Innovation

It’s electric: Interview With Co-Founder & COO Tiya Gordon About The EV Charging Solution Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

It’s electric is on a mission to bring curbside EV charging to cities across the U.S. and advance the adoption of electric vehicles. Pulse 2.0 interviewed it’s electric co-founder and COO Tiya Gordon to learn more about the company.

Beam Ventures To Launch $150 Million Gaming Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

The Beam Foundation announced plans to launch Beam Ventures in Abu Dhabi, the first venture fund from ADGM focused exclusively on gaming. This $150 million gaming fund aims to accelerate promising founders and contribute to Abu Dhabi’s transformation into a global gaming hub.

Why Marriott Is Buying The Postcard Cabins Brand

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

The Postcard Cabins brand (formerly Getaway), a pioneer in the emerging outdoor accommodations sector, announced its acquisition by Marriott International. This milestone is considered an exciting step for Postcard Cabins as it continues to redefine how people experience the great outdoors, disconnect from daily life, and find meaningful moments in nature.

Amplitude Vascular Systems: Interview With CTO Dr. Robert Chisena About The Medical Device Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Amplitude Vascular Systems (AVS) is an early-stage medical device company focused on safely and effectively treating severely calcified arterial disease. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Amplitude Vascular Systems Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Dr. Robert Chisena to learn more about the company.

Askable: On-Demand Research And Insight Delivery Company Raises A$22 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Askable - an on-demand research and insight delivery platform - announced it has closed an A$22 million Series A funding round led by Airtree Ventures. To exponentially improve products through user insight, Askable connects enterprises with the world's best researchers, rigorously vetted participants, and a research platform that combines human expertise and AI to deliver insights with notable depth.

Liquid AI: $250 Million (Series A) Raised For Scaling Capable General-Purpose AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Generative AI (GenAI) company announced it closed a $250 million early-stage funding round led by Advanced Micro Devices. This funding round will help the company accelerate the development, scaling, and deployment of its Liquid Foundation Models (LFMs), its lightweight, general-purpose AI models that unlock private, efficient, and reliable enterprise-grade AI for all.

Upbound Group Buying Brigit For Up To $460 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Upbound Group, a technology and data-driven leader in accessible and inclusive financial products that address underserved consumers' evolving needs and aspirations, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Brigit, a leading financial health technology company.

AVAIO Digital Building $3 Billion Data Center Campus In Virginia

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

AVAIO Digital Partners announced it had signed an agreement with the Appomattox County Economic Development Authority (EDA) to purchase a 452-acre business and industrial site in Appomattox County, VA. AVAIO Digital plans to develop the site into a $3 billion data center campus with substantial onsite green power.

Uplift360: €1 Million (Pre-Seed) Raised To Develop Sustainable Chemical Recycling Technologies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Uplift360, a company developing sustainable chemical recycling technologies for advanced materials, announced it has closed a €1 million pre-seed funding round led by Promus Ventures and with participation from Twin Track. This funding round will enable Uplift360 to scale its recycling technology and expand its team of scientists as it develops a first-of-its-kind concept demonstrator.

Bioniq: Interview With Founder & CEO Vadim Fedotov About The Nutrient Optimization Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Bioniq is a company that spent years analyzing blood markers to develop its patented algorithm, enabling the company to create 100% personalized supplement formulas based on one of the largest biochemical databases of its kind that spans over five continents. These formulas support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Bioniq founder and CEO Vadim Fedotov to learn more about the company.

VIAVI Buying Inertial Labs For Initial Consideration Of $150 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Viavi Solutions has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Inertial Labs for an initial consideration of $150 million at closing and up to $175 million contingent consideration over four years. VIAVI plans to fund the transaction through cash on hand.

Amulet Capital Partners Investing In Theoria Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Amulet Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity investment firm focused exclusively on the healthcare sector, announced a new platform investment in Theoria Management. This tech-enabled management service organization delivers high-quality and value-based primary care services to senior living communities across the US. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

OpsMx: Interview With CTO Gopinath Rebala About The Application Security Posture Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

OpsMx is a leader in Application Security Posture Management (ASPM), helping enterprises accelerate DevSecOps and “Shift-Left” to Secure the SDLC. Pulse 2.0 interviewed OpsMx CTO Gopinath Rebala to learn more about the company.

Patient Square Capital Buying Patterson Companies In $4.1 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Patterson Companies - a leading dental and animal health distributor - announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Patient Square Capital.

Computershare Buying ingage IR Limited

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

Computershare announced that it has agreed to acquire ingage IR Limited. ingage offers investor relations and engagement software to help listed companies worldwide build and manage their investor relations function.

UVM Research Reveals Breakthrough Mechanism In Brain Blood Flow Regulation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 16, 2024

A team of UVM scientists headed by Mark Nelson, Ph.D., from the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, has uncovered a novel mechanism that reshapes understanding how blood flow is regulated in the brain. This study, published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) - a high-impact, peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - introduces Electro-Calcium (E-Ca) Coupling. This process integrates electrical and calcium signaling in brain capillaries to deliver precise blood flow to active neurons.

Cofactr: Supply Chain Management Platform Raises $17 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

Cofactr - a supply chain and logistics management platform that streamlines production processes and policies for critical hardware manufacturers - announced the closing of its $17.2 million Series A funding round. Bain Capital led the funding, and they were joined by existing seed investors Y Combinator, Floating Point Ventures, Broom, and DNX. The new investment brings Cofactr’s total funding to $28.8 million.

Turn Therapeutics: $75 Million Investment Commitment Secured From GEM Global

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

Turn Therapeutics - an innovator in advanced wound and dermatology solutions - announced a significant investment commitment from GEM Global Yield, a $3.4 billion private equity and alternative investment group.

ANYbotics: AI-Based Robotic Inspection Solutions Company Raises $60 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

ANYbotics, a leader in AI-based robotic inspection solutions, has raised an additional $60 million, bringing its total funding to over $130 million. This new funding is led by Qualcomm Ventures and Supernova Invest, with participation from TDK Ventures and other new investors. Backed by existing investors from Silicon Valley and Europe, including Walden Catalyst, NGP Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Swisscanto, and Swisscom Ventures, this funding will accelerate the company's global scaling and recent expansion in the U.S. to meet the growing demand for its industrial inspection robots and enhance the company’s ability to deliver exceptional services and seamless integrations worldwide.

Legion Technologies: Workforce Management Company Raises $50 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

Legion Technologies, an innovator in workforce management (WFM), announced it has raised $50 million in financing from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank. The funding, which brings Legion’s total funding to $195 million, follows a $50 million growth round led by Riverwood Capital earlier this year.

Vapi: $20 Million (Series A) Raised To Advance Developer Platform For Deploying Voice AI Agents

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

Vapi, a leading developer platform for deploying Voice AI agents, announced that it raised $20 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners and included participation from Abstract Ventures, AI Grant, Y Combinator, Saga Ventures, and Michael Ovitz. The funding will enable the company to expand its engineering team, scale its infrastructure, and reach new enterprise customers.

On Me: Digital Gift Platform Raises $1.7 Million (Seed) And Partners With Mastercard

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

Personalized digital gifting platform On Me announced a 5-year industry partnership with Mastercard and $1.7 million in pre-seed funding from Lerer Hippeau and Focal.VC as it emerges from stealth.

Redesign Health: $175 Million Raised To Empower Founders To Launch Healthcare Companies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 15, 2024

Redesign Health, a venture builder enabling founders to launch and scale transformative healthcare companies, announced it closed a $175 million investment for a new fund to advance healthcare company creation. Investment in the fund includes participation from Declaration Partners, Euclidean Capital, and True North Advisors.

Archer Raises $430 Million And Signs Strategic Partnership With Anduril

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

Archer and Anduril announced an exclusive partnership to jointly create a hybrid VTOL aircraft for critical defense applications targeting a potential program of record from the DOD. For supporting this initiative and other general corporate purposes, Archer raised $430 million in additional equity capital, with participation from Stellantis, United Airlines, and new institutional investors, including Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi investment holding company 2PointZero, a subsidiary of UAE’s largest listed entity IHC.

University of Portland Reveals $20 Million Gift From Anonymous Donor Family

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

The University of Portland (UP) announced a $20 million gift—one of the most significant single gifts in school history—from a multi-generational family whose ties to the University span over 65 years.

Mainframe: $5.5 Million (Seed) Raised For Generative Productivity Software

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

Mainframe, a company designing intelligent and beautiful generative productivity software, has announced an oversubscribed $5.5 million seed funding round. The funding round was co-led by Peter Boyce II of Stellation and Lachy Groom, with participation from Alana Goyal, Akshay Kothari (co-founder of Notion), Weekend Fund, and others. This funding brings the company’s total to $6.75 million and highlights investor confidence in Mainframe’s vision to build tools that elevate human productivity and reimagine how humans and computers interact.

Pleno: Clinical And Multi-Omics Diagnostics Company Raises $25 Million (Series B)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

Pleno, a clinical and multi-omics diagnostics company revolutionizing biological target detection, announced the appointment of Dr. Vik Vaz, M.D., as its new chief executive officer and to serve on its Board of Directors, effective immediately.Dr. Vaz will lead Pleno’s next growth phase as the company prepares to scale its commercial operations with the help of its new $25 million Series B funding. The key investors, Deerfield Management, Foresite Capital, and Medical Excellence Capital, remain committed to supporting the next phase of the company’s growth strategy.

Pin: AI-Based Recruitment Platform Company Raises $3 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

Pin, an AI-based recruitment tool that automates tedious hiring tasks and reduces time-to-hire by nearly 70% announced a $3 million seed round led by Expa Ventures, a leading early-stage venture firm and incubator. And Pin now serves over 600 customers.

Nanoramic: Advanced Battery Technology Company Raises $44 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

Nanoramic - a pioneer in advanced battery technology - announced $44 million in financing. The funding round was co-led by General Motors Ventures (GM Ventures) and Catalus Capital, with participation from Samsung Venture Investment Corporation, Top Material, and existing investors, including Fortistar Capital and WindSail Capital Group. This investment will significantly support Nanoramic's efforts to commercialize its groundbreaking Neocarbonix technology across various industries and applications.

Jiko: $29 Million (Series C) Raised To Provide Seamless Access To U.S. Treasury Bills

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2024

Jiko, a technology platform and bank that provides seamless access to U.S. Treasury bills, announced the completion of a $29 million Series C funding round led by existing investors Upfront Ventures, with the participation from Airbus Ventures, Red River West, Radicle Impact, and other undisclosed investors. This latest funding round strengthens the company’s operating capital as it continues establishing itself as a major player in the institutional and enterprise market.