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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - North America, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌏️
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📰 Important News
- CoreWeave agreed to power Perplexity AI’s inference workloads using its NVIDIA GPU cloud infrastructure to support the conversational answer engine.
- Global fintech Revolut accelerated its U.S. expansion by applying for a national bank charter and appointing former Raisin CEO Cetin Duransoy.
- Harrison.ai received its ninth FDA clearance for a breakthrough AI solution that analyzes initial non-contrast CT brain scans.
- Sanity launched its Content Operating System for the AI era, an intelligent backend providing the structured foundation and automation for companies.
- WisdomAI launched its Federated Agentic Intelligence Platform, which uses AI agents to reason across fragmented data silos.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- Sierra Space secured $550 million in Series C funding at an $8 billion valuation, with LuminArx Capital Management leading the round.
- Space station developer Vast raised $500 million in new funding to advance its mission of enabling humanity to live and work in space.
- Ayar Labs attracted $500 million in a Series E round led by Neuberger Berman to scale production of its optical interconnect solutions.
- Science Corp secured $230 million in Series C funding, reaching a $1.5 billion valuation, to commercialize its vision-restoring PRIMA implant.
- Last-mile logistics startup UniUni landed $85 million in equity and credit to fuel its North American expansion.
💰️ IPO and M&A Watch
- French pharmaceutical group Servier is set to acquire Day One Biopharmaceuticals for $2.5 billion.
- MyFitnessPal acquired Cal AI, the fast-growing AI-powered app, to expand its portfolio and better serve users who value speed and simplicity.
- Quantum computing leader Xanadu is moving closer to a public listing after the SEC approved its registration for a merger with Crane Harbor.
- Netflix acquired InterPositive, the AI filmmaking technology company founded by Ben Affleck who will join the streamer as a senior adviser.
- Svante Technologies acquired Calgary's Carbon Alpha, expanding its carbon capture and storage capabilities.
🏦 About Investors
- Miami-based investment firm Mare Liberum is launching its second fund to invest in critical maritime technologies after securing up to $150 million.
- Noah Chaikof joined eBay Ventures as an investor to spearhead the firm's early-stage investments in North American startups.
- Robinhood launched its $658.4 million venture fund on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker RVI.
- Emerald Lake Capital Management announced the promotions of Stephen Burhenn and Joe DeJean to Partners and Sourabh Bhat and Derrick Lee to Principals.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Sierra Space
Founded in 2021 in Louisville, Colorado, Sierra Space has quickly emerged as a major player in national security and commercial space technology. The company designs and manufactures advanced satellites, reusable spacecraft such as the Dream Chaser, high-efficiency solar arrays, propulsion systems, and other mission-critical space infrastructure. Led by CEO Dan Jablonsky and backed by investors including General Atlantic and Coatue, Sierra Space recently secured $550 million in Series C funding led by LuminArx Capital Management, bringing its valuation to $8 billion. The capital will expand production and accelerate national security space initiatives as the company positions itself to deliver next-generation space and defense solutions.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Mare Liberum
Founded in 2023 in Miami, Mare Liberum is a venture investor focused on advancing critical technologies across the maritime sector. The firm backs startups building autonomous vessels, AI-powered maritime software, and resilient supply chain systems, targeting an industry that moves the majority of global trade and data. Mare Liberum recently launched its second fund, supported by preliminary approval for up to $150 million in government-guaranteed leverage through the U.S. Small Business Investment Company Critical Technologies program. Led by General Partners Lorin Selby and Marc Baliotti, the firm positions itself at the intersection of defense, commerce, and ocean innovation, aiming to accelerate the modernization of global maritime infrastructure.
🤑 Opportunities Expiring Soon
gBETA Round Rock
- 📢 Organizer: Round Rock Chamber
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 09, 2026
UNICEF Innovation Fund 2026 for Blockchain Solutions
- 📢 Organizer: UNICEF Venture Fund
- 🗂️ Category: Funding
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-seed, Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Web3 & Blockchain, Social & Governance, Finance & Insurance
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 10, 2026
IDRIS Open Hackathon 2026
- 📢 Organizer: NVIDIA
- 🗂️ Category: Hackathon, Event
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: AI & Data, DeepTech
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 10, 2026
AI Fair & Hackathon 2026
- 📢 Organizer: Mitchell C. Hill Center for Digital Innovation
- 🗂️ Category: Hackathon
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: AI & Data
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
Climate Solutions Accelerator
- 📢 Organizer: EnergyLab
- 🗂️ Category: Accelerator, Funding, Training & Learning
- 🪜 Target Stages: Stage Agnostic
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Energy & Environment
- 📅 Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
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