Smartex, whose machine vision-based software spots defects in textile manufacturing, raised a $24.7M Series A led by Lightspeed, Tony Fadell’s Build Collective (Haje Jan Kamps/TechCrunch)

Haje Jan Kamps / TechCrunch:
Pano AI, which uses AI and computer vision to offer active wildfire detection, raised a $20M Series A led by Initialized Capital at a $90M post-money valuation  —  As the weather gets hot and dry, things get a little bit tense these days.  While it’s been possible for humans to be on the lookout for fires …

Sergiu Gatlan / BleepingComputer:
Windows Subsystem for Linux is now generally available for Windows 10 and 11 via the Microsoft Store, as Microsoft makes the Store version of WSL the default  —  Microsoft announced today that the Store version of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is generally available for Windows 10 and 11 customers.

Haje Jan Kamps / TechCrunch:
Apple Watch Ultra and Oceanic+ review by a scuba diver: better than other dive computers in user interface and screen but misses some high-end features  —  In short: dive computer makers should be worried  —  In September, Apple launched the Apple Watch Ultra, which is not only waterproof to 100 meters …

Callum Cyrus / Tech.eu:
Hamburg-based Fashion Cloud, whose B2B data and content exchange portal is used by ~20K fashion retailers, raised €25M led by Verdane  —  Around 20,000 fashion retailers already use FashionCloud’s B2B data exchange to receive timely updates on stock and marketing from wholesale fashion brands and other suppliers.

Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Bright Machines, which automates manufacturing tasks with AI and robotics, raised a $100M Series B and $32M in debt after pulling its SPAC deal in December 2021  —  In May of last year, Bright Machines announced plans to embrace the SPAC craze with a merger deal that valued the Bay Area-based manufacturing firm at $1.6 billion.

Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
Indian B2B marketplace Udaan raised $120M in convertible notes and debt, taking its funding to $350M+ in the past year, and plans an IPO in 12-18 months  —  India’s Udaan has raised $120 million in convertible notes and debt led by existing shareholders and bondholders …