Venture Capital

Disney Makes $1 Billion Investment In OpenAI As Companies Sign Licensing Agreement For Sora

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2025

The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have entered into a landmark three-year licensing and commercial agreement that will bring more than 200 Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters to Sora, OpenAI’s generative video platform. As part of the expansive partnership, Disney will also invest $1 billion in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase additional equity, formalizing one of the entertainment giant's most significant strategic investments in the artificial intelligence sector.

Holly Ventures: $33 Million Cybersecurity Fund Launched

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2025

Holly Ventures has officially launched its debut $33 million cybersecurity fund, introducing a solo-led model that gives early-stage cyber founders direct access to the firm’s decision-makers and a concentrated, high-value support network. The San Francisco-based fund, created by former YL Ventures Senior Partner John Brennan, is positioned as an alternative to significant platform funds that often emphasize capital scale or broad AI narratives over hands-on founder engagement.

Nu Quantum: $60 Million Series A Raised To Accelerate Quantum Networking Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2025

Nu Quantum has secured a landmark $60 million Series A round, the most significant financing ever completed by a pure-play quantum networking company and the largest quantum-focused Series A in the United Kingdom. Led by National Grid Partners with participation from Gresham House Ventures and Morpheus Ventures, the oversubscribed round also included continued backing from Amadeus Capital Partners, IQ Capital, Ahren Capital, Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, East Innovate, NSSIF, and Sumitomo’s Presidio Ventures.

HotHouse Therapeutics: £2.9 Million Raised To Launch AI-Driven Plant-Based Drug Discovery Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2025

HotHouse Therapeutics has emerged from stealth with £2.9 million in pre-seed funding to advance an AI-enabled plant bioengineering platform that aims to transform how modern medicines are discovered and manufactured. The Norwich-based startup secured investment from SynBioVen, Start Codon, UKI2S, Twin Path Ventures, Wren Capital, multiple angel investors, and an Innovate UK grant.

University Of Utah Forms New Venture In Strategic Partnership With Otro Capital

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 11, 2025

The University of Utah has announced a major structural shift in the financial and operational model supporting its athletics programs, establishing a new entity called Utah Brands & Entertainment. The company, owned by the University of Utah Foundation, will manage and grow core commercial operations tied to athletics while enabling the university to adapt to emerging economic pressures driven by student-athlete revenue sharing and the rapidly changing landscape of college sports.

Fitz Gate Ventures: Third VC Fund Closed, Bringing AUM To About $70 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Fitz Gate Ventures has closed its third venture capital fund, bringing the firm’s total assets under management to approximately $75 million as it continues to expand its early-stage investment activities across deep tech and other high-growth categories. The Houston-based firm secured Rice University’s Office of Innovation as one of its anchor investors, marking a notable institutional commitment during a challenging fundraising environment for emerging managers.

Tetra Tech: $500 Million USACE Contract For Environmental Remediation Services

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Tetra Tech has been awarded a five-year, $500 million multiple award contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District to deliver comprehensive environmental engineering and technical services across the North Atlantic Division’s mission areas. The award enables the company to support projects within the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

Noovo: $2.2 Million Raised To Advance Manufacturing Expansion In Las Vegas

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Noovo, a Las Vegas-based manufacturer of luxury Class B recreational vehicles, has secured a $2.2 million investment through the Nevada New Markets Jobs Act. The funding will enable the company to expand production capacity, add new manufacturing jobs, and accelerate the rollout of additional RV models from its Clark County headquarters.

Xposure Music: $42.5 Million Raised To Advance Artist Financing And Catalog Investments

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Xposure Music has raised $42.5 million in new debt and equity funding to scale its artist financing programs and expand its catalog acquisition efforts. The Montreal-based company, founded in 2021, operates a technology-driven platform that provides independent artists with access to capital, catalog valuation, and direct pathways to industry professionals.

xLight: $150 Million LOI Signed With U.S. Department Of Commerce To Advance Semiconductor Lithography

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

xLight has entered a Letter of Intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce for $150 million in proposed federal incentives intended to accelerate development of next-generation semiconductor lithography. The company announced the agreement on December 1, marking the first award issued by the Trump Administration’s CHIPS Research and Development Office. The move signals that advancing domestic lithography capabilities is a central priority in the administration’s broader effort to strengthen American semiconductor manufacturing.

PayJoy: $140 Million Debt Facility Secured To Advance Global Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

PayJoy has secured a $140 million corporate debt facility from funds managed by Neuberger Berman, marking a significant step in the company’s ongoing global expansion efforts. The financing deepens a partnership that began in 2022 with Neuberger’s Specialty Finance business and is designed to strengthen PayJoy’s capital structure while supporting key growth initiatives.

EquipmentShare: $2.75 Billion Credit Facility Secured For Construction Technology

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

EquipmentShare has closed a $2.75 billion senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued expansion within the construction technology and equipment rental sector. The new facility, led by Wells Fargo as administrative agent and primary lender, strengthens the Missouri headquartered company’s capital structure while extending debt maturity to 2030 and improving pricing terms.

New Mountain Net Lease Completes $493 Million Inaugural ABS Issuance

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

New Mountain Net Lease has finalized its first asset-backed securities transaction, marking a significant capital markets milestone for the New Mountain Capital-affiliated platform. The $493.4 million issuance, designated NMNL 2025 1, drew substantial interest from institutional investors and was meaningfully oversubscribed. Many participants had previously invested in other New Mountain-sponsored transactions, reinforcing their ongoing confidence in the firm’s approach to net-lease real estate.

Canadian Venture Capital And Private Equity Association Appoints Benjamin Bergen As New CEO

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association has named Benjamin Bergen as its next chief executive officer, marking a significant leadership transition for the national organization representing private capital investors across Canada. Bergen will assume the role on January 5, 2026.

Rail-Flow: €12.5 Million Series A Raised To Advance AI Innovation And International Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Rail-Flow has closed a €12.5 million Series A financing round to strengthen its transport management platform for rail freight and intermodal logistics. The round was led by Trill Impact and Bonsai Partners, with participation from Climentum Capital, several business angels, and existing backers Rethink Ventures and Futury Capital. The company said the investment will support its growth strategy, which focuses on scaling AI-driven capabilities, entering new markets, and enhancing platform stability.

Parallel: $20 Million Series B Raised After Students Achieve 98% IEP Goal Success

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Parallel has secured $20 million in new Series B funding following the release of outcomes data showing that 98% of K-12 students using the company’s virtual special education and teletherapy services met or exceeded their Individualized Education Program goals during the 2024–2025 academic year.

Ray Studios: €10.25 Million Raised To Accelerate European Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Ray Studios has raised €10.25 million ($12 million) in new funding to expand its medical tattoo removal network across Europe and advance its technology and clinical protocols. The round was co-led by Factory Capital and Nickleby Capital, with participation from existing investors, including Gaingels and several international business angels.

AngelEye Health: $9 Million Closed To Advance NICU And Pediatric Care Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

AngelEye Health has closed a $9 million Series C funding round that will support the company’s expansion and the advancement of its neonatal and pediatric care technology. Alongside the equity raise, the company also secured a debt facility from Live Oak Bank, extending its capital base and enabling it to continue developing its suite of hospital solutions. The company plans to use the combined capital to accelerate product innovation, strengthen its commercial reach, and further build intelligent, connected care environments across neonatal and pediatric inpatient units.

South 8 Technologies: $11 Million Closed To Advance LiGas Battery Production For Defense And Aerospace

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

South 8 Technologies has secured an additional $11 million in follow-on funding to expand production of its LiGas liquefied gas electrolyte battery technology and advance commercialization efforts across defense and aerospace programs that demand reliable power in extreme environments. The funding round was co-led by the venture arm of W. L. Gore and Associates and Lockheed Martin Ventures, with participation from existing investors including Anzu Partners, IQT, LG Technology Ventures, Porsche Ventures, Foothill Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Galvion.

Diald AI: $3.75 Million Raised To Expand AI-Based Real Estate Due Diligence And Underwriting Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Diald AI has raised $3.75 million in early-stage funding to accelerate the expansion of its AI-driven real estate due diligence and underwriting platform. The round included participation from institutional backers such as Feedback Ventures of Singapore, alongside strategic angels and sector-focused funds.

Opifex-Synergy Secures $1.05 Billion To Accelerate Expansion And Enters Public Bond Markets

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Opifex-Synergy has raised $1.05 billion in new capital through a financing package that includes its first issuance in the public bond market and a substantial asset-based lending facility, marking a major step forward in the company’s national growth strategy.

Fal: $140 Million Series D Raised To Advance Real-Time Generative Media Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Fal announced the completion of a $140 million Series D financing round led by Sequoia, marking its third capital raise in 2025 and signaling strong momentum for the generative media infrastructure company. The round also included significant participation from Kleiner Perkins and new backing from NVentures, NVIDIA’s venture capital arm, alongside Alkeon Capital. Existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Kindred Ventures, Meritech, Bessemer Venture Partners, Notable Capital, Shopify Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures also joined the round, reaffirming broad support for the company’s rising role in real-time generative media.

Amazon Commits $35 Billion To India Through 2030 To Accelerate AI Infrastructure And Create One Million Jobs

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Amazon announced that it will invest more than $35 billion in India by 2030 as part of a large-scale expansion effort designed to accelerate AI adoption, strengthen digital and physical infrastructure, and support economic growth across the country. The commitment builds on nearly $40 billion the company has already invested in India, which has contributed to the digitization of more than 12 million small businesses, generated $20 billion in cumulative ecommerce exports, and supported approximately 2.8 million direct, indirect, induced, and seasonal jobs across industries in 2024.

BrainChip: $25 Million Raised To Advance Commercialization Of Neuromorphic Edge AI

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

BrainChip has raised $25 million to expand development and commercialization of its neuromorphic AI technology as the company prepares to showcase a growing product portfolio at CES. The funding strengthens BrainChip’s efforts around its Akida 2 platform, Akida GenAI initiatives, and new chip and module offerings designed for low-power, on-device intelligence.

Aneli Capital Launches €35 Million Early Stage Venture Fund For Baltic And CEE Startups

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Aneli Capital has officially launched a €35 million early-stage venture fund aimed at accelerating startup growth across Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and the broader Central and Eastern European region. The launch marks a significant addition to the region’s investment landscape, particularly for founders building in Information and Communication Technology, robotics, space, photonics, energy, and smart manufacturing.

SuperCircle: $24 Million Series A Closed To Expand Its AI-Powered Retail Waste Management Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

SuperCircle announced that it has raised $24 million in Series A financing to scale its AI-driven operating system designed to help retailers manage and monetize textile waste. The funding round was led by Foundry, with participation from BBG Ventures, Renewal Fund, and Elemental Impact.

Shapes: $24 Million Raised To Advance AI Native PeopleOS For Global Workforce Transformation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Shapes, a Tel Aviv-based startup developing an AI-native operating system for people operations, announced that it has raised $24 million across its Seed and Series A rounds. Entrée Capital led the Series A financing with participation from NFX and F2 Venture Capital, which previously led the company’s Seed round. The funding will support team expansion, platform enhancements, and broader global market entry as demand accelerates for adaptable workforce management technologies.

Prime Security: $20 Million Raised To Advance Agentic Product Security Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Bennie: $50 Million Strategic Investment Raised From LNC Partners To Accelerate Growth

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

Bennie has received a $50 million strategic investment from LNC Partners in a move designed to accelerate the company’s national expansion, strengthen its benefits technology platform, and support future acquisitions. The New York-based employee benefits firm, which serves medium and large businesses across the United States, said the new capital will help scale its sales and consulting teams, advance both its employee-facing and employer-facing technology, and drive a targeted M&A strategy focused on owner-operated brokerages.

401GO: $33 Million Raised To Advance Expansion Of Its Fully Owned 401(k) Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Dec 10, 2025

401GO has secured a $33 million Series B funding round led by Centana Growth Partners, with additional participation from existing backers Next Frontier Capital, Rally Ventures, and Impression Ventures. The company, based in Sandy, Utah, plans to use the funding to scale its vertically integrated 401(k) technology, strengthen its retirement infrastructure, and deepen its advisor and embedded partner ecosystem.