Innovation

Graviton Bioscience Receives Financing From Enavate Sciences

By Noah Long ● Jan 4, 2024

Graviton Bioscience - a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on therapies that inhibit Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) - recently announced the completion of financing from Enavate Sciences, a portfolio company of Patient Square Capital.

Intel And DigitalBridge Form Articul8 To Offer Enterprise GenAI Software Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 4, 2024

Intel and global investment firm DigitalBridge Group announced the formation of Articul8 AI, an independent company offering enterprise customers a full-stack, vertically-optimized, and secure generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) software platform. And the platform delivers AI capabilities that keep customer data, training, and inference within the enterprise security perimeter.

Apollo Therapeutics: Second Close Of Series C Funding Brings Total Raised To $260 Million

By Annie Baker ● Jan 3, 2024

Apollo Therapeutics - a portfolio biopharmaceutical company focused on translating fundamental medical research into medicines through a hub-and-spoke approach - recently announced that during December 2023, it completed a second close of its Series C financing, raising an additional $33.5 million and bringing the total raised in this round by the company during 2023 to $260 million.

Voyager Therapeutics Signs $1.2 Billion Capsid License Agreement And Strategic Collaboration With Novartis

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 2, 2024

Voyager Therapeutics - a biotechnology company dedicated to advancing neurogenetic medicines - today announced a strategic collaboration and capsid license agreement with Novartis Pharma AG, a subsidiary of Novartis AG, to advance potential gene therapies for Huntington’s disease (HD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). And Voyager will provide Novartis a target-exclusive license to access Voyager’s TRACER capsids and other intellectual property for the respective diseases. Voyager and Novartis will collaborate to advance a preclinical gene therapy candidate for HD.

Formless: $2.2 Million Raised To Create Virtual And Physical Experiences

By Annie Baker ● Dec 29, 2023

Formless - a company building decentralized network infrastructure for property rights management and revenue sharing - recently announced the successful raise of over $2.2 million in pre-seed funding. And the consortium of investors includes a16z Crypto CSS, Beacon web3 accelerator, and angel investors that include Sandeep Nailwal (Co-Founder of Polygon Network), Ryan Fang (Co-Founder and COO of Ankr), Dharmesh Shah (Founder and CTO of HubSpot), and Dallas Austin (Grammy-award winning producer and CEO of Dallas Austin Distribution).

Pattern Energy: $11 Billion In Financing Closed For Largest Clean Energy Infrastructure Project In U.S. History

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 29, 2023

Pattern Energy Group LP - a leader in renewable energy and transmission infrastructure - recently announced that it has closed an $11 billion non-recourse financing and begun full construction of SunZia Transmission and SunZia Wind, the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history.

MediWound Receives $6.7 Million U.S. DoD Funding For Advancing NexoBrid Development

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 29, 2023

MediWound - a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on next-generation enzymatic therapeutics for tissue repair - recently announced that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), through the Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC) has awarded MediWound an additional $6.7 million in non-dilutive funding for developing NexoBrid as a non-surgical solution for field-care burn treatment for the U.S. Army.

U.S. Air Force Awarding Viasat Up To $900 Million For Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract

By Annie Baker ● Dec 29, 2023

Viasat - a global leader in satellite communications - recently announced it will work with the U.S. Air Force's Life Cycle Management Center (USAF LCMC) to transition and integrate new innovative technologies and capabilities as part of a $900 million ceiling, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. As part of the multi-award contract – known by its initialism LCMC XA IDIQ – Viasat is expected to prototype and test systems, hardware, software, and cybersecurity solutions to provide integrated and multi-domain capabilities for the USAF.

Air Space Intelligence: Modern Aerospace Company Raises $34 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 20, 2023

Air Space Intelligence (ASI) - a modern aerospace company addressing the software crisis across commercial and government sectors - recently announced the completion of a $34 million Series B funding round.

ARTBIO: $90 Million Secured To Develop New Class Of Alpha Radioligand Therapies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 20, 2023

ARTBIO - a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing a new class of targeted alpha radioligand therapies (ARTs) – recently announced the closing of an oversubscribed and upsized $90 million Series A financing co-led by Third Rock Ventures and an undisclosed healthcare fund. And seed lead investors F-Prime Capital and Omega Funds participated substantially. The company's prior seed investment round of $23 million was announced in June 2023.

Yogi: Customer Insights Platform Company Raises $10 Million

By Annie Baker ● Dec 19, 2023

Yogi - a customer insights platform built for the consumer goods industry – recently announced its Series A financing led by Blueprint Equity, with participation from existing investors ScOp Venture Capital, RTP Global, Data Point Capital, Remarkable Ventures, and Jaffray Woodriff. In connection with the funding round Sheldon Lewis (Managing Partner at Blueprint Equity) will join Yogi's Board of Directors.

X-energy: Modular Nuclear Reactor Company Closes $235 Million In Funding

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 19, 2023

X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC - a leading developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel technology for clean energy generation - recently announced that it has completed its Series C financing round with an additional $80 million from Ares Management Corporation and X-energy founder Kam Ghaffarian.

Simply Homes: Single Family Rental Sourcing And Underwriting Company Closes $22 Million

By Annie Baker ● Dec 19, 2023

Simply Homes - an automated Single Family Rental (SFR) sourcing and underwriting platform developed to help solve the affordable housing crisis by mobilizing stagnant housing stock for use in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program - recently announced $22 million in funding for operations and real estate acquisitions. The funding was led by Gutter Capital and Watchung Capital, with participation from Village Global, Ambush Capital, RavenOne Ventures, Neil Parikh, Gabe Flateman, Luke Sherwin, and others.

Genera: Broken Ground On $340+ Million Sustainable Biomaterials Campus

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 19, 2023

Genera - a sustainable molded fiber and biomaterials company - recently announced it has broken ground on the nearly $350 million expansion of its Sustainable Biomaterials Campus, enabling increased manufacturing, production, and distribution operations. This expansion adds over 150,000 square feet to Genera’s existing facility and will house more than 60 robotic thermoforming machines, a fleet of autonomously guided vehicles, and automated packaging lines.

On (Formerly GameOn Technology) Closes $25 Million In Funding

By Noah Long ● Dec 19, 2023

ON (formerly GameOn Technology) recently announced a new round of funding and an updated mission to help enterprises and leading brands productize generative AI chat. And the company's established leadership position in the AI chat ecosystem (combined with the growing marketplace for generative AI) prompted a strategic $25 million funding round, bringing the total funding raised to $80 million.

Fantuan: Asian Food Delivery And Life Services Company Closes $40 Million

By Annie Baker ● Dec 19, 2023

Fantuan - an Asian food delivery and life service platform - recently announced it has closed a $40 million Series C funding round. This funding round was co-led by GrubMarket, a renowned U.S. fresh grocery e-commerce platform, and Celtic House Asia Partners. And VisionPlus Capital, JSD Capital, and other backers from North America and China also participated in this round. With this funding round, it makes Fantuan the only ethnic food delivery platform to secure substantial funding in the post-pandemic era.

Bluebird Network: Communications Infrastructure Provider Closes $285 Million In Senior Secured Credit Facilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 19, 2023

Bluebird Network - a communications infrastructure provider and operator of more than 11,000 miles of fiber and two data centers - recently announced that it has received $285 million of five-year Senior Secured Credit Facilities. The proceeds from the Credit Facilities were used to refinance Bluebird's existing indebtedness and will fund ongoing capital expenditures including network upgrades, expansion into new markets, and an awarded Middle Mile grant build. TD Securities acted as Lead Left Arranger on the financing and is the Administrative Agent for the Credit Facilities.

Enveedo: Cyber Risk Management Company Secures $3.15 Million

By Dan Anderson ● Dec 16, 2023

Enveedo - a cybersecurity company with an innovative approach to integrated risk management - recently announced the closing of its $3.15 million seed funding round, led by Silverton Partners. The funding round was also joined by Runtime Ventures and Blu Ventures who are both focused on the cybersecurity industry and contribute relevant operating experience and funding.

Noetica: Customer Interaction Management Company Raises $7.8 Million

By Annie Baker ● Dec 14, 2023

Noetica AI - an AI software platform that benchmarks corporate debt transactions - recently announced it has raised a $6M seed round investment led by global venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, bringing its total funding to $7.8 million following a pre-seed round led by Bling Capital in 2022.

Clever Carnivore: Cruelty-Free Meat Company Raises $7 Million Raised To Expand Operations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 14, 2023

Clever Carnivore - a Chicago biotech startup that is producing low-cost and top-quality cultivated meat - recently announced the successful closing of its $7 million seed round funding. The funding round was led by Lever VC, a globally renowned investor in the alternative protein industry.

Kong Hits $100 Million In Annual Recurring Revenue

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2023

Kong Inc - a leading developer of cloud API technologies - announced today that it has surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue. The company’s success results from a commitment to product excellence, a laser focus on the user and customer experience, and the growth of Kong Konnect, its unified cloud API platform - which helps organizations unleash developer productivity and accelerate time to market.

Cambium: Advanced Materials Company Closes $19 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2023

Cambium - an advanced materials innovator for defense and other high-performance fields - recently announced a $19 million Series A funding round. 8VC led the round, with participation from Veteran Ventures, GSBackers, Marlinspike, MVP Ventures, Gaingels, Kern Venture Fund, Jackson Moses (Founder, Silent Ventures), Vertical Capital, and select angel investors.

MaterialsZone: Long-Term Commercial Agreement With Kafrit Group To Develop Improved Products

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2023

MaterialsZone - a leading Materials Informatics platform for manufacturers’ R&D teams, and Kafrit Group - a global masterbatches and compounds producer - announced today their long-term commercial agreement enabling Kafrit Group to better utilize their data to develop improved products and provide an unparalleled customer experience to its clients.

Laza Medical: $36 Million Raised To Develop Robotic Imaging Solution For Cardiovascular Interventions

By Annie Baker ● Dec 12, 2023

Laza Medical announced today that it had closed $36 million in Series A financing. Laza Medical is developing an imaging solution for cardiac interventions enabled by AI software and state-of-the-art robotics. The funding round was led by The Capital Partnership (TCP) with financial participation from GE HealthCare, PA MedTech VC fund, Unorthodox Ventures, and Dara Holdings.

Netrality Data Centers: Core Interconnection Facility Operator Company Raises $380 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2023

Netrality Data Centers - one of the largest, privately held owners and operators of core interconnection facilities in the U.S. - recently announced it has secured a $380 million sustainability-linked credit facility (SLL).

Medefy Health: Mobile-First Healthcare Benefits Navigation Platform Raises $10 Million

By Annie Baker ● Dec 11, 2023

Medefy Health - a mobile-first healthcare benefits navigation platform dedicated to improving the employee health benefits experience through real-time guidance - announced today that it has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Mercury Fund with participation from Advantage Capital. This new funding round will enable Medefy further to enhance its existing technology platform and artificial intelligence capabilities to operate more efficiently at scale.

Liquid AI: MIT Spinoff Company Raises $37.6 Million To Build General Purpose AI Systems

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2023

Liquid AI is a company that aims to build state-of-the-art, general-purpose AI systems that are capable, efficient, and trustworthy. The company also recently raised $37.6 million in a seed round of funding. The company was founded by Ramin Hasani, Mathias Lechner, Alexander Amini, and Daniela Rus, and it spun out of MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL).

SparkMeter: Grid Management Services Company Raises $5 Million

By Dan Anderson ● Dec 9, 2023

SparkMeter - a provider of grid management services, equipment, and software solutions that increase access to reliable electricity in underserved communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas - announced a strategic $5 million investment and global partnership with Honeywell Smart Energy, one of the largest utility digital solution providers in the world.

Withings Launches Heart Health Hybrid Smartwatch ScanWatch Nova

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 8, 2023

Withings - a leader in connected health devices and the inventor of the first hybrid smartwatch - recently announced its latest innovation: ScanWatch Nova. This new iteration provides a powerful health scan in a splendid luxury diver-style watch with crucial health benefits to track health metrics and activity, including on-demand electrocardiogram, SpO2, body temperature 24/7, advanced activity tracking, and in-depth sleep analysis.

Trackstar: $2.6 Million Secured To Advance First Universal API For Warehouse Management Systems

By Annie Baker ● Dec 7, 2023

Trackstar - a Y Combinator-backed startup transforming supply chain logistics with the world’s first universal API for Warehouse Management Systems - recently announced it had closed a $2.6 million seed round led by TMV. This funding round will accelerate Trackstar's global mission to integrate with warehouse management systems, enhancing supply chain efficiency and data accessibility for businesses of all sizes.