tech enthusiasts, investors, and anyone curious about the intersection of technology, business, and defense. Listen wherever you stream your podcasts or below on Spotify:
SensusQ: SensusQ has recently been recognized by the Kaitseministeerium / Ministry of Defence of Estonia as the "Riigikaitsjate toetaja 2024" (Supporter of Estonian Defence 2024).
Congratulations to SensusQ on this well-deserved honor. We are proud to have them as a part of our portfolio.
HawkEye 360: HawkEye 360's Cluster 8 is now operational! Launched in April alongside Cluster 9, this advancement is significantly enhancing global RF monitoring capabilities, providing more frequent and detailed data over key regions.
HawkEye 360’s innovative approach to RF monitoring supports a wide range of applications, from national security to environmental protection. The activation of Cluster 8 exemplifies their commitment to advancing RF technology and delivering unparalleled intelligence solutions.
Hubble Network: Hubble has announced its partnership with Samsara to seamlessly integrate their asset trackers with Hubble's satellite network. This collaboration successfully demonstrated the ability to locate and monitor assets using only the Hubble network, showcasing the exceptional capabilities and innovation of both companies.
We are proud of Hubble Network's achievements and look forward to more groundbreaking advancements in the future.
China Becomes First Country to Retrieve Rocks From the Moon’s Far Side
China's Chang'e-6 mission successfully returned to Earth with a capsule containing lunar soil from the far side of the moon, marking a significant achievement in space exploration. This mission is notable for being the first in history to bring back samples from the moon's far side, a challenging task due to communication difficulties and the region's terrain.
The accomplishment is seen as a major milestone in scientific research, with potential for international collaboration despite geopolitical tensions, particularly between China and the United States. The Chang'e program's steady progress aims to advance scientific understanding of the moon and broader solar system, with future goals including crewed lunar missions and an international moon base.
Anduril’s $1.5 Billion Deal Underscores VC Zeal for Defense Tech
Anduril Industries Inc. is in discussions with Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and other investors to raise $1.5 billion, marking one of the year's largest funding rounds outside of artificial intelligence. Despite investor demand totaling $5 billion, the defense technology startup opted for a smaller sum.
This funding round, valuing Anduril at $14 billion, highlights Silicon Valley's increasing interest in defense tech, driven by expectations of modernization efforts by the Pentagon. The funds will support research, development, manufacturing scale-up, and potential acquisitions, with Founders Fund and Sands Capital co-leading the investment.
New North Ventures in the Wild
Venture Partner Susan Kilrain on the Global News Podcast.
Strategic Advisor Kevin Higgins on Spy Chat.
Founded: 2007
Key People: CEO Rod MacGregor
Elevator Pitch: Solar projects intended to decarbonize the production of materials essential to the energy transition and make a substantial impact on combating climate change.
Funding: The company raised an estimated $10.5 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by 300PPM on July 2, 2024.
Founded: 2023
Key People: CEO Siddharth Girdhar
Elevator Pitch: AI vision control software designed to speed up robotic integrations in the manufacturing sector.
Funding: The company raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding from Pioneer Fund and NuVentures on July 1, 2024.
Key People: Founder Andy Lee
Elevator Pitch: A blockchain security tool intended to improve cybersecurity.
Funding: The company raised $5 million of seed funding in a deal led by Blockchain Capital on July 1, 2024.
Look for a new episode of Securing the Future Podcasts wherever you listen. In our most recent episode, general partner Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with Don Dodge, tech and investment veteran and partner at NNV, for a conversation about the unique challenges and opportunities in the defense and intelligence sectors and how dual-use technologies are bridging the gap between commercial and national security needs.
