Innovation

Vireo Ventures: €50 Million Closed For Electrification Fund I

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Vireo Ventures has completed the final close of its Electrification Fund I at €50 million, underscoring firm investor conviction in technologies that accelerate Europe’s transition to an all-electric economy. The Berlin-based firm secured backing from six major energy utilities, including Encevo, Verbund X, and EnBW New Ventures, alongside the European Investment Fund, NRW.BANK and over 80 seasoned entrepreneurs and energytech specialists. This oversubscribed raise demonstrates that electrification has become the defining investment theme of the decade.

Claret Capital: Over €350 Million Raised For Fund IV

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Claret Capital Partners has completed the second close of its fourth growth debt fund, raising more than €350 million and pushing its total assets under management past $1 billion. This milestone reinforces the firm’s leadership in supplying growth financing to European companies in technology, life sciences, and climate tech, following more than €1.2 billion deployed across 190 businesses since inception.

LeydenJar: €23 Million Raised For Launching First Pure Silicon Anode Production Facility

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

LeydenJar has secured €13 million in equity financing led by Extantia and Invest-NL, alongside €10 million in customer commitments from a major U.S. electronics company. The funding will complete the final phase of construction at PlantOne in Eindhoven and enable production to begin in 2027.

LocalExpress: $6.2 Million Raised For Product Catalog Harmonization Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

LocalExpress has closed a $6.2 million venture round led by OXZ Capital, marking a significant step in its transformation from unified commerce provider to the premier data syndication platform for grocery retailers.

Procense: $1.5 Million Seed Funding Raised For Automating Manufacturing With AI And IoT

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Procense, a startup focused on industrial automation, has secured $1.5 million in seed funding led by Kevin Mahaffey and supported by HighSage Ventures. This investment will fuel the expansion of its AI-native manufacturing platform, enabling the company to grow its team and accelerate development of intelligent automation tools.

LightSpun: $13 Million Series A Raised For Enhancing Dental Insurance Administration With AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

LightSpun has closed a $13 million Series A round led by Brewer Lane, with participation from Virtue, Cambrian, and Industry Ventures, bringing its total capital raised to $18 million.

CQL Buying Omnichannel Commerce Company Riess Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Two of Shopify’s Platinum level agencies are coming together as CQL acquires Riess Group to create a single partner for unified commerce. This deal brings Riess Group’s experience in point-of-sale implementation and omnichannel solutions into CQL’s portfolio of digital commerce services, positioning the combined organization to guide brands through every step of the customer journey.

Atlanticus Buying Mercury Financial For $162 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Atlanticus has completed the acquisition of Mercury Financial, bringing the near-prime credit card specialist into its portfolio as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Mercury Financial operates a data-driven platform that issues branded and co-branded credit cards for consumers with near-prime credit profiles through partnerships with banks.

Crane NXT Buying Antares Vision In €120 Million Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Crane NXT has agreed to purchase a substantial stake in Antares Vision, an Italian specialist in inspection systems, detection equipment, and track and trace software. Under the transaction, Crane NXT will acquire roughly 30 percent of Antares Vision’s shares from major shareholders at a per-share price of €5.00, representing a total investment of approximately €120 million.

Appspace Buys Intranet Solutions Company Igloo Software

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Appspace has taken a significant step forward in the workplace communications market by acquiring Igloo Software, a well-established provider of modern intranet solutions. This move brings over 325 new customers into Appspace’s portfolio, including large enterprises in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and hospitality.

Vytex: Investment Raised From Graycliff Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Graycliff Partners has taken a significant stake in Vytex, a nearly four-decade-old manufacturer of custom vinyl windows and patio doors serving the residential replacement and remodeling market. Headquartered in Laurel, Maryland, Vytex produces a range of high-performance products, including its Georgetown, Fortis, and Potomac window lines and the Signature series of patio doors.

Goodpath: $18 Million Series A Closed To Expand AI-Based Chronic Care Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Goodpath has secured $18 million in Series A financing led by MassMutual Ventures, with additional participation from Healthy Ventures and existing backers. The new funding will be used to accelerate the rollout of its AI-driven, evidence-based care model and to extend its virtual services across a broader range of chronic conditions.

Quack: $7 Million Seed Closed For Transforming Customer Support with Proactive AI Agents

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Quack has closed a $7 million seed financing round led by Hanaco Ventures and Storytime Capital, alongside contributions from Fusion VC, Savyon Ventures, Seed IL, and private backers including WalkMe’s CEO Dan Adika. This capital will drive Quack’s expansion across the United States and fuel further innovation of its proactive, agentic AI platform for customer support teams.

YolTech Therapeutics: $45 Million Series B Raised For In-Body Gene Editing Treatments

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

YolTech Therapeutics has closed a Series B financing round of approximately forty-five million dollars, led by the AstraZeneca-CICC healthcare investment fund. The new funding will advance the company’s efforts to move its clinical programs forward and support its plans for global development and commercialization.

Penguin Ai: $29.7 Million Raised To Reduce Administrative Costs in Healthcare

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Penguin Ai has completed a $29.7 million financing round aimed at tackling the massive administrative burden that weighs down the healthcare industry. Greycroft led the company’s Series A round with $25 million in new capital, and it also attracted support from UPMC Enterprises, SemperVirens, Snowflake Ventures, Watershed Ventures, and Horizon Mutual Holdings. Early backers ManchesterStory and Overwater Ventures joined the latest financing, along with the California Health Care Foundation and industry veterans who helped seed the company last year.

Diana Health: $55 Million Series C Raised For Expanding Holistic Women’s Healthcare Network

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Diana Health has raised $55 million in a Series C financing round led by HealthQuest Capital, with continued support from Norwest Venture Partners, .406 Ventures, LRVHealth, and AlleyCorp. This new funding will enable the company to expand its physical footprint, expand the services it offers in prenatal and postpartum care, and enhance its digital tools for patient education and communication.

IGNITE Tallahassee: 40,000-Square-Foot Business Incubator Launched

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Florida State University and the Leon County Research and Development Authority have unveiled IGNITE Tallahassee, a 40,000-square-foot business incubator designed to help deep-tech startups grow and scale in North Florida.

Bansk Group Buying Majority Stake In BYOMA To Advance Skincare Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Bansk Group has agreed to acquire a majority interest in BYOMA, a rapidly growing skincare brand known for its science-backed, barrier-focused formulas. The deal brings together Bansk’s experience in scaling consumer businesses with BYOMA’s proven track record of delivering clinically tested products at accessible price points.

Alterra Mountain: $400 Million Investment Program Launched For Enhancing Guest Experiences

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Alterra Mountain Company has launched a sweeping investment program exceeding $400 million to enhance guest experiences, bolster employee benefits, and strengthen community ties across its mountain destinations. This substantial funding will support the next phase of expansion at Deer Valley Resort in Utah, deliver upgrades at multiple ski areas, and roll out new programs aimed at improving seasonal workforce housing, wages, and training.

EverPeak Buying Method Insurance To Build Workers’ Compensation Solution

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

EverPeak Insurance, a subsidiary of Pinnacol Assurance, has acquired Method Insurance to create a seamless, comprehensive workers’ compensation solution for insurance brokers across the United States. This strategic move builds on EverPeak’s existing partnership model with Attune, the digital platform designed to simplify commercial insurance for small businesses.

Platinum Equity Buys XD Connects For Branded Merchandise Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Platinum Equity has agreed to acquire XD Connects, a Netherlands‐based designer and supplier of custom corporate gifts and branded merchandise. This deal will bring XD Connects’ team, infrastructure, and customer relationships into Platinum Equity’s growing European merchandise portfolio, creating a more comprehensive platform for businesses seeking personalized promotional products.

GCT Semiconductor: $10.7 Million Debt Financing Raised

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

GCT Semiconductor has arranged a $10.7 million senior secured term loan from its largest shareholder and strategic partner, Anapass. This financing will enable the company to finalize preparations for mass production of its next-generation 5G chipset, following a successful sampling phase with key customers.

Unmind: $26 Million Raised From Trinity Capital For Workplace Mental Health Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Trinity Capital has committed $26 million in growth capital to Unmind, a workplace mental health platform that combines digital tools, expert care, and artificial intelligence. This financing will help Unmind scale its operations, deepen development of its AI agent Nova, and invest in innovations that guide employees to the right level of mental health support at the right time.

GME Supply Expands Into Oil Sector Through Wayne Enterprises Acquisition

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

GME Supply has enhanced its position as a leading provider of workwear and safety equipment by acquiring Wayne Enterprises, a Houston-based specialist in trade uniforms, protective apparel, and custom embroidery. This move brings together nearly four decades of Wayne Enterprises’ expertise in serving the replacement and remodeling markets with GME Supply’s award-winning omni-channel distribution network and digital tools.

Ezee Fiber Expands Greater Houston Reach With Tachus Fiber Acquisition

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Ezee Fiber has completed its purchase of Tachus Fiber Internet, extending its all-fiber network deeper into The Woodlands and other fast-growing communities north of Houston. Backed by global infrastructure investor I Squared Capital, Ezee Fiber now ranks among the largest independent fiber internet providers in the United States. It remains on track to pass more than 600,000 homes and businesses by the end of this year.

Aesculap Enhances Digital Microsurgery By Bringing True Digital Surgery In-House

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

B. Braun has expanded its capabilities in advanced surgical visualization by acquiring True Digital Surgery (TDS), a specialist in robotic-assisted 3D exoscope technology. Having held a minority stake in TDS, B. Braun’s surgical division Aesculap will now integrate TDS’s entire team and intellectual property into its global operations, further accelerating the development of the AEOS digital exoscope platform used in neurosurgery, spine, and ENT procedures.

Thoma Bravo Finalizes $2 Billion Takeover of Olo

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Thoma Bravo has completed its acquisition of Olo, the open software-as-a-service platform widely used by restaurants to manage digital ordering and guest engagement. The all-cash deal, valued at approximately $2 billion in equity, secured shareholder approval earlier this month and immediately transitions Olo into private ownership. Olo’s common stock ceased trading on the NYSE following the close of the transaction.

Apex Raises $200 Million Series D To Scale Satellite Production and Support Next-Generation Constellations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

Apex Space has secured $200 million in a Series D financing round led by Interlagos, pushing its valuation above the billion-dollar mark. This latest investment underscores the company’s rapid growth and reinforces its position as a preferred partner for both commercial operators and government agencies deploying large satellite constellations.

resbiotic Secures $14.5 Million to Expand Its Science-Driven Gut-X Axis Health Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

resbiotic Nutrition has completed a $14.5 million funding round, including an $8 million Series A led by Sororibus Capital and Biostack Ventures. The new funding will fuel the expansion of the company’s product lineup, support rapid growth in retail and e-commerce channels, and strengthen its business-to-business ingredient and formulation offerings.

BCI Private Equity Bolsters Healthcare Practice with Nikhil Hanmantgad Appointment

By Amit Chowdhry ● Sep 12, 2025

BCI Private Equity has added Nikhil Hanmantgad as Managing Director of its healthcare vertical, reinforcing the firm’s global expansion and deepening its focus on the rapidly growing life sciences and health services sectors. In this newly created role, Hanmantgad will spearhead sourcing and execution of new investments, oversee value-creation initiatives across existing portfolio companies, and collaborate closely with the senior leadership team to refine BCI’s healthcare strategy.