Startups & Ventures

💻 Supabase powers the future of developer-friendly databases Supabase is building the next generation of open-source infrastructure, offering scalable, intuitive tools for modern app developers. As AI reshapes how coding is done, Supabase is quickly becoming a favorite backend for startups and enterprises alike. ⚙️ What they’ve built • Open-source backend platform built on PostgreSQL with developer-first design • Features like authentication, auto-generated APIs, and real-time updates out of the box • Tools like Supabase Cron and Edge Functions support AI-native and automation-heavy apps 🚀 How they’re scaling • Serves over 2 million developers across 3.5 million environments • Trusted by companies like Mozilla and GitHub • Managed cloud offering growing rapidly as AI-driven development accelerates ⚡️Why it matters • Positions open-source solutions at the heart of the new AI-era infrastructure • Makes advanced backend capabilities accessible for startups and enterprises globally Can Supabase become the backbone of the next billion-user AI-native apps? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🦄 Top Latin American Unicorns by Valuation Latin America’s startup ecosystem has exploded, producing billion-dollar companies across fintech, proptech, crypto, logistics, and more. Here’s a quick look at the region’s biggest private tech players: 🏪 Rappi ($5.25B) • Colombia’s super app for delivery, payments, and more, now eyeing an IPO after reaching break-even. 🏠 QuintoAndar ($5.1B) • Brazilian proptech giant transforming real estate rentals and sales across six countries. 💳 Creditas ($4.8B) • Brazilian fintech specializing in consumer loans, with a growing foothold in financial services. 🛒 Nuvemshop (Tiendanube) ($3.1B) • E-commerce platform for SMEs, often called “Latin America’s Shopify.” 🎮 Wildlife Studios (~$3B) • Mobile gaming studio from Brazil, backed by Benchmark, facing slower growth after fast scaling. 🏠Loft ($2.9B) • Digital real estate platform from Brazil, navigating market turbulence while expanding. 🪪 Unico ($2.6B) • Brazilian ID tech leader and major SaaS player, enabling secure digital verification. 🏦 C6 Bank ($2.28B) • Brazilian digital bank with 35M clients, now partially owned by JPMorgan Chase. 📈 Kavak ($2.2B) • Mexican platform for buying and selling used cars online, rebuilding momentum after valuation cuts. 💱Bitso ($2.2B) • Leading Latin American crypto exchange facilitating cross-border payments. 💳 CloudWalk ($2.15B) • Payment infrastructure company behind InfinitePay, now profitable and scaling fast. 🛍 Clip ($2B) • Mexico’s answer to Square, offering fintech tools and POS systems for businesses. 🚗Loggi (~$2B) • Logistics startup specializing in last-mile delivery across Brazil. Despite market challenges, Latin America’s leading startups show that the region’s tech scene is not just surviving — it’s building a foundation for the next global breakout companies. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🔎 CSignum builds wireless data networks for underwater environments Scottish startup CSignum is developing wireless communication systems that transmit data through water, ice, soil, and rock. As industries demand better real-time monitoring, CSignum’s technology could change how we manage underwater and underground infrastructure. ⚙️ What they’re building • EM-2 technology based on patented electromagnetic field signalling (EMFS) • Wireless data transmission through submerged and buried environments • Deployed in water quality monitoring, ship maintenance, and infrastructure security 📈 How they’re growing • Secured over €6.9M in Series A funding led by Archangels, Par Equity, and others • Expanding engineering teams and developing new product lines • Scaling operations across the UK, EU, and US as environmental regulations tighten ⚡️ Why it matters • Enables real-time monitoring in places where traditional networks fail • Supports industries facing stricter compliance and resource management needs Underwater wireless communication become a new standard for smart infrastructure. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🚀 Albedo is building satellites that can track people from space Albedo is raising a Series B round at a $285M valuation to scale its ultra-high-resolution satellite imagery technology. The startup offers a new way to map, monitor, and transform industries like agriculture, energy, and defense — but not without privacy concerns. ⚙️ What they’re building • Very low-Earth-orbit satellites delivering the highest commercially available resolution • Imagery for agriculture, insurance, energy, utilities, and defense sectors • First satellite (Clarity-1) successfully launched • Contracts signed with the US Air Force for up to $12M 🚀 How they’re scaling • Raising close to $100M in new Series B funding • Valuation almost doubled from $150M to $285M pre-money in under two years • Backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Initialized Capital, AWS Startups, and others ❓Why it’s controversial • Satellites capable of tracking people sparked dystopian privacy concerns • Company claims humans can be imaged but not individually identified Is ultra-precise satellite imagery the future — or a surveillance nightmare in the making? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

⚡️ Slate Auto debuts ultra-customizable, low-cost EV to challenge Tesla's dominance ⚙️ What they’ve built: • Unveiled a modular EV pickup called Blank Slate, starting under $20,000 post-tax credit • Manual windows, no default infotainment screen, and no paint - fully customizable design • Offers two battery options: 150 miles or 240 miles range • 150kW rear motor, small size compared to rivals, and basic federally mandated safety features ❓How they’re changing the game: • Over 100 accessories at launch, letting owners transform the vehicle from pickup to SUV • DIY kits, wraps, and accessories via “Slate University” for non-gearheads • Focus on cutting production costs by eliminating paint shops and embracing personalization • Building factory in Indiana, focusing on domestic production and low overhead 🚀 Why it matters: • Targets a severely underserved low-cost EV segment • Reverses the usual “high-end luxury EV first” approach seen with Rivian, Lucid, Fisker • Bezos and other heavyweight backers provide financial firepower for scaling • Could redefine how Americans think about EV ownership — affordable, modular, personal In a market drowning in $70K EVs, Slate Auto is betting that cheap, customizable, and proudly analog is the real future of electric vehicles. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🍷WineFi wants to modernise fine wine investing for a new generation London-based startup WineFi is reshaping the fine wine investment world, blending financial expertise with data-driven technology to make wine a serious alternative asset for high-net-worth investors. 🧪 How WineFi is changing the game • Targets investors who view wine primarily as an asset class, not just a collectible • Offers syndicated wine portfolios starting from £3,000 and bespoke solutions for family offices • Leverages data science and deep industry expertise to guide portfolio construction 🚀 What's next after the £1.5M raise • Fuel team growth and expand partnerships across the NHS, enterprise, and local authorities • Push for industry fiduciary standards like audits, segregation of client assets, and transparency policies 📈 Why this matters • Fine wine is increasingly seen as a diversified, low-correlation asset, alongside collectibles like art and whisky • WineFi’s low-fee structure and brokerage-inclusive model disrupts traditional merchant commission systems Would you ever diversify your portfolio with fine wine – or does investing in bottles feel too vintage for modern times? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

⚙️ British startup Isembard wants to bring precision manufacturing back home London-based Isembard is building a network of smart factories to reshore production for critical industries like aerospace, defense, and energy — starting with a $9M seed round. ⭕️ Their industrial reboot • On-demand precision part manufacturing from local facilities • First factory already live in London since January • Unified tech layer MasonOS connects and automates operations across locations 💠 What makes it different • Focused on distributed manufacturing, not mega-factories • Provides quoting, scheduling, machine programming — all via proprietary software • Aims to outcompete outdated suppliers with speed, automation, and resilience 💰 Who’s backing them • Led by Notion Capital, joined by 201 Ventures, Material Ventures, and others • Angels include Andreas Klinger (EU Inc) and Joshua Western (Space Forge) 🌎Bigger mission Isembard isn’t just chasing market share — it’s building the infrastructure to re-industrialize the West. From drones to defense, they want local supply chains to work like global ones — fast, cheap, and software-first. Will the distributed model beat the megafactory playbook in reshoring critical supply chains? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🤖 Uber and Volkswagen team up to launch robotaxi fleets in the U.S. A major new partnership is putting self-driving electric vans on U.S. roads. Uber and Volkswagen will roll out autonomous ID. BUZZ robotaxis, starting in Los Angeles by 2026, with fully driverless rides expected in 2027. 🔧 What’s in motion • Joint effort between Uber and Volkswagen’s ADMT subsidiary • Robotaxis based on VW's ID. BUZZ electric microbuses, powered by Mobileye AV tech • Initial rides will include safety drivers, shifting to full autonomy in 2027 📍Where and when • Los Angeles is the pilot market, with testing beginning later this year • More cities planned, but not yet named 🚘 Why this matters • VW previously pulled out of AV startup Argo and is now going all-in on own fleet + tech • Uber adds another partner to its 14+ AV collaborations across robotaxi, delivery, and trucking • The ID. BUZZ rollout combines high-volume production with urban AV deployment Will passengers get into a fully driverless microbus by 2027 — or will regulators and tech delays stall the ride? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

⚡️ RepAir wants to slash the cost of carbon removal using battery-like tech Israeli climate startup RepAir Carbon is reimagining direct air capture with a reversible, battery-inspired system that could make CO₂ removal far cheaper and more scalable. 🧪 Rethinking the chemical process RepAir replaces heat-based CO₂ extraction with electricity-driven electrochemical reactions. Using stacked electrodes and a membrane, its system continuously traps and releases carbon without downtime, unlike traditional solvent-based tech. 🔋 Built for scale and efficiency The platform mimics the design of a fuel cell or battery, but works bidirectionally — regenerating in real time while operating. This makes it compact, efficient, and modular, with the potential to drop costs to $70–$80 per ton (vs. ~$600 today). 🌎 Where it’s headed The startup just secured a $15M Series A extension led by Extantia and Taranis, plus a $3M grant from the Israeli Innovation Authority. It’s now exploring deployments in gas turbines and data centers for industrial carbon removal. 💡 Final thought: RepAir’s “electro-capture” model could mark a turning point — bringing carbon removal tech closer to economic viability and mainstream adoption. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

⚡️ Flock Mobility is rethinking how institutions move people London-based Flock Mobility is building a cleaner, smarter way for organisations to manage transport — with modular EV fleets and AI-optimised routing for shared rides, shuttles, and self-drive services. 🔄 What they’re changing: • Combines on-demand, scheduled, and self-drive EVs into one flexible platform • Offers both plug-in software and full-service solutions (drivers, EVs, insurance, charging) • Already deployed at NHS Trusts and residential estates, reducing emissions and boosting vehicle utilisation by up to 70% 📊 What’s next for Flock With new capital from the Skyscanner founder and the European Space Agency, the startup is: • Expanding into more NHS networks and city councils • Adding use cases like emergency deliveries and medical transport • Hiring across product, data, and operations to scale its optimisation engine 💜 Why this matters Legacy fleet solutions are rigid and carbon-heavy. Flock enables a multi-modal, low-emission system tailored to how people actually move — from care workers to commuters. Will this kind of modular, AI-driven mobility become the default for public services and enterprise fleets? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🚗 Slate Auto wants to reinvent the car as a customizable ‘Transformer’ Backed by Jeff Bezos, stealth EV startup Slate Auto is preparing to unveil its first vehicle — a shapeshifting electric car with modular design at its core. Ahead of its April 24 reveal, Slate has already planted disguised prototypes on California streets, hinting at a bold strategy to blur the line between pickup, SUV, and hatchback. ⚙️ How it works (allegedly) • The “Blank Slate” base model can be fully customized by buyers • Concept versions seen so far include: a pickup truck, an SUV-style cover, and a hatchback shell • Internally, the team pitched it as a “Transformer-style” vehicle with interchangeable components • Marketing plays include fake business wraps and countdown websites tied to the launch 🔐 What they’re building behind closed doors • A $25K price target for the modular EV • Investor demos featured live transformation setups — a base vehicle was modified mid-meeting • Over $100M raised, with board seats filled by heavyweights like Guggenheim CEO Mark Walter ❓ Why it’s different Most EV startups race to release another Tesla clone. Slate is betting on physical flexibility as a core value — like turning one vehicle into several based on context. Think “Rivian meets IKEA” with an edge. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🧪Aquark traps cold atoms underwater — and opens a new quantum frontier British startup Aquark Technologies just made history by trapping cold atoms underwater for the first time — in partnership with the National Oceanography Centre and their famously named sub, Boaty McBoatface. 💧 A new testing ground for quantum • Aquark’s Super Molasses Trap (SMT) maintained ultra-cold atom clouds inside a moving underwater vessel • Successfully operated in high-pressure, low-temperature conditions in NOC's massive indoor tank • Demonstrated extreme robustness — key for quantum sensing in real-world deployments ⭕️ Why this matters for the future • Cold atoms are sensitive to gravitational and magnetic changes, making them ideal for precision navigation and seabed imaging • Aquark’s platform can one day help measure mineral densities, detect hidden objects, or navigate in GPS-denied environments • A step toward real-world, long-duration quantum sensing — even in oceans or polar regions ⚙️ Where they’re headed next Aquark plans to scale its SMT for deployment in autonomous underwater vehicles (like Boaty), with near-term applications in defense, climate monitoring, and resource exploration. Is this how we’ll one day map the ocean floor — with lasers, atoms, and a submarine named Boaty McBoatface? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

📞 Lace AI wants to turn your missed calls into money Ex-Meta engineer Boris Valkov is tackling a quiet revenue leak in home services — phone calls that don’t convert. His new startup, Lace AI, uses AI to analyze 100% of inbound calls for missed sales opportunities. 🧠 From PyTorch to phone calls After building PyTorch at Meta, Valkov realized AI could reshape the software layer. His journey began in his family’s grocery store, where customer service was everything. With co-founder Stan Stoyanov, he turned that insight into a startup aimed at HVAC, plumbing, and roofing businesses. 💬 What Lace actually does • Monitors and analyzes every customer call • Flags dropped leads or mishandled interactions • Helps reps recover and improve conversion rates • Operates on a per-agent SaaS model 📈 Early traction and funding • 100+ business clients • 1000% ARR growth in 2024 (after launching late 2023) • $19M raised to date — including a new $14M seed led by Bek Ventures • Team set to triple from 20 employees For sectors with $300M+ revenue, even a 1% booking boost adds millions — and Lace says some clients are already seeing double-digit growth. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

⚡ Ather trims IPO target as EV market cools in India Indian EV startup Ather is downsizing its IPO, aiming to raise $308M at a $1.4B post-money valuation — down from last year’s $2B ambition. 📉 Adjusting expectations Citing market conditions, Ather slashed its offering by 18%. Existing shareholders, including Tiger Global and co-founders, are selling fewer shares than initially planned. Hero MotoCorp, its largest backer (40% stake), isn’t selling. 💰 Where the money goes Ather plans to channel funds into: • A new EV manufacturing plant in Maharashtra ($108.8M) • R&D efforts ($88M) • Marketing ($35.2M) • Debt repayment ($4.7M) 📊 EV sales snapshot Ather sold over 126K units in 2024, securing a 10.7% market share. That’s a 21% YoY sales bump — but still dwarfed by rival Ola Electric’s 34.1% hold. Ola’s IPO soared on debut but has since dropped 42%. Is Ather's more conservative listing a smart play — or a signal of slowing EV hype in India? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

💻 Adaptive Computer wants to let anyone build apps — no coding needed Adaptive Computer, the latest venture from Mem co-founder Dennis Xu, aims to redefine how everyday people interact with software. Instead of learning to code, users simply describe what they want — and Adaptive builds the app for them. 🧠 A new kind of “personal computer” Forget hardware — Adaptive’s platform (ac1) is a no-code web-based engine that builds real apps from text prompts. It handles everything from backend setup to payments, user auth, AI tools, and database management. ⚡️ Built for non-technical creators Unlike tools like Replit or Lovable, which started with developers in mind, Adaptive is designed for total beginners. No API keys, no config hell — just describe the app you want, and it's up and running in minutes. ⚙️ It’s more than an app builder Apps created inside Adaptive can talk to each other — one user built a file-sharing tool, then made a second app that used those files for AI storytelling. Xu calls it “an operating system for your ideas.” 💰 Backed by $7M in fresh capital from Pebblebed, Conviction, and others, the platform is still in alpha but already showing off real use cases: PDF readers, e-comm stores, AI companions. Is “vibe coding” the beginning of a world where building software is as easy as talking? 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🚁 Hammer Missions wants to streamline building inspections with drone AI London-based startup Hammer Missions is rethinking how structures are inspected — using drones and AI to turn slow, expensive site visits into automated, data-rich assessments. 🔍 How it works: Hammer’s software enables fully automated drone flights to map and inspect buildings. It captures high-res data for use cases like facade scanning, defect detection, roof analysis, and thermal forensics, generating 3D reports without needing bulky equipment or scaffolding. ⭕️ Why the need is real: Traditional inspections are costly, slow, and often limited by access. In the wake of the UK’s Building Safety Act and global attention to structural risk, real-time, scalable, and accurate inspections are no longer a luxury — they’re a necessity. 💰Where they’re expanding: With €1.6M in fresh funding from ACF Investors and angels like GeoSLAM’s founder and former Atkins execs, Hammer Missions is: • Accelerating product development • Growing its presence in the US — where it already works with Thornton Tomasetti and SGH • Scaling its AI to support 3D data capture across 20K+ drone flights 💡 Why it stands out: Hammer’s core strength is in combining hardware-agnostic flight control with AI-powered reporting — helping clients cut inspection time and cost while improving precision. Instead of sifting through raw drone data, engineers get decision-ready insights — a game-changer for safety and compliance workflows. Hammer Missions is not just flying drones — it’s rebuilding how the built world is monitored. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🧪Skin Analytics wants to eliminate deaths from skin cancer with AI-first diagnostics British HealthTech company Skin Analytics is using AI to transform how skin cancer is diagnosed, aiming to fix the global shortage of dermatologists and reduce time-to-diagnosis with scalable, regulated automation. ⚙️ What they’ve built: Skin Analytics developed DERM, the world’s first AI medical device to receive EU MDR Class III CE mark for making independent clinical decisions on skin cancer. The tool can autonomously discharge up to 40% of urgent referrals, reducing face-to-face appointments by up to 95%. 🌎 Where they’re headed: With fresh €17.5M in Series B funding led by Intrepid Growth Partners, the startup plans to expand across Europe, Australia, and the US. Already deployed in 26 NHS sites and used by over 150,000 patients, Skin Analytics wants to become a global triage standard. ⚪️ Why it matters: Dermatologist shortages are worsening worldwide — with just ~30 specialists per million people across Europe. DERM has already helped detect over 14,000 cancers, boasting a 99.8% Negative Predictive Value, close to dermatologist-level accuracy. Skin Analytics isn’t just digitizing care — it’s rebuilding the frontlines of cancer detection with regulatory-grade AI. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

🍴 Uber eyes Trendyol Go to relaunch in Turkey via food delivery Uber is reportedly in talks to acquire Trendyol Go, Turkey’s fast-growing food and grocery delivery service — a bold move that would mark its return to the Turkish market after a 5-year exit. 🛒 What Trendyol Go brings: • The delivery arm of Turkey’s largest e-commerce platform, Trendyol • Backed by Alibaba (70% stake) with deep market penetration • Offers Uber a turnkey delivery network with national brand reach 🌎 Why this market matters: • Turkey’s food delivery scene is heating up with players like Getir and Yemeksepeti • Uber Eats generated $13.7B revenue last year and is scaling globally • A foothold in Turkey could unlock broader e-commerce logistics potential ⚠️ What could block the deal: • Uber’s rocky regulatory history in Turkey (ride-hailing banned in 2019) • Ongoing political volatility and economic pressure • Alibaba’s future intentions with Trendyol remain unclear This would be Uber’s second shot at Turkey—this time through food, not rides. If successful, it’s a comeback with serious market potential. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures

💦 “Owen Nowhere” Will Launch With a Crypto Wallet — And It's for Kids We Ghosted Media, founded by “Bob’s Burgers” AD Chris Jammal and “Peg + Cat” producer Jaclynn Demas, is ditching networks and streaming for blockchain. Their new kids’ show will debut this fall on Lamina1, a decentralized platform — with every viewer getting a crypto wallet. 🥋 What they're creating: • An animated series centered on Owen Gloom, a preteen creator on a bizarre family road trip • The show lives inside Lamina1’s Spaces, a virtual world with interactive digital experiences • Viewers can suggest episode ideas, vote on plot points, and collect digital outfits, props, and souvenirs 🌎Why they're using web3: • “Owen Nowhere” isn’t just a show — it’s an open metaverse IP • Digital collectibles double as community tokens, giving fans influence over content • The creators aim to set a “new standard” for decentralized children’s entertainment 👪Who it’s for — and the risks: • Targeted at preteens and older — but onboarding kids into crypto is controversial • Lamina1 says the focus is token-gated access and community rewards, not trading or speculation • Parental concerns over wallet management and financial safety are still being worked out With funding from heavyweights like Reid Hoffman and visual effects projects from Wētā launching on the same platform, “Owen Nowhere” might be the strangest — and most forward-looking — kids’ show launch of the year. 📊 Powered by V3V Ventures