Innovation

Connie: Federal Pilot Grant To Advance Electronic Consent Management For Behavioral Health Data

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Connie, Connecticut’s state-designated health information exchange, has been selected as one of nine recipients of a federal pilot grant aimed at improving how behavioral health data is shared and managed across healthcare systems.

Uniblock: $5.2 Million Raised For Blockchain Infrastructure Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Uniblock, a managed infrastructure layer for blockchain applications, announced it has raised $5.2 million in new funding, bringing its total funding to $7.5 million. The round included a global group of investors spanning the U.S., Japan, India, Singapore, and the Solana ecosystem, along with participation from executives affiliated with major crypto and technology companies.

Cross River: $50 Million Raised To Expand AI, Crypto, And Embedded Finance Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Cross River announced that its parent company, CRB Group, has secured $50 million in common equity funding to accelerate growth across artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and embedded finance.

17Capital: $7.5 Billion Credit Fund 2 Closes As Largest NAV Loan Fundraise

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

17Capital has announced the final closing of its Credit Fund 2 at approximately $7.5 billion, including affiliated mandates, marking the largest NAV loan fundraise to date and one of the five largest private credit fund closes globally in the past 12 months.

iBase-t: Strategic Growth Investment To Accelerate AI-Driven Aerospace And Defense Manufacturing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

iBase-t, a cloud software provider for aerospace and defense manufacturers, has secured a strategic growth investment from TA Associates to expand its AI-powered digital manufacturing and maintenance capabilities.

The Neighborhood Beverage Company Acquires Punch’d Energy To Expand Clean-Label Functional Energy Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

The Neighborhood Beverage Company (NBC), the parent company of Once Upon a Coconut, has acquired Punch'd Energy, a patented natural caffeine gummy brand founded in 2015. The deal marks NBC’s expansion into the functional energy category, pairing its premium coconut water business with a fast-growing, better-for-you energy product line.

Orion Infrastructure Capital: $1.58 Billion Raised For Credit Opportunities Fund IV

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Orion Infrastructure Capital announced the successful final close of its Credit Opportunities Fund IV at $1.58 billion, exceeding its $1.1 billion target by 43%. The raise reflects strong investor demand for middle market infrastructure credit and marks the firm’s largest fund to date.

Workout Anytime: Conversion Strategy Drives Expansion With Institutional Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Workout Anytime is rolling out a new growth strategy centered on acquiring and converting existing gyms, aiming to accelerate expansion, reduce costs, and improve returns across its franchise system.

Options Technology: Acquisition Of Crossvale Expands Private Cloud And AI Modernization Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Options Technology has completed its acquisition of Crossvale, strengthening its ability to deliver private cloud infrastructure and AI-driven modernization solutions to financial services firms.

Dane Street: Private Equity Investment From Quad-C Management To Accelerate Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Quad-C Management, a middle market private equity firm, announced an investment in Dane Street, a provider of independent medical examination and peer review services across the insurance and healthcare sectors.

DaySmart Software Acquires Slick To Expand Global Beauty And Wellness Footprint

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

DaySmart Software has acquired Slick Software, marking a significant step in its international expansion strategy and strengthening its position in the beauty and wellness software market.

IKS Health Acquihires ThinkDTM To Expand Patient Access Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

IKS Health has announced the strategic acquihire of ThinkDTM, bringing its founder Tij Bedi and a team of AI and product design specialists into the organization.

Virgin Galactic: $750,000 Spaceflight Tickets Released As Company Resumes Sales

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Virgin Galactic Holdings said it has released a limited number of tickets for its commercial spaceflight expeditions, pricing each seat at $750,000 as the company moves toward restarting its space tourism business following a multi-year pause.

Ambrose: $1 Million Commitment Launches Opportunity Scholarship Program For Commercial Real Estate Internships

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Ambrose, a vertically integrated real estate investment manager, has partnered with the PREA Foundation to launch the Ambrose x PREA Foundation Opportunity Scholarship Program, a five-year initiative designed to support the next generation of commercial real estate professionals. The program will fund 50 internship scholarships annually through 2030, backed by a $1 million commitment from Ambrose.

Naboo: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Maxime Eduardo About The AI Procurement Platform For Corporate Events

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Naboo is an AI-powered procurement software for ‘Tail Spend’ management that enables companies to book, manage, and pay for corporate events—such as seminars, team-building activities, and large-scale retreats—while providing centralized control over planning and expenses. Earlier this year, Naboo announced a $70m Series B funding round led by Lightspeed. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Naboo co-founder and CEO Maxime Eduardo to learn more.

Emerald AI: $25 Million Raised To Transform Data Centers Into Flexible Power Grid Assets

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Emerald AI announced a $25 million strategic expansion round as it looks to address one of the most pressing constraints facing the artificial intelligence industry: energy availability. The round was led by Energy Impact Partners, with participation from a wide range of financial and strategic investors, including Amplo, Eaton, GE Vernova, IQT, Lowercarbon Capital, NVentures, Radical Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, Samsung, and Siemens.

Fidelity BancShares: $142.8 Million Acquisition Of Affinity Bancshares To Expand Into Georgia

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Fidelity BancShares (N.C.) and its subsidiary, Fidelity Bank, announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Affinity Bancshares and its subsidiary, Affinity Bank, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $142.8 million.

Repay Holdings: $372 Million Acquisition Of KUBRA To Expand Bill Payment Scale

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Repay Holdings Corporation announced a definitive agreement to acquire KUBRA for approximately $372 million in an all-cash transaction, marking a significant step in its strategy to scale its consumer bill payment capabilities.

Erebor Bank: Fundrise Innovation Fund Invests In Digital Bank Targeting Tech Sector

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

The Fundrise Innovation Fund has announced a new investment in Erebor Bank, a newly chartered national bank built to serve technology companies and their investors.

Foreverland: €6 Million Raised To Accelerate International Expansion And Scale Cocoa-Free Chocolate Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Foreverland, an Italian foodtech company developing cocoa-free chocolate alternatives, has raised €6 million in new funding, bringing its total capital raised to €9.4 million. The round included follow-on participation from existing investors Kost Capital and Maia Ventures, alongside new backing from CDP Venture Capital, Linfa agrifoodtech fund managed by Riello Investimenti SGR, and Newtree Impact.

EGIDE: €8 Million Seed Round Raised For Affordable Defense Systems Development

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

EGIDE, a France-based defense technology startup, has raised €8 million in a seed funding round to accelerate the development of next-generation, cost-efficient defense systems designed to counter the growing threat of low-cost drones and strike munitions.

CisLunar Industries: $2.6 Million Raised For Space Power Infrastructure Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

CisLunar Industries, a space power infrastructure company, announced it has raised $2.6 million in an oversubscribed seed round to accelerate development and production of its Electric Power Intelligent Conversion (EPIC) product line for applications in Earth orbit and beyond. The funding round was led by Colorado ONE Fund, with participation from Stout Street Capital, RIT Venture Fund, Deming Center Venture Fund, and strategic angel investors.

Hamilton AI: $7.5 Million Raised For Private Aviation AI Execution Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Hamilton AI Inc has raised $7.5 million in a seed funding round to advance its AI-powered execution platform for private aviation operators. The round was led by TTV Capital, with participation from Bling Capital, Cambrian Ventures, FJ Labs, Weekend Fund, Mintaka Ventures, Correlation VC, and HF0.

JAAQ: $17 Million Raised For Behavioral Health And Digital Engagement Platform Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

JAAQ has raised $17 million to scale its clinically governed behavioral health and digital engagement platform, as the company looks to expand enterprise partnerships, deepen its clinical infrastructure, and accelerate entry into the U.S. market.

SPARK Microsystems: C$17 Million Raised For Wireless Semiconductor Technology Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

SPARK Microsystems announced it has closed a C$17 million Series B follow-on financing round to accelerate commercialization of its next-generation wireless technology. The round was co-led by Idealist Capital and Real Ventures, with participation from Cycle Capital, ND Capital, and EDC.

Interloom: $16.5 Million Seed Funding Raised For Enterprise AI Memory Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Interloom announced it has raised $16.5 million in a seed funding round to address a critical limitation in enterprise AI, the lack of institutional memory. The round was led by DN Capital, with participation from Bek Ventures and Air Street Capital.

Turn Therapeutics: $25 Million Financing Secured By Dermatology Biotechnology Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

Turn Therapeutics, a clinical-stage dermatology biotechnology company, announced it has secured up to $25 million in financing through a growth capital loan facility with Avenue Capital Group. The agreement includes an initial $7 million tranche funded at closing, with an additional $18 million available upon the achievement of clinical and corporate milestones.

Nuvilab: AI Nutrition Analytics Startup Raises Series A Bridge Funding To Expand In North America

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

NAVER’s venture arm NAVER D2SF has made a follow-on investment in Nuvilab, participating in the company’s Series A bridge round as it accelerates expansion into the North American healthcare market.

Niyam Group: J.C. Flowers Invests To Launch Indian Reinsurance Platform And Lloyd’s Syndicate

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

J.C. Flowers & Co. has announced an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Niyam Group while also serving as lead investor in Niyam Syndicate 2047, a newly established syndicate at Lloyd’s. The move marks the creation of a new reinsurance platform designed to connect global capital with opportunities in India and other high-growth markets.

BGO And Bell Partners: $100 Billion Real Estate Investment Management Platform Formed Through Combination

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 31, 2026

BGO and Bell Partners announced an agreement to combine their businesses, creating a major U.S. investment management platform with deep expertise in multifamily real estate. The move follows the acquisition of Bell Partners by Sun Life Financial Inc., the parent company of BGO.