Wellington start-up Litmaps raises $1m to revolutionise science research
Litmaps, a Wellington-based start-up that's just raised $1 million in a Series A funding round, is redefining how scientists navigate the sea of academic literature by merging citation network analysis with generative AI (artificial intelligence).
Founded in 2016 by Axton Pitt and Kyle Webster, the platform now serves over two million researchers globally, including institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and the University of Cambridge.
Its mission? To 'accelerate impactful science' by helping researchers identify gaps in knowledge and avoid redundant work.
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Otago Daily Times
11 minutes ago
- Otago Daily Times
Getty's landmark lawsuit on copyright and AI to begin
Getty Images' landmark copyright lawsuit against artificial intelligence company Stability AI begins at London's High Court this week, with the photo provider's case likely to set a key precedent for the law on AI. The Seattle-based company, which produces editorial content and creative stock images and video, accuses Stability AI of breaching its copyright by using its images to "train" its Stable Diffusion system, which can generate images from text inputs. Getty, which is bringing a parallel lawsuit against Stability AI in the United States, says Stability AI unlawfully scraped millions of images from its websites and used them to train and develop Stable Diffusion. Stability AI – which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and in March announced investment by the world's largest advertising company, WPP WPP.L – is fighting the case and denies infringing any of Getty's rights. A Stability AI spokesperson said that "the wider dispute is about technological innovation and freedom of ideas," adding: "Artists using our tools are producing works built upon collective human knowledge, which is at the core of fair use and freedom of expression." Getty's case is one of several lawsuits brought in Britain, the US and elsewhere over the use of copyright-protected material to train AI models, after ChatGPT and other AI tools became widely available more than two years ago. WIDER IMPACT Creative industries are grappling with the legal and ethical implications of AI models that can produce their own work after being trained on existing material. Prominent figures including Elton John have called for greater protections for artists. Lawyers say Getty's case will have a major impact on the law, as well as potentially informing government policy on copyright protections relating to AI. "Legally, we're in uncharted territory. This case will be pivotal in setting the boundaries of the monopoly granted by UK copyright in the age of AI," Rebecca Newman, a lawyer at Addleshaw Goddard, who is not involved in the case, said. She added that a victory for Getty could mean that Stability AI and other developers will face further lawsuits. Cerys Wyn Davies, from the law firm Pinsent Masons, said the High Court's ruling "could have a major bearing on market practice and the UK's attractiveness as a jurisdiction for AI development".
Techday NZ
2 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Projectworks secures NZD $25 million in funding to drive global growth
Projectworks has closed its Series A funding round at NZD $25 million, securing investment from US fintech investor Ten Coves alongside existing shareholders. The latest funding boost takes the Wellington-founded software firm's total capital raised to more than NZD $33 million. The Series A round, which the company describes as one of the largest of its kind for a New Zealand technology business in recent years, included continued participation from Bridgewest Group and Punakaiki Fund. The investment coincides with Projectworks being awarded Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year at the 2025 Hi-Tech Awards. The company has also recently been recognised in the Deloitte Fast50 and the Inc. 5000 list, underscoring its growth trajectory. Strategic investment Ten Coves Managing Partner, Steve Piaker, has joined the Projectworks board as part of the investment. Piaker emphasised the shifts occurring in the global consulting market, particularly as smaller, specialist firms gain ground through technology adoption. "It's a good time to challenge the status quo," said Steve Piaker, Managing Partner, Ten Coves Capital. "With the latest advances in project intelligence, specialists with lean teams and deep experience can go toe-to-toe with larger firms — and win. Projectworks is the first end-to-end solution built for consultants from the ground up. It breaks down silos that get in the way of growth, and gives firms the tools to bid for and manage projects from a position of strength. . Having backed Mark Orttung when he served as president of BILL, we are thrilled to reunite with him and support his team as they break new ground in the professional services automation space." The funds are earmarked for expanding product development, customer success and go-to-market teams. In particular, Projectworks will focus on integrating generative artificial intelligence tools, such as automated time tracking and proposal generation, into its platform. The company expects to increase its headcount by approximately 50% in the coming year. Leadership changes Mark Orttung, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2024, has headed an acceleration of Projectworks' expansion, especially in North America, since taking up the post. Orttung previously held senior positions including President and Chief Operating Officer of BILL and CEO of Nexient, which was acquired by NTT Data in 2021. Orttung said the new funding and recognition highlighted a shift in the consulting services industry, where firms face mounting pressures and must find efficiencies in their project management. "Great consulting firms spend all their time on clients. That doesn't leave any time to manage their own firms. Specialists are solving some of the world's hardest and most important problems, yet they often shortchange key areas like resource planning, project and firm profitability, time sheets, time off/expense management, and invoicing. If you don't nail the basics, nothing else matters. You can't scale. You can't make a profit. And most importantly, you can't serve your clients, employees, or shareholders. That's what makes Projectworks so special. We automate the routine so firms can focus on what really matters—profitable, meaningful, impactful work." Orttung added: "Projectworks is now a truly global company, but we retain our Kiwi attitude. We listen, we innovate, we deliver. We eliminate project chaos and help our clients focus on work that makes a real difference in people's lives. We are growing at a spectacular rate as a result." Recognition and growth Projectworks' growth was praised by the Hi-Tech Award judges, who commented on the company's strong reputation among over 600 consulting clients in more than 50 countries. The judges remarked, "Projectworks has carved out a clear niche in the professional services world, building a smart, practical software platform that grew from solving internal pain points of their own consulting business, to supporting over 600 consultancies in more than 50 countries." The panel further stated, "Projectworks is a stand-out example of how a New Zealand company can quietly and successfully go global by focusing on what services firms actually need. They've executed well and built a solid pipeline of innovation for future growth." Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Matt Hayter attributed the achievement to the dedication of the team and the confidence shown by early supporters. "We're here today because of the people who believed in us from the start. We were backed by ambitious Kiwi consulting firms - many of whom were scrappy young startups like us - and it's because of them that we grew. It's because of them that we are here today, taking on the world from Wellington. The future of NZ tech is bright and I've never been as optimistic as I am now. Sure, there are challenges and headwinds, but if there's one thing the last four years have taught me, it's that the world isn't run by the smartest or best people - it's run by the people who keep showing up. With Projectworks, I know we're just getting started." Operational progress Founded in 2019, Projectworks reports a compound annual revenue growth rate of 140% since launch. The company now serves more than 600 clients, including tens of thousands of users worldwide. In 2024, Projectworks moved its headquarters to Silicon Valley, marking a step-up in international ambitions targeting the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Europe. Projectworks' software automates time-tracking, invoicing, resource allocation, forecasting and reporting, and integrates with commonly used workplace systems such as QuickBooks, Salesforce, Hubspot, Jira and Zapier. The company aims to give SMB consultancies a clearer overview of complex, cross-border projects. Customer perspectives Marc Foster, Vice President at Cypress Environment and Infrastructure, said, "A lot of software for consultants feels like the past -- enterprise with a capital E. Projectworks was the first solution we came across that really felt like the future. It's lightweight and nimble, not a big, clunky ERP. We've been growing like crazy the last few years, and it's reassuring to know Projectworks understands the challenges of firms like ours. It doesn't force you into a particular way of doing things. I love how it integrates with our accounting software, because it makes hiring so much easier. No matter where you are, you can always find someone who knows how to run QuickBooks." Christian Nolden, President of Groundline Engineering, USA, commented, "We've grown our team 10X over the past decade and recently made a major move into the US market—an exciting but complex transition for any company. We needed a project automation solution that could keep up with our pace, but more importantly, one that was easy to adopt and didn't require months of onboarding or training. Before Projectworks, we were juggling multiple disconnected platforms and relying heavily on spreadsheets just to get basic insights. Pulling data manually was time-consuming and error-prone, especially as we expanded globally. It was clear we needed a better way. Projectworks completely transformed how we manage projects. It was quick to set up, intuitive to use, and immediately gave us a single source of truth for all our projects. Within days, we were syncing teams across countries, tracking progress in real time, and making faster, more confident decisions. It's been a game-changer for our US expansion and beyond." Projectworks' leadership has signalled ongoing emphasis on international expansion, especially in North America, as well as continued investment in technology development and customer support teams.
Techday NZ
6 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Klearcom eyes 79% revenue growth as AI fuels global expansion
Klearcom is forecasting a 79% increase in revenue in 2025, driven by new partnerships and an expanded product portfolio. The company expects its global customer base to rise by 75% during the same period, attributing the growth to its extended market reach and a stronger focus on AI-driven solutions, including large language models and conversational AI. Klearcom has outlined plans to add 35 new carrier partnerships and expand into 15 additional markets by the end of 2026, with particular emphasis on further development in Asia and Africa. These efforts are part of a strategy to serve a more diverse customer base and increase international presence. Since 2022, the Waterford-based firm has expanded its carrier network from 80 partners to over 340 by 2025. Its carrier services are now available in over 100 countries, reflecting the company's commitment to expanding its global footprint. The integration of emerging AI technologies is expected to bring improved service reliability, broader geographic coverage, and quicker response times to Klearcom's clients, according to statements from company leadership. Mark Rohan, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Klearcom, said, "It's been an exciting period of growth for Klearcom and we have no intention of stopping any time soon. As we embark on an ambitious strategy to further expand our operations and disrupt the market, our recent success is merely a sign of things to come. Underpinned by truly global contact centre testing solutions, we are delivering the fastest response and most cost-effective service for multinational companies across the globe." "This is driving further demand for our offering, which we are bolstering with more carriers and more services across more countries. In turn, we will deliver the best customer experience for our own customers and their customers – driving the business forward and strengthening our place in the elite bracket of customer service providers worldwide." Klearcom's growth trajectory has been notable over the past few years, marked by a significant increase in the number of carrier partners and an ongoing commitment to diversifying its international reach. The company has also strengthened its technological capabilities through the adoption of AI-driven tools aimed at solving customer service challenges for large organisations with global operations. The company's SaaS platform utilises real-time monitoring and artificial intelligence to address issues with IVR and toll-free numbers, enabling businesses to manage customer communications across multiple regions. The expansion in carrier partnerships and the push into new geographic markets form part of Klearcom's ongoing goals to improve system reliability and reduce risks associated with customer experience during technology migrations. Follow us on: Share on:
