<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Cameo, a creator platform to monetize personalized videos and shoutouts to fans, has entered a commercial partnership with Softbank, an existing investor of Cameo, to add more Japanese creators and expand its platform in Japan as a culturally fluent localized version.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Accordingly, Cameo will appoint a local manager in Japan, which is already one of its largest Asian markets. It is expected to work with Japanese talent agencies like HoriPro Inc. as well as sports teams to recruit more local celebrities and support its overall marketing activities.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SOFTBANK-GROUP-CORP-6492452/news/SoftBank-Cameo-and-SoftBank-Corp-Partner-to-Bring-Service-that-Enables-Fans-to-Receive-Personaliz-39482861/">
      Press release
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.adweek.com/media/cameo-gears-up-for-entry-into-japan/">
      Adweek
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/inno/stories/news/2022/02/16/cameo-japan-softbank.html">
      Chicago Inno
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Creator Economy

Cameo plans for Japan expansion with Softbank backing

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

Digital Privacy Tools

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>BigID, a data security and privacy firm utilizing AI, has introduced a novel hybrid scanning technology for cloud-native workloads. This is reportedly the first of its kind in the industry.</p>
 <p>This hybrid or "dual" scanning technology combines side-scanning and direct scanning techniques to effectively discover, manage, and protect data in the cloud. Clients can use side-scanning for quick data discovery and direct scanning for more comprehensive insights.</p>
</div>

BigID announces hybrid scanning for cloud-native workloads

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

Last-mile Delivery Automation

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 <p>UK company Wayve, which specializes in autonomous vehicle tech, has successfully raised USD 1.05 billion in a Series C funding round. Major participants of this round included SoftBank Group, NVIDIA, and their existing investor, Microsoft. With this latest round of investment, Wayve's total funds now stand at over USD 1.3 billion.</p>
 <p>The funds accrued will be utilized by the company to further advance its AI-assisted automotive technologies and autonomous driving technologies. Furthermore, Wayve also intends to use this capital to broaden its operations at a global level.</p>
 <p>This funding round has not only been recognized as the largest AI fundraiser in the UK but also ranks among the top 20 AI fund raises worldwide.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Wayve is one of the few companies that offers autonomous vehicle technologies for passenger vehicles and last-mile delivery applications; hence, it is featured in our <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/industry/70"> Auto Tech </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/industry/1"> Last-mile Delivery Automation </a> hubs. With today’s fund raise, Wayve leapfrogs as the second-highest funded privately held company in the Auto Tech space, after US- and China-based autonomous vehicle tech company <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/588243"> Pony.ai, </a> which has raised USD 1.33 million to date. The company has also become the second-highest funded startup in the Last-mile Delivery Automation space after peer autonomous delivery vehicle developer <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/454812"> Nuro, </a> which has raised USD 2.1 billion to date.</p>

Wayve raises USD 1.05 billion in Series C funding led by SoftBank

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

<div>
 <p>Wayve, a UK-based company specialising in autonomous vehicle technology, has successfully raised USD 1.05 billion in a Series C funding round. SoftBank Group led this round of funding, with participation coming from NVIDIA and existing investor Microsoft. The total amount of funds raised by the company now exceeds USD 1.3 billion.</p>
 <p>Wayve stated its intent to use these new funds to further develop autonomous and automated driving technologies. This includes their AI-assisted automotive technologies. Furthermore, there is also a plan to expand the company's operations on a global scale.</p>
 <p>This funding round has been noted as the UK’s largest AI fundraiser, and is also one of the top 20 AI fund raises worldwide.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Wayve is one of the few companies that offers autonomous vehicle technologies for passenger vehicles and last-mile delivery applications; hence, it is featured in our <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/industry/70"> Auto Tech </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/industry/1"> Last-mile Delivery Automation </a> hubs. With today’s fund raise, Wayve leapfrogs as the second-highest funded privately held company in the Auto Tech space, after US- and China-based autonomous vehicle tech company <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/588243"> Pony.ai, </a> which has raised USD 1.33 million to date. The company has also become the second-highest funded startup in the Last-mile Delivery Automation space after peer autonomous delivery vehicle developer <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/454812"> Nuro, </a> which has raised USD 2.1 billion to date.</p>

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

Neo Insurance

<div>
 
 <p>Digital homeowners insurance provider, Kin Insurance, has spread its services to Georgia, marking its presence in nine states in total. The other states include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and Texas. The year 2023 saw the company report written premiums amounting to USD 341 million.</p>

</div>

Digital home insurer Kin expands to Georgia

AI-based solutions for evolving digital threats

Next-gen Cybersecurity

<div>
 <p>Cybersecurity company CrowdStrike introduced the Falcon application security posture management (ASPM), a new feature of its Cloud Security platform. Designed to consolidate security operations across cloud apps and infrastructure, it includes a comprehensive cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) that connects development and security teams.</p>
 <p>CrowdStrike also unveiled improvements to its cloud detection and response (CDR), including new functions that safeguard cloud control planes and prevent identity-based attacks and potential spread of attackers within the system.</p>
 </div>

CrowdStrike unifies ASPM and CNAPP; announces CDR updates

Empowering efficiency, visibility and collaboration throughout supply networks

Supply Chain Tech

<div>
 <p>SecurityScorecard has launched its Highly Evolved Intelligence Defense (HEID) AI solution. This tool is intended to improve the security of the digital ecosystem and assist the cybersecurity community with collaboration efforts.</p>
 <p>The HEID AI comes with various features such as an advanced breach prediction algorithm, an auto-filling function for security questionnaires, and the capacity to utilize information from the company's vast risk and threat intelligence dataset. It can track threat activities, monitor potential data leaks, provide vulnerability intelligence, create transparent security ratings, analyze malware DNS sinkhole requests, conduct global scanning, and classify risks.</p>
 <p>According to SecurityScorecard, the main benefits of HEID AI include an increase in breach prediction accuracy by 80% and a decrease in false positives to under 1%. Furthermore, it streamlines the process of vendor onboarding by minimizing the time spent on manual tasks.&nbsp;</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> In January 2024, the company also <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/25973"> launched </a> SecurityScorecard MAX, a managed service for supply chain cyber risk, to enhance third-party cybersecurity through active, real-time risk monitoring and remediation. The latest solution complements the managed service offerings with enhanced cybersecurity predictions and efficiency.</p>

SecurityScorecard launches HEID AI for enhanced cybersecurity predictions and efficiency

<div>
 <p>ketteQ has launched a new product called "Barcelona", which aims to significantly enhance supply chain planning and management through added intelligence and adaptability. This is achieved through the use of GenAI, machine learning, novel supply chain solver and open architecture.</p>
 <p>Some key features of Barcelona include the implementation of ChatGPT for real-time supply chain data queries, seamless integration with Salesforce for improved sales and operations planning, availability to promise (ATP) processes, unlimited autonomous scenario planning and solver capabilities.</p>
 <p>ketteQ purports that Barcelona allows companies to better understand and manage their supply chains. It is expected to simplify decision-making processes, increase on-time deliveries and subsequently drive revenue growth. By blending human expertise with AI, companies can optimize their decision-making processes. </p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> Logility has also expanded GenAI capabilities across its digital supply chain platform to navigate supply chain planning challenges in demand, supply, inventory, and order fulfillment. Its key features include natural language interaction for a user-friendly experience, specialized AI-driven analysis of supply chain networks and data, and the smooth integration of these features into Logility's platform, facilitating the efficient deployment of AI without significant investments in data science resources.</p>

ketteQ launches Barcelona, a GenAI and ML-based supply chain planning solution

<div>
 <p>Exiger, a global authority in regulatory risk and compliance, is launching a new feature named Proactive Intelligence. The feature aims to give corporations and government institutions advanced predictive risk analytics and early warnings about potential supply chain disruptions.</p>
 <p>Proactive Intelligence includes a range of key features, including comprehensive supplier data, insights into possible supply chain crises, and sophisticated predictive risk analytics. This feature will form an integral part of the existing Exiger system, granting customers a real-time operational control experience. Businesses will be able to see how varying events could impact them, while at the same time considering necessary regulatory requirements, and identifying potential vulnerabilities.</p>
 <p>The company believes that Proactive Intelligence will greatly assist businesses in making more informed long-term risk management decisions. It aims to enable immediate responses to crises within the supply chain. By providing comprehensive and correct supplier data and predictive analytics, the service will not only identify potential disruptions but will also assist organisations in navigating an ever changing risk landscape.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Proactive risk identification is key to preserving supply chain integrity amidst disruptions. Earlier this month, Sayari <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/28374"> launched </a> the Sayari Map for enhanced supply chain risk identification. The offering provides a view into complex global supply chains, easing the burden of mapping and screening for potential risks.</p>

Exiger launches proactive intelligence capability for predictive risk analytics

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 <p>Logility has improved its GenAI capabilities on its Digital Supply Chain Platform in partnership with Deloitte Canada. This enhanced product aims to simplify complex data interpretation and optimize supply chain efficiency.</p>
 <p>The enhanced GenAI capabilities are designed to address supply chain planning challenges across demand, supply, inventory, and order fulfillment areas. Key features of this upgrade include natural language interaction for improved user experience, AI-based analysis of supply chain data and connections, as well as a seamless integration of these features into Logility's platform. This is meant to aid in the efficient use of AI without requiring significant investments in data science resources.</p>
 <p>The company asserts the new features will enable organizations to concentrate more on strategic decision-making and high-value tasks. Logility also promotes GenAI as a solution to ongoing supply chain challenges like workforce issues, unpredictable markets, large data volumes, and complex analytics.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Recently, Logility has been leveraging GenAI to enhance its platform capabilities. In February 2024, the company <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/26368"> introduced </a> GenAI capabilities to enhance its supply chain planning offerings, enabling users to obtain insights through a conversational interface, streamline supply chain decision-making, and enhance information access and productivity in demand and inventory management.</p>

Logility expands GenAI capabilities across digital supply chain platform

Foundation Models

<div>
 
 <p>Microsoft is said to be developing a large language model named MAI-1. This model might compete with other developers in this field such as Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. </p>
 <p>MAI-1 is reported to be a large-scale model, with an estimated 500 billion parameters. This size makes it larger than some of Microsoft's other open-source models.&nbsp;</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> While Microsoft has already partnered with OpenAI to leverage its models, the development of MAI-1 reflects a desire for more independent AI model capabilities. Reportedly, the goal is to have a balanced access system consisting of OpenAI's leading AI models, in-house developed MAI-1, and smaller models for on-device scenarios.</p>

All Updates

BigID announces hybrid scanning for cloud-native workloads

Wayve raises USD 1.05 billion in Series C funding led by SoftBank

Wayve raises USD 1.05 billion in Series C funding led by SoftBank

Digital home insurer Kin expands to Georgia

CrowdStrike unifies ASPM and CNAPP; announces CDR updates

SecurityScorecard launches HEID AI for enhanced cybersecurity predictions and efficiency

ketteQ launches Barcelona, a GenAI and ML-based supply chain planning solution

Exiger launches proactive intelligence capability for predictive risk analytics

Logility expands GenAI capabilities across digital supply chain platform

Microsoft reportedly develops MAI-1, an in-house AI model