Upcoming Events and Opportunities, Fundings: Frenetic, D-Orbit, May Mobility
8 November 2023 - A Weekly Publication by New North Ventures
New North Ventures is thrilled to participate in an exciting event happening in Boston on November 14. The event will bring together corporate executives, private equity and venture capital investors, family offices, independent sponsors, investment bankers, and professional advisors for a roundtable discussion focused on national defense and cybersecurity opportunities.
During this event, you will have the chance to hear from industry leaders about the latest developments in national security, dual-use technology, and cybersecurity and how these factors are influencing the private equity market. Topics of discussion will include public and private partnership opportunities in dual-use technology, the evolving geostrategic landscape, government-driven investments in national security technologies, cybersecurity trends, and investment opportunities, strategies for companies to position themselves as market leaders, best practices for defense technology startups, and advantages for different types of buyers, including private equity, strategic, and alternative investors. This event will also explore opportunities for M&A, joint ventures, and partnership alliances.
We are particularly excited to announce that our founding partner, Jeremy Hitchcock, will be a featured speaker, providing unique insights and expertise. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to network with industry experts and gain valuable knowledge that can shape your business strategies. Seats are limited, so register today.
Additionally, we wanted to highlight an exciting opportunity to apply for the 2024 Presidential Innovation Fellows Cohort - Special AI Edition and be a part of a groundbreaking mission that promises to shape the future of AI in public service.
As a direct response to the recently announced AI Executive Order, this extraordinary program will give you the chance to explore cutting-edge technologies, identify remarkable opportunities, and play a pivotal role in advising on the launch of innovative tech initiatives. Whether you bring expertise in data analytics, business intelligence, data strategy, or AI products, this is your moment to make a lasting impact.
The application deadline is November 17, 2023, at 11:59 pm ET. Don't miss out on this unique chance to be a catalyst for change. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates and more information, and apply today to seize this exciting opportunity to drive innovation in AI and public service.
We at New North Ventures are delighted to spotlight our portfolio company, Efabless, for its remarkable contributions to the democratization of silicon. Founded on a mission to revolutionize the semiconductor industry, Efabless operates as a community-powered semiconductor company committed to enhancing electronics through improved integration, power utilization, and IP protection.
Efabless' innovative approach centers on crowd-sourcing and open community innovation, making these principles accessible across all facets of hardware design and commercialization. One of the most exciting recent developments from Efabless comes from Uriel Jaramillo, who is showcasing his latest project during the Technological Week of the Instituto Tecnológico de Aguascalientes.
The project is built upon Efabless Corporation's GFMPW-1 and employs the RTL to GDSII design flow software called OpenLane. What sets this project apart is the commitment to openness and collaboration. Jaramillo and the Efabless team have leveraged open-source Process Design Kits (PDKs) for both 180 nm and 130 nm designs. The 180 nm PDK is provided by GlobalFoundries, while the 130 nm PDK is supplied by SkyWater Technology Foundry. This commitment to open resources reflects Efabless' dedication to making chip design technology more accessible to a wider audience.
Efabless' unwavering commitment to democratizing the world of semiconductors and fostering innovation through community-powered collaboration is truly commendable. New North Ventures is proud to be associated with such a forward-thinking company that continues to break down barriers and make technological progress accessible to all.
The NATO Modeling & Simulation Tech Day held on October 18 aimed to strengthen relationships between key stakeholders in modeling and simulation, encouraging collaboration and engagement between NPS, the Department of Defense, NATO, and industry innovators.
The event featured demonstrations and discussions involving over 200 professionals, showcasing technology from various companies, including Microsoft, NVIDIA, Lockheed Martin, and Pytho AI, allowing NPS students and faculty to interact with industry representatives and test emerging technologies.
Panel discussions during the event covered topics such as attracting young talent to defense simulation, the influence of human emotions on decision-making, and the balance between trusting models and relying on human experts in decision-making scenarios, all with the goal of fostering collaboration to address future challenges using modeling and simulation.
Field of View (FOV) - October 2023
"Field of View" is a monthly newsletter produced by Approach Venture, providing insights, trends, and analysis of the space industry. New North Ventures is proud to sponsor this month’s Field of View.
The newsletter highlights emerging trends in the space industry, including the growing interest in Direct-to-Device (D2D) Connectivity, which promises real-time communication with satellites and eliminating dead zones in remote locations. It also discusses the potential of in-space manufacturing, where the low-cost environment of microgravity offers significant advantages for certain industries.
The newsletter covers regulatory developments in the space industry, including the challenges faced by Varda Space Industries in returning their inaugural in-space manufacturing mission to Earth under new regulations. It also discusses international agreements for alternate landing sites.
Tracked opportunities in the space and defense sectors are provided, including solicitations for defense technologies, funding programs, tech accelerators, and more.
China’s Social-Media Attacks Are Part of a Larger ‘Cognitive Warfare’ Campaign
Chinese government and military writings emphasize the importance of cognitive operations, considering it on par with other domains of warfare like air, sea, and space. They believe that cognitive warfare is key to achieving victory without actual conflict.
Social media platforms are considered the primary battleground for this cognitive warfare, with China recognizing the power of social media in shaping narratives and cognition. China aims to shape and control the cognition of individuals and societies over time, leveraging the extensive time people spend on social media.
The article highlights four tactics used in cognitive warfare: Information Disturbance, Discourse Competition, Public Opinion Blackout, and Block Information. These tactics involve influencing the target audience's understanding, gradually affecting public perception, manipulating emotions and biases, flooding social media with a specific narrative, and carrying out technical attacks to block information.
China has a great ability to shape narratives and block negative information, using its influence over social media platforms and its efforts to control the future of the Internet, particularly in the metaverse.
Founded: 2015
Key People: CEO Chema Molina Ph.D
Elevator Pitch: An optimum magnetic platform designed to test magnetic components.
Funding: The company raised $12 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by Kibo Ventures Partners on November 7, 2023.
Founded: 2011
Key People: CEO Luca Rossettini Ph.D
Elevator Pitch: A space infrastructure designed to dispose of satellites at the end of their lifespan.
Funding: The company joined European Innovation Council Fund on November 2, 2023 and received undisclosed amount of grant funding.
Founded: 2017
Key People: CEO Edwin Olson Ph.D
Elevator Pitch: An autonomous technology intended to transform cities through safe, accessible self-driving transportation.
Funding: The company raised $67 million of venture funding from Bridgestone Americas, NTT Communications, and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Company on November 6, 2023.
Look for a new episode of Securing the Future Podcasts wherever you listen. In our latest episode, we have guest Austin Grey sit down with General Partner Jeremy Hitchcock for an engaging conversation about innovation in the defense space.