Pulse 2.0

IBM Buying Confluent In $11 Billion Deal

Netflix To Buy Warner Bros. In $82.7 Billion Deal (Updated)

Supper: $11 Million Seed Funding Closed To Build AI-Native Data Platform For Faster Business Insights

Fin Raises $17 Million To Launch Stablecoin Payments Platform For High-Value Global Transactions

Laigo Bio: €11.5 Million Seed Round Raised To Advance SureTAC Platform

Semify Expands AI Optimization Capabilities With Acquisition Of Dragon Metrics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:00 AM

Semify announced a significant expansion of its global digital marketing footprint with the acquisition of Hong Kong–based Dragon Metrics, a leading international SEO, AI, and PPC reporting software platform. The deal adds multinational reporting capabilities, deep non-Google search support, and a seasoned international product leadership team to Semify’s white-label digital marketing software platform.

Paramount Launches $108 Billion Tender Offer For Warner Bros. Discovery

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:27 AM

Paramount Skydance has launched a public all-cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Warner Bros. Discovery for $30 per share, valuing the proposed transaction at $108.4 billion and representing a premium of 139% over WBD’s undisturbed September 2025 share price.

Unlimited Industries: $12 Million Seed Funding Closed To Advance Industrial Construction Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:08 AM

Unlimited Industries has secured $12 million in seed financing to advance its AI-powered approach to industrial construction amid a massive wave of energy and infrastructure development requirements in the United States. The round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and CIV, with additional participation from several industry investors.

Etaily: Strategic Investment From SMBC Raised

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:00 AM

Etaily, a Manila-based digital-native retail enablement platform serving global and local consumer brands across Southeast Asia, has secured a new strategic investment led by Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation through its SMBC Asia Rising Fund. The latest infusion brings Etaily’s total funding to more than $24 million. It expands its investor base to include Kaya Founders, JGDEV of the Gokongwei Group, and several prominent Asia-based families.

Superbo AI: Investment Raised From Deep Capital Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:49 AM

Superbo AI has secured its first external investment through a strategic funding round led by Deep Capital Group, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion plans. The investment supports Superbo AI’s efforts to scale its Agentic AI technology across international markets and accelerate adoption within regulated industries.

WindRose Health Investors Closes $2.6 Billion Fund VII To Accelerate Healthcare Investments

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:42 AM

WindRose Health Investors has closed its seventh private equity fund at $2.6 billion, marking the largest fundraise in the firm’s history and nearly doubling the size of its prior vehicle. The New York-based healthcare investor reached its hard cap after a six-month fundraising period, attracting a global base of limited partners from pensions, insurers, financial institutions, foundations, funds of funds, and family offices.

Allworth Financial Expands In Boston With Acquisition Of $460 Million Firm FSA Wealth Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:40 AM

Allworth Financial has announced its acquisition of FSA Wealth Management, a Needham, Massachusetts-based fiduciary advisory firm overseeing $460 million in assets under management. The transaction marks another step in Allworth’s strategy to expand its upmarket presence in regions where demand for sophisticated, integrated financial planning continues to grow. As part of the transition, FSA’s team will move to Allworth’s existing office in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Cresa Acquires CMPG To Expand Southern California Project Management Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:38 AM

Cresa has completed the acquisition of CMPG, a full-service project management firm based in Diamond Bar, marking the company’s third acquisition in the past forty-five days and further strengthening its occupier-focused service platform. The deal significantly expands Cresa’s project management capabilities across Southern California and deepens its regional footprint.

Causeway Therapeutics: Interview With CEO & Executive Chairman Declan Doogan About Developing microRNA-Based Therapies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:00 AM

Causeway Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company developing novel microRNA-based therapies — principally their lead candidate, designed to repair tendon structure, relieve pain, and restore function in chronic tendon disease. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Causeway Therapeutics CEO and Executive Chairman Declan Doogan to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Waverly Advisors Expands Alternatives Platform With Acquisition Of Select Promus Business Lines

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:47 AM

Waverly Advisors has completed the acquisition of select business lines from Chicago-based Promus Holdings. This move significantly strengthens its presence in private equity, real estate, and multi-family office services. The transaction deepens Waverly’s offerings for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families while expanding its alternative investment strategies through the formation of a new subsidiary, Promus Capital Management.

Condé Nast: Vasanth Williams Named As Chief Product And Technology Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:39 AM

Condé Nast has appointed Vasanth Williams as its new chief product and technology officer, a hire that strengthens the company’s focus on digital innovation, audience engagement, and platform modernization. Williams will officially assume the role on December 8 and join the company’s executive leadership team.

Micruity: $20 Million Series A Raised For Advancing Retirement Income Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:38 AM

Micruity has secured $20 million in Series A financing as the company accelerates its effort to modernize the data infrastructure behind retirement income solutions. The round was co-led by Rebalance Capital and Nationwide Ventures, with participation from J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Reinsurance Group of America, Guardian Life, Collab Capital, State Street Investment Management, and TIAA Ventures. Existing backers, including Allianz Life, Prudential Financial, Western & Southern Financial Group, Pacific Life, and SixThirty Ventures, also supported the new round. The latest investment brings Micruity’s total funding to $27 million.

Excelsior Sciences: $95 Million Raised To Advance Automated Chemistry And AI-Driven Drug Discovery

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:36 AM

Excelsior Sciences has secured $95 million in new financing to expand its automated chemistry platform and accelerate the development and manufacturing of small molecules in the United States. The newly announced capital includes a $70 million Series A co-led by Deerfield Management, Khosla Ventures, and Sofinnova Partners, as well as a $25 million grant from New York’s Empire State Development. Additional participants include Cornucopian Capital, Eli Lilly and Company, Illinois Ventures, and MIT.

Unacast: $28 Million In Funding Raised To Advance Global Location Intelligence Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:11 AM

Unacast announced that it has secured $28 million in new financing from Vector Capital’s direct credit strategy, Vector Velocity, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion following its late-2023 merger with Gravy Analytics.

Crestline Adds $150 Million To Expand Partnership With Credent Wealth Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 7:09 AM

Crestline Investors has expanded its partnership with Credent Wealth Management through an additional $150 million commitment aimed at supporting the firm’s continued expansion and acquisition efforts. Credent, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Indiana, operates as a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor and manages more than four billion dollars in assets.

Natalie Portman Becomes Strategic Partner As UNCAGED Innovations Accelerates Sustainable Luxury Push

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 6:45 AM

UNCAGED Innovations has brought Academy Award-winning actor and long-time ethical consumerism advocate Natalie Portman on as a strategic partner, a move that strengthens the company’s efforts to scale its next-generation leather alternative across luxury and fashion markets.

Squire Acquires HintonBurdick To Expand Intermountain West Footprint

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:37 PM

Squire, one of Utah’s fastest-growing and nationally recognized accounting firms, has announced its acquisition of regional CPA firm HintonBurdick. The deal, which becomes effective January 1, 2026, significantly expands Squire’s geographic presence and strengthens its position as one of the largest CPA firms in Utah. HintonBurdick operates offices across Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, giving the combined organization a broader reach and deeper service capabilities throughout the Intermountain West.

Clifford Chance Names Mark-Jan Arends As New Managing Partner For Amsterdam Office

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:36 PM

Clifford Chance has appointed Mark-Jan Arends as the next Managing Partner of its Amsterdam office, selecting an established corporate leader within the firm to take over the role effective 1 January 2026. Arends succeeds Titus de Vries, who guided the Amsterdam office through a period of meaningful expansion and partner development during his tenure.

Paul Weiss Adds Leading Finance Trio In New York

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:35 PM

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison announced a significant expansion of its Finance Group with the addition of Nicholas Schwartz, Mark Adler, and Julie Ann Lamm as partners in the Corporate Department, all based in New York. Schwartz will join before the year's end, while Adler and Lamm have already begun their transition.

Versant Expands Free-to-Watch Portfolio With Acquisition of Free TV Networks

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:34 PM

Versant has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Free TV Networks in a deal that will expand the company’s entertainment footprint and strengthen its presence across free, ad-supported distribution channels. The transaction, announced on December 4, 2025, comes as Comcast prepares to spin off Versant as an independent public media company in early 2026.

Govstream.ai: $3.6 Million Seed Funding Raised To Accelerate AI Native Permitting For U.S. Cities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:33 PM

Govstream.ai has secured a $3.6 million Seed round to expand its AI-driven permitting platform, designed to help local governments process development applications more efficiently and shorten approval timelines. The Seattle-based company intends to shrink permitting cycles from months to weeks and ultimately to days by unifying chats, emails, voice interactions, plans, and workflows into a single conversational system.

Smartleaf Asset Management Doubles Assets Under Management To Surpass $6.75 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:31 PM

Smartleaf Asset Management has reported a significant expansion of its outsourced portfolio management business, announcing that its assets under management have climbed past $6.75 billion. The milestone marks a substantial increase from $3.75 billion a year earlier, and highlights accelerated industry adoption of outsourced rebalancing and tax optimization solutions.

V2X Wins $980 Million IDIQ Contract To Support Global Warfighter Test Systems

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:30 PM

V2X secured a major government award with its position on the Automated Test Systems Division’s Multiple Award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract issued by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Warner Robins Air Force Base. The agreement, valued at up to $980 million across its ordering period, will enable V2X to provide comprehensive lifecycle support for Automated Test Systems that underpin mission readiness for military aviation and global defense operations.

Watts Water Technologies Completes Acquisition Of Saudi Cast To Expand Middle East Footprint

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:29 PM

Watts Water Technologies has completed its acquisition of Saudi Cast, a Riyadh-based manufacturer of cast iron and stainless steel drainage solutions, marking a strategic expansion for the global water technology company across Saudi Arabia and key Middle Eastern markets.

Regnology Completes Major Acquisition Of Wolters Kluwer’s Finance, Risk And Regulatory Reporting Business

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:27 PM

Regnology has finalized its acquisition of Wolters Kluwer’s Finance, Risk, and Regulatory Reporting business, marking one of the company’s most significant expansion moves and further strengthening its position as a global regulatory technology leader.

The Baldwin Group And CAC Group Announce $1.026 Billion Merger To Form Publicly Traded Insurance Broker

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:26 PM

The Baldwin Group has entered into a definitive agreement to merge with CAC Group in a transaction valued at $1.026 billion upfront, creating what is expected to become the largest majority-colleague-owned, publicly traded insurance brokerage firm in the United States.

Harvey: $160 Million At $8 Billion Valuation Raised For Advancing AI Tech For Legal Pros

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:24 PM

Harvey has secured a significant funding milestone with a $160 million investment round, valuing the company at $8 billion. Andreessen Horowitz led the financing and follows a recent investment from EQT, further broadening Harvey’s base of prominent backers. Additional new investors include WndrCo and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., joining returning supporters Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, Conviction, and Elad Gil.

Curvestone AI: $4 Million Seed Funding Closed To Scale Reliable Automation For Regulated Industries

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:00 PM

Curvestone AI has secured $4 million in seed funding, led by MTech Capital, with participation from Boost Capital Partners, D2 Fund, and Portfolio Ventures. The investment marks a significant milestone for the London-based company as it accelerates efforts to bring dependable, end-to-end AI automation to financial services, legal, and insurance teams.

OpenAI Launches Up To $2 Million Research Grant Program Focused On Mental Health Safety

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:59 PM

OpenAI announced a major new funding initiative that will award up to $2 million to support independent research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and mental health, marking one of the organization’s most significant external safety investments to date. The program, which is now accepting applications through December 19, 2025, seeks to generate new insights, resources, and evaluation tools that can strengthen both OpenAI’s internal safety work and the broader field.

HCA Healthcare Provides $4.8 Million Gift To Support Launch Of Pepperdine University School Of Nursing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:58 PM

HCA Healthcare has committed $4.8 million to Pepperdine University to help launch its new School of Nursing within the College of Health Sciences, marking a significant investment to expand the nursing workforce amid ongoing nationwide shortages.