Innovation

VIA Names Matt O’Rourke Chief Creative Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

VIA has appointed award-winning creative leader Matt O’Rourke as chief creative officer, effective immediately, as the Portland, Maine-based advertising and marketing agency looks to sharpen its creative vision and support continued growth. O’Rourke will report to CEO Leeann Leahy, join VIA’s executive leadership team, and oversee creative direction across the agency’s client roster, which includes brands such as Arm & Hammer, Klondike, and Golden Corral.

Miami International Sells 90% of MIAXdx To Robinhood-Susquehanna Joint Venture

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

Miami International Holdings has completed the sale of a 90% stake in its MIAX Derivatives Exchange (MIAXdx) to a joint venture created by Robinhood Markets in partnership with Susquehanna International Group, while retaining a 10% ownership interest in the exchange and clearinghouse. MIAXdx operates as a Designated Contract Market and Derivatives Clearing Organization with CFTC approval to list and clear fully collateralized futures, options on futures and swaps, giving the new owners a regulated platform to expand in derivatives and so-called prediction markets.

Cloover Lands $1.222 Billion Capital Commitment To Scale AI Operating System For Home Energy Upgrades In Europe

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

Cloover, a Berlin-based climate software and financing platform for residential electrification projects, announced it has secured a combined $1.222 billion in new capital commitments, pairing $22 million in Series A equity with a $1.2 billion debt facility designed to fund homeowner and installer financing for clean-energy installations. The equity round was led by MMC Ventures and QED Investors, with participation from Lowercarbon Capital, BNVT Capital, Bosch Ventures, CENTROTEC SE, and Earthshot Ventures.

Swissto12: €73 Million Secured In ESA-Backed Support For HummingSat Compact Telecom Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

SWISSto12 has secured €73 million ($84.8 million) in financial support from European Space Agency (ESA) member states to advance HummingSat, its next-generation, compact geostationary satellite platform designed to deliver lower-cost and more agile commercial and sovereign communications capabilities. The support is being provided through ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) HummingSat Partnership Project, part of ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications.

Yale Realty: Virginia Beach Landstown Commons Acquired For $102 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

An affiliate of Yale Realty Services Corp. has acquired Landstown Commons Shopping Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia, for $102 million, expanding the firm’s portfolio of open-air retail centers.

Energy Fuels To Acquire Australian Strategic Materials In $299 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

Energy Fuels announced it has signed a Scheme Implementation Deed to acquire Australian Strategic Materials Ltd. in a transaction the company values at about US$299 million, aiming to create what it describes as the largest fully integrated rare earth “mine-to-metal & alloy” producer outside of China.

LightPath Technologies To Acquire Amorphous Materials, Expanding Infrared Optics Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

LightPath Technologies has acquired the assets of Amorphous Materials, Inc. (AMI), adding proprietary chalcogenide glass melting capabilities designed to support large-diameter infrared optics and expand the company’s U.S.-based manufacturing footprint. The deal was completed for $7.0 million in cash, with the potential for up to $3.0 million in additional equity consideration tied to technical milestones.

Precision53 Acquires The Iron Factory’s Club Machining And Chroming Assets

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

Precision53 (P53), a luxury U.S.-based golf equipment maker known for producing forged irons domestically, said it has acquired substantially all assets related to club machining, refinishing, and chroming from Arizona-based The Iron Factory. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Fini Raises $3.6 Million From YC And Matrix Partners To End AI Hallucinations And Rebuild Trust In Customer Support

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

Fini is an accuracy-first AI for enterprise customer support. Fini recently raised $3.6 million in seed funding led by Matrix Partners (with Y Combinator and notable angels) to solve AI's biggest problem in regulated industries: hallucinations. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Fini CEO Deepak Singla to gain a deeper understanding.

L-Nutra: $83.5 Million In Total Series D Raised And Abu Dhabi JV For Medical Nutrition and Longevity Programs

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 21, 2026

L-Nutra announced it has secured a $36.5 million investment led by Mubadala Investment Company as part of its Series D round, bringing total Series D proceeds to $83.5 million. The company is pushing to expand internationally and scale its “nutrition as medicine” and longevity-focused programs.