Innovation

Novak Djokovic Launches Cob Foods With Seed Funding For Sorghum-Based Snack Alternatives

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:48 PM

Cob Foods, a new modern snacking brand redefining the popcorn experience, has officially launched with its first product: a sorghum-based alternative to traditional popcorn that is both corn-free and gluten-free. The launch coincides with the company’s seed funding round led by co-founder and tennis icon Novak Djokovic, with participation from Bullish, Daxos, Furthermore, Venrex, and a group of strategic investors.

MCA Expanding Into Pennsylvania With Acquisition Of ComPros

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:47 PM

Mobile Communications America (MCA), a national leader in integrated communication, connectivity, and security solutions, announced its acquisition of ComPros, a Motorola Elite Service Provider based in Pennsylvania. The acquisition marks MCA’s strategic entry into the state and adds two new solution centers in Altoona and Chambersburg.

Scavenger AI: €2.5 Million Seed Round Raised To Democratize Business Data Access For European SMEs

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:46 PM

Scavenger AI, a Frankfurt-based startup focused on democratizing access to business data, has raised €2.5 million in seed funding. The round highlights increasing investor confidence in AI-driven analytics platforms tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe.

Gemspring Capital: Acquisition Of Goodyear’s Polymer Chemicals Business Completed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:16 PM

Gemspring Capital Management announced that an affiliate has completed the acquisition of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s polymer chemicals business, a major producer of synthetic rubber and related materials.

Melange Capital Partners: $430 Million Oversubscribed Debut Energy Secondaries Fund Closed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:16 PM

Melange Capital Partners announced the final close of its inaugural Melange Secondaries Partners, LP, securing total limited partner commitments of $430 million. The fund exceeded its initial target, reflecting strong investor confidence in the firm’s strategy and leadership.

Mercer Expanding Canadian Presence With Acquisition Of Hexarem

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:15 PM

Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan, has acquired Hexarem, a Montreal-based human resources consulting firm known for its expertise in executive compensation and governance advisory services. The transaction further strengthens Mercer’s presence in Canada and expands its capabilities in helping organizations design competitive compensation programs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Optimum Acquires C.I.D. Construction To Strengthen New England Market Leadership

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:14 PM

Wall Works Holdings, a portfolio company of AVALT and VantEdge Partners, announced that its subsidiary Optimum Building Systems has acquired C.I.D. Construction, which is a family-owned specialty contractor based in Candia, New Hampshire. The acquisition expands Wall Works’ presence in New England and reinforces Optimum’s position as a regional leader in commercial framing, drywall, and insulation services.

UPS: $1.6 Billion Acquisition Of Andlauer Healthcare Group Completed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:12 PM

UPS has finalized its $1.6 billion acquisition of Andlauer Healthcare Group Inc. (AHG), a Canadian-based supply chain management company specializing in healthcare logistics and cold chain transportation. The transaction, valued at CAD $2.2 billion, provides AHG shareholders C$55 per share in cash.

ACI Worldwide Buying Payment Components To Strengthen AI-Based Payments Platform ACI Connetic

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:10 PM

ACI Worldwide, a leader in payments technology, has announced the acquisition of Payment Components, a European fintech company recognized for its AI-driven financial messaging and Open Banking solutions. The acquisition aims to enhance the capabilities of ACI Connetic, the company’s unified, cloud-native payments platform that integrates account-to-account (A2A) payments, card processing, and AI-based fraud prevention within a modular architecture.

Xpansiv Buying Evident To Create Leader In Renewable Energy Certification And Registry Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:10 PM

Xpansiv Limited has announced the acquisition of Evident Group Limited, a UK-based registry and certification body, in a move that unites two leading forces in the global renewable energy market. The combination creates one of the world’s largest renewable energy certificate (REC) registry networks, with over 300 GW of registered capacity and participation from more than 4,000 companies.

State Street: Strategic Minority Stake In Coller Capital Acquired

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:03 PM

State Street Investment Management has made a strategic minority investment in Coller Capital, one of the world’s largest private market secondaries managers. The partnership aims to broaden access to private capital secondaries and foster innovation across client segments.

Vertiv To Buy PurgeRite For $1 Billion To Enhance Liquid Cooling Services For AI Data Centers

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 11:00 PM

Vertiv Holdings, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, announced that it has agreed to acquire Purge Rite Intermediate from Milton Street Capital for approximately $1 billion in cash at closing, with the potential for an additional $250 million based on 2026 performance metrics. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending customary regulatory approvals under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

Howard University Receives $80 Million Gift From MacKenzie Scott

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:59 PM

Howard University has received a historic $80 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking one of the most significant donations in the university’s history. This latest contribution brings Scott’s total gifts to Howard to $132 million, following earlier donations of $40 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2023. The new investment will support both Howard University and the Howard University College of Medicine, accelerating the institution’s mission to drive research, innovation, and student success.

Ripple Expanding Institutional Crypto Capabilities With Acquisition of Palisade

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:50 PM

Ripple has announced the acquisition of Palisade, a digital asset wallet and custody technology company, in a move that broadens its offerings to fintechs, corporates, and crypto-native institutions. The deal strengthens Ripple’s position as a comprehensive provider of secure digital asset custody and payment infrastructure.

Fullstory Buying Usetiful to Transform Behavioral Insights Into Real-Time Digital Engagement

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:50 PM

Fullstory, a behavioral data company based in Atlanta, announced the acquisition of Usetiful, a digital adoption platform known for its in-app guides and surveys. The acquisition marks Fullstory’s first in tech and talent expansion, enhancing its capabilities to turn behavioral insights into direct, personalized actions that elevate customer and employee experiences.

Popai Health: $11 Million Raised To Advance Voice AI Platform For Care Coordination

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:48 PM

Popai Health has raised $11 million in funding to accelerate the adoption of its Voice AI platform, designed to transform patient conversations into actionable healthcare insights. The round was led by Team8 and NEA, with participation from additional strategic investors.

Lettuce: $28 Million Raised And Besolo Acquired To Expand Platform For Solo Workers

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:46 PM

Lettuce, an AI-powered financial platform for independent professionals, has secured $28 million in new funding led by existing investor Zeev Ventures and announced the acquisition of benefits access startup Besolo. The dual move reflects the company’s push to become a comprehensive operating system for the rapidly growing solo workforce.

Bergman & Beving Buying 90% Stake In Photonic Printing Innovator DataLase

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:45 PM

Bergman & Beving announced the acquisition of 90% of the shares in DataLase Holdings Ltd, a United Kingdom–based company recognized as a global leader in photonic printing technology. The company’s patented inkless printing solutions enable sustainable, high-quality, and customizable printing for product and packaging applications.

AuditBoard: Paaras Parker Named As Chief Human Resources Officer To Lead Global People Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:45 PM

AuditBoard, an AI-based platform for connected risk management, has appointed Paaras Parker as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). The Los Angeles-based company said the appointment reflects its continued focus on building an organization as it scales its global workforce and strengthens its leadership team amid rapid growth.

Qualys: Cybersecurity Executive Bradford Brooks Appointed To Board

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:17 PM

Qualys, a leading provider of cloud-based IT, security, and compliance solutions, has announced the appointment of Bradford L. Brooks to its Board of Directors. Brooks, who brings more than three decades of experience in technology leadership, will serve on the Board’s nominating and governance committee.

Vulcan Elements And ReElement Technologies Launch $1.4 Billion U.S. Partnership To Build Fully Domestic Magnet Supply Chain

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 10:00 PM

Vulcan Elements has announced a $1.4 billion partnership with the United States Government and ReElement Technologies to expand a fully domestic, vertically integrated supply chain for rare earth magnets. The collaboration marks a defining step in securing America’s access to critical materials used in advanced manufacturing, energy, and defense technologies.

Atlanta University Center Consortium And Mastercard Launch National Data Challenge To Advance Inclusive Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:59 PM

The Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) Data Science Initiative (DSI) has partnered with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to launch the 2025 Mastercard Data Challenge, a nationwide competition aimed at empowering students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to harness data science for social impact.

Douglas Dynamics Buys Venco Venturo Industries To Expand Work Truck Attachments Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:58 PM

Douglas Dynamics, North America’s leading manufacturer and upfitter of work truck attachments and equipment, announced the completion of its acquisition of substantially all assets of Venco Venturo Industries, a respected provider of truck-mounted service cranes and dump hoists.

Connecticut Innovations Investing $11.3 Million Across 25 Companies And Funds In Q1 2026

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:55 PM

Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s strategic venture capital arm, announced that it invested approximately $11.3 million across 25 companies and venture funds during the first quarter of its 2026 fiscal year, which ended on September 30, 2025. The investments leveraged $86.9 million in outside capital and generated $7 million in proceeds over the same period.

CIM Group And Bryant Group Ventures Launch $250 Million Impact-Driven Partnership To Invest In Affordable Housing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:54 PM

CIM Group and Bryant Group Ventures (BGV), founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist John Hope Bryant, have launched CIM-BGV Impact Ventures, a new partnership designed to address the growing affordable housing shortage while driving economic opportunity in underserved communities across the United States. The launch marks the establishment of the CIM-BGV Affordable Housing Impact Fund (AHIF), which has closed its first round with a total investment capacity of more than $250 million.

onX: Strategic Investment Secured From TCV To Advance Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:54 PM

onX, a leading developer of digital outdoor navigation and mapping technology, announced a strategic investment from growth equity firm TCV to fuel its next phase of expansion and innovation. The partnership aims to accelerate onX’s mission to enhance outdoor exploration through technology while strengthening its position as a category leader in adventure-specific navigation tools.

Hippocratic AI: $126 Million Series C At $3.5 Billion Valuation Raised To Advance Safe Generative AI Across Global Healthcare

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:49 PM

Hippocratic AI, a leader in clinically safe generative AI for healthcare, has raised $126 million in Series C funding at a $3.5 billion valuation, bringing its total funding to $404 million. The round was led by Avenir Growth, joined by new and existing investors including CapitalG (Google’s growth fund), General Catalyst, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, Premji Invest, Universal Health Services (UHS), Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, WellSpan Health, John Doerr, and Rick Klausner.

Harbor IT Buys New England Network Solutions, Expanding Cyber-First Managed Services Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:48 PM

Harbor IT, a national provider of cybersecurity and IT services, has acquired New England Network Solutions (NENS), a managed service provider based in Greater Boston, recognized for its operational excellence and deep expertise in healthcare and life sciences.

Endeavor Health Expanding Neurosciences Leadership With Acquisition Of Diamond Headache Clinic

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:48 PM

Endeavor Health has announced the acquisition of Diamond Headache Clinic, one of the nation’s most established centers for headache and migraine treatment. The integration will form the Endeavor Health Diamond Headache & Migraine Center, expanding access to advanced neurological care across the Midwest and the U.S.

Incredibuild Buying AI Startup Kypso To Advance Code Development

By Amit Chowdhry ● Yesterday at 9:45 PM

Incredibuild, a global leader in build acceleration and intelligence, has announced the acquisition of Kypso, an AI startup developing context-aware AI agents for engineering teams. The acquisition represents a major milestone in Incredibuild’s evolution into an AI-native developer platform aimed at optimizing the entire software development pipeline.