Innovation

Drip Capital: Trade Finance Platform Raises $113 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Drip Capital, a leading digital platform for trade finance, announced it has secured $113 million in new funding. And this includes $23 million in equity from Japanese institutional investors, GMO Payment Gateway and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), and $90 million in debt financing, led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and East West Bank.

The Demex Group: Reinsurance Solution Company Raises $10.25 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

The Demex Group, which is a risk analytics and intelligence company that facilitates innovative stop-loss reinsurance protection, announced it has raised $10.25 million through a Series A and previously closed SAFE funding round led by Congruent Ventures and included Moxxie Ventures, MetaProp, and existing investor Blue Bear Capital.

Switch Bioworks: $17 Million (Seed) Raised To Develop New Biological Fertilizer Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Switch Bioworks, a biotechnology company that is developing low-cost and sustainable fertilizers, announced it raised $17 million in Series Seed financing led by Change Forces Capital and joined by Grantham Foundation, Astanor Ventures, Acre Venture Partners, Anthos Capital, Thia Ventures, Emerson Collective, the farmer-led Ag Ventures Alliance and others.

Calyxia: B2B Cleantech Company Raises $35 Million (Series B)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Calyxia, an industrial B2B cleantech company specializing in advanced and biodegradable microcapsules and microparticles for use in consumer goods, crop protection and advanced materials, announced that it has raised $35 million in a Series B funding round. The funding round was led by Lombard Odier Investment Managers, through its Plastic Circularity Fund and Bpifrance, through its Large Venture Fund, with strong support from existing investors including Astanor.

3DEO: $3.5 Million Strategic Investment Raised From Mizuho Bank

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Los Angeles-based design, engineering, and metal additive manufacturing (AM) leader 3DEO announced a strategic investment from Mizuho Bank, a Japan-headquartered global financial institution committed to fostering innovation and sustainability. This funding emphasizes Mizuho's dedication to advancing the adoption of AM technologies and supporting 3DEO's efforts to unlock new product design and development opportunities.

Faraday Future: $30 Million In Financing Commitments Revealed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Faraday Future, a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, announced that it has secured $30 million in financing commitments from investors in the Middle East, the United States, and Asia. The participation from a Middle East investor, Master Investment, an investment firm of Sheikh Abdulla Al Qassimi from Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE represents a significant milestone, emphasizing the company’s successful expansion and development efforts in the region.

OrsoBio: $67 Million (Series B) Secured To Develop Treatments For Obesity

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

OrsoBio - a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for obesity and obesity-associated disorders - announced the closing of an oversubscribed $67 million Series B financing. The funding was co-led by new investors Ascenta Capital and Woodline Partners, with significant participation from existing investors Samsara Biocapital, Longitude Capital, Enavate Sciences, NuevaBio, and Eli Lilly.

Agree: $3 Million (Pre-Seed) Raised To Transform How Contracts And Payments Come Together

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Agree, an all-in-one agreements platform that seamlessly integrates money movement, announced a $3 million pre-seed round. Better Tomorrow Ventures led the funding round, which included participation from 8-Bit Capital, Everywhere Ventures, Expedite Ventures, Firsthand Alliance, Hustle Fund, NEA, Singh Capital Partners, and Trust Fund. With this funding, the company aims to become an end-to-end agreements platform that allows consumers to securely send, sign, and automatically generate invoices and payments from any agreement.

Inventive AI: RFP Optimization Platform Raises $4 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Inventive AI, an AI-based tool for streamlining and optimizing RFP (Request for Proposal) and sales questionnaire workflows, announced the successful closure of its seed funding round, raising $4 million. Sierra Ventures led this funding round, which included Y Combinator, SOMA Capital, and General Catalyst. The funding will accelerate Inventive AI's goal of enhancing RFP processes through generative AI, empowering businesses to respond more effectively and efficiently to RFPs and questionnaires.

Tilt: Real-Time Shopping Platform Company Raises $18 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Tilt - a real-time shopping platform company - announced it raised $18 million in Series A funding. Balderton Capital led the Series A funding round with participation from existing investors TQ Ventures, Earlybird and Seedcamp. Launched by two early former Revolut employees Neil Shah and Abhi Thanendran, Tilt is a real-time shopping platform transforming the e-commerce space by becoming a leading destination for fashion.

GoldenPeaks Capital Closes Financing Facility With AB CarVal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

GoldenPeaks Capital and AB CarVal (an established global credit fund and part of AllianceBernstein’s Private Alternatives business) have signed a bespoke junior financing facility. And GoldenPeaks Capital, which is one of the fastest growing independent power producers in Eastern Europe, will use these funds to finance further acquisition and construction of Ready-to-Build solar photovoltaic assets in Poland.

E-PAL: $30 Million Raised And Web3 Infrastructure Service BALANCE Launched

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

E-PAL, which is the world’s leading gaming and social companion platform, announced it has officially unveiled Balance (a new AI-powered blockchain experience platform) following two successful funding rounds led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Galaxy Interactive. These funding rounds also received support from prominent investors like Animoca Brands, K5, CLF Partners, MBK Capital, New Heights Fund, AMBER, MarbleX, Sky Mantra, Tuna, Aptos Labs, IOBC, Leland, Halcyon Capital, Uphonest, Taisu Ventures, Gate Labs, DWF Ventures, BING, WAGMI, YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, Riot Games CEO Marc Merrill, and League of Legends Director Thomas Vu. This brought E-PAL’s total funding to $30 million.

HAYA Therapeutics: Collaboration With Lilly Valued Up To $1 Billion Signed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

HAYA Therapeutics - a biotechnology company pioneering precision RNA-guided regulatory genome targeting therapeutics for chronic diseases - announced a multi-year agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to apply HAYA’s advanced RNA-guided regulatory genome platform to support preclinical drug discovery efforts in obesity and related metabolic conditions. And the partners will identify multiple regulatory genome-derived RNA-based drug targets to address these chronic conditions.

Mesa: Quantum Sensing Company Raises $3.75 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Mesa Quantum - an innovative quantum sensing company - announced an oversubscribed seed funding of $3.7 million led by J2 Ventures, a Boston-based fund focused on dual-use technologies, with participation from SOSV.

FloQast: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Mike Whitmire About This Accounting Automation Platform Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

FloQast is an Accounting Automation Platform created by accountants for accountants, enables organizations to automate a variety of accounting operations. Pulse 2.0 interviewed FloQast co-founder and CEO Mike Whitmire to learn more about the company.

Salesforce Buying Own Company In $1.9 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

CRM giant Salesforce announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Own Company, which is a leading provider of data protection and data management solutions. Under the terms of the deal, Salesforce will acquire Own for approximately $1.9 billion in cash, net of the value of the approximately 10% of outstanding shares currently owned by Salesforce, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

Angel Kids AI: Kid-Friendly Browser Company Raises $1.1 Million (Seed Extension)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Angel Kids AI, an AI-based browser designed to provide children with a safe and age-appropriate internet experience, announced that they have raised an additional $1.1 million of funding in an extended seed round. This funding round was from three investors Magnify Ventures, City Light, and Atland Ventures and brought Angel Kids AI's total amount raised to $5.85 million. This additional funding will be used to accelerate Angel Kids AI's hiring, product development, and marketing initiatives.

Netlogistik: Interview With Managing Partner Jagan Reddy About This Digital Supply Chain Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Netlogistik partners with companies to tackle their toughest business challenges and guide you in every step towards the digital transformation of your supply chain. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Netlogistik US managing partner Jagan Reddy to learn more about the company.

Azul: Interview With CEO & Co-Founder Scott Sellers About This Java Platform Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Azul is 100% focused on Java, delivering the most trusted Java platform to the modern cloud enterprise. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Azul CEO and co-founder Scott Sellers to learn more about the company.

Amani Saab: Interview With Co-Founder And Managing Director Ziad Aboulmouna

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Amani Saab is a luxury fashion company that is redefining evening wear for the modern muse, offering collections that combines glamor with comfort, sensuality with sophistication, and opulence with ease. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Amani Saab co-founder and managing director Ziad Aboulmouna to learn more about the company.

Vida: Interview With Founder & CEO Lyle Pratt About The Carrier-Grade AI Voice Agent Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 6, 2024

Vida is a company that builds AI phone agents for businesses. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Vida CEO and founder Lyle Pratt to learn more about the company.

Thatch: Personalized Health Benefits Platform Raises $38 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

Thatch - a personalized health benefits platform for forward-thinking businesses - announced it had raised $38 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Index Ventures and General Catalyst, and with new investors SemperVirens and The General Partnership, with participation from existing investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Avid Ventures. This funding will drive Thatch's mission to correct an accident of history and decouple health insurance from employment.

Harvestone: $205 Million Carbon Capture And Sequestration Tax Equity Financing Closed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

Harvestone Low Carbon Partners, LP (HLCP), which is one of America's leading decarbonization platforms, and a portfolio company of Energy Capital Partners (ECP), announced that it closed a first-of-its kind tax equity financing with Bank of America.

U.S. Energy Department Investing $8.8 Million For Improving Hydrogen Turbine Performance

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced $8.8 million for 11 university-based research and development projects to improve the performance of hydrogen-fueled turbines. These selected projects will develop advanced materials and components that could better manage and withstand the extreme environment generated during hydrogen combustion.

Oaktree and AVANA Companies Launch $250 Million JV

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

AVANA Companies and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P. announced the formation of a new $250MM AVANA-Oaktree Private Credit Partnership (AOPCP) for its direct private commercial real estate lending strategy. And through the joint venture (JV), AVANA will use the capital to provide private debt financing in the US over the next three years.

Rice Park Capital Management: RPC Ventures Fund II LP Closed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

MedCerts: An Interview With CEO Craig Sprinkle About This Online Career Training School

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

MedCerts is a leader in online career training programs, pioneering the way students learn and employers hire. Pulse 2.0 interviewed MedCerts CEO Craig Sprinkle to learn more about the company.

Verizon Acquiring Frontier Communications In $20 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

Today Verizon Communications and Frontier Communications announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Verizon to acquire Frontier in an all-cash transaction valued at $20 billion.

The Locker: Interview With Founder Nicole Loftus About This Rapidly Growing Diligence Software Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

The Locker is an automated founder-driven shareable diligence software company – which drastically reduces time and cost for both funders and founders. Pulse 2.0 interviewed The Locker founder Nicole Loftus to learn more about the company.

Be Fulfilled: An Interview With CEO John Brown About This Creator-Centered Full-Service Operations Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 5, 2024

Be Fulfilled is a full-service tech-enabled platform operations company that helps creators bring product dreams to life by developing, sourcing, and fulfilling product orders, and managing the ecommerce website, taking product photography, addressing customer service matters, etc. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Be Fulfilled CEO John Brown to learn more about the company.