Innovation

MAULOA: Interview With Founding Partner Andrew Sachs About The Investment Firm

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

MAULOA is a firm of long-term investors that provides owner liquidity and working capital to family-owned businesses to accelerate growth. Pulse 2.0 interviewed MAULOA founding partner Andrew Sachs to gain a deeper understanding of the firm.

bQuest: Seed Investment Raised For Advancing AI-Powered Care Intelligence Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

First Rate Ventures has led a seed investment in Denver-based bQuest, a Care Intelligence Platform designed to help financial advisors support clients through aging, end-of-life, and after-loss transitions. The companies announced the fundraising and strategic partnership on Thursday, outlining plans to integrate bQuest’s AI Care Agents directly into advisor workflows.

HelloTrade: $4.6 Million Seed Funding Raised To Expand Global Access To Leveraged Equity Trading

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

HelloTrade, a blockchain-powered trading platform founded by former BlackRock crypto directors Wyatt Raich and Kevin Tang, has secured a $4.6 million seed round led by Dragonfly Capital. According to the company, the round was completed in under one week, a pace the founders attribute to strong investor confidence in the global market opportunity and their experience building large-scale digital asset products. At BlackRock, Tang and Raich helped launch the firm’s spot Bitcoin ETF, which became the fastest exchange-traded fund in history to reach $100 billion in assets.

Pelican Energy Partners Acquires Hanna Cylinders To Expand Nuclear And Industrial Manufacturing Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Pelican Energy Partners has acquired Wisconsin-based Hanna Cylinders, strengthening its portfolio of specialized manufacturing companies serving the nuclear and broader industrial markets. The transaction provides Pelican with a new strategic platform to support critical domestic supply chains for high-performance hydraulic and pneumatic equipment used across energy, infrastructure, and heavy industrial applications.

Worldwide Diversified Buys Controlling Stake In American Lithium Minerals To Advance Global Rare Earth And Mineral Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

American Lithium Minerals, Inc. announced that Worldwide Diversified Holdings, Inc. has acquired a controlling interest in the company, initiating a major strategic shift intended to position AMLM as a global leader in the development of minerals and rare earth assets. The acquisition includes indirect control over AMLM’s option on a 1,730-acre lithium and boron property in Nevada, which will serve as the foundation of a broader international expansion strategy.

Harbour Group Expands Specialty Chemicals Portfolio With Acquisition Of Fusion Chemical

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Americo Chemical Products, a portfolio company of St. Louis-based Harbour Group, has acquired Indiana-based Fusion Chemical, marking a strategic expansion in the specialty metalworking fluids sector. The transaction enhances Americo’s product line with next-generation lubricants and coolants while bringing Fusion’s founder, Matt East, and his team into the organization. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aeris: Strategic Investment Secured From TA Associates To Accelerate Global IoT Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Aeris, a long-established provider of SaaS-based IoT connectivity solutions, announced that TA Associates has made a strategic minority investment in the company. The funding marks a significant moment for Aeris as it aims to expand its global footprint and advance its portfolio of enterprise-grade IoT technologies. Financial terms were not disclosed.

OpenAI And Foxconn Launch Collaboration To Advance U.S. Manufacturing For Next-Generation AI Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

OpenAI and Hon Hai Technology Group, known globally as Foxconn, announced a new collaboration to accelerate the design and domestic manufacturing readiness of next-generation AI infrastructure hardware in the United States. The partnership will provide Foxconn with insight into OpenAI’s emerging hardware needs across the fast-growing AI sector, guiding the company’s design and development efforts for systems to be produced in its U.S. facilities. The initial agreement does not include purchase obligations, but OpenAI will have the opportunity to evaluate early systems and secure purchasing options.

Tidalwave: $22 Million Series A Secured To Advance Agentic AI Mortgage Platform And Expand Market Share

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Tidalwave, a New York-based agentic AI mortgage point-of-sale platform, has raised a $22 million Series A round led by Permanent Capital, with participation from D.R. Horton (the largest homebuilder in the United States), and follow-on funding from Engineering Capital. The round brings the company’s total capital raised to $24 million. And it marks a significant new enterprise relationship, as D.R. Horton is investing as both a strategic partner and a new enterprise customer.

Sorcero: $42.5 Million Series B Raised To Advance Expansion Of Its Life Sciences AI Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Sorcero has secured $42.5 million in Series B financing led by NewSpring Growth, with participation from Leawood Venture Capital and Blu Ventures, bringing the company’s total capital raised to $59 million. The new funding will support rapid expansion across medical affairs, safety, scientific communications, and medical device markets, while scaling its AI platform designed to help life sciences organizations drive adoption of advanced therapies.

J.C. Flowers To Sell Island Finance To VRM Penzini Capital In Major Puerto Rico Acquisition

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

J.C. Flowers has reached an agreement to sell Island Finance, Puerto Rico’s largest non-bank consumer financial institution, to VRM Penzini Capital. The deal marks one of the most notable financial services transactions in Puerto Rico this year and is expected to close in December 2025. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Huha Wear: $20 MIllion Raised For Apparel Brand

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

District Ventures Capital has made its largest investment to date by leading a $20 million financing round in Vancouver based women’s intimate apparel brand Huha Wear Inc. The deal is also the largest investment in the 20 year history of the television series Dragons' Den, following the original pitch made by Huha’s founder, Alexa Suter, on Season 18.

Arrow Global: €4.2 Billion Raised Across Private Credit And Real Estate Strategies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Arrow Global Group has secured a combined €4.2 billion in institutional capital across its private credit and real estate platforms, marking one of its most significant fundraising achievements to date and signaling sustained investor conviction in European asset-backed opportunities. The firm, which operates as a pan-European investment manager, continues to expand its lending and credit strategies amid tightening credit availability across the continent.

Inovia Capital Expands Footprint With New Abu Dhabi Office To Advance Partnerships Across The Middle East

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Inovia Capital has formally launched a new office within Abu Dhabi Global Market, marking a significant expansion of the Canadian investment firm’s international presence and strengthening its engagement across the United Arab Emirates and the broader Gulf region. The move comes as the firm deepens its strategic collaborations following its Canadian Innovation Delegation to the UAE in October and aligns its efforts with the Canada-UAE Memorandum of Understanding on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Infrastructure.

EQT Real Estate Expands European Living Portfolio With Acquisition Of 477-Unit Residential Estate

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

EQT Real Estate has signed an agreement to acquire a major 477-unit residential estate in Mahlow, a well-connected suburban community on the southern edge of Berlin, marking a significant expansion of its European Living Strategy in Germany. The deal, completed in partnership with Pictet Alternative Advisors, strengthens EQT’s position in one of Europe’s most supply-constrained and high-demand residential markets.

Plug And Play Launches New York City Presence To Advance AI And Deeptech Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Plug and Play, one of the world’s largest innovation platforms and early-stage venture capital firms, has officially expanded into New York City with the launch of two major initiatives supported by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. The expansion includes the NYC AI Nexus and the International Landing Pad Network, both designed to strengthen the city’s position as a global destination for artificial intelligence, deeptech commercialization, and cross-border startup growth.

FalconX Expands Global Digital Asset Footprint With Acquisition Of 21shares

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

FalconX has completed its acquisition of 21shares, marking a significant expansion of the company’s global digital asset capabilities across trading, asset management, and market infrastructure. The deal strengthens FalconX’s presence in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific while advancing its strategy to bring listed markets and digital assets closer together.

EQT Future To Acquire Majority Stake In Desotec As Blackstone Retains Minority Position

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

EQT Future has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Desotec, a Belgian-headquartered leader in circular mobile filtration solutions, marking one of the most significant recent transactions in Europe’s environmental services sector. Blackstone-managed funds, which previously held control of the company, will remain minority investors. The deal also brings in two prominent German family offices, Athos and Merckle, who will co-invest alongside EQT Future.

Function Health: $298 Million Series B Raised At $2.5 Billion Valuation For The Testing And Tracking Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Function Health has reached a valuation of $2.5 billion following a $298 million oversubscribed Series B round led by Redpoint Ventures, positioning the Austin-based company among a select group of global healthtech unicorns. With hundreds of thousands of members and more than 50 million completed lab tests since 2023, the company is expanding its mission to redefine preventive health by launching a Medical Intelligence Lab and introducing new AI-driven tools for personalized care.

Seven Hills Realty Trust: $101.3 Million Deployed Across Three New Loan Investments

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 23, 2025

Seven Hills Realty Trust announced the deployment of $101.3 million across three newly originated and acquired first mortgage loans, marking a significant expansion of its national commercial real estate lending portfolio. The investments span student housing, hospitality, and industrial assets in markets demonstrating sustained demand and meaningful long-term value potential.

Union Bay Risk Advisors: Strategic Growth Investment Raised From Thayer Street Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Union Bay Risk Advisors announced that it has received a significant growth investment from Thayer Street Partners, marking a major milestone in the company’s effort to expand its nationwide presence as a fast-growing independent property and casualty insurance brokerage platform. The financing will support Union Bay’s strategy to scale its acquisition activity, strengthen its operational infrastructure, and advance its position as a Top 100 national insurance brokerage.

ICG Real Estate To Acquire €203.5 Million Grocery Portfolio From Lidl Across UK, Ireland And Spain

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

ICG Real Estate has agreed to acquire a €203.5 million portfolio of 24 grocery stores from Lidl in a significant sale-and-leaseback transaction that expands the firm’s long-term, income-generating European real estate holdings. The deal, executed on behalf of the Strategic Real Estate II Fund, marks one of ICG Real Estate’s largest retail-anchored acquisitions to date and deepens its presence in the non-discretionary grocery segment. This category continues to demonstrate strong resilience and stable demand.

Okami Medical: $45 Million Raised And New CEO Appointed To Accelerate Commercial And Clinical Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Okami Medical has closed an oversubscribed $45 million financing round and appointed a new chief executive as the company prepares for its next phase of commercial growth and product innovation. The round was led by new investor Gilde Healthcare, with participation from existing investors including Vensana Capital and U.S. Venture Partners.

Vyntelligence: $30 Million Series B Raised To Advance Agentic Video Intelligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Vyntelligence has raised $30 million in new Series B funding, marking the company’s largest investment to date. The round was co-led by Blume Equity and Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s 1GT climate private equity strategy, positioning the London-based Video AI platform for rapid expansion in the United States while further advancing its Agentic Video Intelligence technology.

Voyager Technologies Deepens Defense Capabilities With Acquisition Of Estes Energetics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Voyager Technologies has completed its acquisition of Estes Energetics, a prominent American manufacturer of energetics, propulsion materials, and specialized chemical compounds essential to missile defense systems and tactical munitions. The transaction marks a significant expansion of Voyager’s operational footprint across high-growth propulsion and energetics markets, strengthening the company’s strategic position amid increasing global demand for domestic defense production.

uStudio Expands Enterprise Streaming Capabilities With Acquisition Of WorkPerfectly

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

uStudio, a leading enterprise media platform used by global companies for internal streaming, announced the acquisition of WorkPerfectly, a software provider specializing in private podcasting tools designed to enhance workforce productivity. The deal further strengthens uStudio’s competitive position by accelerating its platform expansion into AI-driven enterprise content experiences.

Trinity Hunt Partners Expands With New Acquisition And Launch Of Sage Surface Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Trinity Hunt Partners has expanded its national commercial paving services platform with the addition of Pavement Maintenance, marking the second acquisition supporting the launch of its newly established brand, Sage Surface Partners. The Dallas-based private equity firm introduced Sage as its national platform following its partnership with DACS Asphalt & Concrete, and the acquisition of PMI extends the platform’s geographic reach into the Pacific Northwest.

Solventum To Buy Acera Surgical In $850 Million Deal To Expand Advanced Wound Care Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Solventum announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Acera Surgical in a transaction valued at up to $850 million, marking a significant expansion into the fast-growing synthetic tissue matrices segment of the United States regenerative wound care market. The deal includes $725 million in cash at closing and up to $125 million in contingent payments tied to future milestones. The acquisition represents Solventum’s first tuck-in transaction as part of its broader transformation strategy.

XNRGY: Growth Financing Round Completed For Data Center Cooling Technologies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

XNRGY Climate Systems has completed a new growth financing round that brings Capital Bridge Group and Prologis Ventures into its investor syndicate, strengthening the company’s position in the rapidly expanding market for high-efficiency data center cooling technologies. The new investors join Decarbonization Partners, Climate Investment, Activate Capital, Idealist Capital, and MKB, all of whom continue to support XNRGY’s expansion across North America.

Perelel: $27 Million Closed To Advance Expansion Into Comprehensive Women’s Health

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 22, 2025

Perelel has raised $27 million in growth capital from Prelude Growth Partners, marking a pivotal step in the company’s evolution from a prenatal-focused startup to a full-spectrum women’s health brand. The funding includes participation from existing backers Unilever Ventures, Willow Growth Partners, and Selva Ventures, and will support the company’s continued expansion across the entire hormonal lifecycle.