Archives

CoreWeave announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Marimo Inc., the company behind the open-source marimo notebook. Marimo’s AI-native, reactive development environment for Python is designed for AI and data workloads, and its integration will strengthen CoreWeave’s mission to build the most comprehensive developer platform for artificial intelligence.

Cetera Financial Group has announced that long-time Commonwealth Financial Network advisor Christian R. Benard, CFP, EA, AIF, has joined its community of tax-focused financial professionals under Avantax. Benard’s firm, Innovative Financial, based in Troy, Michigan, manages approximately $365 million in assets under administration and integrates wealth management with comprehensive tax services.

Platinum Equity has officially completed its acquisition of PlayPower, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of recreational and outdoor living systems, from Littlejohn & Co.. The deal adds another major brand to Platinum Equity’s growing portfolio, strengthening its position in the outdoor recreation and consumer products sectors.

Vodafone Group Plc announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Skaylink GmbH for €175 million. The acquisition is primarily funded by Waterland and is expected to strengthen Vodafone’s capabilities in cloud computing, digital transformation, and cybersecurity.

HPS Investment Partners and Lunate have announced the formation of the HPS Strategic Solutions Partners Platform, a new collaboration designed to pursue bespoke preferred and common equity investments, as well as related private debt opportunities, in large corporate enterprises across the United States and Europe.

Publicis Groupe announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HEPMIL Media Group, Southeast Asia’s leading influencer, content, and social agency. The acquisition will strengthen Publicis Groupe’s presence in the fast-growing creator economy and further position it as the region’s most data-driven influencer marketing network.

Nexa Equity, a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on partnering with high-growth vertical SaaS companies, announced the addition of three senior leaders to its investment and operating teams. The appointments come as the firm builds on its strong momentum following the close of Nexa Equity Fund II, an oversubscribed $390 million fund that brings its assets under management to more than $1 billion.

Abry Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, has announced an agreement to acquire Portfolio Holding, Inc. from Capital Z Partners, LP, a New York-based private equity firm. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and financial terms were not disclosed.

Incline Equity Partners announced an investment in Advanced Solutions International, a Virginia-based provider of engagement management software serving associations, trade unions, and nonprofit organizations. The transaction strengthens Incline’s presence in technology solutions that drive digital transformation across member-based institutions.

Andersen has partnered with the University of San Francisco School of Law (USF Law) to launch a first-of-its-kind Generative AI Tax Research Training Program, designed to redefine how tax professionals responsibly leverage artificial intelligence in their practice.

A research team from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has developed a new class of metal matrix composites that combine exceptional strength, lightness, and heat resistance. Created using advanced 3D metal printing, the material is designed to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Celsius, making it highly suitable for aerospace and other high-performance applications.

Landstar System, a leading technology-enabled and asset-light provider of integrated freight transportation solutions, announced the appointment of Barr Blanton and Melanie Housey Hart to its Board of Directors, adding two accomplished executives with deep expertise in technology, strategy, and financial management.

Cephia AI, a Princeton University spinout developing advanced AI-driven computational imaging technologies and metamaterial-based silicon sensors, announced the close of a $4 million seed funding round to accelerate the development and commercialization of its multimodal sensing platform.

Toronto-based financial technology company Wealthsimple has raised up to C$750 million in a new equity round, valuing the company at C$10 billion post-money. The round, which includes a $550 million primary offering and a secondary offering of up to $200 million, was co-led by Dragoneer Investment Group and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC. The financing marks one of the largest private rounds in Canada’s fintech history, signaling strong global investor confidence in Wealthsimple’s mission to build a modern financial platform for Canadians.

Loon, a Canadian stablecoin company, announced that it has raised $3 million CAD in pre-seed financing to develop a regulated Canadian-dollar-backed stablecoin and acquired the CADC stablecoin from Paytrie. The CADC, launched in 2021, has recorded over $200 million in transaction volume, and Loon will now take over as its new issuer.

Smart Grid Analytics, a renewable energy intelligence company based in India, announced that it has raised USD $3.3 million in new funding from a group of strategic investors and clean energy veterans. The funding will be used to advance its AI-driven Solvyn platform, scale product development, and accelerate international expansion across key renewable markets.

CUE Labs, the company behind the widely adopted open-source configuration language CUE, has officially emerged from stealth with the launch of its Configuration Control Plane, a new system designed to make enterprise configuration a strategic asset rather than a source of risk. The company also announced more than $10 million in early funding led by Sequoia Capital and OSS Capital, with participation from Founders Fund, Dell Technologies Capital, and several notable angel investors.

Accel-KKR, a leading technology-focused investment firm, has announced a strategic growth investment in LeanDNA, a provider of AI-powered supply planning and inventory optimization solutions for leaders in the discrete manufacturing supply chain. The new funding will drive continued innovation across LeanDNA’s platform and strengthen its expansion into global markets.

New York-based Ornn AI has raised $5.7 million in seed funding to launch what it calls the world’s first compute futures exchange, introducing a regulated market structure for GPU capacity. The round was co-led by Crucible Ventures and Vine Ventures, with participation from Link Ventures, Box Group, and several angel investors from finance, AI, and cloud infrastructure.

Kaizen, a technology company transforming how citizens interact with government services, has raised $21 million in Series A funding to advance its mission of rebuilding America’s digital infrastructure for public services. The round was led by NEA with participation from 776, Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, and Carpenter Capital, bringing the company’s total funding to $35 million.

American International Group announced plans to make two significant strategic investments, acquiring a 35% equity interest in Convex Group Limited, a global specialty insurer, and a 9.9% ownership stake in Onex Corporation, a global alternative asset manager. The dual transactions, valued at approximately $2.7 billion in total, are designed to strengthen AIG’s earnings profile and expand its exposure to specialty insurance and higher-yielding investment opportunities.

Tubulis announced the second and final closing of its Series C financing round, bringing the total raised to €344 million ($401 million). The round included new investors Fidelity Management & Research Company, Janus Henderson Investors, and Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing. These groups join a syndicate led by Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, alongside new investors Wellington Management and Ascenta Capital. Existing investors continuing their support include Nextech Invest, EQT Life Sciences, Frazier Life Sciences, Andera Partners, Deep Track Capital, Bayern Kapital, Fund+, High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), OCCIDENT, and Seventure Partners.

Lanai Software is an AI observability platform that helps enterprises detect hidden AI use and recommend which AI tools will benefit them in cost savings. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Lanai Software co-founder and CEO Lexi Reese to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

RealSense is the destination for industry-leading depth cameras and vision technology used in autonomous mobile robots, access control, industrial automation, healthcare, and more. Pulse 2.0 interviewed RealSense CEO Nadav Orbach to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Kimberly-Clark announced plans to acquire Kenvue in a cash and stock transaction valuing the consumer health company at an enterprise value of approximately $48.7 billion. The deal, unanimously approved by both boards, will create a combined global leader with roughly $32 billion in annual net revenues and $7 billion in adjusted EBITDA. The transaction, based on the closing price of Kimberly-Clark stock on October 31, 2025, represents an acquisition multiple of about 14.3x Kenvue’s last twelve months adjusted EBITDA, or 8.8x when including expected run-rate savings of $2.1 billion. Kenvue is known for brands like Tylenol, Band-Aid, Listerine, Neutrogena, Aveeno, Zyrtec, Imodium, and Nicorette. And Kimberly-Clark is known for Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, Depend, Kimwipes, and Safeskin.

LiveView Technologies (LVT) offers integrated hardware and software security solutions for life safety and security, typically used by commercial, industrial, and public-sector clients. Pulse 2.0 interviewed LVT Information and Technology Officer Steve Lindsey to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Sisense is an API-first, AI-powered Analytics Platform as a Service (AnPaaS) company that helps organizations analyze, visualize, and embed data insights into everyday workflows and applications. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Sisense CEO Ariel Katz to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Bigo Live is a leading global social live-streaming platform that empowers users to livestream in real time, share life moments, showcase their talents and engage with audiences worldwide. With over 500 million users across more than 150 countries and regions, BIGO Live fosters seamless global connectivity. Leveraging advanced livestreaming technology, the platform delivers high-resolution video, low-latency streaming, and interactive beauty features, creating an immersive and engaging experience for users everywhere. Pulse 2.0 interviewed BIGO Live VP Lynette Yang to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

TechnoMile is a software company that provides cloud-based AI-powered solutions for businesses that sell to the government (federal, state, local), especially in the GovCon (government contracting), aerospace, and defense sectors. Pulse 2.0 interviewed TechnoMile founder and CEO Ashish Khot to gain a deeper understanding of the company.

Cerberus Capital Management, a global alternative investment firm, has completed its acquisition of BROCC Finance AB, a technology-driven Swedish banking group specializing in consumer finance across the Nordic region. The transaction follows regulatory approval from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority and marks Cerberus’ latest strategic investment in European financial services.