Startup Name: Runware

Industry: Media

Region: USA

Amount (USD): $13 million

The problem it is solving: AI media generation (images, video, audio, 3D, and LLMs) is often slow, expensive, and resource-intensive. Runware addresses this by providing a high-performance and cost-efficient AI inference engine that makes large-scale media generation more affordable and scalable for businesses and developers.

What the Funds Will Be Spent On: Expanding its inference engine and API beyond image/video to audio, LLMs, and 3D workflows. Scaling infrastructure to support global adoption. Enhancing its Sonic Inference Engine and AI model hosting capabilities.

Startup Name: Sharp Performance

Industry: Performance coaching

Region: USA

Amount (USD): $12 million

The problem it is solving: Public safety professionals (firefighters, police officers, military veterans, first responders) face staggering mental health challenges—divorce rates as high as 70%, substance abuse affecting up to 30%, and suicides outpacing line-of-duty deaths. Traditional mental health services are often ineffective for this group due to stigma, mistrust, and lack of shared experience. Sharp provides proactive, peer-to-peer coaching led by former Navy SEALs, Green Berets, police, and firefighters—mentors who understand the realities of the job and can deliver trusted support.

What the Funds Will Be Spent On: Expanding go-to-market operations and partnerships with agencies. Growing the coaching network with more high-risk background professionals. Scaling product and engineering teams to improve the platform. Strengthening overall organisational capacity to meet national demand.

Startup Name: Madison Scientific

Industry: Healthtech

Region: USA

Amount (USD): $10 million

The problem it is solving: Hydrocephalus—an excessive buildup of fluid in the brain—is often treated with surgically implanted shunts. However, shunt malfunction and failure rates are alarmingly high (40–50% in children, ~30% in adults), leading to repeated surgeries, complications, and risk of brain damage. Current treatments lack effective diagnostic and monitoring tools to manage the condition proactively. MadSci’s SmartShunt System is designed to reduce shunt failure by integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functions, enabling more personalised and reliable management of hydrocephalus.

What the Funds Will Be Spent On: Advancing product development of the SmartShunt Hydrocephalus Management System. Expanding its workforce to support growth and technical expertise. Enhancing preclinical studies to validate the device before scaling further.