Funding news was slow this week for Southeast startups, but plenty happened of news to still cover. Here is the latest:
Big Stories On Hypepotamus
Undaunted, the latest startup spinning out of the Atlanta Ventures Studio, is hyperfocused on proactice security as it brings robotic solutions to market. The robotics company is providing “real-time security solutions” for real estate developers, property owners, and community stakeholders looking to proactively safeguard properties and tenants. Get to know the co-founder and CEO behind the venture Bryan Dinner here.
What started as Jonathan Schwartz’s graduate school thesis project at Georgia Tech is now a medical device technology startup ready to help tackle knee pain. OrthoPreserve, a startup building in Atlanta and member of Portal Innovations, is working on a meniscus implant to help patients relieve knee pain after an injury. Its meniscus replacement device, called Defender, is designed to bridge a gap “for patients with meniscus dysfunction who are not yet clinically ready for a knee replacement,” according to the company’s website. OrthoPreserve just reached an important milestone for any early-stage medical device startup, receiving FDA breakthrough device designation and TAP enrollment, a program designed to spur more rapid development of high-quality, safe, effective, and innovative medical devices. More on the startup here.
Funding News
South Carolina Research Authority’s investment affiliate, SC Launch Inc., has invested $250,000 in Storybutton. The Indian Land, South Carolina-based startup developed an audio platform and player for children that allows them to listen to podcasts, bedtime stories, and more without using a mobile phone. Press release here.
Frenos, a Charlotte, NC-based provider of an autonomous operational technology (OT) security assessment platform, raised $3.88M in Seed funding, led by DataTribe. More here.
Hiring Stories
Lots of big news around the startup service provider space. John Yates, who is known for starting Atlanta’s startup legal space, announced he is leaving the firm Morris Manning and joining Gunderson Dettmer as Partner. Meanwhile several other lawyers from Morris Manning who worked on technology and VC deals are joining ReedSmith, a firm new to the Atlanta legal scene.
Digital.ai, the only AI-powered software delivery platform for the enterprise, welcomed Nicholas Grabowski as its new Chief Product Officer (CPO). Full press release here.
Other Stories Around The Southeast
Epicenter, Memphis’ hub for entrepreneurs, has launched Innovate Xcelerate, a new program to build a diverse pipeline of innovators and strengthen the city’s entrepreneurship culture. Backed by a $380,000 MassMutual Foundation grant, the two-year program kicks off February 7 with a design thinking workshop, followed by a March Hackathon led by CodeCrew. Ten teams will receive funding to develop prototypes and join a yearlong accelerator offering technical, legal, and marketing support. At least three finalists will secure up to $25,000 in capital investments, with additional funding opportunities available.