💸 $44M AI Analytics Chips; $30M Orbital Manufacturing; $5.5M Warehouse VLMs; $62M Wind-Blade Robots; €4.5M Circular Textiles; $38M Grid Transformers, & more... | Deep Tech Capital Movements Vol. 21
The Week’s State of Deep Tech Capital: who’s Raising, who’s Betting, and why.
Welcome back to Deep Tech Capital Movements — the weekly report from The Scenarionist that tracks and highlights capital dynamics in deep tech, from early-stage funding rounds to major fund launches.
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Dear Friends,
Another Monday, another data torrent — and this week’s pulse of capital feels like an accelerando. The money is still flowing into generative AI, but the spotlight has swung from pure-play model builders to the “picks-and-shovels” layer: the infrastructure, silicon, and operating systems that will keep agentic software humming when ChatGPT hype has faded from the headlines. Ciroos’ $21 million seed for a multi-agent AI SRE teammate sets the tone. Investors no longer view AIOps as a nice-to-have; they see it as the gating factor for uptime in a world where latency is the only currency that matters.
That urgency echoed up and down the tech stack all week. Speedata persuaded late-stage backers to fund an analytics processing unit that slashes time-to-insight on terabyte-scale queries, while AccelerComm’s fresh capital targets the PHY layer of non-terrestrial 5G so satellites can process packets in orbit instead of relaying every bit to Earth. Even the modest-sounding pre-seed for Literal Labs matters: the firm’s logic-based cores draw a fraction of GPU power, and everybody in hyperscale land is running a back-of-the-envelope on what happens to cloud gross margin if inference watt-hours drop by an order of magnitude. Add Manex AI and AINX, each stitching idle edge devices into decentralized compute pools, and it’s clear the next capacity crunch will be met not by new data centers but by federating the silicon we already own.
Capital is extending the same logic to the physical grid. Heron Power landed a Series A to commercialize solid-state transformers that switch in microseconds and shrug off harmonic distortions that make analog gear wheeze. Rhizome’s climate-intelligence engine folds FEMA flood maps, NOAA anomalies, and utility GIS into Monte Carlo simulations that tell operators which substation to harden first—turning resilience from a budgeting headache into a quantified rate-case argument. Downstream, Amber’s raise in Europe and Clear Current AI’s in the U.S. both chase the arbitrage opportunity in home batteries and electric vehicles: automate the charge-discharge dance, pocket the spread between wholesale prices and retail tariffs, and you’ve created a customer-acquisition moat utilities can’t easily breach.
Space was no sideshow. Space Forge secured funds for ForgeStar-1, a reusable micro-gravity fab aiming to kick gallium-nitride wafers back through re-entry with defect densities terrestrial clean rooms can only dream about. Impulse Space stacked a nine-figure round to build orbital logistics trucks that shuttle satellites between inclinations or top them off with xenon, effectively inventing “middle-mile” freight for LEO. Infleqtion’s neutral-atom quantum cash infusion reminds us that the orbital economy isn’t just launch; it’s processing, sensing, timing—and increasingly, manufacturing—strung together in a vertically integrated value chain.
On terra firma, full-stack automation pushed deeper into sectors once thought allergic to robots. Aerones’oversubscribed round will put more climber robots on wind-turbine blades, slicing O&M costs and gifting operators an extra half-percentage point of project IRR. Saeki is automating composite lay-up for aerospace and civil structures; AUAR is cranking out timber home modules from robotic micro-factories the size of a parking lot. Investors finally accept what field engineers have argued for years: if a robot cell can be scoped narrowly, paired with proprietary software, and wrapped in a service contract, hardware payback drops below five years—often faster than a SaaS license hits cumulative cash-flow break-even.
Health and bio deals looked modest in dollar terms but aggressive in go-to-market design. Samphire Neuroscience’snon-hormonal headband for menstrual pain is shipping as a wellness device while the company quietly accrues real-world evidence for a 510(k). Cosm Medical is 3-D-printing custom pessaries that turn an off-the-shelf commodity into a data-logged, reimbursable implant. QureBio’s bispecific antibody push leans on China’s Hainan Boao pilot zone to compress the regulatory timeline. Across modalities the pattern is the same: personalization first, reimbursement second, venture debt third.
Behind the scenes, limited partners continue to reload. Energize Capital’s new fund doubles down on software-led climate plays; Nordic Foodtech closed the first tranche of its second vehicle and is openly rejecting consumer-brand moonshots in favor of enabling technologies. Cybernetix Ventures is back with a robotics-only mandate that now includes agricultural bots, and at least two pension funds that shunned hard tech in 2021 have quietly joined side letters. The LP calculus is straightforward: software valuations feel fully priced, whereas a widget that removes a grid bottleneck or shaves a nickel per kilowatt-hour still enjoys unmodeled upside.
Why the rush into integration layers? Because every macro shock of the past three years—pandemic supply chains, energy volatility, geopolitical decoupling—has exposed physical chokepoints that software alone can’t solve. Investors are hunting teams that collapse those chokepoints into a single controllable node: an AI agent that writes its own runbooks, a cryogenic chip that halves qubit error, a warehouse camera that diagnoses stockouts before they hit EBIT. Liquidity is not merely risk-on; it has become integration-on.
Keep an eye on three near-term catalysts. First, the U.S. Department of Energy will publish its next Loan Programs Office shortlist; if solid-state transformers make the cut, Heron’s valuation will look cheap by autumn. Second, Westminster’s guidance on edge-AI export controls could hand Literal Labs a compliance moat overnight. Third, ForgeStar-1’s launch window opens later this quarter; re-entry success would recalibrate insurance models for on-orbit fabrication and unlock cheaper debt for every materials startup with “micro-gravity” in its deck.
Until then, scroll on for the annotated roster of rounds, exits, and fund launches we followed. May the signals help you beat the noise.
See you next Monday — enjoy the read!
Giulia
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Startup Deal Activities to Watch
🔸 Ciroos Raises $21M to Bring Agentic AI to Operations Teams
Ciroos secured $21 million in seed funding to launch its multi-agent AI SRE Teammate for IT operations. The platform correlates interactions across observability, ticketing, and collaboration tools to detect anomalies and identify root causes before they escalate. Early customers report up to a 90% reduction in incident response times, with humans retaining control over AI-driven actions.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: AI / Observability
Sector: Operations Automation
Tech: Multi-Agent AI, AI SRE Teammate
🔸 AccelerComm Raises $15M to Advance Satellite-Based 5G
AccelerComm raised $15 million in a venture round to scale its physical-layer IP for non-terrestrial 5G networks. Its solutions aim to address latency, power efficiency, and error correction unique to space-based 5G. The technology is already integrated into Lockheed Martin’s regenerative 5G satellite payload, enabling onboard signal processing and reduced ground-station dependence.
Deal: Venture Round
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Wireless / Telecom
Sector: Satellite Communications
Tech: Physical Layer IP for Non-Terrestrial Networks, 5G NTN
🔸 LuminX Secures $5.5M to Revolutionize Warehouse Operations with Vision Language Models (VLMs) on the Edge
LuminX closed a $5.5 million seed round to deploy edge-based Vision Language Models for real-time warehouse automation. By running VLMs on low-cost mobile hardware, the system can recognize products, assess package condition, and track movements without cloud latency. Early customers report fewer errors and higher throughput thanks to on-device AI inference.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: AI / Logistics
Sector: Warehouse Automation
Tech: Vision Language Models on Edge, Computer Vision, Generative AI
🔸 Rhizome Closes $6.5M Seed Round for Climate Resilience Planning Platform
Rhizome raised $6.5 million to scale its AI-driven platform for electric utilities to model extreme weather impacts on grid infrastructure. Their suite—gridADAPT, gridFIRM, and gridCAVA—enables utilities to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize resilience investments. Clients across the U.S. and Canada use Rhizome’s tools to optimize infrastructure spending and mitigate climate risks.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Energy / Climate Tech
Sector: Grid Resilience Planning
Tech: AI-Driven Climate Intelligence, Grid Simulation Tools
🔸 Samphire Neuroscience Raises $5M Series A for Novel Neurotech Wearable Targeting Menstrual Pain
Samphire Neuroscience closed $5 million in Series A funding to scale its Nettle neurotech wearable, which uses neuromodulation to alleviate menstrual pain non-hormonally. The headband targets chronic symptoms, offering an alternative to pharmaceuticals. Funds will support further clinical validation, commercial expansion, and development of additional women’s health technologies.
Deal: Series A
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Bio/Health / FemTech
Sector: Neurotech Wearables
Tech: Neuromodulation, Brain Stimulation Devices
🔸 Amperos Health Raises $4.2M in Seed Funding for AI-Powered Healthcare Billing Platform
Amperos Health secured $4.2 million to develop Amanda, an AI assistant that automates healthcare revenue cycle management by interfacing with payors and resolving denials. The HIPAA-compliant platform integrates with existing systems to improve productivity and increase revenue recovery for providers. Seed funding also includes strategic angels from OpenAI, Twilio, and Stripe, backing Amperos’ growth.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Bio/Health / AI
Sector: HealthTech / Billing Automation
Tech: AI Billing, Revenue Cycle Management, HIPAA-Compliant AI
🔸 Cosm Medical Raises Seed+ Financing to Personalize Pelvic Floor Disorder Treatment
Cosm Medical secured Seed+ funding to accelerate U.S. expansion of its Gynethotics platform, which uses AI-driven design and 3D printing to create patient-specific vaginal devices. The company aims to improve treatments for pelvic floor disorders like incontinence and prolapse through custom pessaries. Funding will support clinical validation and commercialization, enhancing comfort and efficacy.
Deal: Seed+ Financing
Region: Canada, North America
Industry: Bio/Health / FemTech
Sector: Personalized Medical Devices
Tech: AI-Driven Design Software, 3D Printing, Medical Imaging
🔸 Baobab Insurance Raises €12M in Series A to Expand Cyber Insurance Services
Baobab Insurance closed €12 million in Series A to broaden its cyber and e-crime insurance offerings for IT, software, and technology firms. The Berlin-based insurtech also provides phishing simulations and awareness training alongside liability policies. Funds will fuel expansion into Germany, Austria, and new European markets to meet growing cyber risk needs.
Deal: Series A
Region: Germany, Europe
Industry: InsurTech / Cybersecurity
Sector: Cyber Insurance
Tech: Cyber Risk Assessment, Phishing Simulations, IT Liability Policies
🔸 QureBio Ltd. Completes Nearly CNY 100M Series C1 Financing to Accelerate Clinical Progress
QureBio raised nearly CNY 100 million (about USD 14 million) in Series C1 funding led by Efung Capital to advance its bispecific and multispecific antibody therapies. The company’s I2T and T-cell engagers target cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory disorders, with Q-1802 nearing Phase III in China and Q-1801 entering U.S. trials. Proceeds will accelerate clinical trials and strengthen global competitiveness of core pipelines.
Deal: Series C1
Region: China, Asia
Industry: Bio/Pharma
Sector: Biotech Therapeutics
Tech: Bispecific/Multispecific Antibody Engineering, Antibody Therapeutics
🔸 Hypercraft Raises $26M Series A, Surpasses $100M Valuation Milestone
Hypercraft closed a $26 million Series A led by Stalwart Ventures, achieving a $106 million valuation to expand its software-defined mobility OS and hybrid powertrain solutions. The company’s HyperLynk™ platform unifies over 150 vehicle components into a single architecture, enabling OEMs to develop software-driven powertrains. Funding will support R&D into hybrid systems, intelligent controls, and an open ecosystem for third-party applications.
Deal: Series A
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Automotive / Mobility Tech
Sector: Software-Defined Powertrain
Tech: Hybrid/Electric Propulsion, Software-Defined Vehicle OS, HyperLynk™
🔸 Space Forge Nets $30M Series A to Manufacture Semiconductor Materials in Orbit
Space Forge closed a $30 million Series A to fund the ForgeStar-1 mission, demonstrating on-orbit fabrication of semiconductors and advanced alloys in microgravity. The reusable platform aims to produce high-purity crystals and novel materials unattainable on Earth, targeting next-generation chips for aerospace, defense, and HPC applications. Proceeds will accelerate development of reusable on-orbit manufacturing infrastructure, reducing reliance on terrestrial fabrication constraints.
Deal: Series A
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Space Manufacturing
Sector: Orbital Manufacturing
Tech: On-Orbit Fabrication, Microgravity Semiconductor Production, ForgeStar Spacecraft
🔸 Literal Labs Raises £4.6M Pre-Seed Round to Develop Energy-Efficient Logic-Based AI Worldwide
Literal Labs secured £4.6 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize its logic-based AI models inspired by Tsetlin machines, which offer up to 54× faster inference and 52× lower energy consumption than neural nets. The Newcastle-based startup plans to launch its first EdgeAI product in 2025, targeting applications where GPUs are impractical due to size, cost, or power constraints. Their approach also prioritizes explainability, making AI decisions transparent and auditable.
Deal: Pre-Seed Round
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Compute / AI
Sector: Logic-Based AI
Tech: Tsetlin Machine, Energy-Efficient AI Models, Explainable AI
🔸 Latent Technology Raises $8M Seed Round to Redefine Game Animation with Generative Physics
Latent Technology raised $8 million to advance its Phoenix generative physics animation model, enabling real-time, emergent behaviors in video games. By combining neural networks with physics simulation, the Latent Behaviour Engine adapts animations dynamically to changing environments without scripting. Funds will support closed-beta testing with studios and further development to reduce production costs and elevate AAA-quality animation.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Gaming / AI
Sector: Game Animation
Tech: Generative Physics Animation, Neural Networks, Phoenix Model
🔸 Kumulus Water Closes $3.5M Seed Round to Expand Off-Grid Water Production
Kumulus Water secured $3.5 million to scale its atmospheric water generators (AWGs) that produce drinking water from humidity without external infrastructure. The funds will support industrial-scale rollouts in France, Spain, and Tunisia, with plans to enter Saudi Arabia. This solution addresses water scarcity in remote and underserved regions.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: Tunisia, Africa; France, Europe
Industry: AgriFood / Circularity
Sector: Atmospheric Water Generation
Tech: Atmospheric Water Generators
🔸 Saeki Raises $6.7M Seed to Automate Composite Manufacturing
Saeki secured $6.7 million in a seed round to develop full-stack automation for composite material production. Its platform integrates robotics, software, and tooling to streamline processes in aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering sectors. The capital will accelerate product development and pilot deployments with manufacturing partners.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Robotics / Automation
Sector: Composite Manufacturing Automation
Tech: Full-Stack Robotics, Automated Composite Production
🔸 Stride Green Raises $3.5M to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Transition
Stride Green has raised $3.5 million in a seed round to expand its cleantech asset financing and management platform, focused on electric mobility, batteries, and renewable energy. The India-based startup offers leasing and financing solutions for OEMs and fleet operators, integrating analytics and real-time monitoring to enhance asset management and longevity. The funds will be used to grow the team, further develop the platform, and support expansion into new markets and verticals across the climate tech sector.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: India
Industry: Energy / Climate Tech
Sector: EV Charging Infrastructure (Platform)
Tech: Energy Data Analytics
🔸 Theo AI Secures $4.2M Seed to Advance AI-Powered Legal Settlement Prediction
Theo AI raised $4.2 million to enhance its AI models that predict legal settlement outcomes for large law firms. By analyzing historical case data and litigation trends, its platform aims to optimize negotiation strategies and reduce case durations. The funding will accelerate R&D and integration with existing legal workflows.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: LegalTech / AI
Sector: Legal Analytics
Tech: AI Settlement Prediction, Machine Learning on Legal Data
🔸 Salvo Health Raises $4M in Expanded Seed for Digestive Health Platform
Salvo Health closed a $4 million expanded seed round to enhance its digital platform for personalized digestive health management. The AI-driven app provides dietitian-led coaching, symptom tracking, and tailored treatment plans for gastrointestinal conditions. The capital will be used to deepen clinical partnerships and expand user acquisition.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Bio/Health / FemTech
Sector: Digital Health / Digestive Care
Tech: AI-Driven Health Coaching, Personalized Treatment Plans
🔸 Aeon Raises €8.2M to Scale AI-Driven Preventative Healthcare Platform
Aeon secured €8.2 million to expand its AI-based preventative health platform, which analyzes patient data to deliver personalized wellness plans and early risk detection. The system integrates EHR data and wearable metrics to guide interventions and reduce chronic disease onset. Funds will accelerate U.S. expansion and strengthen clinical partnerships.
Deal: Series A
Region: Germany, Europe
Industry: Bio/Health / AI
Sector: Preventative Healthcare
Tech: AI Risk Modeling, Personalized Wellness Plans
🔸 Manex AI Closes $8M Round to Boost Decentralized AI Compute
Manex AI secured $8 million to develop its decentralized AI compute network, which leverages unused GPU capacity across edge devices. The platform aims to democratize access to AI training and inference by pooling compute resources. The funding will accelerate platform rollout and attract developer partnerships.
Deal: Series A
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Compute / AI
Sector: Decentralized AI Compute
Tech: Distributed GPU Network, Edge AI Compute
🔸 AINX Raises $2M Seed to Democratize AI Compute via Decentralized Edge Networks
AINX secured $2 million in seed funding to build a decentralized edge network for AI compute, enabling developers to tap into distributed processing power without cloud costs. Its protocol incentivizes device owners to share idle resources for AI inference and training. Proceeds will fund infrastructure development and community growth.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Compute / AI
Sector: Edge AI Compute
Tech: Decentralized Compute Network, AI Resource Sharing
🔸 ShipBee Secures $235K Pre-Seed Led by GrowthX
Doha-based ShipBee raised $235 000 in a pre-seed round led by GrowthX to expand its AI-powered logistics marketplace in Qatar. The platform offers a digital marketplace, SaaS tools, and express shipping options for both local and international clients. Proceeds will fuel team growth, product enhancements, and scaling across the broader MENA region.
Deal: Pre-Seed Round
Region: Qatar, Middle East
Industry: Supply Chain / Logistics
Sector: Digital Logistics Marketplace
Tech: AI-Integrated SaaS, Mobile Apps
🔸 FarmQA Raises $4M to Accelerate AI Investment in Agronomy
US-based FarmQA closed a $4 million seed preferred round led by gener8tor 1889, with participation from O’Leary Ventures and Badlands Capital, to enhance its Azure-based agronomy platform. FarmQA’s solution provides real-time monitoring of pests, diseases, and fertilizer applications while enabling direct communication between agronomists and growers. The funding will drive AI engine development, marketing, and team expansion to better leverage its clean agriculture datasets.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: AgriTech / AI
Sector: Agronomy Tech
Tech: Digital Agronomy App, Large Language Models
🔸 Beacon Light Attracts $1,6M to Expand Smart Urban Lighting Solutions
Chicago-based Beacon Light raised $1,6 million in a Seed to scale its intelligent UVC lighting system that eliminates up to 99.99% of pathogens in air and on surfaces.
Deal: Seed
Region: United States
Industry: Healthtech / Smart Cities
Sector: Public Health Technology
Tech: UVC Disinfection
🔸 Voxel Raises $44M Series B to Scale AI-Driven Industrial Safety Platform
Oakland’s Voxel secured $44 million in a Series B led by Fortune 500 investors to expand its AI-driven industrial risk mitigation platform. Its computer vision models detect workplace hazards—such as forklift-pedestrian near-misses—and send real-time alerts to prevent injuries. The funding will support R&D, global deployments in manufacturing and logistics, and enhanced enterprise integrations.
Deal: Series B
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Compute / AI
Sector: Industrial Safety
Tech: Computer Vision, Deep Learning
🔸 Impulse Space Secures $300M Series C to Accelerate In-Space Mobility
Redondo Beach’s Impulse Space raised $300 million in a Series C led by Linse Capital to scale production of its in-space mobility vehicles—Mira and Helios—for satellite deployment, refueling, and relocation services. The vehicles operate across LEO, MEO, and GEO, enabling rapid response to customer needs. Proceeds will expand manufacturing capacity, accelerate R&D on electric propulsion, and broaden mission operations for commercial and defense clients.
Deal: Series C
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Aerospace / Space Technology
Sector: In-Space Mobility
Tech: Space Mobility Vehicles, Propulsion Systems
🔸 LendurAI Raises €5.57M to Build Tactical Autonomous UAVs for GPS-Denied Operations
Tallinn-based LendurAI secured €5.57 million in seed funding from Expeditions Fund, HCVC, and Vsquared Ventures to develop tactical autonomous UAVs that function in GPS-denied environments. Its dual-use computer vision platform enables drones to complete missions when GPS and radio signals are unavailable. Funds will accelerate production, support NATO and allied deployments, and expand global market reach.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: Estonia, Europe
Industry: Aerospace / Defense
Sector: Autonomous UAVs
Tech: AI Autonomy Stack, Computer Vision
🔸 Heron Power Raises $38M Series A to Transform Grid Technology with Solid-State Transformers
San Francisco’s Heron Power closed a $38 million Series A led by Capricorn Investment Group to commercialize its solid-state transformer technology. These medium-voltage converters offer higher efficiency, faster response, and improved reliability compared to legacy analog transformers. The funding will support prototype deployments in data centers and pilot projects with utilities to facilitate renewable integration.
Deal: Series A
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Energy / Climate Tech
Sector: Grid Infrastructure
Tech: Solid-State Transformers, Power Electronics
🔸 Reekom Raises €4.5M to Open Mechanized Textile Reconditioning Center in Seine-Saint-Denis
Paris’s Reekom secured €4.5 million to launch a mechanized textile reconditioning hub in Seine-Saint-Denis that uses AI-guided machinery to sort, wash, and repair garments at scale. The facility will extend product lifecycles, reduce waste, and support circular-economy initiatives for fashion brands. Capital will fund center construction, equipment procurement, and partnerships with major apparel retailers.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: France, Europe
Industry: AgriFood / Circularity
Sector: Textile Reconditioning
Tech: AI-Driven Sorting, Automated Washing Systems
🔸 3DBioFibR Raises $3M to Advance Next-Gen Biopolymer Fiber Manufacturing Platform
Halifax’s 3DBioFibR secured $3 million to expand its ISO 13485–certified clean-room and dry-spinning biopolymer fiber production platform. Its technology produces high-strength, biocompatible fibers for medical sutures, defense applications, cosmetics, and apparel at scales 3 600× greater than conventional methods. Funds will build a new clean room, accelerate ISO 13485 certification, and deepen partnerships with global manufacturers.
Deal: Equity Financing
Region: Canada, North America
Industry: Bio/Health / Materials
Sector: Biopolymer Manufacturing
Tech: Dry-Spinning Platform, Medical-Grade Fibers
🔸 Treefera Raises $30M Series B to Expand AI-Powered First-Mile Supply Chain Insights
London’s Treefera completed a $30 million Series B led by Notion Capital to scale its AI-driven platform that uses satellite imagery and ML risk models for “first-mile” commodity sourcing visibility. Its tools forecast climate and geopolitical risks for crops like palm oil, paving the way for regulatory compliance. Proceeds will fuel expansion across North America, APAC, and Europe, and accelerate product enhancements for agribusiness and financial sectors.
Deal: Series B
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: AgriTech / Climate Tech
Sector: Supply Chain Risk Analytics
Tech: Satellite Imagery, AI Risk Modeling
🔸 Wada FoodTech Raises $5M to Scale Hot-Chain Decentralized Foodservice Platform
Tokyo’s Wada FoodTech raised $5 million in a Pre-A round co-led by MindWorks ETEC Fund and Golden Resources Development to expand its AIoT-enabled hot-chain bento machines. The system maintains precise temperature control throughout logistics, allowing autonomous vending of freshly cooked meals in urban areas. Funds will enhance engineering, support expansion to the UK, EU, and Australia, and roll out franchise models globally.
Deal: Pre-A Round
Region: Japan, Asia
Industry: AgriFood / Logistics
Sector: Decentralized Foodservice
Tech: AIoT-Enabled Hot-Chain, Autonomous Vending
🔸 Amber Raises €26M to Expand Home Battery and EV Optimization Software in Europe
Sydney’s Amber secured €26 million in a Series B led by ETF Partners to enter European markets with its AI-driven home battery and EV energy optimization platform. The software enables households to reduce electricity costs by scheduling EV charging based on wholesale rates and supports grid flexibility through demand response. Capital will fund UK and German office openings, partnerships with utilities like E.ON, and the development of vehicle-to-grid functionality.
Deal: Series B
Region: Australia, Oceania; Europe
Industry: Energy / Climate Tech
Sector: Residential Energy Management
Tech: AI-Driven Battery Optimization, Vehicle-to-Grid
🔸 Clear Current AI Raises $4M for AI-Powered Energy Management in New Mexico
Albuquerque’s Clear Current AI secured $4 million in seed funding to develop its ML models that optimize energy loads and lower costs for utilities and consumers. The platform leverages real-time data from distributed energy resources—such as solar PV, batteries, and EVs—to balance grid demand and supply. Proceeds will accelerate product development, expand pilot programs, and scale sales across the Southwestern United States.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Energy / AI
Sector: Energy Management
Tech: AI Load Forecasting, Distributed Energy Optimization
🔸 Aive Raises €12M to Automate Video Post-Production with AI
Paris’s Aive closed a €12 million Series A led by Invus to scale its MGT-powered video post-production platform. Its AI engine can generate up to 100 000 video variations per prompt, optimizing format, length, and localization for global brands like LVMH and Publicis. Funds will support international expansion, enhance generative analytics, and target enterprise creative and marketing teams.
Deal: Series A
Region: France, Europe
Industry: AI / Media Tech
Sector: Video Post-Production
Tech: Multimodal Generative Technology, Genetic Algorithms
🔸 Jua Raises $11M to Scale Earth Simulation Platform for Energy and Climate Forecasting
Zurich’s Jua secured $11 million in a Series A co-led by Ananda Impact Ventures and Future Energy Ventures to expand its Earth Intelligence Platform. Its EPT-2.0 physics model simulates weather, energy supply-demand dynamics, and grid performance in real time, serving energy traders and logistics firms. Proceeds will accelerate commercial rollout in the energy sector, enter agriculture and logistics verticals, and bolster R&D on advanced forecasting methodologies.
Deal: Series A
Region: Switzerland, Europe
Industry: Climate Tech / AI
Sector: Earth Simulation
Tech: Large-Scale Physics Models, AI Forecasting
🔸 Waabi Raises $280M Backed by Nvidia and Uber
Waabi, a Toronto-based autonomous trucking startup founded by Raquel Urtasun, has raised over $280 million across two funding rounds to develop its AI-first self-driving truck platform. The company’s AI-generated simulation system enables virtual testing and training of trucks, reducing the need for costly physical prototypes and real-world trials. Investors such as Nvidia, Uber, Khosla Ventures, and Volvo Group Venture Capital participate, providing both capital and industry expertise to accelerate Waabi’s growth.
Deal: Series A & B
Region: Canada, North America
Industry: Autonomous Vehicles / AI
Sector: Self-Driving Trucks
Tech: AI-Driven Simulation, End-to-End Self-Driving Software
🔸 Applied Computing Raises £9M Seed to Optimize Industrial Processes with AI
Applied Computing, an AI startup founded by Imperial College alumni, closed a £9 million seed round led by Stride.VC to develop its Orbital platform, which combines deep learning, physics-based models, and large language models to optimize oil, gas, and petrochemical plant operations. The platform provides engineers with transparent, real-time insights to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. It has demonstrated enhanced carbon capture prediction and improved accuracy in anomaly detection at the ABB Carbon Capture Pilot Plant. With the new funding, the company plans to double its headcount, accelerate deployments at industrial installations, and prepare for a Series A in late 2025.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: AI / Industrial Tech
Sector: Industrial Process Optimization
Tech: Multi-Model AI Platform, Deep Learning, LLM Integration
🔸 Aerones Secures $62M to Expand Robotic Wind Turbine Maintenance
Aerones, headquartered in Riga, Latvia, raised $62 million in an oversubscribed financing round co-led by Activate Capital and S2G Investments, with participation from Lightrock, Blume Equity, Metaplanet, Change Ventures, Carbon Equity, Overlap Holdings, and others. The funding will drive global expansion, R&D in AI and robotics, scale up manufacturing of its robotic turbine inspection and maintenance systems, and enhance predictive maintenance capabilities. Aerones’ robots serve major wind-energy operators—such as GE Vernova, NextEra, Vestas, Enel, and Siemens Gamesa—and the company now operates a new U.S. hub in Dallas while delivering measurable gains in clean-energy generation and emissions avoidance.
Deal: Financing Round
Region: Latvia, Europe
Industry: Robotics / Renewable Energy
Sector: Wind Turbine O&M Automation
Tech: AI-Powered Robotics, Predictive Maintenance
🔸 Speedata Raises $44M to Launch First-Ever Chip Designed for Big Data Analytics
Speedata, based in Tel Aviv, announced a $44 million Series B to bring to market the world’s first analytics processing unit (APU) built from the ground up for big data workloads—offering up to 280× faster performance on complex analytics tasks compared to non-specialized processors. The APU aims to replace racks of servers by using a CGRA-inspired architecture optimized for data analytics, with early tests showing a pharmaceutical dataset processing time drop from 90 hours to 19 minutes. Key backers include Walden Catalyst Ventures, 83North, Koch Disruptive Technologies, Pitango First, Viola Ventures, Lip-Bu Tan, and Eyal Waldman.
Deal: Series B
Region: Israel, Middle East
Industry: Compute / AI Hardware
Sector: Semiconductor / Analytics Processors
Tech: Analytics Processing Unit, CGRA Architecture
🔸 Kiin Bio Secures €1.9M Pre-Seed to Launch Virtual Scientist Platform
Kiin Bio, a London-based life sciences startup, raised €1.9 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round led by b2venture to launch its Virtual Scientist platform for AI-driven drug discovery. By integrating generative AI with molecular design workflows, Kiin Bio aims to streamline early-stage target identification and lead optimization, reducing the timeline and cost of developing novel therapeutics. The funding will support platform development, expand the team, and forge partnerships with pharmaceutical firms to accelerate discovery of treatments for oncology and rare diseases.
Deal: Pre-Seed Round
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Bio/Pharma / AI
Sector: Drug Discovery
Tech: Virtual Scientist Platform, Generative AI for Molecular Design
🔸 Delpha Raises $2M Seed to Develop Autonomous Data Quality AI Agents
Paris-based Delpha secured $2 million in a seed round led by 50 Partners to advance its autonomous AI agent designed for commercial data quality management. The platform integrates with data sources like Snowflake, Salesforce, and ServiceNow to automatically identify, correct, and prevent data inaccuracies, streamlining operations and enhancing decision-making for enterprise customers. With these funds, Delpha will expand its product innovation, accelerate growth, and deliver AI-driven data hygiene solutions to global enterprises.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: France, Europe
Industry: Compute / AI
Sector: Data Quality & AI Platforms
Tech: Autonomous AI Data Quality Agents, Enterprise Data Integration
🔸 AUAR Raises £5.1M to Expand Robotic Micro-Factories for Sustainable Construction
AUAR closed a £5.1 million seed round led by Planet A to scale its AI-driven robotic micro-factory platform for timber housing. Its MasterBuilder software integrates parametric design with on-site robotic fabrication, reducing construction costs by 30–40 percent and labor needs by 75 percent. Funds will support expansion into Benelux, DACH, and Nordic markets and accelerate development of carbon-negative home modules, advancing sustainable building practices.
Deal: Seed Round
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: UrbanTech / Construction Tech
Sector: Robotic Micro-Factories
Tech: AI-Driven Manufacturing, Robotics
🔸 Silicon Ranch Invests in Swap Robotics for Automated Solar Site Operations
Silicon Ranch announced a strategic investment in Swap Robotics, bolstering its agribusiness and land stewardship program while enabling Swap to expand operations across the solar sector in North America. Swap’s 100 percent electric, autonomous robots handle vegetation management, panel installation, and materials movement, aligning with Silicon Ranch’s regenerative agrivoltaics goals. The partnership will accelerate Swap’s product development and deployment to thousands of solar acres, optimizing sustainable O&M and land restoration practices.
Deal: Strategic Investment
Region: United States & Canada, North America
Industry: Energy / Robotics
Sector: Solar O&M Automation
Tech: Electric Autonomous Robotics, Agrivoltaics Integration
🔸 Infleqtion Raises $100M Series C to Scale Atom-Based Quantum Solutions
Infleqtion, based in Boulder, Colorado, secured $100 million in a Series C round led by Glynn Capital, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), S32, and SAIC to scale its neutral-atom quantum computing, sensing, and precision timing platforms. Its Sqale neutral-atom quantum computer is deployed at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre, and Infleqtion earned an $11 million DoD APFIT contract for atomic clocks, achieving 100× precision improvements over legacy systems. Funding will accelerate deployment of field-ready quantum systems for national security and industrial applications, expanding partnerships with NASA, DoD, and Japan’s JST Quantum Moonshot program. infleqtion.com
Deal: Series C
Region: United States, North America
Industry: Quantum Technologies
Sector: Quantum Computing & Sensing
Tech: Neutral Atom Quantum Computing, Atomic Clocks, Quantum RF Communication
🔸 Labrys Raises $20M Series A to Scale Defence-Grade Workforce Management Platform
Labrys, founded by ex-soldiers August Lersten and Luke Wattam, raised $20 million in a Series A led by Plural, bringing total funding to $25.5 million to expand Axiom, its secure workforce management platform for high-risk, crisis response scenarios. Axiom integrates biometric identity verification, encrypted communications, geo-tagged task tracking, and blockchain-based stablecoin payments. The funding will scale engineering and operations teams, add AI-driven capabilities, and support Labrys’s mission to provide mission-critical coordination tools for defence, humanitarian, and government agencies.
Deal: Series A
Region: United Kingdom, Europe
Industry: Defence Tech / Deeptech
Sector: Workforce Management & Payments
Tech: Biometric Identity Verification, Blockchain Payments, Secure Communications
Venture Capital & Fund Activities to Watch
🔹 Announcing Ventures Fund III: $430M to fund climate solutions with ambition
Energize Capital closed its third fund with $430 million to back early-stage digital and software-enabled climate solutions. The fund focuses on startups in electrification, industrial operations, and critical infrastructure efficiency. Initial investments include companies working on battery optimization, energy marketplace platforms, and grid interconnection software.
🔹 Nordic Foodtech VC announces first close of second fund at $45 m: ‘We’re not hunting for unicorns’
Nordic Foodtech VC completed a first close of €40 million (about $45 million) on its second fund, aiming to reach €80 million. The fund will invest €500 k to €2 million in agrifoodtech startups across the Nordics, Baltics, and Europe, with reserves for follow-on rounds. Investors include regional pension funds and industry partners focused on scalable B2B solutions rather than blockbuster valuations.
🔹 Cybersecurity Investor Merlin Ventures Raises Over $75 Million Debut Fund
Merlin Ventures launched its inaugural fund of over $75 million to support early-stage Israeli cybersecurity startups targeting U.S. public-sector contracts. The fund is backed by industry veterans whose prior companies were acquired by larger firms, leveraging sector expertise and federal procurement know-how. Leadership aims to bridge Israeli innovation with American defense budgets to accelerate growth.
🔹 Cybernetix Ventures Raising $100 M Fund As Robotics And Physical AI Enters Accelerated Growth Phase
Cybernetix Ventures announced a $100 million second fund to invest in early-stage robotics, automation, and physical AI startups. The expanded thesis now includes agriculture and climate infrastructure robotics, with the addition of an agri-robotics specialist to its team. Portfolio companies from Fund I include firms in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare automation.
🔹 Planeteer Capital Closes $54 M Maiden Fund
Planeteer Capital secured $54 million for its debut fund, targeting pre-seed and seed climate technology ventures. Although below its $75 million goal, the fund attracted LPs such as a major endowment, a former Meta CTO, and corporate backers. Focus areas include asset-light solutions in food and land use, manufacturing, buildings, and climate risk mitigation.
🔹 Accenture Helps High-Potential AI Startups Grow with Support from NVIDIA Inception
Accenture Ventures and NVIDIA Inception launched a program to help AI startups translate innovations into scalable enterprise solutions. The initiative provides technical workshops, market insights, and access to Accenture’s client network. Initial focus sectors include marketing, sales, and customer service applications.
🔹 Denver Ventures Launches; Closes Fund I, at over $20 M
Denver Ventures closed its first fund with over $20 million to invest $250 k–$800 k in pre-seed and seed-stage companies. The firm targets disruptive technologies in software, hardware, and emerging mobility. Emphasis is placed on active partnership and strategic guidance to boost the Rocky Mountain startup ecosystem.
🔹 Harper Court Ventures Launches With $25 M Fund
Harper Court Ventures (an MFV Partners affiliate) launched a $25 million seed and Series A fund for early-stage deep-tech companies. The focus includes hardware, robotics, and advanced manufacturing startups that require domain expertise and hands-on support. The fund will leverage MFV’s network to drive co-innovation and commercialization.
🔹 SemperVirens Venture Capital Launches Accelerator Program to Help Startups Sharpen GTM Strategy, Connect with Decision Makers, and Scale Faster
SemperVirens Venture Capital launched an accelerator for early-stage healthtech, workforce tech, and fintech startups. The program offers go-to-market guidance, product-market fit validation, and connections to over 200 senior executives across multiple industries. Tailored tracks address enterprise, HCM, and payer ecosystems to drive rapid B2B traction.
🔹 Taste Tomorrow Ventures Launches $30 M Fund
Taste Tomorrow Ventures closed its first fund with $30 million to back early-stage consumer food and beverage companies. Backers include strategic investors such as Ball Corporation, focusing on functional beverages, plant-based snacks, and sustainable packaging. The firm leverages founders’ operational expertise to support brand building, retail distribution, and supply chain optimization.
🔹 Introducing the HJF-MDC Venture Fund: Fostering Medical Innovations for Military and Civilian Applications
The HJF-MDC Venture Fund raised $20 million to invest in dual-use medical technology startups serving military and civilian markets. Areas of interest include medical devices, wearable health tech, and rehabilitation robotics. The fund leverages HJF’s Bethesda innovation facility and MDC Studio’s commercialization expertise to accelerate deployment.
🔹 Lithuanian deeptech VC Iron Wolf Capital launches €100 m seed fund
Iron Wolf Capital announced a €100 million deep-tech fund, having already secured over €30 million toward its target. The fund will back AI-driven and research-intensive startups, with 90 percent of LPs from its first €21 million fund re-upping. Anchored by the Lithuanian state bank and family offices, it aims to turn Baltic engineering talent into globally scalable ventures.
🔹 Early-stage VC Inflexor eyes Q2 first close of $150-million Fund-III
Inflexor Ventures is targeting a first close of $150 million for its Fund III by the end of Q2 2025, focusing on underfunded sectors like healthcare devices, EV battery tech, and foundational large language models. The fund plans $2.5 million–$3 million checks for pre-Series A and Series A rounds, aiming for roughly 15 percent equity in each company. It also closed a ₹350 crore Opportunities Fund by selling its first-fund portfolio to HDFC AMC, providing early liquidity to LPs.
🔹 SeaFund eyes up to 25 deeptech investments, aims for planned follow-ons
SeaFund plans to deploy capital across up to 25 deep-tech startups in AI, robotics, quantum computing, and advanced materials. The firm reserves a significant portion of its funds for follow-on investments in high-growth portfolio companies. Its disciplined due diligence and active engagement model aims to lead rounds in nascent deep-tech segments while doubling down on winners.