Pulse 2.0

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

IBM Buying Confluent In $11 Billion Deal

InduPro: Strategic Equity Investment Raised From Sanofi

IFP Onboards $700 Million CenterBridge Planning Team

Concurrent Adds 10 Advisors In Q4 As Firm Accelerates Toward $15 Billion In AUM

Mars Finalizes Acquisition Of Kellanova

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:25 AM

Mars, Incorporated has completed its acquisition of Kellanova, uniting two long-standing consumer goods companies and creating a broader global snacking powerhouse. The deal brings together Kellanova’s portfolio of billion-dollar snack brands, including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, and Kellogg’s international cereal brands, with Mars’ existing lineup of major confectionery and snack products such as Snickers, M&M’s, Twix, Dove, Skittles, Extra, Kind, and Nature’s Bakery.

Serval: $75 Million Series B At $1 Billion Valuation Raised For Enterprise Automation Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:23 AM

Serval has secured $75 million in Series B funding led by Sequoia Capital, bringing the company’s valuation to $1 billion and marking a significant milestone in its evolution from an IT automation tool to a horizontal enterprise platform. The latest funding round also included participation from Redpoint, Meritech, First Round, General Catalyst, Evantic, Sound Ventures, Radical Ventures, and others. In total, Serval has raised $127 million since August.

On Me: $6 Million Seed Funding Closed To Expand Its Digital Gifting Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:20 AM

On Me has secured a $6 million seed round to advance its personalized digital gifting platform, one of the largest consumer fintech seed financings completed in 2025. The round was led by NFX with participation from pre-seed investors Lerer Hippeau and focal.

Fervo Energy: $462 Million Raised To Advance Next-Generation Geothermal Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:16 AM

Fervo Energy has secured a $462 million Series E round to accelerate the commercial buildout of its next-generation geothermal portfolio, marking one of the largest private financings in the geothermal sector. New investor B Capital led the oversubscribed round. And it included participation from a broad base of new and returning investors, reflecting rising market confidence in Fervo’s ability to deliver large-scale, around-the-clock carbon-free power.

BMW: Milan Nedeljković Named As New Chairman Of The Board Of Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:05 AM

BMW AG announced that Dr. Ing. Milan Nedeljković will become the company’s next Chairman of the Board of Management, assuming the role on May 14, 2026. The decision was approved by the Supervisory Board following the launch phase of the Neue Klasse program, marking a pivotal leadership transition at a time when the company is navigating large-scale technological and operational transformation.

Finance Of America: $2.5 Billion Strategic Partnership Secured To Expand Home Equity Lending Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Today at 12:02 AM

Finance of America Companies Inc. announced a significantly expanded $2.5 billion strategic partnership with funds managed by Blue Owl Capital, marking one of the company’s most significant capital commitments to date and signaling a major investment in the growing U.S. retirement and home equity financing market.

No-IP: Strategic Majority Investment Completed And Suchit Rout Named As New CEO

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:49 PM

No-IP Technologies has completed a strategic and majority investment in Vitalwerks Internet Solutions, the company behind No-IP. The transaction introduces a new leadership structure and positions the DNS and remote access provider for expanded innovation, product development, and partner growth initiatives. As part of the transition, founder Dan Durrer will move into the role of Founder and Chief Technology Officer. Suchit Rout, Founder and Managing Partner of Indus Growth Fund, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Kent Outdoors: $90 Million Credit Facility Secured

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:42 PM

Kent Outdoors has secured a $90 million asset-based revolving credit facility from PNC Business Credit, a multi-year financing arrangement designed to expand the company’s domestic market presence and support ongoing seasonal working capital needs. The new facility provides additional liquidity to help Kent scale its operations and sustain its growth trajectory across a broad portfolio of outdoor and watersports brands.

New Vintage Partners: Interview With Co-Founder Charles Jaskel About The Investment Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:35 PM

New Vintage Partners is an investment firm that builds portfolios of LP stakes in venture capital and growth-equity funds and provides liquidity solutions for both limited partners and general partners. The firm focuses on LP-led secondaries and utilizes a “mosaic” approach to portfolio construction that uses secondary transactions as a proactive tool rather than a purely defensive one. Pulse 2.0 interviewed New Vintage Partners co-founder Charles Jaskel to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Integrity Growth Partners: $220 Million Fund Closed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:31 PM

Integrity Growth Partners has closed its first committed capital fund at $220 million, surpassing its $200 million target and marking a significant milestone for the Los Angeles-based growth equity firm. The oversubscribed raise reflects strong demand from limited partners such as StepStone Group, Oxford Financial Group, and Olympus Ventures, signaling increasing investor confidence in the firm’s founder-focused model and transparent approach to backing growth-stage B2B software and technology-enabled companies.

APi Group To Acquire CertaSite And Reaffirms 2025 Outlook

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:50 PM

APi Group Corporation announced that it has agreed to acquire CertaSite, a Midwest-based fire and life safety services provider built on an inspection-first operating model. The acquisition is scheduled to close in the first quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approvals and will be financed with cash on hand.

Capital Power Signs $3 Billion Deal With Apollo

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:48 PM

Capital Power Corporation announced a significant expansion of its growth strategy during its 2025 Investor Day event in Toronto, outlining ambitious 2030 targets while securing two strategic agreements that reinforce its position as a leading North American natural gas power producer.

Alamo Group To Buy Petersen Industries In $166.5 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:44 PM

Alamo Group has agreed to acquire Petersen Industries for $166.5 million, marking a significant expansion of its industrial equipment capabilities. The transaction, announced from the company’s headquarters in Seguin, Texas, will bring the Florida-based manufacturer of truck-mounted grapple loader equipment into Alamo Group’s Industrial Equipment Division once the deal closes in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary conditions.

Perimeter Solutions To Buy Medical Manufacturing Technologies In $685 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:42 PM

Perimeter Solutions announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Medical Manufacturing Technologies for approximately $685 million in cash, inclusive of certain tax benefits. The acquisition will add a high-growth, high-margin medical manufacturing platform to Perimeter’s portfolio and expand its presence into minimally invasive medical device production technologies.

Natura Resources Buys Shepherd Power And Forms Strategic Partnership With NOV

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:40 PM

Natura Resources has moved to expand and accelerate its commercial small modular reactor strategy through the acquisition of Shepherd Power and a new collaboration with NOV Inc.

Ball To Buy Majority Stake In Benepack’s European Beverage Can Operations For €184 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:35 PM

Ball Corporation has moved to expand its European manufacturing footprint through agreements to acquire a majority stake in Benepack’s beverage can production operations in Belgium and Hungary. The acquisition, valued at approximately €184 million for an 80 percent stake, represents a significant strategic investment intended to strengthen Ball’s position across Western and Eastern Europe. Benepack’s existing shareholders will retain the remaining 20 percent of the business.

Enova To Buy Grasshopper Bank In $369 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:28 PM

Enova International has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Grasshopper Bancorp, including Grasshopper Bank, for approximately $369 million.

Blockstream Capital Partners Expands Institutional Platform With Acquisition Of Corbiere

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:30 PM

Blockstream Capital Partners announced plans to acquire Corbiere Capital Management, a Jersey-based equities hedge fund manager founded by Rodrigo Rodriguez, marking a significant expansion of its institutional investment platform. The deal strengthens BCP’s strategy of uniting traditional finance and Bitcoin-linked investment solutions, supported by its strategic partnership with digital asset custodian Komainu.

Tivic Acquires Scorpius Manufacturing Assets And Secures More Than $90 Million Financing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:28 PM

Tivic Health Systems has acquired the manufacturing and development assets of Scorpius Holdings, significantly expanding the company’s capabilities to advance its biologics pipeline, including its lead drug candidate, Entolimod. The transaction also enables the launch of Velocity Bioworks. This wholly owned Tivic subsidiary will operate as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization, providing cellular and biologic production services to Tivic and external biotechnology companies.

Runware: $50 Million Series A Raised To Advance Global Expansion Of Its Multi-Modal Inference Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:26 PM

Runware has secured a $50 million Series A funding round, marking a significant milestone for the rapidly scaling AI infrastructure company and cementing its position as a contender in global, low-latency multimodal inference. The round was led by Dawn Capital, with participation from Speedinvest and Comcast Ventures, alongside existing investors Insight Partners, a16z speedrun, Begin Capital, Zero Prime Ventures, and several early backers.

Hiro Capital Expands Leadership Team And Launches Hiro III Scaleup Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:23 PM

Hiro Capital has unveiled a significant expansion of its leadership team and the launch of Hiro III, a new multistage European fund aimed at accelerating growth in Spatial AI, robotics, longevity, games, space, and defence. As part of the initiative, Nick Clegg has joined the firm as General Partner, marking one of the most high-profile leadership additions to a European venture fund this year.

1X Forms Strategic Partnership With EQT To Enable Large Scale Deployment Of Humanoid Robots

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:21 PM

1X, the AI and robotics company behind NEO, the first ready-to-ship humanoid robot, has entered into a strategic partnership with private equity giant EQT in a move that could accelerate the commercial adoption of general-purpose humanoid robots across global industries. EQT, which invested in 1X through EQT Ventures, aims to support 1X as it prepares for a significant deployment opportunity spanning the next several years.

Cengage Group: Interview With Chief Digital Officer Darren Person About The Education Technology Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:04 PM

Cengage Group is an education and workforce technology company that provides digital learning solutions for students, educators, and employers. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Cengage Group Chief Digital Officer Darren Person to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Junevity: Seed Round Expanded To $20 Million To Advance siRNA Reprogramming Candidate Toward Clinical Trials

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 4:00 PM

Junevity has expanded its seed financing to a total of $20 million following a new $10 million investment led by Goldcrest Capital and Godfrey Capital. The San Francisco based biotechnology company is developing therapeutics that use siRNA to reprogram cell states, with its lead program targeting type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Superblocks: Interview With Founder & CEO Brad Menezes About The Enterprise Software Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 3:54 PM

Superblocks is an enterprise software platform that lets companies rapidly build, deploy, and govern AI-powered internal applications across data, workflows, and integrations. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Superblocks founder and CEO Brad Menezes to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Sculptor Capital: $4.6 Billion Secured For Fifth Opportunistic Real Estate Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 3:52 PM

Sculptor Capital Management has closed its fifth opportunistic equity real estate fund with $4.6 billion in commitments, surpassing its original $3 billion target and reaching its hard cap. The firm also raised an additional $825 million in co-investment capital, enabling participating investors to commit alongside its flagship vehicle. The close marks one of the most significant capital raises in Sculptor’s real estate platform and reflects strong backing from both new and existing institutional LPs across global markets.

TIAA Wealth Management Launches New Brand Campaign To Broaden Access To Financial Advice

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 3:49 PM

TIAA Wealth Management has introduced a new brand platform titled Invest in Your Worth, representing a substantial repositioning of how the firm intends to deliver financial guidance to the millions of professionals it serves. The initiative reflects an expanded focus on technology investment, advisor support, and product innovation as the organization seeks to reach individuals who have accumulated meaningful retirement savings yet may not view themselves as candidates for professional financial advice.

WTW To Acquire Newfront In $1.3 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 3:47 PM

WTW announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Newfront, a San Francisco-based brokerage known for its technology-driven model and specialty expertise. The deal totals up to $1.3 billion, including an upfront payment of $1.05 billion and contingent consideration of up to $250 million tied to performance targets. An additional $150 million may become payable if the company exceeds revenue expectations. The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

Optilogic: Interview With Founder & CEO Don Hicks About The Supply Chain Design Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 2:45 PM

Optilogic is a company that provides a cloud-native supply chain design software platform. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Optilogic founder and CEO Don Hicks to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

First Eagle To Acquire Diamond Hill In $473 Million All-Cash Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 2:39 PM

First Eagle Investments has agreed to acquire Diamond Hill Investment Group in a transaction valued at approximately $473 million. The deal calls for First Eagle to purchase all outstanding shares of Diamond Hill for $175 per share in cash, which reflects a 49 percent premium over Diamond Hill’s previous closing price of $117.48 on December 10, 2025, and a 44 percent premium over its 30-day volume-weighted average price.