Innovation

AgileRL Raises Seed Round To Launch Arena RLOps Platform In The U.S.

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

AgileRL has raised a seed financing round backed by Fusion Fund and Flying Fish, with participation from existing investors Octopus Ventures and Counterview Capital, bringing the company’s total funding raised to $7.5 million.

Prudentia Sciences: $20 Million Series A Raised To Speed Life Sciences Deal Diligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Prudentia Sciences announced it raised $20 million in Series A financing to expand its AI-native due diligence platform for life sciences dealmaking, aiming to help pharmaceutical companies, biotechs, and financial institutions evaluate therapeutic assets faster and with more rigor.

Luminate: $21 Million Series A Extension Closed To Scale At-Home Cancer Infusions And Patient-Led Delivery Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Luminate, a Galway, Ireland-based healthcare technology company focused on delivering cancer therapies in the home, has raised $21 million in an expanded Series A round, bringing total funding to more than $50 million. The round was co-led by ARTIS Ventures and Lachy Groom, with participation from Western Alliance Life Sciences and existing backers including 8VC, Y Combinator, Atlantic Bridge, Faber, SciFounders, and others. The company said the financing follows growing interest from health systems in its Lotus program for home-based cancer care.

OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Health, A Dedicated Experience Designed For Health and Wellness

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated experience within ChatGPT that’s designed to help people feel more informed and prepared when navigating health and wellness questions. The company said health is already one of the most common uses of ChatGPT, with more than 230 million people globally asking health and wellness questions each week, and Health is intended to make those conversations more relevant by allowing users to securely connect health information and apps.

Redgate Software Secures Growth Investment From Bregal Sagemount

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Redgate Software announced it has received a strategic growth investment from Bregal Sagemount, a growth-focused private equity firm, in a transaction that will make Sagemount the majority shareholder of Redgate, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the companies said the deal is expected to close in late Q1 2026.

Zilch To Buy Fjord Bank For European Banking License And Expansion Push

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Zilch announced it has signed an agreement to acquire AB Fjord Bank, a Lithuania-based challenger bank regulated by the Bank of Lithuania and the European Central Bank, in a move designed to secure a European banking licence and accelerate Zilch’s rollout across the continent. Zilch said it will buy 100% of Fjord Bank and plans to make Lithuania its European headquarters, using Vilnius as its operational and regulatory base for expansion.

ATL Partners Acquires SkyMark And Rampmaster

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

ATL Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on commercial aerospace, national security, and transportation and logistics, has acquired SkyMark Companies and Rampmaster and will combine the two businesses into a global specialty vehicle equipment platform serving aviation solutions, refueling, and ground support equipment (GSE) markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Adams Street Partners Closes $350 Million Debut Public CLO For Middle-Market Direct Lending Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Adams Street Partners’ private credit team has held the final close of a $350 million middle-market collateralized loan obligation, ASP PIF CLO I, LLC, marking the firm’s inaugural public CLO issuance. The firm said the deal expands its private credit financing toolkit and brings in third-party capital to support the continued growth of its direct lending platform.

Catalio Closes Structured Opportunities Fund II With Over $325 Million For Healthcare Structured Credit

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Catalio Capital Management announced it has closed its second credit fund, Catalio Structured Opportunities Fund II, with more than $325 million in commitments across the fund and related co-investment vehicles, exceeding its fundraising target and signaling continued investor demand for non-dilutive financing options in healthcare.

ATG Emerges From Stealth With $15 Million To Build An AI-Based Financial Advisor

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Autonomous Technologies Group (ATG) announced it has emerged from stealth as an AI research lab focused on building an advanced AI financial advisor, positioning its flagship product, Autonomous, as a personalized investment strategist that combines market data, portfolio theory, behavioral finance, and user context to guide investment decisions.

Sagard Real Estate Buys Auburn, Washington Industrial Facility To Expand PNW Footprint

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Sagard Real Estate announced it has acquired a 162,400-square-foot industrial distribution facility in Auburn, Washington, expanding its U.S. industrial portfolio in the Pacific Northwest through a core-plus investment.

DoiT Acquires SELECT To Add PerfectScale For Snowflake And Extend FinOps Automation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

DoiT has acquired SELECT, a data optimization company focused on helping enterprises gain visibility and control over data platform spending, beginning with Snowflake. DoiT said the deal advances its previously announced $250 million AI investment strategy and follows other recent acquisitions including LiveDiagrams, PerfectScale, and CloudWize. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Grant Avenue Capital Acquires PatientCare EMS Solutions, Names Jeff Shullaw CEO

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Grant Avenue Capital has acquired PatientCare EMS Solutions, a provider of ground-based healthcare transportation services, in a deal the firm said will support platform growth, geographic expansion, and deeper partnerships with municipalities, hospitals, and health systems. Terms were not disclosed.

Baker Tilly Names Eric Miles CEO Following Moss Adams Combination

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Baker Tilly announced Eric Miles has assumed the role of chief executive officer, succeeding Jeff Ferro, as the advisory, tax, and assurance firm continues integration and growth following its combination with Moss Adams announced in June.

Toptal Acquires Graphite To Expand Finance, Strategy, And Consulting Talent Network

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Toptal announced it has acquired Graphite and the Graphite brand, adding an on-demand network of more than 12,000 vetted independent experts, consultants, and executives across finance, accounting, corporate strategy, marketing, and other functions.

UserTesting Acquires User Interviews To Expand Enterprise Participant Recruitment

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

UserTesting has acquired User Interviews in a move to combine enterprise customer insights software with large-scale participant recruitment to create a more comprehensive customer insights solution for the “AI era.” Financial terms were not disclosed.

Centric Brands Acquires Key Fownes Brothers Cold-Weather Accessories Licenses

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Centric Brands announced it has acquired select assets of Fownes Brothers & Co., including operations, assets, and intellectual property tied to the design, development, sourcing, production, sales, and distribution of existing cold-weather accessories product lines. Fownes Brothers, founded in 1777 and family-owned by Tom Gluckman and the Gluckman family, is known as an importer and distributor of licensed and private label cold-weather accessories with longstanding retail partnerships.

Novae Acquires Aluma To Expand Trailer And Truck Body Portfolio Across North America

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Novae, a manufacturer of open and enclosed cargo trailers and truck bodies, said it has acquired Aluma, adding a long-standing aluminum trailer brand to its portfolio as it seeks to broaden product offerings and strengthen its dealer-distributed platform.

WP Engine Acquires Big Bite To Bolster WordPress Publishing Tools For Enterprise Media

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

WP Engine announced it has acquired Big Bite, a UK-based WordPress agency known for building advanced editorial and publishing workflow tools for large media organizations, as the company deepens its focus on serving publishers and agency partners.

Poplar Therapeutics Launched With $50 Million Series A To Advance Anti-IgE Therapy for Multiple Atopic Conditions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Poplar Therapeutics has launched as a clinical-stage immunology company with a $50 million Series A financing to advance PHB-050, a next-generation anti-IgE antibody being developed for food allergy and other atopic conditions such as asthma and atopic dermatitis.

Adapture Renewables: $233 Million U.S. Bank Tax Equity Commitment Secured For Titanium Solar Projects

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Adapture Renewables announced it has closed $233 million in tax equity financing commitments from U.S. Bank to support two solar projects in its Titanium portfolio, advancing the multi-site development toward construction completion and commercial operation.

Thompson Hine Opens Silicon Valley Office, Adding Turner Boyd Seraphine to Expand IP and Tech Litigation Bench

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Thompson Hine LLP announced it is launching a Silicon Valley office anchored by the addition of lawyers and staff from intellectual property litigation boutique Turner Boyd Seraphine, a move designed to deepen the firm’s national Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation group. The firm said the expansion adds trial experience, technical depth, and broader national capabilities in complex IP and technology disputes, following Thompson Hine’s recent office openings in Los Angeles (July 2024) and Minneapolis (March 2025).

Constellation Completes Acquisition of Calpine, Creating Leading Power Producer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Constellation announced it has completed its acquisition of Calpine Corporation from Energy Capital Partners, combining Constellation’s nuclear fleet with Calpine’s natural gas and geothermal generation to form a power platform with 55 gigawatts of generating capacity.

I Squared Capital to Acquire Ramudden Global From Triton Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

I Squared Capital announced that, through its flagship fund, it has agreed to acquire Ramudden Global from funds advised by Triton Partners, positioning the traffic management and infrastructure safety provider for its next phase of growth across Europe and North America. Financial terms were not disclosed.

RPM Announces Tremco CPG Agreement To Acquire Kalzip

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

RPM International said it has signed a definitive agreement for its Tremco Construction Products Group (Tremco CPG) to acquire Kalzip GmbH, a global provider of metal-based roofing and façade systems for building envelopes. RPM said the deal will strengthen Tremco CPG’s building envelope systems capabilities by adding a high-performance, specification-driven brand known for architectural innovation.

USA Engineers Joins Dallas Cothrum’s Platform Through Asset Acquisition

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

USA Engineers, a North Texas civil engineering and surveying firm, has been acquired through an asset acquisition by Dallas Cothrum and will join Cothrum’s family of companies alongside Masterplan Consultants, expanding the combined group’s engineering, surveying, and development services platform across the region.

The Blackhawk Group Acquires Silver Sky Aviation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

The Blackhawk Group has acquired Silver Sky Aviation, adding a sixth location to its Performance Center Network and extending its service footprint into Alaska. The acquired operation is based in Wasilla, Alaska, and will operate as a Blackhawk Performance Center. Terms were not disclosed.

Ping Identity Completes Keyless Acquisition

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Ping Identity announced it has completed its acquisition of Keyless, adding what it calls Zero-Knowledge Biometrics to strengthen enterprise defenses against increasingly sophisticated AI-driven identity attacks, including deepfakes, impersonation, and account takeover. The company said the newly integrated capabilities expand its platform with device-independent, cryptographically protected biometric authentication and re-verification aimed at elevating verified trust across digital interactions.

IMVARIA Announces Strategic Investments For AI-Based Digital Biomarker Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

IMVARIA, a Berkeley, California-based health tech company developing AI-driven digital biomarker solutions, said it has secured strategic investments from new and existing investors to accelerate growth and expand its AI-powered diagnostic services.

Blackstone Buys Madison Dearborn’s Remaining Stake In AIR

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2026

Blackstone announced that funds managed by its private equity strategy for individual investors have acquired Madison Dearborn Partners’ remaining equity stake in AIR Control Concepts (AIR), increasing Blackstone’s ownership following its original investment in July 2024. Founder, President and CEO Brad Hobbs and his family will also invest alongside Blackstone, and the transaction makes Blackstone AIR’s sole institutional investor.