Max Lockie

ClosedLoop.ai-Raises-34M-Series-B-to-Usher-in-AI-Enabled-Healthcare-and-Tackle-Trillion-Dollar-Healthcare-Problem

Predicting the future of healthcare with ClosedLoop.ai CEO Andrew Eye

Biometric Payments

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

Mercedes-Benz has teamed up with Mastercard to allow German customers to pay for fuel directly from their vehicles using fingerprint authentication. This makes Mercedes the first automaker to integrate Mastercard's online payment technology into vehicles. The partnership enables Mercedes-Benz customers to use the car's native in-car payment service, Mercedes Pay+, to make payments at service stations. The company plans to expand the service to include other vehicle-related services and other European markets in the future.

Mercedes-Benz partners with Mastercard to introduce native in-car payment services for fuel purchasing

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Mastercard to allow German customers to pay for fuel transactions directly from their vehicles using fingerprint authentication. This makes Mercedes the first automaker to integrate Mastercard's online payment technology into vehicles. The partnership enables customers to use the native in-car payment service, Mercedes Pay+, to make payments at service stations. Mercedes plans to expand the service to include other vehicle-related services and European markets in the future.

Giving creators the power of content monetization and audience engagement.

Creator Economy

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

DISRUPTOR_PRESENT

NFT marketplace Rarible has collaborated with Mantle Network to launch Mintle, a secondary NFT marketplace on the Ethereum Layer 2 network. Mintle aims to offer users a user-friendly and cost-efficient trading experience across multiple chains, while also supporting NFT creator royalties. It is built on the Rarible Protocol and utilizes community-powered marketplace features. The partnership highlights Rarible's focus on interoperability and inclusivity within the blockchain and NFT space. Mintle enables cross-chain NFT trading, increasing accessibility and diversity, while also promoting ethical NFT practices and ensuring creators receive royalties in a decentralized digital economy.

Rarible partners with Mantle Network for cross-chain NFT trading

Reinforcing recycling, rerouting refuse, and reducing wasteflows

Waste Recovery & Management Tech

French apparel brand Lagoped has raised €3.2m ($3.4m) in an equity funding round led by HPF and Vox Capital. The company also secured a €2.5m bank loan, bringing its total funding to €5.7m. The funds will be used to expand its workforce and increase its global presence, particularly in Germany, the UK, Japan and South Korea. Lagoped, which was founded in 2018, creates apparel using recycled materials sourced from Europe. It aims to reach €13m in revenue by 2028.

Lagoped raises EUR 5.7 million to expand teams and markets

A foundational component to the next generation of digital entertainment.

Esports

Esports tournament platform, Epulze, has partnered with mobile FPS game developer, Critical Force, to create tournaments for Critical Ops. The partnership begins with the Critical Ops Championship Invitational, featuring open qualifiers on Epulze's platform. The aim is to take advantage of the growing trend of mobile esports, which is still emerging in the Western world.

Epulze partners with Critical Force for new esports tournaments

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given initial approval for Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The CMA had initially blocked the deal due to concerns about cloud gaming, but Microsoft made changes to the agreement by transferring cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft. The CMA's preliminary decision acknowledges that the revised deal addresses its previous concerns, and final approval is now possible. The CMA is currently seeking feedback on Microsoft's proposed remedies and is expected to make a final decision before the October 18 deadline. Both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are optimistic about completing the merger.

CMA grants preliminary approval for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Technology to explore opportunities beyond Earth

Space Travel and Exploration Tech

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has proposed a new bill called the STAR Act, which would extend the FAA's restriction on regulating commercial human spaceflight safety for an additional eight years, until September 2031. The goal of this legislation is to allow the commercial space industry more time to develop and expand by extending the learning period that limits the FAA's ability to create safety regulations. The bill aims to support US national security and scientific progress by providing regulatory stability and allowing the industry to gain experience before more regulations are implemented.

US House Speaker introduces bill to extend commercial spaceflight regulatory learning period

A booming food and beverage segment with a history as rich and varied as its present-day product offerings.

Plant-based Dairy & Egg

Plant-based milk producer Mooala has introduced its Simple Line, a collection of three-ingredient, organic, shelf-stable plant-based milk products. The products within the Simple Line are free from GMOs, gums, oils, and other additives, and contain only filtered water, organic oats or almonds, and sea salt. The Simple Line products are priced at $36.99 for a six-pack of 32oz cartons, making them significantly more expensive than traditional whole milk. Mooala, which was founded in 2013, also offers a range of banana milk products and is available in various retail stores including Whole Foods, Walmart, and Costco.

Mooala launches three-ingredient shelf-stable plant-based milk

A new wave of meat, fish, and poultry alternatives are driving this hyper-growth industry into the mainstream.

Plant-based Meat

MorningStar Farms, a plant-based subsidiary of Kellogg, has introduced a new product called the Steakhouse Style Burger. It is targeted towards omnivores and is now available at major retailers such as Walmart, Publix, and Target. The burger is designed to imitate the taste and texture of real meat, while also providing several nutritional benefits compared to traditional beef patties, such as 42% less fat and 21g of protein per serving.

MorningStar Farms launches Steakhouse Style Burger

Mycorena, a Swedish alternative ingredient producer, has partnered with Atria Sweden, a leading animal meat company, to develop and sell a range of mycoprotein-based products. The partnership will involve scaling up production of Mycorena's Promyc, a complete protein made using a proprietary fungal fermentation process, and Atria using its product development capabilities to create sustainable and allergen-free protein products. Mycorena aims to accelerate the growth of the mycoprotein category in Europe by leveraging Atria's established presence in the market.

All Updates

Mercedes-Benz partners with Mastercard to introduce native in-car payment services for fuel purchasing

Mercedes-Benz partners with Mastercard to introduce native in-car payment services for fuel purchasing

Rarible partners with Mantle Network for cross-chain NFT trading

Lagoped raises EUR 5.7 million to expand teams and markets

Epulze partners with Critical Force for new esports tournaments

CMA grants preliminary approval for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard

US House Speaker introduces bill to extend commercial spaceflight regulatory learning period

Mooala launches three-ingredient shelf-stable plant-based milk

MorningStar Farms launches Steakhouse Style Burger

Mycorena partners with Atria Sweden to launch new mycoprotein-based products