### ARX Robotics Secures New Funding

**ARX Robotics**, a **German defense startup** supported by **NATO’s technology fund**, has successfully raised **€31 million ($35.2 million)** in its latest venture capital funding round. This marks the second time in a year that the startup has attracted significant investment as it gears up for expansion into the **UK market**.

### Funding Details

The financing round was led by **HV Capital**, with participation from **Omnes Capital** and previous investors, including **Project A** and NATO’s **€1 billion Innovation Fund**, which had previously invested last June. This influx of capital will aid ARX Robotics in developing its innovative military robotics solutions.

![ARX Robotics](https://example.com/image.jpg)

ARX Robotics, a German defense startup backed by NATO’s technology fund, has raised venture capital funding for the second time in the past year as it plans an expansion in the UK.

NATO-Backed German Startup ARX Robotics Secures €31 Million for Military Expansion

### A New Era in AI Development
A groundbreaking **crowd-trained approach** to developing **large language models (LLMs)** over the internet is set to disrupt the AI industry. This innovative method could lead to the release of a **100 billion-parameter model** later this year.

![AI Lab](https://media.wired.com/photos/681145fabe9752a4760f6bee/1:1/w_2560%2Cc_limit/AI-Lab-LLM-Scaling-Business.jpg)

#### The Collective-1 Model
Startups **Flower AI** and **Vana** have collaborated to create a new model known as **Collective-1**, which leverages **distributed computing** to train AI. This model utilizes **private and public data**, indicating a shift in how AI is developed.

Flower AI’s technology enables training across numerous computers connected via the internet, allowing companies to develop AI models without needing centralized data or compute resources. Vana contributes data from platforms like **X**, **Reddit**, and **Telegram** to enhance training.

#### Scale and Future Plans
While Collective-1 currently has **7 billion parameters**, Flower AI is working on a model with **30 billion parameters** and aims for a **100 billion-parameter model** soon. This distributed approach has the potential to **reshape the AI landscape**, making it feasible for smaller companies and universities to participate in advanced AI development.

#### Rethinking AI Training
Traditional AI models are built using massive amounts of data housed in **data centers** with advanced GPUs. The new distributed method allows computations to occur across various locations, potentially transforming the power dynamics in the AI field.

#### The Role of User Data
Vana is also pioneering a method for users to share their personal data for AI training, granting them control over its usage and potential financial benefits. This could unlock new data sources, especially in sensitive areas like **healthcare** and **finance**.

### Conclusion
Flower AI’s innovative methods promise to democratize AI development, enabling broader participation and potentially leading to new, powerful models that leverage decentralized data. This shift could significantly impact how the AI industry evolves in the coming years.

A new crowd-trained way to develop LLMs over the internet could shake up the AI industry with a giant 100 billion-parameter model later this year.

Revolutionizing AI: How Startups are Creating Advanced Models Without Data Centers

### Vora Ventures Acquires Hive Networks

Vora Ventures, a notable player in the **Cincinnati startup ecosystem** since its inception in 2006, has recently made headlines by acquiring **Hive Networks**, a health tech startup emerging from **Cincinnati Children's Hospital**. This strategic acquisition is a significant milestone, marking the ecosystem's second startup exit of **2025**.

Hive Networks is poised to enhance Vora Ventures' **health tech platform**, catering to **learning health networks** across the nation. With this acquisition, Vora Ventures aims to leverage Hive's innovative solutions and expertise to further its mission of improving health outcomes through technology.

This move not only underscores the growing importance of health technology in today's landscape but also highlights Vora Ventures' commitment to fostering innovation and supporting local startups with **high growth potential**.

Vora Ventures acquires Hive Networks, a startup spun out of Cincinnati Children's Hospital, to expand its health tech platform for learning health networks nationwide.

Vora Ventures Expands Health Tech Footprint with Acquisition of Hive Networks

### Quick Take
- **Re7 Capital** has launched a **$10 million fund** to invest in early **SocialFi** startups despite the category’s slow traction.
- Luc de Leyritz, Re7 Capital’s partner, stated, **“The timing is right: infrastructure, talent, and user behavior are finally aligned.”**

![Funding News](https://www.tbstat.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=webp,q=50/wp/uploads/2025/01/20250115_Funding_News-1200x675.jpg)

**Re7 Capital**, a decentralized finance-focused investment firm managing over **$600 million** in digital assets, has initiated a **$10 million venture fund** aimed at the intersection of **social media and decentralized finance** (SocialFi). The fund is designed to support around **30 early-stage startups** in this emerging sector.

Despite SocialFi's **limited traction**, Luc de Leyritz asserts it is **“the most important category”** in crypto investing today, acknowledging the **“non-consensus view.”** He recently joined Re7 Capital from Cherry Ventures, where he was an investment manager.

While the fund’s size may seem modest, Leyritz explained that Re7 Capital acts as a **first-check investor**, typically issuing checks between **$100,000 and $300,000**, allowing support for up to **30 teams** with a focused strategy, reserving additional capital for follow-up investments.

> **“A small fund keeps incentives on carry, not fees, forces discipline, and lets us move fast,”** Leyritz emphasized. **“If the thesis proves out, we'll scale the next vintage.”**

The fund has backing from **Re7 Capital** and other notable investors, including **Lens**, a SocialFi platform by Aave's **Stani Kulechov**, and **Dan Romero**, co-founder of **Farcaster**. Over **60%** of the fund has already been committed, with a second close anticipated in June.

### Why Re7 Capital is Betting on SocialFi Now
Leyritz believes that **“the timing is right”** for SocialFi investments due to the convergence of various factors, including:
- **Infrastructure**: The advent of **Lens Chain**, a Layer 2 blockchain tailored for SocialFi, allows for quick development of standalone social finance applications.
- **User Behavior**: A shift towards **attention-based incentive models** on social platforms is emerging, with creators beginning to see new monetization opportunities.

Leyritz expects broader adoption of SocialFi within the next **12-24 months**, as more than **200 teams** are actively developing projects in this space. The new fund will target startups across various blockchain ecosystems, including those on **Lens Chain** and **Farcaster**.

**Re7 Capital** views this venture fund as a timely expansion, highlighting a **structural opportunity** in early-stage crypto ventures, driven by the **convergence of attention, composability, and capital flows** in SocialFi.

"The timing is right: infrastructure, talent, and user behavior are finally aligned," Re7 Capital's Luc de Leyritz told The Block.

Re7 Capital Launches $10 Million Fund to Propel SocialFi Startups Amidst Growing Momentum

### Supio: Pioneering AI in Legal Analysis

**Supio**, a startup harnessing the power of **AI** to automate data collection and analysis for legal teams, has successfully raised **$60 million** in a funding round led by **Sapphire Ventures**, with additional support from **Mayfield** and **Thomson Reuters Ventures**. This funding elevates Supio's total capital raised to **$91 million**.

The investment will be utilized for **growth**, **hiring**, and **go-to-market** strategies. Co-founder and CEO **Jerry Zhou** indicated plans to expand their Seattle headquarters and open a new office, aiming to **double** their current **100-person staff**.

### The Growing AI LegalTech Space

In an increasingly competitive **AI legal tech** environment, Supio stands out among numerous startups. Despite some **skepticism** regarding AI’s effectiveness in legal tasks, law firms are feeling the pressure to integrate AI solutions to remain competitive. A recent survey revealed that AI adoption in the legal sector surged from **11% in 2023** to **30% in 2024**.

### The Vision Behind Supio

The concept for Supio originated when Zhou and his childhood friend **Lam**, both former employees at **Avalara**, recognized an opportunity to **transform document handling** within the legal field. Zhou highlighted the extensive hours attorneys and paralegals spend manually analyzing **medical records**, **police reports**, and **expert opinions**. Supio's core product aims to provide these professionals with a profound understanding of their **complex, unstructured data**.

Focusing on **personal injury law**, Supio's AI-powered platform integrates with existing law firm file systems to enhance **case management**. Zhou emphasized the importance of **human verification** to mitigate errors introduced by AI and maintain accuracy. 

### Success and Expansion Plans

In the past year, Supio has experienced remarkable growth, with **annual recurring revenue** increasing **4x** along with a growing customer base that includes notable firms like **Hughes & Coleman**, **Daniel Stark**, and **Whitley Law**. To facilitate this growth, Supio has appointed leaders in **sales**, **customer success**, and **marketing**.

Zhou states, “AI has created a major inflection point for the legal industry. Every firm across every sub-vertical of law is considering how to reinvent themselves for the AI era. If **Excel** transformed finance 30 years ago, AI will do the same for legal professionals.”

Supio, a startup that uses AI to automate data collection and analysis for legal teams, has raised $60 million in a funding round led by Sapphire Ventures

Supio Raises $60M to Revolutionize Legal Tech with AI Automation

### Kintsugi's Journey in Sales Tax Compliance  
Kintsugi, a **Silicon Valley-based startup**, is transforming how businesses handle sales tax compliance. Recently, they raised **$18 million** in funding led by Vertex, a global indirect tax technology provider. This funding is poised to help **small and medium businesses** leverage Kintsugi's **AI capabilities** for tax calculations and filings.  
  
### The Need for Tax Automation  
With the rise of **e-commerce** and **cross-border trade**, tax regulations have become increasingly complex. Kintsugi's software integrates with popular platforms like **Shopify, Stripe, and Quickbooks**, providing a comprehensive overview of revenue and enabling instant tax calculations.  
  
### Vision and Goals  
Pujun Bhatnagar, co-founder and CEO, likens their mission to what **Uber** did for taxis and **Stripe** for payments, aiming to simplify compliance across **171 countries**. Founded in **2023**, Kintsugi sees the **2018 Supreme Court ruling** as a pivotal moment for the industry, allowing states to mandate online sellers to collect sales tax.  
  
### Competitive Advantage  
Kintsugi claims to operate at **half the cost of Avalara**, allowing users to determine their sales tax liability in just **seven clicks and three minutes**. The startup offers free sales tax calculations, charging only for tax filing, and provides an option for **auto-remit** to automate the filing process.  
  
### Growth and Future Plans  
After generating **$3 million in annual revenue** last year, Kintsugi aims to exceed **$10 million by 2025**. They boast a **0.1% churn rate** with a customer base of **2,400** businesses, ranging from startups to those generating up to **$500 million** in revenue.  
  
### Partnership and Valuation  
Vertex's investment includes a **$15 million minority stake** in Kintsugi and a commitment to invest an additional **$10-$12 million** this year for AI integrations. This funding has boosted Kintsugi's valuation to **$150 million**, nearly doubling from its previous **$80 million** valuation.  
  
### Global Expansion  
With **profit margins exceeding 93%** and a workforce of 95, Kintsugi is expanding beyond North America into **South America, Africa,** and **Asia**. Currently, **45%** of their customers are SaaS companies, processing **5.5 million transactions** worth **$7.7 billion**.  
![Kintsugi Valuation](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/kintsugi-valuation.jpg)
*Image Credits: Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch*

Kintsugi, a Silicon Valley-based startup that helps companies offload and automate their sales tax compliance, has raised $18 million in new funding led

Kintsugi: The AI Startup Revolutionizing Sales Tax Compliance with a $150 Million Valuation

## VCI Global’s Fintech Triumph: Credilab's $1 Million Boost from Dubai

**VCI Global**'s fintech arm **Credilab** has successfully secured a **$1 million strategic investment** from **Triple Helix Capital**, based in Dubai. This digital lending platform is making waves in **Malaysia**, focusing on providing **same-day loans** to underserved sectors including microfinance and SMEs.

### Impressive Growth Metrics
The company's performance has been nothing short of remarkable:
- **Revenue**: $0.7 million in H1 2024, marking a **116% year-over-year growth**.
- **Non-Performing Loan (NPL) Rate**: Nearly zero, showcasing effective risk management.
- **Loan Book Value**: $13.3 million as of June 2024, reflecting a **67% increase**.

### Streamlined Lending Process
Credilab's platform streamlines the lending journey, ensuring regulatory compliance while enhancing customer experience. The recent investment will facilitate:
- **Expansion of the platform**
- **Broader financial product offerings**
- **Market entry strategies**

Credilab is on a mission to establish itself as a **category-defining leader** in the global fintech arena, leveraging innovative technology to enhance financial inclusion.

### Future Outlook
With the backing of Triple Helix, Credilab is poised for aggressive growth, aiming to unlock further capital and broaden its market reach. This strategic investment underscores the potential of Credilab to become a significant player in the fintech landscape of Southeast Asia and beyond.

Dubai's Triple Helix invests $1M in VCI Global's fintech arm showing 116% revenue growth. Discover how this digital lender is disrupting SEA finance. See growth metrics.

How VCI Global's Credilab is Revolutionizing Fintech in Southeast Asia with $1M Investment

### The Birth of the Like Button
In the early 2000s, **Yelp**, a burgeoning start-up, introduced a **novel feature** to encourage ordinary users to post reviews of restaurants. However, they faced a challenge: **very few people were inclined** to share their thoughts online. To combat this, Yelp's engineers sought a way to incentivize user-generated content.

### From Concept to Ubiquity
The result was the **like button**, a mechanism designed to provide users with **instant recognition** and appreciation for their contributions. This idea, along with similar innovations from other tech companies, has led to the **like button** being clicked approximately **160 billion times a day**. The authors, Bob Goodson and Martin Reeves, reflect on how this simple feature reshaped the internet, turning **ordinary users into content creators**.

### A Glimpse into Internet History
Goodson, who played a pivotal role in developing the **like button**, shares insights from a time when the web was a **playground of innovation**. He emphasizes how design choices made decades ago laid the groundwork for today’s **digital interactions**, from **instant messaging** to **social media engagement**.

### The Double-Edged Sword of User Engagement
While the book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the **like button’s inception**, it also touches on its **unintended consequences**. The authors briefly address issues such as **smartphone addiction**, **mental health** concerns among children, and the **data aggregation** practices of tech companies. However, they seem more inclined to defend the **like button** rather than delve deeply into its broader societal impacts.

### A Naive Perspective?
Critics might argue that the authors exhibit a **naive perspective** regarding the implications of the like button. They acknowledge that it was originally intended to boost user-generated content but fail to recognize how it has been embedded into new business models that profit from user engagement and data collection.

### Speculating on the Future
As the book concludes, the authors speculate about the **future of the like button**. They ponder whether it may evolve into something even more integrated with **AI technology**. Despite the potential for **dystopian scenarios**, they maintain an optimistic outlook, suggesting that **history has shown** many predictions of dire futures never come to fruition.

### About the Book
**Like: The Button That Changed the World** by Martin Reeves and Bob Goodson, **Harvard Business Review, £25, 288 pages**.

The story of a quirky design choice that turbocharged user-generator content — and is now clicked 160bn times a day

NATO-Backed German Startup ARX Robotics Secures €31 Million for Military Expansion

Summary:

ARX Robotics Secures New Funding

Funding Details

Comments

Subscribe our newsletter to receive our daily digested news

ListMyStartup.app

Other Latest News

Revolutionizing AI: How Startups are Creating Advanced Models Without Data Centers

Vora Ventures Expands Health Tech Footprint with Acquisition of Hive Networks

Re7 Capital Launches $10 Million Fund to Propel SocialFi Startups Amidst Growing Momentum

Supio Raises $60M to Revolutionize Legal Tech with AI Automation

Kintsugi: The AI Startup Revolutionizing Sales Tax Compliance with a $150 Million Valuation

How VCI Global's Credilab is Revolutionizing Fintech in Southeast Asia with $1M Investment

The Revolutionary Impact of the Like Button: How a Simple Feature Transformed User Engagement

Other Latest News

Revolutionizing AI: How Startups are Creating Advanced Models Without Data Centers

Vora Ventures Expands Health Tech Footprint with Acquisition of Hive Networks

Re7 Capital Launches $10 Million Fund to Propel SocialFi Startups Amidst Growing Momentum

Supio Raises $60M to Revolutionize Legal Tech with AI Automation

Kintsugi: The AI Startup Revolutionizing Sales Tax Compliance with a $150 Million Valuation

How VCI Global's Credilab is Revolutionizing Fintech in Southeast Asia with $1M Investment

The Revolutionary Impact of the Like Button: How a Simple Feature Transformed User Engagement