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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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📰 Important News

• OpenAI is going full force with its “12 Days of OpenAI” announcing multiple products, features, and integrations including its video generation model Sora.

• Elon Musk's X launched Aurora, an AI image generator by xAI, through its Grok assistant, offering photorealistic rendering and text-based edits.

• Blue Origin is aiming to launch its New Glenn rocket by late 2024, pending FAA approval for a crucial hot fire test.

• A California court has ordered Automattic to restore WP Engine’s access to WordPress.org and its Advanced Custom Field plugin, following a lawsuit.

• Fintech firm Bluevine laid off 100 employees marking its second wave of layoffs in six months, as it adjusts to market changes.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Archer Aviation raised $430 million to build defense aircraft through a partnership with Anduril, developing a hybrid VTOL for military use.

• Walmart and Ribbit Capital are leading a $300 million funding round for FinTech startup One with a valuation of $2.5 billion.

• Liquid AI raised $250 million in a Series A led by AMD to develop more efficient general-purpose AI models using liquid neural networks.

• Zest AI has secured a $200 million growth investment from Insight Partners to accelerate its AI-powered lending technology.

• Ayar Labs raised $155 million in Series D funding, reaching a $1 billion valuation, to advance its optical interconnect solutions.

💰️ Notable Exits

• ServiceTitan went public on the Nasdaq raising $625 million to pay off venture investors and avoid penalties.

• Cohesity has merged with Veritas’ data protection business, creating a $7 billion entity with 12,000 customers.

• Fortinet acquired Israeli cybersecurity firm Perception Point to enhance its services with AI-driven collaboration and email security.

• Automattic acquired WPAI to integrate AI solutions like CodeWP and AgentWP into WordPress, with WPAI's team joining to enhance AI-driven tools.

• Toronto-based Cookin has been acquired by New York’s CookUnity in an all-stock deal, uniting their complementary food delivery models.

🏦 About Investors

• G2 Venture Partners is raising $750 million for its third fund to support climate and sustainability startups.

• Dimension Capital raised an oversubscribed $500 million second fund to invest in the intersection of life sciences and technology across all stages.

• Protego Ventures, Israel's first defense-exclusive VC fund, secured $70 million in two weeks, targeting $200 million in total.

• The OpenAI Startup Fund raised $44 million for its fifth and largest SPV, bringing its total SPV funding to $114.2 million in 2024.

• Humba Ventures raised a $40 million fund to invest in deep tech and defense tech, focusing on segments like cancer and nuclear microreactors.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Archer Aviation

Archer Aviation, a San Jose-based eVTOL pioneer co-founded by Adam Goldstein and Brett Adcock, has raised $430 million in equity funding from investors including Stellantis, United Airlines, Wellington Management, and Abu Dhabi's 2PointZero, bringing its total financing to nearly $2 billion. The funding supports Archer’s partnership with defense tech firm Anduril to develop a hybrid gas-electric VTOL aircraft for military use, leveraging Anduril's AI-powered Lattice platform for advanced threat detection and situational awareness. Manufactured at Archer’s Georgia plant, the aircraft will target defense applications like reconnaissance and rescue missions, with potential weaponization. This initiative positions Archer to secure lucrative Department of Defense contracts, expanding its footprint in the defense sector.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

G2 Venture Partners

G2 Venture Partners, a leading venture capital firm specializing in climate and sustainability investments, is raising $750 million for its third fund, signaling strong confidence in the sector amid mixed market sentiments. Founded in 2017 by former partners of Kleiner Perkins Green Growth Fund, including David Mount and Brook Porter, G2VP focuses on transformative technology companies aiming to decouple growth from resource consumption. The firm has a robust portfolio featuring companies like Arcadia, 1Komma5, and Crusoe, and its previous $500 million fund attracted notable limited partners such as Daimler, Shell Ventures, and Mitsui. The new fund reflects G2VP's commitment to driving innovation in sustainable energy, manufacturing, and agriculture.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: UNICEF Venture Fund

Apply to the UNICEF Venture Fund's AI and Blockchain for Data and Trust program by December 23rd, 2024, and secure up to $100,000 in equity-free funding for your innovative startup. If you're developing cutting-edge technologies addressing misinformation, data integrity, or digital trust for children, this is your opportunity. UNICEF is specifically seeking early-stage, for-profit technology startups registered in UNICEF program countries with working prototypes in AI, machine learning, or blockchain. Women-led and young founders are especially encouraged to apply, with a focus on creating Open Source solutions that can radically improve children's digital experiences and safety.