LG Technology Ventures

Sharing an exciting update from one of our portfolio companies, MakinaRocks! Hankook & MakinaRocks to Develop AI-Driven Tire Design Hankook & Company, the parent firm of Hankook Tire & Technology, has partnered with Korea-based AI startup MakinaRocks to develop advanced AI technology for tire design. This collaboration focuses on creating an AI model that automatically generates tire tread patterns, optimizing both performance and aesthetics. Hankook is also building a standardized pattern database to support R&D, design, and marketing efforts, further advancing product development through AI innovation. #LGTechnologyVentures #Portfolio #MakinaRocks

GM partners with startup Forge Nano to improve EV battery life, performance, and safety General Motors (GM) has invested $10 million in Forge Nano, a materials science startup, to enhance electric vehicle (EV) battery performance and lifespan through a technology called Atomic Armor. This ultra-thin coating improves battery safety, extends the life of cathode-active materials, and could lead to faster charging, increased energy density, and longer-lasting batteries. The partnership aligns with GM's evolving multi-supplier battery strategy, as it aims to improve its EV offerings amid slower-than-expected sales growth. #LGTechnologyVentures #Portfolio #ForgeNano

SES AI Collaborates with NVIDIA, Crusoe, and Supermicro on AI for Science Initiative to Accelerate Material Discovery in Electric Transportation SES AI Corporation has launched an initiative to accelerate the discovery of new materials for electric transportation through advanced AI-driven research. By leveraging a supercomputer and AI cloud platform powered by NVIDIA and Supermicro, SES AI aims to map the molecular universe of small molecules, enhancing lithium-metal battery chemistry and advancing energy-efficient technology. This project aligns cutting-edge AI with sustainable computing, enabling faster innovation in battery technology for electric vehicles and other applications. #LGTechnologyVentures #Portfolio #SESAI

Who needs GPT-4o Advanced Voice Mode? Hume’s EVI 2 is here with emotionally inflected voice AI and API. Hume, an AI startup founded by former Google DeepMinder Alan Cowen, recently launched its updated voice AI model, Empathic Voice Interface 2 (EVI 2), designed to enhance naturalness, emotional responsiveness, and customizability for businesses and developers. EVI 2, which offers 40% lower latency and 30% reduced costs, allows seamless integration within applications, enabling a more personalized user experience without directing users to external support systems. This launch positions Hume ahead of competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic in delivering an advanced, emotionally-inflected voice AI assistant for businesses. #LGTechnologyVentures #Portfolio #Hume

ZK Rollups: A Foundational Technology, Not Just a Passing Trend, According to QuickNode's VP ZK Rollups, a technology that improves transaction throughput and data confidentiality, is establishing itself as a foundational technology for enhancing blockchain performance and user experience. Neuroth emphasized that ZK Rollups will play a critical role in addressing Bitcoin's scalability and privacy issues, enabling Bitcoin to compete with other blockchain networks. He also mentioned the need for developer-friendly solutions to bridge the gap between DeFi and traditional finance (TradFi), noting that QuickNode's Rollup as a Service (RaaS) platform provides developers with the tools necessary to tackle these technical challenges. QuickNode's RaaS platform focuses on simplifying the deployment and scaling of blockchain rollups, offering essential tools and infrastructure that developers need. This platform ensures high performance and reliability for large-scale applications, supporting both enterprise clients and smaller development teams in swiftly deploying and managing blockchain solutions. As a result, developers can shift their focus from complex infrastructure management to innovation, thereby accelerating the growth of the blockchain ecosystem. #LGTechnologyVentures #QuickNode #Portfolio

LSU Becomes the First University Sports Program to Use Eko AI-Based Stethoscopes LSU's athletic department has become the first university sports program to use Eko Health’s AI-based digital stethoscopes, thanks to an innovative collaboration with Eko Health and Our Lady of the Lake Health. Through this partnership, LSU's athletic department can use the FDA-approved CORE 500 digital stethoscope and AI algorithms to detect heart diseases in student-athletes early. Eko Health's technology helps healthcare providers at Our Lady of the Lake Health perform more precise heart examinations during routine check-ups for LSU student-athletes. This AI-based stethoscope will play a significant role in the early identification of heart issues such as atrial fibrillation and heart murmurs, contributing to the overall health and performance of student-athletes. LSU’s athletic department aims to ensure the safety of its student-athletes and help them perform at their best by utilizing the latest technology. #LGTechnologyVentures #EkoHealth #Portfolio

Everyone is welcome to attend with registration (https://lnkd.in/ecSgmjxk) open to the public at no cost. If you are a startup that is working in any of these areas of interest, please click this link to apply for the pitch competition! (Deadline: Aug 23)

Claroty has entered a multi-year strategic collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance cybersecurity for cyber-physical systems (CPS) across sectors like manufacturing and healthcare. The partnership leverages Claroty's CPS protection platform, xDome, built on AWS architecture, providing scalable and specialized security for connected systems. This collaboration aims to help organizations securely transition critical infrastructure to the cloud, balancing operational efficiency with reduced cyber risks. #Portfolio #Claroty #LGTechnologyVentures

Meta content company Y.GRAM has partnered with The Sandbox to host the Numberland Game Jam, a competition centered on the educational meta-animation Aeko and Friends, which will air on EBS. Participants will use The Sandbox’s tools to create metaverse content based on the animation, with a chance to win part of a 50,000 SAND prize pool. The event marks The Sandbox’s first local Game Jam in Korea, with the potential for winning content to be featured in the EBS animation or The Sandbox's virtual world. #Portfolio #TheSandbox #LGTechnologyVentures

LG Chem is proud to be a sponsor for LG NOVA’s 2024 Innovation Festival, helping bring together innovators to discuss, explore, and build next-generation solutions for a better future.🚀   LG Chem is sponsoring a new category for the Startup Pitch Competition in the area of #LifeSciences, a key business unit within LG Chem, to search for emerging technologies in AI Drug Discovery, #Oncology, Cell/Gene Therapy, etc. This new category will be added alongside existing categories such as #CleanTech, where LG Chem’s US Business Development team is seeking next-generation technologies (i.e. #battery technologies) that align with their mission for sustainability, and will be sponsoring a new “Innovation for Impact Award.”   If you are a startup that would like to participate in the Innovation Festival Pitch Competition, please sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gY37X67T.   If you are interested in learning more about the event, please visit: innofest.lgnova.com.   See you September 25-26 in San Francisco!   #LGChem #WeConnectScience #LGNOVA #InnoFest2024 #Startups