Rudi Big news for Nothing - the additional funding and the newly announced partnership. 
I believe they bring a sense of stability, not just to the company, but to the Investors and Community Members.
Personally, I hope Nothing is taking lessons from the ear (1) launch and can apply them to an “intermediate” product, namely, a wearable powered by a Snapdragon. After that, perhaps a smartphone.
I also think the new funding can be used to help the R&D of a phone. The task of creating one, even in a fast-moving place like Shenzhen, is daunting and it can take years to iterate and perfect. I can see a “phone (1)” being the centerpiece to that ecosystem, but having a compelling product takes time, time that’s necessary to mature.
Qualcomm is indeed the logical partner and it shows that earphones was the company testing the waters. I do hope they don’t leave this category behind. The experience gained with a smartwatch, for example, can be key to enter the next product category, one that will be even more expensive to enter and maintain.