40,000 Sq. Ft. Facility to Serve Neurodiverse and Neurotypical Children and Their Families

NEW YORK, May 17, 2023 — Complete Playground, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing inclusive activities and programming for children of all ability levels (ages six months to 14 years)  and families, announced today it will fill a void in New York City with the Fall 2023 debut of its first facility.  The one-of-a-kind 40,000 square-foot electronics-free space for supervised open play, enriching programming and specialized therapies will be located at 30 Broad St. in Manhattan’s FiDi neighborhood.  It will be the largest by far of less than a handful of indoor playgrounds in a city with more than one million children under the age of 14, providing a captivating year-round environment promoting energetic movement as an alternative to video games and over-use of electronic diversions.

Moreover, it will be the only indoor playground that is inclusive, designed to engage the one-in-five children who are neurodiverse, as well as the neurotypical.  It will also be the only one to serve as a family center with activities and programming for parents.

CompletePlayground’s centerpiece will be a 25,000-square-foot, custom designed play area, featuring an obstacle maze, little village of traditional American “main street” establishments, rock climbing wall, gymnastics studio, Ninja Warriors obstacle course and an interactive trampoline experience. All connected by a roadway built for child-sized scooter cars self-propelled by their drivers.  In addition, there will be spaces designed for a multitude of structured classes for dance, art, yoga, martial arts and more.

While there will also be special state-of-the-art spaces and therapies for the neurodiverse, when it comes to play, they will be able to romp at will with neurotypical children.  As a result, both groups of children will learn important socialization lessons. 

It was the need for such interaction that inspired Alex Reznik to conceptualize and found CompletePlayground.  He had struggled for years to find an effective therapy for his non-verbal son diagnosed with severe autism. For years, the child attended classes for non-verbal autistic children, until, at the urging of a trusted educator, Reznik transferred him to a class that was inclusive of neurotypical children.  Two months later, Reznik’s son was talking.

That was when Reznik realized the importance of inclusive interaction for children and became so passionate about it that he decided to create an environment that would encourage and support it.  Having experienced the innovative indoor playgrounds in Europe that had entranced all three of his sons, Reznik, the owner of Manhattan’s four CompleteBody gyms, began researching the viability of combining their components with elements addressing the needs of neurodiverse children like his son as the foundation for what would be an inclusive family center.

Reznik established CompletePlayground as a nonprofit and initiated fundraising that has secured commitments for $1 million of the $2.5 million needed to fund the project.  The figure includes $500,000 in seed money donated by management consulting company Alvarez & Marsal.

CompletePlayground, whose three floors will encompass a café along with spaces for its family-focused seminars, camp experiences, speech and occupational therapies and birthday parties, will start welcoming families in Fall 2023.  For more information, to learn how to become involved and / or to donate, visit www.completeplayground.org or CompletePlayground’s GoFundMe page at Fundraiser by Alex Reznik : Complete The Playground (gofundme.com).

Media Contact:
Shelley Clark, Platform Communications, 646.489.8582, [email protected]

SOURCE CompletePlayground

INDIANAPOLIS, May 17, 2023 — Qualifi, the enterprise solution for high-volume hiring, today announced it has received $4.5M in funding to accelerate the company into a new growth phase of development. The financing round was co-led by m]x[v Capital and Rally Ventures.

This milestone is monumental for Qualifi in the expansion of its hiring platform. In addition to lead investment by m]x[v Capital and Rally Ventures, this round had significant investment from Armory Square Ventures, Sixty8 Capital, Elevate Ventures, Techstars Fund, Converge Venture Partners, Debut Capital, and other notable angel investors. Neenah Jain, Partner and Chief Financial Officer from Armory Square Ventures, will be joining the Qualifi board, bringing over two decades of experience in finance, analysis, and accounting.

Darrian Mikell, Devyn Mikell, DeSean Prentice, and Keenan Jaenicke founded Qualifi in 2019. Since then, Darrian Mikell was named the 2022 Rising Entrepreneur of the Year by TechPoint. Qualifi has been named one of the 2022 and 2023 Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as well as an Exceptional Employer at Techpoint’s 2023 MIRA Best of Tech Awards. The founders of Qualifi are alums of the Techstars Anywhere Class of ’21.

“We are thrilled to welcome such a diverse group of strategic investors who closely align with our next stage of growth,” said Qualifi’s CEO and Co-Founder, Darrian Mikell. “This round of funding allows us to further develop our technology to alleviate the pain points of hiring on recruiting teams globally. We are focused on taking burdens from talent leaders so they can take care of their people, a mission that this investor group fully supports. We are excited to share with the world a new stage of growth for Qualifi.”

Financial support from respected funders and community leaders speaks to the value of Qualifi as a platform and the industrious efforts of the Qualifi team. The burgeoning company plans to further develop the platform, make new industry partnerships, and address new pain points felt by recruiters every day.

“m]x[v is thrilled to be a part of Qualifi’s mission to transform how companies approach high-volume hiring,” says Mark Ghermezian, m]x[v Capital’s General Partner. “The Qualifi platform is streamlining the recruitment process, eliminating friction for both employers and job candidates. By introducing equity, speed, and a structured process into an otherwise chaotic and daunting task, Qualifi empowers companies to make data-driven hiring decisions that will lead to more diverse and qualified teams.”

Jeff Hick, General Partner at Rally Ventures, said, “We are immensely impressed by Qualifi’s frictionless solution that empowers recruiters to find the best candidates faster using automation and asynchronous phone interviews. Equally important, Qualifi provides equitable access and a memorable candidate experience for job seekers. We are proud to be part of this journey and the contribution this business is making to Talent Acquisition.”

“This round of funding will help fuel our next stage growth,” says Keenan Jaenicke, Qualifi’s VP of Product and Co-Founder. “Our platform solves a widespread problem that recruiters face. In this new stage of growth, we will continue to fine-tune and extend our product to help companies improve their time-to-hire.”

“At our firm we aim to identify mission-focused founding teams in geographies overlooked by other investors. Qualifi has innovated on a pressing, important problem and is helping recruiters navigate a competitive climate for candidates in a range of high growth industries. From our vantage point, we believe the company will continue to scale, sourcing talented pools of individuals presently underserved by current software and recruitment tools. Qualifi is also poised to become a beacon of new opportunity for the evolving tech ecosystem in Indiana and we look forward to aiding the company in attaining that goal,” said Neenah Jain, Partner and CFO at Armory Square Ventures.

“We at Sixty8 Capital continue to be impressed with the founding team at Qualifi and their ability to bring such a game changing platform to the market,” says Kelli Jones, General Partner at Sixty8 Capital. “Qualifi has solved a major roadblock for high volume hiring, one that is sure to help HR leaders run a more streamlined process and get the right candidates in the right seats.”

Qualifi customers eagerly attest to the value already built into the platform. Calista Rihm, Reid Health’s Human Resource Manager shared Qualifi cut down interview times by 20 minutes per candidate resulting in a 44% decrease in interview time. “Now, our application review process is more efficient, and we get a better perspective of the candidates.,” Rihm said. Additionally, the team was able to expand their recruiting efforts without hiring an additional Recruiter. Similar to Reid Health, current customers have seen drastic improvements in their interview processes including re-engaging with 50% of lost candidates and cutting down applicant screening time by 83%.

About Qualifi: Qualifi is changing the way high-volume recruiters screen candidates by eliminating friction, mitigating bias, and dramatically reducing the time it takes to schedule and coordinate interviews. Using Qualifi, recruiters go from struggling to fill roles to becoming talent magnets and making offers to hire the best candidates before their competition. For more information on how Qualifi is revolutionizing hiring, visit qualifi.hr

SOURCE Qualifi

BeCause Secures High-Profile Backers, Setting Stage for Rapid Expansion and Business Model Validation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 17, 2023 — BeCause, the trailblazing startup transforming how the hospitality, travel, and tourism industries manage their sustainability data, has announced a significant early investment from renowned Danish entrepreneurs-turned-investors Carsten Mahler and Daniel Heskia. The $450,000 investment provides important financial backing for the Danish company’s next phase and brings valuable strategic guidance and advice from seasoned investors known for identifying successful enterprises and generating significant returns.

The startup’s AI-powered sustainability hub simplifies, speeds up, and reduces costs for sustainability management in the tourism industry, freeing up resources and allowing for greater real-world impact. By eliminating 60% of the resources previously used for repetitive, error-prone manual administrative tasks, BeCause enables stakeholders to stay up to date with the latest sustainability improvements, resulting in a sixfold faster return on sustainability investments. This improvement ultimately leads to a significant increase in bottom-line profits, potentially amounting to millions of dollars for a typical hotel chain in the first year alone.

“Since our founding, we’ve already attracted some of the world’s leading travel and tourism brands, including Booking.com, GreenKey, and other leading travel and tourism companies, all of whom believe in our platform’s ability to transform their approach to sustainability and are committed to providing sustainable options to travelers while improving how their companies manage their sustainability efforts more efficiently,” said says Frederik Rubens Steensgaard, CEO and Co-founder of BeCause.

Solving the $21 billion problem in sustainability management

The investment, secured ahead of the startup’s official seed round opening, enables BeCause to expand its commercial and product development efforts with added resources and runway. “Ineffective sustainability management is costing hotel and travel brands over $8 billion each year, in addition to missed revenues of at least $13 billion annually based on our industry estimations,” added Steensgaard. “This early investment addresses a significant need in the industry and helps support our mission of making sustainability management simpler, faster and cheaper so that tourism companies can make a tangible impact on people, the planet and their profits.”

BeCause is also participating in the Alchemist Accelerator, a global top-ten incubator for enterprise software startups whose Demo Day, scheduled for May 30, has historically attracted more than 400 investors seeking high-impact opportunities.

A shared vision for a sustainable future in travel, tourism and beyond

Investors Mahler and Heskia have a track record of founding successful companies, including FundConnect, which before its acquisition, provided data management and reporting solutions for the financial sector and is now Europe’s preferred neutral fund data infrastructure. The investors’ success with FundConnect, which manages financial data similarly to how BeCause handles sustainability data, highlights their expertise in creating and scaling digital ecosystems. It also points to the potential of future applications for BeCause’s sustainability data solutions beyond the travel and tourism sector. 

The investment also comes at a time when the market for sustainability data solutions is maturing. Over the last 24 months, regulations and supply chain pressures have spurred demand for the solutions BeCause has developed – AI-enabled automation and streamlining of sustainability data and workflows across multiple stakeholders.

The startup’s technology framework connects certification entities such as Green Key and travel providers and distributors, enabling over 10,000 hotels and OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) to provide travelers with accurate and reliable sustainability data. These processes, traditionally handled via spreadsheets, emails and unconnected niche systems, are ripe for transformation, and the need to manage them efficiently to ensure compliance and competitive advantage is fueling BeCause’s growth.

Cross-sector expertise and guidance

“We see the potential impact of BeCause’s sustainability data management hub can have on businesses, and we believe in their unique approach to applying these principles to sustainability,” says Carsten Mahler, former CEO of FundConnect and Danske Invest, one of the largest and oldest mutual funds in the Nordics. “We are excited to join Frederik and his team on this journey and provide guidance and support to help them achieve their profit with a purpose-driven goal. We have been impressed by the team.”

The investment was made through Prolab Holding, an entity held by Mahler and Heskia. Other investors in BeCause include Innovation Fund Denmark, Alchemist Accelerator, the Copenhagen School of Entrepreneurship, Vækstfonden, and Corde Invest.

For more information about BeCause or to speak with CEO and Co-founder Frederik Steensgaard, please contact Vanessa Horwell at [email protected].

About BeCause
BeCause is an enterprise software company that enables sustainability data to flow simpler, faster and cheaper, so tourism companies can impact people, planet and their profits. The BeCause Sustainability Management Hub allows participating companies to collect and display all their communication about their sustainability efforts in one place, empowering them to make sustainability manageable for their operations and a competitive advantage for their business. BeCause provides the sustainability data flow that helps power part of Booking.com’s Travel Sustainable program and works with over 11,000+ companies including; sustainability-certified hotels, eco-labels, certification entities like GreenKey, industry partners including UN GSTC and marketplaces including Booking.com. For more information, visit because.eco.

SOURCE BeCause

SINGAPORE, May 16, 2023 — Digital entertainment company AnotherBall has successfully raised 2.2M USD in its angel round. The round was led by industry leaders, including

• Hiroaki Kitano (CTO at Sony Group Corporation)
• Jaynti Kanani (Founder of Polygon)
• Justin Waldron (Founder of PlayCo)
• Keisuke Honda (KSK Angel Fund, professional soccer player)
• Kevin Aluwi (ex-CEO at GoJek)
• Kevin Lin (Co-founder of Twitch, CEO at Metatheory)
• Rehito Hatoyama (ex-CEO at Sanrio Media & Pictures Entertainment, Advisor of Chiru Labs: Azuki’s creator company)
• Richard Ma (CEO at Quantstamp)
• Shintaro Yamada (CEO at Mercari)
• Sota Watanabe & Yusuke Obinata (Next Web Capital)
• Suji Yan (CEO at Mask Network)
• Taizo Son (CEO at Mistletoe)
• Zeneca (CEO at ZenAcademy)
  and more

With a team that has a proven track record of success, having exited their past startups twice to KDDI and Sony Group respectively, AnotherBall is going to build a completely new VTuber project through IZUMO. IZUMO is a VTuber project in the age of AI and Web3, with a mission to build a sustainable platform where everyone can live as they want to be in the Web3 space, leveraging VTubing technology.

• Statements from CEO

“Living as one’s ideal self through VTubing will undoubtedly become the next big trend.” This is something I’ve felt as a consumer since the 2010s. In some of the world’s most popular games, such as Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, avatars are already at the center of their economic spheres, and there’s no doubt that the value of digital existence will continue to grow. At IZUMO, we aim to capture this trend, accelerate the economy in the digital world, and support a world where everyone can continue to create.
Furthermore, I am truly humbled to have received the trust of such prominent investors. While we don’t reveal all the names yet, some of the biggest stars in the VTuber industry are also on our list of investors. With this round of funding, we will further advance IZUMO and deliver an enjoyable otaku life to everyone.

• Investor quotes

Leading investors have expressed excitement about IZUMO’s potential to become a global-scale project that blends Japanese culture and cutting-edge technology. Here’s what they had to say:

“As a fellow anime enthusiast, I found their challenge very appealing, which led me to invest in them. There are many anime fans around the world, but not many people take on this field with a truly authentic team. Their team, grounded in Japanese culture and blending in new technology, holds the potential to create a global-scale service, and I am excited to see where they will go from here.”
Jaynti Kanani, Co-founder of Polygon

“As a co-founder of Twitch, I have had the unique opportunity to observe the immense potential of virtual characters firsthand. In particular, the rapidly growing culture of VTubers, which originated in Japan, has the opportunity for profound global impact, captivating audiences and redefining the way people engage with others in the virtual world. I strongly believe that Cap, the visionary founder of IZUMO, is poised to elevate this captivating cultural movement to new heights by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3. It is this forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation that inspired me to invest in IZUMO, as we work together to unlock the limitless possibilities of VTuber technology and shape the future of digital interaction.”
Kevin Lin, Co-Founder of Metatheory, Twitch

“As an investor in AnotherBall, I’ve been captivated by the founder’s passion for creators. They are building the next generation of VTubers, reshaping the landscape of virtual entertainment. IZUMO’s dedication to empowering artists and fostering a vibrant community is awesome. Their unique blend of technology and creativity promises to redefine the way we interact with and consume content. I am honored to be part of IZUMO’s journey, as I believe they will lead the way in creating a new era of digital entertainment in the Web3 space.”
Richard Ma, CEO at Quantstamp

“We have known Captain for a long time since they were building successful startups in Japan. When we heard they would combine their passion and network for the anime industry and fully bet on Web3, we immediately felt this would be something super cool that we had never seen before. We are very much looking forward to seeing how IZUMO, with its origin in Japan, will uniquely express a new form of virtual entertainment to the world.”
Sota Watanabe & Yusuke Obinata, Next Web Capital

“I was the first investor in the initial company founded by Captain. For two years after its establishment, they did not receive a single dollar in salary and relentlessly pursued challenges within the creator economy space. Although they didn’t find success in that field initially, they pivoted and eventually achieved a successful exit. Now, I am excited to see what they will accomplish in the entertainment industry!”
Taizo Son, Co-founder of Mistletoe

For more information about AnotherBall and IZUMO, please visit the links below. Twitter is the best channel to get the latest updates:

SOURCE AnotherBall Pte. Ltd.

Upscale patented tech-driven mini golf experience opens seventh U.S. location in Denver, Colorado

DENVER, May 16, 2023 — Puttshack, the world’s first and only upscale, tech-infused mini golf experience with globally inspired food and beverage, announced today the grand opening of its seventh U.S. location on May 26, 2023, located in the River North Art District (RiNo) at Denver’s Lot 28, a historic area of the city that is in the midst of exciting growth,  in partnership with Lagniappe Capital Partners and Platform Ventures.

Puttshack’s new 24,500 square-foot single floor venue will feature four entirely custom, tech-driven, and highly competitive mini golf courses. Each course is powered by Puttshack’s patented Trackaball™ technology. This tech is integrated throughout the entire game experience and lets guests enjoy automated scoring, bonus-point opportunities, interactive games at each hole, and more. Puttshack’s unique gameplay is matched by a premium culinary experience that delights guests with its delicious, globally-inspired menu and full cocktail bar. With its world-class hospitality and a high-energy, upscale nightlife vibe, Puttshack Denver promises to be a destination that guests are excited to visit again and again with family, coworkers and friends.

Located at 2813 Blake Street, Puttshack Denver is in the happening RiNo neighborhood which features a mix of urban charm and repurposed industrial spaces now turned into restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and bars, combined to create the perfect day and nightlife destination in Denver.  RiNo is also known for its colorful and avant-garde murals around almost every corner. The Puttshack Denver venue stays true to the neighborhood’s lively aesthetic and will feature a mural by local artist Bobby Magee Lopez on its 1200 square-foot patio.

“We’re excited to bring our dynamic, tech-infused game as well as incredible food and beverage to Denver’s RiNo neighborhood. RiNo is known for its high energy and rich culture with art and entertainment in abundance, and we are thrilled for our newest Puttshack venue to be open in this great city,” said Joe Vrankin, CEO of Puttshack. “Puttshack will be the new go-to spot in Denver.”

Puttshack’s patented Trackaball™ technology and nostalgic-yet-modern atmosphere truly elevate the miniature-golf experience and position Puttshack as the leading concept in the emerging competitive-socializing market. A round at Puttshack is a high-energy experience unlike anything else in the marketplace.

Puttshack Denver is committed to giving back to its local community by supporting Conscious Alliance, a community of bands, brands, artists, and fans on a mission to awaken compassion and end hunger nationwide. As part of its give-back program, Puttshack Denver is pledging $1.00 for every purchase of the “Denver Tailpipe,” a locally-inspired sharable spring roll dish packed with green chile chicken, Chihuahua cheese, and sauteed vegetables,served with poblano cheese and avocado salsa dipping sauce. Guests can also enjoy additional menu options with a Denver flare including the Mile High Flatbread with chimichurri pork, bacon fat tamale, San Marzano sauce, mozzarella, jalapenos, and chipotle aioli.

Puttshack Denver’s opening showcases the brand’s continuous growth as the new location marks the company’s seventh outpost in the United States (preceded by locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, and St. Louis) with four locations in the United Kingdom. Puttshack’s ambitious growth plans continue with Pittsburgh and Scottsdale set to open later this Spring. The Puttshack Denver grand opening follows quickly on the heels of the Houston venue’s opening in late April 2023.

A growth capital round of $150 million from funds managed by BlackRock, Inc. in late 2022 continues to allow Puttshack to secure unique and desirable real estate opportunities as it expands into more top markets across the U.S., as well as invest in new technologies to enhance overall guest experience. The recent growth capital follows a $60 million funding round from Promethean Investments in 2021.

Puttshack Denver will be open to the public Sunday through Wednesday, 11am to 12am, and Thursday through Saturday, 11am to 1am. Kids are welcome into the venue until 8pm, after which it becomes 21+. 
Sign up for Puttshack Perks to be the first to know when reservations open, and to receive a free game of mini golf at Puttshack.com/Denver.

For all media inquiries, including interviews and additional assets, or to schedule a guided tour of the venue, please reach out to [email protected].

About Puttshack
Puttshack is a leading concept in the emerging and growing market of competitive socializing. Combining a tech-infused mini golf game with an exceptional food and beverage offering, Puttshack has multi-generation appeal. Patented Trackaball™ technology allows guests to play a point scoring game surrounded by an upscale and exciting environment. Puttshack is the perfect place for dates, family bonding, birthdays, nights out with friends, or corporate outings. Since opening its first location in 2018, Puttshack now has four London locations and six U.S. locations, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, and St. Louis with ambitious plans for expansion.

The company has its global headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, with a UK headquarters in London. For more information, please visit puttshack.com.

About Lagniappe Capital Partners
Lagniappe Capital Partners seeks the best seed and venture opportunities with entrepreneurs, helping build scalable, successful growth as they work to fill the void in the entertainment marketplace.

We invest in people. We seek out authentic concepts with excellent teams that provide the best consumer experiences. And where possible, we activate real estate along side and for the benefit of our partners.

We are not just another investment firm, we offer entrepreneurs strategic alignment by providing “a little something extra” with our network and expertise in retail entertainment operations and development.  For more information about LCP go to www.lagniappecp.com.

SOURCE Puttshack

DENVER, May 16, 2023 — Forum Capital Advisors LLC (“Forum”), a Denver-based asset management firm, announced that it has closed on a $26 million preferred equity investment supporting the development of Tailor Apartments, a 384-unit multifamily project in Fort Myers, Florida.

“We are thrilled to close this deal in what we believe to be a strong market, with an experienced sponsor,” said Ross Macdonald, Senior Director – Investments. “We continue to see positive rent growth projected in the Fort Myers submarket, which was one of the key factors in making this an attractive investment opportunity for Forum.” 

Once completed (anticipated in 2025) the project is expected to be comprised of 384 market-rate apartment units, with 48 individual garages and 718 surface parking spaces. The eight-building, three- and four-story community will include a variety of floor plan types, ranging from one to three-bedroom units. The building will also feature community amenities such as a resort-style pool with an outdoor kitchen, dog park, and cornhole court for residents.

The development is located along Ortiz Avenue with proximate access to I-75 and Highway 82, the main commuter thoroughfares in Fort Myers. Tailor Apartments is an approximate 12-minute drive to downtown Fort Myers and an approximate 15-minute drive to the area’s main employment hubs, including Lee Memorial Hospital and Florida Southwestern University. The property is also under a mile from retail and recreation offerings, including Target, Publix, Walmart, Top Golf, and Home Depot.

“The development is led by an experienced, vertically integrated sponsor with a 25-year track record of developing high-quality market-rate and affordable multifamily developments in the Southeast and Midwest regions,” said Joe Chickey, Managing Director – Portfolio Manager. “The Forum team has extensive experience working with the sponsor, and we’re happy to partner with them again on this investment.”

About Forum Capital Advisors LLC

Forum Capital Advisors LLC (“FCA” or “Forum”) is an innovative asset management company based in Denver, Colorado. FCA provides discretionary investment management services. FCA, founded in 2018, is owned by Forum Investment Group LLC.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

This material is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as and may not be relied on in any manner as legal, tax or investment advice, a recommendation, or as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a recommendation of any interest in any fund or security offered by Forum Capital Advisors LLC or its affiliates (“Forum”). Past performance is not indicative of future results. Private market investments are complex, speculative investment vehicles and are not suitable for all investors. An investment in a private market investment entails a high degree of risk and no assurance can be given that any private market investment objectives will be achieved or that investors will receive a return of their capital. The information contained herein is subject to change without prior notice and is also incomplete. This industry information and its importance is an opinion only and should not be relied upon as the only important information available. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed, and Forum assumes no liability for the information provided. As with any investment, there are risks. There is no assurance that any portfolio will achieve its investment objective.

Media Contact
Siobhan Sargent
[email protected]

SOURCE Forum Capital Advisors

MENLO PARK, Calif. and NEW YORK, May 16, 2023 — New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) today announced several key investing team promotions. Aaron Jacobson and Vanessa Larco, both technology investors, have been elevated to senior investing team roles with appointments to the firm’s Venture Capital Investment Committee. NEA also promoted three individuals to Partner:  Danielle Lay and Luke Pappas on the technology investing team, and healthcare investor Lily Huang.

“We are delighted to recognize the many contributions both Aaron and Vanessa have made to our investing practices, as well as the significant impact each has had on our organization,” said Scott Sandell, CEO, NEA. “Both have played important roles in helping to build some of the most successful and transformational companies in our portfolio, forging deep, trusting relationships with the entrepreneurs they support along the way. Aaron and Vanessa embody our shared values of trust, teamwork, and excellence across all facets of their work, from helping to shape our sector strategies to mentoring the next generation of talent, and we look forward to their continued success in these new roles.”

Aaron Jacobson, who joined NEA in 2011, is an enterprise technology investor focused on AI/ML, developer tools, cloud infrastructure, robotics, and cybersecurity. He is a director of flox, Crowdbotics, Embrace, Pulumi, DeltaStream, Rapid Robotics, Outrider, Tigera, and ForAllSecure and works closely with Databricks, Antimatter, and others. Jacobson also played a key role in the firm’s historic investments in Box, NGINX, StreamSets, and Illusive Networks.

Vanessa Larco joined NEA in 2016 and invests in enterprise software and consumer technology companies. She is a director of Assembled, Cleo, Evernow, Evident ID, Kindred, Mejuri, and Rocket.Chat. Additionally, Larco led NEA’s investment in Greenlight and was a board observer at Robinhood. She serves on the boards of LatinxVC and Venture Atlanta.

Jacobson’s and Larco’s new roles reflect several recent updates to NEA’s organizational structure—notably, the firm retired the title of “General Partner” and now designates its senior investment personnel by appointment to the Venture Capital Investment Committee or Venture Growth Equity Investment Committee. The promotions of Danielle Lay, Luke Pappas and Lily Huang to Partner continue NEA’s long-standing emphasis on promoting from within, recognizing the outstanding contributions each has made as a core member of the firm’s investing team.

“There’s a long-running quip at NEA that promotions typically come after someone has already been doing the job for quite some time, and it’s hard to imagine two more apt examples than Danielle and Luke,” said Tony Florence, Co-President, NEA, who has worked closely with both investors since they joined the firm in 2017. “They are culture carriers who reflect the very best of NEA in all they do, and each has shown tremendous leadership, acumen, and commitment in their work—from Luke’s efforts to expand our operations in Europe to Danielle’s role in developing NEA’s sector theses in emerging areas of focus. We’re very excited to celebrate their many contributions with these promotions.”

NEA Co-President Mohamad Makhzoumi, who has mentored Huang since she joined the firm in 2017, noted that “Lily has continually distinguished herself as an investor, company builder and consummate teammate. She has been involved in company formation, provided critical support to growing businesses, and played an important role in numerous transactions across our healthcare portfolio. Resolve, resourcefulness, and an unflappable demeanor are just a few hallmark traits of this talented investor, and I’m thrilled to recognize her contributions with this promotion to Partner.”

Lily Huang focuses primarily on digital health investments. She is a director of Curana Health, Elion, and Vori Health and serves as a board observer of Belong Health, Everside Health, Strive Health, and triValence.

Danielle Lay invests in consumer technology with particular focus on social-viral and e-commerce infrastructure. She is a director of Goody and serves as a board observer of Block Renovation, Burrow, Fizz, Formlabs, Pair, Prime Financial Technologies, and THE WELL.

Luke Pappas invests in consumer and enterprise companies, serving as a board observer or working closely with Aquabyte, Bliq, goop, Konux, Modyfi, With, and PlayVS. He has also been involved in several of the firm’s key strategic initiatives, including its secondary sale in 2018; the formation of Connect Ventures, a joint venture with CAA; and most recently NEA’s expanding presence in Europe.

In addition to these promotions at the Investment Committee and Partner level, NEA also announced promotions at the Principal and Senior Associate level. On the technology team, Alex Sharata was named Principal and Arjun Jain, Mustafa Neemuchwala, and Hunter Worland were promoted to Senior Associate.  Healthcare investing team promotions include James Buxton and Lulu Xu to Principal and Michael Li to Senior Associate.

About NEA

New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. Founded in 1977, NEA has over $25 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2023 and invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company’s lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm’s long track record of investing includes more than 270 portfolio company IPOs and more than 450 mergers and acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.nea.com.

Contact: 

NEA
Kate Barrett     [email protected]
Erica Sunkin   [email protected]

SOURCE NEA

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2023 — Mobius Materials, the first high-trust spot marketplace for electronic components, raised $735K as additional funding in a pre-seed round. The capital will accelerate the company’s mission to fix a gigantic market breakdown in the electronic components industry — $15B of new electronic components are thrown away annually by manufacturers despite demand from buyers.

The round was led by Undeterred Capital, a seed-stage focused VC firm focused on deep technology investments like the authentication system built by Mobius Materials. Additional participation came from a scout investment from a top 3 venture capital firm, Trolley Ventures and high-profile angel investors.

Electronics manufacturers struggle to find liquidity for their excess electronic components, leading to losses of 2-5% of their inventory spend on average and over $15B across the industry. At the same time, supply chain issues have reduced sourcing reliability and held up production lines –causing huge losses. The Mobius marketplace allows electronics manufacturers to solve both problems by facilitating the buying and selling of authenticated electronic components to other manufacturers. 

Mobius Materials has built a marketplace platform that serves hundreds of manufacturers in North America, Europe and Asia in industries from consumer electronics to automotive. Now, electronics manufacturers can get quotes for hard-to-find authenticated parts in 2 business days using the new Request a Quote feature. On the selling site, manufacturers can also list and sell excess that has built up from changed forecasts, design changes and inventory accrual.

“With this recent funding round, we’re investing to make it even easier for manufacturers to transact on our authenticated marketplace.” says CEO and founder, Margaret Upshur. “With our new platform release, we are able to predict pricing for components over time, get quotes to sourcers within 2 business days and add additional authentication to the platform.”

Mobius will use the funding to grow its team, specifically looking at hires for software engineers and operations specialists.

To learn more about Mobius Materials or to request a demo, visit www.mobiusmaterials.com. For media inquiries or interviews, please contact the company at [email protected].

About Mobius Materials:

Mobius Materials helps hundreds of the world’s largest original equipment manufacturers and contract manufacturers source and liquidate electronic components. Founded in 2020, Mobius’ mission is to use technology to make it transparent and profitable for businesses to bring raw materials back into the supply chain. For more information, visit www.mobiusmaterials.com.

SOURCE Mobius Materials

ATLANTA, May 16, 2023 — Fearless Fund, the premier venture capital fund dedicated to supporting women of color entrepreneurs, is proud to announce its latest investment in LS Cream, a revolutionary cream liqueur that is set to shake up the wine and spirits industry.

Inspired by the traditional Haitian drink known as cremas, LS Cream Liqueur is on a mission to introduce a new generation of drinkers to the luxury and versatility of cream liqueurs. The brand’s founders, Myriam Jean-Baptiste and Stevens Charles are both of Haitian descent and are passionate about staying true to their heritage while creating a product that can be enjoyed year-round.

“The wine and spirits industries are overwhelmingly male-dominated, and women of color’s stories and legacies are significantly underrepresented,” says Jean-Baptiste. “Fearless Fund’s investment in LS Cream will allow us to scale our business and increase our distribution footprint in the US while expanding our presence in our current markets.”

Arian Simone, Co-Founder of Fearless Fund, says that partnering with LS Cream is a natural fit for the organization’s mission. “We are always looking for trailblazing women of color who are pushing the boundaries in their respective fields, and LS Cream is a perfect example of that,” says Simone. “After many taste tests from our team and personal contacts, everyone agrees that LS Cream is a delicious and transformative product that is sure to become a staple in the wine and spirits industry.”

LS Cream Liqueur is an award-winning cordial made from a rich blend of fresh cream, neutral grain spirits, coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is gluten-free, low in lactose, and made with all-natural ingredients. The brand’s luxurious bottle design is a nod to its exotic heritage and is sure to catch the eye of anyone looking for a premium alternative in the cream liqueur category.

For more information about Fearless Fund and LS Cream Liqueur, please visit their websites at http://www.creamls.com or www.fearless.fund.

About Fearless Fund

Launched in 2019, Fearless Fund invests in women of color-led businesses seeking pre-seed, seed level, or series A financing. Its mission is to bridge the gap in venture capital funding for female founders of color and help them build scalable, growth-oriented companies. In addition to its investment activities, Fearless Fund also runs The Fearless Foundation, a 501c3 organization aimed at educating entrepreneurs, reducing racial inequities, and empowering African Americans to gain access to capital, as well as the Get Ready Venture Program, a comprehensive 12-month training program for women of color business owners.

About LS Cream Liqueur

LS Cream Liqueur is an innovative cream liqueur inspired by the iconic Haitian drink known as cremas. The brand’s founders, Myriam Jean-Baptiste and Stevens Charles are both of Haitian descent and are dedicated to celebrating their culture while creating a premium alternative in the cream liqueur category. LS Cream Liqueur is gluten-free, low in lactose, and made with all-natural ingredients. The brand is poised to take the wine and spirits industry by storm with its delicious and transformative product.

Contact:
WhitPR (LS Cream Liqueur)
E. [email protected]
P. 908-588-2602

SOURCE LS Cream Liqueur