From the race track to virtual gigs: ThoughtLDR clients making the news

The latest news and developments from ThoughtLDR and our clients. 

Neural Concept & Formula 1: Accelerating AI

AI is helping Formula 1 teams find the winning edge - as legendary automotive writer Tim Stevens discovered when he profiled our client Neural Concept for TechCrunch. Neural Concept's ground-breaking 3D deep-learning platform is transforming product development for over 60 global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) including Bosch, Airbus, Subaru, NVIDIA and four out of ten Formula 1 teams.

In Tim's article, Neural Concept CEO and co-founder Pierre Baqué shared the inside track on the company's high-speed journey from university spin-off to global AI platform, setting the standard for ‘Engineering Intelligence’. In the article, Williams Racing’s Hari Roberts highlighted how Neural Concept is helping the team refine their car’s aerodynamic design, dramatically reducing simulation times and improving lap times. In this new era, competitive advantage is increasingly being defined by Engineering Intelligence.

Read the full article on TechCrunch here.

Neural Concept raises $27M to bring Engineering Intelligence to OEMs

In addition, the company secured $27 million in Series B funding in a round led by Forestay Capital, with existing investors and the D.E. group participating. Spun-out from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in 2018, the company's ground-breaking Engineering Intelligence platform empowers engineers with 3D deep learning and lightening fast simulation. As TechCrunch editor-at-large Mike Butcher discovered, Neural Concept is helping automotive manufacturers cut EV development time from four years down to just 18 months. 

Read Mike's full story on the fundraise - and the company growth - on TechCrunch here. 

OctaiPipe: Making waves in the AI industry

Fresh from their pre-Series A funding round, our client OctaiPipe, has been named a finalist for London AI Startup of the Year Award by the UK Startups Awards 2024. 

This nominations recognises OctaiPipe's pioneering commercialisation of Federated Learning - the convergence of cutting-edge AI and Edge computing technologies.

In a recent episode of All Points West podcast with Karl West, CEO Eric Topham discussed OctaiPipe’s mission to revolutionise the IoT landscape and explored the trustworthiness of AI. 

Tune in to the full episode here: All Points West Podcast

BBC partners with Condense: coming to you live and in 3D

BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show has partnered with Bristol-based tech company Condense to create an innovative, immersive live experience for music fans. The partnership between Condense and the BBC runs deep, with BBC Ventures investing £500,000 in the company - the venture team's first ever investment.

Using Condense's technology, BBC Radio 1 listeners can get front-row seats to 3D, live-streamed performances in a virtual venue called the New Music Portal. Featuring artists such as Gardna, Charlotte Plank and Sam Tompkins, the portal allows fans to join as avatars and interact with the artist and other attendees.

In the New Music Portal, fans can feel the vibe of a real concert, moving their customised avatar around the venue and busting out moves. Condense is the only company in the world with the tech to capture and stream performances live in 3D. We think one of the best things about Condense is how inclusive the experience is. It brings live music experiences to you, wherever you are. You can join on your phone or laptop - and there's no need to wear expensive VR headsets (although Condense can be experienced in VR if you're into that.)

Check out some BTS video of Good Neighbours performing their very first performance live on BBC Radio 1 - and in 3D via the BBC’s New Music Portal here. 

Find out more about BBC Venture's investment in Condense, courtesy of Tim Stevens at Sifted, here.

Jitterbit partners with KTSL: The power of integration 

 In keeping with their focus on collaboration, Jitterbit partnered with KTSL to host a wonderful evening workshop in London. Attendees gathered to hear discussions from industry experts like Aaron Perrott of KTSL, Keith Rigg of Jitterbit, Iain Janssens of M Group Services, and Barry Zielinski and Anthony Cairns of Telent Technology Services.

Insights were shared, new connections were made, and it was another great showcase for the power of integration to drive businesses forward in this age of accelerated AI and hyper automation.

Electric flight is closer than most realise. And that is thanks to Evolito, a company that's propelling an electric revolution in aviation. Based in Bicester, UK, Evolito’s electric axial-flux motors have industry leading power-to-weight ratio, which is crucial for all manner of fully-electric and hybrid aircraft including eVTOL and UAMs.

At Farnborough International Airshow, Evolito drew the crowds to their stand with their latest electric propulsion solutions on display. CEO Chris Harris highlighted the company’s continued progress:

“Evolito's motors and modular battery solutions are adaptable for various aerospace applications, providing safety and high efficiency. Approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, Evolito aims for type certification within two years.”

Read the full story on eVOTL news and find out more about the Farnborough International Air Show here.

Women in type

Women have long been trendsetters in typography and design. Now, Typeroom is shouting it from the rooftops, telling the stories of four barrier-breaking women who are shaping the future of typography. 

Sara Soskolne (Creative Type Director), Mary Catherine Pflug, (head of Foundry Program), Kerry Squires (Senior Brand Designer) and Marie Boulanger, (Design Team Lead) are some of the brilliant minds behind typography and tech leaders, Monotype. In the Typeroom article, they share more about their career paths, challenges, and future vision for type design.

Read the full story here to learn more about their remarkable achievements and perspectives on the future of typography, creativity and brands. 

Localised payments company BOKU shares leadership insights 

In May, Tracy Prandi-Yuen, Global VP at Boku joined the Soar Payments PayPod podcast to spread the word about how leadership can positively impact diversity in the workplace. Tracy Prandi-Yuen is an inspirational leader in the global fintech industry. Having previously held key roles at Visa, and Meta, and now working in one of the world's fastest growing payments companies, Tracy has always been a passionate advocate for workplace diversity, mentoring young professionals, and promoting greater financial inclusion.

Tracy shared how genuine support and advocacy from management are key to inspiring wider participation and cultivating inclusive cultures, especially in tech organisations, which have traditionally been male-dominated. When leaders treat diversity as a compliance requirement rather than a deeply-held belief, it undermines efforts and fails to engage the team. 

Tune in to hear Tracy discuss how authentic leadership shapes workplace culture, why genuine commitment from the top goes beyond just 'ticking a box' and how it can build a culture of inclusion here.  

Apple Vision Pro and robots: A game-changing demo

Universal robotics platform BOW wowed the crowd at the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s “Robotics & Automation” event in Leicester, in collaboration with their partner Compsoft Creative.

Compsoft's custom Apple Vision Pro app, powered by BOW's universal robotics software and “digital twin” technology, gave attendees the ability to control a robotic arm. Beyond being a mindblowing spatial computing/robotics demo, this application has potential in healthcare, industry, and hazardous environments.

BOW's platform simplifies robotics programming, enabling any developer to create and simulate applications for any robot, using any language and operating system.

Read more here.

SWISSto12 secures new deal from Northrop Grumman

Another day, another win for our client SWISSto12. The company has been selected to supply mission-critical Radio Frequency products for Northrop Grumman’s GEOStar-3 commercial satellite program. The deal highlights SWISSto12’s best-of-breed Radio Frequency communications solutions, enabled by their proprietary Additive Manufacturing (RFAM) technology (also known as 3D printing.)

SWISSto12 is opening up new frontiers in space comms with Radio Frequency components that offer unparalleled performance, size, and weight savings - and also with the world’s first commercial SmallSat for geostationary applications, HummingSat. 

It's another step forward in their mission to "better protect and connect every corner of the world." 

Read more about their latest achievement here.

If you’d like your company to be recognised as an industry thought leader - schedule a discovery call with our senior team here.