01 Jan - 31 Jan 2025

Reid Hoffman’s Manas AI Raises $24.6M to Revolutionize Drug Discovery

Quibim, the Spanish health-tech startup transforming healthcare through AI-powered imaging biomarkers, has raised $50 million in Series A funding to enhance its platform and expand its U.S. presence. Co-led by Asabys and Buenavista Equity Partners, this investment will fuel the company’s mission to revolutionize diagnostics, clinical trials, and drug development.

Founded in 2015, Quibim leverages AI and imaging biomarkers to analyze medical scans at scale, helping clinicians make precise, personalized treatment decisions. Their platform is already making strides in oncology, neurology, and metabolic disorders, with over 170 installations worldwide and key partnerships with Mass General Brigham, Stanford, and Philips.

By creating human digital twins—dynamic models of patients’ health—Quibim is unlocking new possibilities in healthcare, enabling more accurate disease characterization and better patient outcomes.

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Quibim Secures $50M to Accelerate AI-Driven Healthcare Revolution

Quibim, the Spanish health-tech startup transforming healthcare through AI-powered imaging biomarkers, has raised $50 million in Series A funding to enhance its platform and expand its U.S. presence. Co-led by Asabys and Buenavista Equity Partners, this investment will fuel the company’s mission to revolutionize diagnostics, clinical trials, and drug development.

Founded in 2015, Quibim leverages AI and imaging biomarkers to analyze medical scans at scale, helping clinicians make precise, personalized treatment decisions. Their platform is already making strides in oncology, neurology, and metabolic disorders, with over 170 installations worldwide and key partnerships with Mass General Brigham, Stanford, and Philips.

By creating human digital twins—dynamic models of patients’ health—Quibim is unlocking new possibilities in healthcare, enabling more accurate disease characterization and better patient outcomes.

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World’s first universal robotics software platform BOW raises €4.7 million

Sheffield-based BOW, a pioneer in universal robotics software, has raised €4.7 million in Seed funding, paving the way for accessible and efficient robot programming.

What’s New?
– Investment Round: Northern Gritstone leads the funding, backed by Finance Yorkshire and Praetura Ventures.
– Leadership Update: Liz Upton, co-founder of Raspberry Pi, has joined as chair of the board.
– Breaking Barriers: BOW’s platform lets developers use any programming language or OS to create portable robotics applications.

Why It Matters:
Robotics holds immense potential to solve global challenges, but high costs and programming complexity have been major roadblocks. BOW’s solution eliminates these barriers, empowering general software developers to shape the future of robotics.

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Co-founded by Spotify’s Daniel Ek, Neko Health aims to revolutionize healthcare with affordable, fast, and non-invasive full-body scans designed for early detection and prevention.

Key Highlights

– $260M funding secured, backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, General Catalyst, and others, fueling expansion across Europe and the U.S.
– Full-body scans completed in minutes, using over 70 sensors and 50 million data points for detailed health insights.
– Over 10,000 scans have already been performed, with a waiting list exceeding 100,000 and an 80% rebooking rate.
– Priced at £299, the scans detect risks for cancer, heart disease, pre-diabetes, and more.

Neko Health is transforming healthcare from reactive to proactive, enabling individuals to take control of their health.

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OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle launch $500B AI infrastructure plan

Birmingham-based 4T2 Sensors has successfully secured £796K in seed funding to expand its groundbreaking fluid analysis technology. The funding round, led by the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (WMCO), Waterpoint Lane, and angel investors, will help the company empower Food and Beverage (F&B) manufacturers to meet their ESG goals and enhance production efficiency.

How 4T2 is Transforming F&B Manufacturing

The F&B industry faces challenges with the Clean-in-Place (CIP) process, which often uses harsh chemicals and large volumes of water. 4T2’s innovative sensor technology optimizes this process, reducing downtime, cutting costs, and minimizing water wastage. With real-time fluid analysis, the technology enables greater control over industrial processes and boosts sustainability.

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NEURA Robotics Secures €120M to Accelerate Global Growth in Humanoid Robotics

NEURA Robotics, Germany’s leading humanoid robotics company, has raised €120 million in a Series B funding round to fuel its R&D efforts and expand its Neuraverse platform. The round was led by Lingotto Investment Management, with support from Volvo Cars Tech Fund, BlueCrest Capital Management, and more.

Founded in 2019 by CEO David Reger, NEURA Robotics has quickly become a leader in cognitive and humanoid robotics, designing robots that seamlessly integrate with human teams across industries like manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. The company’s AI-driven technology, including the world’s first cognitive cobot, has been transforming industrial robotics.

This funding will help NEURA Robotics continue its growth trajectory, having already achieved 10x revenue growth and secured a €1 billion order book.

The next phase of growth will focus on expanding the Neuraverse platform, driving innovation, and developing market-leading products.

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E-commerce tech pioneer Rokt has reached new heights, announcing a $335 million secondary share offering that propels its valuation to $3.5 billion, a leap from $2.4 billion in 2022. Backed by major investors like Tiger Global, Square Peg, and SecondQuarter, this funding marks a pivotal step for the company.

Adding to the momentum, Rokt plans to acquire customer data platform mParticle by Rokt in a $300 million deal, further enhancing its AI-powered solutions for personalized online shopping. With its unique focus on the “Transaction Moment™,” Rokt helps brands like Uber, Macy’s, and AMC Theatres optimize engagement and revenue.

Operating across 15 global markets, Rokt continues to shape the future of e-commerce with cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies.

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Nvidia backs MetAI, a Taiwanese startup that creates AI-powered digital twins

NVIDIA has made a bold move into Taiwan’s startup scene, leading a $4 million seed round for MetAI—a company redefining digital twin technology. Known for its Omniverse platform, Nvidia’s investment marks its first in Taiwan, accelerating the development of industrial AI applications.

What is MetAI Doing Differently?
MetAI uses AI and 3D tech to convert CAD files into simulation-ready digital twins in minutes. Its solutions are tailored to industries like semiconductor manufacturing, smart warehouses, and automation. By reducing simulation times from thousands of hours to just minutes, MetAI is setting a new benchmark in efficiency.

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WhatsApp Set to Launch Meta AI Home Screen Widget

WhatsApp is enhancing accessibility with a new AI at Meta widget, allowing users to interact with AI directly from their home screens.

Key Features:

1- Quick access to Meta AI without opening the app.

2- Capture and share photos instantly for tasks like editing or content analysis.

3- Available to select users in specific regions, with broader access expected soon.

This innovation follows WhatsApp’s broader AI initiatives, including tools for creating customizable AI chatbots tailored to user needs.

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WhatsApp introduces event feature for individual chats

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature for individual chats, allowing users to create and share events directly. Currently available in beta (version 2.25.1.18) for Android, this update builds on the group-focused event tool.

Key details include:

1- Event name, description, date, and optional end time.
2- Add locations or links to audio/video calls for flexibility.
3- Invitations are shared instantly with chat participants for quick responses.

This upgrade streamlines coordination, making private planning smoother for meetings and personal gatherings.

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WhatsApp introduces event feature for individual chats

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature for individual chats, allowing users to create and share events directly. Currently available in beta (version 2.25.1.18) for Android, this update builds on the group-focused event tool.

Key details include:

1- Event name, description, date, and optional end time.
2- Add locations or links to audio/video calls for flexibility.
3- Invitations are shared instantly with chat participants for quick responses.

This upgrade streamlines coordination, making private planning smoother for meetings and personal gatherings.

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UK-based Mindgard has raised $8M in funding to address the growing challenges of AI vulnerabilities. The round, led by .406 Ventures with participation from Atlantic Bridge, Willowtree Investments, IQ Capital, and Lakestar, will fuel product development, U.S. expansion, and team growth.

Key Highlights:

1- Development of Dynamic Application Security Testing for AI (DAST-AI) to identify and resolve AI-specific runtime vulnerabilities.
2- Expansion to the U.S. with a leadership presence in Boston.
3- Appointment of industry experts Dave Ganly (formerly of Twilio) and Fergal Glynn (ex-Next DLP) to drive growth and innovation.

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Instagram is set to launch AI-powered video editing tools, transforming the way users create content. Previewed by Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, these features will enable automated edits like background changes, outfit swaps, and quirky Muppet-style avatars.

Built on Meta’s Movie Gen engine, the tools aim to elevate creative storytelling. However, critics raise concerns about preserving the authenticity that social media thrives on.

As Instagram integrates cutting-edge AI into its platform, the challenge lies in balancing innovation with the core of social connection.

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Odd.Bot secures €2 million to weed out the competition with its autonomous AgriTech robot

AgriTech innovator OddBot has raised €2 million in pre-Series A funding, led by Iconic Ventures, alongside contributions from PolKa Capital, private investors, and regional farmers. This investment positions Odd.Bot to scale its Maverick weeding robots and expand operations across Europe.

Game-Changing Technology:

The Maverick robot replaces manual and chemical weeding methods with precision AI-driven solutions, working day and night to weed crops like carrots and onions. Beyond robots, Odd.Bot’s AI-powered weeding tools will soon integrate with standard farming equipment, offering unmatched flexibility to growers.

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Apheris raises $20.8M to power world’s leading life sciences data networks

Berlin-based Apheris has raised $20.8M in Series A funding to transform the way life sciences organizations access and utilize data. The round was led by OTB Ventures and eCAPITAL, with support from existing backers, including Octopus Ventures and Heal Capital.

Solving Healthcare’s Data Bottleneck:

With 97% of healthcare data locked away due to privacy and regulatory challenges, Apheris offers a revolutionary solution: federated computing. This technology allows AI model training without moving sensitive data, ensuring security and compliance while driving breakthroughs in life sciences.

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‘Adyen of digital identity platforms’ Ver.iD raises €2M for European expansion

Dutch startup Ver.iD, a rising leader in digital identity solutions, has raised €2M in angel funding, setting its sights on expanding across Europe. The next step? A €4M funding round to scale operations and meet the growing demand for secure and seamless identity verification.

With the rollout of eIDAS 2.0 by 2026, digital identity is becoming a cornerstone for organizations across Europe. Ver.iD’s platform empowers businesses to integrate secure ID solutions, combat fraud, and enhance user experiences.

Much like Adyen revolutionized payments, Ver.iD simplifies identity app integration while giving users full control over their data. Compliant with top security standards (ISO27001, NIS2, DORA), Ver.iD is already trusted by major clients, including Nationale Nederlanden and the Municipality of Nijmegen.

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Microsoft to spend $80 billion in FY’25 on data centers for AI

Microsoft has committed $80 billion in fiscal year 2025 to develop data centers optimized for artificial intelligence workloads. This strategic investment will support the training of AI models and deployment of cloud-based applications worldwide.

Key Highlights:

1- Over half of the investment will be directed to the United States.
2- Microsoft aims to drive innovation and productivity across various industries using AI.
3- The company positions the U.S. at the forefront of the emerging AI technology wave.

Additionally, reports suggest that Microsoft and OpenAI have discussed creating an AI supercomputer, codenamed Stargate, with an estimated $100 billion investment.

With AI’s growing demand for power, data centers may face challenges in managing electricity consumption in the coming years.

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