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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 🌎️

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

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📋️ Curated Lists

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🎙️ Expert Insights

• 🤝 Diversity Spotlight

• 🚀 Startup Of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• The DOJ has instructed Google to sell Chrome to break up its online search monopoly.

• The U.S. Commerce Department is finalizing a $7.86 billion subsidy for Intel to boost semiconductor manufacturing in the United States.

• Donald Trump is considering appointing an "AI czar" to coordinate federal AI regulation and government use of AI.

• Canadian news companies have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of using their copyrighted content without permission to train ChatGPT.

• Reid Hoffman, the billionaire venture capitalist known for his vocal criticism of Donald Trump, is considering leaving the U.S. due to fears of retribution.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Halcyon, an Austin-based anti-ransomware startup, raised $100 million in Series C funding, reaching a $1 billion valuation.

• Eon, an Israeli startup founded by AWS veterans, reached unicorn status with a $1.4 billion valuation after raising $70 million.

• /dev/agents raised $56 million in seed funding at a $500 million valuation to create a unified AI agent operating system.

• 35Pharma closed a $53 million oversubscribed Series C financing led by Frazier Life Sciences to advance its pipeline of Activin and GDF inhibitors.

• Sirona Medical raised $42 million in Series C funding led by Avidity Partners to enhance its Unify radiology workflow platform.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Selerix acquired SyncStream Solutions, a leader in ACA reporting technology, creating one of the largest providers of ACA solutions in the U.S.

• Nuqleous has acquired Interactive Edge to enhance its retail analytics and space planning solutions.

• Basepath has been acquired by Teamworks to help build the future operational foundation for college athletics.

• Kingswood Capital Management has acquired IDX, a cybersecurity breach response platform, from ZeroFox,.

• StarCompliance has acquired Aer Compliance to strengthen its cryptocurrency compliance solutions.

🏦 About Investors

• Giannis Antetokounmpo launched Build Your Legacy Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on sports and entertainment investing.

• SoftBank is seeking to purchase $1.5 billion worth of OpenAI shares, aiming to increase its stake in the company after a $500 million investment.

• Theodorus rebrands as Seido Capital and relocates to Montréal, targeting early-stage life sciences startups in North America.

• Sriram Krishnan is leaving Andreessen Horowitz at the end of the year and is reportedly in talks to join Elon Musk at the DOGE.

• Cleo Capital launched a 12-week remote cybersecurity accelerator for pre-seed and seed companies, offering $250,000 for 7% equity.

📋️ Curated Lists

Dive into Pennsylvania's dynamic venture capital ecosystem, where innovation meets opportunity. From Philadelphia’s thriving startups to Pittsburgh’s tech advancements, these leading VC firms are propelling growth across sectors like fintech, life sciences, and energy. Delve into the full article to discover their strategic investments, impactful exits, and visionary leadership that are shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Halcyon

Halcyon, a cybersecurity platform founded in 2021 by Jon Miller and Ryan Smith, specializes in combating ransomware attacks with a unique focus on prevention and resilience. The company has raised $100 million in Series C funding, led by Evolution Equity Partners, with participation from Bain Capital Ventures, SYN Ventures, and others, bringing its total funding to $190 million and achieving a valuation of $1 billion. Halcyon’s proprietary Anti-Ransomware Platform leverages AI/ML models, Key Capture technology, and Data Exfiltration Protection (DXP) to prevent attacks, ensure rapid recovery, and eliminate ransom payments. The funding will drive Halcyon’s growth as a leading anti-ransomware provider.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Build Your Legacy Ventures

NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has launched Build Your Legacy Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on sports and entertainment investments. Antetokounmpo, who will serve as general partner, aims to provide more than just funding by leveraging his network to accelerate growth for companies and support entrepreneurs facing barriers. This move aligns him with other athletes turned investors, such as Serena Williams (Serena Ventures) and Kevin Durant (35V). The trend highlights how celebrities and athletes are increasingly entering the venture capital space, offering founders both financial backing and the visibility of a big-name partnership.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Open Call by Pivotal: 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. Interested organizations must register to apply before December 3, 2024. Complete applications are due before January 10, 2025.