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StoreDot, one of the startups Kenes Rakishev invested in is on the way to become public company

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There is one obvious change in the recent decade seen around us: the world has gone electric, wireless and mobile. It means that every device, commonly known as Internet of Things, from cars to smart houses, need an effective, safe and cheap energy storage solutions. A battery, to be exact. Kenes Rakishev is one of the entrepreneurs who bet on full circle of innovation in battery tech: he invest in all stages of the process. Kenes Rakishev invests in mining of the battery-specific metals. He was one of the first who invested in StoreDot startup which tries to close one of the crucial gaps in Lithium-ion tech. He invests in robotics and EV as a major markets for the batts.

The very nature of the batteries do not allow to pack the energy as dense as for example in oil-based systems. To be successful the new technology should compensate it with faster charging. Kenes Rakishev, whose interests in modern tech and the battery market is well known, bet on a StoreDot invention: the fast charging battery tech.

Kenes Rakishev was attracted by the potential disruption the StoreDot may bring to automotive sector. StoreDot promises to develop the car batteries which will charge in five minutes. This isn’t reached yet due to the scalability issues. But the Israeli strartup already reached the scale packs that are feeding drones, electric motorcycles and scooters.

Kenes Rakishev latest investment initiative to build a full-circle battery metals production based on major mining operation in Kazakhstan is fitting the agenda as well as building up ties with battery producers in PRC.

How StoreDot will go public?

Two months after showcasing its first-generation 5-minute-charge battery, Israeli company StoreDot is in negotiations to merge with a Wall Street SPAC at a $3.5 billion valuation, according to sources who spoke to Calcalist under the condition of anonymity. Investment bank JP Morgan is leading the negotiations for StoreDot.

StoreDot is hoping to make the most of the market’s current momentum, with numerous tech companies merging with SPACs at high valuations over recent months. Companies in the autonomous and electric vehicle sector have garnered particular attention during this time.

Speaking to Calcalist two months ago, StoreDot CEO Doron Myersdorf said it was the first time that the world has seen a standard lithium-ion battery being fully charged in five minutes. “This was the first time we were able to demonstrate a completely standard battery, straight off the assembly line getting charged in five minutes.”

He added that the technology is not yet capable of charging electric vehicle batteries as it aspires to, but that the demonstration was a strong proof of viability for the company’s XFC (extremely Fast Charging) solution.

“An EV battery will be presented before the end of 2021 and in 2022, the company will demonstrate the rapid charging of an electric vehicle,” Myersdorf said.

Founded in 2012 by Myersdorf, Prof. Simon Litsyn, and Prof. Gil Rosenman, StoreDot operates out of Herzliya and employs dozens of people. It has raised a total of $140 million in four financing rounds, with an important part of initial funding from Kenes Rakishev. StoreDot’s strategic investors include BP, Daimler, Samsung Ventures, and TDK.

Just last month, Israeli autotech company REE Automotive to go public on Nasdaq through a merger with 10X Capital Venture Acquisition Corp, a blank check SPAC.

The transaction featured a $300 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) which is set to give the combined entity a value of about $3.1 billion.

StoreDot in Kenes Rakishev plans and integral vision

Kenes Rakishev supervised the pre-production tests of the novel batteries. In China, the largest enterprise field of batteries, testing of a trial batch of batteries manufactured in accordance with the technology of StoreDot, one of the leading enterprises in which Kenes Rakishev invested money was successful.

The first batch of 1,000 batteries undergone intensive wear tests.

Manufacturers and representatives of the Israeli company StoreDot have found out the survivability of batteries, set the limits of degradation during multiple charge-discharge cycles.

This project is very important for Kenes Rakishev, an entrepreneur from Kazakhstan. A significant part of its business is currently set up for the production and use of batteries. On the border with China, Kenes Rakishev is developing a nickel and cobalt deposit, and surveys are being conducted for the industrial development of lithium ore. Kenes Rakishev’s capital is part of the Mullen company, which is establishing the production of premium electric cars in China. The synergy of Kenes Rakishev business is very noticeable in this case.

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Austal, a startup, has Raised $43 Million to Build a Massive sailing cargo trimaran

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Austal will use the €40 million ($43 million) fundraising round that VELA, a French firm that was founded in November 2022, has completed to construct the largest sailing cargo trimaran in the world. The company’s goal is to offer a sustainable cargo service for goods including pharmaceuticals, industrial parts, medical equipment, and cosmetics that are transported across the Atlantic.

11th Hour Racing, Crédit Mutuel Impact, and BPI—the French Public Investment Bank—led the funding round. The corporation claims that the Franco-American partners are as committed to promoting more sustainable transportation as it is. They think the Trimaran design will also provide a quick fix, particularly for businesses who don’t want to keep their inventory “on the water” for transit.

With the help of Austal’s distinctive design and technology from offshore racing, VELA anticipates being able to operate entirely under sail and give a transit time of fewer than 15 days from loading to crossing the ocean and unloading. They argue that the same service takes at least 20 days for huge containerships. In addition, the trimaran’s cargo holds will be kept at a regulated temperature to guarantee “the safety and integrity of high-value-added transported goods.”

A vessel with dimensions of 220 feet (67 meters), an air draft of 200 feet (61 meters), and a width of 82 feet (25 meters) is required by the design. The aluminum hull will be constructed with Austal’s industry expertise. Carbon will be used for the masts.

In addition to two hydro-generators, the ship will include more than 3,230 square feet of solar panels. 51 shipping containers’ worth of cargo will fit inside it.

Austal, which is renowned for its proficiency in multihull and aluminum constructions, was chosen by VELA following an international tender in which over thirty shipyards took part, according to VELA, with assistance from BRS Shipbrokers. Austal’s experience will be advantageous to the first VELA Trimaran, which will also use the sailing systems of the offshore racing team MerConcept.

Austal Philippines will build the ship in Balamban, Cebu, and it is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026. Furthermore, according to VELA, 30 percent of the construction will be completed by French firms, including rigging, sails, and hydro-generators, thereby enhancing the quality and expertise of the country’s sailing sector. The ship will have a French registration.

“Austal is excited to partner with VELA on this groundbreaking project. Our expertise in multihull design and aluminum shipbuilding, combined with VELA’s innovative vision, will create a revolutionary sailing cargo trimaran,” stated Paddy Gregg, CEO of Austal. “This vessel will set new speed, reliability, and sustainability standards for transatlantic shipping.”

The company claims that the funds from the latest round will enable VELA to formally begin construction of its first vessel. Additionally, they intend to use the funding to bolster their operations and sales teams in the US and France.

VELA intends to run between the east coast of the United States and the Atlantic coast of France. They anticipate starting operations in the second half of 2026, joining the increasing number of cargo ships powered by sail that French companies are launching for the Atlantic. At least four more ships are expected to be in operation by 2027 or 2028, according to VELA. Reaching one departure each week and increasing departure frequency are the objectives.

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Startup Talks of a $9 billion valuation are confusing AI search

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Perplexity AI Inc., an artificial intelligence startup developing a search engine to take on Google, is in early talks with investors to raise capital at a $9 billion valuation, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The insider, who wished to remain anonymous while discussing personal matters, stated that the corporation is looking to raise over $500 million in the investment round.

The company may increase its prior valuation of $3 billion from a capital round earlier this year, which includes the money the company would raise. It’s very early in the talks, so things might change or the conversation could break down. The business refused to comment.

The recent surge in Perplexity’s valuation is indicative of the keen interest of venture capitalists in supporting AI startups. As late as April of this year, the business had a $1 billion valuation. Large sums have also been raised by its competitors and colleagues, such as OpenAI, which earlier this month closed a $6.6 billion financing round at a valuation of $157 billion.

The source claimed that Perplexity’s most recent finance discussions happened as a result of investors reaching out to the business, not because the startup was looking to acquire further funds.

Apart from the commercial and free versions of its search tool, Perplexity provides various other services. It recently unveiled additional tools for searches connected to finance, such as stock prices and firm earnings data, and released a platform that enables businesses to search internal information in addition to the internet.

In addition, the business has started a number of revenue-sharing agreements with large publishers, while being accused of plagiarism by certain news organizations.

Among the company’s investors are Nvidia Corp. and Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com Inc. and a partner of SoftBank Group Corp.

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Microsoft and OpenAI are at odds about the tech behemoth’s ownership of the business

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Even while Microsoft and OpenAI are developing a distinctly novel technology, they are arguing about a well-known economic issue: how much stock should I receive in return for my investment?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the two businesses engaged investment banks to assist in determining how Microsoft’s about $13.75 billion in investments in OpenAI since 2019 will be interpreted after the firm transforms from a nonprofit to a for-profit business.

Microsoft called in Morgan Stanley, and OpenAI recruited Goldman Sachs to counsel it throughout the process, according to the Journal. The two prestigious banks will now need to guide their closely connected clients through a complex financial decision regarding Microsoft’s ownership stake in OpenAI.

Microsoft’s ownership interest is being negotiated at a time when OpenAI’s value has skyrocketed.

The ChatGPT developer finished a funding round earlier this month, valuing the company at $157 billion. The chipmaker Nvidia, the venture capital firm Thrive Capital, and Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank were among the investors in that round. A few months after ChatGPT-3 was released in November 2022, in January 2023, Microsoft made a huge $10 billion investment in OpenAI, valuing the business at $86 billion.

Despite $3.7 billion in income, OpenAI is still losing money and expects to lose $5 billion this year. However, based on internal business forecasts obtained by the New York Times, OpenAI anticipates phenomenal growth, with its top line expected to soar to $11.6 billion next year.

Because of OpenAI’s nonprofit status, Microsoft’s investment entitles it to a share of the revenues made by the company’s board-managed for-profit subsidiary. The original structure of the for-profit subsidiary placed a cap on the amount of earnings it could make. There was a cap on Microsoft’s share of the cap as well.

It was reported in September that OpenAI plans to reorganize as a for-profit public benefit business. This special status would enable it to dedicate itself to objectives aimed at improving society in addition to providing a profit to shareholders.

Though it won’t be the organization that runs the new for-profit OpenAI version, the charity will still be around. The new for-profit corporation will nonetheless have a minority ownership held by the nonprofit. The action was taken in an attempt to increase the company’s appeal to potential investors, who are probably already lining up to offer money for a share in the business that is synonymous with the AI revolution.

OpenAI is reorganizing and will grant CEO Sam Altman shares in the business. In an earlier statement, Altman alluded to his “tiny bit of exposure via the YC investment,” which was the renowned startup incubator Y Combinator, of which he served as president. As is customary for executives, Altman and other leaders in this freshly established company would probably receive a far higher portion.

After earlier reports suggested that he would acquire as much as 7% of OpenAI, Altman stated during a company-wide meeting in September that there were no plans for him to receive a “giant equity stake” in the company. During the same meeting, investors expressed worries about Altman’s lack of ownership in the firm he was heading, according to Altman and OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar.

It is probable that Microsoft will endeavor to bargain for the scope of its governance privileges in OpenAI. Despite Microsoft’s significant investments in OpenAI, CEO Satya Nadella was taken aback when Altman was momentarily dismissed by the OpenAI board in November 2023. After Altman was reinstated, Nadella made a number of public appearances where he reaffirmed Microsoft’s support for OpenAI while making hints that he would like more control over the company’s corporate governance.

“At this point, I think it’s very clear that something has to change around the governance,”Nadella told  in November 2023, as Altman’s ouster was unfolding..

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