<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Stellar Cyber, an open extended detection and response (Open XDR) startup, and Netskope, a cloud security startup, have partnered to deliver a joint solution for enterprise and MSSP users of Stellar Cyber.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The joint solution incorporates rich user-centric data generated by Netskope to improve control and visibility of risks and threats across incident investigations conducted by Security Operation Center (SOC) analysts. Stellar Cyber will ingest, normalize, and analyze the user insights generated by Netskope and other providers to identify potential threats and automatically initiate remediation actions for third-party products integrated into solutions such as Netskope.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221219005185/en/Stellar-Cyber-Integrates-with-Netskope-to-Deliver-World-Class-User-Context-Speeding-Investigations-and-Improving-Security-Outcomes">
      Company press release
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Next-gen Cybersecurity

Stellar Cyber partners with Netskope to improve security visibility in security investigations

Disrupting the traditional financial system using blockchain

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

<div>
 <p>Volta, which developed a smart wallet platform, has managed to secure USD 4.1 million in a seed funding round. Prominent investors like Fika Ventures and Haven Ventures took the lead, with contributions also coming from Dispersion Capital, Soma Capital, and Uphonest Capital.</p>
 <p>The firm plans to put the newly acquired funds to good use by optimizing its smart wallet platform, named Volta Circuit. The intention is to speed up the growth and expansion of the platform.</p>
 <p>The Volta Circuit is unique. It operates as a multi-signature, non-custodial platform. This system allows for the proper handling of cryptocurrency and tokenized assets that are based on real-world entities. &nbsp;</p>
</div>

Volta raises USD 4.1 million in seed funding to expedite growth of smart wallet platform

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Palo Alto Networks, a cybersecurity firm, introduced Prisma SASE 3.0, an updated version of its secure access service edge (SASE) platform. Prisma SASE 3.0 is unique in its protection of both managed and unmanaged devices using a native enterprise browser, according to the company.</p>
 <p>The new platform update includes the Prisma SASE App Acceleration, capable of enhancing application performance by creating dynamic app content per user. Other features include the Dynamic Privileged Access, a project-based segmentation and access control service, as well as a large language model (LLM)-based document classification tool.</p>
 
</div>

Palo Alto launches Prisma SASE 3.0, extending protection to unmanaged devices

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 <p>LayerX Security, a company based in Tel Aviv that develops an enterprise browser extension aimed at ensuring web security, has successfully raised USD 26 million in a Series A funding round. The funding was provided by Glilot+ and Dell Technologies Capital, bringing the total funding of LayerX Security to USD 34 million.</p>
 <p>The intention of the company is to strategically utilize this fresh capital to scale its teams and broaden its market reach.</p>
 <p>The LayerX’s browser extension is designed to safeguard data, identities, devices, and SaaS against potential threats including account takeover, data leakage, AI, malicious extensions, phishing, and shadow SaaS. To ensure comprehensive protection, the tool cleverly utilizes AI to closely monitor the code running in a browser to identify unusual user behavior and guard against emerging threats.</p> 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The funding news comes just days after <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/1147350"> Island </a> , a competitor in the secure enterprise browser space, <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/29035"> raised </a> USD 175 million in Series D funding to support international expansion and acquisitions.</p>

LayerX Security raises USD 26 million for secure enterprise browser

Data Infrastructure & Analytics

<div>
 
 <p>Oracle has introduced Oracle Database 23ai, a new product range available as cloud services. This software brings AI capabilities to the location of the data, enhancing the efficiency, security, and effectiveness of AI operations within Oracle databases in real-time. It is intended to simplify the integration of AI with data, hasten application development, and manage critical workloads.</p>
 <p>The release of Oracle Database 23ai includes support for Oracle AI Vector Search along with more than 300 other significant features. These features are designed to help simplify the use of AI with data, speeding up the development process for applications, and effectively running mission-critical workloads.</p>
 <p>Additional features of the release include Oracle Exadata System Software 24ai which enables Exadata smart storage to execute AI Vector Search effectively when dealing with large data volumes. Another key feature is OCI GoldenGate 23ai, which allows for the integration of heterogeneous data and maintains high availability across cloud data storage units.</p>
 
</div>

Oracle unveils Oracle Database 23ai, supporting AI Vector Search

New insurance models are disrupting a centuries-old industry with a focus on personalization and convenience.

Neo Insurance

<div>
 
 <p>Trupanion has appointed Margi Tooth as its new CEO, effective from August 1, 2024. Tooth, who presently serves as the company's president, has an extensive background in the pet insurance industry, having worked for over two decades. Her previous roles in the company include chief marketing officer and chief revenue officer, playing a crucial part in Trupanion’s growth and diversification in new business areas and locales.</p>
 <p>Darryl Rawlings, the founder of Trupanion, and outgoing CEO, will stay on board and continue to serve as chairman till 2035.</p>
 
</div>

Trupanion appoints Margi Tooth as new CEO

New technology allows individuals and organizations to become carbon intelligent

Carbon Management Software

<div>
 
 <p>Sylvera, a company from the UK that gives ratings for carbon offset, has added a new feature to its platform. This feature greatly helps in managing and comparing different carbon projects.</p>
 <p>This feature aims to solve the problems of scattered project information and tough analysis, which hamper the transparency of credit access and the quality of the project.&nbsp;</p>
 <p>The new facilities offered by Sylvera have two primary features:</p>
 <ul>
  <li><p><b>Project Catalog</b>, which brings together data from nine registries that covers around 20,000 projects that exist in the carbon market.&nbsp;</p></li>
  <li><p><b>Screening</b> gives a thorough summary of the crucial metrics that show project quality and related risk factors. These factors revolve around carbon accounting, additionality, permanence, and co-benefits.</p></li>
 </ul>
 
</div>

Sylvera launches new tool to simplify carbon project comparison

Automation to improve business efficiency

Workflow Automation Platforms

<div>
 
 <p>Konsolidator A/S, a provider of financial consolidation software, has secured DKK 6 million (around USD 0.8 million) in funding. This investment comes through a private placement, fully backed by 11 private investors, which include all members of the company's board of directors, CEO Claus Finderup Grove, and CFO Jack Skov. </p>
 <p>The company, based in Denmark, didn't specify the exact usage of the funds.  </p>
 <p>Konsolidator provides financial consolidation and reporting services to SMEs, offering cloud-based tools. These tools help in streamlining financial consolidation procedures, managing transactions in multiple currencies, and eases compliance with international accounting norms. </p>
 
</div>

Konsolidator raises USD 0.8 million in private placement

Next-gen packaging solutions for enhanced product tracking, inspection solutions and freshness monitoring

Smart Packaging Tech

<p>Packaging solution manufacturer Novolex has strategically invested in OZZI, a reusable container system specialist. The goal of this investment is to promote the expansion of OZZI through the support of Eco-Products, a Novolex business entity that provides circular solutions within the foodservice industry. This move will also grant Novolex's affiliated company Vegware and Eco-Products divisions in Canada and Europe access to OZZI's extensive product portfolio, allowing them to satisfy the global demand for these products.</p>

<p>OZZI is recognized for its O2GO container product line, which encompasses containers, cutlery, and cups, in addition to their Drop N'Go Collection System and Automated Collection Machine. The company's products contribute towards the complete reuse cycle, including washing, sanitizing, drying, and storing. The O2GO containers are perceived as robust and are tailored for coordination with meal plans using barcode technology.</p>

Novolex makes strategic investment in OZZI to support growth through Eco-Products unit

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovations with Generative AI Infrastructure

Generative AI Infrastructure

<div>
 
 <p>Solodev, a developer-focused cloud platform integrating CMS products, has introduced Solodev AI, a new feature that enables the design, training, and hosting of AI-based apps and models from a single point.</p>
 <p>The main features of Solodev AI encompass search and chat functionalities, customizable apps obtainable through the AI marketplace, secure hosting of existing AI apps using the AWS-powered cloud, and support for multiple top-notch language models such as GPT-4, OpenLLaMA, and Amazon Titan.</p>
 <p>According to Solodev, the benefits of the newly launched AI platform consist of scalability, top-notch security, and cost-effectiveness for rolling out custom AI-oriented applications.</p>
 
</div> <p>Analyst <b>QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The launch of Solodev AI seems to be the latest addition to Solodevs’ journey of using AI automation on a large scale. In a prior <a href="https:<br>
//www.solodev.com/aws/"> collaboration </a> with AWS, Solodev utilized several specialized services from the Amazon AI/ML stack, including a cloud-based recommendation engine.</p>

Solodev launches Solodev AI, a cloud platform for custom AI apps

Providing a seamless consumer experience is one hope for bringing back brick and mortar retail, automated stores are being built to do just that.

Automated Stores

<div>
 <p>AiFi, a Californian tech company specializing in automated retail, has joined forces with Acrisure Arena, a sports and entertainment facility, to implement two AI-fueled 'grab-and-go' concession stands. These stands will offer soft drinks, water, beers and pizza to customers.</p>
 <p>To use the stands, customers will be asked to pre-authorize a $25 card payment before entry. If a customer's transaction total is less than $25, they will be reimbursed within a 3-5 day timeframe. Staff will be present to oversee the process and to confirm alcohol purchases.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Sports and entertainment venues are increasingly adopting the grab-and-go store format. As of September 2023, AiFi’s competitor <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/673529"> Zippin </a> had 71 stores at stadiums and as of April 2024, <a href="https:<br>
//stadiumtechreport.com/editorial/checkout-free-stores-are-doing-well-in-stadiums-anyway/#:<br>
~:<br>
text=(Stadium%20Tech%20Report%20narrator%3A%20Amazon,stadium%20Just%20Walk%20Out%20stores.)"> Amazon </a> ’s Just Walk Out technology powered 73 stadium-based stores.&nbsp;</p>

All Updates