Transatlantic Innovation, Drones and eVTOLs Transforming the Skies, Fundings: Modicus Prime, Clean Crop Tech, Overland AI
17 July 2024 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
In our latest episode of Securing Our Future, we have Jack Conway, an American with a fascinating role at the British consulate in Boston. As a key player in promoting trade and investment between the US and the UK, Conway brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in venture capital and international relations.
Conway discusses the importance of investing in clean tech, deep tech, and defense sectors and how these areas are crucial for future growth and security. He also shares his unique journey, insights on cross-cultural collaborations, and the pivotal role of the British government in fostering innovation.
Don't miss this enlightening conversation that bridges two nations and showcases the power of strategic investments! Listen wherever you stream your podcasts or on Spotify below:
HawkEye 360: We’re thrilled to celebrate a major milestone for HawkEye 360 as their CEO John Serafini and USG team had the prestigious opportunity to brief the National Space Council at the White House. They continue to reinforce their role as thought leaders in their contributions to the advancement of US space initiatives. Here’s to their continued impact and achievements!
Drones and eVTOLs: Transforming the Skies
The aerospace industry is undergoing a transformative shift driven by the convergence of artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These advancements promise to revolutionize urban mobility, military operations, and commercial air travel, fundamentally changing how society moves people and equipment.
Isaac Hendrik Kim, a Venture Fellow at New North Ventures, explores this revolution in his article, "Drones and eVTOLs: Transforming the Skies." In it, he provides a historical overview of autonomous flight and UAS development, highlighting key milestones from Lawrence Sperry's autopilot system in 1912 to the modern-day advancements in eVTOL technology by companies like Joby Aviation and Supernal.
Kim delves into the significant impact of drones on modern warfare, shown by their use in conflicts across the Middle East and Ukraine. He also discusses the potential of autonomous aviation and eVTOLs to revolutionize commercial aviation and urban mobility by reducing operational costs, optimizing flight paths, and creating new markets.
He further examines the challenges of implementing these technologies, from technological reliability to regulatory hurdles and infrastructure development. The article highlights the dual-use applications of UAS and eVTOL technology, which attract significant investment from both private and government sectors, fostering innovation crucial for maintaining global competitiveness.
Read Kim’s comprehensive analysis by clicking on the document below.
Quick Links:
Ukraine's Drone Startups Create Affordable Air, Land, and Sea Robots in Secret to Fight Russia.
41 Minutes: From Assassination Attempt to Viral Deepfake by Reality Defender.
Founded:Â 2020
Key People: CEO Taylor Chartier
Elevator Pitch: Self-service artificial intelligence tools designed to integrate heterogeneous life sciences data for anomaly detection, monitoring, and enhanced decision-making.
Funding:Â The company raised $3.5 million of seed funding from Alumni Ventures and Silverton Partners on July 15, 2024.
Founded:Â 2019
Key People:Â CEO Daniel White
Elevator Pitch:Â A novel cold plasma technology designed to improve crop yields and reduce food waste.
Funding: The company received $1.2 million of grant funding from M2I2 on July 12, 2024 The funds will be used to expand its team, capacity, and impact at its Holyoke, MA facility.
Founded: 2022
Key People: CEO Byron Boots Ph.D
Elevator Pitch: An artificial intelligence-based autonomous navigation and transportation technology designed to develop off-road autonomy for mission-critical sectors.
Funding: The company raised $10.1 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on July 12, 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 Jack Conway, a representative at the British Consulate in Boston for the Department for Business and Trade, to discuss the significance of promoting trade and investment in clean tech, deep tech, and defense sectors between the US and the UK.