State-supported medical device company invites Alabama hand surgeons to experience homegrown orthopedic innovation

MOBILE, Ala., July 31, 2026 — Simparo Inc. (DBA Simparo Surgical), an Alabama medical device company backed by an investment from Innovate Alabama, and supported by Hatch Fairhope, today announced the issuance of its fourth U.S. patent, U.S. Patent No. 12,661,103, granted June 23, 2026. The milestone underscores the strength of Alabama’s growing innovation economy and Simparo’s commitment to building advanced orthopedic technology in the state.

The newly issued patent addresses a long-standing challenge in Thumb CMC reconstruction: achieving basal joint reconstruction quickly, securely, and reproducibly. Conventional approaches often require second site tendon harvesting, drilling tunnels in the bone, and tensioning methods relying solely on approximation — steps that can add time and complexity to a procedure. Simparo’s suture-locking mechanism, the Falcon Suture Clutch, uses a one-way cinching design that lets a surgeon complete the repair to the desired tension in a controlled and incremental fashion.

“We’re proud to be an Alabama company, and proud of the support that Innovate Alabama and Hatch Fairhope has placed behind our vision,” said Chris Harber, CEO of Simparo Surgical. “This patent is a milestone not just for our team, but for what Alabama is building: a place where medical innovation is developed, protected, and delivered to the surgeons and patients who need it.”

For Alabama’s hand surgeons, the message is simple, we’re a locally grown, state-supported company producing protected, differentiated technology designed for the procedures they perform every day and for the Alabama patients they serve every day. Simparo’s portfolio now spans four issued patents covering its novel suture tensioning system and soon to be family of applications across the orthopedic field.

“We’d love to support Alabama surgeons by providing them with technological advancements to help treat their patients,” added Chris Harber. “When you choose Simparo, you’re choosing innovation that was built right here at home — and helping demonstrate what Alabama’s investment in companies like ours can achieve.”

About Innovate Alabama

Innovate Alabama is Alabama’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on small businesses, technology and innovation with a mission to help innovators grow roots here in Alabama. Innovate Alabama was established to implement the initiatives and recommendations set forth in the Alabama Innovation Commission’s report, including smart policy solutions that will create a more resilient and robust economy to remain competitive in a 21st-century world. With founding CEO Cynthia Crutchfield leading the charge, Innovate Alabama is also made up of a board of 11 innovation leaders appointed by Gov. Ivey, collaborating across sectors to advance industries, drive technology and facilitate an environment where innovation and small businesses thrive. Learn more about Innovate Alabama at www.innovatealabama.org.

About Hatch Fairhope

Hatch Fairhope is a dedicated business resource hub located in Downtown Fairhope, AL, for technology-based entrepreneurs in Baldwin County. Its mission is to support new and existing startups by providing access to resources, training, and networking opportunities to help them grow.

About Simparo Inc.

Simparo Inc. is a medical device company, headquartered in Mobile, AL focused on developing novel orthopedic devices and surgical methods for the upper and lower extremity that simplify surgical procedures, without sacrificing stability and improving the patient experience.

Media Contact:
Wendy Hebert | [email protected]

SOURCE Simparo Surgical

NEW YORK, July 31, 2026 — Neuberger Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (NYSE: NBXG) (the “Fund”) has announced a distribution declaration of $0.12 per share of common stock.  The distribution announced today is payable on August 31, 2026, has a record date of August 17, 2026, and has an ex-date of August 17, 2026.

Under its level distribution policy, the Fund anticipates that it will make regular monthly distributions, subject to market conditions, of $0.12 per share of common stock, unless further action is taken to determine another amount. The Fund’s ability to maintain its current distribution rate will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and stability of income received from its investments, availability of capital gains, and the level of other Fund fees and expenses. There is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay a distribution of any particular amount or that a distribution will consist of only net investment income.

Due to an effort to maintain a stable distribution amount, the distribution announced today, as well as future distributions, may consist of net investment income, net realized capital gains and return of capital. In compliance with Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice would be provided for any distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice would be for informational purposes and not for tax reporting purposes, and would disclose, among other things, estimated portions of the distribution, if any, consisting of net investment income, capital gains and return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2026 will be made after the end of the year.

About Neuberger

Neuberger is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with approximately 3,000 employees across 26 countries. The firm manages $613 billion of equities, fixed income, private markets, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger’s investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. The firm is proud to be recognized for its commitment to its two constituents, clients and employees. Again this past year, we were named Best Asset Manager for Institutional Investors in the US (Crisil Coalition Greenwich) and the #1 Best Place to Work in Money Management (Pensions & Investments, firms with more than 1,000 employees). Neuberger has no corporate parent or unaffiliated external shareholders. Visit www.nb.com for more information, including www.nb.com/disclosure-global-communications for information on awards. Data as of June 30, 2026.

Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in the Fund’s performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of the Fund’s investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of the Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of the Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations.

Contact:
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
Investor Information
(877) 461-1899

SOURCE Neuberger Berman

Funding will support market expansion, product development, dealer network growth and technology-enabled marketplace operations

IRVINE, Calif., July 31, 2026 — Bidbus, the online automotive marketplace that enables licensed dealers to compete in real time for vehicles directly from consumers, today announced $15 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Ibex Investors, with participation from Mucker Capital, Data Point Capital, FJ Labs, Motley Fool Ventures, Walter Ventures and existing investors.

Bidbus is building the transaction infrastructure for a more transparent and competitive vehicle-selling market. Through its live auction platform, consumers can complete a guided virtual vehicle inspection, set an expected price and receive competing bids from licensed dealerships, rather than relying on a single trade-in or instant-buy offer.

Since launch, Bidbus has served more than 10,000 vehicle sellers and reached approximately $300 million in annualized gross merchandise value. Over the past year, the company has grown sevenfold while expanding its dealer network and establishing operations across California and Texas.

Approximately 39 million used vehicles are sold in the United States each year, yet the process through which consumers sell vehicles and dealerships source inventory remains fragmented and inefficient. Sellers often receive limited visibility into actual dealer demand, while dealerships rely on costly and inconsistent acquisition channels. At the same time, dealers increasingly need access to locally sourced vehicles that match their specific inventory needs.

“Consumers should not have to visit multiple dealerships or negotiate against a single buyer to understand what their car is worth,” said Duke Yan, co-founder and CEO of Bidbus. “We built Bidbus to create a transparent marketplace where qualified dealers compete for every vehicle. This funding allows us to expand that marketplace while building the technology, operating systems and team required to scale.”

Expanding Technology, Operations and Market Coverage

The new capital will be used to expand Bidbus into additional metropolitan markets, grow its dealer network and strengthen its product, engineering and marketplace operations teams.

Bidbus will also continue investing in technology that improves virtual vehicle evaluation, auction performance and operational efficiency. This includes AI-powered seller communication, dealer recommendation tools and internal workflow automation

As Bidbus enters its next phase of growth, the company is transitioning from a founder-led operating model toward a more scalable system of functional ownership, repeatable processes and technology-enabled execution.

“Our next chapter is not simply about adding more markets or more people,” Yan said. “It is about building a marketplace and operating system that can compound—where better technology, stronger dealer participation and more efficient operations reinforce one another as we scale.”

About Bidbus

Bidbus is an online automotive marketplace that connects individual vehicle sellers with licensed automobile dealerships through a live auction platform. The company develops technology for virtual vehicle inspections, condition reporting, auction management, dealer bidding, transaction processing and marketplace operations, helping consumers access competitive dealer offers while giving dealerships a more efficient source of locally available inventory.

Bidbus is headquartered in Irvine, California, and currently operates across major markets in California and Texas. Learn more at www.bidbus.com.

Media Contact
Alex Weinberg
Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected]

SOURCE Bidbus

Now streaming on YouTube and Tubi, Simon Says follows a group of friends whose birthday celebration at a secluded house becomes a deadly game controlled by a mysterious clown named Simon. To survive, they must follow his commands, but only when he begins with the words “Simon says.”

Simon has appeared across multiple Stromedy productions and has become one of the channel’s most recognizable characters. Rather than simply extending the YouTube series, Godfrey envisioned Simon Says as a cinematic horror film capable of standing on its own. The project demonstrates how characters and stories first developed online can grow beyond the platforms where they began and create new opportunities in film.

Godfrey co-directed the short with filmmaker and digital creator Jake Dufner. Shot over four days in Toronto, the project builds on more than 15 years of experience writing, directing and producing entertainment for online audiences.

As the creator and star of Stromedy, Godfrey has grown the YouTube channel to more than 14 million subscribers. His content has generated more than 3.5 billion views and 400 million watch hours across digital platforms. Simon Says represents the next step in his evolution from digital creator to filmmaker.

“Simon has been part of the Stromedy Universe for years, and this film gave us the opportunity to build a complete story around the character,” said Godfrey. “We created Simon Says to show that independent creators can use the experience and audiences they have built on YouTube to produce high-quality cinematic entertainment.”

Everbloom’s investment will support the continued growth of Stromedy and Prime Capitol Entertainment as Godfrey expands into larger film and television projects. In addition to providing capital, Everbloom will join Prime Capitol Entertainment’s executive team and provide strategic and operational support for the company’s next stage of growth.

“We see tremendous potential in Kyle and Stromedy to bridge the gap between YouTube and Hollywood with the next big horror franchise,” said Brendan Alper, co-founder and chief operating officer of Everbloom. “Simon Says is just the beginning.”

Simon Says was developed as a proof of concept for a potential feature film and as the first step in a broader slate of film projects. It also demonstrates how characters and stories created online can expand into narrative film while maintaining a connection with the audiences that helped make them successful.

Watch Simon Says on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kE218IgrERo

Watch Simon Says on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100062023/simon-says?utm_campaign=web-sharing&utm_source=web-social-copy

About Prime Capitol Entertainment and Stromedy

Prime Capitol Entertainment is a creator-led media company led by Kyle Godfrey, known online as Stromedy. With more than 14 million subscribers, billions of lifetime views and a growing universe of original horror characters, Stromedy has become one of YouTube’s leading independent horror brands. Prime Capitol develops creator-born intellectual property for digital, film and television audiences.

About Everbloom

Everbloom invests in leading creators, media companies and intellectual property, pairing flexible capital with strategic and operational expertise. The company has invested more than $35 million across the creator and media ecosystem through growth financing, revenue-based financing, co-production and receivables solutions. Everbloom’s mission is to help exceptional creators grow into enduring media companies. Learn more at everbloom.app.

Correction: “Simon Says” YouTube link has been updated

SOURCE Everbloom

Now streaming on YouTube and Tubi, Simon Says follows a group of friends whose birthday celebration at a secluded house becomes a deadly game controlled by a mysterious clown named Simon. To survive, they must follow his commands, but only when he begins with the words “Simon says.”

Simon has appeared across multiple Stromedy productions and has become one of the channel’s most recognizable characters. Rather than simply extending the YouTube series, Godfrey envisioned Simon Says as a cinematic horror film capable of standing on its own. The project demonstrates how characters and stories first developed online can grow beyond the platforms where they began and create new opportunities in film.

Godfrey co-directed the short with filmmaker and digital creator Jake Dufner. Shot over four days in Toronto, the project builds on more than 15 years of experience writing, directing and producing entertainment for online audiences.

As the creator and star of Stromedy, Godfrey has grown the YouTube channel to more than 14 million subscribers. His content has generated more than 3.5 billion views and 400 million watch hours across digital platforms. Simon Says represents the next step in his evolution from digital creator to filmmaker.

“Simon has been part of the Stromedy Universe for years, and this film gave us the opportunity to build a complete story around the character,” said Godfrey. “We created Simon Says to show that independent creators can use the experience and audiences they have built on YouTube to produce high-quality cinematic entertainment.”

Everbloom’s investment will support the continued growth of Stromedy and Prime Capitol Entertainment as Godfrey expands into larger film and television projects. In addition to providing capital, Everbloom will join Prime Capitol Entertainment’s executive team and provide strategic and operational support for the company’s next stage of growth.

“We see tremendous potential in Kyle and Stromedy to bridge the gap between YouTube and Hollywood with the next big horror franchise,” said Brendan Alper, co-founder and chief operating officer of Everbloom. “Simon Says is just the beginning.”

Simon Says was developed as a proof of concept for a potential feature film and as the first step in a broader slate of film projects. It also demonstrates how characters and stories created online can expand into narrative film while maintaining a connection with the audiences that helped make them successful.

Watch Simon Says on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kE218IgrERo

Watch Simon Says on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100062023/simon-says?utm_campaign=web-sharing&utm_source=web-social-copy

About Prime Capitol Entertainment and Stromedy

Prime Capitol Entertainment is a creator-led media company led by Kyle Godfrey, known online as Stromedy. With more than 14 million subscribers, billions of lifetime views and a growing universe of original horror characters, Stromedy has become one of YouTube’s leading independent horror brands. Prime Capitol develops creator-born intellectual property for digital, film and television audiences.

About Everbloom

Everbloom invests in leading creators, media companies and intellectual property, pairing flexible capital with strategic and operational expertise. The company has invested more than $35 million across the creator and media ecosystem through growth financing, revenue-based financing, co-production and receivables solutions. Everbloom’s mission is to help exceptional creators grow into enduring media companies. Learn more at everbloom.app.

SOURCE Everbloom

Round brings total capital raised to over $240 Million.

BOSTON, July 31, 2026 — Ratio Therapeutics, Inc. (Ratio), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing best-in-class radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment, today announced the closing of a $70 million Series C financing.

The financing included strong participation from existing investors Duquesne Family Office and Bristol Myers Squibb, along with new investors Catalio Capital Management, Eli Lilly and Company, and Wasatch Group.

Proceeds from the financing will fuel Ratio’s next phase of growth. The company expects to use the funding to advance its ongoing ATLAS study evaluating its lead radiotherapeutic asset [Ac-225]RTX-2358 in advanced sarcomas, and to move its next-generation RLT candidate into the clinic. Ratio also plans to expand its discovery pipeline into new, high-value oncology targets, extending its radiopharmaceutical platform beyond its current indications and into additional tumor types with significant unmet need and substantial market potential. In parallel, the company will continue to strengthen its proprietary radiopharmaceutical technology and scale its manufacturing capabilities to support pipeline expansion and future commercial demand.

“This financing reflects the confidence our investors and strategic partners have in the progress we have made to date and the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Dr. Jack Hoppin, Chief Executive Officer of Ratio Therapeutics. “As we march the ATLAS trial forward and prepare for our 5^th IND filing, these proceeds are instrumental across the development and ultimately the supply of our targeted and PK-optimized radiopharmaceuticals.”

“Ratio is a leader in radiopharmaceutical innovation and it has backed up science with execution — hitting clinical milestones, deepening strategic partnerships, and building the manufacturing infrastructure this modality demands,” said Sue Meng, Managing Director of Duquesne Family Office. “We’ve tracked that progress closely, and our investment reflects our strong conviction in Ratio’s platform and its potential to change outcomes for patients.”

About Ratio Therapeutics

Ratio Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that systematically engineers radiopharmaceuticals to optimize therapeutic index and develop best-in-class cancer treatments. Its lead program, [Ac-225]RTX-2358, is a FAP-targeted therapeutic in the ATLAS Phase 1/2 trial. The broader pipeline includes a next-generation GRPR program, additional mono- and bispecific radioligand therapies, and imaging assets, enabled by Ratio’s Trillium pharmacokinetic tuning technology and Macropa chelator platform. Ratio has also demonstrated external validation through partnered programs, including its Novartis SSTR2 radioligand therapy collaboration. Complementing its pipeline is a hybrid manufacturing model anchored by its vertically integrated manufacturing site in Utah, external partners, and diversified isotope supply. View Ratio’s pipeline here.

Please visit www.ratiotx.com for more information and follow us on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Ratio Therapeutics Inc.

LONDON, July 31, 2026 — ECARX Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ECX) recognises today’s key update from SiEngine Technology Co., Ltd., its incubated automotive semiconductor investment.

SiEngine has secured US$200 million in new equity capital from institutional investors over the course of H1 2026, hitting a transformative funding milestone as one of China’s top vehicle-grade semiconductor designers.

The investment strongly validates ECARX’s long-term vertical integration strategy and the powerful, eight year-long collaborative success between ECARX and its flagship silicon innovation affiliate.

Co-founded in 2018 by ECARX and Arm China, SiEngine has evolved into an independent automotive semiconductor enterprise, with ECARX retaining its position as the company’s largest single shareholder.

SiEngine was created to develop tailor-made, vehicle-grade silicon chips optimized exclusively for ECARX’s full-stack software-defined vehicle ecosystem, delivering strong cost-performance advantages for intelligent mobility platforms.

This US$200 million equity injection will fuel SiEngine’s next-phase R&D, production capacity expansion, globalization and international customer growth, further strengthening the unique ECARX vertical silicon-to-software competitive moat.

Co-Developed Silicon & Computing Platform Ecosystem with Proven Scale

The two parties have jointly built an integrated technology system centered on SiEngine’s Longying series SoCs and ECARX’s Antora® central computing platforms, delivering mature coordinated chip-and-software solutions. Antora® solutions powered by the 7nm Longying I chip have achieved global deployment, supporting dozens of vehicle models including Geely Galaxy, Lynk & Co and FAW Hongqi.

Drawing on ECARX’s worldwide OEM reach and SiEngine’s custom high-performance automotive silicon, the pair secured a landmark multi-year supply agreement with a major global automaker to drive further volume growth.

SiEngine’s newly unveiled 5nm Longying II cabin-driving fusion SoC integrates native large language model functionality and boosted AI compute performance. Purpose-built for ECARX’s next-generation Antora central computing platforms and Flyme Auto OS, the chip establishes a new industry benchmark for China’s end-to-end software-defined vehicle technology.

Beyond their core passenger vehicle offering, ECARX and SiEngine have broadened their combined technology and commercial footprint via strategic alliances with commercial vehicle and robotaxi manufacturers.

ECARX and SiEngine’s unified silicon solutions now support passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, and full-spectrum L2 to L4 intelligent driving use cases, expanding the partnership’s total addressable market and unlocking long-term growth opportunities.

About ECARX Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ECX)

ECARX (Nasdaq: ECX), headquartered in London, is a leading global automotive intelligence company. ECARX provides the intelligent brain that powers the next generation of software-defined and AI defined vehicles. The company delivers end-to-end, full-stack solutions spanning advanced system-on-chip hardware, high-performance central computing platforms, intelligent cockpit technology, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, cloud connectivity and physical AI, alongside bespoke vehicle software and intelligent operating systems. As automakers transition to software-first and AI-first vehicle architectures, ECARX empowers automakers to streamline integration, reduce systemic complexity and optimize long-term cost efficiency. ECARX’s proven technology is deployed across over 11 million vehicles worldwide and is currently partnered with 18 global automakers and 28 vehicle brands to shape the future of automotive intelligence. Founded in 2017 and listed on Nasdaq in 2022, ECARX operates from 13 major international locations across Europe, the Americas and Asia, with a global team of over 1,400 employees.

About SiEngine Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2018 with strategic founding investment from ECARX, SiEngine is a leading domestic automotive semiconductor enterprise focused on high-performance, vehicle-grade cockpit and ADAS SoC design and mass production. Its flagship chip series powers ECARX’s market-leading Antora computing platforms, delivering high-reliability, customized silicon solutions for the new generation of intelligent vehicles.

For more information: https://www.siengine.com/en/index.aspx

SOURCE ECARX Holdings Inc.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. and ROSEVILLE, Calif., July 30, 2026 — Security Engineered Machinery (SEM), a manufacturer of high-security data destruction equipment for global data center and U.S. federal government customers, and a portfolio company of May River Capital, today announced it has entered into a formal partnership with Garner Products (Garner), a Roseville, Calif.-based supplier of specialized destruction, degaussing, and e-recycling products for sensitive digital media.

SEM and Garner each bring decades of experience providing precision-engineered data destruction solutions to governmental agencies and blue-chip enterprise clients. Customers look to SEM and Garner for their quality of products and service, consultative approach, and application expertise. SEM and Garner’s partnership will create a unified company with a full suite of end-of-life solutions, various technical support functions, and centers of manufacturing and engineering excellence on the East and West coasts.

“We are excited to partner with SEM to continue to provide secure data elimination solutions that meet stringent regulations for both commercial enterprises and federal government agencies,” said Ron Stofan, president of Garner. “This partnership will immediately expand our menu of products and services and ensure our customers continue to receive top-notch advice and technical support as their businesses evolve.”

SEM and Garner will offer a wide range of solutions, including magnetic degaussers, shredders, and crushers for digital media (hard drives and solid-state drives); shredders and disintegrators for analog media (paper and optical sources); destruction services; media erasure and destruction process design; and tailored support. Garner’s award-winning DiskMantler, which uses controlled shock, harmonics, and synchronized vibration to disassemble hard drives and sort rare earth materials for recovery, will be offered through all of SEM and Garner’s sales channels. Both companies have products listed on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List, the standard of excellence for destruction solutions, and are trusted by U.S. federal government agencies, U.S. embassies, hyperscalers, financial institutions, healthcare institutions, ITAD service providers, and various other global enterprises.

“SEM has been a trusted source for reliable, secure end-of-life solutions for the protection and destruction of sensitive and classified information for more than 50 years. Similarly, Garner has immense brand equity and a reputation for innovative and uncompromising products,” said Andrew Kelleher, CEO and president of SEM. 

“As we explored avenues for accelerated growth, we and our financial sponsor at May River Capital identified that a formal partnership between our leading brands would greatly benefit our customers and our employees,” continued Kelleher. “Combining SEM and Garner will allow us to better serve long-standing and new clients as their sensitive data destruction, e-recycling, and materials recovery needs change. We plan to pursue additional partnership opportunities within SEM and Garner’s ecosystem as we seek to build the supplier of choice for end-of-life solutions in demanding operating environments.”

For more information on SEM, visit www.semshred.com. For more information on Garner, visit www.garnerproducts.com. For more information on May River Capital, visit www.mayrivercapital.com.

About Security Engineered Machinery: Established in 1967, Security Engineered Machinery is a provider of classified and high-security destruction solutions for government and enterprise clients. As the inventor of the disintegrator and a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government for over 50 years, Security Engineered Machinery is a proven supplier of best-in-class high-security data destruction devices. For more information, visit www.semshred.com.

About Garner Products: For over 65 years, Garner Products has been a pioneer in sustainable, secure data destruction. The company designs and manufactures industry-leading solutions that ensure complete, permanent, and verifiable data destruction. With certifications from UL, IEC, and CSA, Garner Products set the highest standards in data security and compliance. For more information, visit www.garnerproducts.com.

About May River Capital: May River Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on partnering with lower middle-market industrial growth businesses. The firm seeks to invest in high-performing companies in advanced manufacturing, engineered products and instrumentation, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution services. For more information, please visit www.mayrivercapital.com.

SOURCE Security Engineered Machinery

• Raises $13 million Series A led by Seligman Ventures, bringing total funding to more than $21 million
• Introduces Voice 4.0 and Hydra, an asynchronous AI architecture designed  to make AI conversations as natural, responsive and scalable as human dialogue
• Pulse STT and Lightning TTS rank among the top choices for enterprises on Artificial Analysis, leading on speed and cost efficiency across the global leaderboard

SAN FRANCISCO, July 30, 2026 — Smallest.ai, a San Francisco-based foundational AI research lab building the next generation of real-time voice AI infrastructure for enterprises, today announced it has surpassed $21 million in total funding following the close of a $13 million Series A led by Seligman Ventures with participation from Sierra Ventures and 3one4 Capital.

Industry forecasts expect the global Voice AI market to grow from $2.4 billion in 2024 to $47.5 billion by 2034, however, less than 1% of today’s global voice interactions are powered by AI. Enterprises continue to struggle with systems that sound robotic, fail under real-world complexity, introduce latency, and create operational challenges around reliability, compliance and governance. Smallest.ai is expanding its core voice AI platform across financial services, healthcare, contact centers, and business process outsourcing, where organizations are increasingly looking to deploy AI-powered voice agents at scale.

“Voice AI has gone through three generations of innovation, but each generation has ultimately hit the same wall,” said Sudarshan Kamath, founder and CEO of Smallest.ai. “The industry has focused on making models larger when the real challenge is architectural. Humans don’t wait for someone to finish speaking before they begin thinking. We listen, think, and respond simultaneously. Voice AI needs to work the same way. That’s why we built Smallest.ai around a real-time architecture that processes speech as it arrives, enabling faster, more natural conversations without sacrificing intelligence. By rethinking the stack instead of simply scaling models, we’re reducing latency to the point where voice interactions feel genuinely human.”

The End of Voice 3.0

Voice technology has evolved through three major eras:

• Voice 1.0: Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems built around rigid phone trees and menu navigation.
• Voice 2.0: Machine learning-powered voice bots capable of basic intent recognition but unable to handle complexity.
• Voice 3.0: Generative AI voice agents powered by large language models that sound more natural but still rely on multiple disconnected systems working sequentially.

Today’s voice agents typically require a chain of separate technologies, including speech recognition, language models, text-to-speech systems, orchestration layers, memory systems, and guardrails. The result is high latency, brittle performance, and conversations that still feel distinctly artificial.

Beyond Voice 3.0: Introducing Voice 4.0 

Smallest.ai characterizes its innovation as Voice 4.0, a paradigm shift toward AI architectures that process listening, reasoning, action, and response in parallel. Rather than executing these functions sequentially, Voice 4.0 enables them to happen simultaneously, allowing AI systems to respond while conversations are still unfolding.

Hydra: The Architecture Behind Voice 4.0

At the center of Voice 4.0 is Hydra, Smallest.ai’s speech-to-speech model designed around asynchronous intelligence. Rather than waiting for one process to finish before starting another, Hydra performs multiple tasks in parallel, enabling real-time conversational flow, mid-conversation tool use, natural interruptions, and significantly lower latency.

Together, Hydra and Pulse STT Pro are designed to support real-time conversational interactions, with transcription latency measured in milliseconds rather than seconds.

The Smallest.ai Models

Smallest.ai’s broader platform includes Pulse STT Pro and Lightning V3.1, which rank among the top voice AI models on Artificial Analysis for speed, quality, and cost efficiency. Built for enterprise-scale deployments, Pulse STT Pro supports 38 languages and combines low-latency transcription with capabilities such as speaker diarization, emotion detection, code-switching, noise reduction, and built-in PII and PCI redaction.

Customers use Smallest.ai to automate enterprise voice workflows, reducing support costs by up to 80% while improving agent productivity by as much as 10x.

“Voice AI is creating a real impact on life and work,” said Ashish Kakran, Managing Partner at Seligman Ventures. “Developers now increasingly talk to their machines instead of typing code. Smallest.ai is taking a fundamentally different approach to the category by rethinking architecture itself. Customers get an efficient vertically integrated stack and don’t need to waste time stitching models together. We believe the next generation of enterprise voice will be powered by Smallest AI.”

Smallest.ai currently works with organizations managing large-scale voice operations, including RingCentral, Truecaller, Readymode, Piramal, Kogta, Pocket, and others. The company has nearly 60 employees and plans significant expansion over the next year as demand for enterprise voice AI accelerates.

About Smallest.ai
Smallest.ai is a foundational AI research lab building the next generation of real-time voice AI infrastructure for enterprises. The company develops speech recognition, speech generation, and speech-to-speech systems designed to enable natural, scalable AI conversations across customer service, healthcare, financial services, and other high-volume communication environments. Headquartered in San Francisco, Smallest.ai serves enterprises globally through its Voice 4.0 platform and proprietary AI models. The company is backed by Seligman Ventures, Sierra Ventures, 3one4 Capital, Better Capital, Upsparks Capital, Schema Ventures, Tiny VC, DeVC, Mission Street Capital, and other angel investors.

SOURCE Smallest.ai