Innovation

Saltz: €20 Million Raised For Food Supply Marketplace Expansion Across Europe

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Saltz, a Vilnius-based digital marketplace for the food supply industry, has raised €20 million in Series A funding to accelerate expansion across Europe and further develop technology for cross-border food trade.

University Of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab: $600,000 In State Funding Supports AI And Healthtech Startups

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Ohio has awarded more than $600,000 in state funding to healthtech startups emerging from the University of Cincinnati’s Venture Lab, reinforcing Cincinnati’s growing reputation as a Midwest hub for healthcare innovation.

CACI International: $2.6 Billion Acquisition Of ARKA Group Expands Space-Based Intelligence And AI Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

CACI International announced that it has completed its $2.6 billion acquisition of ARKA Group in an all-cash transaction, adding advanced space-based sensing and artificial intelligence capabilities to its national security technology portfolio.

Mineros: $10 Million Acquisition Of Tolima Gold Exploration Project From AngloGold Ashanti

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Mineros S.A. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a gold exploration project in the Department of Tolima, Colombia, from a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti PLC. The transaction will be completed by acquiring all outstanding shares of AngloGold Ashanti Colombia S.A.S., which holds the mining concession associated with the project.

AeriTek Acquires Federal Industries To Expand U.S. Foodservice Manufacturing And Distribution Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

AeriTek Global Holdings, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital, has acquired Federal Industries in a carve-out transaction from Standex International Corporation, strengthening its presence in the United States foodservice equipment market and adding domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Augur: $15 Million Raised For AI-Powered Security And Public Safety Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Augur, a London-based technology company building AI-powered perception systems for public safety and critical infrastructure protection, announced it has raised $15 million in seed funding.

NjiaPay: $2.1 Million Raised For Payments Performance Platform Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

NjiaPay, a payments performance platform helping African businesses improve payment reliability and revenue, announced that it has raised $2.1 million in seed funding. The round was led by European B2B SaaS investor Newion.

Axiom Trust: $11.8 Million Raised For AI-Native Trust Administration Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Axiom Trust, a Nevada-regulated trust company building AI-powered infrastructure for trust administration, has emerged from stealth with $11.8 million in funding to modernize how trusts are managed during what many call the “Great Wealth Transfer.”

First National Realty Partners: Marc’s Grocery Center Acquisition Expands Cleveland Retail Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

First National Realty Partners (FNRP), a national private equity commercial real estate firm specializing in grocery-anchored retail centers, has acquired Marc’s Grocery Center, a 63,317-square-foot retail property in South Euclid, Ohio.

Key Container Receives Growth Investment To Expand Northeast Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Altamont Capital Partners has announced an investment in Key Container Corporation, a New England-based manufacturer of specialty and custom corrugated packaging products. The deal is designed to support the company’s continued growth and expansion across the Northeast while building a scaled regional platform in the corrugated packaging sector.

Morinaga: Acquisition Of My/Mochi Ice Cream Expands U.S. Frozen Snack Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Morinaga & Co., the parent company of Morinaga America, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire My/Mochi Ice Cream, the largest mochi ice cream brand in the United States. The deal strengthens Morinaga’s position in the rapidly growing frozen snack category and expands its footprint in the U.S. consumer market.

Isembard: $50 Million Raised For AI-Powered Aerospace And Defense Factories

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Isembard has raised $50 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the rollout of AI-powered manufacturing facilities focused on high-precision components for aerospace, defense, energy, and robotics customers. The round was led by Union Square Ventures, an early investor in companies including Twitter, Coinbase, Etsy, Abridge, and Twilio. New investors Tamarack Global and IQ Capital joined the round alongside existing backers Notion Capital and CIV. The company also attracted several angel investors, including Alex Bouaziz, founder and CEO of Deel; Andrei Danescu, founder and CEO of Dexory Robotics; and Matt Briers, former CFO of Wise.

Eve Security: An Interview About The Company’s ZigiWave Partnership And Interrogation-As-A-Service Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Eve Security is a company that provides an agentic AI observability and policy enforcement platform, using Agent-in-the-Loop (AITL) technology to monitor, secure, and govern the behavior of AI agents interacting with critical business systems. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Eve Security co-founder and CEO Nadav Cornberg about the company making two significant announcements: ZigiWave's choice to deploy Eve to its Fortune 500 customers and a patent filing for a technology that is already integrated into Eve's platform (Interregotation-as-a-Service) that observes and takes action on rogue AI agentics with an emphasis on why they've gone rogue.

Axiomatic AI: $18 Million Raised To Build Verified Engineering AI Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Axiomatic AI, a company developing artificial intelligence infrastructure for science and engineering, announced it has raised $18 million in seed funding, bringing its total funding to $25 million. The round was led by Engine Ventures with participation from Kleiner Perkins, Big Sur Ventures, Global Vision Capital, Propagator Ventures, and Liquid 2.

Caldera: $150 Million Senior Loan Closed For Brevet Capital Management Development

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Caldera Real Estate Ventures announced the closing of a $150 million senior construction loan for Brevet Capital Management, supporting the development of a new residential tower project in Philadelphia.

Exokinetics: Interview With CEO Rick Sherak About The Zeen Mobility Device

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Zeen (by Exokinetics) is an innovative, motor-free mobility device that enables users to safely sit, stand, and walk, with built-in fall protection. Pulse 2.0 interview Exokinetics CEO Rick Sherak to learn more.

4screen: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Fabian Beste About The Driver Interaction Platform Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

4screen has developed the world's first driver interaction platform, which enables businesses to engage with drivers in real-time through connected car displays. Pulse 2.0 interviewed 4screen co-founder and CEO Fabian Beste to learn more.

Cylake: $45 Million Seed Raised For AI-Native Cybersecurity Platform Built For Data Sovereignty

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Cylake announced its launch as a new cybersecurity company developing an AI-native, data-driven security platform designed for organizations that require full control over their data and infrastructure. The company debuted with $45 million in seed funding led by Greylock Partners, alongside participation from additional experienced technology investors.

2PointZero Group: د.إ704 Million Acquisition Of ISEM Packaging Group

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

2PointZero Group has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Italy-based ISEM Packaging Group for د.إ704 million, marking a major expansion into the global luxury packaging sector.

University Of Northern Iowa Launches Artificial Intelligence Curriculum With New AI Majors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

The University of Northern Iowa has introduced a new academic curriculum focused on artificial intelligence, expanding its educational offerings with programs designed to prepare students for careers in one of the fastest-growing areas of the workforce.

DCS: ARCTOS Acquisition Expands Aerospace And Defense R&D Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

DCS Corporation has acquired ARCTOS, LLC, bringing together two companies with long track records of delivering engineering and technical solutions to the aerospace and defense science and technology sector.

Adaptive: Strategic Investment Received For Capital Markets Trading Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Adaptive, a developer of custom trading technology solutions for financial services firms, has secured a strategic investment from global banking institutions Citi and HSBC to accelerate innovation in capital markets infrastructure.

Raydiax: €7.5 Million Raised For Therapy Assistance CT Scanner For Minimally Invasive Cancer Treatment

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Raydiax, a Germany-based medical technology company, has raised €7.5 million in Series A1 funding to advance clinical studies and prepare the market launch of its therapy assistance CT scanner, TACT. The company, a spin-off from the STIMULATE research campus at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, is developing imaging technology designed to support minimally invasive cancer therapies directly within operating rooms.

Gold Box Pakistan: $65 Million Raised For Mystery Box E-Commerce Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

GOLD BOX Pakistan, an Islamabad-based mystery box e-commerce platform, has completed a $65 million financing round led by Tophatter, a U.S.-based innovation and incubation firm, with participation from multiple industrial capital groups and strategic investment institutions.

Validio: $30 Million Raised For Enterprise Data Management Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Validio, a Stockholm-based enterprise data management platform, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to expand globally and strengthen its technology for ensuring trusted enterprise data in the AI era.

Netflix: InterPositive Acquisition Expands AI Tools For Filmmakers

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Netflix announced it has acquired InterPositive, the filmmaking technology company founded by Ben Affleck that develops AI-powered tools designed to assist filmmakers in production and post-production workflows. The company said the acquisition aligns with its long-standing belief that technological innovation should support storytelling and the creative process rather than replace it.

Diana Shipping Raises Offer For Genco Shipping

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Diana Shipping, a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels, announced that it has increased its all-cash offer to acquire the remaining shares of Genco Shipping & Trading Limited that it does not already own to $23.50 per share. The revised proposal reflects the company’s continued effort to advance its proposed acquisition of the dry bulk shipping firm and underscores its belief in the strategic and financial benefits of the combination.

Lonza: Lone Star Funds To Acquire Capsules & Health Ingredients Division

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

Lonza Group AG has agreed to sell its Capsules & Health Ingredients (CHI) division to an affiliate of Lone Star Fund XII, L.P., marking a strategic shift that will position the business as a standalone global platform focused on pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and nutrition ingredient markets. As part of the transaction, Lonza will retain a 40% equity stake in the business. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

ORS Nasco Acquires AD Member Supply And Alliance Distribution Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 9, 2026

ORS Nasco, a wholesaler of industrial maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products, has acquired assets associated with AD Industries’ AD Member Supply unit and Alliance Distribution Partners as part of its ongoing expansion strategy.

Alliance Laundry Systems: Super Laundry Acquisition Expands New York Distribution Network

By Amit Chowdhry ● Mar 8, 2026

Alliance Laundry Systems has acquired the distribution assets of Super Laundry, strengthening its commercial laundry equipment distribution presence in the New York metropolitan area.