Innovation

Kish Bancorp Appoints Members To Bancorp And Bank Boards Of Directors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Kish Bancorp announced the appointment of three existing Kish Bank board members, Jim Foreman, Michael Krentzman, and John Pannizzo, to also serve on the Kish Bancorp Board of Directors. The three have served on the bank's board since August 2025.

Astrotech Appoints Matt Kreps To Board Of Directors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Astrotech Corporation announced it has increased the size of its Board of Directors from five to six members and appointed Matt Kreps as a director. Kreps brings extensive experience in financial and capital markets, having led investor relations and equity capital markets programs for publicly traded companies across multiple exchanges and jurisdictions.

Independent Bank Appoints Nathan E. Tagg To Its Board Of Directors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Independent Bank Corporation announced the appointment of Nathan E. Tagg to the Boards of Directors of Independent Bank Corporation, Independent Bank, and Highpoint Community Bank, effective July 21, 2026. Tagg previously served on the Boards of Directors of HCB Financial Corp. and Highpoint Community Bank until their acquisition by Independent Bank Corporation on July 1, 2026. He has also been appointed to the Audit Committee of the Independent Bank Corporation Board.

Augmental Launches MouthPad To The Public Alongside New Vox Wearable

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Augmental announced the public U.S. launch of the MouthPad, its tongue-driven computer mouse, alongside a beta release of a new wearable called Vox, which the company describes as an "invisible keyboard" for voice-driven computing. The MouthPad first launched through an Early Access program in 2024 and is currently used by more than 100 people with mobility challenges, including students, artists, and gamers, with some users wearing the device for up to 16 hours a day.

NextTrip Secures $4.6 Million Strategic Growth Capital To Accelerate Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

NextTrip, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive financing agreement with Lind Global Fund III, LP, managed by The Lind Partners, providing an 18-month senior secured convertible note for up to $4.6 million. The note carries a fixed conversion price of $3.88 per share, which the company said represents a substantial premium to its current market price, and includes a structure allowing NextTrip to repay both principal and interest entirely in cash, avoiding share conversions if management determines that to be in shareholders' best interest.

Chevron Phillips Chemical Names Wayne Borduin As New Chief Financial Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Chevron Phillips Chemical announced the appointment of Wayne Borduin as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1. Borduin will report to President and CEO Steve Prusak and oversee the company's finance and procurement organizations, succeeding Darren Ercolani, who is retiring after more than 30 years with CPChem and Phillips Petroleum, now Phillips 66.

Mentari Therapeutics Announces $200 Million Private Placement For Migraine Prevention Pipeline

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Mentari Therapeutics announced a $200 million private placement to leading healthcare investors, with proceeds intended to support continued development of its pipeline of targeted biologics for migraine prevention. The placement consisted of common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase common stock, with investors including Fairmount, ADAR1 Capital Management, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, Sirenia Capital Management LP, Janus Henderson Investors, Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, RTW Investments, Deep Track Capital, Vivo Capital, Commodore Capital, and BB Biotech, among other healthcare investors.

GracoRoberts Announces Strategic Investment From Tinicum

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

GracoRoberts, a distributor of specialty chemicals and advanced composite materials to the aerospace and defense industry, announced a strategic investment from Tinicum, L.P. and affiliated funds managed by Tinicum Incorporated. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. GracoRoberts' management team is retaining a significant interest in the company and will continue to lead the business.

Brennan Investment Group Acquires 157,412-Square-Foot Industrial Property In Greenville-Spartanburg Market

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Nordic Capital To Sell ArisGlobal To Dassault Systèmes

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Nordic Capital has confirmed a definitive agreement to sell ArisGlobal, a provider of software to the life sciences industry, to Dassault Systèmes. The transaction represents a full exit for Nordic Capital and concludes a partnership that transformed ArisGlobal into a scaled, cloud native, and AI enabled platform serving more than 200 life sciences companies, contract research organizations, and government health authorities worldwide.

SPX Technologies Completes Acquisition Of Neptronic For $430 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

SPX Technologies announced it has completed the acquisition of Neptronic. for total cash consideration of CA$605 million, approximately $430 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. The enterprise value to EBITDA multiple implied in the transaction is modestly above the upper end of the company's recently transacted range of 8 to 12 times.

Focus Acquires GuideIT To Accelerate Growth And Expand Client Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

GuideIT, a managed technology services company, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Focus, a healthcare-focused technology services company. Following the closing of the transaction, GuideIT will operate as GuideIT, A Focus Company. Financial terms were not disclosed.

CW Advisors Partners With WNBA Star Tina Charles On Purpose-Driven Wealth Planning

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

CW Advisors announced a new partnership with WNBA legend, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Tina Charles, aimed at helping clients align their wealth with the lives, businesses, and legacies they are building. The firm also named Charles' nonprofit, Hopey's Heart Foundation, as its 2026 philanthropic partner and committed $20,000 to support the organization's mission.

Dimension Launches $800 Million Fund To Invest Across Science And Compute

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Dimension announced the launch of Dimension III, an $800 million fund dedicated to investing alongside entrepreneurs working across the frontiers of science and compute. With the new fund in place, the firm now manages a total of $1.65 billion in assets. Dimension, which launched its first fund in 2023, said it has partnered with 35 companies spanning areas including next-generation silicon, machine learning infrastructure, world models, fundamental physics, and biotechnology and medicine.

Glow Emerges From Stealth With $180 Million In Funding At A $1.2 Billion Valuation For Endpoint Security

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Glow, an AI-powered endpoint security company, announced it has emerged from stealth with $180 million in funding at a $1.2 billion valuation. The round was led by Sequoia Capital, Cyberstarts, Greenoaks, and Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Index Ventures, Swish Ventures, Lux Capital, Operator Collective, and Holly Ventures. The company said the funding will accelerate growth of its go-to-market team in the United States and expand Glow Labs, its research arm.

Passionfroot Raises $15 Million Series A For Platform Built For B2B Creator-Led Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Passionfroot, a platform for B2B creator-led growth, announced a $15 million Series A funding round led by Insight Partners, with participation from existing investors Creandum, Supernode Global, and s16vc. The company describes itself as the first AI-native platform built for B2B creator-led growth, handling everything from creator discovery and contracting to campaign execution and global payment.

Galloway Completes Acquisition Of Anderson Wahlen & Associates

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Galloway & Company, LLC, a national architecture and engineering firm based in Denver, announced it has completed the acquisition of Anderson Wahlen & Associates, a Salt Lake City-based land development consulting and services firm, effective July 1, 2026. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Origin Merchant Partners Combines With Consensus

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Origin Merchant Partners, an independent investment bank, announced a strategic acquisition of Consensus, a U.S.-based consumer-focused investment banking firm with offices in Boston and New York. The combination creates Consensus Consumer, a dedicated consumer-focused division of Origin, aimed at serving founder-led, family-owned, and private-equity-backed consumer and retail brands across cross-border sales, capital raises, and strategic transitions in the middle market.

National Equity Fund Expands Midwest Footprint With Acquisition Of St. Louis Equity Fund Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

National Equity Fund, a non-profit affordable housing investment manager, announced the acquisition of the properties and fund management portfolio of St. Louis Equity Fund, Inc. The transaction adds 32 properties across 13 funds, representing nearly 2,000 affordable homes and more than $200 million in equity, to NEF's portfolio across the St. Louis metropolitan region.

1872 Launches Autonomous Steel Fabrication Factory In Cincinnati And Closes $15 Million Seed Round

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

1872, a startup focused on AI-native manufacturing, announced the launch of an automated steel fabrication factory in Cincinnati's Camp Washington neighborhood, backed by a $15 million seed funding round described as one of the largest in Ohio history. The round was led by private funds advised by The O.H.I.O. Fund. The company was founded by three former SpaceX engineers.

Union Pacific And CN Announce Agreement To Improve North American Rail Connectivity

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Union Pacific Railroad and CN announced the signing of a binding Memorandum of Understanding intended to strengthen rail service across North America and improve both companies' ability to serve customers. The agreement grants Union Pacific expanded operating rights over CN's Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway corridor through Chicago, while granting CN new rights over Union Pacific's network between Memphis, Tennessee, and Eagle Pass, Texas, to support freight movements between Canada and Mexico.

Synaptiq Therapeutics Launches With Acquisition Of Clinical-Stage SYN-001 Program

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

A consortium of European and US-based investors, alongside Nobias Therapeutics, announced the launch of Synaptiq Therapeutics, a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company formed to advance SYN-001 for the treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. The company was created through the acquisition of Nobias Therapeutics' lead asset, NB-001, now renamed SYN-001. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Patrick Dougherty has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.

Carrier Accelerates Intelligent Building Strategy With Acquisition Of 75F

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Carrier Global announced it has acquired 75F, a developer of cloud native, wireless, AI-enabled building automation systems. The acquisition strengthens Carrier's intelligent building capabilities across applications ranging from complex applied systems and data centers to light commercial buildings and retrofits.

Bretton AI: Interview With Co-Founder And CEO Will Lawrence About AI-Native Operations For The Financial Back Office

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Bretton AI runs AI-native operations for the financial back office. Banks regulated by the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC use Bretton AI to run compliance, risk, fraud, and operations on one platform, on their own data and policies, with every output traced, cited, and audit-ready. Bretton AI offers two paths: the Bretton AI Platform, where teams build and run their own agents, and Bretton AI Managed Services, where a dedicated Bretton team runs the program end to end. Everything is underpinned by Bretton AI’s Trust Infrastructure for model governance, continuous evaluation, traceability, and quality assurance. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Bretton AI Co-Founder and CEO Will Lawrence to learn more.

TechWolf And WTW Partner To Turn Skills And Workforce Data Into AI-Driven Business Impact

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

TechWolf and WTW announced a strategic partnership designed to help large enterprises accelerate the shift from skills strategy to practical execution. The collaboration combines WTW's expertise in skills design, job architecture, and workforce transformation with TechWolf's AI-driven Skills, Work, and Market Intelligence platform.

PodcastOne Acquires The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

PodcastOne announced the acquisition of exclusive sales and distribution rights to The Magnificent Others, the interview podcast hosted by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan. PodcastOne will provide exclusive sales, marketing, and distribution for the show, aiming to grow its audience across audio and video platforms while creating new opportunities for advertisers and brand partners.

Portillo’s Appoints Christopher Hansen As Executive Chef And Senior Director Of Culinary Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Portillo's announced the appointment of Christopher Hansen as Executive Chef and Senior Director of Culinary Innovation, a role in which he will oversee all aspects of culinary strategy and menu innovation for the fast-casual chain. Hansen most recently served as Head of U.S. Culinary at Guzman y Gomez, where he led culinary strategy, menu innovation, and brand positioning.

Aton Announces C$4 Million Private Placement

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Aton Resources announced a non-brokered private placement to raise C$4 million through the issuance of 7,619,048 common shares at a price of C$0.525 per share. Proceeds from the placement will support further exploration and development activities at Aton's Hamama project as well as general and administrative expenses.

Sierra Acquires Takeoff, Building Long-Horizon Agent Platform Called Horizon

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

Sierra announced it is acquiring Takeoff, a company that has grown from $0 in annual recurring revenue at the start of the year to nearly eight figures in revenue as of earlier this month. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Together, the two companies are building a new platform called Horizon.

United Therapeutics Appoints Victor Dzau To Its Board Of Directors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jul 24, 2026

United Therapeutics announced that its Board of Directors appointed Victor Dzau, M.D., to the board on July 22, 2026. Dr. Dzau recently completed a 12-year tenure as President of the National Academy of Medicine, with his term expiring at the end of June 2026, and in July 2026 he returned to Duke University as James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Chancellor Emeritus for Health Affairs, and Director of the Mandel Center.