Venture Capital

Bending Spoons: $710 Million At $11 Billion Valuation Secured To Accelerate Global Expansion And AI Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 3, 2025

Bending Spoons, one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology companies, announced it has raised $710 million in equity financing at a pre-money valuation of $11 billion. The latest round was led by accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., with participation from Baillie Gifford, Cox Enterprises, Durable Capital Partners, Fidelity Management & Research Company, Foxhaven Asset Management, and Radcliff, among others. Goldman Sachs International served as the sole placement agent, with Clifford Chance providing legal counsel and ZNR Notai offering notarial advisory services.

Mark Cuban Foundation Partners With Carlow University To Host Pittsburgh AI Bootcamp for High School Students

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 3, 2025

The Mark Cuban Foundation announced that Carlow University will serve as the host site for this year’s Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The initiative aims to provide high school students from underserved communities with hands-on exposure to artificial intelligence concepts and applications. The program will take place across three consecutive Saturdays on Carlow University’s campus.

Aspira Women’s Health: Laboratory Services Contract Secured With University Of Texas Medical Branch At Galveston

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 3, 2025

Aspira Women’s Health, a bio-analytical women’s health company focused on gynecologic disease diagnostics, has entered into a new laboratory services agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Galveston), part of the University of Texas System.

Apollo And 8VC Launch Multi-Billion-Dollar Partnership To Drive American Industrial Innovation

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 3, 2025

Apollo and 8VC have announced a strategic partnership aimed at fueling what they describe as the next wave of the American Industrial Renaissance. The initiative will deploy several billion dollars to support high-growth technology companies across advanced manufacturing, aerospace, energy, life sciences, logistics, and natural resources.

Zelestra: $60 Million In U.S. Tax Equity Funding Secured for 81 MW Jasper County Solar Project

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 3, 2025

Zelestra, a global renewable energy company focused on delivering multi-technology solutions for corporate and hyperscale clients, announced that it has closed a $60 million tax equity investment from Stonehenge Capital for its 81 MWdc (60 MWac) Jasper County Solar Project in Indiana. The project is expected to become fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2025.

xMEMS: $21 Million Series D Raised For Scaling piezoMEMS Innovations for AI-Driven Consumer Devices

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 3, 2025

xMEMS Labs, the company behind the world’s first piezoelectric MEMS (piezoMEMS) fan-on-a-chip and a global leader in solid-state silicon speakers, announced the closing of a $21 million Series D funding round led by Boardman Bay Capital Management. The round also saw participation from Cloudview Capital, CDIB-TEN Capital, Harbinger Venture Capital, SIG Asia Investments (an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group), and other strategic investors.

Speyside Equity: $300 Million Oversubscribed Fund II Closed

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Detroit-based private equity firm Speyside Equity Advisers has announced the final close of its oversubscribed Speyside Equity Fund II, reaching its hard cap of $300 million in capital commitments. The fund surpassed its original target, with strong demand from both existing limited partners and new global investors.

Old Dominion University and Google Public Sector Launch MonarchSphere AI Incubator

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Old Dominion University (ODU) and Google Public Sector have announced the launch of MonarchSphere, a first-of-its-kind AI incubator designed to embed artificial intelligence across every dimension of university research, teaching, and operations. The multi-year initiative, powered by Google Cloud, aims to establish ODU as a national model for AI-powered innovation and smart campus transformation.

MacKenzie Scott Donates $38 Million To Alabama State University In Largest Gift In School’s History

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Alabama State University has received the largest single donation in its 158-year history: a $38 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The transformative donation represents a significant investment in the University’s long-term growth and an extraordinary vote of confidence in its mission, leadership, and vision for innovation.

PharmaDrug To Buy 40% Stake in Canurta, Expanding Botanical Therapeutics Portfolio

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Toronto-based PharmaDrug, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of natural medicines, announced it has signed a definitive securities exchange agreement with Canurta Limited Partnership and its limited partners, the parent entity of Canurta Inc. The transaction marks a significant step in PharmaDrug’s strategy to advance its biotechnology footprint through innovative botanical therapeutics.

BKV Buying Controlling Stake In Power JV To Expand Energy Platform

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

BKV Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement with Banpu Power US Corporation (BPPUS) to acquire one-half of BPPUS’ ownership interest in BKV-BPP Power. Upon closing, BKV will hold a 75% controlling stake in the power joint venture, furthering its long-term growth and energy diversification strategy.

BRKZ: $30 Million Growth Debt Raised From Stride To Advance Saudi Arabia’s Construction Sector Expansion

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

BRKZ, a leading B2B managed marketplace for building materials in Saudi Arabia, has secured up to $30 million in growth debt financing from Stride Ventures. The new facility aims to strengthen BRKZ’s ability to offer flexible payment solutions for contractors and partner factories, supporting the rapid expansion of the Kingdom’s construction sector amid a surge in mega and giga-projects.

Emerald AI: $18 Million Seed Extension Raised To Advance Power-Flexible AI Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Emerald AI, a fast-growing innovator at the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure, announced that it has raised an additional $18 million in seed extension funding, bringing its total funding to $42.5 million. The new capital will accelerate the company’s mission to transform AI data centers into flexible grid assets that can dynamically adjust their energy use to support grid stability and resilience.

Catalyx Space: $5.4 Million Seed Funding Closed To Advance Orbital Logistics Infrastructure

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Catalyx Space, a San Francisco-based space infrastructure company developing end-to-end hardware, software, and operations for orbital logistics, has closed an oversubscribed $5.4 million Seed funding round led by Outlander VC. The round follows a $1.7 million pre-seed raise in January, which culminated in Catalyx’s first successful capsule drop test within just six months.

Helex: $3.5 Million Seed Funding Closed To Advance Non-Viral Gene Therapies for Genetic Kidney Diseases

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Helex, a therapeutics company pioneering targeted non-viral gene therapies for kidney diseases, has raised an oversubscribed $3.5 million Seed round led by pi Ventures, with participation from Bluehill Capital, SOSV, and a global syndicate of investors. The new funding brings Helex’s total capital raised to over $6 million.

Jensen Partners Buying Baier Associates To Enhance EMEA Executive Search Capabilities

By Amit Chowdhry ● Nov 2, 2025

Jensen Partners, a leader in executive search and advisory for capital raising, announced the acquisition of Baier Associates (UK), an award-winning executive search and consulting firm specializing in alternative investments. The transaction marks a significant milestone in Jensen Partners’ continued expansion across EMEA, enhancing its global capabilities in capital formation, investments, and strategic advisory services.