Innovation

Colibri Group: Strategic Acquisition Of Boston Institute Of Finance

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 8, 2025

Colibri Group, a professional education company offering flexible online and in-person learning solutions to millions of individuals and business customers through 40+ leading brands, announced the acquisition of Boston Institute of Finance (BIF), a renowned provider of comprehensive financial planning and wealth management education.

RetailNext: Majority Growth Investment Raised From Battery Ventures

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

RetailNext - a leader in smart store analytics for optimizing store experiences - announced a strategic majority growth investment from Battery Ventures. This investment will support the expansion of RetailNext’s international team, accelerate product innovation, and provide significant capital for acquisitions.

Jordanes Raises $250 Million Of Strategic Capital From Carlyle

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Carlyle announced that its Global Credit platform has provided a strategic capital package of NOK 2,750 million ($250 million) to Jordanes ASA, one of Norway’s leading brand houses. The funding will be used to finance a management buyout of Jordanes, led by co-founders Jan Bodd and Stig Sunde, as well as refinance the company’s existing indebtedness and fund its future growth.

Varel Energy Acquiring Ace Well Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Varel Energy Solutions (VES) announced it had acquired Ace Well Technology (ACE), an international leader in the supply of oilfield casing, cementing, and completion products. This deal further strengthens VES’s robust portfolio of primary cementing equipment, many of which are uniquely patented technology, while also expanding smart completions offerings that support the offshore and premium market sectors. This combination enables the organization to offer its customers one of the industry’s leading sources of value-driven solutions.

Kinderhook Partners Acquiring Jack Doheny Companies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Kinderhook Industries announced the acquisition of Jack Doheny Companies, a Northville, Michigan-based lessor and distributor of specialized equipment for use in the environmental, industrial, and utility sectors. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Synopsys And Ansys Selling PowerArtist To Keysight

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Ansys and Synopsys announced that Ansys has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its PowerArtist business to Keysight Technologies, a global leader in design and simulation software for semiconductors, electronics and high-performance systems. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, such as review by regulatory authorities and the closing of Synopsys' proposed acquisition of Ansys, pending regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first half of 2025. Ansys and Synopsys found that the sale of PowerArtist was necessary to obtain regulatory approval for Synopsys' proposed acquisition of Ansys.

Paychex To Buy Paycor In $4.1 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Paychex - a leading human capital management (HCM) company delivering a suite of technology and advisory solutions in human resources, employee benefits solutions, insurance, and payroll - announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Paycor HCM, a leading provider of HCM, payroll and talent software in an all-cash transaction for $22.50 per share, representing an enterprise value of about $4.1 billion. This agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

ExitLag: Interview With CEO Lucas Stolze About The Online Gaming Routing Optimization Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

ExitLag is a performance-enhancing software designed for optimizing Internet routing for online games. Pulse 2.0 interviewed ExitLag CEO Lucas Stolze to learn more about the company.

Inari: Seed Technology Company Secures $144 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Inari announced the completion of a $144 million fundraise driven by the performance of its first-generation products and progress toward commercialization. And with cumulative equity raised of more than $720 million, the new capital supports the leading pure-play seed technology company's financial strength and paves the way for long-term growth.

Stryker To Buy Inari Medical In $4.9 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Stryker - a leader in medical technologies - announced a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Inari Medical (Trades on Nasdaq under ‘NARI’) for $80 per share in cash, representing a total fully diluted equity value of approximately $4.9 billion.

Conversive: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Nitin Seth About The AI-Based Conversational Messaging Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Conversive is a new conversational messaging platform that enables businesses to cultivate meaningful one-on-one conversations by handling inquiries through intelligent, risk-free, and personalized interactions available 24/7 across multichannel touchpoints. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Conversive co-founder and CEO Nitin Seth to learn more about the company.

Mili: AI-Based Wealth Management Meeting Platform Company Raises $2 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Mili, an AI-based meeting documentation platform for wealth management firms, announced it raised $2 million in seed funding led by Chiratae and BoldCap, with participation from Sparrow Capital, SFMG Wealth Advisors, Gregg Fisher (Quent Capital), and Better Capital.

iHealth Labs: Interview With CEO Jack Feng About The Personal Healthcare Device Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

iHealth Labs is dedicated to empowering people to live healthier lives. The company is a leading provider of cloud-connected medical devices, personal health care devices, and home-based tests and is at the forefront of the digital health revolution. Pulse 2.0 interviewed iHealth Labs CEO Jack Feng to learn more about the company.

Fazeshift: AI-Based Accounts Receivable Agent Company Raises $4 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Fazeshift - an AI agent for Accounts Receivable - announced it raised $4 million in seed funding led by Gradient, Google's early-stage AI fund. The funding round also included investment from Y Combinator, Wayfinder, Pioneer Fund, Ritual Capital, Phoenix Fund, and prominent angels, including Terrence Rohan, Kulveer Taggar, and Rich Aberman.

AuthenticID: Interview With Founder & President Blair Cohen About The Identity Verification Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

AuthenticID’s AI-based solution quickly, accurately, and securely reproduces real-world identity verification so that companies can be assured of who they are conducting business with, strengthen underwriting, reduce the losses associated with fraud, and streamline onerous customer onboarding procedures, leading to higher conversion rates. To learn more about the company, Pulse 2.0 interviewed AuthenticID’s founder and president, Blair Cohen.

Senseera: Liquid Biopsy Company Raises $7.1 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Senseera - a liquid biopsy company pioneering chromatin epigenomics - announced closing a $7.1 million seed funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from I-Next Capital and the Lowy Medical Research Institute.

IQ Fiber: Acquisition Of ThinkBig Networks Completed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

IQ Fiber, a Jacksonville, Florida-based provider of 100% fiber-optic internet service, announced it has completed the acquisition of ThinkBig Networks, LLC, a Maryland-based 100% fiber-optic internet service provider. And ThinkBig Networks currently serves customers in Charles, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Harford counties in Maryland, with additional network expansion underway.

GEE Group Buying Staffing Solutions Company Hornet Staffing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

GEE Group, a provider of professional staffing services and human resource solutions, announced that it has acquired Hornet Staffing, an Atlanta-based provider of staff augmentation services with national service capability. And Hornet offers staffing solutions to many markets serving large scale, "blue chip" companies in the information technology, professional, and customer service staffing verticals.

Arcuro Medical Holds Initial Closing Of Series A Funding To Improve Patient Outcomes

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Arcuro Medical has raised a Series A round of funding led by Varana Capital. This funding round included participation from other notable investors, including Trendlines and Consensus Business Group.

Veracode To Buy Phylum’s Assets For Transforming Supply Chain Security

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Veracode, a leader in application risk management, announced it acquired certain assets of Phylum, including its malicious package analysis, detection, and mitigation technology. This acquisition enhances Veracode’s ability to identify and block malicious code in open-source libraries, marking continued investment in its software supply chain risk management capabilities. This gives customers a more comprehensive view of risks associated with open-source code usage, strengthening their defenses against emerging threats.

AVI Systems To Buy AVCON

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

AVI Systems announced it will acquire Cary, North Carolina-based AVCON. This systems integration firm designs, installs, and maintains audio, visual, and lighting technologies for companies, houses of worship, and other organizations. This acquisition includes transitioning all AVCON employees to AVI Systems.

Hub International Acquiring Assets Of Woods Insurance Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Hub International Limited - a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm - announced that it has acquired the assets of Woods Insurance Services. The terms of the deal were undisclosed.

Gilat Signs $9 Million In Orders For Multi-Orbit SkyEdge

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Gilat Satellite Networks - a leader in satellite networking technology, solutions, and services - announced that the company has received $9 million in orders from major satellite operators. These orders are for its advanced satellite communications platforms, SkyEdge IV and SkyEdge II-c equipment and services. The delivery is scheduled for next year.

Vitestro: Bob Gerberich Named As Chief Commercial Officer For North America

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Vitestro - a pioneer in autonomous robotic venous access and blood drawing - announced the appointment of Bob Gerberich as Chief Commercial Officer for North America. With this role, Gerberich will lead the U.S. pre-launch market development, commercial strategy, and execution, driving the adoption of Vitestro's groundbreaking technology across the U.S. healthcare market.

Strategic Value Partners Completes $1.125 Billion Acquisition Of Revelyst

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Revelyst (a collective of maker brands that design and manufacture performance gear and precision technologies) and Strategic Value Partners (a global alternative investment firm with about $19 billion of assets under management) announced that SVP-managed funds have completed their previously announced acquisition of Revelyst in an all-cash transaction based on an enterprise value of $1.125 billion.

bitsensing: Interview With Founder And CEO Jae-Eun Lee About The Imaging Radar Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

bitsensing is an imaging radar technology company committed to building safer smart cities and elevating connected living by designing cutting-edge sensor fusions and AI solutions, bringing an unprecedented level of intelligence to smart living. Pulse 2.0 interviewed bitsensing founder and CEO Jae-Eun Lee to learn more about the company.

boon AI: AI-Based Commerical Fleet Workflow Platform Raises $20.5 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

boon AI - an AI-based workflow platform for commercial fleets - announced it is launching to transform supply chain and logistics by offering a single system to automate repetitive manual tasks. The Series A round was led by Marathon and Redpoint Ventures. The funding will accelerate the benefits it brings to customers, ranging from food delivery to powering the teams that ensure holiday gifts arrive on time. The new funding round will enable boon to grow its engineering and go-to-market teams.

Marlinspike: Interview With Co-Founder & CIO Mislav Tolusic About The Veteran-Led VC Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Marlinspike is a veteran-led venture capital fund that is investing in dual-use technologies that solve national security challenges and create innovative commercial applications. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Marlinspike co-founder and Chief Investment Officer Mislav Tolusic to learn more about the firm.

Xevant: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Brandon Newman About The Healthcare Insights Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Xevant is a company that offers the actionable insights you need to lower drug costs and improve health outcomes. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Xevant co-founder and CEO Brandon Newman to learn more about the company.

Hivelocity: Interview With CEO Jeremy Pease About the Hosting Solutions Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 7, 2025

Hivelocity is a privately held company that delivers bare metal, private cloud, VPS hosting, and colocation solutions. With 40+ international locations across six continents, Hivelocity has the most locations in the industry. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Hivelocity CEO Jeremy Pease to learn more about the company.