Venture Capital

Agriculture Capital: Ben Vitale Named As New Partner

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 23, 2024

Agriculture Capital (AC), a leader in regenerative agriculture investments, announced the addition of Ben Vitale as a new Partner. Vitale officially joins the team with over thirty years of executive and investment management experience in the carbon and environmental commodities markets, agriculture, infrastructure, and water sectors.

Michigan CDFI Coalition: $186.9 Million In Federal Funding Awarded To 9 Institutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 23, 2024

Over $186.9 million was recently awarded to nine Michigan Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFI) from federal funds to build capacity and advance their missions, supporting economic revitalization efforts in underserved communities across the state.

Cedars-Sinai Accelerator 10th Class Showscases Solutions During Demo Day At HLTH 2024

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 23, 2024

The participants from the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator’s 10th class showcased their healthcare solutions during Demo Day at HLTH 2024 yesterday at The Venetian Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DNA Fund Buys Coral Capital To Invest An Additional $50+ Million In Web3 And AI Companies

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 23, 2024

DNA Fund, an investor in high-ticket emerging tech and web3 investments, has announced its acquisition of Coral Capital Holdings. This established investment management firm has previously managed millions in the DNA founders' personal funds.

Neuron7.ai: Service Resolution Intelligence Company Raises $44 Million (Series B)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 23, 2024

Neuron7.ai, a pioneer in Service Resolution Intelligence, announced it has raised $44 million in Series B funding led by Smith Point Capital, founded by former Salesforce co-CEO Keith Block. Existing investors Nexus Venture Partners and Battery Ventures joined the oversubscribed funding round, bringing the total capital raised to date to over $63 million.

Lumenuity: $1.2 Million (Seed) Raised To Enhance Zoom Capabilities Of Smartphone Cameras

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 23, 2024

Lumenuity announced an official launch with transformative optical technology that significantly enhances the zoom capabilities of smartphone cameras. And the company also unveiled a $1.2 million seed funding round, and are collaborating with Qualcomm Technologies to optimize the Lumenuity technologies for use on smartphones that contain the latest Snapdragon mobile platforms. This breakthrough technology offers widespread applications beyond smartphones, including drones, augmented reality (AR), etc.

Faropoint: Real Estate Investment Firm Secures $150 Million Acquisition Line

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Faropoint, a leading tech-enabled real estate investment firm focused on last-mile industrial properties in high population growth markets, has secured a $150 million acquisition line with a leading U.S. financial institution for its Industrial Sale-Leaseback (ISLB) Fund. This marks a second loan facility provided to Faropoint by this institution, following a previous $130 million facility for Fund II, and further strengthening their strategic partnership.

Zip: Procurement Orchestration Platform Company Raises $190 Million (Series D) At $2.2 Billion Valuation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Zip, a leading AI-based procurement orchestration platform, announced $190 million in Series D funding led by BOND. This investment—one of the largest for an enterprise SaaS company this year—brings Zip's valuation to $2.2 billion. Additional participants in the round included new investors DST Global, Adams Street, and Alkeon and existing investors Y Combinator and CRV. This is a notable increase from its $1.5 billion valuation last year.

SchooLinks: $80 Million (Series B) Raised To Provide CCR Resources For K-12 Students

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

SchooLinks, a leading software platform providing College and Career Readiness (CCR) resources for K-12 students across the U.S., announced a minority growth investment led by Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE). And additional investors who participated in the funding round include Stephens Group, Strada and ASA. This new funding will help SchooLinks expand its growing suite of CCR offerings and accelerate its ecosystem of products that facilitate connectivity between K-12, higher education, and employers.

Phaseshift Technologies: Advanced Materials Company Raises $3 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Phaseshift Technologies - an advanced materials company specializing in developing and commercializing next-generation alloys and composites through its proprietary AI-based computational platform Rapid Alloy Design (RAD), announced the closing of a $3 million seed financing round. This funding round was led by Innospark Ventures, with participation from Draper Associates and follow-on investment from First Star Ventures. And additional support came from angel investors through Hustle Fund Angel Squad.

Carbon Robotics: AI-Based Farming Company Raises $70 Million (Series D)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Carbon Robotics, a leader in AI-based farming, announced that it has raised $70 million in Series D financing. The funding was led by new investor BOND with participation from existing investors NVentures (NVIDIA’s venture capital arm), Anthos Capital, Fuse Venture Capital, Ignition Partners, Revolution, Sozo Ventures, and Voyager Capital. This funding round brings the total company funding to $157 million. In connection with the funding, Mood Rowghani (general partner at BOND) will join Carbon Robotics’ Board of Directors.

Hemlock Semiconductor: $325 Million Investment Secured Via Federal CHIPS Act Funding

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the Biden-Harris administration provided proposed direct funding of $325 million to Michigan-based manufacturer Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC) for building a new facility supporting 180 permanent, advanced manufacturing jobs and over a thousand good-paying construction jobs. This proposed direct funding was made under the Biden-Harris administration’s bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which is focused on bringing supply chains and good-paying jobs home to America.

Seaport Therapeutics: $225 Million (Series B) Raised To Advance Novel Neuropsychiatric Medicines

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Seaport Therapeutics—a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing novel neuropsychiatric medicines with a proven strategy and team—announced the closing of an oversubscribed $225 million Series B financing round. General Atlantic, a leading global growth investor, led this syndicate, with participation from funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Foresite Capital, Invus, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, CPP Investments, and other new investors. Founding investors ARCH Venture Partners, Sofinnova Investments, Third Rock Ventures, and co-founder PureTech Health also joined.

Dryad Networks: Wildfire Detection Technology Company Raises €6.3 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Dryad Networks, a leader in ultra-early wildfire detection technology, today announced a major financial boost to advance its wildfire prevention solutions. And the company has been awarded a €3.8 million grant from the ERDF, via Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), to accelerate the development of its revolutionary wildfire suppression project, codenamed ‘Florian.’

Terray Therapeutics: $120 Million (Series B) Secured To Improve Human Health

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Terray Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on improving human health by transforming the speed, cost, and success rate of small molecule drug development using computation integrated with novel data at scale, announced Series B funding of $120 million. The funding round was led by new investor Bedford Ridge Capital and existing investor NVentures (NVIDIA’s venture capital arm), with participation from new and existing investors, including Maverick Capital, Goldcrest Capital, Madrona Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, XTX Ventures, Digitalis Ventures, and Alexandria Ventures. Sid Shenai partnered with Bedford Ridge Capital on this financing and will join Terray’s Board of Directors.

Primergy: $350 Million Secured For Ash Creek Solar Project

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Primergy Solar - a leading developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects - announced it closed commitments for $350 million in tax equity financing for the 408 MWac Ash Creek Solar project in Hill County, Texas.

HEN Nozzles: Firefighting Innovation Company Raises $8 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Firefighting innovation company HEN Nozzles announced it raised $8 million in seed funding to accelerate its fluidics technology, which extinguishes fires 300% faster while using 67% less water. And with wildfires and structure fires intensifying globally and firefighting technology stagnating for decades, this funding will drive the development and deployment of the company’s groundbreaking fire suppression solutions. HEN’s innovations enable firefighters to fight fires faster and with less water — which is critical in unpredictable and increasingly destructive fire conditions.

Jüsto: Latin America Based Online Grocer Secures $70 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Jüsto, a leading online grocer in Latin America with operations in Mexico, Brazil, and Peru, announced it has raised $70 million in equity and debt financing. Existing investor General Atlantic led the $50 million equity round with participation from others, while HSBC México arranged the approximately $20 million debt facility. And Jüsto plans to utilize the new financing to continue executing its growth strategy, primarily in Mexico, further enhance operational efficiencies, and push the boundaries of conventional e-commerce models across the region.

Minze Health: Urology Solutions Company Closes $5.3 Million In Funding

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Minze Health, a pioneer in digital health solutions for urology, announced it raised $5.3 million in a funding round led by its existing investors White Fund, Capricorn Digital Growth Fund, and the Flemish investment company PMV. This funding round also saw the participation of a new investor, imec.istart future fund, marking a significant step forward for the company’s growth and innovation.

Clerk Chat: AI-Based Telecom Platform For Enterprises Secures $7 Million (Seed)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Clerk Chat, a leading AI telecom platform for enterprises, announced it has closed a $7 million funding round led by Race Capital, with participation from HF0, Mento VC, and Altair VC. This funding will accelerate Clerk Chat's electric growth, enabling the company to continue investing in superstars, expand its novel AI messaging capabilities, and deepen partnerships with telecom providers.

Horizon Surgical Systems: Micro-Robotics Company Raises $30 Million (Series A)

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Horizon Surgical Systems, a privately held micro-robotics company advancing microsurgery with automated AI-enabled robotics, announced the closing of a $30 million Series A financing. The funding was led by ExSight Ventures and a major corporate investor, with participation from Main Street Advisors and the University of California (UC Investments), and others.

Vision RNG: $207 Million Secured From HASI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Vision RNG (VRNG), a leader in renewable natural gas (RNG) production, announced it has closed on an aggregate $207 million in project financing with HASI. This funding will accelerate Vision RNG’s growth strategy, advancing sustainable energy solutions and reducing carbon emissions.

Zephyr: Home Services Platform Launched With $100 Million Of Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Zephyr announced that it has raised over $60 million in new growth capital led by Elda River Capital and The Pritzker Organization (TPO). And Zephyr will use the new funding to support additional home services business acquisitions and continued technical innovation. This latest funding round brings Zephyr's total funding to nearly $100 million since it launched in November 2022.

Obligo: $35 Million Raised To Expand Security Deposit Solutions

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 22, 2024

Obligo, a fintech company that builds trust between renters and landlords through its suite of flexible security deposit solutions, announced that it has raised $35 million in new funding. Ths funding comes as Obligo experiences a period of rapid growth, driven by recently announced partnerships with property management software companies AppFolio, Buildium, and Yardi.

Rollstack: $11 Million (Series A) Raised To Make It Easier To Create Data-Driven Slide Decks

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 21, 2024

Rollstack, a company making it easy to create and update data-driven slide decks and documents automatically, announced $11 million in Series A funding led by global software investor Insight Partners, with participation from existing investor Y Combinator. With the new funding round, Rollstack plans to further invest in its AI capabilities to automate mundane data tasks for businesses.

Nuclera: Biotech Company Raises $75 Million For Accelerating Protein Expression

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 21, 2024

Nuclera, the biotechnology company accelerating protein expression and purification workflows through its benchtop protein system, announced it had completed a $75 million financing round (circa £57 million). The funding round was led by Elevage Medical Technologies, backed by Patient Square Capital, and joined by British Patient Capital, the largest domestic investor in UK venture and venture growth opportunities, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Jonathan Milner, GK Goh, M&G Catalyst, E Ink Holdings, Michael D. McCreary, Uni Power Group, and Verve Ventures.

Sunbird Bio: $14 Million Closed To Advance Blood-Based Diagnostic Platform In Alzheimer’s Disease

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 21, 2024

Sunbird Bio, a biotechnology company developing proprietary blood-based technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and early-stage cancer, announced the closing of a $14 million financing round backed by two new investors, Eli Lilly and Company and the strategic investment arm of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDBI), and continued support from existing investors ClavystBio, Polaris Partners, and S32.

double jump.tokyo Reveals Strategic Partnership With Web3 Fund Neoclassic Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 21, 2024

double jump.tokyo announced its LP investment in Neoclassic Capital, a fund focusing on Web3 and the entertainment industry in Asia. Through this strategic partnership with Neoclassic Capital, double jump.tokyo aims to build relationships with Web3 startups emerging from Asia and beyond, accelerating the global adoption of Web3 technologies from Asia.

Treehouse: $16.6 Million (Series A) Raised To Build Software-Enabled Installation Platform For Electrification Projects

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 21, 2024

Treehouse (a software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects) announced $16.6 million in Series A funding. The funding round includes participation from lead investor Flourish Ventures, Eaton, Veriten, MassMutual Ventures, and inVest Ventures, as well as continued participation from CarMax, Montage Ventures, Acrew Capital, Holman, Virta Ventures, and Invest Detroit. With this funding round, Treehouse will expand its operating footprint nationally to help automotive OEMs, utilities, fleet managers, and electrification hardware manufacturers launch scaled electrification programs.

X-energy: $500 Million (Series C-1) Raised To Support Advanced Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

By Amit Chowdhry ● Oct 21, 2024

X-Energy Reactor Company (a leader in advanced nuclear reactor and fuel technology) announced a Series C-1 financing round of about $500 million, anchored by Amazon.com. Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, affiliates of Ares Management Corporation, NGP, and the University of Michigan join Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund in the financing round.