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Piedmont Capital Investments is a venture capital investor focused on emerging science…
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisHPM for Homeland Defense. Epirus was tapped as a keynote demonstrator at a summer 2025 counter-UAS technology demonstration hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate at Camp Grafton, North Dakota. From critical asset protection, border patrol and stadium defense ahead of the World Cup and 2028 Olympics, Epirus HPM is a proven, safe and scalable counter-UAS solution that works when others fall short — even against fiber-optic and AI-controlled “dark” drones. Read more in DHS S&T's feature article below.
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Robert Long reposted thisI'm excited to share the news that Blue Current, Inc. closed its $80M+ Series D extension, anchored by Amazon! Congrats to Susan Stone, Kevin Wujcik, and the rest of the Blue Current team on raising this capital and moving quickly to commercialize the solid-state battery technology the market desperately needs! We could not have asked for better partners in James Hamilton and Amazon to join us on this journey to unlock critical domestic energy that is low cost, abundant, and reliable. Read more via The Wall Street Journal exclusive: https://lnkd.in/g-CaweiV Byron Knight, Eddie Metelitsa, Reed AldridgeRobert Long reposted thisBlue Current, Inc. - an emerging leader in silicon solid-state batteries - just closed an $80M+ Series D extension, anchored by Amazon and joined by Koch Disruptive Technologies, Piedmont Capital Investments, Rusheen Capital Management, LLC, and Allen & Company LLC. This milestone marks an exciting step forward for: •Accelerating commercialization of safer, high-performance silicon solid-state batteries •Delivering improved energy density, faster charging, and greater thermal stability through first-principles design •Unlocking cost-effective, scalable production using silicon anodes and dry electrolytes on existing lithium-ion manufacturing lines Blue Current’s innovation is paving the way for the next generation of energy storage, and we’re proud to be part of their journey. Read more: https://utm.io/ujqCQBlue Current Inc. Closes More Than $80M Series D Extension Funding Round, Anchored by Amazon, to Deliver Industry-Leading Solid-State Batteries for Stationary Storage and Mobility ApplicationsBlue Current Inc. Closes More Than $80M Series D Extension Funding Round, Anchored by Amazon, to Deliver Industry-Leading Solid-State Batteries for Stationary Storage and Mobility Applications
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisEpirus x Fox News TV. AI is changing everything — warfare included. Leonidas' weaponized electromagnetic interference capability is uniquely equipped to outpace the AI-dominated threat landscape that's defining today's battlespace.
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisCoordinated, sophisticated drone swarm strikes like Ukraine's audacious Operation Spider's Web are not a threat that's unique to Eastern Europe. The authors of a new Breaking Defense Op-Ed are spot-on: like the Russians, the U.S. is "dangerously unprepared to meet the growing threat of small commercial drones." We in the U.S. have the luxury of watching these emerging drone warfare tactics play out in real time across our social media feeds. But once and for all, we must face the reality of drones impacting us here at home. The entire kill chain, from radars and sensors to effector weapon systems, must morph into a modernized, layered defense system to adequately protect critical infrastructure from FPV drones. The good news? Technologies exist today that are designed to thwart these exact kinds of drone attacks. The Leonidas energy-based HPM platform projects an invisible shield of electromagnetic energy — a real-life forcefield — over bases, equipment, troops and more. "Only high-power microwaves can neutralize a large swarm at once and are not dependent on ammunition stockpiles."
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisProud to see Washington Harbour Partners LP portfolio company, Epirus, featured in MIT Technology Review for their groundbreaking work in directed energy defense. The Leonidas high-power microwave system is redefining how we counter the growing threat of drone swarms—offering a scalable, precise, and mobile solution that meets the demands of modern warfare. Technologies like Leonidas are essential for maintaining U.S. security and operational superiority. WHP is proud to support Epirus in its mission to redefine the future of defense. https://lnkd.in/eAFb6vFt
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisTavros is committed to discovering the next generation of targeted #cancer therapies by leveraging our EVOLVE™ platform. EVOLVE can precisely and directly identify the paired #genetic interactions that form the basis for breakthrough targets and first-in-class cancer drugs. It's the first directly causal #syntheticlethality discovery engine, which targets cancer cells’ inherent genetic weaknesses. This enables the potential for highly precise therapies to improve #cancertreatment outcomes and fuels our internal pipeline. Learn more ➡ https://lnkd.in/ghvpUdCd
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisNew in Forbes: CEO Andy Lowery explores the many benefits of Epirus HPM and our unique ability to rapidly scale production. From cost effectivity, unlimited magazines and speed-of-light engagements, our HPM technology is a "swarm buster at its core." Read more ↘
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Robert Long reposted thisRobert Long reposted thisWe are excited to share that Tvardi leadership will present a trial-in-progress poster at the upcoming 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium for the ongoing REVERT LIVER CANCER trial https://lnkd.in/gfE78zTs
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Robert Long shared thisRobert Long shared thisThis contract award is an exciting inflection point for Epirus – and a significant step towards bridging the long-established gap between commercial innovation and defense technology.
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked thisToday, Stoke announced a $1 billion Series E, bringing our total capital raised to $2.3 billion. This funding will help us bring Nova Pathfinder to flight, accelerate development of our larger 15-ton-class Nova Block 2 vehicle, and build the production capacity required to fly at scale. This milestone reflects years of extraordinary work by the Stoke team and the conviction of customers and investors who share our belief that fully reusable space transportation is both possible and necessary. We are deeply grateful for their trust, and more energized than ever by the work ahead. Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/eEQwA8ev
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked this⚡ Directed energy giant Epirus was awarded an $11M contract by the US Marine Corps for the High-power Microwave Autonomous Vehicle Operational Capability (HAVOC) program, focused on unmanned ground vehicle-based "counter-UAS and counter-swarm point defense.” 🔗 Read the full story from Tectonic's Erin O'Brien at the link in the comments
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Robert Long liked thisMultiple US and allied operational assessments have validated Vanquish as truly beyond current state of the art in some really important use cases. Big thanks to our colleagues at Deep Element, you’ve been tremendous partners to CHAOS Industries and enabling us to stay at the forefront of defending the Middle EastRobert Long liked thisCHAOS would like to thank the Jordanian Armed Forces and Deep Element Test Range (DETRA) for allowing us to host an operational assessment of the Vanquish Prime radar for our partners UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait last month. The system performed beyond expectations, further validating CHAOS’ leadership in advanced radar sensing and air defense capabilities. As demand for reliable detection and protection solutions continues to grow, CHAOS remains committed to supporting partners throughout the Middle East and around the world.
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked thisYou can't field what you can't prove. Testing is when emerging technology either earns its way to the warfighter or stalls out. As we continue to build in Oklahoma, the FISTA Innovation Park has selected an Epirus-developed high-power RF amplifier for use in its two new anechoic chambers. This commercial test instrument, the EPW-2001, will enable the FISTA to independently conduct specialized RF testing and evaluate HPM effects on electronic targets. U.S. Representative Tom Cole, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, joined Epirus and FISTA leadership for a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the facilities’ opening. With support from Epirus, engineers and Soldiers are building side-by-side in Lawton-Fort Sill. Press release linked below.
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked this🇺🇸🤝🚀 CHAOS Industries has acquired Atropos Group to combine airborne platforms with its radar, sensor, and counter-drone technologies. The acquisition brings Atropos’ autonomous air vehicle designs and flight software into CHAOS Industries’ portfolio, allowing the company to develop integrated systems capable of detecting, tracking, and engaging aerial threats from mobile airborne platforms. “This acquisition brings together two companies with a shared belief that the drone threat demands a fundamentally different answer,” CHAOS CEO John T. said. As part of the transaction, the entire Atropos team will join CHAOS Industries. Co-founder Vince Dutcavich will lead the newly established Aerospace Division, while co-founder Colin Carroll will become chief growth officer overseeing business development and customer engagement.
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked thisThe FIFA World Cup™ 2026 was one to remember! Over the past 6 weeks, I've had the opportunity to travel across North America, attending matches in multiple host cities and spending time with customers, partners, and Lenovo teams along the way. Every stop had its own personality, but everywhere we went, the passion for the game and the excitement surrounding this tournament were impossible to miss. From the opening matches to an unforgettable Final, it's been remarkable to see Lenovo's partnership with FIFA come to life. The global visibility of 5B+ viewers is hard to fathom and is incredibly valuable for our brand. One of my favorite aspects of the World Cup was seeing fans from around the world getting to experience the amazing North American experience & hospitality. Beyond the fans, our customers were impressed with how Lenovo built and integrated innovative technology like the AI-powered Referee View or seeing our technology help power the world's largest sporting event in history. This tournament has demonstrated how technology can enhance the experience for players, officials, broadcasters, and billions of fans around the globe. Congratulations to Spain on an outstanding World Cup victory, and to FIFA, the host cities, volunteers, and everyone who made this historic tournament possible. It's been a World Cup I'll never forget, and I'm proud of the role Lenovo and our North America TEAM played in helping make it happen. #LenovoFIFA #FIFAWorldCup #WeAreLenovo
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked thisArkenstone Defense has emerged from stealth with a $35 million seed round led by J2 Ventures, alongside Susa Ventures, Granite Hill Capital Partners, and ARTIS VENTURES. The Menlo Park-based startup is building compliance, security, and operational infrastructure that helps commercial technology companies navigate U.S. government and defense procurement processes. Its platform is designed to reduce the complexity of selling into highly regulated government markets. The new funding will support platform development and expand a team with deep defense and compliance expertise as demand for government-ready technology continues to grow. #ArkenstoneDefense #DefenseTech #GovTech #AI #StartupFunding #EnterpriseSoftware #Innovation #CredX
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked thisOne battlefield problem now supports three funded companies, each owning a layer. Chaos detects, Epirus defeats, Allen Control Systems takes the shot. The speed at which this stack formed is the story: - CHAOS Industries builds the sensing layer, with more than $1 billion raised at a $4.5 billion valuation - Epirus fields directed energy that disables entire swarms at a marginal cost per shot near zero - Allen Control Systems reached $2.2 billion in June for the kinetic layer, with Anduril's Lattice, now the Pentagon's command layer for counter-drone, tying sensors and shooters together Cheap drones made attack far cheaper than defense, and the private market answered by funding every layer of the response at once. A budget line turned into a supply chain, and that only happens when investors expect the demand to last decades.
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Robert Long liked thisRobert Long liked thisThe Pentagon Wants Startup Tech. The Paperwork Is What Stops It. This Company Raised $35M to Kill the Paperwork. Here's a strange fact about American defense. The Pentagon spends over $300 billion a year buying technology. It has said, out loud, that it wants more innovation from commercial startups. And yet the number of companies actually selling to the Department of Defense has been falling, from about 76,700 in 2017 down to roughly 60,000 a few years later. Five prime contractors now dominate what used to be fifty-one. The technology America needs most is sitting inside companies that can't get through the door. And the thing blocking them isn't the tech. It's the paperwork. Before you can win a single federal contract, you need a cleared workforce, audited payroll, security programs, and a certification called CMMC that the DoD estimates costs a small company nearly half a million dollars over three years. Most founders spend years building that machinery before they ever see a contract. Plenty just quit. Peter R Dixon and William Treseder decided to build the machinery once, so nobody else has to. Their company, Arkenstone Defense, just launched out of stealth with $35 million to be the entire government back office as a service: the cleared workforce, the payroll, the security, the compliance, the accreditation, all switched on so a startup's engineers can go back to engineering. And it's already working. More than two dozen defense tech companies are running on the platform on day one. The clock helps too: that CMMC certification becomes mandatory in November 2026, and most companies are nowhere near ready. Every great defense startup story is about the technology. This one's about the boring stuff that decides whether the technology ever ships. Sometimes the biggest bottleneck isn't building the thing. It's being allowed to sell it. Congratulations to Peter, William, the Arkenstone team, and their investors. Follow HustleFeed for founder stories, startup funding, venture capital, defense tech, and innovation.
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