o Arlington-Based Accenture Federal to Acquire Cognosante
o DC-based Bezo Earth Fund Launches AI Climate Challenge
o Columbia-Based RealmOne Acquires Reston’s Torin Consulting
o UMD Launches Institute Focused on Ethical AI Development
o Merged GCOM and OnCore Consulting Rebrand as Voyatek
o Briefly Noted: Cvent, Siemens Government Technologies, Dignari
Arlington-Based Accenture Federal to Acquire Cognosante
Arlington, Va. – Accenture Federal Services, the Arlington-based provider of management and technology consulting services to the federal government, said on Monday it will acquire Falls Church-based Cognosante, a provider of digital transformation and cloud modernization services to federal agencies. Financial terms of the deal, which is subject to regulatory review and other closing conditions, were not disclosed. Founded in 2008 by Michele Kang, Cognosante boasts a roster of federal healthcare clients supporting veterans, active-duty military, patients, beneficiaries, providers and payors. Cognosante’s more than 1,500 employees will join Accenture Federal Services.
DC-based Bezo Earth Fund Launches AI Climate Challenge
Washington, DC – The Bezos Earth Fund, the DC-based climate fund founded by the founder of Amazon, announced on Tuesday a program – called AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge – that will provide up to $100 million in grants. The goal of the challenge is to spur the use of AI to address climate change. Jeff Bezos has pledged $10 billion Bezos to protect nature and deal with climate change. In a release about the AI challenge, Fund outlined the timeline and focus:
“In its first round, the Grand Challenge will advance solutions in three focus areas: sustainable proteins, biodiversity conservation, and power grid optimization. It will also include a "Wild Card" category for powerful ideas outside the focus areas,” the Fund said in a news release. “Subsequent rounds will address other priorities. Each round will include two funding opportunities. In the first phase, up to 30 seed grants will be awarded for promising AI ideas addressing the focus areas. Awardees will be announced at a Bezos Earth Fund-TED event during Climate Week NYC in late September.”
Columbia-Based RealmOne Acquires Reston’s Torin Consulting
Columbia, Md. – RealmOne, a Columbia, Md.-based provider of advanced technology services to the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community, said it has acquired Reston-based Torin Consulting, a provider of operations support and software development services to intelligence clients. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. RealmOne, which is backed by Chevy Chase-based Enlightenment Capital, said the move will bolster its standing as one of the largest middle-market technology providers supporting the IC and DoD. RealmOne now has made four acquisitions.
UMD Launches Institute Focused on Ethical AI Development
College Park, Md. – The University of Maryland has launched a new institute dedicated to developing AI education, technology and leaders. The university said that its Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) will be a “collaborative hub for AI,” supporting faculty research, offering learning opportunities and focusing on responsible and ethical AI technology. The institute will be funded through the university, research grants, philanthropic gifts and industry partnerships.
Merged GCOM and OnCore Consulting Rebrand as Voyatek
Columbia, Md. – Eight months after announcing their merger, public sector software and services companies GCOM and OnCore Consulting said they have rebranded as Columbia-based Voyatek. The company said the name, chosen through an internal contest, was inspired by the Voyager 1 space probe. Voyatek said that GCOM and OnCore employees can still be reached through their legacy email and contact information. Voyatek’s brand includes GCOM Software, OnCore Consulting, ASR Analytics, GANTECH, Qlarion and Three Sigma Software.
Briefly Noted:
(Tysons, Va.) Tysons-based Cvent, the developer of meetings events technology, has named Andreas Heckmann as its chief customer officer. Heckmann previously spent nearly 25 years at SAP, most recently as the company’s executive vice president of customer solution support and innovation.
(Arlington, Va.) Arlington-based Siemens Government Technologies (SGT), a unit of technology giant Siemens focused on the federal government, has named Elizabeth Larson as its CFO. Larson most recently served as head of finance for the Apparatus Segment of Electronic Products at Siemens Industry.
(Alexandria, Va.) Alexandria-based Dignari, a provider of technology and analytics services, said it has won a deal worth up to $450 million from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Enterprise Services Office of Information and Technology. Under the deal, the company will provide a range of professional services.