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🚀 Big news! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce that NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) has invested in JOIN CAPITAL. This marks a significant milestone in our journey since 2015, throughout which we've focused on supporting pioneering industrial and deep tech in Europe. NIF is a fund whose decision-making and structure are fully independent from NATO, but whose members presently comprise 24 of the alliance’s nations. Together we focus on the broad scope of technologies that help solve the most pressing problems of NIF members’ citizens — namely AI, energy, novel materials, autonomy/robotics and more. We had the pleasure of welcoming Kelly Chen to our Portfolio Day in May, where she rightfully pointed out that deep tech requires patient capital and a unique fund structure — both of which NIF offers, making the team an ideal Limited Partner complementing our long-term strategy at Join. We are looking forward to the onward journey!

We’re excited to share more about our Seed investment in SEMRON, the Dresden-based company developing revolutionary semiconductors that enable AI to run directly on your smartphone.

A new Germany-based startup, Semron, is developing what it describes as “3D-scaled” chips to run AI models locally on smartphones, earbuds, VR headsets and other mobile devices. Co-created by Kai-Uwe Demasius and Aron Kirschen, engineering graduates from the Dresden University of Technology, Semron’s chips use electrical fields to perform calculations instead of electrical currents — the medium of conventional processors. This enables the chips to achieve higher energy efficiency while keeping the fabrication costs to produce them down, Kirschen claims.

Semron has raised $7.9 million (7.3 million euros) for AI chips with 3D packaging for mobile devices. Dresden, Germany-based Semron said its goal is to set a new standard for AI chips in mobile devices, addressing the evolving needs of the industry.Led by Join Capital and supported by SquareOne, OTB Ventures, and Onsight Ventures, this funding positions Semron for semiconductor innovation at a time when Moore’s Law is slowing down. In an era dominated by the demand for increasingly sophisticated AI capabilities, Semron is targeting development of advanced computer chips designed to power the smallest consumer devices like smartphones, earbuds, and VR headsets.

As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of geospatial technology, a crucial challenge emerges: the growing skill gap in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) industry. This gap is not just a hurdle; it represents a significant opportunity for innovation and adaptation. At Picterra, we've been closely attuned to this challenge, recognising the need for tools and solutions that not only embrace technological advancements but also make them accessible and usable for professionals across various sectors.

CloudNC tells Ed Hill about its revolutionary new CAM programming software CAM Assist aimed to dramatically reduce CNC machine tool CAM strategy creation.

Let’s be honest, engineering is the powerhouse of innovation, and engineers have developed some of the most life-altering products and solutions known to humanity today.

According to the global health experts, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect around 1.71-billion people globally and are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single biggest cause. Repeated heavy lifting is an activity that places considerable strain on the musculoskeletal system, which can lead to the development of MSDs. The US Institute of Medicine estimates the economic burden of workplace MSDs as measured by absenteeism, compensation costs, lost wages, and lost productivity being US$ 45 – 54 billion annually in the US alone. And as populations continue to age, these figures will rise.

Generative Engineering, a London-based software company on a mission to vastly improve the overall efficiency of physical engineering, has successfully closed a €4 million pre-seed round led by EQT Ventures with participation from Join Capital. The engineering of complex physical products, such as those within the automotive and aerospace industries, is a slow, inefficient and capital-intensive process. Engineering tools have not kept up with the increasing complexity of modern products, and today, engineers working on product development typically take a single design through a multi-year, highly manual process. This usually involves collaboration issues, information loss, mistakes, rework and often failure.