Cardo AI and the role of PE in AI, Eye2Drive, Kong - November 26, 2024

Cardo AI, a fintech startup, announced a $15m Series A funding co-led by Blackstone, FINTOP Capital and JAM FINTOP.Eye2Drive, a startup developing imaging sensors for the automotive sector, 🇮🇹raised €1.5m from RoboIT, Pariter Partners, Motor Valley Accelerator, and Toscana Next.Discentis, an edtech startup, 🇮🇹raised €250k from Social Fare and La Lucerna.Outdoora, a “SocialARTvertising” startup, 🇮🇹raised an undisclosed amount from LMDV Capital.Accudire, an e-CMR startup, 🇮🇹raised an undisclosed amount from Circle Group and Zucchetti.Meanwhile, in the US Kong secured $175m new financing at $2B valuation to power the API world 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.And, finally, Bending Spoons is working on a new €42m equity round.News from the technology private equity market: Quadrivio Group announced a new Artificial Intelligence PE Fund, in partnership with Microsoft, while 21Invest announced 21 Invest Healthcare, a PE fund focused on innovative products in the healthtech sector.CDP VC launched CrossConnect, its latest accelerator, focused on startups offering products in the infrastructure sector.FS Group 🇮🇹announced an agreement worth €5m with several players in the ecosystem to support its innovation efforts.Teamsystem 🇮🇹acquired Muscope Cybersecurity.