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  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        BlueNalu, a cell-cultured seafood company, has extended and enhanced strategic partnerships with Mitsubishi Corporation, Pulmuone Co. Ltd., and Thai Union. 
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        These partnerships will facilitate the launch of BlueNalu's cell-cultured seafood in the Asia-Pacific region by providing market insights, regulatory guidance, and assistance in developing go-to-market strategies. This collaboration aims to address the supply chain gap in seafood production while meeting the growing demand for sustainable seafood solutions.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
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<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231003399175/en/BlueNalu-Strengthens-Strategic-Partnerships-with-Prominent-Seafood-Companies-in-the-APAC-Region">
      Press release
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://vegconomist.com/company-news/bluenalu-seafood-leaders-cultivated-bluefin-tuna-asian-markets/">
      Vegconomist
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


Cell-cultured Meat

DISRUPTOR_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

BlueNalu, a cell-cultured seafood company, has formed strategic partnerships with Mitsubishi Corporation, Pulmuone Co. Ltd., and Thai Union to expand into the Asia-Pacific region. These partnerships will provide market insights, regulatory guidance, and assistance in developing go-to-market strategies for BlueNalu's cell-cultured seafood. The collaboration aims to address the supply chain gap in seafood production and meet the increasing demand for sustainable seafood solutions.

BlueNalu extends partnerships with APAC seafood leaders

Travel Tech

<div>
 
 <p>Travel and experiences booking platform, Headout, has acquired Dabble, an AI product photography platform. The details regarding the acquisition were not disclosed.</p> 
 <p>Post-acquisition, Headout aims to utilize Dabble's technology to develop AI-powered travel experiences for its users. This will reportedly boost the discovery and real-time delivery of experiences.</p> 
 <p>Dabble is a virtual product photography platform powered by AI. It aids ecommerce businesses to develop ultra-realistic 3D product images and immersive shopping experiences, eliminating the need for physical photo shoots. Dabble combines AI, computer vision, and new media to build applications for varied sectors like gaming, indoor navigation, and training.</p> 

</div>

Headout acquires Dabble to build AI-powered travel experiences

Clean, congestion-free air travel gets liftoff

Passenger eVTOL Aircraft

<div>
 
 <p>Archer Aviation Inc., a manufacturer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft listed on the NYSE, has entered into a partnership with Korean mobility service platform, KakaoMobility. The partnership involves collaborating on the K-UAM Grand Challenge and KakaoMobility purchasing up to 50 of Archer's eVTOL mid-night aircraft, an arrangement worth approximately USD 250 million.</p>
 <p>With Archer's eVTOL aircraft, KakaoMobility plans to launch electric air taxi services in Korea, targeting its 30+ million registered users on the Kakao T Mobile app. The service implementation is expected to commence in 2026, initiating in Seoul to ameliorate heavy traffic conditions. Moreover, public demonstration flights are planned for the end of 2024.</p>
 <p>KakaoMobility is set to pay Archer USD 7 million in 2024 to aid the early commercialization endeavors in Korea, followed by a successive disbursement planned for the first quarter of 2025.</p>
 
</div>

Archer Aviation partners with KakaoMobility to bring eVTOL air taxis to South Korea

Reinforcing recycling, rerouting refuse, and reducing wasteflows

Waste Recovery & Management Tech

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 <p>Li-Cycle Holdings Corp, a Canadian manufacturer and recycler of lithium-ion batteries, has teamed up with Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) to recycle lithium-ion batteries from DTNA's electric vehicles. The technology from Li-Cycle will be used to recover crucial materials from the batteries once they reach the end of their life, enabling a sustainable, closed-loop battery supply chain within the country.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The partnership between DTNA and Li-Cycle is the first high-profile tie-up following its strategic review and funding from Glencore to improve liquidity in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/27619"> March 2024 </a> . The company also confirmed the technical viability of its planned Rochester hub and is conducting an internal technical review to examine the project's scope and cost.</p>

Li-Cycle and Daimler Truck partner for lithium-ion battery recycling

Disrupting the traditional financial system using blockchain

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

<div>
 
 <p>Babylon, a Bitcoin staking protocol, has successfully secured USD 70 million in a funding round led by Paradigm. Other notable investors include Polychain Capital, Bullish Capital, Hashkey Capital, Mantle, Galaxy, Hack VC, and Amber. With this latest round, Babylon's total funding has reached over USD 100 million.</p>
 <p>Originating from Stanford, Babylon has created a blockchain protocol that allows users to generate yield by staking their Bitcoin assets. Leveraging the Cosmos software development kit (SDK), Babylon's protocol provides a non-custodial method for users to employ Bitcoin for validating proof-of-stake chains. Moreover, the protocol introduces speedy, unbinding, and scalable restacking functionalities to enhance liquidity and returns.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Babylon has raised a majority of its total funding within the last six months across back-to-back funding rounds. It <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/24745"> secured USD 18 million </a> in seed funding last December, as well as an undisclosed amount in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/27094"> strategic investment from Binance Labs </a> in February. With this funding, Babylon also becomes the highest-funded bitcoin staking platform in our coverage, next to Bouncebit, which incidentally also secured <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/28455"> multiple rounds of funding (including an investment in Binance) </a> in the last few months.&nbsp;</p>

Babylon raises USD 70 million in venture funding

A decentralized version of the web powered by the blockchain

Web3 Ecosystem

<div>
 
 <p>Neynar, a company providing a Web3 social toolbox for developers to build social media protocols has raised $11 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Haun Ventures and saw participation from entities such as a16z's CSX, Coinbase Ventures, and Union Square Ventures.</p>
 <p>While the exact use of the raised funds was not disclosed, Neynar plans to enhance its position in the Farcaster network and venture into other protocols as well.</p>
 <p>Comprised of Coinbase alumni, Neynar gives a platform to developers to create Web3 social applications on Farcaster. The open-source protocol is reported to have more than 378,000 users.</p>
 
</div>

Neynar raises USD 11 million in Series A funding from Haun Ventures

<div>
 
 <p>NEAR Protocol, a layer-1 blockchain, has introduced a digital identity solution known as NEAR Name Tokens. This development aims to provide Web3 users with a cohesive, multichain digital identity.</p> 

 <p>The tokens offer a number of valuable features, including a streamlined wallet address capable of functioning on a variety of blockchain networks. Additionally, these tokens could potentially serve as infrastructure identifiers within these networks.&nbsp;</p>

 <p>Another application of NEAR name tokens is their usability as cross-platform usernames on decentralized platforms. Beyond this, they can serve as verifiable credentials across a range of sectors and platforms including SportFi, SocialFi, GameFi, and DeFi.</p>
 
</div>

NEAR Protocol enhances digital identity solutions with launch of NEAR Name Tokens

<div>
 
 <p>Pudgy Penguins, a branding company, is collaborating with Mythical Games, a Web3 games creator and publisher. They plan to create a mobile video game that integrates Web3 features and involves the Pudgy Penguins character series.</p>
 <p>The game, expected to release in 2025, merges the Pudgy Penguins with Mythical Games' high-quality gameplay.</p>
 <p>Pudgy Penguins holders will have access to unique content and chances to influence the progression of the game.</p>
 
</div>

Pudgy Penguins partners with Mythical Games to develop Web3-enabled mobile video game

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovations with Generative AI Infrastructure

Generative AI Infrastructure

<div>

<p>The Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Heng Swee Keat, has launched the Model Governance Framework for GenAI at the Asia Tech x Singapore event. This framework has been developed by the AI Verify Foundation and IMDA to address concerns related to GenAI. The framework focuses on promoting transparency and ethical governance to tackle the issue of misinformation.</p>

<p>The framework points out nine areas to enhance governance. These areas include accountability, the use of reliable data for AI training, and ensuring content authenticity. The framework promotes the establishment of more explicit personal data laws. It also stresses on collaboration to compile relevant training data sets, particularly for low-resource languages. Moreover, it recommends the adoption of technical measures like digital watermarking to authenticate AI-created content.</p>

<p>The guidelines were constituted post discussions with over 70 tech-oriented organizations. These include Microsoft, Google, and the US Department of Commerce. The framework aligns itself with international AI principles and initiatives, including the Hiroshima AI Process and the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance.</p>

</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Singapore's new Governance Framework <b> </b> implies that firms must invest in enhancing their governance frameworks, processes, and tools to align with stated principles. Similar developments in other regions include EU approval of the AI Act in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/25990"> May 2024 </a> , which regulates AI applications on a risk scale and prohibits unacceptable AI practices. In <a href="https:<br>
//www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/biden-harris-administration-announces-first-ever-consortium-dedicated"> February 2024 </a> , the Biden-Harris administration announced the first-ever consortium related to AI Safety in the US, which includes guidelines for red teaming, risk management, safety, and security.</p>

Singapore launches Governance Framework to address GenAI-related concerns

Making banking work, without the paperwork

Neobanks

<div>

<p>Denim, a digital platform offering working capital or factoring services to freight brokers, has obtained a USD 63 million warehouse facility from Silicon Valley Bank and Trinity Capital Inc.</p>
<p>The company will apply the new investment to bolster its factoring services that provide money for freight brokers' cash flow and enterprise activities.</p>

</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Denim’s previous funding round took place in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/13089?industryIds=59"> September 2022 </a> , which raised USD 126 million in Series B funding. The funds were primarily used to develop its financial platform, provide working capital to freight brokers, and for recruitment.</p>

Denim raises USD 63 million in warehouse facility funding for operational needs

Automation and robotics are finally creating solutions for the complexities of doorstep deliveries.

Last-mile Delivery Automation

<div>
 
 <p>Amazon has secured approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Prime Air service to extend delivery drone flight distances beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).</p>
 <p>The company developed BVLOS technology for its Prime Air service, which enables drones to detect and safely avoid aerial objects. The FAA has accepted Amazon's proof that its drones can evade airplanes, helicopters, and hot air balloons.</p>
 <p>Amazon's plans following the FAA approval are to expand drone deliveries to more customers, starting in College Station, Texas. The company aims to incorporate drone deliveries into its same-day delivery network later this year and to deliver 500 million packages annually using drones by the end of the decade.</p>
 
</div>

All Updates

BlueNalu extends partnerships with APAC seafood leaders

Headout acquires Dabble to build AI-powered travel experiences

Archer Aviation partners with KakaoMobility to bring eVTOL air taxis to South Korea

Li-Cycle and Daimler Truck partner for lithium-ion battery recycling

Babylon raises USD 70 million in venture funding

Neynar raises USD 11 million in Series A funding from Haun Ventures

NEAR Protocol enhances digital identity solutions with launch of NEAR Name Tokens

Pudgy Penguins partners with Mythical Games to develop Web3-enabled mobile video game

Singapore launches Governance Framework to address GenAI-related concerns

Denim raises USD 63 million in warehouse facility funding for operational needs

Amazon receives FAA approval to expand Prime Air drone delivery services BVLOS

Cell-cultured Meat

BlueNalu extends partnerships with APAC seafood leaders

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