Archives

Lightning Capital: $100 Million Venture Fund II Launched And Michele Griffin Joins As General Partner And COO

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Lightning Capital announced a $100 million target for its Venture Fund II and the appointment of former Andreessen Horowitz partner Michele Griffin as General Partner and Chief Operating Officer. The firm said Griffin will take immediate responsibility for Fund II and oversee operations across the organization.

Norm Law: Emerging Companies And Venture Capital Practice Launched With Senior Additions

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Norm Law, the AI-native full-service law firm built for institutional and high-growth clients, announced the launch of its Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice with the addition of Sam Lipson and Justin Rattigan as Partners and Co-Heads of the group.

BRG: Darin Cabral Appointed Chief Financial Officer To Support Global Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

BRG announced the appointment of Darin Cabral as chief financial officer, strengthening the firm's leadership team as it continues expanding its global advisory capabilities and multidisciplinary services. Based in Washington, D.C., Cabral will oversee BRG's financial strategy and operations. He succeeds David Johnson, who is departing the firm after nearly a decade.

Replit: Visa Investment And Enterprise Expansion Drive Growth In AI-Powered Software Creation

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Replit announced a major expansion of its enterprise business through a new partnership and investment from Visa, alongside the launch of self-serve enterprise access and a new Solutions Partner Program designed to accelerate adoption of AI-powered software creation across large organizations.

Steptoe Expands Chicago Presence With Addition Of Restructuring Partner Kenneth P. Kansa

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Steptoe announced that restructuring and bankruptcy attorney Kenneth P. Kansa has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in its Insolvency, Restructuring and Transactions practice. Kansa joins the firm from Barnes & Thornburg LLP and brings more than 25 years of experience advising clients on financial distress, restructurings, bankruptcies, and complex insolvency matters.

Orbital Industries: $50 Million Series B Raised To Scale AI Engine For The Physical Economy And Data Centre Hardware

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Orbital Industries, an AI-powered industrial technology company focused on building physical infrastructure for the AI era, announced it has raised $50 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Plural, with participation from existing and previous investors NVentures (NVIDIA), Radical Ventures, Compound, and Fly Ventures.

Panavision: $130 Million Strategic Financing Closed With Siena Lending Group And Hilco Global

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Panavision, a global provider of motion picture and television production services and equipment, has secured a $130 million financing facility from Siena Lending Group and Hilco Global.

Innovent Biologics: Up To $10.5 Billion Oncology Collaboration With Pfizer

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Innovent Biologics announced a global strategic licensing and collaboration agreement with Pfizer focused on the research and development of 12 early-stage and de novo oncology programs, creating one of the largest oncology partnerships announced this year. The deal combines Innovent’s oncology discovery and early clinical development capabilities with Pfizer’s global development, regulatory, and commercialization expertise.

CAE: Teaming Agreement With Saab To Support Canada’s Airborne Early Warning And Control Program

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

CAE announced the signing of a teaming agreement with Saab to support Canada's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) program based on Saab's GlobalEye platform.

SEI: Nathan Shetty Appointed Chief Investment Officer To Advance Global Asset Management Strategy

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

SEI announced the appointment of Nathan Shetty as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), effective June 1, 2026. In this role, Shetty will lead the company’s global investment organization and help drive the evolution of SEI’s asset management strategy, focusing on scalable and customized investment solutions for institutional and wealth management clients.

DTE Energy: $1.6 Billion Battery Storage Investment To Advance Michigan Clean Energy Goals

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

DTE Energy announced a $1.6 billion investment in Michigan's clean energy future through a partnership with LG Energy Solution Vertech to deploy Michigan-made battery energy storage systems across the state. The procurement agreement will support eight battery storage projects over a two-year period and is expected to generate approximately $2.3 billion in economic impact while creating jobs, strengthening grid reliability, and helping meet Michigan's clean energy targets.

Pacifico Biolabs: €7 Million Series A Raised To Scale Mycelium Protein Production

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Pacifico Biolabs announced that it has raised €7 million in Series A funding to accelerate the scale-up of its mycelium protein production platform and support the company’s commercial launch strategy. The financing marks a significant milestone for the Berlin-based food technology startup as it seeks to expand manufacturing capacity and strengthen its position within the rapidly growing alternative protein market.

Airis Labs: $31 Million Series A Closed As Defense AI Company Emerges From Stealth

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Airis Labs, a defense technology and AI company focused on intelligence and video-first analytics, announced that it has emerged from stealth mode after three years of building largely behind the scenes. The company also revealed that it recently raised a $31 million Series A financing round led by PSG Equity, bringing its total capital raised to just under $60 million.

Blulabs: $7 Million Investment Raised To Expand Global Supply Chain Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Blulabs, a Miami-based global supply chain, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics partner, announced that Lodestone Capital has led a $7 million investment in the company. The financing values Blulabs at $160 million pre-money and is intended to support continued expansion across its global supply chain platform, technology infrastructure, manufacturing network, logistics capabilities, and customer service operations.

G-Knot: Interview With CEO Wes Kaplan About The Biometric Technology Company

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

G-Knot is a pioneering biometric technology company that develops advanced hardware and software, most notably the world's first finger-vein-authenticated, non-custodial crypto wallet, designed to provide high-security digital asset custody through unique vascular pattern recognition. Pulse 2.0 interviewed G-Knot CEO Wes Kaplan to learn more.

ITG Brands: $150 Million Acquisition Of Black Buffalo Expands U.S. Oral Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

ITG Brands announced that its parent company, Imperial Brands PLC, has acquired Black Buffalo, a modern oral products company, in a deal valued at an initial $150 million plus additional deferred payments tied to performance over three years and other criteria.

Curio Expands Through Nora Mental Health Acquisition

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Curio announced that it has acquired Nora Mental Health, a multi-state franchise system of community-based mental health clinics, expanding its behavioral health platform across the United States. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Greenhouse: Acquisition Of Ezra AI Labs To Bring Conversational AI To Hiring

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Greenhouse, a hiring platform used by more than 7,500 companies, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ezra AI Labs, a voice AI interviewing company focused on structured, on-demand candidate conversations. The acquisition is expected to close this quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

Qualified, from Salesforce: Interview With CMO Maura Rivera About The Agentic Marketing And Conversational Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Qualified, from Salesforce, is an agentic marketing and conversational platform that uses an AI Sales Development Representative (SDR) agent named "Piper" to help B2B companies identify high-intent website visitors and generate a sales pipeline in real-time. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Qualified CMO Maura Rivera to learn more.

Xactus: Acquisition Of Mortgage Credit Link Expands Verification Technology Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Lovell Minnick Partners announced that its portfolio company, Xactus, has completed the acquisition of Mortgage Credit Link, a web-based order fulfillment hub that streamlines credit and verification data ordering from application to closing. Following the transaction, Mortgage Credit Link will operate as XedaLink, an independent subsidiary of Xactus.

Brennan Investment Group: 55,000-Square-Foot Industrial Facility Acquired In Illinois Sale-Leaseback Deal

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Brennan Investment Group announced the acquisition of a 55,000-square-foot Class A industrial facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois through a sale-leaseback transaction with Impact Networking, LLC. The acquisition expands Brennan’s Chicago industrial portfolio to approximately 10.5 million square feet.

DalFort Capital Partners: $166 Million Fund II Closes

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

DalFort Capital Partners announced a series of milestones, including the successful sale of portfolio company Polymer Adhesives Holdings, the expansion of its leadership team, and the closing of its second investment fund with total commitments of $166 million.

Scotiabank Acquires MapleMark Bank To Expand U.S. Banking Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Scotiabank announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Maple Financial Holdings, the parent company of MapleMark Bank, a U.S. commercial bank primarily operating in Dallas, Texas.

The Generation Essentials Group: A$280 Million Ritz-Carlton Perth Acquisition Expands Hospitality Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital, and The Generation Essentials Group (TGE) announced the successful completion of TGE’s acquisition of a 50% interest in The Ritz-Carlton, Perth, Australia. The transaction was completed for a total consideration of US$72 million (A$100 million), with the hotel valued at US$201 million (A$280 million).

Ballast Rock Private Wealth: Jake Fetchen Joins As Wealth Advisor

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Ballast Rock Private Wealth (BRPW), an independent registered investment advisor focused on serving accredited high-net-worth individuals, announced that Jake Fetchen has joined the firm as a Wealth Advisor.

Raymond James: $182 Million Advisor Thomas Conway Joins Employee Advisor Channel

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Raymond James recently announced that financial advisor Thomas Conway has joined Raymond James & Associates (RJA), the firm's employee advisor channel. Conway will operate as LakeVue Wealth Management of Raymond James in Kirkland, Washington, where he will continue providing financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, families, and clients preparing for or living in retirement.

XCENA Raises $135 Million Series B To Advance Memory-Centric Computing Solutions For AI Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

XCENA, a company providing memory-centric computing solutions for AI infrastructure, announced it has raised $135 million (KRW 202 billion) in a Series B financing round. The funding will support the company’s global expansion, customer deployment efforts, and development of its next-generation computational memory technologies. Following the round, XCENA has raised a total of $185 million and reached a valuation of $570 million.

Fields Good: $1.8 Million Raised For Functional Cookie Brand Launch

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

Fields Good, a new functional cookie brand founded by Ashley Fields, daughter of Mrs. Fields founder Debbi Fields, and Kim Anderson, has officially launched with three ready-to-eat cookies designed to support focus, protein intake, and sleep. The Austin-based company also announced a $1.8 million pre-seed funding round led by Female Founders Fund.

DartPoints Acquires Lexington Data Center Campus To Support AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

DartPoints announced the acquisition of a data center campus in Lexington, Kentucky, expanding its footprint and strengthening its ability to support growing demand from artificial intelligence, hyperscale, neo-cloud, and enterprise customers.

FORT Robotics Acquires Mapless AI To Expand Physical AI Trust Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 29, 2026

FORT Robotics announced the acquisition of Mapless AI, a Boston and Pittsburgh-based company specializing in vehicle teleoperation and autonomy supervision. The deal expands FORT's Trust Platform by adding remote human-in-the-loop teleoperation and onboard active safety capabilities, positioning the company to support supervised autonomy across a range of industrial and commercial applications.