We’re entering a new era where AI is no longer confined to screens or data centers — it's transforming the physical world, infrastructure systems, and the very foundations of trust. The OPTIM Update explores three converging frontiers that together define the next decade of opportunity.
DEEPTECH x AI
Butlr secures $38M Round B fundingButlr announced its $38M Series B round funding on Aug 26th 2024 Burlingame, Calif. – August 26, 2024 – Butlr, a physical AI (PAI) startup, today announced $38M in Series B funding to meet the increasing demand for its sensors and anonymous data that can be used
DEEPTECH x AI
SirenOpt Raises $6.6M in Seed Funding to Transform Materials Manufacturing Blind Spots into Real-Time Insights Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma | ManufacturingTomorrowNon-destructive solution evaluates material quality and improves industrial efficiency across battery, aerospace, semiconductor, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industriesManufacturingTomorrow Visit https://www.sirenopt.com/ for further information Non-destructive solution evaluates
DEEPTECH x AI
AI in the form of efficient neural networks and transformers are changing everything; recursive self improvement has the potential to…
Could there be an opening for smaller, more nimble companies to compete with NVIDIA on designing more efficient hardware to run transformer…
End-to-End Neural Networks in Mobility and Robotics — an interesting direction
DEEPTECH x AI
Written by Bogdan Cristei of Shack15 Ventures and Tim Yang of Tyche Partners; they are deep tech investors based out of the San Francisco…
DEEPTECH x AI
A primer written by Ale Vergara of Bee Partners and Bogdan Cristei of Union Labs Ventures; they are early-stage, deep tech investors based…
DEEPTECH x AI
Orbital Sidekick raises $10M to bring hyperspectral imaging to oil and gas pipeline monitoring | TechCrunchHyperspectral imaging startup Orbital Sidekick closes $10 million in funding to launch its space-based commercial data product.TechCrunchAria Alamalhodaei Historically, oil and gas companies have monitored pipeline leaks using inefficient, expensive methods: workers equipped with handheld
DEEPTECH x AI
Written by Bogdan Cristei of Shack15 Ventures and Tim Yang of Tyche Partners
DEEPTECH x AI
Investment Notes: HYPR | BlackbirdWe are excited to have announced Blackbird has led an equity financing of US$5.5M in HYPERLABS Inc., a stealth-mode San Francisco based robotics startup. Who is behind it? Tim Kentley Klay, the co-founder of Zoox, one of our most memorable investments here at Blackbird.Blackbird
Written by Bogdan Cristei of Shack15 Ventures and Tim Yang of Tyche Partners.
DEEPTECH x AI
Butlr lands new cash to put people-detecting sensors in the officeButlr, a startup creating sensors that measure space occupancy and more via thermals, has raised $20 million in a freshly-closed venture capital round.TechCrunchKyle Wiggers Butlr, an MIT Media Lab spinout developing sensors that use body heat to estimate office