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Handle.com (a construction payments software platform) announced it has raised a significant investment from Suffolk Technologies (the venture capital affiliate of Suffolk Construction, one of the nation’s leading construction entities). This strategic funding round marks a major moment for Handle as it seeks to expand its innovative credit and payment solutions across the built environment.

AmeriPro Health (a leading provider of patient logistics and last-mile healthcare delivery services) announced a partnership with Whistler Capital Partners (a leading healthcare-focused private equity firm, to invest in the Company and support its continued growth). And AmeriPro will continue to be led by founder and CEO Suhas Uppalapati and the company’s existing executive leadership team. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The financial terms were not disclosed.

Hiline (a leading provider of financial-operations-as-a-service that helps growth-minded organizations manage risk, improve outcomes, and make better decisions) announced it acquired Calculate, a New York-based outsourced accounting and finance firm dedicated to supporting the financial processes at emerging companies. This strategic deal represents a significant milestone for Hiline as it strengthens its position in the market and expands its offerings to better serve its growing roster of clients.

Bill Ackman - the renowned billionaire hedge fund manager - has launched a new investment portfolio in the U.S., according to regulatory filings. It is believed that this new fund will mimic his existing hedge fund, but it will be offered at lower fees.

Capital Square Partners (CSP) - a leading private equity firm specializing in cross-border technology and business services - announced it has completed a significant investment in Bits In Glass (BIG) - an award-winning technology firm known for being a trusted partner in digital transformation.

Bloomerang - a leading donor, volunteer, and fundraising management software platform for thousands of small and medium-sized nonprofits - announced that it received an investment from Warburg Pincus. And the funding – combined with JMI Equity's investment in 2020 and the company's recent acquisition of Qgiv – will drive ongoing growth and success to help Bloomerang deliver the sector's first fully-integrated giving platform.

Late last year, Google revealed a new large language model (LLM) called Gemini. Gemini was labeled Google’s most capable AI model with sophisticated multimodal reasoning capabilities. And now Google’s AI chatbot Bard is being rebranded to Gemini.

Blue Owl Capital (a leading alternative asset manager) and Lunate (a global alternative investment manager headquartered in Abu Dhabi managing US$105 billion in assets) announced a joint venture to provide growth capital to leading mid-sized private capital GPs.

Closinglock (a leading fintech and fraud prevention technology provider for the real estate industry) announced the successful closure of its $12 million Series A funding round. Led by Headline and backed by LiveOak Ventures, RWT Horizons, and GTMfund. This funding round will help drive Closinglock’s goal to transform the transfer of funds and information in real estate.

Ezra - a healthcare AI-based company transforming MRI imaging and early cancer detection - announced that it has raised $21 million in new funding. The round was co-led by Healthier Capital and led by Amir Dan Rubin, former CEO of Amazon’s One Medical. And FirstMark Capital co-led the round, with participation from Allianz Life Ventures (the venture capital arm of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America), the Schwarzman family, former Chairman of England’s National Health Service (NHS) Lord David Prior, Gaingels, Republic, and Mana Ventures. The existing investors Credo Ventures, Seedcamp, LDV Capital, Accomplice, Founders Future, Vlad Tenev, Anne Wojcicki, and Esther Dyson also participated. And Amir Dan Rubin will also join Ezra’s Board of Directors.

Trinity Capital (a leading provider of diversified financial solutions to growth-stage companies) announced the commitment of $20 million in equipment financing to Formlogic (a provider of autonomous precision manufacturing services intended for space companies).

Gryphon Investors (a leading middle-market private equity firm) announced that it has signed an agreement to sell HEPACO, LLC to Clean Harbors (a leading provider of environmental and industrial services) in a deal valued at $400 million. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

AArete (a leading global management and technology consulting firm) announced that it has acquired Legerity (a technology consulting firm based in Norfolk, Virginia). This strategic acquisition will expand AArete’s technology solutions and capabilities for its clients in healthcare, financial services, and the public sector.

Aurora Cannabis - a Canada-based leading global medical cannabis company - announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company acquired the remaining approximately 90% equity interest of Indica Industries Pty Ltd that Aurora did not previously own, at an enterprise value of AUD$50 million, subject to customary adjustments. Aurora paid AUD$9.45 million in cash with the balance of the purchase price satisfied by the issuance of common shares of Aurora.

Stellar Sleep - a company that provides the first digital solution for chronic insomnia management - announced a $6 million seed round, led by Initialized Capital with participation from Y Combinator, Lombardstreet Ventures, Switch Ventures, Moonfire Ventures, Scrum Ventures, 8vdx and Goodwater.

Altamont Capital Partners announced that Billy Medof joined the firm as an Operating Partner. In this new role, Medof will accelerate Altamont's investment thesis within the corrugated packaging industry, drawing on nearly 20 years of executive leadership experience. And Medof previously served as President of Georgia Pacific (GP) Corrugated and business leader for GP's Sheet Feeders, which are subsidiaries of Koch Industries.

Radiant Logistics (a leading provider of technology-enabled global transportation and value-added logistics solutions) announced it has acquired Select Logistics and Select Cartage, both Doral, Florida-based, privately held companies that have operated as part of its Adcom Worldwide brand since 2007.

Perigon - a company that is reshaping how AI processes the ever-expanding realm of public web data and news media - announced it has successfully closed a $5 million seed financing round led by LiveOak Ventures. Launched in 2022 by serial entrepreneur Joshua Dziabiak and Emmy-winning innovator Josh Rickel, Perigon is at the forefront of organizing the web's vast data for the age of AI.

Aizon - an AI SaaS provider that transforms pharmaceutical manufacturing operations - announced that it has closed $20 million in Series C funding led by NewVale Capital. And existing investors Atlantic Bridge, Crosslink Capital, and Uncork Capital also participated in the round.

Aster (a predictive and preventative pregnancy care platform for patients and providers) announced the company’s first funding round of $2.4 million, led by Cake Ventures in partnership with Cornerstone VC and additional participation from Barclays Black Formation Investments (managed by Zeal Capital Partners), Octopus (FCF), Blueprint, Everywhere and select angel investors.

BXVentures is a leading global venture studio and climate tech specialist transforming cutting-edge R&D into commercially successful ventures. Pulse 2.0 interviewed BXV Managing Partner Romain Decorps to learn more about the firm.

Onward has announced a full rebrand as the energy innovation studio fortifies its mission to transform the energy industry and achieve a Net Zero future. And in tandem, a newly assembled inaugural advisory board will bolster the company’s growth with unique perspectives to advance the energy transition and scale services to the energy sector and to the global climate community.

Mechanical Orchard - a company helping businesses transition away from mainframe-based IT systems to cloud-based applications - announced it has raised $24 million in a Series A funding round, led by Emergence Capital. There was also further investment from Industry Ventures, Spider Capital, Bloomberg Beta, Cendana Capital, and Webb Investment Network.

Built by developers, for developers, Predibase enables any software engineer to do the work of an ML engineer in an easy-to-understand declarative way. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Predibase Co-founder and CEO Devvret Rishi to learn more about the company.

Pagaya Technologies (a global technology company delivering AI-driven product solutions for the financial ecosystem) announced the closing of a credit facility with participation from Funds and Accounts managed by BlackRock U.S. Private Capital, UBS O’Connor, JPMorgan Chase, Valley Bank, and Israel Discount Bank.

Omega has announced the successful completion of $6 million in funding, solidifying its position as a pioneer in bringing native Bitcoin to the DeFi ecosystem. And this funding was secured through three rounds of investment with participation from Lightspeed Faction, Borderless Capital and Wormhole Cross-Chain Ecosystem Fund (operated by Borderless Capital), Bankless Ventures, Wave Digital, Blockchain.com, Blockchain Founders Fund, Kronos Ventures, XTBO Humla, Cadenza, Psalion Ventures, AlphaLab Capital, Side Door Ventures, MH Ventures, and others.

The Parking Spot (TPS) - a leading owner and operator of near-airport parking properties - announced the acquisition of Park ’N Fly (PNF), a near-airport parking sector owner/operator with 13 owned, leased, and managed facilities.

Subscribili (a pioneer in subscription-based healthcare) announced it has secured a significant $4.3 million in seed funding. This funding round - which was led by Darby Group Companies and supported by Vyne Dental - is also backed by other notable figures in the dental and technology industries. They include Gokul Rajaram, a distinguished board member of Pinterest and Coinbase, and Krishna Raj Raja, the founder of Support Logic. This funding heralds a new era of accessibility and innovation in dental care.

ZEDEDA - a leader in edge management and orchestration - announced the closing of $72 million in growth capital, with the Series C round led by Smith Point Capital, founded by former Salesforce Co-CEO Keith Block.

Branching Minds (a pioneering innovator in education technology) announced it received a growth investment from Bain Capital Double Impact, a leading social impact investor. And this new partnership will enable Branching Minds to enhance K-12 student outcomes nationwide by equipping educators with a novel, data-driven software platform that addresses individual learning needs.