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Blacksmith Raises $45M Series B from Peak XV Partners as AI-Generated Code Drives Demand for Faster Code Validation

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Peak XV Partners leads the round as Blacksmith grows from 800 to more than 6,000 customers amid surging demand for faster code validation.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Blacksmith, a cloud for validating code, has raised a $45 million Series B led by Peak XV Partners, with existing investors Y Combinator and GV also participating. The round values the company at $550 million.

The financing comes as AI coding tools are changing how quickly engineering teams produce software. Since the beginning of the year, the number of CI jobs running on Blacksmith has grown between 5% and 10% week over week. More than 6,000 companies now use Blacksmith, including Supabase, Clerk, Ashby and Mercury, up from approximately 800 when the company announced its Series A last September.

As developers adopt tools such as Claude Code, Codex and other coding agents, teams are producing significantly more code and opening more pull requests. That has put increasing pressure on the infrastructure responsible for building, testing and validating every change before it ships.

“Writing code has gotten dramatically easier. Validating it hasn’t,” said Aditya “JP” Jayaprakash, co-founder and CEO of Blacksmith. “We’re seeing teams adopt coding agents, generate several times more pull requests, and suddenly CI becomes a bottleneck. Every piece of code an agent writes still has to be built, tested, and reviewed before it can ship. That validation layer is going to become increasingly important as more software is written by agents.”

Beyond CI: the validation platform

Blacksmith started with purpose-built infrastructure that runs CI workloads dramatically faster than general-purpose cloud instances, with migration taking a one-line change to a workflow file. That remains the foundation. The broader goal is helping developers validate and merge code faster, with confidence in every change they ship.

The company recently launched codesmith, a cloud coding agent developers can delegate tasks to. Beyond building features and fixing bugs, codesmith works inside the validation loop: diagnosing CI failures, autofixing them, and keeping pull requests green. It is also the foundation for codesmith QA, which will autonomously test changes before they merge.

Where the money goes

Most of the new capital goes to compute. Blacksmith manages hundreds of thousands of cores today and plans to grow that footprint by an order of magnitude in the coming months to stay ahead of demand.

Blacksmith is hiring engineers in New York and San Francisco: https://www.blacksmith.sh/careers 

About Blacksmith

Blacksmith builds infrastructure and software for validating code. Its purpose-built CI cloud runs GitHub Actions workloads on dedicated compute with caching and storage optimized for CI. More than 6,000 companies use Blacksmith, including Supabase, Clerk, Ashby and Mercury. Blacksmith also develops codesmith, its cloud coding agent for building and validating software. The company was founded by Aditya (JP) Jayaprakash, Aayush Shah and Aditya Maru and is backed by Peak XV Partners, Y Combinator and GV. For more information, visit blacksmith.sh.

About Peak XV Partners

Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA) is a leading venture capital firm investing across India, APAC and beyond. Over the last 20 years of operations in the region, Peak XV has grown to manage over USD 10 billion in capital across 16 funds and has invested in over 450 companies. The portfolio has seen over 37 IPOs and several successful M&As to date. To know more, please visit www.peakxv.com.

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Sanya hosts side event of the 7th Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance

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Report on Southeast Asian Youth Perceptions of Maritime Issues released

BEIJING, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A side event of the 7th Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance was held at China Media Group (CMG) Sanya Studio on November 8. More than 10 Chinese and international participants discussed how to put into practice the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), and how to communicate ideas about ocean conservation to audiences worldwide.

Experts at the event described the BBNJ Agreement, which entered into force in January this year, as a landmark victory for multilateralism in global ocean governance. They said it charts a course for all parties to work together to protect marine biodiversity.

Jiao Nianzhi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described marine biodiversity as a toolbox for humanity, saying that protecting it means safeguarding humanity’s future. Aileen Tan, chairperson of the Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, said the BBNJ Agreement gives the ocean “breathing space” and stressed the need for scientists from different countries to work together on ocean conservation. She cited Malaysia-China cooperation in marine scientific research as a good example and expressed hope that China would play a greater leadership role. Ronán Long, director of the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at the World Maritime University in Sweden, said China’s strong data capabilities could help accelerate the implementation of the Agreement’s provisions on sharing non-monetary benefits arising from marine genetic resources.

Participants also highlighted China’s efforts and achievements in promoting maritime cooperation and advancing marine ecological restoration, among other areas. The side event was jointly hosted by CMG’s Chinese Language Programming Center, the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and other organizations.

During the symposium, CMG’s Chinese Language Programming Center and CMG Institute jointly released the Report on Southeast Asian Youth Perceptions of Maritime Issues. The report presents the concerns and expectations of young people in Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, regarding ocean-related issues.

The report finds that Southeast Asian youth have a positive outlook on maritime cooperation with China. Nearly 80 percent of respondents are willing to take part in China-ASEAN youth exchanges on ocean-related issues. The report also notes that Southeast Asian youth are concerned about broader issues of ocean governance and look to China to shoulder greater responsibilities and play a larger role in global ocean governance.

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SOURCE China Media Group (CMG)

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Why Brisbane Airport selected LG for its landmark digital infrastructure upgrade

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Australia’s third-largest airport now runs passenger information across 950 LG displays monitored centrally via LG SuperSign CMS

News summary

Brisbane Airport manages approximately 950 LG commercial displays from a single platform LG SuperSign CMS deployed on-premise to meet strict security and operational controls for critical infrastructureLG SuperSign CMS offers leadership, operations and ICT team remote visibility and control of entire display fleetLG’s embedded System-on-Chip allows real-time flight information (FIDS), gate information, wayfinding and operational messaging to be directly pushed to display screens without external media playersBrisbane Airport’s transition to LG’s SuperSign CMS has driven down operational costs significantlyDeployed in partnership with Australian integrator Programmed, this digital overhaul forms a key part of Brisbane Airport’s ongoing $5 billion Future BNE transformation

SYDNEY, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) has partnered with Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), replacing a previously fragmented digital signage system with a modern network of approximately 950 LG commercial displays centrally managed by LG SuperSign CMS. Covering the domestic and international terminals, baggage handling areas, and car parks, these LG screens deliver real-time flight information displays (FIDS), gate information, passenger wayfinding, and operational communications reliably across a 24/7 environment.

As Australia’s third largest airport preparing for a forecast surge in passenger numbers ahead of the major event in 2032, Brisbane Airport needed to replace an increasingly unreliable, ageing network with a simplified, scalable solution that its lean ICT team could operate day-to-day.

“The reliability of the displays is essential. Without them working, people are lost — quite literally,” says Michael Kerr, Integrated Operations Manager at BAC.

To address these critical demands, LG worked alongside local integrator Programmed to deploy a centralised digital signage network driven by LG SuperSign CMS. The platform provides ICT and operations teams with comprehensive visibility across the entire display fleet remotely, replacing an otherwise manual process of physical, daily check-ups.

“LG SuperSign has been a game changer for my team. We just don’t have the arms and legs to go around and check those 950 screens on a daily basis. The monitoring capabilities really give us that eyes-on view of what’s across our infrastructure,” says Anthony Tully-Smith, ICT Applications Manager at BAC.

One system, diverse displays

BAC’s new estate involves a range of LG display solutions tailored to specific passenger zones. This includes:

43- and 49-inch LG commercial panelsLG Ultra Stretch displays in totemsLG 49XE-series high-brightness outdoor displays110-inch LG UM5K indoor screensA 136-inch LG LAPA-series All-in-One LED in international arrivals

With LG’s embedded System-on-Chip (SoC) platform and internal web page player, real-time flight information and content now play directly on the screens. This removes the need for external media players, simplifying the network architecture.

“We’ve taken what was a fragmented digital signage system, not very visible to management, now to an integrated modern solution with centralised management and health visibility,” says Graham Wands, Business Development Manager at Programmed. “LG SuperSign enables us to take a proactive stance and make sure that the FIDS and other signage are highly available and always visible to passengers.”

Built for critical infrastructure

As a privately owned critical infrastructure operator, BAC needed full control of its content. LG SuperSign CMS is deployed on-premise to meet the airport’s security and operational-control requirements. LG’s device hardening helps reduce the risk of unauthorised content, such as USB sideloading.

The project also supports the airport’s ESG goals; LG UH series screens carry Carbon Trust footprint-reduction certification, LG offers a free e-waste program, and power consumption can be monitored and optimised from LG SuperSign CMS.

“At an airport, a screen is only as useful as the information on it, and how quickly someone knows when it stops working. Brisbane Airport shows what happens when displays and management software are planned together as operational infrastructure, with a local integrator who knows the site. We’re grateful to Brisbane Airport and Programmed for the partnership, and we look forward to supporting the airport as it grows,” says Chris Wilson, Sales General Manager – Information Display at LG Electronics Australia.

Looking ahead

BAC sees LG as a long-term partner as it progresses its $5 billion Future BNE transformation, paving the way for the expansion of Terminal 3 and more LED and messaging capabilities ahead of the 2032 games. By transitioning from a fragmented legacy setup, BAC has unlocked a foundation built for long-term operational efficiency.

“For me, managing an ageing infrastructure before we moved to the new LG digital displays was costing us quite a lot from a maintenance and an ongoing perspective,” says Tully-Smith, “The move to the new LG SuperSign, but also the new LG screens, has driven down my operational cost significantly across the airport.”

This newfound efficiency has helped BAC focus on what’s most critical – passenger experience.

“It’s important for us to have a partner like LG. The innovation and the fresh thought that team brings has really helped me accelerate the digital experience across all of our terminals,” says Tully-Smith.

Read the full case study: LG Displays and SuperSign CMS power Brisbane Airport’s digital transformation

LG SuperSign CMS is purchased separately.

About LG Electronics
LG Electronics is focused on developing new innovations across information displays. We are committed to providing commercial electronic products that help businesses perform better. We offer a wide range of products, including information displays, digital signage for advertising, commercial system air conditioners, VRF systems and tailored solutions for different vertical markets.

About Brisbane Airport Corporation
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), the operator of Brisbane Airport (BNE), is a private, unlisted Queensland company that proudly takes on the challenge of connecting Australia to the world. BAC’s passion and perseverance have cemented BNE as Queensland’s most important gateway, a leading hub for Australia, and an award-winning source of pride for its communities.

About Programmed
Programmed is a leading provider of Facility Management, Maintenance, and Staffing solutions across Australia and New Zealand. Programmed employs over 32,000 people every year across a broad range of industries and partners with more than 10,000 customers, small and large.

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SOURCE LG Electronics

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Advantech Powers High-Density Edge Infrastructure with the Intel Atom P6900 Processor-Based SOM-5994 Module

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TAIPEI, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Advantech, a global leader in embedded computing and edge AI solutions, has announced the launch of the SOM-5994, a COM Express Basic Type 7 module powered by Intel Atom P6900 processors. Designed for compute-intensive edge networking, 5G infrastructure, and next-generation telecommunication applications, the SOM-5994 delivers high-core-density processing, advanced networking connectivity, and flexible expansion capabilities in a standardized COM Express form factor. The module supports up to 24 server class efficient- cores, PCIe Gen4 expansion, DDR5 SODIMM memory, and integrated Intel Ethernet technology supporting 10GBASE-KR connectivity. An extended operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C is available as an option for industrial deployments. Combined with Advantech’s Computer On Module (COM) Design-In Services—which include carrier board design support, BIOS customization, thermal design guidance, system validation, and lifecycle management—the SOM-5994 enables OEMs and system integrators to accelerate product development, reduce engineering complexity, and shorten time-to-market. Optimized for packet-processing and data-intensive networking workloads, it provides a scalable foundation for next-generation network edge appliances.

Optimized for High-Performance Networking Workloads

Powered by Intel Atom P6900 processors specifically designed for networking and telecommunications applications, the SOM-5994 combines high core density, advanced I/O connectivity, and flexible scalability within a compact COM Express Basic Type 7 module.

When compared to the Intel Xeon D-1700 processor family, the SOM-5994 with Intel Atom P6900 processors delivers higher overall performance. Offerings range from efficient 8-core to 24-core SoCs with thermal design power (TDP) spanning 50W to 86W, enabling system designers to balance compute density, power consumption, and thermal budgets to meet specific application requirements.

The module supports up to 128GB of DDR5-5600 memory and provides up to 16 PCIe Gen4 lanes and 16 PCIe Gen3/Gen2 lanes, delivering the bandwidth required for virtualization, packet inspection, software-defined networking (SDN), network security, and other data-intensive networking workloads. For networking connectivity, the SOM-5994 integrates four 10GBASE-KR Ethernet interfaces for backplane applications alongside an integrated Ethernet controller supporting up to 2.5GbE, enabling flexible deployment across a wide range of networking architectures.

Comprehensive Software and Design-In Support

Beyond hardware performance, the SOM-5994 is backed by Advantech’s comprehensive Embedded Solutions and Design-In Services, helping customers accelerate product development and reduce engineering risks. These services include carrier board design support, BIOS customization, thermal solution consultation, Linux development resources, system validation, and long-term lifecycle management. Together, they enable OEMs to streamline development while ensuring platform reliability across the entire operating lifespan.

The module also supports Advantech SUSI APIs, Yocto project integration, and customizable BIOS features, providing developers with a flexible software framework for hardware monitoring, system management, and Linux deployment. Furthermore, when paired with the optional SOM-RM10 BMC carrier card, the platform enables robust out-of-band (OOB) management—delivering secure real-time monitoring, remote debugging, and automated system recovery.

Accelerating Next-Generation Edge Networking Deployment

As edge computing, AI services, and industrial networking demand higher throughput, lower latency, and greater power efficiency, OEMs face mounting pressure to innovate under tight schedules and budgets. Powered by Intel Atom P6900 Series processors, the SOM-5994 COM Express Basic Type 7 module offers a modular, ready-to-integrate solution. By leveraging existing carrier board designs across multiple product generations, customers can drastically cut NRE costs, streamline validation, and lower design risks. Supported by Advantech’s global ecosystem and design-in services, the SOM-5994 delivers a scalable foundation that empowers OEMs to bring robust networking and edge infrastructure solutions to market faster.

Key Features

Intel Atom P6900 ProcessorsCOM Express R3.1 Basic Module Type 7 pinout8~24 Efficient-cores, with Max. TDP 86WDual-Channel DDR5-5600MT/s up to 128GB SODIMMHigh speed Intel Ethernet (4 x 10GBASE-KR interfaces, one 2.5GbE)Multiple Expansions (16x PCIe Gen4, 16x PCIe Gen3/2, 4x USB3.0, SATA3)Supports Yocto, Embedded BIOS, SUSI API and DeviceOn

The Advantech SOM-5994 will be available in Q2, 2027. For more information regarding SOM-5994 or other Advantech products and services, please contact Advantech’s sales support team or visit our website at https://www2.advantech.com/embedded-boards-design-in-services/com/

About Embedded Solutions & Design-in Service

Advantech Embedded Solutions & Design-in Service offers a one-stop service model for the integration of embedded boards, systems, software, displays, and peripherals. This model uses customer-centric design-in services to accelerate AI and IoT deployment. Solution providers expect to reduce the time and resources required for system integration by collaborating with reliable professional embedded partners. We offer the latest embedded technology and value-added software that customers can leverage to integrate their end application software. Our comprehensive range of peripherals free customers from worrying about compatibility and longevity issues. Advantech Embedded Design-in Services provide a value-added service that eliminates complex integration difficulties.
https://www.advantech.com/en-us/solutions/embedded-modules-and-design-in-services 

About Advantech

Advantech’s corporate vision is to enable an intelligent planet. The company is a global leader in the fields of IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms. To embrace the trends of IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence, Advantech promotes IoT hardware and software solutions with the Edge Intelligence WISE-PaaS core to assist business partners and clients in connecting their industrial chains. Advantech is also working with business partners to co-create business ecosystems that accelerate the goal of industrial intelligence. (www.advantech.com)

©Intel, the Intel logo and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. 

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