News

Zapata Computing has released software designed to make it easier for companies to use algorithms invented for quantum computing to improve business processes.

Companies

• Zapata AI [NASDAQ: ZPTA]

At WIRED25, Arlan Hamilton and Katie Rae shared their insights on investing in companies that help humanity, and what's stopping other organizations from doing the same.

People

• Katie Rae

Michael Kosta talks to Biobot Analytics co-founder Newsha Ghaeli about her company's national campaign to fight America's coronavirus pandemic by studying samples of human excrement.

Companies

• Biobot Analytics

Sericulture startup Mori raises $12m Series A to preserve food with silk.

Companies

• Mori

The Engine had companies working on COVID-related research, and continued to stay open as an essential business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katie Rae shares that The Engine is “rewriting some of our policies to be more proactive, to hold ourselves to account there” and holding open forums with its community of founders.

People

• Katie Rae

About 400 U.S. wastewater-treatment facilities have turned to Biobot Analytics for help assessing the pandemic’s prevalence.

Companies

• Biobot Analytics

Quaise developed a millimeter wave drilling technology to access deep geothermal energy and raised $6 million in seed funding.

Companies

• Quaise

Mori (formerly Cambridge Crops) develops an edible, imperceptible coating that might replace plastic packaging to preserve meats and produce.

Companies

• Mori

Biobot has been gathering wastewater from around the country and analyzing it for the coronavirus.

Companies

• Biobot Analytics

With coronavirus testing still lagging behind targets, health officials are searching for other ways to assess the spread of the outbreak. One possibility? Looking at what we flush.

Companies

• Biobot Analytics

Minnesota utility Great River Energy will use new storage technology from the Bill Gates-backed startup to replace coal power with dispatchable wind.

Companies

• Form Energy

Dr. Mariana Matus, co-founder and CEO of Biobot, joins “Squawk Alley” to discuss how her company is testing wastewater to track the spread of coronavirus.

Companies

• Biobot Analytics

General Partner Ann Dewitt recently shared her thoughts on the impact of COVID-19 on the VC and tech communities.

People

• Ann DeWitt

The Engine is a bright spot in the world of investing.

Companies

• Commonwealth Fusion Systems

People

• Ann DeWitt

Lilac Solutions and the Australian company Controlled Thermal Resources announced they’re partnering to develop a lithium-extraction facility at the Salton Sea.

Companies

• Lilac Solutions

Congratulations To Zapata Computing — named a key player in the breakthrough technology of “quantum supremacy” by MIT Technology Review!

Companies

• Zapata AI [NASDAQ: ZPTA]

Financial Times’ John Thornhill interviews Katie Rae to learn more about The Engine’s unique venture model for investing in Tough Tech companies.

People

• Katie Rae

If you happen to bump into Bill Gates or Tim Cook in Central Square, odds are good that they’re heading to The Engine, writes Boston Globe’s Scott Kirsner in his profile about the firm.

Companies

• Boston Metal
• Syzygy Plasmonics
• Cellino
• Form Energy
• Mori
• Commonwealth Fusion Systems

People

• Katie Rae

Oakland-based Lilac Solutions says its ion exchange technology will enable a “massive increase in lithium supply needed for electric vehicles” from brine-based deposits.

Companies

• Lilac Solutions

Lilac Solutions has developed a process for extracting lithium that drastically cuts water use, writes Bloomberg.

Companies

• Lilac Solutions

My Climate Journey’s podcast interviews Via Separations on industrial separations and climate change.

Companies

• Via Separations

Katie Rae kicks off 2020 by sharing with Crunchbase some of the Tough Tech startups to watch this year.

Companies

• Commonwealth Fusion Systems
• Kytopen

People

• Katie Rae

What are VC trends in 2020? With increasing constraints on carbon, “we will see a renewed interest in cleantech and a shift away from a resource-based energy economy toward a technology-based energy economy,” The Engine’s Katie Rae tells Fortune.

People

• Katie Rae

Congrats to Boston Metal and Zapata Computing — named by BostInno as among the top 20 startups to watch in 2020!

Companies

• Boston Metal
• Zapata AI [NASDAQ: ZPTA]

Congratulations to portfolio company, Hedron (formerly Analytical Space) — selected for the $3 million award at Air Force Space Pitch Day!

Congrats to portfolio companies Syzygy Plasmonics and Via Separations — recognized as 2019 “10 Startups to Watch” by Chemical & Engineering News Magazine!

Companies

• Via Separations
• Syzygy Plasmonics

ISEE raises $15M Series A led by Founders Fund with participation from existing investors including The Engine.

Companies

• ISEE

The November issue of Inc. Magazine includes The Engine & Katie Rae in its profile of Boston’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Companies

• ISEE
• Vaxess Technologies

People

• Katie Rae

Katie Rae discusses venture capital and tackling the toughest technologies on this episode of the Interchange podcast.

People

• Katie Rae