StellarOne Ltd.

We wish our business partners and wider professional network a peaceful month of Ramadan

#HappyCustomers are our biggest #compliment. We are delighted that we have been able to contribute to such a great extend to the annual Sopra Steria #DBX report. Thanks to the fantastic team around Mathias Mercier for this fruitful collaboration Ludwig Hervé Julius Gollner Abantika Chatterjee and Asmita Rawat

#European AI companies continued to attract #strong investor interest in 2024, securing nearly €3 #billion across 137 #deals—a 35% increase from the previous year. Top countries: ???? France led the way, raising €1.3 billion across 14 deals (almost half of all AI investments in Europe). ???? Germany followed with €910.3 million across 23 deals. ???? UK ranked third, securing €318.1 million over 33 deals. Top AI Funding Rounds: 1?? Mistral AI (France) – €600M 2?? Helsing (Germany) – €450M 3?? Poolside AI (France) – $400M 4?? DeepL (Germany) – $300M 5?? H (France) – $220M AI #investments spanned multiple industries, from #generativeAI and #languagemodels to #defense and #enterpriseautomation. With evolving regulatory #frameworks and rising AI adoption, the sector is poised for further growth in 2025.

We share Aika (Aigerim) Kussimova 's insights on M&A in the UK&I, especially around technology. As she states in the report: ?? #Tech, #media, #healthcare, and #sustainability sectors continue to attract strong #dealflow, fueled by record dry powder levels and corporates seeking niche capabilities. ??#Private #equity is focusing on #buyandbuild strategies, while #regulatory scrutiny, especially in tech and life sciences, is tightening. ??#AIdriven #deal #management tools are streamlining transactions, with heightened emphasis on cybersecurity, ESG compliance, and rigorous due diligence to ensure transaction security

First concerns arise about DeepSeek AI in the UK, a Chinese AI platform, citing risks of #misinformation and #data #exploitation by the Chinese state. Despite its impressive performance at a low cost, which has made it the most downloaded free app in the UK and US, experts warn against sharing sensitive data on the platform. #AI specialist Michael Wooldridge cautioned that while casual questions are fine, personal or private information could be at risk. DeepSeek is #opensource, allowing developers to adapt it, but this has led to concerns about China’s influence in AI, traditionally dominated by the US. The platform censors sensitive topics like Tiananmen Square and Taiwan, reflecting the Chinese government’s official stance. China’s #national #intelligence law requires companies to cooperate with state intelligence efforts, raising alarms about data privacy. While the Chinese government claims using DeepSeek is a personal choice, UK and US officials urge caution, as the platform’s full implications remain unclear.

UK-based AI start-up Synthesia has doubled its valuation to an #impressive $2.1bn after securing $180m in #SeriesD #funding. This #London based innovator, founded in 2017 and led by CEO Victor Riparbelli, aims to redefine video creation using #generativeAI. Synthesia's platform enables users to create #realistic, #avatarbased #videos from text documents, driving transformation in sales, marketing, and beyond. With #offices in seven countries and over half of its revenue generated in the US, Synthesia is a global leader in the #AIpowered #media space. The funding round, led by NEA, with participation from major investors like GV (Google Ventures), MMC Ventures, FirstMark, and new backers such as Atlassian Ventures, brings Synthesia’s total funding to $330m. The company plans to expand its cutting-edge platform and talent base while entering markets in Japan, Australia, Europe, and North America. With this milestone, Synthesia becomes the largest #GenAI #media company in the #UK by valuation and is paving the way for the next generation of interactive, real-time, and personalized AI video experiences. #AI #UKtech #GenerativeAI #VideoInnovation #FundingNews #Synthesia

NVIDIA is poised to redefine the future of #robotics through groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence, according to CEO Jensen Huang. During his keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Huang detailed the company’s ambitious vision for “physical AI,” unveiling innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and a roadmap aimed at creating a multitrillion-dollar industry. From #AI-powered #humanoid #robots to #autonomous #vehicle platforms, Nvidia is expanding beyond its #semiconductor #dominance to pioneer solutions for the robotics sector. With its new Cosmos platform and foundation AI models, Nvidia aims to transform how robots are trained and deployed, promising capabilities as transformative as those enabled by large language models in natural language processing. #NLP

Wishing our #clients and #partners a #joyful holiday filled with love, laughter, and cherished moments. Thank you for an incredible year—we look forward to achieving even greater things together in the New Year! #MerryChristmas #Gratitude #HappyHolidays

#European regulators have launched an investigation into a covert advertising deal between Google and Meta Platforms, reportedly targeting teenagers on YouTube in violation of Google’s own policies on #protecting #minors #online. The partnership, revealed by a Financial Times #investigation, promoted Meta’s Instagram to young audiences by leveraging a category of users predominantly comprising minors. The deal, which began in Canada and later expanded to the U.S., has sparked concerns about the companies’ compliance with regulations safeguarding children’s online experiences. This inquiry adds to the growing scrutiny of tech giants' practices related to minors and digital safety in the EU. The #investigation into Google and Meta's teen-targeted ad deal could lead to hefty fines under #GDPR, mandatory #policychanges, and #operational #restrictions. It might also spark #classaction l#awsuits and further increase regulatory scrutiny globally.

#Scaling a business without the support of #investors may seem like a #daunting challenge, especially in a world where securing #funding is often seen as a #prerequisite for #growth. However, as entrepreneur Essam Abdullah demonstrates, it’s not only possible but can also offer distinct advantages. Here are his three key strategies for achieving sustainable growth without external investors, empowering you to retain control, maximize efficiency, and build a business that truly reflects your vision. ?? Challenge Expectations: Acknowledge that traditional paths to success may not be viable, especially without access to capital or networks. Use existing skills and industries as stepping stones to fund larger ambitions. ??Innovate Constantly: Continuously refine processes and workflows to stay competitive. Be willing to "kill your darlings" (abandon beloved but ineffective strategies) and adapt to feedback from employees and market changes. ??Embrace the Lack of Investors: Retain full control of your business decisions and growth. Avoid pitfalls associated with excess capital, such as risky business practices (e.g., the rise and fall of WeWork). Take responsibility for your business’s success rather than relying on external entities. The full article in Forbes below