Pulse 2.0

Citi: $2.5 Billion Deal To Sell 24% Stake In Banamex To Institutional Investors Ahead Of IPO

Gilead Sciences To Acquire Arcellx In $7.8 Billion Deal To Strengthen Cell Therapy Portfolio

Handl Health: $14.2 Million Series A Raised To Reform Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

Turbine: $25 Million Series B Raised For Virtual Biology Platform And Immunology Expansion

Pathwork: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Ian Levinsky About The Life And Annuities Insurance Modernization Company

Slang AI: $36 Million Series B Closed For Hospitality Voice AI Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:25 PM

Slang AI, an AI platform purpose-built for the hospitality industry, announced it has raised $36 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to $68 million to date. The round was led by US Venture Partners and included $28 million in equity and $8 million in debt. Additional participants included Thayer Investment Partners, Claire Hughes Johnson, as well as existing investors Homebrew, Stage 2 Capital, Active Capital, Wing VC, Collide Capital, and Underscore VC.

EMED Technologies: $8 Million Raised For Advancing Innovation And Scale

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:22 PM

EMED Technologies announced that its subsidiary has closed an $8 million equity financing round led by a multibillion dollar healthcare company, strengthening the unit’s balance sheet and positioning it for its next phase of strategic growth.

Centauri Therapeutics: £6 Million Raised For Advancing Antimicrobial Candidate

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:20 PM

Centauri Therapeutics Limited, an immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for infectious diseases, has secured £6 million from AMR Action Fund, extending its Series A financing to £30 million. The funding will support completion of Phase I clinical studies for CTX-187, the company’s lead clinical candidate in its ABX-01 programme, and expand research activities in preparation for Phase II development.

SambaNova: $350+ Million Series E Raised As AI Infrastructure Company Unveils SN50 Chip And Intel Collaboration

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:16 PM

SambaNova has introduced its SN50 AI chip, which the company says delivers up to 5x the maximum speed of competitive chips, while also announcing a planned multi-year collaboration with Intel and more than $350 million in strategic Series E financing.

Slate Medicines: $130 Million Series A Raised To Advance Anti-PACAP Migraine Therapies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:13 PM

Slate Medicines, a privately held biotech company developing next-generation therapeutics for headache disorders, has launched with the close of a $130 million series a financing and the in-licensing of SLTE-1009, an anti-PACAP monoclonal antibody from DartsBio Pharmaceuticals (Guangdong), Ltd.

CyberProof: Interview With CEO And CISO Tony Velleca About The Managed Detection And Response Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 3:10 PM

CyberProof, a UST company, delivers AI-powered Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services and advanced, threat-led defense strategies to help global enterprises anticipate, detect, and respond to cyber threats more efficiently. Pulse 2.0 interviewed CyberProof CEO and UST Chief Information Security Officer Tony Velleca to learn more.

Axelera AI: Over $250 Million Raised For Global Expansion Of AI Semiconductor Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 2:41 PM

Axelera AI, a European AI semiconductor company focused on edge and data center acceleration, announced it has secured more than $250 million in new funding to accelerate global commercial growth. The round was led by funds managed by Innovation Industries, with participation from new investors including BlackRock and SiteGround Capital, as well as existing backers Bitfury, CDP Venture Capital, European Innovation Council Fund, SFPIM, Invest-NL, Samsung Catalyst Fund, and Verve Ventures.

Brevet Capital: $150 Million Senior Construction Loan Closed For Wharton Piers Residential Tower In Philadelphia

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 2:12 PM

Brevet Capital has closed a $150 million senior construction loan from Banco Inbursa to finance the development of Building A at Wharton Piers, a major mixed-use waterfront project in South Philadelphia.

Letter AI: $40 Million Series B Raised For AI-Native Revenue Enablement Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 2:09 PM

Letter AI, an AI-native revenue enablement platform for enterprise go-to-market teams, has raised $40 million in a Series B funding round led by Battery Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, Lightbank, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, Stage 2 Capital, and existing investors. The round comes just four months after the company’s previous raise and reflects accelerating enterprise demand for AI-driven platforms designed to improve deal outcomes.

Circadian Risk: $6 Million Raised In Series A For Enterprise Risk Analysis SaaS Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:51 PM

Circadian Risk, a pioneer in enterprise risk analysis SaaS and scenario-based assessment products, has closed a $6 million Series A funding round led by Arthur Ventures, with participation from Roll Tack Ventures and existing investors 11 Tribes and Tamiami Angel Funds. The round was meaningfully oversubscribed, enabling the company to assemble a focused group of partners aligned with its long-term growth strategy.

Cutting Horse: $75 Million Raised For Consumer-Focused Growth Equity Fund I

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:47 PM

Cutting Horse, a boutique growth equity firm focused on founder-led consumer brands, has closed its inaugural fund with $75 million in capital commitments, exceeding its original $50 million target and reaching its hard cap. The oversubscribed fund was raised in less than 12 months and will support the firm’s strategy of partnering with founders building durable, high-growth consumer product and service businesses.

Topspin Consumer Partners: Investment In Sport Flooring And Locker Manufacturer Grid

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:45 PM

Topspin Consumer Partners, an operationally driven private equity firm focused on the consumer sector, announced a strategic investment in Grid, a leading U.S. designer and manufacturer of laminate and phenolic lockers and performance flooring solutions for fitness, athletic team sports, and health and wellness facilities. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Victor Capital Partners: Investment In Specialty Fenestration Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:44 PM

Victor Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on branded businesses in the industrial technology, business services, and specialty consumer sectors, announced an investment in Specialty Fenestration Group, a diversified platform that designs and manufactures critical transaction and high-security window and door solutions.

Capital Constellation: Strategic Partnership Completed With Gallatin Point Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:26 PM

Capital Constellation, an investment platform managed by Wafra, has completed a strategic partnership with Gallatin Point Capital, a private investment firm focused on structured investments in financial institutions, financial services, and related assets.

Beacon Pointe Advisors: $1.2 Billion RIA The Financial Advisors Joins To Expand New England Footprint

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:09 PM

Beacon Pointe Advisors has acquired The Financial Advisors, a $1.2 billion AUM registered investment adviser based in Andover and Newburyport, Massachusetts, strengthening its presence across the New England market. Following the transaction, Beacon Pointe oversees approximately $62 billion in total client assets under advisement.

Aspen Standard Wealth Names Kevin DiSano As President

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:08 PM

Aspen Standard Wealth, a permanent home for successful independent RIAs, has named Kevin DiSano, CIMA, CPWA, as President.

Jampack AI: $3.2 Million Raised For Agentic Wholesale Automation Platform For CPG Brands

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 1:05 PM

Jampack AI, an agentic platform automating wholesale operations for consumer packaged goods brands, announced it has raised $3.2 million in seed funding. The round was led by Maveron, with participation from Timber Grove Ventures and a group of industry angels.

Elevance Health Foundation: $2.3 Million Committed To Expand Food As Medicine Programs Nationwide

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:58 PM

Elevance Health Foundation announced it has awarded 22 new grants totaling more than $2.3 million to expand food-as-medicine programs across the United States, supporting nonprofit organizations working to improve access to nutritious food and advance clinical outcomes for individuals and families facing food and nutrition insecurity.

Claimify Raises Strategic Growth Investment From Ambler Brook

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:56 PM

Ambler Brook, a Boston-based private investment firm focused on founder-owned businesses, announced it has made a strategic growth investment in Claimify, a national provider of tech-enabled solutions to the disability insurance industry.

Basis: $100 Million Raised At $1.15 Billion Valuation For AI Agent Platform Serving Accountants

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:50 PM

Basis, an AI agent platform built for accountants, has raised $100 million in Series B funding at a $1.15 billion valuation. The round was led by Accel, with participation from GV and Lloyd Blankfein, alongside existing backers including Khosla Ventures, which doubled down on its investment. Accel’s Miles Clements will join Khosla Ventures’ Keith Rabois on the company’s board.

Swan AI: $6 Million Raised To Build The First Autonomous Business

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:09 PM

Swan AI announced it has raised $6 million in funding as it aims to build what it calls the first “autonomous business,” targeting $10 million in revenue per employee and redefining how modern companies approach growth.

Updata Partners: $875 Million Raised For Software Growth Equity Fund VIII

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:06 PM

Updata Partners has closed Updata Partners VIII, L.P., with $875 million in aggregate capital commitments, marking the largest fund in the firm’s history. The Washington, D.C.–based growth equity firm exceeded its target and reached its hard cap in six months, reflecting strong backing from both existing and new limited partners.

Myrias Optics: $2.1 Million Seed 1 Financing To Accelerate Commercialization Of Wafer-Level Metaoptics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:02 PM

Myrias Optics has closed a $2.1 million Seed 1 financing round to accelerate the commercialization of its wafer-level metaoptics and diffractive optical technologies. The round, completed in January 2026, was led by MassVentures, with participation from existing investors Hoss Investment Inc., Maroon Venture Partners, and Tenon Venture Partners, as well as new investors Mill Town Capital, TiE Boston Angels, and Doug Crane.

Gridco: Strategic Growth Investment Secured From BayHawk Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:22 AM

Gridco, a provider of maintenance, upgrade, and construction services to electric utilities, announced it has received a strategic growth investment from BayHawk Capital, a private equity firm focused on founder-owned essential services and technology businesses.

Honigman: Chicago Office Expands With Addition Of Two Private Equity Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:12 AM

Honigman announced that Alexander Moss and Injune Park have joined the firm’s nationally recognized Private Equity Practice within its Corporate Department, further expanding its growing Chicago office. Moss and Park become the seventh and eighth partners to join the firm this year and follow George Stowe, who also joined from Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff last fall.

Enhabit: $1.1 Billion Acquisition By Kinderhook Industries

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:08 AM

Enhabit has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Kinderhook Industries, LLC in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion in total enterprise value.

Veris Residential: $3.4 Billion Cash Take-Private Deal With Affinius Capital-Led Consortium

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 10:05 AM

Veris Residential, Inc., a Northeast-focused Class A multifamily REIT, has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by an investor consortium led by Affinius Capital in partnership with Vista Hill Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.4 billion. Shareholders will receive $19 per share in cash, representing a 23.2% premium to the company’s unaffected closing share price on February 4, 2026, and a 27.5% premium to its 30-day volume-weighted average price for the period ended February 4, 2026.

AgeneBio: Northwestern University Research On Levetiracetam Plaque Prevention Reinforces Novel Alzheimer’s Disease Approach

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:16 AM

AgeneBio recently announced that recent research suggesting levetiracetam may prevent amyloid-beta plaque formation in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease further validates the company’s approach to treating cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative disorders. The Baltimore-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company retains exclusive rights to a low-dose, extended-release formulation of levetiracetam designed specifically for treating mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Integrated Partners Launches Private Wealth Platform To Guide Business Owners Through High-Stakes Transitions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:12 AM

Integrated Partners, a national financial planning and registered investment advisory firm serving more than $25 billion in assets under advisement, has launched Integrated Private Wealth, a new private wealth brand designed to guide business owners and their families through complex liquidity events and major life transitions.

Osaic: $1.2 Billion Firm Bard Financial Services Transitions To Empowered Independence Channel

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 9:05 AM

Osaic, one of the nation’s largest providers of wealth management strategies, announced that Bard Financial Services, Inc., a Connecticut-based advisory firm overseeing approximately $1.2 billion in assets under management, has transitioned to Osaic’s Empowered Independence W-2 channel.