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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - North America and Israel, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌎️

If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.

Let's delve into the core sections of our weekly newsletter:

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🤝 Diversity Spotlight

• 🚀 Startup Of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is raising over $100 million from venture capitalists for her new AI startup to develop proprietary AI products.

• DJI has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Defense challenging its inclusion on a list of "Chinese military companies".

• Sebastien Bubeck, former VP of generative AI research at Microsoft, has joined OpenAI, bringing expertise from his work on Microsoft's Phi models.

• SpaceX secures an eight-launch, $733 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 program.

• Dane Stuckey, former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Palantir, has joined OpenAI as its new CISO, focusing on enhancing security.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund leads a $500 million investment in X-energy to advance small modular nuclear reactors.

• Lightmatter has secured $400 million in Series D funding, increasing its valuation to $4.4 billion, to meet the demand for high-performance computing.

• Splitero has secured a $300 million strategic investment from Antarctica Capital, enhancing its ability to help homeowners access their equity.

• Blockstream, a Montréal-based Bitcoin infrastructure firm, has raised $210 million in convertible note financing led by Fulgur Ventures.

• Terray Therapeutics has secured $120 million in Series B funding to advance its internal programs into clinical trials and enhance its AI platform.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Private equity firm Permira has completed its $7.2 billion acquisition of Squarespace taking the website builder private.

• Zuora, a subscription management software company, will be acquired by private equity firms GIC and Silver Lake for $1.7 billion.

• Schneider Electric acquired a 75% stake in Motivair for $850 million to strengthen its data center liquid cooling capabilities.

• Israeli cyber unicorn Cyera acquired Trail Security for $162 million to integrate Trail’s DLP solution into its cybersecurity platform.

• Round13 Capital is set to acquire TIMIA Group for $6.5 million to enhance its financing options.

🏦 About Investors

• Acrew Capital has successfully raised $700 million bringing its total assets under management to $1.7 billion.

• Former Product Hunt CEO Josh Buckley is raising a $250 million fourth fund for his venture capital firm, Buckley Ventures.

• Eclipse Ventures has expanded beyond Silicon Valley by opening a new office in New York's Soho neighborhood.

• The Ontario government has launched the second phase of its life sciences strategy, committing $146 million to enhance research, increase access to lab space, and modernize procurement.

📈 Deep Dive Bites

Discover the powerhouses fueling New York's startup revolution. From FJ Labs' impressive 1000+ investments to Thrive Capital backing giants like OpenAI, these VCs are shaping global innovation. Curious how Wall Street's neighbor became a tech titan? Dive into the full article to uncover how firms like Union Square Ventures and Greycroft are transforming industries from fintech to AI. Explore their billion-dollar portfolios and learn how they're crafting the next wave of unicorns.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

X Energy

X-energy is a private American company founded in 2009 by Kam Ghaffarian, specializing in advanced nuclear reactor and fuel design. The company's flagship technology, the Xe-100, is a Generation IV high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that uses innovative TRISO-X fuel, known for its exceptional safety features and resilience to extreme temperatures, reducing the risk of meltdown. X-energy aims to revolutionize the nuclear energy sector by offering cost-effective, scalable, and modular solutions that provide clean, carbon-free energy. The company's technology is particularly suited for high-demand industries and is positioned to play a crucial role in the future of sustainable power generation.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Acrew Capital

Acrew Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2019, focusing on early-stage investments in sectors like data security, healthcare, and fintech. The firm emphasizes a dual investment strategy that includes both early-stage funding, typically ranging from $1 million to $15 million for seed and Series A companies, and later-stage investments, providing $10 million to $20 million for Series B and Series C firms. Acrew Capital aims to identify and support innovative startups that address pressing market needs, leveraging its expertise and network to drive growth. With a total of $1.7 billion in assets under management following its recent $700 million fundraising, Acrew Capital is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Action for Women’s Health

Apply for the Action for Women's Health open call and secure funding to enhance women's mental and physical health globally. With a total fund of $250 million, selected organizations will receive flexible funding ranging from $1 million to $5 million. This initiative is designed for organizations focused on serving women and improving health outcomes while centering equity in their approach. To participate, complete the Organizational Readiness Tool and familiarize yourself with the Open Call Rules. Don't miss the chance to scale your impact and contribute to women's health—submit your application by January 10, 2025.