Innovation

Red Hat: Acquisition Of Neural Magic Completed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Red Hat, a leading provider of open-source solutions, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Neural Magic, a pioneer in software and algorithms that accelerate genAI inference workloads. With Neural Magic, Red Hat gains expertise in inference performance engineering and model optimization, helping further the company’s vision of high-performing AI workloads that directly map to unique customer use cases, wherever needed across the hybrid cloud.

Kinder Morgan Buying Gas Gathering & Processing System In $640 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Kinder Morgan announced that its subsidiary Hiland Partners Holdings, has agreed to purchase a natural gas gathering and processing system in North Dakota from Outrigger Energy II for $640 million. This acquisition includes a 270 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) processing facility and a 104-mile, large-diameter, high-pressure rich gas gathering header pipeline with 350 MMcf/d of capacity connecting supplies from the Williston Basin area to high-demand markets. The gathering and processing system is backed by long-term contracts with commitments from major customers in the basin.

Bausch + Lomb Affiliate Acquires Whitecap Biosciences

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Bausch + Lomb (a leading global eye health company focused on helping people see better to live better) announced an affiliate has acquired Whitecap Biosciences, which is currently developing two therapies for potential use in glaucoma and geographic atrophy (GA). This acquisition strengthens Bausch + Lomb’s expanding clinical-stage pipeline.

Why Johnson & Johnson Is Buying Intra-Cellular Therapies In A $14.6 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Johnson & Johnson and Intra-Cellular Therapies announced this week that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Johnson & Johnson will acquire all outstanding shares of Intra-Cellular Therapies, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders for $132 per share in cash for a total equity value of approximately $14.6 billion.

GSK To Buy IDRx In $1 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

GSK announced that they have entered into an agreement under which GSK will acquire IDRx, a Boston-based, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing precision therapeutics for treating GIST. As part of the agreement, GSK will pay $1 billion upfront, with the potential for an additional $150 million success-based regulatory approval milestone payment. This acquisition includes lead molecule IDRX-42, a highly selective KIT TKI being developed as a first- and second-line therapy for treating GIST.

Vagaro Buys Schedulicity For Expanding Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Vagaro, a leading software for businesses in beauty, wellness, and fitness, announced that they have strategically acquired Schedulicity, a scheduling software for businesses across the beauty & wellness industries. This acquisition, effective immediately, further expands Vagaro’s commitment to quality business solutions for professionals.

Biden-Harris Administration Awards Record-Breaking $183 Billion In Federal Contracts To Small Businesses

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, announced that small businesses received more than $183 billion in prime contracts from the federal government – 28.8% of all federal contracting dollars – in fiscal year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024.

DNSFilter: Interview With CTO TK Keanini About The Threat Protection Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

DNSFilter is a company that offers threat protection & content filtering for MSP partners and mid-sized and enterprise companies. Our software blocks malicious site content in real time and provides important visibility for IT teams. Pulse 2.0 interviewed DNSFilter CTO TK Keanini to learn more about the company.

IQVIA: Interview With VP Of Financial Management Solutions Jim DiCesare About The Life Sciences Management Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

IQVIA is a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry. Pulse 2.0 interviewed IQVIA’s Vice President of Financial Management Solutions, Jim DiCesare, to learn more about the company.

Palm Peak Capital Acquires Pacific Shoring Products

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Palm Peak Capital - a private equity firm that invests in lower-middle market industrial and services companies across North America - announced that it has completed its first platform investment with the acquisition of Pacific Shoring Products, a leading manufacturer of trench safety equipment. The terms of the private transaction are not disclosed.

F-Secure: Interview With VP Of Embedded Security Business Dmitri Vellikok About The Cybersecurity Solutions Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

F-Secure makes every digital moment more secure by delivering brilliantly simple, frictionless security experiences that make life easier for the tens of millions of people they protect and their 200+ partners. Pulse 2.0 interviewed F-Secure’s VP of Embedded Security Business, Dmitri Vellikok, to learn more about the company.

DiagnaMed Collaborating With Texas Tech On Hydrogen Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

DiagnaMed - a leading innovator in hydrogen-producing technologies and AI medical applications - announced it has entered into a limited license and option agreement with the Texas Tech University System to commercialize a ground-breaking technology (WO2023044149A1) that produces hydrogen directly from petroleum reservoirs and natural hydrogen fields.

IK Partners Promotes 3 To Partner And Opens Munich Office

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Leading European private equity firm IK Partners announced that it has opened a new office in Munich, Germany, as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in the DACH region. The Munich office will be headed by Joachim Dettmar, Partner within IK’s Operations Team, and Adrian Tanski, who has been promoted to Partner and sits within the Partnership Fund team.

Glafabra Therapeutics And University Of Utah To Partner On Clinical Investigation For Fabry Disease

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 15, 2025

Glafabra Therapeutics - a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for rare genetic disorders - announced it has entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the University of Utah, specifically through the Utah Data Coordinating Center (Utah DCC) and The Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Program (CellReGenTM), to collaborate on a clinical investigation targeting Fabry disease. This deal, anticipated to be finalized this year, aims to advance the development of a potential new treatment for this rare and progressive genetic disorder.

Telecom Infrastructure Partners: €560 Million In Debt Financing Secured

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Telecom Infrastructure Partners (TIP), a global digital infrastructure investment firm, announced the closing of a €560 million debt financing. This deal represents a significant milestone for TIP, highlighting its strong credit profile, strategic vision, and ability to secure competitive financing in an evolving market.

Jotit: Education Technology Company Raises $10 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Jotit, a platform designed to simplify and streamline learning in the digital age, announced the closing of its $10 million seed funding round led by Owl Ventures. Other key investors include Good Company VC, Cresson Management, Two Lanterns VC, One Line VC, Paul Volosov, Guy Gamzu, Amit Gilon, and MindCET Capital.

Verastem Oncology: $150 Million Credit Facility Deal Signed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Verastem Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing new medicines for patients with RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers, announced a new credit facility for up to $150 million and an equity investment of $7.5 million with Oberland Capital Management.

Aerin Medical: $32.5 Million Raised To Advance Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Aerin Medical - a high-growth medical device company focused on expanding access to meaningful relief for millions of patients suffering from chronic ENT conditions - announced the completion of two significant financial transactions.

Pipe17: AI-Based Order Operations Solutions Company Raises $15.5 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Pipe17, a leading provider of AI-based composable order operations, announced a $15.5 million funding round, highlighting the company's rapid growth and strategic vision to transform commerce operations. And the company recently hired its first Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Goetsch, a recognized industry pioneer who joined Pipe17 from commercetools, where he helped scale the company to over $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).

American Industrial Partners Raises Strategic Investment From Blackstone

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

American Industrial Partners (AIP) announced a strategic minority investment from funds managed by Blackstone GP Stakes, specializing in value-added, long-term minority investments in industry-leading private equity firms.

First American Bank Partnering With InvestCloud To Modernize Digital Wealth Management Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

InvestCloud (a leader in wealth technology) and First American Bank (FAB), a regional financial institution with $7 billion in assets under management and 61 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida, announced a strategic partnership to modernize FAB’s digital wealth management platform. And this collaboration aims to significantly enhance client engagement by offering clients, prospects, wealth advisors, and relationship managers with a unified technology platform offering tailored insights and comprehensive support.

Motorola Solutions To Buy Theatro

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 14, 2025

Motorola Solutions announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Theatro Labs, the maker of AI and voice-powered communication and digital workflow software for frontline workers, based in Richardson, Texas.

Quanterix To Buy Akoya Biosciences For Creating An Integrated Solution For Detection Of Protein Biomarkers

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

Quanterix and Akoya Biosciences announced a definitive merger agreement under which Quanterix will acquire Akoya in an all-stock transaction. The deal will create the first integrated solution for ultra-sensitive detection of blood- and tissue-based protein biomarkers.

N-Power Medicine Acquiring Syapse For Advancing Clinical Trial Process

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

N-Power Medicine, a company leading the transformation of the clinical trial process, announced the acquisition of Syapse, an innovator in precision medicine solutions for community cancer centers. N-Power’s acquisition of Syapse was completed through a stock-for-stock exchange on December 30, 2024. Innovatus Capital Partners (Syapse’s lead institutional investor) joins N-Power’s existing investors, including the Merck Global Health Innovation Fund (GHI) and a U.S.-based healthcare-focused investor, in providing ongoing funding for N-Power’s goals.

Checkbook To Buy Digital Payment Company sureti

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

Digital payment company Checkbook announced the acquisition of sureti, a digital payment solution dedicated to transforming the distribution of insurance claim proceeds. This strategic deal positions Checkbook at the forefront of the insurance-tech revolution, delivering faster, more innovative, and more secure payment solutions for insurance companies and their customers.

Constellation To Buy Calpine In $26.6 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

Constellation and Calpine announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Constellation will acquire Calpine in a cash and stock transaction valued at an equity purchase price of approximately $16.4 billion, which is composed of 50 million shares of Constellation stock and $4.5 billion in cash plus the assumption of roughly $12.7 billion of Calpine net debt. And after accounting for money that is expected to be generated by Calpine between signing and the scheduled closing date, as well as the value of tax attributes at Calpine, the net purchase price is $26.6 billion, reflecting an attractive acquisition multiple of 7.9 times 2026 EV/EBITDA.

hc1: $6.25 Million Raised To Transform Lab Data Into Actionable Intelligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

hc1, a leader in transforming lab data into actionable intelligence that improves patient health outcomes while boosting the bottom line, announced it raised $6.25 million in new financing after a successful acquisition in October 2024 of Accumen. Existing investor Health Cloud Capital led the investment with participation from health tech investment firm A1 Health Ventures. And Arsenal Capital Partners joined the investor base in the combined platform via its ownership stake in Accumen.

ThreatMark: $23 Million Raised To Fight Online Fraud

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

ThreatMark, a leading innovator in behavior-based fraud prevention, announced it has closed a $23 million funding round. The funding round includes $15 million from Octopus Ventures and Riverside Acceleration Capital (RAC), a US-based growth capital partner to B2B software companies, and an $8 million convertible note from Springtide Ventures Fund.

Raspberry AI: Fashion-Focused GenAI Company Raises $24 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

Raspberry AI, a leading generative AI platform for fashion creatives, announced it secured $24 million in Series A funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Existing investors Greycroft, Correlation Ventures, and MVP Ventures participated in the round, along with notable angel investors such as Gokul Rajaram and Ken Pilot.

BBT.live: Secure Connectivity Company Raises $11.5 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 13, 2025

BBT.live, an innovator in secure connectivity over public infrastructure, announced the expansion of its seed funding round to $11.5 million, driven by an additional $2 million investment. Accel Solutions Group led the funding round.