👽 Humanoid Robots Secure $1.5B

Dear Friend,

As February unfolds, the convergence of Mobility, Energy Transition, and Industrial AI is reshaping industries at an extraordinary pace. This week, Maryland’s $420M MOVE Coalition exemplifies surging public-private infrastructure investments, while Third Lane Mobility proves micromobility’s profitability with a $19.2M EBITDA milestone and plans to deploy 45,000 e-scooters. In energy, solar and storage dominate 81% of 2025 U.S. capacity additions (51 GW total), yet policy shifts—like the DOE’s paused funding—stall $200M+ projects, even as natural gas persists through strategic data center deals. Meanwhile, Figure AI’s $1.5B raise—the largest humanoid robotics funding to date—and Flexport’s 20+ AI supply chain tools redefine industrial efficiency, with Vision AI acquisitions (e.g., Metropolis’s $125M Oosto buy) signaling a new edge-computing era.

Inside this digest, explore how logistics M&A surges ($155B in U.S. deals), AI bridges digital-physical divides in warehouses, and global regulators tighten scrutiny on cross-border tech deals. These stories reveal a world balancing sustainability, automation, and resilience amid shifting political and economic tides.

Your insights fuel this conversation. Thank you for engaging, and may this edition spark bold ideas.

P.S. How will humanoid robotics reshape your industry? Hit reply—we’d love to hear your perspective.

Mobility

1. Maryland Launches $420M Annual Transportation Investment via MOVE Maryland Coalition

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the MOVE Maryland Coalition, a public-private partnership to support a $420M annual investment in transportation infrastructure. The initiative includes highway safety upgrades (I-81, US-15), Light Rail rehabilitation in Baltimore, and Port of Baltimore improvements. Federal matching funds could raise annual investments to $695M.
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2. Jack Cooper’s Subsidiary Acquires Standard Forwarding Freight

Sakaem Holdings, linked to Jack Cooper, acquired Standard Forwarding Freight, a Midwest LTL carrier, via its subsidiary. The deal includes 14 terminals, a Chicago cross-dock facility, and Sakaem Logistics brokerage. The move follows Jack Cooper’s failed bids for Yellow Corp. assets and its recent shutdown due to lost contracts with Ford and GM.
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3. ACCURE Battery Intelligence Raises $16M in Series B Funding

ACCURE secured $16M led by Incharge Capital Partners (Porsche SE, DTCP) to expand its AI-driven battery analytics platform globally. The funds will support grid stability and EV battery optimization projects, reflecting investor confidence in energy storage tech.
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4. Third Lane Mobility Secures $45M for Micromobility Expansion

Third Lane Mobility, operator of Bird and Spin, announced a $45M financing round to fund 45,000 new e-scooters/bikes and expand into 15 markets. The company reported $204M in 2024 gross bookings and its first Adjusted EBITDA profit ($19.2M).
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5. EY Reports Surge in Transportation M&A Activity

EY’s February 2025 M&A report highlights increased dealmaker confidence, with $155B in U.S. transactions in January 2025 (23% YoY growth). The tech and logistics sectors drove activity, including RXO’s acquisition of Coyote Logistics. 58% of CEOs anticipate more megadeals ($10B+) in 2025.
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Energy Transition

1. ACCURE Battery Intelligence Secures $16M for Global Expansion

ACCURE raised $16M in a Series B round led by Incharge Capital Partners to scale its battery analytics platform globally. The ONGC-NTPC joint venture also acquired Ayana Renewable Power for $2.3B, signaling strong interest in utility-scale renewables.
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2. EIA: Solar and Storage to Lead 81% of 2025 U.S. Capacity Additions

The EIA projects 63 GW of new U.S. generation capacity in 2025, with solar (32.5 GW) and battery storage (18.2 GW) dominating. Texas and California lead solar, while battery storage growth highlights grid stability needs.
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3. DOE Advances $782M Loan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Amid Funding Pause

The DOE issued a $782M loan for sustainable aviation fuel under Trump’s executive order, which paused most Inflation Reduction Act clean energy grants. The administration is reviewing existing loans for alignment with fossil fuel priorities.
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4. Trump’s Clean Energy Rollbacks Threaten Manufacturing Investments

The NYT reports stalled investments in EV and solar manufacturing due to policy uncertainty, including Nel Hydrogen halting a $200M Michigan plant. Over $196B in announced clean energy projects face reevaluation.
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5. DLA Piper Forecasts Robust Energy Transition M&A in 2025

DLA Piper’s report highlights rising M&A driven by demand for critical minerals, ESG integration, and U.S. market resilience post-election. Strategic deals balance sustainability goals with financial performance.
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Physical AI

1. Figure AI Secures $1.5 Billion at $39.5B Valuation to Scale Humanoid Robotics

Humanoid robotics leader Figure AI raised $1.5 billion in a funding round led by Align Ventures and Parkway Venture Capital, valuing the company at $39.5 billion. The investment will accelerate production of its Figure 02 robots, which are designed for manufacturing and logistics tasks. BMW is already deploying these robots in its South Carolina plant for assembly line operations like metal part insertion.
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2. Metropolis Acquires Oosto for $125M to Integrate Vision AI into Parking Tech

AI parking platform Metropolis acquired Oosto, an Israeli video analytics firm, in a $125 million all-stock deal. Oosto’s Vision AI technology, including its behavior analysis tool Oosto Protect, will enhance Metropolis’s checkout-free payment systems across 4,000+ locations.
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3. Ati Motors Raises $20M Series B to Expand AI Warehouse Robots

Bengaluru-based Ati Motors secured $20 million from Walden Catalyst Ventures and NGP Capital to scale its autonomous Sherpa Tug robots. The robots, designed for rugged industrial environments, saw orders nearly triple in 2024. The funds will support expansion in North America and Mexico.
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4. Flexport Launches 20+ AI Tools to Modernize Global Supply Chains

Flexport unveiled over 20 AI-driven products, including Flexport Intelligence, which uses natural language queries to generate real-time supply chain insights. The Control Tower platform allows multi-carrier shipment management, targeting labor shortages and inefficiencies.
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5. SXSW 2025 to Spotlight Physical AI Breakthroughs in Robotics

SXSW announced a March 11 panel on Physical AI, featuring Cadence, NVIDIA, and Boston Dynamics executives. The session will explore how AI-powered robots like humanoids and drones are transitioning from labs to real-world factories, hospitals, and public spaces.
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Source: Information provided by Mavka Capital

Securities are offered through Finalis Securities LLC, a member of FINRA/SIPC. Mavka Capital and Finalis Securities LLC are separate, unaffiliated entities. The information contained in this message does not constitute legal advice and should not be considered an offer to purchase or a solicitation to sell securities or any other financial instruments; it is for informational purposes only.