Pulse 2.0

Disney Makes $1 Billion Investment In OpenAI As Companies Sign Licensing Agreement For Sora

IBM Buying Confluent In $11 Billion Deal

Natera Completes Acquisition Of Foresight Diagnostics For Up To $450 Million

SereneDB: $2.1 Million Pre-Seed Funding Raised To Advance Real-Time Search And Analytics Technology

Bitstack: $15 Million Series A Raised For Expanding Across Europe And Launches New Bitcoin Rewards Card

Righteous Felon: Investment Secured From GroundForce Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:53 PM

GroundForce Capital has made a strategic investment in RTZN Brands, the parent company of Righteous Felon, marking a significant milestone for one of the fastest-growing brands in the better-for-you meat snack category. The new funding is intended to support Righteous Felon’s plans to broaden its national retail footprint, expand distribution partnerships, and introduce additional clean ingredient, high-protein meat snack innovations.

Solum Partners: Majority Investment In Greenyard Following €380 Million Takeover Bid

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:50 PM

Solum Partners has finalized its majority investment in Greenyard, marking one of the most significant private transactions in the European produce sector in recent years. The announcement comes after Greenyard’s delisting from Euronext Brussels in September, following a takeover bid at €7.40 per share that valued the company at approximately €380 million.

Akura Medical Raises $53 Million To Advance Thrombectomy Platform And Software Development

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:48 PM

Akura Medical has secured a $53 million first close for its Series C financing round, marking a significant step toward expanding its venous thromboembolism technology portfolio and accelerating commercial readiness. The round was led by Qatar Investment Authority, with participation from existing investors, and will also support the establishment of a new joint venture in Qatar.

Donna: $4.8 Million Raised To Advance Global Expansion Of Agentic AI Assistant For Field Sales Teams

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:44 PM

Donna, a fast-growing AI platform built for field sales professionals, has secured $4.8 million in new funding to expand internationally and strengthen its position in the sales enablement market. The new capital, announced in Ghent on December 3, 2025, was led by Frontline Ventures with participation from Pitchdrive, Fortino Capital, WeLoveFounders, Syndicate One, New School, Everywhere Ventures, and several experienced angel investors.

Pegasus Airlines To Acquire Czech Airlines And Smartwings In €154 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:42 PM

Pegasus Airlines has reached an agreement to acquire Czech Airlines and its subsidiary Smartwings for €154 million, marking one of the most significant cross-border airline acquisitions in Europe this year. The deal includes the purchase of both companies and their associated receivables. Completion remains subject to regulatory approvals and additional transfer conditions.

Creative Planning Expands With Acquisition Of $900 Million Firm Marshall Financial Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:39 PM

Creative Planning has completed the acquisition of Marshall Financial Group, adding more than $900 million in assets under management and bringing thirteen additional employees into the firm’s growing national platform. The transaction strengthens Creative Planning’s presence in the Mid-Atlantic region and marks another step in its expansion strategy as one of the country’s largest registered investment advisors.

Eikona: $5 Million Seed Round Raised To Advance GenAI-Driven Adaptive Marketing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 11:28 AM

Eikona, a Tel Aviv–based generative AI startup focused on lifecycle marketing, has raised a $5 million seed round to bring a new reinforcement learning–powered approach to A/B testing and automated content optimization. The round was led by StageOne Ventures with participation from Crescendo Venture Partners, Wix Ventures, and Clarim Ventures, as well as several industry and academic angel investors.

Qunnect: Interview With CEO Noel Goddard About The Quantum Networking Hardware Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:00 AM

Factorial Capital: $25 Million Fund II Closed To Advance Investments In Frontier AI Startups

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:00 AM

Factorial Capital has closed Fund II at $25 million as the New York-based early-stage venture firm expands its model of backing technical founders building at the edge of what emerging AI technologies now make possible.

NewEdge Capital: Veteran Wealth Executive James Jesse Named As New CEO

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:43 AM

NewEdge Capital Group has named seasoned wealth management leader James Jesse as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking one of the firm’s most significant leadership expansions as it surpasses $80 billion in assets and accelerates its long-term growth strategy. The appointment comes as NewEdge reaches its five-year milestone and continues to deepen its capabilities for elite advisors across its NewEdge Advisors and NewEdge Wealth businesses.

Wealth Enhancement Acquires $2.2 Billion Firm L.M. Kohn & Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:40 AM

Wealth Enhancement, a national independent wealth management firm, has expanded its national presence with the acquisition of L.M. Kohn & Company, a Cincinnati-based hybrid RIA overseeing more than $2.2 billion in client assets. The transaction increases Wealth Enhancement’s total client assets to more than $131 billion and adds 23 employees across six locations in Ohio, Georgia, Iowa, and Michigan. The deal closed on December 6, 2025.

Marshall University Expands Digital Engagement With InScribe Partnership

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:26 AM

Marshall University has launched a new partnership with InScribe Education to enhance connection, engagement, and resource accessibility for its online undergraduate students. The university will integrate InScribe’s digital community platform into its Marshall Online programming as part of a broader initiative to provide students with a unified, supportive digital ecosystem.

Holly Ventures: $33 Million Cybersecurity Fund Launched

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:25 AM

Holly Ventures has officially launched its debut $33 million cybersecurity fund, introducing a solo-led model that gives early-stage cyber founders direct access to the firm’s decision-makers and a concentrated, high-value support network. The San Francisco-based fund, created by former YL Ventures Senior Partner John Brennan, is positioned as an alternative to significant platform funds that often emphasize capital scale or broad AI narratives over hands-on founder engagement.

Capital Group And KKR Expand Partnership To Develop New Retirement And Wealth Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:23 AM

Capital Group and KKR announced an expanded partnership to develop new integrated retirement and wealth management offerings, building on a series of public-private investment strategies launched earlier in 2025. The enhanced collaboration introduces two new products designed to broaden access to private markets for retirement savers and wealth clients.

Nu Quantum: $60 Million Series A Raised To Accelerate Quantum Networking Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:20 AM

Nu Quantum has secured a landmark $60 million Series A round, the most significant financing ever completed by a pure-play quantum networking company and the largest quantum-focused Series A in the United Kingdom. Led by National Grid Partners with participation from Gresham House Ventures and Morpheus Ventures, the oversubscribed round also included continued backing from Amadeus Capital Partners, IQ Capital, Ahren Capital, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, East Innovate, NSSIF, and Sumitomo’s Presidio Ventures.

Grantd Launches AI Platform To Transform Equity Compensation Planning For Advisors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:17 AM

Grantd has officially introduced its AI-powered equity compensation advice platform, aiming to streamline how financial advisors analyze, manage, and maximize the value of client equity grants. The launch comes as equity compensation continues to gain prominence across public and private companies, yet many recipients still lack accessible, informed guidance.

Sketch Development Services: Interview With Founder & CEO John Krewson About The Consultancy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:12 AM

Sketch Development Services is a consultancy that helps organizations improve how they build and deliver software using Agile, Lean, and DevOps practices. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Sketch Development Services founder and CEO John Krewson to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

ID-Pal Expands Compliance Capabilities With Acquisition Of KYB Provider NorthRow

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:10 AM

ID-Pal has announced a significant expansion of its global compliance and identity verification platform with the acquisition of Know Your Business specialist NorthRow. The deal strengthens ID-Pal’s ability to provide a unified solution for Know Your Customer, Know Your Business, and Anti-Money Laundering requirements for organisations across Europe, the UK, and the U.S.

HotHouse Therapeutics: £2.9 Million Raised To Launch AI-Driven Plant-Based Drug Discovery Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:07 AM

HotHouse Therapeutics has emerged from stealth with £2.9 million in pre-seed funding to advance an AI-enabled plant bioengineering platform that aims to transform how modern medicines are discovered and manufactured. The Norwich-based startup secured investment from SynBioVen, Start Codon, UKI2S, Twin Path Ventures, Wren Capital, multiple angel investors, and an Innovate UK grant.

n‑Tier: Interview With Founder & CEO Peter Gargone About The Zero-Code Data Management Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:04 AM

n‑Tier is a financial-technology company that provides a configurable, zero-code data-management and regulatory-reporting platform to help financial firms monitor, validate, and remediate data accuracy and completeness across critical business processes. Pulse 2.0 interviewed n‑Tier founder and CEO Peter Gargone to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Wealthspire Names Expanded Executive Leadership Team To Support Growth Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:55 AM

Wealthspire has introduced a significantly expanded executive leadership team as the firm moves into its next stage of integration and growth following its formation as a unified company backed by Madison Dearborn Partners. The announcement includes a broad slate of senior appointments across revenue, investment management, finance, legal, people, technology, marketing, corporate development, and M&A.

University Of Texas Team Advances 3D Printing Technology With DARPA Backing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:53 AM

Engineers at The University of Texas at Austin have launched a major initiative to transform semiconductor manufacturing through a new 3D printing technique designed to speed production, increase efficiency, and reduce environmental impact.

Findem Acquires Getro To Launch Intelligent Job Post And Expand Agentic Hiring Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:50 AM

Findem has acquired Getro and unveiled its Intelligent Job Post product, a move that the company says positions it at the forefront of AI-driven recruiting. The acquisition brings together Getro’s extensive network relationship platform with Findem’s expert labeled data infrastructure in an effort to shift hiring from passive applicant collection to proactive talent delivery.

Outpost24 Acquires Infinipoint To Expand Identity Security

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:48 AM

Outpost24 has acquired Infinipoint, marking a significant move into the rapidly growing Zero Trust Workforce Access market and strengthening its identity security business. The deal brings together Outpost24’s exposure management and authentication capabilities with Infinipoint’s expertise in device identity, posture validation, and secure workforce access.

University Of Southern California Introduces Accelerated JD MBA Program

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:45 AM

The University of Southern California has launched a new accelerated JD MBA program that brings together the academic strengths of the USC Gould School of Law and the USC Marshall School of Business.

Sysdyne Acquires Slabstack To Create AI-Powered End-To-End Platform For Construction Materials Producers

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:43 AM

Sysdyne Technologies has acquired Slabstack, a move that creates what the company describes as the industry’s first unified, cloud native, AI powered ecosystem connecting pricing, CRM, sales, operations, dispatch, delivery and billing across the construction materials value chain.

University Of Utah Forms New Venture In Strategic Partnership With Otro Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 8:42 AM

The University of Utah has announced a major structural shift in the financial and operational model supporting its athletics programs, establishing a new entity called Utah Brands & Entertainment. The company, owned by the University of Utah Foundation, will manage and grow core commercial operations tied to athletics while enabling the university to adapt to emerging economic pressures driven by student-athlete revenue sharing and the rapidly changing landscape of college sports.

Fitz Gate Ventures: Third VC Fund Closed, Bringing AUM To About $70 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:33 PM

Fitz Gate Ventures has closed its third venture capital fund, bringing the firm’s total assets under management to approximately $75 million as it continues to expand its early-stage investment activities across deep tech and other high-growth categories. The Houston-based firm secured Rice University’s Office of Innovation as one of its anchor investors, marking a notable institutional commitment during a challenging fundraising environment for emerging managers.

Tetra Tech: $500 Million USACE Contract For Environmental Remediation Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:22 PM

Tetra Tech has been awarded a five-year, $500 million multiple award contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District to deliver comprehensive environmental engineering and technical services across the North Atlantic Division’s mission areas. The award enables the company to support projects within the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Noovo: $2.2 Million Raised To Advance Manufacturing Expansion In Las Vegas

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:12 PM

Noovo, a Las Vegas-based manufacturer of luxury Class B recreational vehicles, has secured a $2.2 million investment through the Nevada New Markets Jobs Act. The funding will enable the company to expand production capacity, add new manufacturing jobs, and accelerate the rollout of additional RV models from its Clark County headquarters.