Innovation

Worldly Acquires Bendi Software To Add AI-Powered Supply Chain Mapping And Risk Intelligence

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Worldly, the leading sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform for the consumer goods industry, has acquired Bendi Software, a UK-based supply chain mapping and supplier risk intelligence company. Financial terms were not disclosed. Bendi's technology will be integrated across the Worldly platform over the coming months, expanding capabilities within Worldly Axion, Supplier Compliance Management, and adjacent products.

OPAQUE Acquires Cryptographic AI Technology From UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

OPAQUE, the Confidential AI company headquartered in San Francisco and founded by researchers from UC Berkeley's RISELab, has acquired advanced cryptographic AI technologies from the Technology Innovation Institute, the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council. The acquisition marks the first time cryptographic AI technologies developed in the UAE have been acquired and deployed at scale by a U.S.-based technology company.

American Express Global Business Travel To Be Acquired By Long Lake For $6.3 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

American Express Global Business Travel, operated by Global Business Travel Group and listed on the NYSE under the ticker GBTG, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Long Lake Management in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.3 billion. Amex GBT shareholders will receive $9.50 per share in cash, representing a 60.2% premium to Amex GBT's closing stock price on May 1, 2026, and a premium of approximately 65.1% over the 30-day volume weighted average price ending that date.

Avista Healthcare Partners Launches Birchwell Consumer Health And Acquires Bag Balm As First Investment

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Avista Healthcare Partners, a leading private equity firm focused exclusively on healthcare with over $10 billion invested in more than 50 healthcare businesses globally, has announced the launch of Birchwell Consumer Health, a new U.S. consumer healthcare platform formed to acquire differentiated, problem-solving over-the-counter and skincare brands. Birchwell's first acquisition is Bag Balm, a Vermont-based therapeutic skincare brand founded in 1899, acquired from a seller group led by Gemini Investors.

Audax Private Debt Closes $1 Billion Private Credit Continuation Vehicle Led By Pantheon

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Audax Private Debt, a leading provider of financing solutions for the middle market, has announced the closing of Audax Direct Lending Solutions Fund I CV, a $1.0 billion private credit continuation vehicle led by Pantheon, a leading global credit secondaries solutions investor.

Mobius Renewables Completes Acquisition Of Air Liquide’s Biogas Production Activities Across Four Countries

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Mobius Renewables, a global vertically integrated low-carbon fuels platform established in December 2025 by funds managed by IFM Investors, has completed the acquisition of Air Liquide's biogas production activities in the United States, France, Norway, and Sweden.

Earlyasset: Interview With CEO Shawn Bercuson On Unlocking Private Market Liquidity

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Earlyasset is a company that is building the infrastructure layer and digital transaction engine for the venture secondary market, helping to provide liquidity for employee and investor shares in growth-stage companies through algorithmic pricing and streamlined, compliant, and lower-cost transaction workflows. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Earlyasset CEO Shawn Bercuson to learn more.

Cylake: Interview With Founder & CEO Nir Zuk About The Cybersecurity Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Cylake is a company founded by industry veterans to build a complete, AI-native, data-driven security platform for highly regulated organizations that require total data sovereignty, operating entirely on-premises or within private clouds. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Cylake founder and CEO Nir Zuk to learn more.

Reserv: $125 Million Series C Raised To Scale AI-Native Insurance Claims Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Reserv, the property and casualty insurance industry's largest AI-native third-party administrator, has raised $125 million in a Series C funding round led by KKR, with participation from existing investors Bain Capital Ventures and Flourish Ventures, as well as select strategic partners and clients.

Latus Bio: $97 Million Series A Raised To Advance Gene Therapy Platform Into Larger Patient Populations

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 4, 2026

Latus Bio, a biotechnology company engineering scalable gene therapies for broader patient populations, has closed a $97 million Series A financing, including a $43 million extension led by 8VC, with participation from existing investors DCVC Bio, BioAdvance, Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners, Modi Ventures, Gaingels, and Hatch BioFund, along with new investors Korea Development Bank and Helen's Pink Sky Foundation.