<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        LanzaTech, a next-generation carbon transformation company, raised USD 30 million in funding led by the XCarb innovation fund, an initiative by the Luxembourg-based multinational steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal, bringing the company&rsquo;s total funding to USD 310 million.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Previously, the two companies had also partnered to deploy LanzaTech&rsquo;s gas fermentation technology at ArcelorMittal&rsquo;s Carbalyst plant in Ghent, Belgium. The facility is under construction, and commissioning is expected before the end of 2022.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.lanzatech.com/2021/12/09/arcelormittal-expands-partnership-with-carbon-capture-and-re-use-specialist-lanzatech-through-us30-million-investment/">
      Press release
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS)

LanzaTech raises USD 30 million from ArcelorMittal

New data privacy regulations have opened up space for a new wave of compliance-focused startups.

Digital Privacy Tools

<div>
 <p>Drata, a company specializing in security and compliance automation, has recently acquired Harmonize.io, a platform renowned for its intelligent user governance. Harmonize utilizes AI and machine learning in order to automate the management of identity lifecycle, handling tasks like employee onboarding, offboarding, and mobile device management. Drata plans to implement Harmonize.io's AI competencies to provide simplified governance and improved access management while upholding regulatory compliance.</p>
 </div>

Drata acquires Harmonize.io to enhance compliance automation

AI-based solutions for evolving digital threats

Next-gen Cybersecurity

<div>
 <p>Cybersecurity firm, ThreatLocker, which focuses on zero-trust approaches, has announced the closing of a USD 115 million Series D funding round. The round was led by General Atlantic and saw participation from StepStone Group and D. E. Shaw Group. Following this funding round, the total amount ThreatLocker has raised to date stands at USD 303.3 million.</p>
 <p>The funds raised will reportedly be used by ThreatLocker to continue its product development efforts and to further the firm’s expansion on a global scale.</p>
 <p>In addition to the funding news, ThreatLocker revealed that over the past year, it managed to double its revenue and increase its workforce by 50%.</p> 
</div>

ThreatLocker raises USD 115 million for product development and global expansion

Buy Now, Pay Later

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Zilch, a UK-based BNPL provider, has expanded its partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance its platform's AI and ML capabilities and improve its offerings. Zilch plans to leverage AWS' AI and ML offerings, such as Amazon SageMaker and Amazon Bedrock, on its large volume of high-quality data to enhance its affordability limits setting, fraud detection, and buyer intent analysis.</p>
</div>

Zilch expands partnership with AWS to improve platform capabilities

Reinventing gene therapies with next-generation technologies

Human Gene Editing

<div>
 <p>NYU Langone Health reported a successful surgical procedure involving a heart pump implantation and a genetically modified pig kidney transplant on a 54-year-old woman. The woman had been battling heart failure and end-stage kidney disease and was previously not a candidate for conventional heart or kidney transplants. The procedure was carried out in two separate surgeries over 12 days.</p>
 <p>The initial stage of the procedure involved the insertion of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), a type of heart pump. The second stage consisted of a xenotransplant of a pig kidney. The kidney used for the transplant came from United Therapeutics and was a genetically modified version dubbed "UThymoKidney", possessing an attached pig thymus.</p>
 
</div>

NYU Langone Health surgeons perform first combined heart pump and pig kidney transplant

Artificial intelligence is identifying and testing new therapies faster than ever.

AI Drug Discovery

<div>
 <p>BigHat Biosciences and Janssen Biotech have entered into a strategic partnership to develop novel therapeutics. The details of the collaboration, including financial terms, have not been disclosed. Their combined expertise in drug discovery and AI/ML will be harnessed for this initiative.</p>
 <p>The focus of the collaboration lies in discovering and verifying potential proteins, along with simplifying the design of antibodies and other treatments for various medical conditions, ranging from chronic illnesses to life-threatening diseases. The companies plan to achieve these objectives by deploying BigHat's AI/ML-powered platform, Milliner, in tandem with Janssen’s prowess in drug development and data science.</p> 
</div>

BigHat Biosciences collaborates with Janssen Biotech for next-gen protein therapeutics design

Sustainably solving the food shortages of the future

Smart Farming

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>

<p>Syngenta India, a company originating from Switzerland specialising in agricultural science and seed technology, has unveiled SapRaise. This is a smart seedling solution developed in conjunction with OM Gayatri Global Seedlings, a facility that is dedicated to heightening seedling production.</p>
<p>The purpose of this project is to fortify early crop growth, exchange knowledge and utilise cutting-edge seedling technology. This will increase the company's collaboration with juvenile plant growers to uplift the quality of crops and their yield potential. Consequently, this will lead to elevated profits for farmers.</p>

</div>

Syngenta India launches SapRaise to enhance seedling production

<div>
 
 <p>Agrarius Corp (AC), a US-based company that specializes in technological advancements in crop growth and durability, has granted an exclusive license for its agricultural plant signalling technology to Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc.(MVMD) for an approximate figure of USD 1.3 million.</p>
 <p>AC’s distinct "Agrarius" technology is a recognised organic tool built to organically enhance crop yields, cut down on fertilizer use, and advance overall resistance to pests and changing climate conditions.</p>
 <p>Following the procurement of the license, MVMD intends to establish a performance guarantee program cooperating with AC, aimed largely at domestic US farms. This program will require potential patrons to pay for the Agrarius technology only upon achieving a certain threshold of crop performance enhancement. </p> 

</div>

Agrarius Corp. got acquired exclusive license by Mountain Valley MD Holdings

Clean, congestion-free air travel gets liftoff

Passenger eVTOL Aircraft

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 
 <p>Lilium, a Nasdaq-listed eVTOL jet developer, has teamed up with global technology and manufacturing leader, Honeywell, to develop propulsion unit position sensors, or "resolvers", for the Lilium Jet.</p>
 <p>These specific resolvers are designed to accurately measure the engine's position, ensuring an incident-free takeoff. They employ spiral magnet technology and magneto-resistive sensors to track the position of magnetic objects.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Lilium and Honeywell previously partnered to enhance thermal management solutions for the Lilium Jet in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/24969"> December 2023 </a> . Honeywell also partnered with Eve Air Mobility to supply guidance and navigation tools for the company’s eVTOLs in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/26075"> January 2024 </a> .</p>

Lilium partners with Honeywell to produce propulsion sensors for Lilium's all-electric jets

Exploring the limitless possibilities of AI

Generative AI Applications

<div>
 
 <p>Moderna, a biotechnology firm, has formed a partnership with OpenAI to integrate sophisticated AI into their operations, boosting their mRNA medicine development. </p>
 <p>The partnership employs the use of OpenAI's GenAI tools throughout Moderna's infrastructure. They had early success with the adaptation of a platform called "mChat" from ChatGPT, which aids multiple business operations including legal, research, and manufacturing.</p>
 <p>The aim of this strategy is to use AI for tackling complex problems and aiding in the inception of newer generation medicines. With this approach, they have already managed to launch more than 750 GPTs within Moderna, notably enhancing automation processes and productivity levels. </p>
 
</div>

Moderna and OpenAI partner to advance mRNA medicine with GenAI tools

<div>
 
 <p>Parloa, a German AI and automation firm specializing in customer service, has secured USD 66 million in a Series B round. The funding round was led by Altimeter Capital and included participation from EQT Ventures, Newion, Senovo, Mosaic Ventures, and La Familia Growth.</p>
 <p>The company plans to utilize this investment to amplify its growth in the European and US markets. Notably, since they opened an office in New York last year, Parloa has expressed a strong interest in the US market.</p>
 <p>Based in Berlin, Parloa is a software provider for enterprises, specializing in conversational AI technologies for contact centers. The company has crafted a platform that uses AI to improve customer service interactions across various channels, including phone and digital. The technology of the company incorporates features like speech-to-text and natural language understanding, enabling smooth communication between businesses and their customers.</p>
 
</div>

All Updates