Innovation

7‑Eleven Books $349 Million Profit From Higher US Gasoline Prices Even As Drivers Buy Less Fuel

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

7‑Eleven's US convenience‑store business generated roughly $349 million in profit from the surge in gasoline prices last quarter, even though Americans bought less fuel by volume. The figure, disclosed in earnings from Japanese parent Seven & i Holdings, accounted for nearly half of the company’s total operating profit of about 105 billion yen (around $650 million) for the quarter ended May 31.

Bank Of America Reportedly Reverses Course And Extends $520 Million Credit Line To OpenAI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Ultra Clean Names Veteran Finance Executive Michael Keogh As CFO To Support “UCT 3.0” Growth Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Ultra Clean Holdings, a leading supplier of critical subsystems and ultra‑high‑purity services to the semiconductor industry, has appointed Michael Keogh as Chief Financial Officer, effective August 5, 2026. Keogh will succeed outgoing CFO Sheri Savage and report directly to CEO James Xiao as the company executes its UCT 3.0 strategy focused on scaling capacity, ramp readiness and operational excellence for AI‑driven wafer fab equipment demand.

Adaptive Insurance Raises Additional $5 Million To Scale AI‑Driven Specialty Climate Products And Invoice Financing Capacity

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Adaptive Insurance, a specialty managing general agent (MGA) and insurtech focused on climate resilience, has closed an additional $5 million financing round from new and existing investors to accelerate development and distribution of its AI‑driven specialty insurance products. New investors in the round include IAG Firemark Ventures, Sunna Ventures, Room & Pillar and Connecticut Innovations, joining existing backers Congruent Ventures, Seraphim Space and private stakeholders.

KOR Protocol Raises $7.5 Million Series A To Build AI‑Era Clearinghouse For Creative Assets

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

KOR Protocol, a London‑based platform building what it describes as a “creative asset clearinghouse,” has raised $7.5 million in a Series A round at a $100 million valuation. The funding is led by crypto‑native fund 1kx and Blockchain Capital, with participation from existing backers including Republic Crypto, Sfermion, Animoca Brands, Solana, Avalanche, Alumni Ventures, SevenX and other strategic investors across digital assets, entertainment and emerging technology.

Savi Security Raises $7 Million Seed And Launches AI‑Native App To Protect Families From Digital Scams

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Savi Security, a Los Angeles‑based consumer technology company focused on AI‑powered scam protection, has launched Savi, an iOS and Android app designed to screen calls, messages and digital communications before users engage, and has raised 7 million dollars in seed funding to accelerate development of its behavioral AI platform. The seed round is led by Acrew Capital, with participation from Magnify Ventures, TTCER and Resolute Ventures.

Octozi Raises $3 Million Seed To Bring Agentic AI Into Clinical Trial Data Operations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Octozi, a New York City-based artificial intelligence company that automates clinical development workflows for pharmaceutical sponsors, has raised 3 million dollars in seed funding. Surface Ventures led the round, with participation from Remarkable Ventures, building on a prior strategic investment from the venture arm of Swiss pharmaceutical company Debiopharm. The capital will be used to expand Octozi’s agentic AI platform and deepen its integrations with clinical systems used by pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech companies.

Handspring Raises $19 Million Series B To Scale Evidence‑Based Youth Mental Health Care Nationwide

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Handspring Health, a virtual mental health clinic providing evidence‑based care to children, adolescents, young adults and their families, has raised $19 million in Series B financing to support national expansion of its care model. RPS Ventures led the round, with participation from new investor Angelini Ventures and continued backing from Cobalt Ventures, NextView Ventures, nvp capital, Hyde Park Angels, Cornucopian Capital, and others. The funding brings Handspring’s total capital raised to $37 million and reflects growing conviction among payers and investors in the company’s clinically rigorous, cost‑effective approach.

Bidbus Raises $15 Million Series A To Make Used‑Car Selling A Real‑Time Dealer Auction

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Bidbus, a Los Angeles–based marketplace that lets verified car dealers bid against each other for consumer‑owned vehicles, has raised a $15 million Series A round to scale its model beyond its initial markets. The funding is led by Ibex Investors, an early‑stage mobility‑focused fund, with participation from Mucker Capital, FJ Labs, Motley Fool Ventures, Data Point Capital, Walter Ventures and strategic angels including Yossi J. Levi (Car Dealership Guy), Ryan Steingard, Gregory Kirber and Antonio Davila.

Gladstone Investment Acquires DHE Computer Systems

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Gladstone Investment Corporation, a publicly traded business development company focused on lower-middle-market buyouts, has acquired DHE Computer Systems, a Centennial, Colorado–based full‑service technology solutions provider. Gladstone Investment structured the deal using a combination of debt and equity financing, consistent with its strategy of backing founder‑ and management‑owned businesses through both capital and long‑term partnership.

Flutterwave Raises Funding From Circle Ventures

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 11, 2026

Flutterwave has announced a strategic investment from Circle Ventures and the addition of USDC settlement across its platform, as part of a broader push to embed stablecoins into the payment infrastructure serving businesses across Africa. The move extends Flutterwave’s existing model- connecting banks, cards, mobile money, and local payment systems via a single platform—into digital dollars and blockchain-based rails, with the aim of delivering faster settlement, lower costs, and greater access to global liquidity.