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Sidework - a pioneering beverage technology company (formerly known as Backbar) - recently announced that it has closed new funding to bring their total raised to over $10 million. The new funding round was led by Cherubic Ventures with continuing participation from Finistere Ventures, SOSV, Outlander Labs, and Pathbreaker Ventures. 

Rymedi - a healthcare data exchange platform with advanced blockchain security - recently announced a Series A totaling $9 million with plans to expand the reach of their platform. The funding round was co-led by RW3 Ventures and White Star Capital, with participation from Blockchange Ventures, Avalanche's Blizzard Fund, and strategic angel investors from the healthcare industry.

EnterpriseDB (EDB) - a leader in accelerating Postgres in the enterprise - recently announced its acquisition of Splitgraph. This early-stage disruptor offers a Postgres-compatible serverless SQL API for building data-driven applications from hundreds of data sources. This move is considered a meaningful step in EDB's evolution and highlights its commitment to delivering Postgres solutions to customers' evolving challenges across a diverse data landscape.

Trua is a technology company that provides privacy-preserving reusable identity and risk-screening solutions that assure trust and safety in digital environments, sharing economy, employment, and workforce background screening. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Trua CEO Raj Ananthanpillai to learn more about the company. 

Yourco - a pioneering SMS-based platform designed to bridge the communication gap between non-desk employees (those who work in the field, on the plant floor, or frontlines rather than behind a desk to do their job) and the front office - recently announced it successfully raised $2 million in a seed funding round. Indianapolis-based Ground Game Ventures led the funding round with additional support from Allos Ventures, Start Something Ventures, Elevate Ventures, and Flywheel Fund. This funding round will accelerate the company's mission to empower the 2.7 billion employees working outside an office with effective workplace communication and automation tools.

Waverly Advisors, LLC - a registered investment advisor (RIA) that specializes in investment management, financial planning and wealth management solutions for a diverse group of high-net-worth individuals, corporate retirement plans and institutional clients - recently announced that it has acquired Rainsberger Wealth Advisors based in Colorado Springs, CO. And with ongoing expansion efforts underway, Waverly has recently added offices in Texas and Mississippi, and now Colorado, in addition to their long-time presence in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

OnsiteIQ - a leading construction intelligence platform for commercial real estate investors, developers, and owners - recently announced the completion of a $14-million Series B financing round. The funding round was led by existing investor Vertical Venture Partners (joined by several its Limited Partners), with additional participation from leading real estate technology VC RET Ventures and Interplay VC.

PhaseV - a pioneer in causal machine learning (ML) technology that optimizes clinical trial design and analysis - recently announced that it has raised $15 million in funding, led by Viola Ventures and Exor Ventures, including participation from LionBird and a group of prominent angel investors.

Thirteen Castles (a technology-focused investment firm) recently announced that it has agreed to lead an equity investment and establish a technology partnership to build the second phase of hostU's marketplace. hostU was launched out of Northwestern University's Entrepreneurship center called The Garage.

Palladium Energy - a leading utility-scale solar and storage developer within the U.S.  - recently announced the closing of a $10 million corporate equity investment from Ultra Capital. This private investment firm provides growth equity and asset capital to companies focused on the energy transition and de-carbonization. And the funding will be utilized to accelerate the growth of the Palladium team and development pipeline with a continued focus on originating, acquiring and developing high-quality solar and storage projects.

OrbiMed - a global healthcare investment firm - recently announced it has raised over $4.3 billion in commitments for its latest private investment funds, including OrbiMed Private Investments IX, OrbiMed Asia Partners V, and OrbiMed Royalty & Credit Opportunities IV. Consistent with their predecessors, the new funds enable OrbiMed to invest globally, from the seed stage for start-ups incubated by OrbiMed through growth capital opportunities.

Studio X recently announced Cohort 3 of its Energy and Climate Tech Accelerator Program: AI Technology Systems, Austere Environmental, Economical Energy, Flexergy, Onvol, Project Geminae, and SeisWave. These startups are engaging in the 16-week program and gain access to cohort-exclusive programming and content, customized support and hands-on mentorship, actionable guidance, access to world-class industry experts, monetary support in the form of investment, etc. Through this accelerator program, Studio X seeks to propel these startups' growth and the resulting impact of their innovations.

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II recently announced four Michigan nonprofit organizations will receive initial awards from the Michigan Innovate Capital Fund (MICF), a new program to continue growing a vibrant and robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Michigan. Ann Arbor SPARK, Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC), Invest Detroit, and InvestUP will receive $18 million in funding from the program, which the MSF Board approved in June 2023.

Noodle Cat Games - a leading independent game development studio - recently announced the completion of its Series A funding round of $12 million led by Hiro Capital, with additional participation from Makers Fund, KRAFTON, and Sony Innovation Fund. Headed by gaming industry veterans from renowned studios such as Epic Games, Electronic Arts, and BioWare, the team has worked in leadership roles on legendary titles like Fortnite, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Infinity Blade. Noodle Cat is excited to push forward development on their first original IP title, an innovative multiplayer Action RPG.

Sequoia Financial Group - a leading SEC-registered wealth manager with over $15 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023 - recently announced it has agreed to acquire M Capital Advisors - which has been providing customized portfolio management services to individuals and institutions for more than three decades. The firms expect the deal to close by October 31. The financial terms were not disclosed.

Textainer Group Holdings Limited - one of the world’s largest lessors of intermodal containers - recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Stonepeak (a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets). Upon completing the deal and the redemption of Textainer’s Series A and B cumulative redeemable perpetual preference shares, Textainer will become a privately held company.

NorthRock Partners, a full-service financial and lifestyle advisory firm, and Sammons Financial Group, a leading financial services company, recently announced an industry-setting partnership to enhance and expand the innovative client-centric approach that has made NorthRock a leader in the wealth management industry.

AMN Healthcare - the leader and innovator in total talent solutions for healthcare organizations across the United States - recently announced a definitive agreement to acquire MSDR for a purchase price of $300 million. MSDR comprises two healthcare staffing companies specializing in locum tenens and advanced practices: Medical Search International (MSI) and DRW Healthcare Staffing (DRW).

Basis - an AI platform for accounting firms - has recently emerged from stealth with a $3.6 million seed round led by Better Tomorrow Ventures with participation from BoxGroup, Avid Ventures, several top accounting firms, and leaders from the accounting and machine learning communities.

Securiti is a pioneer of the Data Command Center, a centralized platform that enables the safe use of data and GenAI. The company provides unified data intelligence, controls, and orchestration across hybrid multicloud environments. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Michelle Graff, channel veteran and VP Global Alliances & Channels at Securiti, to learn more.

Axio is a leader in SaaS-based risk management software, which empowers security leaders to build and optimize security programs and quantify risk for better investment prioritization and decision-making. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Axio co-founder and CEO Scott Kannry to learn more.

EngageSmart - a leading provider of vertically tailored customer engagement software and integrated payments solutions - recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners, a leading global investment firm focused exclusively on enterprise software, data and technology-enabled businesses, in an all-cash transaction valued at about $4 billion.

Fortive Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire EA Elektro-Automatik Holding GmbH (EA), a leading supplier of high-power electronic test solutions for energy storage, mobility, hydrogen, and renewable energy applications, for $1.45 billion in cash, net of $215 million of tax benefits from Bregal Unternehmerkapital. And the deal is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the early first quarter of 2024.

INVO Bioscience (a healthcare services company focused on expanding access to advanced fertility treatment worldwide) and NAYA Biosciences (a company dedicated to increasing patient access to breakthrough treatments in oncology and regenerative medicine) jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for INVO to acquire NAYA Biosciences in an all-stock transaction. Under the terms of the deal, NAYA Biosciences' shareholders will receive 7.3333 shares of INVO for each share of NAYA Biosciences at closing, for approximately 18.15 million shares of INVO. Following the merger's close, the combined company is expected to operate under the name "NAYA Biosciences." Dr. Daniel Teper, Chairman & CEO of NAYA Biosciences, will be named Chairman & CEO of the combined company.

Roivant recently announced the entry into a definitive agreement with Roche to acquire Telavant Holdings (owned by Roivant Sciences Ltd. and Pfizer). The deal includes the development, manufacturing and commercialization rights in the US and Japan for RVT-3101, a novel TL1A directed antibody. And RVT-3101 is a promising new therapy in development for people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Clear Street is building financial infrastructure for today's institutions. Clients of all sizes use our clearing, custody, execution, and prime brokerage platform to operate their businesses. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Clear Street Vice President of Engineering Prerak Sanghvi to learn more about the company.

Steven Madden (a leading designer and marketer of fashion footwear, accessories and apparel) recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of privately held Almost Famous, a designer and marketer of women’s apparel. Almost Famous markets products under its own brands, primarily Almost Famous, and private label brands for various retailers.

HTD Health is a healthcare strategy, design, and software development company. Our mission is to imagine, design, and build a healthier world. We focus on custom software that prioritizes the patient experience while improving accessibility, efficiency, and productivity in the healthcare system. Pulse 2.0 interviewed HTD Health co-founder and CEO Zachary Markin to learn more.

Donorbox - a technology-powered platform for fundraising - has celebrated the processing of over $2 billion in donations. And Donorbox enables nonprofits across the globe to quickly and efficiently raise funds online with one of the lowest transaction fees in the industry. The surpassing of the $2 billion signifies the massive impact the company has had in helping nonprofit organizations make a lasting impact on their respective communities.