Rob Desborough

SCOOP: Graphcore CEO to launch deeptech VC fund --- Graphcore founder and CEO Nigel Toon is set to launch a new growth-stage deeptech fund, following a bruising year for the sector in Europe that saw a number of darlings fall by the wayside. Toon, who is still chief at the AI chip maker following its acquisition by SoftBank last year, is launching the vehicle with Ekaterina Almasque, who was previously general partner at Finnish VC OpenOcean, according to Companies House filings. The new fund is called BlankPage Capital, will launch in 2025 and invest at growth stages in the UK and Europe, according to a company website seen by Sifted. A pop-up on the site invites LP investors and deeptech companies to get in touch. While Europe boasts world-leading research institutions, commercialising science-based technology has proved difficult in the region. In 2024, a number of once hyped unicorns, including EV maker Arrival, electric plane startup Lillium and battery company Northvolt all filed for bankruptcy. Full story: https://lnkd.in/e2R86TWv

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The Lightrock team are proud to have co-led Makersite’s €60M Series B, alongside Partech, with SE Ventures joining and continued backing from all the company’s Series A investors. Manufacturing accounts for more than a fifth of global emissions, and companies are under increasing pressure to reduce climate impact while remaining competitive. Makersite is meeting that challenge by making product design and manufacturing smarter – and, in turn, delivering resource, energy, and cost efficiencies in addition to positive climate impact. The company’s AI-powered platform helps manufacturers like Microsoft and Schneider Electric understand their supply chains by fixing fragmented and inconsistent product data, enriching it with one of the most comprehensive supply chain databases available, and enabling real-time analysis of cost, carbon, compliance, and risk – all throughout the product design process. With its scalable, technology-driven business model and proven impact, Makersite aligns perfectly with Lightrock's investment thesis: The company embraces sustainability not just as a trend or tick box, but as a strategic business advantage. Congrats to Neil D'Souza and the ‘Makernauts’ on this milestone success, which you can learn more about from Sifted’s coverage and the company’s announcement - both linked in the comments. The Lightrock team is excited to support Makersite’s next stage of growth. #Lightrock #AI #ClimateTech #Manufacturing #ProductDesign #SupplyChain

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Huge milestone for the US power industry and for the team at ElectronX⚡ They’re now the first US-regulated, direct-access electricity derivatives market, with DCM and DCO approvals from the CFTC. This unlocks a new set of tools for energy asset operators and larger users to better manage short-term price volatility and risk. We believe this market infrastructure will help unlock a cleaner, more resilient grid. It’s been a privilege to partner with Sam Tegel, CFA and the team as they’ve built toward this moment. Their vision and persistence have been incredible to watch, and this is just the beginning. Congrats to everyone involved. Looking forward to what's ahead! https://lnkd.in/g85acSHq

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"I could be the Lionel Messi of mining, but ..." Hg's Nic Humphries shares advice for young and old people about what to learn or study in the age of AI. Watch the entire conversation on Alt Goes Mainstream here: https://lnkd.in/erQGkAMK

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