<div>
  <p>
  </p>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Companion Protect, a B2B2C provider of pet insurance and wellness programs, has raised ~USD 20.3 million in a Series A extension round from existing investors, Avanta Ventures, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Old Republic International Corporation, and Stray Dog Enterprises. The round brings the total funds raised by the company to ~USD 47.3 million.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        The funding will be used for product and partner expansion as well as digital innovation to enhance the customer experience.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        Companion Protect has launched pet insurance programs for insurers such as Liberty Mutual, Safeco, and CSAA Insurance Group and has recently contracted with another five insurers to launch a new pet insurance program in the coming months.
      </p>
    </li>
    <li>
      <p>
        <b>AnalystQuickTake: </b>
        The 
        <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21351">
          Series A funding
        </a>
         round was initially announced in August 2023, in which the company raised USD 27 million to expand its products and partnerships and improve its digital claims processing capabilities.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.coverager.com/companion-protect-raises-20-25-million/">
      Coverager
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


InsurTech: Personal Lines

<div>
 
 <p>Companion Protect, a pet insurance and wellness programs provider, has successfully raised around USD 20.3 million in a Series A extension round. The funding was provided by existing investors that include Avanta Ventures, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Old Republic International Corporation, and Stray Dog Enterprises. With this latest round, the company has now managed to raise a total of roughly USD 47.3 million.</p>
 <p>The funds raised will be utilized for expansion of the company's products and partners. Additionally, the company plans to use the funds for digital innovation in a bid to further enhance the customer experience.</p>
 <p>Products from Companion Protect are already being used in pet insurance programs for insurance companies including but not limited to Liberty Mutual, Safeco, and CSAA Insurance Group. In addition to these, the company has also recently entered into contracts with a new set of five insurers. These latest contracts will see the launch of a new pet insurance program in the coming months.</p>
 <p><b>AnalystQuickTake: </b> A <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21351"> Series A funding </a> round wasn't the company's first. It had previously announced and completed a Series A funding round back in August 2023 where it had successfully raised USD 27 million. The funds from this round were used for expanding its range of products and partners as well as enhancing its digital claims processing capabilities.</p>
 
</div>

Companion Protect raises ~USD 20.3 million in Series A extension to fuel expansion

Additive manufacturing makes objects by systematically adding material via a CAD program

Additive Manufacturing

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 
 <p>6K Additive, a supplier of additive manufacturing materials, has been chosen by America Makes, an institution that collaborates on 3D printing projects in the US, to participate in the "Powder Alloy Development for Additive Manufacturing (PADAM)" project.</p>
 <p>The project, endowed with six million dollars from the Air Force Research Laboratory, aims to enhance the cost-efficiency and effectiveness of the production of niobium C-103 powder for laser powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition (DED) 3D printing processes. Additionally, it aims to extend the source pool and utilize a wider range of particle sizes for C-103, a niobium alloy utilized in high-temperature applications. The project will also include collaboration with Castheon, NASA Glenn Research Center, NSL Analytical, Lockheed Martin, and Firefly Aerospace.</p>
 <p>&nbsp;6K Additive plans to use its proprietary UniMelt microwave plasma process to generate C-103 powders from revert sources, reportedly enhancing efficiency in high-temperature and space applications.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst Quicktake:<br>
 </b> This news marks the second time that American Makes has selected the company to participate in one of its projects. Last month, the company <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32452"> partnered with RTX Technology Research Center and the University of Arizona </a> as part of the EARTH project under America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining to make aerospace and defense product manufacturing more sustainable.</p>

6K Additive awarded project to develop C-103 powder for additive manufacturing

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>

<p>Innovative Space Carrier (ISC), a company in Tokyo specializing in space transportation systems, has entered into a partnership with WAAM3D, Cranfield University, and Aichi Sangyo. All these organizations bring different specialties to the table - WAAM3D is a metal AM solutions provider, while Aichi Sangyo is known for their metal 3D printers. The collaboration aims to develop reusable space transportation vehicles.</p>
<p>The partnership will allow ISC to procure 3D printers from WAAM3D in Japan for the purpose of creating propellant tanks and other necessary components for space transport. This should contribute to the flexibility and efficiency of the development process.&nbsp;</p>

</div>

WAAM3D partners with Innovative Space Carrier, Cranfield University, and Aichi Sangyo for space transport development

Using real-time data to create dynamic virtual representations of the real world

Digital Twin

<div>
 <p>Akselos, a provider of digital twin technology, has launched a new software called Structural Performance Management for FPSO 4.0. The software is designed for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels and aims to enhance their operations and longevity.</p>
 <p>The software offers several benefits including a reduction in operating costs, optimal planning for inspections and maintenance, minimal downtime, and faster resolution of structural issues. Utilizing RB-FEA technology, the software produces millimeter-level precision for monitoring structural integrity. It develops a digital twin of the FPSO and has the capability to integrate various data such as inspection, metocean, tank fills, and unloading.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Akselos has entered partnerships to offer digital twin solutions for FPSOs in the past. Last September, the company partnered with <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/21998"> Yinson Production and Enauta </a> to deploy Akselos' digital twin technology on the floating vessel Atlanta FPSO in Brazil's Santos Basin.</p>

Akselos introduces software for FPSO monitoring

<div>
 
 <p>The Australian company SPEE3D, which provides additive manufacturing solutions, took part in an advanced manufacturing demonstration hosted by the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. The purpose of this event was to train soldiers without any previous knowledge in additive manufacturing to 3D print a required part for equipment repair in the field. Specifically, the piece to make was a transmission mount for a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, using SPEE3D's cold spray additive manufacturing technology.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst </b> <b>QuickTake:<br>
 </b> The company has recently focused on expanding its reach within the US defense sector . Its recent activity includes:<br>
 1) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32619"> Completing </a> the experimental portion of the RIMPAC exercise at the Marine Corps Air Station (in August); 2) launching its <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/31068"> US-based manufacturing facility and applications center </a> (in June) to collaborate more closely with the US Department of Defense; and 3) launching an <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/29446"> expeditionary manufacturing unit </a> (in May) to help customers in the defense industry produce high-density metal parts rapidly.</p>

SPEE3D demonstrates 3D printing for US Army

Membership-based, non-insurance healthcare companies helping maintain a steady state of well being.

Preventive Healthcare

<div>
 <p>Alex Therapeutics, a digital health provider, is partnering with Navamedic, a pharmaceutical company from Sweden, to create a companion app specifically designed to manage Parkinson's disease treatment. </p>
 <p>This application will offer patients who are taking Flexilev, a prescription medication for Parkinson's, assistance in managing their medication. This will augment the function of the OraFID dose dispenser, creating a unique combination to promote adherence to personalized treatment schedules. With its initial launch in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark planned within the next year, there are also plans for this app to be expanded globally in future.</p>

</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> In <a href="https:<br>
//www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pfizer-and-alex-therapeutics-announce-a-strategic-commercial-partnership-to-provide-evidence-based-digital-therapeutics-to-patients-starting-in-germany-301471350.html"> January 2022 </a> , the company partnered with Pfizer to develop a digital therapeutics (DTx) app to treat nicotine addiction. The company had also partnered with Vicore Pharma to develop a DTx for treating anxiety and depression in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.</p>

Alex Therapeutics partners with Navamedic to develop Parkinson's disease companion app

Disrupting the traditional financial system using blockchain

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

<div>
 
 <p>The DeFi infrastructure provider, INFINIT, has successfully procured USD 6 million in a funding event. This round of funding was spearheaded by Electric Capital and Mirana Ventures, with contributions from other entities such as Hashed, Lightspeed Faction, Robot Ventures among others.</p>

 <p>INFINIT provides a unique DeFi abstraction layer to facilitate the creation and expansion of decentralized applications across unified blockchain networks. This layer allows users to create a variety of DeFi applications, such as decentralized exchanges, yield protocols, and perpetual platforms. It also simplifies the development process by removing the need to code in intricate languages like Solidity or Rust. Instead, users can utilize TypeScript to add new features to existing applications or even create brand new applications.</p>

</div>

INFINIT raises USD 6 million in funding to enhance infrastructure

Automation to improve business efficiency

Workflow Automation Platforms

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 
 <p>Salesforce announced the introduction of Agentforce, a range of automated solutions powered by artificial intelligence. These solutions are intended to facilitate automation across various domains such as service, sales, commerce, and marketing.</p>
 <p>The platform is built on Salesforce's existing platform and utilizes the recently developed Data Cloud. This technology unifies customer data and metadata in real-time. Included in this suite are ready-to-use agents for assorted roles like sales development, service, marketing campaign optimization, and an Agent Builder which allows users to create their own agents.</p>
 <p>The platform is user-friendly, enabling users to define topics, create natural language instructions, build an action library using low-code tools, and customize the AI to meet their unique requirements without needing advanced technical skills. Additionally, Agentforce plans to feature a broad partner network of prominent companies including AWS, Google, Honeywell, IBM, Workday, Zoom, Coupa, and Box. These partners have developed over 20 agents and agent actions that will be available on the Salesforce’s AppExchange marketplace.&nbsp;</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> This launch has entered Salesforce into the Gen AI-powered agent-building space, which has seen rapid growth in popularity over the last few months. It joins some leading automation players as well as similar incumbents, which have made recent strides via new product launches. This includes 1) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/256440"> Pipefy </a> , which <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32584"> launched an AI agent solution </a> to enhance service delivery; 2) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/60912"> Automation Anywhere </a> , which <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/30479"> launched an AI studio </a> for users to create and manage custom AI Agents; and 3) <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/6554"> Zendesk </a> , which <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/28594"> launched an AI agent solution </a> for customer service automation.</p>

Salesforce announces suite of AI-powered autonomous agent solutions

A concentration of wealth and a willingness to adopt age-in-place technologies present new opportunities.

Age Tech

<div>
 
 <p>The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sanctioned a software update enabling Apple's AirPods Pro 2 to serve as over-the-counter hearing aids.</p>
 <p>Post Apple's announcement of a novel hearing aid feature for the second-generation AirPods Pro, the FDA approval followed. Apple deemed it as "the first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid software device, Hearing Aid Feature." In a clinical study encompassing 118 subjects with mild to moderate hearing impediments, the feature exhibited comparative perceived benefits similar to professional fitting of the identical device.</p>
 <p>Such advancement aligns with Apple's commitment to hearing health. It has also introduced a new Hearing Protection mode and a Hearing Test feature for AirPods Pro users.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/23600"> November 2023 </a> , Soundwave Hearing obtained FDA 510k clearance for Sontro, its OTC hearing aids. While Soundwave’s hearing aids are designed specifically to be hearing aids, Apple’s AirPods are considered the first wireless earbuds that have also been cleared as FDA-approved hearing aids.</p>

FDA approves Apple AirPods Pro as over-the-counter hearing aids

Incorporating technology to improve efficiency and success rate of clinical trials

Clinical Trial Technology

<div>
 
 <p>Paradigm Health and Sheba Medical Center, the largest hospital in Israel, have formed a partnership along with ARC Innovation to create a global clinical research network. The team intends to leverage Paradigm's AI-driven platform to revolutionize clinical trials, making them more efficient and patient-centric.</p>
 <p>The aim of this partnership is to bring the site of these trials closer to the homes of patients, to improve recruitment and retention, and to automate processes. Through this strategy, trial costs could potentially reduce while accelerating the development of novel treatments.</p>
 <p>Sheba and ARC are also planning to broaden the reach of this clinical trial platform to their global network of hospitals to improve accessibility to innovative treatments and to standardize methodologies. Their ambition is to become one of the first fully integrated AI-based hospitals in the world.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> This marks the second international partnership Paradigm Health has secured in 2024. In <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32922"> August 2024, </a> the company partnered with Fujitsu to enhance clinical trials and tackle drug loss in Japan. Additionally, earlier this <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/33191"> month </a> , Paradigm partnered with Florida Cancer Specialists to expand clinical trial access.</p>

Paradigm Health and Sheba Medical partner to optimize clinical trials

Managing employee health-related benefits

Health Benefits Platforms

<div>
 
 <p>XP Health, a vision care platform, has raised a total of USD 55.3 million funds with its latest Series B funding round fetching USD 33.2 million. The round was led by QED Investors with participation from Canvas Ventures, American Family Ventures, HC9 Ventures, Valor Capital Group, and Manchester Story.</p>
 <p>The raised funds will likely be used for further advancing and expanding XP Health's AI-driven platform. This platform provides employee eye exams and eyewear benefits at a cost lower than traditional vision insurance plans.</p>
 <p>XP Health has managed to increase its business customer base to over 3,000 in the last two years from an original 30. Customers include companies such as DocuSign, Navistar, Chegg, and Sequoia Consulting. According to XP Health, its members can make savings of as much as 69% off retail prices when purchasing eyeglasses virtually via its platform.</p>
 
</div>

All Updates

Companion Protect raises ~USD 20.3 million in Series A extension to fuel expansion

6K Additive awarded project to develop C-103 powder for additive manufacturing

WAAM3D partners with Innovative Space Carrier, Cranfield University, and Aichi Sangyo for space transport development

Akselos introduces software for FPSO monitoring

SPEE3D demonstrates 3D printing for US Army

Alex Therapeutics partners with Navamedic to develop Parkinson's disease companion app

INFINIT raises USD 6 million in funding to enhance infrastructure

Salesforce announces suite of AI-powered autonomous agent solutions

FDA approves Apple AirPods Pro as over-the-counter hearing aids

Paradigm Health and Sheba Medical partner to optimize clinical trials

XP Health raises USD 33.2 million in Series B funding to expand vision care platform

InsurTech: Personal Lines

Companion Protect raises ~USD 20.3 million in Series A extension to fuel expansion

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