Dear {{First_Name|Friend}},
As January draws to a close, physical AI and robotics gain momentum with Lianhe Sowell committing about $200 million for a UAE industrial robotics hub and Serve Robotics acquiring hospital-focused Diligent Robotics, while Nvidia anchors AI infrastructure with a further $2 billion into CoreWeave and DayOne Data Centers targets a $20 billion IPO.
Mobility advances as Zipline raises $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation and Eve Air Mobility secures $150 million in debt for eVTOL commercialization, while the energy transition accelerates with Zanskar’s $115 million round for AI-driven geothermal development and General Fusion’s planned $1 billion SPAC merger toward a mid-2026 Nasdaq listing.
Stay sharp,
Vitaly Golomb
Managing Partner
AI, Robotics, Mobility, Energy
[email protected]
Misha Edel
Partner
Data Center, Ind. Automation, PropTech
[email protected]
Physical AI
1. Lianhe Sowell Plans $200M UAE Robotics Facility
Lianhe Sowell is investing $200 million in a UAE robotics hub to mass‑produce up to 80K specialized industrial robots a year for hazardous, underwater, and remote medical work.
2. Serve Robotics Buys Diligent Robotics for $29M
Serve Robotics is acquiring hospital-automation pioneer Diligent Robotics for $29 million, expanding its delivery robots from sidewalks into high‑growth healthcare environments on a shared AI stack.
3. Unbox Robotics Raises $28M Series B
Unbox Robotics raised $28 million to scale its swarm‑intelligent 3D sorting robots, riding 5x annual growth and profitable warehouse automation across India, Europe, and the U.S.
4. Saga Robotics Doubles Down on US Vineyards
Saga Robotics secured extra capital from Xinomavro Ventures and hired a new U.S. GM to rapidly expand its UV‑C vineyard robots that cut powdery mildew without chemicals.
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Data Centers
1. Nvidia Pumps $2B Into CoreWeave AI Capacity
Nvidia is injecting $2 billion into CoreWeave to help build over 5GW of AI compute by 2030, cementing its grip on next‑gen AI data center infrastructure.
2. DayOne Chases $20B IPO After $2B+ Round
DayOne Data Centers is eyeing a $20 billion IPO on the back of a more than $2 billion Series C, positioning itself as a major Asia‑based hyperscale and AI data center contender.
3. SoftBank Pauses $50B Switch Mega‑Deal
SoftBank has suspended talks to buy U.S. data center operator Switch in a ~$50 billion deal, putting Masayoshi Son’s Stargate AI infrastructure push temporarily on ice.
4. Retelit Weighs €700M Data Center Sale
Italian operator Retelit is exploring a sale of its data center portfolio for up to €700 million ($832 million), signaling continued M&A appetite for European digital infrastructure.
Mobility
1. Zipline Raises $600M at $7.6B Valuation
Drone delivery leader Zipline landed $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation to scale autonomous deliveries into Houston, Phoenix, and more U.S. states in 2026.
2. Eve Air Mobility Secures $150M Debt
Eve Air Mobility closed $150 million in debt financing, bringing total funding to $1.2 billion as it races to certify and commercialize its eVTOL air taxis.
3. TransDigm Buys Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation for $2.2B
TransDigm is acquiring Jet Parts Engineering and Victor Sierra Aviation for $2.2 billion, tightening its grip on high‑margin aircraft components.
4. Traton and PlusAI Expand Autonomous Truck Partnership
Volkswagen’s Traton group (Scania, MAN, International) is deepening its alliance with PlusAI to fast‑track factory‑built Level 4 autonomous trucks for U.S. and European highways, moving robotrucks from pilots toward scaled production.
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Energy Transition
1. 2150 Closes €210M Climate Tech Fund
VC firm 2150 raised a €210 million ($249 million) second fund, taking AUM to €500 million to back climate tech startups targeting cities’ carbon footprints.
2. Zanskar Raises $115M Series C for AI‑Driven Geothermal
Zanskar secured $115 million Series C to expand its AI‑powered geothermal discovery platform and build its first six 20‑MW carbon‑free power plants.
3. General Fusion Targets Public Markets in $1B SPAC
General Fusion plans to go public via a $1 billion SPAC merger, aiming for a mid‑2026 Nasdaq listing and up to $335 million in fresh capital.
4. Enechain Raises ~$32M to Scale Power Trading Platform
Japanese startup Enechain raised about $32 million to expand its power trading business and upgrade its online electricity trading platform.
