Archives

Risotto: $10 Million Seed Funding Raised To Automate The Help Desk

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Risotto, an AI-native autonomous help desk platform, has raised $10 million in seed funding to accelerate its effort to automate internal employee support workflows across large enterprises. The round was led by Bonfire Ventures, with participation from 645 Ventures, Y Combinator, Ritual Capital, Surgepoint Capital, and angels, including former Dropbox and HelloSign executives. Risotto says its platform integrates across a company’s technology, IT, and communications stack to autonomously resolve internal support tickets in seconds, and has already processed hundreds of thousands of tickets for customers, including Gusto and Jobber, helping automate up to 70% of IT requests.

Concourse: $12 Million Series A Raised And AI Agent Platform For Finance Teams Now In General Availability

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Concourse has raised $12 million in Series A funding and is expanding access to its enterprise-grade AI agent platform for finance teams, marking a major shift from a limited rollout to broad availability. The New York-based company said the round was led by Standard Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, CRV, and Y Combinator, as well as CFO angel investors from companies including Cursor, Vercel, and Carta.

Fulcrum: $25 Million Raised To Bring AI Agents Into Insurance Brokerage Workflows

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Fulcrum, an AI platform designed for insurance brokerages, has raised $25 million in combined Seed and Series A funding as it targets one of the industry’s most persistent bottlenecks: slow, manual back-office work tied to legacy systems, email-driven document flows, and outsourced servicing models.

Upexi: Interview With Chief Strategy Officer Brian Rudick About The Solana Treasury Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Upexi is a consumer-products brand owner that develops, manufactures, and distributes products, while also pursuing a Solana-focused digital-asset treasury strategy through its cryptocurrency portfolio. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Upexi Chief Strategy Officer Brian Rudick to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Elbit Wins $228 Million Follow-On Contract To Supply Iron Fist Active Protection Systems For U.S. Army Bradley Upgrades

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Elbit Systems said it has been awarded a $228 million contract from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to supply its Iron Fist Active Protection System for U.S. Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle upgrade programs. The company said the award follows a U.S. government publication dated September 29, 2025, referencing an order to GD OTS for the Bradley vehicle active protection system effort, and that Elbit’s portion will be carried out over three years.

Google.org Names 12 Awardees For $20 Million AI For Science Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Google.org has announced 12 recipients of its $20 million AI for Science fund, backing academic, nonprofit, and startup teams that are applying AI to accelerate discovery across health, agriculture, and biodiversity. The initiative is framed as a response to a widening gap between the growing complexity of global challenges and the slowing pace of scientific progress, with Google.org positioning AI as a way to help researchers achieve in years what previously took decades.

Shift5 Names Toby Magsig President And Interim CEO As Co-Founder Josh Lospinoso Shifts To Board

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Shift5, an operational intelligence platform serving U.S. defense and transportation systems, has appointed L3Harris executive Toby Magsig as president and interim CEO, placing him in charge of company strategy, operations, and execution. The leadership change moves Shift5’s co-founder Josh Lospinoso out of day-to-day operational leadership while keeping him involved as founder and board member, with a focus on long-term vision, major product initiatives, and key strategic engagements.

Micron’s Planned $24 Billion Singapore Wafer Fab Breaks Ground As AI-Driven NAND Demand Rises

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Micron Technology has broken ground on a new advanced wafer fabrication facility in Singapore, marking a planned investment of about US$24 billion (SG$31 billion) over the next decade as the company scales manufacturing to meet long-term demand for NAND technology tied to AI growth and data-centric computing.

ANTA To Buy 29.06% Of PUMA for €1.5 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

ANTA Sports Products Limited announced it has signed a share purchase agreement with Groupe Artémis, the Pinault family’s investment company, to acquire a 29.06% stake in PUMA SE for €1.5 billion in cash, a move the Hong Kong-listed sportswear group framed as a major step in its multi-brand globalization strategy.

Haus Of Brilliance: Interview With Founder Monil Kothari About The Jewelry Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

JonesTrading Enhances Private Markets Platform And Names Jon Jefferies Managing Director

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

JonesTrading Institutional Services announced it has launched an enhanced Private Markets platform designed to bring the firm’s agency trading approach into private market transactions, as competition to provide liquidity intensifies across a fragmented private markets landscape.

Versapay Names Emily Roccheggiani As Chief Sales Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Versapay, an accounts receivable (AR) platform focused on simplifying B2B payments collection and reconciliation, has named payments industry veteran Emily Roccheggiani as its Chief Sales Officer. In the role, Roccheggiani will lead the company’s sales organization and commercial growth strategy as Versapay looks to expand within core verticals, deepen strategic partnerships, and scale its go-to-market engine for modern B2B commerce.

Compa: $35 Million Series B Raised To Scale Agentic AI For Enterprise Compensation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Compa, an AI-driven compensation intelligence provider, announced it has raised $35 million in Series B funding to accelerate product development and growth as large companies modernize how they set pay. The round was led by Jump Capital, with participation from Crosslink Capital, Storm Ventures, Permanent Capital, HR Tech Investments LLC (an affiliate of Indeed, Inc.), and PagsGroup.

Pathlock Names Key Executive Leaders To Drive Next Level Of Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Pathlock, an identity and access governance (IGA) solutions provider, has added two senior executives as it pushes deeper into enterprise identity security and partner-led growth. The company named James Davison as Chief Strategy Officer and appointed Scott Pruitt as Vice President of Global GSI Alliances, positioning both hires as central to its next phase of go-to-market execution and ecosystem expansion.

BabyBuddha: Interview With Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer Matt Masiello About The Lactation Products Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

BabyBuddha makes portable, hands-free breast pumps and related accessories designed to help breastfeeding moms pump comfortably and efficiently at home or on the go. Pulse 2.0 interviewed BabyBuddha co-founder and Chief Growth Officer Matt Masiello to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Midship: $4.15 Million Seed Funding Raised To Automate SOX Testing With Agentic AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Midship, an AI-native platform focused on automating Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) testing and internal audit workflows, has raised $4.15 million in seed funding as it looks to modernize one of the most time-intensive parts of public-company compliance. The round was led by Costanoa Ventures, with participation from Seguin Ventures and additional angel investors.

Alamo Group Completes Petersen Industries Acquisition, Expanding Grapple Loader Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Alamo Group announced it has completed its acquisition of Petersen Industries, finalizing a deal the company previously announced when it signed a purchase agreement on December 10, 2025. Alamo Group is a global manufacturer of industrial and vegetation management equipment, and Petersen Industries produces specialized truck-mounted grapple loader equipment used by municipal and industrial customers.

Zinzino Merges It Works! Into Group In $30 Million All-Share Deal And Targets $60+ Million Added 2026 Revenue

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Zinzino announced it has entered into an agreement and simultaneously closed a merger to combine with U.S.-based direct sales company It Works! in an all-share transaction, expanding Zinzino’s distribution footprint across North America and Europe. As part of the deal, Zinzino acquired the operational assets of It Works!’ U.S. business, including inventory, distributor agreements, customer agreements, and intellectual property rights.

Franco-Nevada Agrees To $100 Million Gold Stream To Back Orezone’s Planned Purchase Of Hecla’s Casa Berardi Mine

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Franco-Nevada announced it has entered into a $100 million gold stream financing transaction with Orezone Gold Corporation to support Orezone’s planned acquisition of Hecla Mining Company’s producing Casa Berardi Gold Mine and Hecla’s other Quebec assets, including the Heva-Hosco Gold Project. The companies said the stream is expected to add immediate gold revenue exposure tied to an established Canadian operation, while giving Orezone additional capital to pursue a “transformational” expansion and exploration program around Casa Berardi and the broader land package.

Net At Work Acquires BHE Consulting To Expand Sage And Acumatica ERP Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Net at Work, a North American technology advisory and services provider focused on small and mid-sized businesses, has acquired BHE Consulting, a Boston-based ERP solutions firm with a 28-year operating history. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Core & Main Closes Acquisition Of Pioneer Supply

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Core & Main announced it has closed its previously announced acquisition of Pioneer Supply, adding a distributor focused on water, wastewater, and storm drainage products with operations in Moore, Oklahoma, and Weatherford, Texas. The closing moves the transaction from announcement to integration and positions Core & Main to deepen its reach in two infrastructure-heavy states where municipal replacement cycles, population growth, and new development can create steady demand for essential water and drainage materials.

JLL Partners Acquires PowerParts Group To Build Power Turbine Aftermarket Components Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

JLL Partners has acquired PowerParts Group, a provider of mission-critical replacement parts and field services for gas- and steam-turbine power plants. Terms were not disclosed.

KPS To Acquire Majority Stake In Novacel From Compagnie Chargeurs

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

KPS Capital Partners announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Chargeurs Films de Protection SAS, which operates under the Novacel name, in a transaction that will position Novacel as an independent surface-protection solutions manufacturer. Compagnie Chargeurs Invest SA, the selling shareholder, will reinvest alongside KPS and keep a 25% ownership interest in the business. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Exchange Income Upsizes Credit Facility To C$3.5 Billion And Extends Maturity To 2030

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Exchange Income, a Winnipeg-based diversified, acquisition-oriented company with operations across Aerospace & Aviation and Manufacturing, said it has closed a new C$3.5 billion credit facility, increasing total commitments by C$500 million from the prior C$3 billion facility.

Lanai: Interview With Co-Founder & CEO Lexi Reese About The Enterprise AI Interaction Observability Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Lanai Software builds an enterprise AI interaction observability “system of record” that captures AI usage across tools, copilots, and agents, enabling organizations to measure workflows/ROI, manage risk, and scale AI adoption safely. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Lanai Software co-founder and CEO Lexi Reese to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Fiddler: $30 Million Series C Raised For Powering The AI Agent Control Plane

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Fiddler AI raised $30 million in Series C funding as it pushes to build what it calls a neutral “control plane” for compound AI systems that increasingly rely on autonomous agents. The round was led by RPS Ventures, with participation from existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Lux Capital, Insight Partners, Capgemini Ventures, Dallas VC, Dentsu Ventures, and Mozilla Ventures, as well as new strategic investors LG Technology Ventures, Benhamou Global Ventures, and LDV Partners. The financing brings Fiddler’s total funding to $100 million.

Adenia Partners Makes First Majority Investment In Egypt With Parkville Pharmaceuticals Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Adenia Partners has signed definitive agreements to acquire a majority stake in Parkville Pharmaceuticals, marking Adenia’s first majority investment in Egypt. The stake is being purchased from Admaius Capital Partners, alongside Parkville’s leadership including Dr. Sherif Bassiouny, the company’s chairman, and Dr. Mahmoud Farrag, Parkville’s CEO. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Global Key Solutions Lands Pre-Seed Investment From Krieger Capital To Scale Regulatory Intelligence Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Global Key Solutions (GKS), a technology company focused on data-driven quality and regulatory intelligence, said it has secured a pre-seed investment from Krieger Capital, marking what the company described as both a capital infusion and a strategic milestone tied to growing industry collaboration around its KeyPedia platform and longer-term product vision.

Empower Promotes Joe Smolen To President Of Workplace Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

Empower has promoted longtime executive Joe Smolen to President of its Workplace Solutions business unit, expanding his remit to oversee strategy, growth, relationship management, and product for what the company described as America’s second largest retirement services provider. The leadership changes were announced January 21, 2026, and are effective immediately.

CVector: $5 Million Seed Funding Raised To Scale AI For Energy-Intensive Industry

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 27, 2026

CVector has closed an oversubscribed $5 million seed round to accelerate development and adoption of its AI software designed for industrial operators navigating volatile inputs, complex production constraints, and shifting market demand. The financing was led by Powerhouse Ventures, with participation from Fusion Fund, Hitachi Ventures, Myriad Venture Partners, and Schematic Ventures.