Innovation

Dubin Clark: $200 Million Raised For First Closing Of Small Business Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Dubin Clark announced two major milestones: receiving its first Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) license and achieving the first close of the DC Small Business Fund LP. And this initial close surpassed its target, thanks to the continued support of our valued existing investors and significant new commitments from leading institutional partners.

The Snow League: $15 Million Raised For Transforming Professional Winter Sports League

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

The Snow League, a professional winter sports league exclusively dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing, announced a funding round of $15 million. The funding round was led by Left Lane Capital, with participation from existing investors including Will Ventures, Ares Management funds, David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures, and Ryan Sports Ventures. And Rich Kleiman and Kevin Durant’s Boardroom Sports Holdings, Founder of League One Volleyball Peter Hirschmann and Kuvare Holdings also participated in the round.

Daash: Commerce Intelligence Platform Company Raises $5.5 Million (Second Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Daash Intelligence, an AI-based predictive commerce intelligence platform for retail brands, announced it has secured $5.5 million in a second seed funding round, bringing its total funding to date to $8.25 million. New investor Bullpen Capital led the funding round, with participation from GFT Ventures as well as from returning investors Silicon Road Ventures and Red Bike Capital.

FIZE Medical: Fluid Management Optimization Company Raises $30 Million (Series A-4)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

FIZE Medical, a leader in fluid management optimization, announced the closing of its $30 million Series A funding round, including a $14 million Series A-4 round led by Rapha Capital Management and its managed fund, Rapha Capital PE Life Sciences Fund VI. Joining this round is Valitas Venture Capital, known for its approach to go-to-market strategies in the healthcare sector. Also joining the round is eHealth Ventures, a strategic investor that provides access to global distribution channels, connections with key opinion leaders (KOLs), and a solid commercial network.

EMN: $5 Million (Series A) Raised For Transforming Nutrition For Surgery

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN) - a food-as-medicine company that commercializes novel and evidence-based medical nutrition products to improve outcomes in surgery - announced a $5 million over-subscribed Series A funding round led by dsm-firmenich Venturing and the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. with participation from PeakBridge, Elder Ventures, angel investors and existing shareholders.

UniVista Insurance Raises Majority Investment At Valuation Of Over $700 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

UniVista Insurance - a leading distributor of insurance products and services to Hispanic communities in Florida and Texas - announced that it received a majority investment from entities affiliated with GRAM’s Americas Buyout Fund (GRAM ABF) in a deal that values UniVista at over $700 million. UniVista’s management, employees, and current capital partner, Avance Investment Management, will retain significant stakes in the company as part of the deal.

Thrive: Cybersecurity Company Raises Strategic Funding

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Thrive - a provider of cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services - announced that it has reached a definitive agreement for a strategic investment from Berkshire Partners and existing investor Court Square Capital Partners. Along with this investment, founding investor, MC Partners, will sell its remaining stake in the Company. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Sydecar: Deal Execution Company Raises $11 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Sydecar, a platform making it simpler and more efficient for venture fund and syndicate managers to form Special Purpose Vehicles and funds by automating banking, compliance, contracts, and reporting, announced the closing of an oversubscribed $11 million Series A funding round. The funding was led by Deciens Capital, a venture capital firm that supports early-stage founders building the next generation of financial services and shaping the future of finance, with participation from Pipeline Capital Partners and Runa Capital. Sydecar has raised over $28 million since being founded, including $8.3 million in seed funding in April 2022.

Spindrift Sells Majority Stake To Gryphon Investors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Spindrift Beverage - a leading maker of sparkling water with real squeezed fruit - announced that Gryphon Investors will buy a majority stake in the company. And Gryphon’s partnership coincides with the appointment of beverage industry veteran Dave Burwick as Spindrift’s new CEO. Bill Creelman, Spindrift’s Founder and current CEO, will move to a new role as Chair of Spindrift’s board.

Access Healthcare Raises Growth Investment From New Mountain Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Access Healthcare, a leading technology-enabled platform for revenue cycle management (RCM), announced a strategic investment from affiliates of New Mountain Capital - which is a leading growth-oriented investment firm with approximately $55 billion in assets under management. This funding will support Access Healthcare’s next phase of growth, focusing on advancing its capabilities in artificial intelligence, workflow automation, product development, and expanding into new markets.

Bjelin Group: €200 Million Raised From Strategic Value Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Strategic Value Partners (a global alternative investment firm with approximately $19 billion of assets under management) and Bjelin Group announced the signing of an agreement where funds managed by SVP will make a €200 million preferred equity investment in Bjelin Group to facilitate its long-term growth ambitions.

Scoop Commute: Interview With CEO Jeremy Zuker About Carpooling Becoming A Top Perk For Employees

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Scoop Commute is a complete carpooling tool that helps organizations set up carpooling programs for their employees. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Scoop Commute CEO Jeremy Zuker to learn more about the company.

Agiloft Buying GenAI Contract Review Company Screens

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Agiloft, a leader in data-first contract lifecycle management (CLM), announced the acquisition of Screens, the world's first standard-based and community-supported Generative AI contract review and redlining solution. This strategic deal will enhance Agiloft's Data-first Agreement Platform and contract management capabilities by standardizing the contract review process, promoting consistency, and unlocking the value of contract data with the collective expertise of a global community of legal professionals.

Conceivable Life Sciences: $18 Million (Series A) Raised For Advancing Development Of First AI-Based Automated IVF Lab

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2025

Conceivable Life Sciences, a biotech company revolutionizing the future of fertility care with the end-to-end automation of the IVF lab, announced the closing of an $18 million Series A financing. ARTIS Ventures led the round with participation from new investors, including Atlantic Health Venture Studio, Muse Capital, and Scrub Capital. Existing investors include ACME Capital, Black Opal Ventures, Cadence Healthcare Ventures, Future Positive Capital, Stride.VC, and Time BioVentures. Conceivable has raised over $39 million so far.