NATO DIANA 2024 Challenges, AI Warfare, Fundings: Anthropic, Yobe, ZwitterCo
9 July 2024 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
Attention innovators! DIANA - NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic - has launched its 2024 Challenges, inviting startups from NATO member countries to tackle critical defense and security issues. It is essential for technology innovation to keep pace with the global threats we are facing and New North Ventures is excited to see what disruptive tech emerges from these Challenges.
This prestigious program seeks groundbreaking technologies in critical technology sectors such as Energy & Power, Data & Information Security, Sensing & Surveillance, Human Health & Performance, and Critical Infrastructure & Logistics. Selected companies will receive significant funding, mentorship, and pathways to adoption, making this an excellent opportunity to advance your solutions.
If your company has innovative solutions that can address these critical areas, we highly encourage you to apply. Applications are open until August 9, and the program will begin in January 2025. For more details and to submit your application, click here.
Efabless: Congratulations to Efabless on their impressive milestone at DAC 2024! With 40 commercial companies designing chips using the chipIgnite and Google-sponsored OpenMPW programs, Efabless is making waves in the semiconductor industry. Their affordable approach to helping new semiconductor companies is driving advancements in various fields, from IoT and industrial controllers to AI and medical devices. Here's to continued success and innovation!
HawkEye 360: HawkEye 360 continued to make headlines this past month with the successful launch of nine new satellites and the opening of their new headquarters!
Their new headquarters consolidates core teams under one roof, streamlining operations and improving coordination. The new Vibration Testing Cleanroom enables rigorous quality checks, ensuring the durability and dependability of its technology in varied operational environments. With expanded facilities, HawkEye 360 can accelerate production timelines and more efficiently meet the growing demand for services. Read more about their June developments here.
NATO Innovation Fund, European Investment Fund Sign MOU
The memorandum of understanding between the EIF and NATO Innovation Fund marks a significant step towards enhancing Europe's defense and security innovation landscape. By facilitating greater private capital investment in military-use technologies, this partnership not only supports start-ups and SMEs but also strengthens resilience across the continent.
The collaboration promises to foster a cohesive approach to investment, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, crucial for advancing dual-use innovations that benefit both defense and civilian sectors. As deep tech gains momentum in Europe, initiatives like these are pivotal in unlocking new financial products and expanding the reach of defense-related innovations, ultimately contributing to Europe's strategic autonomy and security preparedness.
A.I. Begins Ushering In an Age of Killer Robots
Vyriy, a Ukrainian drone company, is developing advanced autonomous drones capable of independently tracking and targeting. This demonstrates a significant leap in the weaponization of consumer technology driven by the war with Russia.
Using deep learning and artificial intelligence, these drones can now operate with minimal human intervention, turning readily available off-the-shelf components into powerful, cost-effective weapons. This innovation race is transforming Ukraine into a hub for autonomous warfare technologies, raising ethical and legal concerns about the future of AI in combat.
As Ukraine leverages these advancements to gain an edge against Russia, the international community faces the challenge of addressing the potential for an uncontrolled global arms race involving autonomous weapons.
Founded: 2021
Key People: CEO Dario Amodei
Elevator Pitch: An artificial intelligence safety and research company intended to build reliable, interpretable, and steerable large-scale artificial intelligence systems.
Funding: Alameda Research and FTX sold their stake in the company to DAMAC Group for $50 million on July 8, 2024.
Founded: 2016
Key People: CEO Kenneth Sutton
Elevator Pitch: Signal processing technologies designed for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments.
Funding: The company raised $350,000 of venture funding in the form of SAFE Notes from an undisclosed investor on July 5, 2024.
Founded: 2018
Key People: CEO Alex Rappaport
Elevator Pitch: Reverse osmosis membrane technology designed for industrial water treatment.
Funding: The company raised $58.4 million of Series B venture funding in a deal led by Evok Innovations on July 9, 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.