Archives

a21 Acquires Equity Stake In Two12 To Unite Culinary Talent And Global Experiential Platforms

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

a21 has acquired an equity stake in Two12, the culinary-focused management company founded by Scott R. Feldman, forming a strategic partnership designed to integrate talent representation with large-scale live experience production. Two12 is backed by Paradigm Talent Agency and its subsidiary Paradigm Media Entertainment. The transaction brings together a21’s event production, marketing, and brand partnership capabilities with Two12’s roster of chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary personalities, creating a unified platform to expand opportunities across food, beverage, hospitality, and media.

Ergatta To Join Interactive Strength Portfolio In Strategic Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Ergatta, a pioneer in game-based connected fitness, has signed a definitive agreement to join Interactive Strength, expanding the reach of its immersive, competition-driven training platform across a broader portfolio of performance-focused brands. Interactive Strength is a portfolio company that includes Wattbike, CLMBR, and FORME. The addition of Ergatta brings a differentiated, software-first fitness experience into the group, centered around proprietary game mechanics, structured competition, and subscription-based digital training.

Johnson Controls To Acquire Data Center Cooling Specialist Alloy Enterprises

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Johnson Controls has signed an agreement to acquire Alloy Enterprises, a Boston-based thermal management technology company, in a move aimed at strengthening its leadership in the fast-growing data center cooling market and accelerating innovation aligned with the AI-driven economy.

Pantheon Expands Global Investment And Client Solutions Capabilities With Four Partner Promotions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Pantheon announced the promotion of four new Partners as part of its annual promotions, strengthening senior leadership across its Investment and Client Solutions teams in Asia, Latin America and the private wealth channel. The firm said the promotions recognize the contributions of professionals supporting institutional and private wealth clients globally and reflect its continued growth across private markets strategies.

Bain & Company Appoints Tom De Waele As Regional Managing Partner For Europe, Middle East And Africa

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Bain & Company has appointed Tom De Waele as its new regional managing partner for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), effective January 26. The announcement comes as the firm reports strong expansion across the region, delivering robust double-digit growth across its practices and capabilities.

Google: America-India Connect Initiative Expands Fiber-Optic And Subsea Infrastructure Across Four Continents

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Google announced a major expansion of its global digital infrastructure with the launch of the America-India Connect initiative, a program designed to strengthen fiber-optic and subsea connectivity between the United States, India, and regions across the Southern Hemisphere. The initiative builds on the company’s previously announced five-year, 15 billion AI infrastructure investment in India and aims to increase the reach, reliability, and resilience of global digital networks.

Remitly Appoints Sebastian Gunningham As Chief Executive Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Remitly Global announced the appointment of Sebastian J. Gunningham as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, effective February 19, 2026. He succeeds Co-Founder Matt Oppenheimer, who is transitioning from the CEO role after nearly 15 years leading the company’s growth and will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.

Osaic Onboards $190 Million Firm Hoyt Jensen & Associates

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Osaic, one of the nation’s largest providers of wealth management strategies, announced that Hoyt Jensen & Associates has joined Undefined Gridlines, Inc., an office of supervisory jurisdiction under Osaic. The Phoenix-based advisory firm was previously affiliated with Ameriprise Financial and oversees approximately $190 million in client assets.

Cetera Welcomes Advisor Shawn Longley And Ledgevest Financial Team With Approximately $205 Million In AUA

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Cetera Financial Group, a wealth hub supporting independent advisors, announced that financial advisor Shawn Longley and his Ledgevest Financial team have joined the firm from Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, where Longley had been affiliated for 17 years.

Energy Vault Raises $135.5 Million Financing And Reports First Positive Adjusted EBITDA

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Energy Vault, a sustainable grid-scale energy storage and AI power infrastructure company, announced it has closed a financing transaction generating $135.5 million in proceeds, net of initial purchaser commissions. The company also previewed selected Q4 2025 financial results, highlighting its first positive quarterly Adjusted EBITDA and continued expansion into AI infrastructure and long-duration energy storage projects in Australia.

AE Wealth Management: Veteran Wealth Executive Shannon Larson Appointed President

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

AE Wealth Management announced that industry veteran Shannon Larson has joined the firm as president, marking a key leadership addition as the company continues an ambitious expansion strategy.

PolyGone Systems: Princeton University Spinout Raises $4 Million Seed Round To Scale Microplastic Monitoring And Removal

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

PolyGone Systems, a cleantech company and Princeton University spinout focused on microplastic monitoring and removal, announced it has raised $4 million in Seed funding to expand its filtration and water analysis capabilities. The round was led by FYRFLY Venture Partners, with participation from Tech Council Ventures, Interstate Fusion Ventures, Golden Seeds, and angel investors. The New Jersey Innovation Evergreen Fund matched $1.65 million of the raise.

Onshore: $31 Million Series B Raised For AI-Based Tax Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Onshore, an AI-powered tax platform formerly known as SPRX, announced it has raised $31 million in Series B funding to accelerate its expansion across additional U.S. tax and accounting domains. The round was led by FPV Ventures, with participation from Vertex Ventures, ADP Ventures, Y Combinator, and Restive Ventures. The financing brings the company’s total funding to $46 million.

Novig: $75 Million Series B Raised For Sports Prediction Market Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Novig has raised $75 million in a Series B round to expand its trader-first sports prediction market and accelerate its push toward federal regulation. The round was led by Pantera Capital, with participation from Multicoin Capital, Makers Fund, Edge Equity and existing investors Forerunner Ventures, Perceptive Ventures and NFX. The financing brings Novig’s total capital raised to more than $105 million.

Efficient Computer: $60 Million Series A Closed For Energy-Efficient Processor Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Efficient Computer has raised $60 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate development of its ultra-efficient general-purpose processors designed for artificial intelligence and advanced computing workloads. The round was led by Triatomic Capital, with participation from Eclipse, Union Square Ventures, Overlap Holdings, BoxGroup, RTX Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and Overmatch Ventures, among others. The financing brings the company’s total capital raised to $76 million.

Monark Markets Raises $8.1 Million Strategic Round For Building Brokerage And Wealth Platform Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Monark Markets has raised $8.1 million in strategic financing to accelerate its mission of building standardized infrastructure connecting brokerage firms and wealth platforms to private markets. The round was led by F-Prime, with participation from The Treasury, Commerce Ventures, Grit Capital Partners, and BBAE Holdings.

Sift Biosciences Raises $3.7 Million Pre-Seed To Advance T-Cell Booster Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Sift Biosciences has closed an oversubscribed $3.7 million pre-seed financing round to accelerate development of its next-generation peptide immunotherapy platform designed to activate pre-existing memory T cells. The round was co-led by Freeflow Ventures and Lifespan Vision Ventures, with participation from Valuence Ventures, Eisai Innovation, SBI US Gateway Fund, and other early supporters.

Elevation Point Invests In Hampton Bluff Capital Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Elevation Point has made a strategic minority investment in Hampton Bluff Capital Partners, a newly launched independent wealth management firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, as the growth-focused partner continues expanding its footprint among breakaway advisory teams.

JLL Partners Raises $1.4 Billion For Fund IX

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

JLL Partners, a New York-based middle market private equity firm focused on the healthcare, industrials, and business services sectors, announced the final close of JLL Partners Fund IX, L.P., with approximately $1.4 billion in equity commitments.

Aprio Wealth Management Names Courtney Holt Chief Compliance Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Aprio Wealth Management, an SEC-registered investment advisor with over $5 billion in assets under management, offering integrated, fiduciary-based advisory services across all 50 states, announced that Courtney Holt has joined the firm as chief compliance officer. In this role, Holt will lead the firm’s compliance strategy, ensuring that its continued growth is grounded in strong regulatory governance and a commitment to client protection.

RF Investment Partners Backs Recapitalization Of Fire & Life Safety Services Platform NSG-Norel

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

RF Investment Partners announced it has partnered with Prairie Capital to support the recapitalization of NSG Life Safety and Norel Service Company, which together operate as NSG-Norel, a provider of fire, life safety, and security solutions across New England.

World Investment Advisors Appoints Jeffrey Sheftic As Chief Growth Officer

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

World Investment Advisors, a financial advisory firm and division of World Insurance Associates, announced that Jeffrey Sheftic has joined the firm as Chief Growth Officer, bringing more than 30 years of wealth management leadership experience to drive organic growth, advisor engagement, and operational clarity.

Korsana Biosciences Launches With $175 Million To Advance Alzheimer’s Therapeutics

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Korsana Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies to reduce the burden of neurodegenerative diseases, announced its emergence from stealth with $175 million in funding from a syndicate of healthcare investors.

LPL Brings In $275 Million Firm Shoreline Private Wealth Management

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

LPL Financial announced that Jason Mochi of Shoreline Private Wealth Management has joined its broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor platform. Mochi reported serving approximately $275 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets and joins LPL from Morgan Stanley.

Ascentis Launches Family Wealth Division

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Ascentis Wealth Management, a part of Ascentis Holdings, announced that it is welcoming Ascentis Family Wealth, a newly launched Dallas-based wealth advisory practice led by Kevin Gray.

Payra Raises $15 Million Growth Investment From Edison Partners

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Payra, a B2B payments and accounts receivable automation platform built for blue-collar and construction-oriented businesses operating on legacy enterprise resource planning systems, announced that it has raised a $15 million growth equity investment from Edison Partners.

Aliro Raises $15 Million In Oversubscribed Round To Advance Physics-Based Cybersecurity

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Aliro announced that it has raised $15 million in an oversubscribed funding round aimed at advancing what it describes as the next major paradigm shift in cybersecurity: moving digital trust from mathematical assumptions to the laws of physics. The round was led by Gutbrain Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Cisco Investments, as well as new investors Argon Ventures and Wonderstone Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Murata. The capital will support expanded deployments, ecosystem partnerships, and the company’s broader mission to redefine global security infrastructure.

Battery Ventures Raises $3.25 Billion For Fund XV To Back AI And Software Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Battery Ventures announced the close of a new $3.25 billion fund, Battery Ventures XV, to continue backing technology companies globally, with a focus on the U.S., Europe, and Israel. The oversubscribed fund was completed in a single close and comes as the firm continues investing across both the venture capital and buyout markets. The raise follows 15 announced exit events for Battery in 2025 and more than $10 billion in liquidity realized over the past five years, reflecting the firm's stage-diversified approach.

HGGC Closes $3.2 Billion Fifth Flagship Fund

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

HGGC, the Palo Alto-based middle-market private equity firm co-founded by Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, announced that it has raised $3.2 billion for its fifth flagship fund, surpassing its target and hard cap in what remains a competitive fundraising environment for private markets.

Polymarket Acquires Prediction Market API Startup Dome

By Amit Chowdhry ● Feb 21, 2026

Polymarket announced that it has acquired Dome, a Y Combinator-backed prediction market API startup, in a move aimed at expanding its developer infrastructure and strengthening its data and tooling ecosystem.