
Wellington-led funding boosts Vanta's valuation by 69% in a year
The $150 million Series-D round, led by new investor Wellington Management, brings Vanta's total external funding to $504 million, Vanta said on Wednesday.
Businesses' increasing reliance on cloud and artificial intelligence technologies has also amplified their exposure to cyber attacks. As they expand across borders, they also have to deal with compliance requirements that vary greatly by nations.
In recent months, hacker targets have included retailer Marks & Spencer (MKS.L), opens new tab, tech behemoth Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab and insurer Aflac (AFL.N), opens new tab.
"Vanta's AI-driven platform is moving beyond the standard for security and compliance — with real-time, continuous verification that's essential for every industry in today's business environment," said Matt Witheiler of Wellington Management.
Venture financing arms of major corporations also participated in the round, indicating industry validation. These included Goldman Sachs Alternatives, J.P. Morgan, CrowdStrike Ventures and Atlassian Ventures - whose parent Atlassian (TEAM.O), opens new tab is a Vanta customer as well.
The AI boom has helped U.S. startups attract investment in the first half of 2025, even as venture capital firms struggled to raise money, according to a Pitchbook report.
Vanta's previous funding round in July 2024, led by Sequoia Capital, had valued it at $2.45 billion, implying a 69% rise in valuation in a year.
Founded in 2018 by Christina Cacioppo, Vanta helps over 12,000 clients across 58 countries in automating compliance and security procedures.
Its newly launched AI agent can help teams finish security reviews 81% faster, the company said.
Vanta employs more than 1,000 people across its offices in Dublin, London, New York, San Francisco and Sydney.
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Auto Blog
35 minutes ago
- Auto Blog
Report: Toyota Still Considering Smaller Unibody Truck for US
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Sure, they're cleaner and more energy efficient, but automakers like Hyundai, Cadillac and Porsche are betting a better way to get buyers interested in EVs is to sell their unrivaled performance. Ford and Hyundai have succeeded in the compact truck segment — could Toyota be next? Small trucks have had a bumpy history in the States. However, lately, some automakers have found success with smaller-than-usual offerings, including Ford's Maverick and Hyundai's Santa Cruz, both of which are small pickups. The small truck segment could grow even more with the Bezos-backed Slate pickup, albeit its existence has become a lot more uncertain in the last few weeks as EV incentives go the way of Amelia Earhart. Then, we get to Toyota. Recent reports coming from Automotive News seem to indicate Toyota may still bring a tyke-sized truck to the US market, and it might not be the truck you expect it to be. 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR 2025 Ford Maverick Lariat A smaller Toyota truck would not share much with existing Toyota truck offerings While the current Toyota truck lineup in the US features solely body-on-frame construction, the prospective addition to the family would likely be based on the RAV4. Automotive News reports that Toyota Motor North America is still 'studying' a compact unibody-based pickup for the US market. They also confirm that the Corolla-based and electrified truck that Toyota is selling in Brazil is decidedly 'too small' for the US. Disappearing incentives/rebates and tariffs are also likely contributing factors as to why we won't get that smaller pickup. By providing your email address, you agree that it may be used pursuant to Arena Group's Privacy Policy. Toyota EPU Concept Toyota EPU Concept A truck built on the TNGA-K platform — which underpins the RAV4, Camry, Sienna, and others — means staying more than competitive with other small truck offerings. The Grand Highlander, a TNGA-K vehicle, can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which is 1,000 more than what the Maverick can muster. Considering even the three-row Grand Highlander is only two inches longer than the Maverick, the platform's size would be right on the money, too. Although at one point speculation pointed towards electrification, that plan — if there ever was one — is almost certainly scrapped in the face of loosening EPA regulations and dashed EV rebates. In the US, anyway, as Europe is a different story. Automotive News thinks 2028 would be the earliest we'd see the hypothetical truck. A new small truck fits Toyota's goals like a glove In related chats with Ted Ogawa, Toyota North America CEO, Automotive News uncovered additional pieces of the puzzle that might point towards a tinier truck alternative. 'When we talk about affordability, the key is the entry segment,' Ogawa says. 'So, in our lineup, that means Corolla and Corolla Cross.' That covers the small SUV and sedan segment; why not bring in an 'entry segment' truck to round things out? Another priority of Ogawa's — and, realistically, all automakers — is getting the most bang per buck at a platform level. 'Products must be refreshed, but the platform can be extended,' he tells AN. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. There's one last intimation we glean from the Ogawa interview. 'Toyota's basic policy is to build where we sell and buy where we build,' he starts. Later, we get a real-world example. 'In the case of the Corolla sedan, currently the internal-combustion version is built in Mississippi. But the hybrid is built in Japan, because that plant is more competitive for that product.' We can't imagine any market more ready to chomp at the bit for an affordable, small Toyota pickup than the US. The Slate hype — which may have, ultimately, been just that — was all the evidence we needed. 2024 Toyota Tacoma SR5 2025 Ford Maverick Final thoughts New Toyota truck rumors have persisted for years. Ford moved 48,041 Mavericks in just the second quarter of 2025. Arguably more importantly, a whopping 60% of Maverick buyers were new to the brand. Some of those customers inevitably migrated from Toyota, and that's got to hurt. We think the chances are high that Toyota wants to bring a competitor to the market. It's just a question of when, and whether or not 2028 will be too late. About the Author Steven Paul View Profile


Times
35 minutes ago
- Times
High taxes, a recession: my fears for young job hunters in Scotland
I started employing my latest assistant in March this year and for reliability, productivity, speed and all-round knowledge, he's hard to beat. Unfailingly polite and endlessly resourceful, he's settled into my small in-house team of seven with ease. Everyone loves him. Although he is only five months old and his background is unknown, he's already indispensable. He is, of course, one of the new autonomous artificial intelligence agents — otherwise known as agentic AI. This is one of the first publicly available AI agents capable of independent planning, decision-making and real-world task execution without requiring detailed human oversight. In beta mode and available by invitation only — codes were changing hands for $1,000 recently — it is a glimpse of a future that is awe-inspiring and terrifying in equal measure. For the time being, I'm ignoring the fact that I've had to hand over a lot of personal information to gain access (admittedly much of it already available online) and that very little is known about the Chinese start-up behind the technology. It is simply too valuable a tool and I'm already hooked. Agentic AI is turbocharging technical aspects of my business that other AI tools simply can't reach. I'm an optimist about the advent of AI. Or I should say, I'm an optimist about humanity. Such tools can, and are, being used for destructive purposes. But this is the best argument for not withdrawing from research. If the good guys slow down, they simply hand advantage to the bad actors. I understand the arguments against AI that end with humanity facing Armageddon. But mankind is perfectly capable of orchestrating its own destruction without the use of artificial intelligence. We just have to look at Gaza and Ukraine to be reminded of the depth of human depravity. Meanwhile AI is already saving lives. All progress has provoked moral panic. From the coming of the railways to Elvis wiggling his hips. And while my new AI assistant sometimes leaves me feeling like an 18th-century peasant contemplating the wonders of the internal combustion engine, I know that it is actual intelligence combined with AI that gives us the breakthroughs and competitive edge we need. While the AI assistant can code, I still need to employ my full-stack developer to implement, evaluate and interpret the results. But what is certainly true is that AI is contributing to an upcoming economic upheaval for which Scotland is wholly unprepared. A toxic combination of political decisions by the Labour government at Westminster and the SNP government in Scotland, a mental health crisis among millennials and Gen Zs and weak economic growth have the potential to tip the country into recession. This month, the accountancy firm EY reported that Scotland's high income tax rates were seen as the main barrier to expansion in Scotland's financial services industry, which contributes about 10 per cent of the Scottish economy by value. All Scottish workers earning more than £30,318 pay more income tax than their English counterparts and the highest band is set at 48 per cent for Scotland compared with 45 per cent for the rest of the UK. The job market is being squeezed from both ends. According to McKinsey & Co, the number of job vacancies online fell by 31 per cent in the three months to May, compared with the same period in 2022, the year that ChatGPT was launched. Research from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation revealed that hiring fell in June at the fastest pace in almost two years. Sluggish growth and higher interest rates have been blamed but in occupations at entry level across all industries, including graduate traineeships and apprentices, jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate. The last apprentice I hired was unable to address an envelope and had no idea what a stamp was. She had a HNC in 'collective dance, specialising in hip-hop' and was about as prepared for the world of work as your average pigeon. She lasted three months. Somebody within the education system had let her down badly. Young people will be most seriously affected by the storm that is coming. They are also the group facing the biggest mental health crisis. In Scotland more than one million adults report that anxiety interferes with daily life. Gen Z and young millennials lose up to 60 days of productivity per year due to mental health issues compared with 36 days for older colleagues. The number of Scots out of work because of sickness and disability is at its highest level in 20 years and the number claiming disability payments in Scotland is set to almost double by 2030. Labour's plans under the Employment Rights Bill to remove the two-year qualifying period for key rights such as protection against unfair dismissal, parental leave and statutory sick pay, mean that many SMEs will not risk hiring staff without experience or a track record. That's if the SMEs stay in business. Confidence is at a low ebb. One in five small businesses believe they will be forced out of business if conditions don't improve. According to the Federation of Small Businesses, 27 per cent of business owners believe their company will downsize, be sold or close in the next 12 months. For the first time in 15 years, pessimism has outweighed optimism. Even profitable SMEs wonder if the juice is still worth the squeeze. The government is not protecting the jobs we do have. The closure of the Grangemouth refinery and the threat by bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis to move Scottish production to Scarborough could lead to 400 jobs lost in the Falkirk area. Add in jobs lost in the supply chain and the number rises to four figures. Both companies have foreign ownership, which rather dampens enthusiasm for the SNP government's boast that Scotland punches above its weight for inward investment. The Grangemouth closure and a sharp fall in manufacturing output drove a 0.4 per cent GDP decline in the three months up to May. About 80 per cent of leisure and hospitality businesses believe the Scottish economy will decline this year. John Swinney has mentioned a possible Scottish recession, blaming US tariffs. Even without a recession, growth is weak and Scottish economic activity is fragile. Even boom sectors such as renewables are facing cuts. At least one of the country's largest employers has just cut nearly all its graduate jobs for the present cohort reaching the end of their two-year training stint. Recent recessions have not brought the same level of job losses that the UK experienced in the 1990s and before. But that is set to change, and we are not prepared. This will affect a generation, already struggling post-pandemic, for most of their lives. The Scottish government has deliberately and negligently failed to promote the nation's economic wellbeing at the expense of ideology which a majority of voters do not share. As Harold Macmillan pointed out, it is 'events, dear boy' that bring down governments. But it is policy decisions that cripple countries.


Reuters
35 minutes ago
- Reuters
Commanders coach on Terry McLaurin trade request: Business as usual
August 2 - Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Saturday that he understands the business side of the sport when it comes to wide receiver Terry McLaurin requesting a trade from the team. McLaurin asked for a change of scenery on Thursday given his frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations toward a contract extension. Quinn said McLaurin told him of his plea for a trade before the news became public. "We love Terry. I'm really glad he's here," Quinn said. "Hopefully he's out practicing soon. We also understand there's the business side of this things that (general manager) Adam (Peters) and his side and Terry and his reps are working it through. I just kind of stay in that space. We recognize both are happening. "But like I said, I'm really glad he's here. I love coaching him. But the business side, that's kind of where it's at. It's not -- somebody asked me if it's a distraction -- it is not. Players today, they're more aware of contracts and things maybe than they used to be. They recognize that business part happens, as well, so for the team, we're just rocking and going and throwing some great practices. "For Terry and the trade request, that's part of normal business that is happening around the NFL. It's normal, we understand it, and we just throw our very best practices out on the field." McLaurin, who turns 30 in September, became a hold-in and was placed on the team's physically unable to perform list with an apparent ankle injury suffered last season. He did not attend organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. He did, however, participate in spring workouts. With a base salary of $15.5 million and cap hit of $25.5 million in the final season of a three-year, $68.3 million contract, the speedster is coming off a career year with 1,096 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns and 82 receptions on 117 targets. He added three scores and 227 yards on 14 receptions in three playoff games. McLaurin and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels helped lead Washington to a 12-5 regular-season mark and its best season since it won the Super Bowl in 1991. The Commanders knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC wild-card round and Detroit Lions in the divisional round before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. Over six seasons with Washington, the two-time Pro Bowl selection (2022, 2024) has 6,379 receiving yards, 38 touchdowns and 460 catches in 97 games. A team captain, McLaurin has hit the 1,000-yard mark for a franchise-record five straight seasons despite instability at the quarterback position before Daniels' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign. --Field Level Media