Innovation

Eaton Signs Deal To Buy Fibrebond For $1.4 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Intelligent power management company Eaton announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Fibrebond Corporation, a designer and builder of pre-integrated modular power enclosures for data center, industrial, utility and communications customers.

Causal Labs: $6 Million (Seed) Raised For Building AI For Weather Prediction

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Causal Labs, an AI company pioneering physics-based models to address civilization-scale challenges, announced it has raised $6 million in seed funding, led by Kindred Ventures with participation from Refactor, BoxGroup, Factorial, Otherwise, Karman Ventures, and a select group of angel investors. Causal Labs plans to use the funds to expand its team, develop the initial model further, including safety and transparency mechanisms, and initiate robust pilot programs across critical industries.

Fortis: Strategic Investment Raised From Audax And Lovell Minnick

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Audax Private Equity and Lovell Minnick Partners (LMP) announced a joint investment in Fortis, a payments technology leader for software providers, ERP customers, and scaling businesses. This investment, which closed on March 11, 2025, will enable Fortis to continue seeking to drive innovation and operational excellence, enhance its product and service offerings, accelerate its M&A growth strategy, and scale infrastructure to meet businesses' evolving needs. The terms of the investment were not disclosed.

NV5 Buying Commissioning Assessment Services Herman Cx

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

NV5, a provider of technology, certification, and consulting solutions, announced that it completed the acquisition of Herman Cx, a provider of commissioning and conformity assessment services for hyperscale data centers. Launched in 2016, Herman Cx supports data center infrastructure for U.S. technology companies, the financial services sector, and co-location data centers across the U.S.

zSpace Buying BlocksCAD For Transforming 3D Design And STEM Education

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

zSpace, a leader in augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) education, announced the acquisition of BlocksCAD, a platform specializing in 3D design and modeling for STEM education. The acquisition strengthens zSpace’s commitment to transforming education through innovative technology and expands its capabilities to deliver engaging, hands-on learning experiences for students worldwide.

Rocket Lab To Buy Laser Communications Provider Mynaric

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Rocket Lab USA (a global leader in launch services and space systems) announced it has entered into a non-binding term sheet with specific lenders to acquire a controlling equity position in Mynaric AG. Mynaric is a leading provider of laser optical communications terminals for air, space, and mobile applications.

Herbalife Buying Assets Of Pro2col Health And Pruvit Ventures

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Herbalife, a health and wellness company, community, and platform, announced it has entered into a binding memorandum of understanding to acquire 100% of Pro2col Health and Pruvit Ventures assets and a 51% controlling ownership interest in Link BioSciences.

Plata: $160 Million Raised At $1.5 Billion Valuation For Mexico-Based Digital Banking Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Plata, a Mexico-based digital bank that received its banking license authorization in December 2024, announced it has closed its Series A equity round with a $1.5 billion valuation less than two years after launching operations and after surpassing one million active credit card users. The Series A raised $160 million in a combined equity round, led by Kora, subject to regulatory approvals. The round also included participation from Moore Strategic Ventures, among other U.S. and European investors.

Capitala Group: Oversubscribed Fund Closed With $1 Billion In Commitments

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Capitala Group - a leading private markets investment firm providing capital solutions to lower middle-market companies - announced that its latest fundraise was oversubscribed with over $1 billion in commitments, including leverage and separately managed accounts.

LGM Pharma Investing $6 Million To Expand Texas Facility

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

LGM Pharma, a leading provider of tailored API and CDMO services for the entire drug product lifecycle, announced an investment of over $6 million to expand its Rosenberg, Texas, manufacturing facility as part of its Phase I CDMO growth strategy. The expansion will increase capacity for liquid, suspension, semi-solid, and suppository drug products, addressing the rising demand for reliable U.S.-based production.

Northleaf: C$100 Million Committed To Shared Tower

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Northleaf Capital Partners, a leading global private markets investment firm, partnered with Shared Tower. The funds managed by Northleaf have made an initial commitment of C$100 million to accelerate Shared Tower’s vision of enhancing connectivity for Canadians under a shared infrastructure model.

Darwin: $5 Million (Seed) Raised For AI Security And Governance Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Darwin, a leader in AI security and governance for the public sector, announced it is coming out of stealth to enable state and local agencies to scale AI securely while maintaining oversight and compliance. The company also announced it has secured $5 million in seed funding, co-led by UpWest and Resolute Ventures.

Mesh: $82 Million (Series B) Secured For Building First Global Crypto Payments Network

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Mesh, a leading crypto payments network enabling seamless transactions with cheap and immediate conversions, announced it closed an $82 million Series B funding round, raising its total to over $120 million. The funding round was led by Paradigm, with participation from Consensys (parent company of MetaMask), QuantumLight Capital (started by Revolut Founder & CEO Nik Storonsky), Yolo Investments, and others. Mesh has previously raised funding from investors, including PayPal Ventures, Galaxy Ventures, and MoneyForward.

Ello: Interview With Co-Founder & CXO Elizabeth Adams About The AI Reading Coach

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Ello is an AI read-along companion who listens, teaches, and transforms children into enthusiastic readers. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Ello co-founder and Chief Experience Officer (CXO) Elizabeth Adams to learn more about the company.

ATLANT 3D: $15 Million (Series A+) Raised For Growing Atomic Layer Processing Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

ATLANT 3D, whose atomic-scale manufacturing technology enables precise development of advanced materials and devices for optics, photonics, microelectronics, quantum computing, sensors, and space applications, announced a $15 million Series A+ funding round led by West Hill Capital. West Hill Capital was also the lead investor in ATLANT 3D's $15 million Series A round in September 2022.

Rakurai: $3 Million (Seed) Raised To Supercharge Solana Staking

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Rakurai, an infrastructure project supercharging Solana staking, announced it has closed a $3 million seed funding round led by Anagram Ventures. Other investors in this round include Colosseum, Slow Ventures, Robot Ventures, and Crypto.com. P2P.org, GlobalStake, and Cyber Fund also participated, highlighting Rakurai's potential to drive significant advancements in decentralized infrastructure.

Binance: $2 Billion Raised From MGX

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Binance (a cryptocurrency exchange) and MGX (an Abu Dhabi-based AI and advanced technology investor) announced a landmark $2 billion investment. This deal, the first institutional investment in Binance to date, marks a significant step in advancing digital asset adoption and reinforcing blockchain’s role in global finance. It is also the single largest investment in a crypto company and the largest investment ever paid in crypto (stablecoin).

Wolf Games: $4 Million (Seed) Raised For Generative Gaming Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Wolf Games, a company that will be the home of generative cinematic games personalized to the player, announced its official launches with $4 million in seed funding from television and music industry titans. Investors include iconic television producer Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of the two longest running drama series on television (Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU) as well as the One Chicago and FBI branded series; Jimmy Iovine, music industry pioneer and co-founder of Interscope Records and Beats by Dre; and Paul Wachter, Founder and CEO of Main Street Advisors and Chairman of UTA.

Equilibrium Energy: $28 Million (Series B2) Raised For Unlocking Potential Of Power Portfolio Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Equilibrium Energy, a leader in energy portfolio management capabilities and services for the power industry, announced the closing of a $28 million Series B2 funding round, as and the launch of its flagship software platform product, EQ Mission Control. The funding, which was led by GS Energy, with participation from NRG Energy and other new and existing investors, accelerates Equilibrium’s mission to help power companies, independent power producers, and corporations unlock the full potential within their energy portfolios.

Vivace Therapeutics: $35 Million (Series D) Raised For Supporting Development Of Cancer Drug Targeting Hippo Pathway

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Vivace Therapeutics - a small molecule discovery and development company developing first-in-class cancer therapies targeting the Hippo pathway - announced the closing of a $35 million Series D financing. The funding round was led by RA Capital Management, an existing investor, and included investment from other existing investors Canaan Partners and Cenova Capital.

CleanPlanet: Strategic Investment Raised From Nuveen Private Equity Impact

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Nuveen, the $1.3 trillion asset manager of TIAA, announced a $30 million equity investment in CleanPlanet Chemical, a leading provider of recycling-as-a-service for industrial solvents. This investment, made by Nuveen's Private Equity Impact team, will support CleanPlanet's growth and enable the company to scale its proprietary on-site recycling technology.

National Grid Partners: $100 Million Committed To Invest In AI Companies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

National Grid Partners, which is the corporate venture capital and innovation arm of one of the world's largest utilities, announced a commitment to invest $100 million in AI startups that are advancing the future of energy. These funds will advance the development of a more efficient, resilient, and dynamic grid that supports economic growth, reduces customer costs, helps meet climate goals, and ensures energy security.

Pentera: $60 Million (Series D) Secured For Leading Security Validation Market Consolidation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Pentera, a leader in automated security validation, today announced a $60 million Series D funding round led by Evolution Equity Partners, with participation from Farallon Capital Management, bringing the company's total funding to $250 million.

Euna Solutions Buying AmpliFund To Expand Grant Management Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Euna Solutions, a provider of SaaS solutions for the public sector, announced the acquisition of AmpliFund, a leading grant management platform provider. And this strategic move enhances Euna Solutions’ existing grant management product suite, further solidifying its commitment to delivering innovative and comprehensive tools for government agencies, nonprofits, and other public sector organizations.

Scopely Buying Niantic’s Games Business In $3.5 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Scopely, which is the #1 mobile games company in the U.S., announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Niantic’s games business. This deal, valued at $3.5 billion, will bring Niantic’s entire team of exceptional gamemakers and category-leading games Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now to Scopely’s portfolio, among other apps and live experiences. At Scopely, the Niantic game teams will continue pursuing their ambitious roadmaps, led by their long-time game studio leaders Kei Kawai and Ed Wu.

Quorum Software Buying zdSCADA To Enhance Upstream On Demand Suite

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Quorum Software, a leading worldwide energy software provider, announced that it has acquired zdSCADA, a leader in cloud-based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology. This deal enhances Quorum’s comprehensive Upstream On Demand suite, integrating SCADA to provide real-time well data for production management.

Redbrick Buying Newsletter Advertising Platform Paved

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Redbrick, a company that builds, acquires, and supports innovative businesses, announced its acquisition of Paved, a newsletter advertising platform connecting publishers and advertisers. And Paved’s premium marketplace connects top advertisers like Uber, DoorDash, and Salesforce with 253 million newsletter subscribers across 3,000+ publishers including NYT, NBC, and Bloomberg.

Accenture To Buy Construction Consultancy Company Soben

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 14, 2025

Accenture announced it has agreed to acquire Soben, a global provider of construction consultancy services, headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland. And Soben's expertise in data center development and the pharmaceutical and energy industries will boost Accenture’s capital projects capabilities in advisory as well as project, cost, and commercial management for clients.

Vanderbilt University: $25 Million Gift Received For New College Of Connected Computing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 13, 2025

Anyware Robotics: $12 Million (Seed) Raised For Multi-Purpose Mobile Robotics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 13, 2025

Anyware Robotics, a leader in multi-purpose mobile robotics equipped with embodied intelligence, announced it has secured $12 million in seed funding. The funding round is led by GFT Ventures, with participation from Foothill Ventures, Black Forest Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and other investors.