Innovation

april: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Ben Borodach About The Tax Filing Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

april is a company that provides an AI-powered tax filing platform that helps individuals complete and optimize their taxes directly within financial apps. Pulse 2.0 interviewed april co-founder and CEO Ben Borodach to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Canopy: $22 Million Series B Raised To Expand Connected Safety And Location Intelligence Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Canopy, which provides connected safety platforms for U.S. health systems, has closed a $22 million Series B financing to accelerate growth of its location-based safety and operational tools. The round was led by 111° West Capital and ACME Capital, with participation from existing investors, as the company positions itself as a foundational alternative to what it describes as fragmented point solutions across hospital campuses.

Onsetto: $2.2 Million Seed Raised To Speed Product Development And Expand Go-To-Market

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Onsetto, a Minneapolis-based fintech building a white-label platform to help banks and credit unions capture and retain primary business banking relationships, has raised $2.2 million in a Series Seed financing. The round was led by EJF Ventures, the early-stage fintech investing platform of EJF Capital. Additional participants included Idea Fund of La Crosse, The Perch Fund, and Minneapolis-based angel investors Daren Cotter and Bobby Astrup.

Blackbird.AI: $28 Million Raised As ARR Jumps 118% On Growing Demand To Counter Narrative Attacks

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Blackbird.AI announced it has secured $28 million in new strategic funding as the company reported accelerating growth tied to rising demand from enterprises and national security organizations for tools to detect and counter narrative-based disinformation, misinformation, and deepfake-driven campaigns.

Corgi: $108 Million Raised And Regulatory Approval Won To Launch AI-Native Insurance Carrier For Startups

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Corgi announced it has raised $108 million and recently secured regulatory approval to operate as a licensed, full-stack insurance carrier built specifically for startups, positioning the company to offer end-to-end coverage spanning underwriting, policy administration, and claims. Investors participating in the funding include Y Combinator, Kindred Ventures, Contrary, Oliver Jung, Glade Brook Capital Partners, Seven Stars, Leblon Capital (Andrej Henkler, Fadwa Ouardani), Fellows Fund, Alumni Ventures, Quadri Ventures, Vocal Ventures, Phosphor Capital and SV Angel, among others.

Tucuvi: $20 Million Series A Raised To Scale AI Care Management Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Tucuvi has raised $20 million in Series A funding to accelerate adoption of its AI Care Management platform across healthcare organizations, as systems grapple with workforce shortages, rising demand, and increasing operational complexity. The round was co-led by Cathay Innovation and Kfund through its early-growth fund Leadwind, with participation from existing investors Frontline Ventures, Seaya Ventures, and Shilling.

Red Pitaya: Interview With CEO Mateja Lampe Rupnik About The Lab Gear Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Red Pitaya offers affordable, developer-friendly platforms with open-source software that combine the functions of an oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, signal generator, and logic analyzer in a single, compact device. Built on FPGA architecture and accessible through a browser-based interface, it allows users to progress from basic experiments to advanced projects in areas such as embedded systems, FPGA programming, and software-defined radio. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Red Pitaya CEO Mateja Lampe Rupnik to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

OpenAI And SoftBank Invest $1 Billion In SB Energy As Stargate Data Center Buildout Accelerates

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

SoftBank Group and OpenAI are investing a combined $1 billion in SB Energy to expand the company’s role as a development and execution partner for large-scale U.S. data center campuses and related energy infrastructure, the companies said Friday.

Rain: $250 Million Series C At $1.95 Billion Valuation Raised To Expand Stablecoin Payments Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Rain, which provides enterprise infrastructure for stablecoin-powered payments, has raised a $250 million Series C round led by ICONIQ, valuing the company at $1.95 billion. The financing brings Rain’s total funding to more than $338 million, and follows its Series B by about four months and its Series A by about 10 months.

Cinnaire Names Josh Ghena President Of Cinnaire Equity Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Cinnaire has appointed Josh Ghena as president of Cinnaire Equity Partners, effective immediately, after he served as interim president since June 1, 2025. Ghena became the sole leader of the equity syndication unit on Aug. 31, 2025, following the retirement of Ryan Robinson.

Cizzle Brands Buys Flow Water Manufacturing Unit For $83.75 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Cizzle Brands announced it acquired the manufacturing business of Flow Water for aggregate proceeds of about $83.75 million, a deal the company says shifts it from an emerging consumer packaged goods portfolio into a vertically integrated sports nutrition and beverage platform with a faster path to profitability.

Spruce Biosciences: Up To $50 Million Venture Debt Facility Secured To Support TA-ERT Path To Market

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Spruce Biosciences announced it has entered into a venture debt loan facility for up to $50 million with Avenue Venture Opportunities Fund II, a fund of Avenue Capital Group, providing growth capital as the company advances tralesinidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (TA-ERT) toward a planned biologics license application for Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB).

Majesco Closes Vitech Acquisition, Expands Into Pension And Benefits Administration

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Majesco announced it has closed its previously announced acquisition of Vitech, adding cloud-native pension and benefits administration capabilities and expanding Majesco’s presence beyond P&C and life, annuity and health (L&AH) insurance technology into Group & Benefits and Pension & Retirement.

Antin To Buy Emsere, Expanding Clinical Trial Equipment Rental Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Antin Infrastructure Partners announced it has agreed with Dutch family office and investment platform Gryphion to acquire Emsere, a medical equipment rental specialist that provides mission-critical devices and logistics services for clinical trials worldwide. The investment will be made through Antin’s Mid Cap Fund I, and the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions.

Veritas Capital To Buy Majority Stake In GHX

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Veritas Capital announced it has entered into a definitive agreement, through an affiliate, to acquire a majority stake in Global Healthcare Exchange, a supply chain software platform that connects healthcare providers and suppliers. Existing shareholders Temasek and Warburg Pincus will remain invested alongside Veritas and support the company’s growth strategy. Financial terms were not disclosed.

BNP Group Acquires Aviation Consultancy Airport Gurus

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

BNP Group, an air transportation design and engineering firm backed by Godspeed Capital Management, has acquired Airport Gurus, an aviation consultancy specializing in airport information and communication technology consulting and airport business operations planning.

Benefit Street Partners Closes Real Estate Opportunistic Debt Fund II At $10 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Benefit Street Partners (BSP), a credit-focused alternative asset manager, announced it has reached a final close for BSP Real Estate Opportunistic Debt Fund II (ODF II), providing $10 billion of investable capital inclusive of related vehicles and anticipated leverage, backed by $3 billion of equity commitments. BSP said the raise is the largest in its history for its U.S. real estate debt strategy.

Coincheck To Acquire 3iQ In Stock Deal Valuing Manager At About $112 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Coincheck Group N.V., the Nasdaq-listed holding company behind Japan crypto exchange Coincheck, has signed a stock purchase agreement with its majority shareholder, Monex Group, to acquire approximately 97% beneficial ownership of 3iQ Corp., a Canadian alternative digital asset manager.

Presto Adds $10 Million To Advance Voice AI Rollout for Enterprise QSR Drive-Thrus

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Presto announced it has added $10 million in new funding to accelerate its AI roadmap and expand deployments of its enterprise voice assistant for quick-service restaurant drive-thrus. The company positioned the raise as growth capital to scale production implementations and deepen its lead in voice AI for large QSR brands.

PureSpectrum Partners With TA Associates To Fund Product Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

PureSpectrum, a market research technology company, said it has entered into a strategic partnership with TA Associates to support continued innovation, platform scaling, and expanded value for customers across the market research ecosystem. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Carna Health: $8 Million Raised To Expand Global Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Carna Health announced it has raised $8 million to expand global access to its chronic kidney disease screening and care management technology, following a strategic partnership with Siemens Healthineers to scale preventive kidney care worldwide.

UPenn, BioNTech, And Osage University Partners Launch $50 Million Seed Fund To Back Penn Life Science Startups

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

The University of Pennsylvania, BioNTech SE, and Osage University Partners (OUP) announced the launch of the $50 million Penn-BioNTech Innovative Therapeutics Seed Fund (PxB Fund), a dedicated venture fund focused on early-stage life science companies originating from Penn.

Hadrian Raises Funding At $1.6 Billion Valuation To Scale New U.S. Factories

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Hadrian, a company focused on building advanced U.S. manufacturing capacity for aerospace, defense, and critical infrastructure, announced it has raised expanded capital led by accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates. The financing values the company at $1.6 billion, Hadrian said.

Brado Partners With Santé Ventures To Scale Conversational AI For Patient Navigation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Brado has entered a strategic investment partnership with Santé Ventures aimed at accelerating growth of Brado’s Conversational Engagement Platform, an AI-powered tool designed to help health systems guide patients through care options and next steps.

Silverfort: Interview With Director Of Product Management Ido Halevi About The Identity Security Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Silverfort is a company that focuses on identity security, protecting the identities (human and non-human) that access systems, both on-premises and in the cloud. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Silverfort's Director of Product Management, Ido Halevi, to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Lirio: Interview With Chief Behavioral Officer Amy Bucher, PhD About The Personalized Engagement Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Lirio is a company that provides an AI-driven behavioral engagement platform that uses personalized machine learning to guide individuals toward better health decisions and improved clinical outcomes. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Lirio Chief Behavioral Officer Amy Bucher, PhD to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Fenergo: Interview With Director Of Thought Leadership & Regulatory Affairs Tracy Moore About The Client-Lifecycle Management Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Fenergo is a leading provider of AI-powered Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions that digitally transform how financial institutions, asset management and fintech firms and corporates onboard and manage clients throughout their client lifecycle. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Fenergo's Director of Thought Leadership & Regulatory Affairs, Tracy Moore, to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

11:11 Systems Acquires Ntirety To Expand Managed IT Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

11:11 Systems has acquired Ntirety, a managed and professional IT services firm, as it continues to expand its managed infrastructure platform and VMware-focused cloud capabilities. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Calera Capital Buys ReVamp Companies, Expanding Presence In Multi-Site Home Improvement Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Calera Capital announced it has acquired ReVamp Companies, a provider of specialty floor and surface coatings, fencing, and decking replacement and installation services for existing single-family homeowners. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Acuitas Therapeutics Buys Majority Stake In RNA Technologies & Therapeutics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 10, 2026

Acuitas Therapeutics announced it has acquired a majority stake in RNA Technologies & Therapeutics (RNA T&T), deepening a long-running collaboration and adding in-house scale for RNA construct design, optimization, and manufacturing to complement Acuitas’ lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform.