Innovation

K25.ai Secures Series A Investment From Amber Group And Valuation Doubles To $200 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

K25.ai, an AI-native prediction market platform for live digital content, announced the closing of its Series A investment round with strategic support from Amber Group at a post-money valuation of $200 million, doubling the company's valuation in under 60 days. The round follows K25.ai's recently closed Pre-A round, which was led by Nasdaq-listed NewGenIVF Group Limited.

Zimperium: Interview With CFO Alistaire Davidson About The Cybersecurity Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Zimperium is a global cybersecurity company that provides AI-driven Mobile Threat Defense and application protection, safeguarding enterprise environments against mobile malware, phishing, and zero-day attacks across devices and apps. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Zimperium CFO Alistaire Davidson to learn more.

Enova Reports 22% Revenue Growth And Record $5.5 Billion In Loans For Q2 2026

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Enova International reported second quarter 2026 financial results, with total revenue rising 22 percent year over year to $929 million and net income increasing 38 percent to $105 million, or $4 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per share rose 33 percent to $4.31, marking the company's eighth consecutive quarter of year-over-year adjusted earnings per share growth of 30 percent or more. Total company combined loans and finance receivables increased 28 percent from the prior-year quarter to a record $5.5 billion, with total company originations of $2.3 billion during the quarter.

Omio Receives $10 Million Investment From Granite-Integral To Fuel Japan And Southeast Asia Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Omio, a multimodal travel booking platform, announced a $10 million strategic investment from Granite-Integral aimed at accelerating its expansion in Japan and strengthening its presence across Southeast Asia. The investment comes as the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing travel market globally over the next five years, with nearly half of travelers planning journeys that combine multiple modes of transport.

Matador Resources Announces $1.275 Billion Paloma Permian Acquisition And Successful Woodford Exploration Results

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Matador Resources Company announced two catalysts for 2026: a definitive agreement to acquire Paloma Permian LLC, a portfolio company of EnCap Investments, for a cash payment of $1.275 billion, along with successful test results from its first exploratory well in the Woodford formation in southeast Lea County, New Mexico. The Paloma acquisition, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, includes 16,235 net undeveloped acres in Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, and third quarter estimated production of approximately 11,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day, 57 percent of it oil.

Kubota: Interview With GM Of The Urban Agriculture Marketing Office Harutoshi Niki About The Agricultural Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Kubota is a multinational corporation that manufactures and sells a wide range of agricultural and construction machinery, heavy-duty engines, and industrial equipment, and provides vital infrastructure solutions for water purification and environmental systems. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Kubota General Manager of the Urban Agriculture Marketing Office, Harutoshi Niki, to learn more.

The BSV Association: Interview With Managing Director Ásgeir Óskarsson About The Non-Profit

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

The BSV Association is a non-profit organization that acts as the global advocate for the BSV blockchain. It supports developers, enterprises, and governments in utilizing the network by providing technical standards, educational resources, and regulatory guidance to promote real-world blockchain adoption. Pulse 2.0 interviewed BSV Association Managing Director Ásgeir Óskarsson to learn more.

Office Beacon: Interview With Founder & CEO Pranav Dalal About The BPO Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Office Beacon is a global remote staffing and business process outsourcing company that recruits, trains, and manages dedicated virtual assistants to handle back-office tasks like customer service, marketing, and finance. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Office Beacon founder and CEO Pranav Dalal to learn more.

GCM Grosvenor Raises $1.2 Billion For Inaugural Credit Secondaries Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

GCM Grosvenor Inc. announced the final close of its inaugural Credit Secondaries Fund, raising $1.2 billion in commitments across the fund and related strategies. The offering marks the firm's formal entry into the credit secondaries market, a segment the company said has seen rapidly growing investor interest.

USDA Announces $80 Million Investment To Expand Timber Production In Nevada And Oregon

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is guaranteeing $80 million through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program and the Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program to support timber processing businesses in Oregon and Nevada. The announcement, made by Acting Under Secretary Todd Lindsey, is aimed at expanding domestic timber production, reducing wildfire risk, and strengthening rural wood processing capacity.

Savano Capital Partners Closes Oversubscribed $252 Million Fund IV

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Savano Capital Partners announced the final close of Savano Capital Partners IV, L.P., raising $252 million in capital commitments and exceeding its original target. Fund IV is the largest in the firm's history, roughly 60 percent larger than its predecessor, and brings the firm's total capital commitments across its funds and co-investment vehicles since inception to more than $600 million.

Partners Group Closes Infrastructure Secondaries Program At Over $5.5 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Partners Group has completed the final closing of its infrastructure secondaries program at more than $5.5 billion, making it one of the largest dedicated fundraises focused on the strategy. The program consists of a $1.7 billion closed-ended fund, customized mandates and additional investment vehicles that participate alongside the main fund.

HF Foods Group To Acquire Searay Foods For Approximately $35 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

HF Foods Group has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian frozen seafood importer and distributor Searay Foods for approximately CAD$47.9 million, or about US$35 million.

Michaels Launches Ask Mike AI Shopping Assistant Built With Google Cloud Gemini

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Michaels has launched Ask Mike, an artificial intelligence-powered shopping assistant developed with Google Cloud's Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience.

J.Crew Appoints Stacey Levitt As Executive Vice President Of eCommerce And Digital Experience

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

J.Crew has appointed Stacey Levitt as Executive Vice President of eCommerce and Digital Experience, adding an experienced retail and digital commerce leader to its executive team.

Foundation Robotics And AMD Partner To Power Phantom Humanoid Robots For Industrial And Defense Applications

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Foundation Future Industries, also known as Foundation Robotics, has entered a strategic collaboration with AMD to train and operate its Phantom humanoid robots using AMD computing technologies.

Take Profit Trader: Interview With CEO James Sixsmith About Futures Trading And Trader Access

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Take Profit Trader is a futures evaluation and proprietary trading firm that gives traders a straightforward path to accessing the markets through its Test, PRO, and PRO+ tiers. The company has built its model around fast payouts, transparent rules, trading education, and access to live market trading. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Take Profit Trader CEO James Sixsmith to learn more.

BP To Sell Austrian Mobility, Convenience, And EV Charging Businesses To Volenergy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

BP has agreed to sell its mobility, convenience and electric vehicle charging businesses in Austria to Volenergy AG as part of its effort to simplify its portfolio and strengthen its balance sheet.

Warrenton Oil Company Appoints Dana Moloney As CEO

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Warrenton Oil Company has appointed Dana Moloney as Chief Executive Officer, continuing the Missouri-based company's longstanding tradition of family leadership.

GE Vernova Backlog Reaches $176 Billion As Power And Electrification Demand Accelerates

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

GE Vernova's backlog reached $176 billion during the second quarter of 2026 as demand for gas turbines, grid equipment, data center infrastructure, and long-term services continued to increase.

Schneider Electric Launches Upgraded Charge Pro Commercial EV Charging System In The U.S.

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Schneider Electric has introduced an upgraded version of its Charge Pro Level 2 commercial electric vehicle charger in the United States, adding software, connector and deployment capabilities designed for property owners, workplaces and fleet operators.

Francisco Partners Raises $21 Billion Across Flagship And Agility Funds

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Francisco Partners has closed $21 billion in capital commitments across its eighth flagship fund and fourth Agility fund, completing the largest fundraising effort in the technology investment firm's history.

Bregal Sagemount To Acquire Majority Stake In ATOZ Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Bregal Sagemount has agreed to make a strategic growth investment in ATOZ Services, becoming the majority shareholder of the Luxembourg-based fund services platform. ATOZ Group and existing investor ICG will retain minority interests following the transaction.

Cirrus Logic Receives Scottish Enterprise Grant For Smart Energy Technology Development

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Cirrus Logic has received a research and development grant from Scottish Enterprise to develop a next-generation smart energy technology platform and expand its engineering activities in Scotland. The amount of the grant was not disclosed.

Abstract Raises $25 Million To Expand Composable AI-Powered Security Operations Platformabstract

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Abstract has raised $25 million in funding to expand its composable security operations platform as enterprises seek alternatives to traditional security information and event management systems. The round was co-led by Cheyenne Ventures and AVP, with participation from Olive Hill Ventures. Existing investors Crosslink Capital and Rally Ventures also joined the financing. The investment brings Abstract's total funding to nearly $50 million.

IBM To Acquire HRL Laboratories To Expand Quantum Computing, Sensing And Materials Research

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

IBM has signed a definitive agreement to acquire HRL Laboratories, a research and development company jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Empery Digital Invests $20 Million In Cardinal Data Power For An 8% Stake

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Empery Digital has invested $20 million in Cardinal Data Power, acquiring an approximately 8% ownership interest in the developer of large-scale powered data center campuses.

Elio Raises $21 Million Led By Innovation Endeavors And Xora For AI-Directed Sensors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Elio has raised $21 million to develop sensors that allow artificial intelligence systems to determine what information should be captured in real time. The funding round was led by Innovation Endeavors and Xora, with participation from Kevin Weil and Scribble Ventures. Existing investors UpWest and Resolute Ventures, which led Elio's previous round, also participated.

Prosper Medical Raises $16 Million Led By FUSE For AI-Powered Concierge Primary Care

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Prosper Medical has raised $16 million to expand its AI-powered concierge primary care platform and physician network. The financing was led by FUSE, with participation from Aurum Partners, Better.vc, Cal Innovation Fund, Fluent, Latitude Capital, Knoll Ventures and WTI.

Alphabet Reports $109.9 Billion In Q1 2026 Revenue As Google Cloud Growth Accelerates To 63%

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 23, 2026

Alphabet reported revenue of $109.9 billion for the first quarter of 2026, representing a 22% increase from the prior-year period and the company's 11th consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.