Technology

PQShield secures $37 million more for “quantum-resistant” cryptography.

Published

3 months ago

June 20, 2024

IAM

Malicious hacking is becoming more and more sophisticated, resulting in a really clear trend in security technology. To keep people and organizations secure, security must continually increase in complexity.

Security activation PQShield he began working on this idea early on, specializing in “post-quantum” cryptography: software and hardware solutions which can be theoretically future-proof and able to face up to even hacks sooner or later carried out using essentially the most powerful quantum machines.

Now, to fulfill industry demand to construct equipment and related systems based on its work, the corporate is announcing $37 million in further funding.

Addition, Lee Fixel’s investment firm, led this Series B together with other strategic and financial sponsors including Chevron Technology Ventures, Legal & General and Braavos Capital (all latest investors) and former sponsor Oxford Science Enterprises. The addition also led PQShield’s Series A in 2022. (We asked, however the startup is not disclosing a valuation.)

Ali El Kaafarani, an Oxford mathematician who founded and runs the startup (which was also born in Oxford), said the funds can be used to rent more talent and work closer with existing and latest customers and partners.

This list includes firms resembling AMD, Microchip Technologies, Collins Aerospace, Lattice Semiconductor, Sumitomo Electric, NTT Data, Mirise Technologies (Toyota / Denso R&D) and others that PQShield doesn’t name, and likewise advise the White House, the European Parliament , UK National Cyber Security Council and World Economic Forum. He has also collaborated with a few of the biggest brands within the chip field, and now in technology generally: Nvidia.

“We still have the highest crypto density in the industry, especially in the post-quantum cryptography space,” he said in an interview. Moreover, there are interesting developments in standardization happening that may also influence the evolution of this field.

For whom the National Institute of Standards and Technology within the USA worked decade on the thought of establishing post-quantum cryptographic standards. These are expected to be announced in the approaching months, Dr. El Kaafarani said. “We expect NIST to publish official standards in just two or three weeks after publishing drafts last August.”

It is value taking note of the role played by firms resembling PQShield and others operating in the identical space Xipher, Post-quantumlarger firms like Palo Alto Networks and others are rising to the challenge as technology and computing proceed to evolve and enormous firms use more sophisticated encryption to guard user data at each software and hardware levels.

Today, much of the favored discourse on encryption focuses on how it may well be used to guard communication platforms. (Notably, PQShield also provides its technology pro bono to the Signal Foundation and, as Dr. El Kaafarani said, “works with it on various research projects”). And within the context of enterprises – the way it is utilized in security systems to guard data each inside company networks and when it’s transmitted or shared outside them.

The next stage will likely involve handling data in AI environments, each in AI applications and model training and beyond. (And, after all, the best way to protect your data in a world where malicious hackers use artificial intelligence to interrupt all security.)

Apple, for example, is taking a brand new approach to the way it handles privacy in AI processing, calling it a brand new approach Private cloud computingwhich it says enables “private AI computing” by tighter integration of personal clouds with custom silicon on the device.

“Artificial intelligence will be another reason why we need to make sure our cryptography is up to date,” Dr. El Kaafarani said. “I believe that whether it’s Apple or others, you’ll see them immediately start using post-quantum cryptography for AI because they won’t have to go through legacy cryptography and then have to move to new standards.”

With solutions developed in three formats – system on a chip designed to be embedded in hardware resembling smart cards or processors; software in the shape of a cryptographic SDK that will be integrated with mobile and server applications and technologies used to process data or perform security operations; and a toolkit geared toward telecommunications firms, designed specifically to secure messaging services – PQShield has an interesting aspect that takes it from the realm of straightforward, deep tech to a more business tool, which might be one in all the explanation why investors like Addition have an interest especially in the intervening time , when computers and chips appear to evolve so quickly.

“PQShield continues its trajectory as a pioneer and leading authority in post-quantum cryptography for hardware and software. As we approach the culmination of the NIST PQC project, we expect the newly ratified standards to excite the quantum security market and accelerate the rapid adoption of PQC across the technology supply chain,” Fixel said in an announcement. “With an industry-leading team with many years of experience, PQShield has built a best-in-class product offering that’s already a pacesetter in the sphere. We are pleased that the corporate is constructing on its business success up to now and protecting our digital future.

This article was originally published on : techcrunch.com

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Technology

MIT Develops Recyclable 3D-Printed Glass Blocks for Construction Applications

Published

35 mins ago

September 19, 2024

IAM

MIT develops recyclable 3D-printed glass blocks for construction

The use of 3D printing has been praised as an alternative choice to traditional construction, promising faster construction times, creative design and fewer construction errors, all while reducing the carbon footprint. New research from MIT points to an interesting latest approach to the concept, involving the usage of 3D-printed glass blocks in the form of a figure eight, which may be connected together like Lego bricks.

The team points to glass’s optical properties and “infinite recyclability” as reasons to pursue the fabric. “As long as it’s not contaminated, you can recycle glass almost infinitely,” says assistant professor of mechanical engineering Kaitlyn Becker.

The team relied on 3D printers designed by Straight line — is itself a spin-off of MIT.

This article was originally published on : techcrunch.com

Technology

Introducing the Next Wave of Startup Battlefield Judges at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Published

8 hours ago

September 19, 2024

IAM

Announcing our next wave of Startup Battlefield judges at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Startup Battlefield 200 is the highlight of every Disrupt, and we will’t wait to search out out which of the 1000’s of startups which have invited us to collaborate can have the probability to pitch to top enterprise capitalists at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Join us at Moscone West in San Francisco October 28–30 for an epic showdown where everyone can have the probability to make a major impact.

Get insight into what the judges are in search of in a profitable company as they supply detailed feedback on the evaluation criteria. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from their expert insights and discover the key characteristics that result in startup success, only at Disrupt 2024.

We’re excited to introduce our next group of investors who will evaluate startups and dive into each pitch in an in-depth and insightful Q&A session. Stay tuned for more big names coming soon!

Alice Brooks, Partner, Khosla Ventures

Alicja is a partner in Khosla’s ventures interests in sustainability, food, agriculture, and manufacturing/supply chain. She has worked with multiple startups in robotics, IoT, retail, consumer goods, and STEM education, and led mechanical, electrical, and application development teams in the US and Asia. She also founded and managed manufacturing operations in factories in China and Taiwan. Prior to KV, Alice was the founder and CEO of Roominate, a STEM education company that helps girls learn engineering concepts through play.

Mark Crane, Partner, General Catalyst

Mark Crane is a partner at General Catalysta enterprise capital firm that works with founders from seed to endurance to assist them construct corporations that may stand the test of time. Focused on acquiring and investing in later-stage investment opportunities equivalent to AuthZed, Bugcrowd, Resilience, and TravelPerk. Prior to joining General Catalyst, Mark was a vice chairman at Cove Hill Partners in Massachusetts. Prior to that, he was a senior associate at JMI Equity and an associate at North Bridge Growth Equity.

Sofia Dolfe, Partner, Index Ventures

Sofia partners with founders who use their unique perspective and private understanding of the problem to construct corporations that drive behavioral change, powerful network effects, and transform entire industries, from grocery and e-commerce to financial services and healthcare. Sofia can also be one of Index projects‘ gaming leads, working with some of the best gaming corporations in Europe, making a recent generation of iconic gaming titles. He spends most of his time in the Nordics, but works with entrepreneurs across the continent.

Christine Esserman, Partner, Accel

Christine Esserman joined Acceleration in 2017 and focuses on software, web, and mobile technology corporations. Since joining Accel, Christine has helped lead Accel’s investments in Blackpoint Cyber, Linear, Merge, ThreeFlow, Bumble, Remote, Dovetail, Ethos, Guru, and Headway. Prior to joining Accel, Christine worked in product and operations roles at multiple startups. A native of the Bay Area, Christine graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a level in Finance and Operations.

Haomiao Huang, Founding Partner, Matter Venture Partners

Haomiao from Venture Matter Partners is a robotics researcher turned founder turned investor. He is especially obsessed with corporations that bring digital innovation to physical economy enterprises, with a give attention to sectors equivalent to logistics, manufacturing and transportation, and advanced technologies equivalent to robotics and AI. Haomiao spent 4 years investing in hard tech with Wen Hsieh at Kleiner Perkins. He previously founded smart home security startup Kuna, built autonomous cars at Caltech and, as part of his PhD research at Stanford, pioneered the aerodynamics and control of multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles. Kuna was part of the Y Combinator Winter 14 cohort.

Don’t miss it!

The Startup Battlefield winner, who will walk away with a $100,000 money prize, can be announced at Disrupt 2024—the epicenter of startups. Join 10,000 attendees to witness this breakthrough moment and see the next wave of tech innovation.

Register here and secure your spot to witness this epic battle of startups.

This article was originally published on : techcrunch.com

Technology

India Considers Easing Market Share Caps for UPI Payments Operators

Published

15 hours ago

September 19, 2024

IAM

phonepe UPI being used to accept payments at a road-side sunglasses stall.

The regulator that oversees India’s popular UPI rail payments is considering relaxing a proposed market share cap for operators like Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm because it grapples with enforcing the restrictions, two people accustomed to the matter told TechCrunch.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which is regulated by the Indian central bank, is considering increasing the market share that UPI operators can hold to greater than 40%, said two of the people, requesting anonymity because the knowledge is confidential. The regulator had earlier proposed a 30% market share limit to encourage competition within the space.

UPI has change into the most well-liked option to send and receive money in India, with the mechanism processing over 12 billion transactions monthly. Walmart-backed PhonePe has about 48% market share by volume and 50% by value, while Google Pay has 37.3% share by volume.

Once an industry heavyweight, Paytm’s market share has fallen to 7.2% from 11% late last yr amid regulatory challenges.

According to several industry executives, the NPCI’s increase in market share limits is more likely to be a controversial move as many UPI providers were counting on regulatory motion to curb the dominance of PhonePe and Google Pay.

NPCI, which has previously declined to comment on market share, didn’t reply to a request for comment on Thursday.

The regulator originally planned to implement the market share caps in January 2021 but prolonged the deadline to January 1, 2025. The regulator has struggled to seek out a workable option to implement its proposed market share caps.

The stakes are high, especially for PhonePe, India’s Most worthy fintech startup, valued at $12 billion.

Sameer Nigam, co-founder and CEO of PhonePe, said last month that the startup cannot go public “if there is uncertainty on regulatory issues.”

“If you buy a share at Rs 100 and value it assuming we have 48-49% market share, there is uncertainty whether it will come down to 30% and when,” Nigam told a fintech conference last month. “We are reaching out to them (the regulator) whether they can find another way to at least address any concerns they have or tell us what the list of concerns is,” he added.

This article was originally published on : techcrunch.com