David Prosser

Dutch-American venture firm Anterra Capital has launched a new $200 million fund, securing $100 million towards its target. Partner Martin Goossens criticizes unrealistic agricultural tech claims, emphasizing the need for proven solutions that deliver real returns for farmers. The fund aims to back entrepreneurs applying established technologies to rewire the $10 trillion food and agriculture industry, facing demographic and climate challenges. Anterra's strategy includes supporting existing businesses and seeding new ventures, with early investments in AI-powered Anchr and biologics firm Animerra.

Private markets are experiencing a massive boom, with assets under management projected to exceed $18 trillion by 2027. However, this rapid growth has created a severe paperwork crisis for asset managers, who are overwhelmed by manual processes. Nomerra, a Berlin-based startup, has secured $2 million in pre-seed funding to tackle this challenge. Its AI-powered platform integrates with existing systems to automate back-office processes like fund accounting and treasury, aiming to shift human effort from preparation to review. Founded by industry veterans, Nomerra's specialized solution is gaining traction with large private market operators, offering a targeted approach to a complex problem.

A small Indian start-up thinks AI can help large enterprises to stop leave huge amounts of value on the table in their supply chains

Cybersecurity startup Dawnguard, co-founded by Mahdi Abdulrazak, has secured an additional $3.4 million in pre-seed funding, bringing its total investment to $6.4 million. This comes as AI tools empower cybercriminals, creating a "Mythos Era" where traditional security is failing. Dawnguard's platform addresses this by automating security architecture, embedding it at the design and implementation stage, rather than as an afterthought. The Amsterdam-headquartered company, with veterans from IBM and Amazon, is expanding with a new New York office and targeting regulated businesses and other enterprises. Their solution helps design secure cloud architecture, generates compliant code, and continuously validates systems, promising cost savings and enhanced protection against machine-speed attacks.

Asset finance can make more sense than a bank loan for a small business – but seek advice before signing on, says David Prosser

Biotechnology companies are coming out of a dark period for the industry. Why has the tide turned and is now a good time to buy into the sector?

The recent cyber attack on Tata Electronics, which exposed data from customers like Apple and Tesla, highlights critical supply chain vulnerabilities. London-based Risk Ledger, a firm dedicated to mitigating these risks, has announced a £24 million Series B funding round. The company helps organizations analyze and defend against cyber impacts across their supplier ecosystems by mapping networks and sharing real-time security insights. This funding will fuel an aggressive push into the US market and further investment in AI-driven technology. Risk Ledger's unique approach fosters collaborative defense, building an extensive network of over 16,000 organizations, providing a significant competitive advantage in the growing cybersecurity market.

Indian-US startup Aina has secured $5.5 million to develop hardware for the AI era, aiming to revolutionize how users interact with technology. Founder Apoorv Shankar believes current interfaces such as keyboards and touchscreens are inadequate for complex AI tasks. Aina's goal is to create a new, simpler, context-aware interface, building on its existing Dune device. This innovation seeks to fundamentally change technology use, potentially mirroring the iPhone's impact. Despite fierce competition from AI giants including OpenAI, Aina is confident its pilot scheme, launching this year, will pave the way for a new interface, reducing cognitive load by offering a more intuitive, context-aware interaction layer.

Netchex has acquired the start-up Mesh to help it roll out AI agents to manage HR in industries such as hotels and leisure

London-based startup Cascade has raised $3.5 million of new funding for a platform that promises to connect construction firms with valuable new business opportunities