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Happy Money Signs Strategic Deal With TruStage

By Annie Baker ● Jan 5, 2024

Happy Money - a leading platform for unsecured lending in partnership with credit unions - recently announced the close of a strategic transaction led by TruStage Ventures and other institutional investors. Happy Money remains a privately held company with independent operations under CEO Joe Heck.

Arbital Health: $10 Million Funding And Santa Barbara Actuaries Acquisition

By Dan Anderson ● Jan 5, 2024

Arbital Health - a technology startup focused on accelerating the healthcare industry's transition to value-based care - recently announced the acquisition of Santa Barbara Actuaries and $10 million in Series A financing led by digital healthcare investor Transformation Capital.

Chai: Social AI Platform Company Raises Funding At $450 Million Valuation

By Annie Baker ● Jan 5, 2024

AI platform Chai announced that CoreWeave (the leading specialized GPU cloud provider) will invest in the company, placing Chai at a $450 million valuation. This deal followed shortly after Chai's initial fundraising in June 2023, bringing the total capital invested in Chai to over $10 million.

Exponent Founders Capital Launched With $125 Million To Invest In Early-Stage Companies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Early stage venture capital firm Exponent Founders Capital launched and disclosed it has raised $125 million to date, including a new $75 million Fund II vehicle that will be deployed across promising inception and early stage companies spanning enterprise software, fintech and payments, infrastructure, applied AI, and vertical SaaS throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign Co-Founder Dr. Josh Makower Joins Sofinnova Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Sofinnova Partners - a leading European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London, and Milan - recently announced that Dr. Joshua Makower, co-founder and director of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign, has joined Sofinnova as an advisory Venture Partner.

HI-Bio: $95 Million Raised To Develop Targeted Therapies For Immune-Mediated Diseases

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio) - a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing targeted therapies for patients with severe immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) - recently announced the closing of a $95 million Series B financing led by new investor Alpha Wave Global. Viking Global Investors and Arkin Bio Capital participated in the financing, and existing investors Jeito Capital and ARCH Venture Partners.

VMocion: $3 Million Raised To Improve Virtual Motion Technologies

By Annie Baker ● Jan 5, 2024

VMocion - an entertainment technology company based in Scottsdale, Arizona - recently announced a $3 million seed round for the advancement of its VMocion 3V and WAIV technologies.

UrbanStems: Modern Floral Gifting Company Secures $5 Million In Funding

By Annie Baker ● Jan 5, 2024

UrbanStems - a premier modern floral gifting company - recently announced that it has secured $5 million in Series C extension funding from existing investors. The funding fuels the company's growth strategy as it expands same-day delivery service to new cities across the U.S.

Bumper: $48 Million Raised To Advance Flexible Automotive Payments Across Europe

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Bumper - a fintech enabling flexible payments for car repairs - recently announced the completion of a $48 million / €46 million / £40 million Series B fundraise to accelerate its growth. The company helps drivers split repair bills into interest-free payments so they are able to keep their cars on the road.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management: $650 Million Raised For West Street Life Sciences I Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Goldman Sachs Asset Management recently announced the final close of West Street Life Sciences I, representing the first fund in the firm’s Life Sciences Investing strategy. Life Sciences I closed above the fundraising target, with $650 million in equity commitments from a global, diverse group of institutional, strategic and high net worth investors and meaningful commitment from Goldman Sachs employees. The fund raise is one of the largest ever first-time private life sciences growth funds.

Vigilant Ops: SBMOM Automation Company Closes $2 Million In Funding

By Dan Anderson ● Jan 5, 2024

DataTribe - a global cyber foundry that invests in and co-builds next-generation cybersecurity and data science companies - recently announced a $2 million seed investment in Vigilant Ops, a leading automation platform for the generation, maintenance, and authenticated sharing of certified Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). Vigilant Ops (winner of the 6th annual DataTribe Challenge in November) performs continuous vulnerability monitoring and alerting, security patch notifications, and the ability to upload SBOMs - lists of the software libraries embedded in products - from alternate sources.

Annabella: Breast Bump Company Secures $8.5 Million In Funding

By Annie Baker ● Jan 5, 2024

Annabella - a first-of-its-kind breast pump - recently announced its seed funding round of $8.5 million and its entrance into the U.S. market. The notable investors include Israel Shark Tank’s Yasmin Lukatz (Founder of Israel Collaboration Network), serial entrepreneur and investor Oren Dobronsky, as well as Zohar Gilon (Tamar Technology Ventures), and Menachem Weinfeld (Starry Group).

Perplexity: AI Search Company Raises $73.6 Million At A Reported $520 Million Valuation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Perplexity recently announced milestones reinforcing the company’s increasingly dominant role in this new era of AI-native search. Since publicly launching the world’s first fully functional conversational answer engine about a year ago, the company has grown to 10 million monthly active users and served over half a billion queries last year.

Why APA Is Buying Callon Petroleum For $4.5 Billion

By Annie Baker ● Jan 5, 2024

APA Corporation and Callon Petroleum Company have entered into a definitive agreement under which APA will buy Callon in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $4.5 billion, inclusive of Callon's net debt.

Ceretype Neuromedicine: Functional MRI Company Raises $2 Million

By Noah Long ● Jan 5, 2024

Ceretype Neuromedicine - a pioneer in the practical application and integration of functional MRI (fMRI) - recently announced that it has closed its second round of seed financing. And the company’s $2 million funding target was oversubscribed.

Pixis: Helping Brands Scale Marketing Through Accessible Codeless AI Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Pixis is a global tech company that develops accessible codeless AI technology to help brands scale all aspects of their marketing and augment their decision-making in a world of infinitely complex consumer behavior. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Pixis co-founder and Chief Business Officer Hari Valiyath to learn more about the company.

NANO Nuclear Energy: How This Company Is Powering The Future Of Advanced Reactors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

NANO Nuclear Energy is a company that has taken the initiative to also focus on High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) to power the future of advanced reactors through their subsidiary HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. Pulse 2.0 interviewed NANO Nuclear Founder, Executive Chairman and President Jay Jiang Yu and NANO Nuclear Energy’s CEO and Head of Reactor Development, James Walker.

BeatBox: How This Original Party Punch Quickly Grew Into A Beverage Powerhouse

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

BeatBox is an "Original Party Punch," offering fun and nostalgic flavors in a sustainable and resealable package. The company's journey started in 2012 in the live music capital of the world, Austin, TX. Pulse 2.0 interviewed BeatBox VP of Global Marketing, Zech Francis, to learn more about the company.

Digitate: Using AI/ML To Help Companies Become More Efficient

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Digitate is a company that leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to manage IT and business operations. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Digitate product owner Shouvik Banerjee to learn more about the company.

The Bettering Company: A Socially Responsible Cannabis Edibles Brand Rapidly Growing In A $30+ Billion Market

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

The Bettering Company is a socially responsible cannabis edibles brand offering high-quality, hand-crafted, vegan and gluten-free edibles. Pulse 2.0 interviewed The Bettering Company CEO and co-founder Mark Cozzi to learn more about the company.

Trepwise: How This Consulting Firm Unlocks The Potential of Purpose-Driven Organizations

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

Trepwise is a strategy consulting firm focused on unlocking the potential of purpose-driven organizations by aligning people, processes, and vision. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Trepwise founder and CEO Kevin Wilkins to learn more about the company.

One Point One Solutions: The Story Behind This Business Process Management Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 5, 2024

One Point One Solutions is a leading next-generation Business Process Management (BPM) company that offers solutions to some of India's most loved brands. Pulse 2.0 interviewed One Point One Solutions managing director Akshay Chhabra to learn more about the company.

Graviton Bioscience Receives Financing From Enavate Sciences

By Noah Long ● Jan 4, 2024

Graviton Bioscience - a privately held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on therapies that inhibit Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) - recently announced the completion of financing from Enavate Sciences, a portfolio company of Patient Square Capital.

Intel And DigitalBridge Form Articul8 To Offer Enterprise GenAI Software Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 4, 2024

Intel and global investment firm DigitalBridge Group announced the formation of Articul8 AI, an independent company offering enterprise customers a full-stack, vertically-optimized, and secure generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) software platform. And the platform delivers AI capabilities that keep customer data, training, and inference within the enterprise security perimeter.

Forward Consumer Partners: Debut Fund Closed At $425 Million Hard Cap

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 4, 2024

Forward Consumer Partners - a private equity firm that invests in branded consumer businesses - announced recently the successful closing of its oversubscribed debut fund, Forward Fund I (Fund I).

iGrafx: Transforming Process Intelligence To Drive Business Outcomes

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 4, 2024

iGrafx is a global leader in process intelligence, enabling the world’s enterprises to turn processes into a competitive advantage. Pulse 2.0 interviewed iGrafx chief executive officer Alexandre Wentzo to learn more about the company.

Vasa Therapeutics Raises $6 Million In Seed Funding To Develop Therapies For Cardiovascular Aging Diseases

By Dan Anderson ● Jan 4, 2024

Vasa Therapeutics - a preclinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for cardiovascular aging - recently announced the closing of $6 million in series seed funding led by Orphinic Scientific SA. The funding round also included participation from private investment funds NuFund Venture Group, SeedFolio, and others.

Radionetics Oncology: $52.5 Million Secured To Advance Radiopharmaceutical Pipeline

By Annie Baker ● Jan 4, 2024

Radionetics Oncology - a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel agents for treating a wide range of oncology indications - recently announced the completion of a $52.5 million Series A financing. The funding round was led by Frazier Life Sciences, 5AM Ventures, and new investor, DCVC Bio, with participation from Crinetics Pharmaceuticals and GordonMD Global Investments, raising the total to $82.5 million.

Aqua Security: $60 Million Funding Raised At Over $1 Billion Valuation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Jan 4, 2024

Aqua Security - a pioneer in cloud-native security - recently announced it had secured $60 million in funding, led by new investor Evolution Equity Partners, with participation from existing investors Insight Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and StepStone Group. The funding - which is an extension of the company’s Series E round - placed Aqua’s valuation above $1 billion.

Vita Inclinata: $44 Million Closed To Create A Safety Ecosystem For Rescue Crews

By Noah Long ● Jan 4, 2024

Vita Inclinata Technologies - an innovator in intelligent lifting hardware and software for rescue crews and other field safety applications - recently announced that it secured $44 million in funding from 3&1 Fund, a global leader in IP (Intellectual Property) based financing solutions. Utilizing a debt structure, 3&1 Fund offered a compelling alternative to traditional equity-based venture capital financing, which will boost Vita Inclinata Technologies' expansion initiatives.