Innovation

Emergent: $23 Million Series A Raised For Vibe Coding Platform For Small Businesses

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Emergent has announced the completion of a Series A funding round, raising an impressive $23 million. This significant investment is set to further Emergent's mission of empowering a wider range of individuals to establish and manage their own businesses effortlessly. The funding round was lde by Lightspeed with participation from other notable investors, including YC, Together, and Prosus. Additionally, several leading figures in the field of artificial intelligence contributed, such as Jeff Dean and Srinivasan Venkatachary from Google, Devendra Chaplot from Thinking Machines, Siqi Chen from Runway, Prasanna from Rippling, Edo Liberty from Pinecone, and Balaji Srinivasan. This latest funding round brings Emergent's total funding to $30 million.

Odeko Acquires Six Degrees Coffee And Launches Mobile Supply App

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Odeko, a leading operations and technology partner dedicated to supporting thousands of local coffee shops, cafes, and various other food and beverage businesses nationwide, has recently announced a significant acquisition. The company has successfully acquired Six Degrees Coffee Service & Distribution, a specialty distributor headquartered in Chico, California. This strategic move is set to enhance Odeko's footprint and service capabilities, particularly on the West Coast.

Corus Orthodontists: C$250 Million Credit Facility Secured

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Corus Orthodontists, a network for orthodontic practices across North America, has announced a significant enhancement to its financial structure. The company has expanded its secured syndicated credit facility, which is a substantial financial arrangement provided by a group of Canadian and U.S. lenders. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, often referred to as CIBC, played a central role in this process, acting as the sole lead arranger and also serving as the Administrative Agent for the facility. Other key financial institutions, including Scotiabank and ATB Financial, also contributed their expertise as co-documentation agents, ensuring that all necessary paperwork and agreements were handled correctly.

Vivere Partners: Interview With CEO Chris McKechnie About The Specialty Insurance Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Vivere Partners is a specialty insurance company (Managing General Agency) that’s reimagining how the insurance underwriting model works. Founded in 2025 and based in Laguna Beach, California, Vivere focuses on building tailored insurance solutions for niche markets, with an emphasis on aligning underwriting discipline, technology, and long-term profitability. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Vivere Partners CEO Chris McKechnie to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Northleaf: Private Credit Presence Advanced In The Netherlands With de Jong & Laan Investment

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Northleaf Capital Partners, a global investment firm specializing in private markets, recently announced a significant transaction. Funds managed by Northleaf have provided a senior secured credit facility to de Jong & Laan, or dJ&L, a prominent Audit and Accounting firm based in the Netherlands.

Goldman Sachs: $750 Million Milestone For Small Businesses Program Support And Upcoming Summit

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Goldman Sachs is preparing to host its third 10,000 Small Businesses Summit, scheduled for October 29-30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. This significant event marks a dual celebration: fifteen years since the inception of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and five years of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices policy advocacy initiative. This upcoming summit is anticipated to be the largest gathering of small business owners in the United States, providing a platform to commemorate 15 years of impact and to strategically position these businesses for sustained growth and success in the years ahead.

VedaBio: Significant Funding Secured And Strategic Partnership Signed Advance Molecular Diagnostics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

VedaBio, an innovative biotechnology company dedicated to transforming the landscape of molecular detection, has recently announced a significant extension of its Series A funding. A strategic agreement with Siemens Healthineers, a leading global healthcare company, complements this funding. These two commitments together represent a substantial investment of up to $25 million, specifically allocated to propel the development of VedaBio’s groundbreaking CRISPR-based product platform.

Pfizer Buying Metsera For Up To $7.3 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Pfizer, a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry, has announced a significant move to strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving market for obesity and cardiometabolic treatments. The company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Metsera. This clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company has been at the forefront of developing innovative, next-generation medicines in this critical area of health.

Archetype: Over $100 Million Closed For Third Crypto Venture Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Archetype, a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage crypto startups, has announced the closing of its third fund, Archetype III, with over $100 million in total capital commitments. This new fund received strong backing from a mix of existing and new institutional investors. These supporters include a range of organizations such as funds of funds, pension plans, academic endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices. Their participation reflects growing confidence in Archetype’s approach and the broader potential of decentralized technologies.

Yanolja Group: Interview With CEO And Group CSO Jeff Kim About The Travel Experiences Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

Yanolja Group is a global travel technology company that uses AI and cloud-based platforms to provide personalized travel experiences and operational efficiencies for both travelers and hospitality businesses. To gain a deeper understanding of the company, Pulse 2.0 interviewed Jeff Kim, the CEO of Yanolja Cloud and Yanolja Group CSO.

PlantBaby: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Alex Abelin About The Plant-Based Nutrition Products Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 24, 2025

PlantBaby is a food and beverage company focused on creating clean-label, organic, plant-based nutrition products for families. Founded in 2020 and based in Hawaii, the company’s mission is to “nourish, inform, and empower” future generations by offering healthier alternatives to traditional dairy and processed foods. Pulse 2.0 interviewed PlantBaby co-founder and CEO Alex Abelin to gain a deeper understanding of the company.