Modernizing Defense Acquisition, Fundings: AnySignal, Urban Sky, Capture6
18 October 2023 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
In our latest episode of the Securing Our Future podcast, host Jeremy Hitchcock sits down with Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of Govini—a leading Commercial Data company in the Defense Technology space.
Tara's impressive background includes leadership roles in technology spanning industry, government, and non-profit sectors. She's worked at disruptive and renowned tech companies like Palantir Technologies and held a pivotal position as Chief of Staff for Global Strategic Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Tara brings her wealth of experience to the table as she shares valuable insights into the defense acquisition process. Tune in now to gain a deeper understanding of this critical topic from an expert who has navigated the complexities of government and technology for years.
Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Listen wherever you get your podcasts or below on Spotify:
New North Ventures is excited to spotlight Reality Defender, ushering in a new era in the fight against malicious AI-generated content. With the introduction of Explainable AI and Real-Time Voice Deepfake Detection, users now have a powerful set of tools to combat deepfakes.
In a recent Series A funding round led by DCVC, Reality Defender secured $15 million, which will fuel team expansion and enhance AI content detection models. The company's proactive approach focuses on staying ahead of emerging AI manipulation methods.
As the volume of deepfakes continues to rise, Reality Defender is committed to detecting a wide range of AI-generated media, offering an API and web app that boasts high accuracy rates compared to competitors. However, the effectiveness of deepfake detection tools remains a subject of scrutiny.
Understanding of the threats posed by deepfakes continues to evolve and gain traction as real-world deepfake incidents create havoc. In parallel, Reality Defender's business is robust and building momentum, serving governments, financial institutions, media corporations, and multinationals. The company plans to introduce an "explainable AI" tool and real-time voice and video deepfake detection, emphasizing its mission to protect against AI-generated media manipulation.
We are proud of the work they continue to do in securing digital authenticity. To learn more about their recent achievement, please click here.
To Rein in Climate Change, Biden Pledges $7 Billion to Regional 'Hydrogen Hubs'
President Joe Biden announced $7 billion in funding for the development of hydrogen as an alternative fuel in seven regions across the U.S., with the aim of creating jobs and reducing carbon dioxide pollution.
The Department of Energy selected seven hubs in a competitive process involving 17 states, and the funding comes from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Hydrogen hubs will be established in regions such as the Mid-Atlantic, the Appalachian region, the Pacific Northwest, and California, with the goal of producing clean renewable hydrogen for various applications.
While supporters of the initiative emphasize its environmental and economic benefits, some critics argue that more transparency is needed, and concerns about the use of natural gas in hydrogen production have been raised.
Psyche, named after the Greek goddess of the soul, is an asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter, and it is the focus of NASA's upcoming mission.
What makes the Psyche mission unique is the asteroid's composition, believed to be mostly rock and metal, with metal making up 30% to 60% of the asteroid.
The metals in Psyche are estimated to be worth over $100 quintillion, surpassing the entire world economy's value, but NASA's mission isn't motivated by mining it.
NASA's mission to Psyche aims to unravel the asteroid's origins and understand its connection to Earth's core, potentially shedding light on how planetary cores form and grow.
The spacecraft, Psyche, is set to reach the asteroid in July 2029, spending two years orbiting it, collecting data, and providing insights into the solar system's history and planetary formation.
Founded: 2022
Key People: CEO John Malsbury
Elevator Pitch: Radiofrequency technology intended to provide RF tools and analytics products.
Funding: The company raised $5 million of seed funding from Caffeinated Capital, Also Capital, and Acequia Capital on October 16, 2023.
Founded: 2019
Key People: CEO Andrew Antonio
Elevator Pitch: Remote sensing vehicle intended to provide high-resolution earth observation data.
Funding: The company raised $9.75 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by New Legacy Ventures, Lerer Hippeau and Lavrock Ventures on October 16, 2023.
Founded: 2021
Key People: CEO Ethan Cohen-Cole
Elevator Pitch: A carbon dioxide removal technology intended to reduce emissions of climate gases.
Funding: The company raised $6.84 million of seed funding in the form of convertible debt and SAFE Notes from Sopoong and other undisclosed investors on October 10, 2023.
Look for a new episode of Securing the Future Podcasts wherever you listen. In our latest episode, we have guest CEO Tara Murphy Dougherty sit down with General Partner Jeremy Hitchcock for an engaging conversation where Tara discusses the defense acquisition process and her current work to improve national security through innovation in software.
