Innovation

McGuireWoods: Former SEC Regional Director And Sidley Austin Partner Join Securities Enforcement Practice

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

McGuireWoods announced that it has added two partners to its Los Angeles office, strengthening the firm’s securities enforcement and regulatory counseling capabilities as part of its broader West Coast expansion. The firm hired Gary Leung, the former regional director of the Los Angeles office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, along with Jodi Lopez, a nationally recognized attorney focused on accountant and auditor defense. Both attorneys joined McGuireWoods’ Securities Enforcement & Regulatory Counseling Practice Group.

Hill & Smith: $36 Million Acquisition Of Freeberg Industrial Fabrication To Expand U.S. Engineered Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Hill & Smith PLC announced that it has agreed to acquire Freeberg Industrial Fabrication Corp. for an initial cash consideration of $36 million for 80% of the company’s equity, marking an expansion of the infrastructure solutions provider’s presence in the United States. The transaction, which is subject to U.S. regulatory approvals, also includes potential additional payments for the remaining 20% of the business depending on profitability through December 31, 2031, with earn-out consideration capped at $50 million.

Meta: AI Agent Social Network Moltbook Acquired To Bolster Superintelligence Labs

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Meta Platforms has acquired Moltbook, a niche social networking platform built specifically for artificial intelligence agents, as the technology giant intensifies its push into advanced AI systems and talent, according to Reuters. The acquisition brings Moltbook’s co-founders, Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, into Meta’s AI research division, known as Meta Superintelligence Labs. The unit is led by Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI, and focuses on advancing next-generation AI capabilities and autonomous systems.

Les Secrets De Loly: Quadrivio Lifestyle Fund II Acquires Majority Stake In Curly Haircare Brand

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Quadrivio Group has acquired a majority stake in French haircare company Les Secrets de Loly through its Lifestyle Fund II private equity vehicle, marking the fund’s entry into the beauty-care segment and positioning the brand for international expansion.

Uber: Robotaxi Partnership With Zoox For Autonomous Rides

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Uber Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Zoox to deploy purpose-built robotaxis on the Uber ride-hailing network, marking Zoox’s first collaboration with a third-party platform. The companies said Zoox robotaxis will begin operating through the Uber app in Las Vegas starting in summer 2026. Riders using Uber may be matched with a Zoox robotaxi on eligible trips once the service launches.

Animaj: Google’s AI Futures Fund Investment To Accelerate AI-Native Kids’ Media Production

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Animaj announced that it has joined the AI Futures Fund of Google, securing an investment and strategic partnership designed to accelerate the production of AI-driven children’s content for YouTube.

Meta To Deploy Four New MTIA Accelerators Through 2027

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Meta Platforms announced plans to deploy four new generations of its in-house artificial intelligence accelerators as the company expands its custom silicon strategy to power AI workloads across its global platforms.

Nebius: $2 Billion Strategic Investment From NVIDIA To Build Hyperscale AI Cloud Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

NVIDIA announced that it will invest $2 billion in Nebius as part of a strategic partnership to develop next-generation hyperscale cloud infrastructure for artificial intelligence.

Cellid: Interview With CEO Satoshi Shiraga About The Advanced Display Module Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Cellid is a company that develops advanced display modules, including high-performance waveguides and micro-projectors for AR glasses, alongside spatial recognition software to enable lightweight, immersive augmented reality experiences. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Cellid CEO Satoshi Shiraga to learn more.

Google: AI System Uses Historical News Data To Predict Flash Floods

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Google announced an expansion of its AI-driven flood forecasting capabilities, introducing a new approach that uses historical news reports and artificial intelligence to improve flash-flood predictions. The effort is designed to help communities, emergency responders, and governments better prepare for sudden flooding events, particularly in areas where traditional flood monitoring infrastructure is limited.

Cryptio: $45 Million Raised For Digital Asset ERP And Financial Data Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Cryptio, a financial data transformation and enterprise resource planning platform built for digital assets, announced that it has raised $45 million in Series B funding. The round was co-led by BlackFin Capital Partners and Sentinel Global, with participation from 1kx, Alven, BlueYard Capital, and Ledger Cathay Capital.

First Quantum Minerals: $340 Million Sale Of Çayeli Mine To Cengiz Insaat

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

First Quantum Minerals announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to sell the Çayeli mine in Türkiye to Cengiz Insaat, a company controlled by Cengiz Holding, for $340 million in cash.

Qurrent: $15 Million Series A Raised For Autonomous Digital Workforce Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Qurrent, a San Francisco-based developer of autonomous digital workforce technology, has raised $15 million in Series A funding to expand its platform designed to automate complex back-office operations for enterprises.

Peak Rock Capital: Agreement For Affiliate To Sell Spatial Business Systems To Enverus

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital has signed a definitive agreement to sell Spatial Business Systems (SBS), an intelligent design automation software provider for utilities and infrastructure, to Enverus, an energy data analytics platform backed by Blackstone.

Nahda Capital Partners: $300 Million Inaugural Private Equity Fund Planned For GCC Investments

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Nahda Capital Partners, a newly established private equity platform headquartered in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has filed for the registration of its inaugural private equity fund as it prepares to begin investment activities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Heritage Energy: $28.5 Million Debt Financing Raised For Distributed Solar And Battery Storage Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Heritage Energy Holdings, a Texas-based solar and energy storage developer, secured $28.5 million in senior secured term loan financing from Eagle Point Credit Management to support the development of a distributed generation platform across Texas.

Qdrant: $50 Million Raised For Composable Vector Search Infrastructure For Production AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Qdrant, an open-source vector search engine company, announced it has raised $50 million in Series B funding to advance its technology for powering large-scale artificial intelligence systems. The round was led by AVP and included participation from Bosch Ventures, Unusual Ventures, Spark Capital, and 42CAP.

Venu Holding: $86.25 Million Raised To Accelerate Expansion Of Premium Live Entertainment Destinations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Venu Holding Corporation, a developer, owner, and operator of luxury live entertainment and hospitality destinations, announced it has closed an $86.25 million capital raise as the company expands its portfolio of venue developments across the United States.

Combat Medical: £2.6 Million Raised To Advance Bladder Cancer Treatment Toward FDA Approval

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

Combat Medical, a medical device company focused on improving the delivery and effectiveness of cancer therapeutics, announced it has raised £2.6 million in the first close of a Series A financing round. The investment will support the development and regulatory advancement of the company’s hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy technology for treating BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

StageOne Ventures: $165 Million Fifth Fund Raised To Back Israel’s Next Generation Of AI Infrastructure Startups

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 12, 2026

StageOne Ventures announced the closing of its fifth venture capital fund at $165 million, marking 25 years of investing in Israeli enterprise technology startups at their earliest stages.

Coefficient Capital: $500 Million Raised Across Funds For Consumer Growth Investing

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

Coefficient Capital, a growth equity firm focused on consumer and technology-driven brands, announced the closing of Fund II at $290 million and the launch of its previously unannounced Apex Fund with $240 million in committed capital. Together, the two vehicles represent more than $500 million in capital available for new investments.

Xscape Photonics: $37 Million Raised To Advance Multi-Wavelength Photonics For AI Data Center Networks

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

Xscape Photonics announced $37 million in new funding, bringing the semiconductor startup’s total Series A investment to $81 million as it accelerates development of photonic technologies designed to support next-generation AI data center infrastructure.

Arycs Technologies: $24 Million Raised To Scale Coherent Optical Connectivity For Distributed AI Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

Arycs Technologies announced its formation as an independent U.S.-based company focused on delivering power-efficient coherent optical connectivity designed to support the growing infrastructure demands of artificial intelligence. The company launched with $24 million in additional funding and has established its headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Velo3D: CEO Converts $5 Million Debt To Equity As Company Cuts Debt 60%

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

Velo3D, a metal additive manufacturing technology company focused on aerospace and defense supply chains, announced that CEO Dr. Arun Jeldi acquired a $5 million promissory note from an existing debt holder and converted it into shares of common stock at $16.38 per share, a price significantly above the company’s current market value.

EKHO Infrastructure Solutions: North American Operations Unified Under Integrated Brand

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

EKHO Infrastructure Solutions announced that it has unified several previously independent operating companies across North America under a single integrated brand as part of a strategy to deliver coordinated infrastructure solutions for construction projects across the region.

Advanced Cooling Technologies: Blackstone Energy Transition Partners To Acquire Majority Stake

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

Blackstone and Advanced Cooling Technologies announced that funds managed by Blackstone Energy Transition Partners have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Advanced Cooling Technologies (ACT), a U.S.-based manufacturer of thermal management and energy efficiency solutions. The company’s executive team will remain in place and continue as significant shareholders following the transaction.

95 Percent Group Acquires TouchMath To Expand Evidence-Based Math Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 11, 2026

95 Percent Group, an education publishing and technology company focused on evidence-based literacy instruction, announced it has agreed to acquire TouchMath, a provider of multisensory math programs designed to support students with learning differences.

Innovation

McGuireWoods: Former SEC Regional Director And Sidley Austin Partner Join Securities Enforcement Practice

Hill & Smith: $36 Million Acquisition Of Freeberg Industrial Fabrication To Expand U.S. Engineered Solutions

Meta: AI Agent Social Network Moltbook Acquired To Bolster Superintelligence Labs

Les Secrets De Loly: Quadrivio Lifestyle Fund II Acquires Majority Stake In Curly Haircare Brand

Uber: Robotaxi Partnership With Zoox For Autonomous Rides

Animaj: Google’s AI Futures Fund Investment To Accelerate AI-Native Kids’ Media Production

Meta To Deploy Four New MTIA Accelerators Through 2027

Nebius: $2 Billion Strategic Investment From NVIDIA To Build Hyperscale AI Cloud Infrastructure

Cellid: Interview With CEO Satoshi Shiraga About The Advanced Display Module Company

Google: AI System Uses Historical News Data To Predict Flash Floods

Cryptio: $45 Million Raised For Digital Asset ERP And Financial Data Platform

First Quantum Minerals: $340 Million Sale Of Çayeli Mine To Cengiz Insaat

Qurrent: $15 Million Series A Raised For Autonomous Digital Workforce Platform

Peak Rock Capital: Agreement For Affiliate To Sell Spatial Business Systems To Enverus

Nahda Capital Partners: $300 Million Inaugural Private Equity Fund Planned For GCC Investments

Heritage Energy: $28.5 Million Debt Financing Raised For Distributed Solar And Battery Storage Platform

Qdrant: $50 Million Raised For Composable Vector Search Infrastructure For Production AI

Venu Holding: $86.25 Million Raised To Accelerate Expansion Of Premium Live Entertainment Destinations

Combat Medical: £2.6 Million Raised To Advance Bladder Cancer Treatment Toward FDA Approval

StageOne Ventures: $165 Million Fifth Fund Raised To Back Israel’s Next Generation Of AI Infrastructure Startups

Coefficient Capital: $500 Million Raised Across Funds For Consumer Growth Investing

Xscape Photonics: $37 Million Raised To Advance Multi-Wavelength Photonics For AI Data Center Networks

Arycs Technologies: $24 Million Raised To Scale Coherent Optical Connectivity For Distributed AI Infrastructure

Velo3D: CEO Converts $5 Million Debt To Equity As Company Cuts Debt 60%

EKHO Infrastructure Solutions: North American Operations Unified Under Integrated Brand

Advanced Cooling Technologies: Blackstone Energy Transition Partners To Acquire Majority Stake

95 Percent Group Acquires TouchMath To Expand Evidence-Based Math Solutions

Merit: $434 Million Firm Yeomans Consulting Group Onboarded

BRIDGE Housing: $92 Million Raised For Affordable Housing Impact Fund

Infleqtion: $3.9 Million Federal Funding For Quantum Computing Technology To Advance Chemistry And Materials Science