TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 25, 2023 — Delta Development Team is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its oversubscribed Series A round, which was led by major investors UAVC and Desert Angels. Cofounders Bill Barg, Robert Futch, and Monti Leija are excited to take this significant step forward in advancing their mission to save even more lives through groundbreaking technology and innovation.

The Series A funding round exceeded expectations, reflecting the strong confidence that investors have in Delta Development Team’s vision and potential. The company raised an undisclosed amount from a diverse group of investors, demonstrating the widespread interest and support for the team’s innovative approach to their work.

“We are incredibly grateful to our major investors, UAVC and Desert Angels, for their substantial contributions and unwavering belief in our vision,” said Robert Futch, co-founder of Delta Development Team. “Their support will be instrumental in propelling our company to new heights and will enable us to make a meaningful impact on the world.”

Delta Development Team also extends a heartfelt thank you to friends and family who have shown their unwavering support throughout this journey. Their generous contributions have played a pivotal role in the company’s success and are a testament to the strong bonds and shared commitment to the mission.

“We want to express our deepest appreciation to our friends and family for standing by us, believing in our vision, and contributing to our Series A success,” said Bill Barg, co-founder of Delta Development Team. “Their support is a source of inspiration, and we are honored to have them as part of our extended team.”

Monti Leija, co-founder of Delta Development Team, added, “Our team is motivated and determined to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology to save lives. With this successful Series A round, we are well-positioned to accelerate our efforts and achieve our ambitious goals.”

Delta Development Team is dedicated to developing cutting-edge blood storage and transportation solutions that address critical challenges and improve the lives of people around the world. The funds raised in this Series A round will be used to advance research and development, expand the team, and bring innovative products and services to market.

Interest in this or other investment rounds can be directed to [email protected]. 

SOURCE Delta Development Team

SINGAPORE, Sept. 25, 2023 — Challenges in the global macroeconomic and political climate have not deterred HIKE Capital, a leading founders’ fund in China, from continuing to invest in innovative Chinese companies with the potential to shape the future.

“We believe that Chinese entrepreneurs have the resilience to weather these cycles and develop top-notch technologies and products to shake up the world in the next digital wave,” said Anna Xu, founder of HIKE Capital, at SuperReturn 2023 in Singapore.

China’s certainties in uncertain times

China has transitioned from its position as the world’s factory to become a global hub for product design and R&D, a remarkable fact that can be attributed in large part to China’s talent dividend.

China’s possession of the world’s largest pool of scientists and engineers, along with a growing number of college graduates, grants the country a significant competitive advantage in the digital economy.

Having developed the world’s most comprehensive industry system and a highly developed supply chain, China has established a commanding position in the new energy sector, especially in the electric vehicle business.

HIKE Capital has invested in multiple renowned EV companies, including prominent startup LiAuto (2017), and Megatronix (2019), an autonomous driving frontrunner that has achieved revenue growth of over 400% in the past two years.

Looking ahead to the next decade, “we can expect groundbreaking innovations in autonomous driving and smart cockpit technology to revolutionize the way we travel,” Anna said.

Innovation drives growth

China’s rapidly expanding digital economy has consistently outpaced GDP growth for 11 consecutive years, reaching 50.2 trillion yuan in 2022.

The industrial Internet has played a pivotal role in accelerating the digital transformation of manufacturing enterprises, empowering them to introduce groundbreaking products and experiences.

A prominent example is the rising athleisure brand Halara, another HIKE Capital portfolio company. Through smart factory technology, end-to-end digital circulation, and lean management, Halara has reduced its inventory turnover to just 35 days, outperforming its main competitor Lululemon, whose turnover stands at 110 days.

Another notable example is the new generation insurance broker Yuanbao. The company excels in customer acquisition, quality control of traffic pools, and cost-risk modeling achieved through its AI-powered matching technology. In less than a year, Yuanbao has already accumulated millions of paying users representing 90% regional coverage across China.

Partnership to drive digital transformation

As a Founders Fund, HIKE Capital’s core strategy prioritizes the continual exploration of world-class startups and strategic investments, particularly during technological waves.

Anna emphasized that the fund prioritizes partnerships with top entrepreneurs who possess unwavering faith in the power of technology and are committed to driving digital transformation.

“This approach enables us to transcend market cycles and stay at the forefront of innovation.”

Leveraging extensive experience and a mature methodology, HIKE Capital stands ready to assist more enterprises to achieve long-term success.

HIKE – Founders Fund 

Founded in 2015, HIKE is a prominent technology venture capital firm in China co-founded by Mark Yang, the founder of CARS Group and Ganji.com, and Anna Xu, the founder of NetEase news app.

HIKE Capital is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and driving paradigm shifts in the early stages of their businesses.

With a team of experienced venture partners, HIKE Capital helps founders overcome growth barriers and connect with essential resources.

The firm manages both USD and RMB Funds, focusing on investments in transportation/new energy, digitalization of the supply chain, and tech-empowered industries.

HIKE Capital has a successful track record of investing in unicorn companies such as Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI, HKEX:2015), RELX (NYSE:RLX), CARS Group, Megatronix, Orienspace, Halara, Yuanbao Insurance, FlashEx, Spark Group, Fenbi (HKEX:2469), Yuanfudao, OnQuality, Xbiome, Artivila, etc.

SOURCE HIKE Capital

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2023 –Techstars, a leading pre-seed and early stage venture capital firm, with over 8,000 founders, 54 programs in 14 countries, and more than 300 corporate partners, has recently announced their investment in ILUMA AI. ILUMA AI, a Silicon Valley startup, acts like an AI Chief of Staff sitting across all internal communication platforms (Slack, Gmail, Zoom, Discord, etc.) which proactively provides critical information to c-levels and team leads to prevent and solve multi-million dollar bottlenecks in midsize (500+ employees) companies.

ILUMA is already powering 100+ companies and is currently onboarding 200 companies on their waitlist.

Techstars’ investment comes months after their leadership team became customers of ILUMA. With a community of 8,000 of the top tech founders in the world, Techstars Universe has built a unique and highly collaborative ecosystem. For Techstars leaders, ILUMA AI effectively directs their attention to the areas where it is most needed or where they can add the most value.

ILUMA AI (www.getiluma.ai) is founded by four, second-time Silicon Valley founders and AI experts. They raised a $1.5M pre-seed round led by Acrew Capital.

SOURCE Iluma

BREA, Calif., Sept. 22, 2023 — ThreatHunter.ai, the leader in proactive threat hunting and managed detection and response services, is pleased to announce a significant update to its customer offerings.

Starting today, all contracted Threat Hunting customers will benefit from free data retention in cold storage for as long as they remain active clients.

Previously, like other firms, customers were charged a nominal fee for extended data storage. This change aims to enhance customer experience by removing financial barriers to long-term data retention.

“This decision aligns with our mission to provide comprehensive, cost-effective cybersecurity solutions,” said James McMurry, CEO of ThreatHunter.ai. “By offering free data retention, we empower our clients to better investigate historical threats and improve their security posture over time.”

Today’s large-scale merger announcement by two other firms in the cybersecurity sector raise questions about the future handling and commoditization of customer data. While consolidation might offer the allure of enhanced services, it also runs the risk of customer data being used for purposes beyond client security.

In contrast, ThreatHunter.ai uses client data strictly for retrospective threat analysis specific to the customer, a targeted approach undertaken by our elite team of human threat hunters committed to continuous security enhancement.

For more information about free data retention or ThreatHunter.ai’s services, please contact [email protected]

About ThreatHunter.ai

ThreatHunter.ai is a cybersecurity firm specializing in threat hunting, managed detection, and response services. Committed to innovation and excellence, ThreatHunter.ai empowers businesses to protect their digital assets in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Ever think your cybersecurity could use a Red Bull and a double shot of espresso? That’s us—ThreatHunter.ai. Seventeen years of kicking cyber-butt, genius-level human hunters, and an Argos platform so advanced it makes a smartphone look like a potato. We’re not just a shield; we’re your cyber bodyguard on steroids.

Media Contact:
Lydia Coulter
7145154011
365776@email4pr.com

SOURCE ThreatHunter.ai

Market Leader Now Live at 22 Health Systems Nationwide, Expects to Triple Customer Footprint Over Next 24 Months

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 21, 2023 — Diligent Robotics, the undisputed leader in robotic automation in health care, today announced $25 million in new financing led by Canaan, with True Ventures, DNX Ventures, Next Coast Ventures among the return investors and Northwestern Medicine Innovation joining as a new strategic investor. Rich Boyle from Canaan will join the board of directors. The company will use the funds to fuel system-wide expansions of its revolutionary Moxi robot across hospitals nationwide, enhance product development and triple its market reach.

“The incredible demand we’ve seen for Moxi is a testament to the clear value of using robotic automation to augment and support frontline hospital care teams, but also our highly customer-centric approach to bringing new technology and operational change into healthcare,” said Andrea Thomaz, Ph.D., Diligent Robotics’ co-founder and CEO. “We approach our work with deep empathy for the people who care for patients every day, and it has been incredible to witness the difference Moxi makes in supporting nursing, pharmacy, lab and entire clinical care teams. This funding round will enable us to scale fleets and accelerate product development while remaining true to our vision of creating robots that function as core team members and elevate the standards of healthcare through robotics.”

Diligent Robotics is the creator of Moxi, the first and only socially-intelligent robot teammate in the field today who works across health systems to improve operational efficiency of hospital care teams so they have more time for patient care and can practice at the top of their license. Founded by Dr. Andrea Thomaz and Dr. Vivian Chu, Diligent Robotics’ state-of-the-art robotics technology enables robots to collaborate within and adapt to human environments. Moxi’s impact includes augmenting staff and care teams by off-loading hospital-wide deliveries of supplies, equipment, medication and lab deliveries and is increasingly enabling new and existing high value programs to efficiently scale, such as Meds to Beds programs, Just in Time Logistics and Virtual Nursing.

Currently adopted by and operating in more than 22 health systems that represent more than 200 hospitals nationwide, including NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health, MultiCare Health System, The University of Texas affiliated network of health systems, Northwestern Medicine and many others, the company expects to triple its market footprint over the next 24 months, including systemwide expansion within the majority of the health systems.

“As an organization driven by our Patients First mission, we continue to explore ways innovation and technology can support our clinicians and staff to enhance their ability to care for our patients,” said Doug King, senior vice president and chief information officer at Northwestern Medicine. “Led by our team at the Northwestern Medicine Mansueto Innovation Institute, we deployed Moxi in targeted areas throughout Northwestern Memorial Hospital to support clinical staff by automating and scheduling pickups of non-tubable lab specimens and medications. Introducing this technology had a positive impact on staff and workflow. We are looking forward to deploying Moxi throughout our health system in the near future.”

Diligent Robotics Surpasses Customer, Manufacturing Milestones, Autonomy Metrics

This round of funding comes on the heels of a record year for Diligent Robotics, as the company has continued to make significant progress across product development, customer implementation strategy and manufacturing capacity. The company has inked new strategic partnerships and collaborations with leading healthcare institutions and scaled manufacturing. Diligent has also refined a quality assurance process that enables the building of multiple robots in various stages of production, increasing manufacturing capacity which has led to a reduced deployment window for Moxi.  On average, services are live in less than 30 days from robot arrival.

Diligent Robotics also surpassed many impressive autonomy metrics including the  completion of more than 400,000 total deliveries giving more than 200,000 hours back to staff  to instead spend with patients. Utilizing their state-of-the-art mobile manipulation approach for human environments, Moxi robots have autonomously opened hundreds of thousands of doors over the past year and in the last month alone, Moxi has autonomously navigated elevators tens of thousands of times.

Of note, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was the first children’s hospital to implement Moxi. There are two Moxi robots delivering medications and pharmaceutical items 24/7 along various routes throughout the hospital. In just over four months, Moxi has made more than 2,500 deliveries, traveled 132 miles, and saved staff more than 383,000 steps and 1,620 hours of work time. Diligent Robotics has signed on several children’s hospitals in recent months and expects to increase its market share even further among children’s hospitals in 2024.

“With healthcare staffing needs continuing to exceed the labor available, hospitals must make the best use of their constrained workforces to meet demand. That means finding new efficiencies in previously unaddressable areas and offering staff members a return to their most fulfilling work,” said Rich Boyle, general partner at Canaan. “Moxi has already been eagerly adopted by many of the nation’s top healthcare systems, and the positive impact on productivity, patient outcomes, and team morale is evident. Both are reasons we believe Diligent Robotics has a big future and are thrilled to be leading this newest round of financing.”

Contact

Christy Warring, Diligent Robotics
281-684-3184 | [email protected]

SOURCE Diligent Robotics

BOSTON, Sept. 21, 2023 — VODA.ai, an AI-powered asset management solution for water and wastewater utilities, has announced a recent investment from Ferguson Ventures, the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of Ferguson. VODA.ai’s solutions help utilities make better-informed decisions using artificial intelligence. This collaboration with Ferguson, a leading North American value-added distributor serving the built-world industry, allows VODA.ai to concentrate on continued growth and distribution.  

VODA.ai offers water and wastewater utilities a more effective method for prioritizing repairs and capital improvement projects in their transmission, distribution and collection systems. VODA.ai’s software has analyzed over 1 million miles of pipe across 17 states and 6 countries. “Ferguson is committed to building water-resilient communities by leveraging its business expertise,” said Blake Luse, Managing Director at Ferguson Ventures. “We invested in VODA.ai to better support the US utilities’ infrastructure needs and prioritize critical repairs.” 

VODA.ai focuses on risk modeling, lead line management, leak monitoring, condition assessment and capital planning. Ferguson is a leading distributor in municipal waterworks, metering technology and treatment plant MRO supplies. Ferguson is dedicated to maintaining and improving the quality of water infrastructure. By combining VODA.ai’s insights on pipe vulnerabilities and Ferguson’s cutting-edge solutions and products, both entities can collaboratively enhance the longevity and reliability of water infrastructure systems.  

“We pride ourselves in helping water utilities preserve water, their most valuable asset,” said Darren Campbell, Ferguson’s National Senior Director of One Municipal. “Our Ferguson Municipal Technology Solution team, together with VODA.ai, will help our customers focus on repairing and replacing their pipes with the highest risk of failure, empowering them to allocate their capital expenditure budgets most effectively.”  

Ferguson and VODA.ai have entered an exclusive distribution relationship in the US market, amplifying and accelerating VODA.ai’s ability to serve utilities.  

George Demosthenous, CEO at VODA.ai, added, “This investment and expanded collaboration with Ferguson marks a significant milestone in our mission to support the water industry. Together, we will continue to innovate and deliver exceptional value to utilities across the country.” 

For more information, visit www.voda.ai or send an inquiry to [email protected]. 

About Ferguson  

Ferguson plc (NYSE: FERG; LSE: FERG) is a leading value-added distributor in North America providing expertise, solutions and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more. We exist to make our customers’ complex projects simple, successful and sustainable. Ferguson is headquartered in the U.K., with its operations and associates solely focused on North America and managed from Newport News, Virginia. For more information, please visit corporate.ferguson.com or follow us on LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/ferguson-enterprises. 

About VODA.ai  

VODA.ai uses artificial intelligence to provide risk modeling solutions and help water utilities make smart decisions based on science. VODA.ai is a Software as a Service company serving utilities worldwide. It is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. VODA.ai’s patent-pending artificial intelligence technology discovers patterns in pipe networks and enables science-based decision making.

Media Contact:
James Fitchett
jim@voda.ai

SOURCE VODA.ai

Applications Now Open to Apply for EmpowHer and Her Village Grants

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Sept. 21, 2023 — Boundless Futures Foundation, a new private foundation, today announced its commitment to provide financial support and leadership resources for aspiring female entrepreneurs starting businesses that aim to solve social issues. The Foundation will make grants to individuals and to mission-aligned nonprofits throughout the US.

Even though female-founded companies have been bringing in more venture capital investment across increasing numbers of deals in recent years, only about 2% of total start-up venture capital dollars in the US are invested in companies founded by women.¹ Boundless Futures Foundation sets itself apart from other entrepreneurship-focused foundations by offering no-strings-attached grants for female entrepreneurs – most others take equity in the start-ups that receive funding.

Through personal experience, the Foundation’s founders Soon and McKeel Hagerty have seen the power of what a female business leader can do to make an impact on her family, community, and society.

As a serial entrepreneur herself, Soon understands the excitement and the emotional journey that comes along with starting a business. Her entrepreneurial roots run deep, starting when she was a young child. She and her family emigrated from Vietnam to Fresno, California, and they began selling fruits and vegetables from the back of a truck to grocery stores to support their family. They eventually created a wholesale produce business that still exists more than 40 years later.

Soon’s family’s experience inspired her to co-own and found several businesses including Luxe Communications, Centigrade, a global marketing and events company, and The Good Bowl, a mission- based Vietnamese restaurant in Traverse City, Michigan, that donates $1 per bowl to charity. As Senior Vice President of Brand at Hagerty, Soon played a lead role in transforming the company from a local specialty insurance company to a global, publicly traded lifestyle brand for car lovers that joined the New York Stock Exchange (HGTY) in 2021 with a value of more than $3 billion.

“Starting a new business can mean high stakes with high stress, so Boundless Futures Foundation aims to support female entrepreneurs using a holistic approach to build confidence, embrace community support and make meaningful connections for female entrepreneurs to not only achieve their vision but also drive positive, sustainable change in society,” said Soon Hagerty. “Boundless Futures Foundation is built to be a trusted friend on a woman’s entrepreneurial journey.”

McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, first observed the power of women in business when his mother Louise led operations for the family business. In 1995, McKeel, in partnership with his sisters Kim and Tammy, led the business out of its start-up phase. Three decades later, the family company that started as a specialty insurance business has grown to provide products and services for the global collector car market.

FundersFounders Are Not Just 

In addition to attracting less invested capital, women entrepreneurs in the US self-report lower confidence in entrepreneurship skills than men do, and, like women globally, still lack equal access to business-related networks, funding, and mentors or role models. ^2,3

Boundless Futures Foundation supports female entrepreneurs whose businesses seek to solve social issues through their products and services, and through business models and practices. Boundless Futures Foundation grants provide capital and a supportive network that offers business answers and advice.

The Foundation aims to accomplish the following:

• Empower young women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams by providing capital to support a new business that identifies and aims to solve a social issue; EmpowHer grants of up to $25,000 are awarded to female entrepreneurs who are at least 22 years old and are in the early stages of starting a business that addresses a social issue or has a purpose-driven concept embedded in its business model.
• Embrace entrepreneurs-in-the-making by ensuring that they are not alone on their journey. An Advisory Circle of seasoned female entrepreneurs offers resources including leadership development, skills-building assistance, mentorship, and networking opportunities to support grantees. Their goal is to foster the development of the Foundation’s grant recipients, ensuring greater strategic-growth thinking, future financial sustainability, and peer-to-peer networking.
• Elevate other nonprofits that pave the way for female business owners. Her Village grants of up to $25,000 are awarded to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that benefit female entrepreneurs.

“We believe in supporting all entrepreneurs; however, there is an imbalance in females acquiring access to resources to launch their own businesses. Having three daughters, we hope to create a world where they will have access and feel supported in their entrepreneurial journey if that’s the direction they choose in life,” said Soon Hagerty. “It was also important to focus our support on businesses that aim to solve social issues. We believe businesses that can combine both purpose and profit will create a long-lasting impact in society.”

Learn more about Boundless Futures Foundation, apply for funding, or obtain other resources by visiting boundlessfutures.org. Follow the Foundation on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

About Boundless Futures Foundation
Founded in September 2023 by Soon and McKeel Hagerty, Boundless Futures Foundation provides financial support and leadership resources to aspiring female entrepreneurs 22 years of age and older so they can have a boundless impact in society. The Foundation empowers women entrepreneurs in the United States by providing grant funding to individuals in the early stages of starting a business that solves a social issue and to mission-aligned nonprofits. The Foundation also provides access for individual grantees to an Advisory Circle, a supportive network during their entrepreneurial journey. For more information, visit boundlessfutures.org and follow Boundless Futures Foundation on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

¹ https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/female-founders-dashboard-2021-vc-funding-wrap-up
² https://www.gemconsortium.org/report/gem-202122-womens-entrepreneurship-report-from-crisis-to-opportunity
³ https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/the-womens-entrepreneurship-landscape-is-changing-is-the-ecosystem-ready-to- adapt

SOURCE Boundless Futures Foundation

On the heels of a funding round led by global investors, Shorooq Partners and Ankurit Capital, Virtualness launches the Gratitude OnChain campaign to spread gratitude through dedicated programming from top creators, media and technology executives, and the global community

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21, 2023 — Virtualness, a mobile-first platform powered by generative AI and blockchain, announced today the launch of Gratitude OnChain. This program invites the community to express their gratitude on blockchain in a permanent, immutable way that lasts the test of time. As part of this program, top creators are coming together to create, gift, and sell their own digital goods using Virtualness’ easy-to-use, end-to-end platform. The activation begins on World Gratitude Day, September 21, 2023, and will be live for 21 days through October 12. Virtualness’ global push is amplified by recent funding by global technology investors, Shorooq Partners and Ankurit Capital, which pushes their total funding to eight figures.

Top creators participating in the program include award-winning artist Leah Ibrahim Sams, several-time NYT  bestselling author Firoozeh Dumas, globally renowned performance and sports psychologist Shayamal Vallabhjee, Emmy Nominated Host and Co-founder, Peace Inside Live, Shira Lazar, musician and TikToker Nathan Piland, author and technology journalist Taylor Lorenz, entrepreneur and model Daya Burton, vlogger and entrepreneur Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily.) In an era where digital engagement knows no bounds, the creators have found unique ways to express gratitude through the creation of their own digital goods that unlocks experiences such as innovative audio story release, physical and digital goods, one-on-one online sessions, and exclusive content. Their individual goods launch over the 21-day gratitude festival, and fans will have the opportunity to purchase these digital goods through the Virtualness platform. Participants will also be able to generate their own gratitude image by using Virtualness’ seamless design studio, get a chance to win special gifts from the creators, and a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip for two to magical Bhutan at the award-winning Postcard Hotel.

Participating organizations include HUG, a social marketplace founded by Randi Zuckerberg and Debbie Soon – with an open call for participation to HUG artists; Liftery, a social impact initiative focused on working mothers – with global executives offering coaching hours benefitting Liftery; and 100 Girls In Blockch(AI)n, an organization that empowers high school girls to engage with web3 and AI.

Virtualness’ platform embodies a remarkable stride towards making generative AI and blockchain accessible to a wide demographic of users. Creators, brands, and sports and media organizations have the opportunity to share across their social media channels effortlessly, interact directly with their fans and communities, enable unique experiences, and unlock new channels for monetization. Easy login via email or social handles, payments by in-app purchases and local fiat currency, choice of wallets, and a simplified journey to claim rewards and experiences are key capabilities that make the user experience on Virtualness seamless.

“We are thrilled to launch Gratitude OnChain with such a powerful cohort of influencers and tastemakers within the digital realm,” said Kirthiga Reddy and Saurabh Doshi, Co-founders of Virtualness. “This program reflects an eagerly anticipated, longtime effort from our stellar team, who possess a pioneering vision for the future of the creator economy and digital goods frontier. Utilizing technology to perpetuate gratitude and goodness with ease allows us to democratize the digital world.”

Virtualness recently secured additional funding from a global investor base, including Shrooq Partners and Ankurit Capital, increasing their total funding to eight figures & diversifying their investor base to the Middle East and Asia. Virtualness raised $8M in seed funding in late 2022, with a round led by Blockchange Ventures with participation from Polygon Ventures, F7 Ventures, Micron Ventures, Better Capital, FalconX, Impact Venture Capital, Neythri Futures Fund, Oceans Ventures, Perot Jain, VC3 DAO, Carolyn Everson, Randi Zuckerberg, Nuseir Yassin, Nikki Farb, and Stacy Brown-Philpot.

“Virtualness is rewriting the playbook for the future of fan engagement and monetization,” said Tamer Azer, Partner, Shorooq Partners. “We’re excited to see our investment accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology and reshape the creator-fan dynamic not only in the Middle East but globally.”

“I am so honored to be part of Gratitude OnChain,” said Shira Lazar. “The concept of showing ‘gratitude’ is so simple, yet so important. I’m excited to have a new way to show my community gratitude through this program, especially on a platform that has already made such a positive impact on the digital space. By allowing us to use our creations to truly make an impact and extending the opportunity for our fans to also create images, Virtualness is taking such a significant step towards advancing equitable opportunities in the digital goods landscape. I cannot wait to see how it all comes to fruition.”

“The Gratitude OnChain program represents what Virtualness is all about,” Kelly Graziadei, Co-Founder & GP, f7 Ventures. “It blends best-in-class technology with creativity to send an important message and create a legacy of goodness and kindness, and we’re pleased to be part of their mission.”

About Virtualness
Virtualness is a mobile-first platform, powered by generative AI and blockchain, for users to create, mint, gift, share, and sell digital goods all in one place. Founded in 2022 by industry leaders Kirthiga Reddy and Saurabh Doshi, Virtualness is building the playbook for easy design, efficient sharing, and seamless digital commerce. Authenticated creators, brands, and sports and media organizations can use Virtualness to design, mint, and showcase branded digital goods; easily share across their social media channels; directly interact with their community; enable unique experiences and unlock new channels for monetization. Education, personalization, discovery, integration with Web2 and Web3 platforms, and a mobile-first experience are all core to the platform. Funding led by Blockchange Ventures with participation from Polygon Ventures, f7 Ventures, Micron Ventures, Better Ventures, FalconX, Impact Venture Capital, Neythri Futures Fund, Oceans Ventures, Perot Jain, VC3 DAO, Carolyn Everson, Randi Zuckerberg, Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily), Marina Mogilko, Nikki Farb, Shayamal Vallabhjee, Stacy Brown-Philpot, and other thought-leaders.

Media Contact
Jack Buttacavoli
[email protected]

SOURCE Virtualness

With over 70 partners and more than 300 integrations with the leading fintech companies, Mesh eyes global expansion for its embedded finance platform

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 21, 2023 — Mesh, the modern financial operating system that makes digital asset transfers and account aggregation seamless, announced today the successful completion of a $22 million Series A funding round. Mesh’s mission is to build an open, connected, and secure financial ecosystem in which users have full control over their assets. The new funding will accelerate Mesh’s push for broad adoption of its solutions as the company ramps up its core operations and introduces itself to companies and consumers across the globe.

Money Forward, Inc. led the investment with participation from a notable group of new investors including Galaxy and Samsung Next. Existing investors Streamlined Ventures, SNR.VC, Hike VC, Heitner Group, Arash Ferdowsi (the Co-founder of Dropbox), Valon Capital, Matt Ocko (the Founding GP of DCVC), Florida Funders, Altair Capital, Network VC, Gokul Rajaram (Board Member of Coinbase and GP at Firebolt VC), and more also joined the round. The investment brings Mesh’s total funding to over $32 million.

Established in 2020 as a consumer-facing platform named Front Finance, the company recently rebranded as Mesh, and over the last year, has flourished as an enterprise-focused financial platform that bridges the gap between digital and traditional financial assets.

“We are witnessing a massive shift in which consumers are demanding complete and transparent control over their assets, and expecting the financial services that they use to give them that control,” said Bam Azizi, Co-Founder and CEO of Mesh. “Embedded finance is going to be a $7 trillion market opportunity. Mesh is at the forefront of this transformation for both sides of the marketplace – well-positioned to play a pivotal role in making every digital transaction embedded, secure, and compliant. By doing that, we can enhance the overall user experience for our partners, which ultimately results in greater customer satisfaction and retention for them.”

By allowing fintech companies and financial institutions to connect to their users’ financial accounts to perform key functionalities like ‘write’ and ‘transfer’, Mesh is pioneering an approach that provides consumers with a frictionless experience and enables businesses to offer a significantly better service to their customers.

“Having spent decades in commerce, I’ve witnessed firsthand the evolution of open finance, and Mesh is several steps ahead of its current challenges,” added Sandy Kimura, Money Forward Group Executive Officer, Head of Global Strategy and Money Forward America CEO. “Mesh’s product-market fit – combined with the deep experience of their founding team and their vision for a better financial future – was clear from the moment we started exploring a deeper partnership, and we are thrilled to be a part of the company’s journey to mass adoption.”

Mesh has rapidly gained market traction, inking partnerships with more than 70 companies across finance and digital assets, within a year of becoming a business-focused platform. With a robust library of integrations spanning over 300 platforms, Mesh is on its way to becoming the leading solution for digital assets and open finance.

Building on its momentum, Mesh’s near-term focus is enhancing the transactional aspects of its connection layer to further develop use cases like deposits, payments, and payouts.

“Embedded crypto and finance will be a key driver for building the modern financial user experience,” said Mike Giampapa, General Partner of Galaxy’s Venture team. “Mesh is at the forefront of this trend, enabling the seamless integration of financial products and vast connectivity across asset classes and services. Mesh’s infrastructure is poised to become core to the modern financial stack.”

Coinciding with the Series A announcement, Mesh is proud to welcome Sandy Kimura and Anil Arora, the Former CEO of Yodlee, to its Board of Directors.

“Mesh is changing the way we transfer, exchange, and store assets in a secure, transparent, and compliant way,” remarked incoming Board Member Anil Arora. “I’m thrilled to join Mesh’s Board, as they have advanced the embedded finance tech stack and have the leadership and team to pave the way for their long-term success.”

For more information about Mesh and its groundbreaking financial solutions, please visit https://www.meshconnect.com/.

About Mesh

Founded in 2020, Mesh’s mission is to build an open, connected, and secure financial ecosystem. Mesh is a modern financial operating system that provides enterprise clients with the ability to enable digital asset transfers, crypto payments, account aggregation, and registered securities trading, all within their platform. With integrations to over 300+ platforms, Mesh is creating an embedded financial ecosystem that is more open, connected, and secure for businesses and users alike. To learn more, visit https://www.meshconnect.com/.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Mesh