Innovation

TruVideo: AI-Based Video And Messaging Company Raises $40 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

TruVideo - a leader in AI- and AR-driven communication technology for the transportation industry - announced that it has secured a $40 million minority growth investment from TZP Growth Equity.

Tasca Therapeutics: Drug Discovery Platform Secures $52 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Tasca Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that utilizes a unique drug discovery platform that identifies and maps novel lipid-binding pockets on proteins to develop new medicines to treat human diseases, announced a $52 million Series A financing, co-led by Regeneron Ventures and Cure Ventures, with participation from Invus Group. This funding round will advance Tasca’s novel drug discovery platform, progress its lead program, CP-383, into Phase 1/2 clinical proof-of-concept studies, and expand its drug candidate pipeline.

Aampe: AI Agent Personalization Company Raises $18 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Aampe announced it has deployed over 100 million intelligent agents into consumer applications across four continents. The company also announced $18 million in Series A funding led by Theory Ventures, which brought Aampe’s total funding to $27.3 million to accelerate the adoption of its agentic infrastructure. Z47 is also participating in the round.

Next Sense: Smart Building Platform Company Raises €11.5 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Next Sense - a leading provider of Smart Building Platform SaaS solutions - announced the closing of an €11.5 million Series A investment round. The funding round was co-led by ABP and ETF Partners, with additional participation from existing shareholders Edge, SHAPE Capital, and Timeless Investments.

BITKRAFT Ventures Receives Minority Fund Investment From Blue Owl

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

BITKRAFT Ventures announced a passive minority investment from a fund managed by Blue Owl’s GP Strategic Capital platform. This funding enables BITKRAFT to further expand its operating capabilities and expand its investment platform, which includes more than $1 billion in assets under management and six funds covering early-stage venture, growth stage venture, and Web3/Crypto. Blue Owl’s GP Strategic Capital platform provides minority equity and financing solutions to private capital managers.

Blackstone: Over $1 Billion To Drive JSSI’s Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Blackstone Credit & Insurance and Jet Support Services (JSSI) announced over $1 billion in new financings to support the recapitalization of JSSI, the world’s largest independent provider of hourly cost maintenance programs for business aircraft engines, auxiliary power units, and airframes. The funds managed by Blackstone have now provided over $1.8 billion in debt financing and investment in common equity in a series of financings for JSSI, a portfolio company of leading private equity firms GTCR and Genstar Capital.

Ambrosia Biosciences: Drug Discovery Company Secures $25 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Ambrosia Biosciences announced the second closing of its Series A financing. Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, led this funding closing with additional participation from existing investors BVF Partners and Boulder Ventures. This capital brings Ambrosia's total Series A funding to $25 million.

Nexus W2V: $140 Million Raised And Construction Of Flagship RNG Facility In Indiana Revealed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Nexus W2V - a leading developer of waste-to-value infrastructure projects - announced the closing of an anchor $75 million structured equity commitment from Orion Infrastructure Capital (OIC). And with additional investment from Nexus Holdings, Khasma Capital, and debt financing from Ameris Bank.

Qnovia: $16 Million (Series B) Closed To Develop Proprietary Inhalation Device Technologies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Pharmaceutical company Qnovia announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its investigational new drug (IND) application for the RespiRx Nicotine Inhaler (QN-01), a prescription inhaled smoking cessation medicine. The company also announced that it raised $16 million in Series B funding, led by Blue Ledge Capital, Evolution VC Partners, Vice Ventures, and Gaingels.

DorothyAI: Interview With President Sharon Shofner-Meyer About The AI-Based IP Management Solutions Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

DorothyAI is a pioneer in AI-driven intellectual property management solutions. Pulse 2.0 interviewed DorothyAI President Sharon Shofner-Meyer, J.D., to learn more about the firm.

JA Moody Signs Partnership With PE Firm New Heritage Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

JA Moody - a premier maritime supplier of fluid control valves, actuators, strainers, parts, and services to the US Navy and Commercial Marine industry - announced a strategic partnership and investment from New Heritage Capital, a Boston-based private equity firm specializing in founder-owned businesses.

AQEMIA: Drug Discovery Pipeline Company Raises $38 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

AQEMIA, a biotechnology company that teaches atomic-scale physics to a generative AI (GenAI) for inventing new medicines, announced two significant milestones: $100 million in total funding and the beginning of a global expansion, starting with London (United Kingdom). This new round is led by Cathay Innovation, followed by historical investors Wendel, Bpifrance Large Venture, Eurazeo, and Elaia.

Leyline Renewable Capital: $140 Million Raised From Keystone And Public University Foundation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Leyline Renewable Capital, a leading provider of debt capital solutions for renewable energy developers, announced that it has secured a total of $140 million in capital from Keystone National Group and a large public university foundation.

Gavan: $8 Million (Series A) Raised To Commercialize Plant-Based Fat

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Food technology company Gavan Technologies has raised an $8 million Series A. This new funding round will enable Gavan to enter the European food market with its plant protein-based fat solution, Fatrix. MoreVC led the round, which also included participation from Lever VC, EIT Food, and DarkBoot Group.

Ask Sage: $17 Million (Series A) Raised To Build GenAI Platforms For Government And Commercial Sectors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Ask Sage - a leading Generative AI (GenAI) platform for government and commercial sectors - announced it has raised $17 million in a Series A funding round. This latest funding was led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from Mucker Capital. This funding will enable Ask Sage to expand its Generative AI offerings, accelerate growth, and strategically expand its workforce.

RapidCanvas: $16 Million Raised For Putting AI Agents To Work

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

RapidCanvas, a company democratizing AI-driven business transformation, announced a $16 million funding round for its AI agents. These agents, powered by large language models (LLMs), can automate up to 75% of complex tasks traditionally performed by data scientists and engineers. They can process vast amounts of information, identify patterns, and make decisions, replicating many human skills.

Angitia Biopharmaceuticals: $120 Million (Series C) Raised To Develop Therapeutics For Serious Musculoskeletal Diseases

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Angitia Biopharmaceuticals - a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative therapeutics for serious musculoskeletal diseases - announced the closing of a $120 million Series C financing round. Bain Capital Life Sciences led the funding, with participation from new investor Janus Henderson and existing investors OrbiMed, 3H Health Investment, Yonghua Capital, Legend Capital, and Elikon Venture. This funding will support Angitia’s robust pipeline of novel, differentiated treatments for serious musculoskeletal diseases.

Servicengine: $3.1 Million Raised From Advantage Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Advantage Capital announced a $3.1 million investment in Servicengine, a Danbury, Connecticut-based SaaS company specializing in relocation management software. The funding will enable Servicengine to double its team and enhance its innovative platform, supporting the complex needs of relocation management companies (RMCs) and corporations navigating global workforce challenges.

MoldCo: $3 Million (Pre-Seed) Raised To Enable Individuals To Reclaim Health From Mold

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

MoldCo announced the public launch of the company to address the endemic public health crisis of chronic health issues caused by mold. And the company has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding with participation from Starship Ventures, SALT, Conscience VC, Boost VC, Night Ventures, Bleu Capital, Behind Genius Ventures and Moth Fund.

Orthogon: $5.2 Million Raised For Advancing Oral Therapy For BK Polyomavirus

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Orthogon Therapeutics—a developer of novel antiviral medicines—announced closing an oversubscribed financing round that exceeded its $5 million target and brought total funding to over $25 million. This funding round will accelerate the development of its first-in-class treatments for managing BK virus reactivation in transplant patients.

Celesta Capital: Anand Chandrasekaran Joins As Managing Partner

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Celesta Capital, a global deep tech venture capital firm, announced that technology investor and product leader Anand Chandrasekaran has joined as a Managing Partner. Chandrasekaran has over 20 years of experience identifying transformative startups and founding and scaling global companies. He previously served as a Partner at General Catalyst and a product leader at Meta, Five9, Bharti Airtel, Snapdeal, and others.

Evinced: AI-Based Digital Accessibility Company Raises $55 Million (Series C)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Evinced—a leading software company powering accessible web and mobile development—announced it has raised $55 million in Series C funding, bringing its total funding to $112 million. The funding round was led by existing investor Insight Partners, with participation from existing investors M12 (Microsoft's venture fund), BGV, Capital One Ventures, and Engineering Capital. Evinced also welcomed a new investor, Vertex Ventures.

Sublime: AI-Based Email Security Company Raises $60 Million (Series B)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Sublime Security - an AI-based email security platform - announced it had raised $60 million in Series B funding, bringing the company's total funding to $93.8 million. The current funding round was led by IVP, with participation from new investor Citi Ventures and existing investors Index Ventures, Decibel Partners, and Slow Ventures. The latest funding round will support continued investment in Sublime's platform and community.

Chorology: Interview With CEO/CTO And Founder Tarique Mustafa About AI-Powered Data Compliance

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Chorology is an innovator in AI-powered data compliance and security posture management that provides modern, intelligently automated enterprise compliance solutions. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Chorology CEO and CTO Tarique Mustafa to learn more about the company.

Lansil Global: Interview With Founder & CEO About Helping E-Commerce Brands Scale

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Lansil Global is a company that has been working hand-in-hand with e-commerce brands to scale and grow their business. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Lansil Global founder and CEO Alan Coughlan to learn more about the company.

Eureka Robotics: $10.5 Million (Series A) Raised To Help Factories Automate Work

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Singapore-based company Eureka Robotics has announced it raised a $10.5 million Series A round led by B Capital with participation from new investors Airbus Ventures, Maruka Corporation, G. K. Goh Ventures, and returning investors UTEC and ATEQ.

Emory University Collaborating With Techstars For Launching Pre-Accelerator Program

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Pre-seed investor firm Techstars announced it is partnering with The Hatchery, Emory Center for Innovation, and Goizueta Business School’s Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation to launch the Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst Program.

Wake Forest University: $30 Million Gift Received To Expand Center For Entrepreneurship

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 13, 2024

Wake Forest University announced it has received a transformational $30 million gift from an anonymous donor. The gift will expand the University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and enhance access and opportunities for undergraduate students in the academic program. It is one of the most significant gifts in the University’s history.

SOOTH: Interview With Founder Ian Baer About The Insights-Driven Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 12, 2024

SOOTH is an insights-driven company that tracks the habits of 200 million consumers and can accurately provide intel on the emotions that will make them buy or not buy your product with the help of proprietary algorithms and AI. Pulse 2.0 interviewed SOOTH founder Ian Baer to learn more about the company.

U-M And Los Alamos Jointly Developing Michigan-Based AI Research Facility

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 12, 2024

The University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory plan to develop an advanced facility for high-performance computing and AI research. This will enhance and strengthen the university’s science, energy, and national security research capabilities and create new jobs in southeast Michigan.