With funding led by Intel Capital, Xyte will accelerate the geographic expansion of its servitization platform, Xyte Device Cloud

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 16, 2024 — Xyte, developer of the first all-in-one servitization platform for device and hardware manufacturers, today announced a $30 million investment round, which includes $20 million in Series A funding led by Intel Capital, with participation from Samsung Next and existing investors S Capital and Mindset Ventures, as well as $10 million in venture lending from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. In conjunction with the financing, Roi Bar-Kat, Israel Country Manager and Managing Director at Intel Capital, will join Xyte’s board of directors.

Hardware commoditization and customer preferences are forcing device and hardware manufacturers to rethink their business. This means transitioning towards offering integrated business solutions that include hardware, software, and services – akin to the models of technology leaders like Tesla and Apple.

Xyte Device Cloud is a full-stack servitization platform that empowers device and hardware manufacturers to introduce usage-based and other innovative as-a-service business models and develop sustainable customer relationships. It is purpose-built for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to manage the complete lifecycle of their connected devices – from the minute they leave the warehouse to the moment they reach customers and through aftermarket sales.

“The hardware-as-a-service model is imperative for device and hardware manufacturers to ensure their business success. Xyte is equipping forward-thinking OEMs with an indispensable software stack to meet that need,” said Roi Bar-Kat. “We are confident that Xyte will play a pivotal role in shaping the ecosystem and enabling device and hardware manufacturers’ businesses to flourish.”

“At Xyte, we are determined to continue supporting connected device manufacturers in every industry. This funding round will further fuel our success and accelerate our geographic expansion, especially across North America and Europe,” said Omer Brookstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Xyte. “Our investors’ unreserved support demonstrates their commitment to and trust in our mission, especially amidst otherwise turbulent market conditions. We are grateful for their partnership and look forward to our joint success ahead.”

Manufacturers across numerous verticals work with Xyte to support their own connected devices, from industrial and smart buildings to robotics, medical and automotive. This includes market-leading companies like Schneider Electric and Legrand.

“We are happy to be furthering our investment in the Xyte team, especially considering their success across diverse sectors,” said Aya Peterburg, Founder and Managing Partner at S Capital. “With Xyte Device Cloud ready to deepen its impact, we consider ourselves to be partners in its vision and look forward to the journey ahead.”

About Xyte

Xyte Device Cloud (XDC) is the first all-in-one servitization platform purpose-built for device and hardware manufacturers. It enables OEMs across different industries to cloudify, service, support, and commercialize their connected devices in one place, transforming them into integrated business solutions that combine hardware, software, and services. With XDC, device and hardware manufacturers can manage the complete lifecycle of their connected devices – from the minute they leave the warehouse to the moment they reach customers and through aftermarket sales. Our out-of-the-box applications for asset management, remote support, ecommerce & subscription management, and financing help OEMs gain market share, implement new business models, optimize operational efficiencies, and develop sustainable customer relationships.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2319400/Xyte_Logo.jpg 

SOURCE Xyte

PLEASANTON, Calif., Jan. 16, 2024 — Noctrix Health, Inc. announced today that it has closed a $40M Series C financing round led by Sectoral Asset Management with participation from other new investors Angelini Ventures, ResMed, and Asahi Kasei Corporation with strong support from insiders including OrbiMed and Treo Ventures. This infusion of capital will propel the advancement of Nidra™ Tonic Motor Activation (TOMAC) therapy towards its eagerly anticipated launch in the US market. Nidra™, a revolutionary new device, stands as the first and only approved treatment for drug-refractory Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a chronic condition that has debilitating impacts on sleep and quality of life of millions of adults worldwide.  

The Nidra™ Tonic Motor Activation therapy is a clinically validated treatment indicated for reducing the symptoms of RLS and improving sleep quality in adults refractory to medications and was granted a De Novo authorization by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2023 after receiving a Breakthrough Device Designation from the agency in 2020.

Noctrix Health Founder and CEO, Shri Raghunathan, expressed his excitement at the successful funding round, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Sectoral Asset Management and other new investors to this esteemed group of partners. This significant milestone, coupled with unwavering support from our existing investors, reflects our shared commitment to establishing a new standard of care for RLS. I extend my gratitude to our dedicated team for their hard work and am humbled by the overwhelming support received.”

Michael Sjöström, co-founder, and Partner at Sectoral Asset Management, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I am honored to join Noctrix Health on its journey in redefining RLS treatment. We believe in the transformative potential of TOMAC therapy and look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success.”

“The strength of Noctrix Health’s clinical data combined with the tremendous unmet need underscore the importance of bringing TOMAC therapy to patients with RLS,” said Evan Caplan, Principal at OrbiMed. “We have seen how well the team has executed and are excited to continue partnering with them as the company initiates commercialization.”

“Treo Ventures is thrilled to continue supporting Noctrix Health. This significant financing will allow the company to reach millions of patients with RLS. TOMAC therapy is a patient-friendly, highly effective, non-pharmacologic innovation for patients unhappy with current solutions who need better treatment options,” commented Tracy Pappas, General Partner, Treo Ventures.

Noctrix Health has experienced a banner year in 2023, marked by the FDA marketing authorization of TOMAC therapy, followed by several key publications including a recent study demonstrating TOMAC therapy’s efficacy in reducing opioid use in patients with RLS, further reinforcing its potential impact on patient outcomes.

About Nidra™ TOMAC Therapy
The Nidra™ Tonic Motor Activation (TOMAC) system is the first and only non-pharmacologic, wearable treatment intended to reduce symptoms of primary moderate-severe Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and improve sleep quality in adults refractory to medications. It is available in the US by prescription only. For more information on availability or clinical and important safety information, please visit www.nidrarls.com.

About Noctrix Health, Inc.
Noctrix Health is a medical device company committed to developing clinically validated breakthrough medical technologies that improve the quality of life for patients with chronic conditions. For enquiries contact [email protected].

SOURCE Noctrix Health, Inc

BOSTON, Jan. 16, 2024 — Granata Bio, Inc. a biopharma company focused on invigorating the $3.6B global infertility medication market, today announced the close of a $14M Series A funding round led by GV (Google Ventures). Participants in the funding round include CooperSurgical, Gedeon Richter, Alumni Ventures, Amboy Ventures, Vibe Bio and others.

In the United States nearly 1 in 5 women struggle with infertility and are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023. Approximately 1 in 4 women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. Problems that affect ovulation, and the hormones involved with ovulation, are the most common cause of female infertility and are often treated with infertility drugs as a first step. Yet very little innovation has materialized to meet this growing need.

Granata Bio launched in 2018 with a mission to invigorate the stagnant US offerings in the US fertility medication marketplace. The company gained immediate traction by designing innovative clinical development programs aimed at optimizing outcomes for study subjects while assessing the safety and efficacy of investigational products. To date, the company has assembled a portfolio of four medications, ranging from commercialized products to early-stage developments. 

“Despite significant growth in patient volume over the last ten years, infertility has been woefully overlooked and under-supported. We’re excited about the focus and innovation Granata Bio is bringing to this space and – most importantly – new options for patient care. We look forward to partnering with Evan Sussman and the Granata Bio team as they advance women’s health,” says Cathy Friedman, Executive Venture Partner at GV.

The Granata Bio leadership team brings more than 75 years of experience in fertility, with expertise in clinical development, regulatory strategy, and commercialization. Granata Bio will leverage the new capital to progress its existing pipeline, evaluate new targets and expand the team.

“Granata is taking a novel approach to both address current market dynamics and to develop unique products targeting unmet needs in women’s health,” says CEO Evan Sussman. “This funding is an exciting next step toward our mission of creating access for fertility patients with new therapeutic solutions.”

About Granata Bio

Granata Bio is a US-based biopharma company focused on women’s health and infertility. Founded in 2018, Granata’s pipeline includes collaborations spanning four different IVF product classes.
To learn more about Granata Bio, visit www.granata.bio. For all inquiries contact [email protected].

About GV

GV supports innovative founders moving the world forward. We invest across the life sciences, consumer, enterprise, crypto, climate, and frontier technology sectors. With Alphabet as a sole limited partner, GV operates on long time horizons and deals in decades, not rounds. Our operating partners support startups at the earliest stages of company-building across design, equity, diversity & inclusion, talent, and engineering. We also help startups interface with Google, providing unique access to the world’s best technology and talent.

Launched as Google Ventures in 2009, GV has over $8 billion in assets under management and 400 active portfolio companies across North America and Europe. Notable investment outcomes include Uber, Nest, Slack, GitLab, Duo Security, Flatiron Health, Verve Therapeutics, and One Medical. GV is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in Cambridge, New York, and London.

About CooperSurgical
CooperSurgical^® is a leading fertility and women’s healthcare company dedicated to putting time on the side of women, babies, and families at the healthcare moments that matter most in life. CooperSurgical is at the forefront of delivering innovative assisted reproductive technology and genomic solutions that enhance the work of ART professionals to the benefit of families. We currently offer over 600 clinically relevant medical devices to women’s healthcare providers, including testing and treatment options.

CooperSurgical is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CooperCompanies. CooperSurgical, headquartered in Trumbull, CT, produces and markets a wide array of products and services for use by women’s health care clinicians. More information can be found at www.coopersurgical.com.

SOURCE Granata Bio

New Partnership Enables Continued Strategic Expansion

Merchant Investment Management to Exit After Five Years of Significant Growth

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 2024 — Perigon Wealth Management (“Perigon”), a rapidly growing independent wealth management firm with offices across the country and over $6.5 billion in client assets as of Dec. 31, 2023, today announced it has received a minority investment from Constellation Wealth Capital (“CWC”) to enhance its strategic expansion. Merchant Investment Management, which entered a partnership with Perigon in 2019, will exit the relationship after five successful years. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Constellation has quickly established a reputation for working collaboratively with operational leadership that aims to foster a relationship that delivers meaningful growth, and we look forward to working with their team,” said Arthur Ambarik, Perigon’s CEO. “This investment positions our firm and clients for continued success as a sustainable, majority advisor-owned, client- and advisor-centric firm. Merchant has been a great partner, and their strategic and financial support helped our team increase our client assets by nearly 10-fold and expanded our national footprint.”

Chicago-based Constellation Wealth Capital was founded by Karl Heckenberg as an alternative asset management platform specializing in making tailored investments in well-positioned wealth management firms.

Heckenberg said, “Perigon’s consistent growth is a testament to its effective strategy in the competitive wealth management space. We believe Perigon’s model of supporting financial advisors with flexible affiliation models and compelling platforms, solutions and technology, results in advisors who are better positioned to drive growth and deliver for their clients. Under Art’s leadership, the management team has been delivering impressive results and we are enthusiastic about supporting their future achievements.”

Merchant Investment Management, which provides growth capital, management resources and strategic direction to independent financial services firms, partnered with Perigon five years ago. Perigon more than doubled its assets under management (AUM) in the first year of the partnership, including its landmark merger with another Merchant partner firm, RLP Wealth Management, led by the current Perigon President Jeremy Paul.

Marc Spilker, Merchant’s Executive Chairman, added, “Merchant and Perigon had an incredibly productive partnership, the opportunity in the industry continues to grow and we wish the Perigon team well in the next phase of their business.”

Perigon, an advisor-led firm, has added teams and offices across six major markets since December 2021, including New England and the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm was named one of RIA Channel’s 2022 Top 50 Wealth Managers by Growth in Assets and included on the Forbes Top RIA list.¹ In September 2022, the firm announced a merger with PM Wealth Management and formed a strategic alliance with Prager Metis tax advisory firm. In November of that year, Perigon announced it acquired Nauset Wealth Management and expanded its Atlanta office.

Ardea Partners LP served as the exclusive financial advisor to Perigon, and Alston & Bird LLP served as its legal counsel. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as the legal counsel to Constellation Wealth Capital.

¹ Learn more about RIA Channel’s 2022 Top 50 Wealth Managers at https://www.riachannel.com/2022-top-50-wealth-managers-by-growth-methodology/ and about Forbes” Top RIA ranking methodology at https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2022/10/25/methodology-americas-top-ria-firms-2022/?sh=4058511e17d9.

About Perigon Wealth Management 
Perigon Wealth Management, LLC is a registered investment advisor. Founded, owned and led by lifelong financial advisors, Perigon Wealth Management is an independent RIA firm that strives to provide clients with peace of mind by identifying and implementing clear and customized plans to achieve the financial objectives necessary to realize their life goals. Additionally, Perigon Wealth Management offers financial advisors who join its platform a robust and flexible program that accommodates the widest possible array of affiliation structures and business models. With over $6.5 billion in client assets as of Dec. 31, 2023, Perigon Wealth Management is passionate about accelerating the business growth of its financial advisors and simplifying their operations, without sacrificing their independence. For more information, please visit https://perigonwealth.com/.

About Constellation Wealth Capital
Constellation Wealth Capital is an alternative asset management platform dedicated to the wealth management sector. CWC provides flexible, long-term capital solutions, and strategic advisory support to scaled wealth management platforms. CWC leverages its deep industry experience and relationships for the benefit of its partner firms. Learn more at www.constellationwealthcapital.com or contact us at [email protected].

Media contacts:
Donald Cutler or Lorene Yue
Haven Tower Group
424 317 4864 or 424 317 4854
[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Perigon Wealth Management

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., Jan. 16, 2024 — ZymoChem, creators of the world’s most carbon-efficient bio-manufacturing platform, closed a $21 million Series A round. The investment is led by Breakout Ventures with participation from new investors including lululemon athletica, inc. and Toyota Ventures, and existing investors including GS Futures, KdT Ventures, and Cavallo Ventures. By pairing this financing with existing revenues from commercial partnerships and funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, ZymoChem will launch its first high-performance material and advance its first partnered product to commercial scale.

To help address the climate crisis, ZymoChem rethinks how everyday products, from personal hygiene items to textiles, are produced. ZymoChem redesigns manufacturing with products that do not come from fossil fuels, require carbon-intensive production, or persist for generations. Improving sustainability within manufacturing via ZymoChem’s patented technology is what interested Toyota Ventures. ZymoChem’s approach also aligns well with lululemon’s goal of improving sustainability within its product portfolio.  

“We’re upending the materials industry,” said Harshal Chokhawala, Co-Founder and CEO. “Our technology delivers sustainability without compromising performance, scale, and importantly economics. This unlock already catalyzed multiple partnerships with world-leading companies and we’re thrilled to expand our impact with our key stakeholders.”

ZymoChem accelerates a real-zero economy by relieving carbon emissions in product development, use, and end of life through:

• Platform Approach: Converting renewable feedstocks into a variety of high-performance, bio-based, biodegradable polymers.
• Patented, Carbon-Efficient Bio-manufacturing: Creating materials with near-zero CO₂ emissions via a proprietary fermentation process.
• Superior Economics: Improving yield by up to 50% versus alternative processes, creating a dramatic cost advantage.
• Visionary Partnerships: Promoting benefits of bio-based manufacturing by partnering with stakeholders across the value chain with drop-in solutions for their existing infrastructure.

“ZymoChem has the most compelling technology we’ve seen to scale bio-based chemicals and materials while remaining cost competitive with petroleum-derived products,” said Lindy Fishburne, Managing Partner at Breakout.

About ZymoChem

ZymoChem is breakthrough science for a fossil-free future. Headquartered in San Leandro, CA with a satellite division in Burlington, VT, ZymoChem envisions a world in which everyday goods are bio-manufactured from 100% renewable materials and designed for a sustainable economy. Through its multi-generational, multi-product patents, ZymoChem’s proprietary Carbon Conserving (C²) microbes convert renewable feedstocks into bio-based materials without compromising price, performance, scale, or sustainability, while radically minimizing CO₂ loss during production. www.zymochem.com.

Press contact information:
Alexandra Tursi
Cultivate on behalf of ZymoChem
[email protected] 
802-777-6737

SOURCE ZymoChem

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 16, 2024 — PRE Security, the world’s first company specializing in predictive AI cybersecurity, has successfully closed an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round. This achievement validates the company’s ambition to advance cybersecurity beyond the traditional, reactive Detect & Respond models, enabling a more proactive Predict & Prevent™ approach. This new method leverages the latest advances in predictive and generative AI.

Built By The Channel
In a novel approach, PRE Security’s pre-seed round was led by investments from strategic global channel reseller and distribution partners, along with selected angel investors. “I’ve always looked for ways to show partners my appreciation for the work they do in helping to grow a new company,” said Paul Jespersen, CEO and Co-Founder of PRE Security, “This opportunity allows partners to participate from the very beginning and gain financially from our joint success while helping to shape our solutions for their markets from the outset as owners.”

“We are excited to get in at the earliest stage of a new technology trend with predictive AI cybersecurity and I am thrilled to be one of the founding partners as well as an investor” said Nam Nguyen Thac, CEO of Nessar Technologies, a leading cybersecurity reseller based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Due to the strong interest in this “Built By The Channel” offering, PRE Security currently plans to invite select additional partners in a limited, phase 2 of the round before seeking venture funding.

Founding Team
PRE Security is led by co-founders Paul Jespersen, as CEO, and John Peterson, as CTO. Paul and John have worked together multiple times over their careers, starting at US Robotics and Cisco Systems. Since then, they have contributed significantly to a variety of networking and cybersecurity startups leading to 9 acquisitions and 5 IPOs. Their collective startup experience includes roles at NetScreen, Barracuda, Ocular Networks, Zscaler, Comodo, Lastline, and Stellar Cyber, among others. John was most recently Chief Product Officer at zero-trust cybersecurity company Ericom, which was acquired by Ericsson early last year, while Paul was VP Global Sales at Sandfly Security before starting PRE Security.

PRE Security also announced today the addition of Molly Mae Potter, VP, Greenlake Security, Risk, and Compliance at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE,) and a US Air Force veteran to its Board of Directors. “The vision of predicting cyber incidents before they happen, allowing a company to preempt or even prevent attacks is something all enterprises would benefit from, especially in our current compliance environment. I am excited about serving on the PRE Security board” said Potter, who previously also held leadership positions in Security Governance and Oversight, Business Operations, and Strategy at Dell Technologies in Austin, Texas.

PREdictive Vision
For the past decade in cybersecurity vendors have been focused on improving various Detect & Respond (DR) solutions, such as EDR, CDR, NDR, MDR, and XDR. While most vendors and service providers are focused on trying to reduce the Mean Time To Detect or Respond (MTTD/R) towards zero, PRE Security asked instead “Why wait for the attack before alerting at all? Why not predict it before it needs to be detected?”

PRE Security’s solutions, built on patent pending AI and ML techniques and a Predictive Risk Engine™, are designed to work with and enhance existing SOC solutions including major SIEM, XDR, SOAR, Vulnerability Management, Attack Surface Management, and Security Risk vendors. This gives organizations a greater understanding of their cyber risk and what they can proactively do to improve and protect their operations, ensure their compliance, and reduce their risk through predictive guidance.

About PRE Security
PRE Security is a pioneering predictive AI cybersecurity company with a comprehensive vision of making Predict & Prevent as prevalent as Detect & Respond is today, using the latest advances in predictive analysis and generative AI. PRE Security Inc was founded in 2023 with offices in San Jose, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah. PRE Security is “Built By The Channel” and will be bringing its solutions to market globally with our partners later in 2024. Learn more at www.presecurity.ai.

Contact:

Paul Jespersen
408-218-9668
[email protected]

SOURCE PRE Security

KAP Secures Capital to Drive Growth Initiatives and Integration

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 16, 2024 — Keystone Agency Partners (KAP), a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform, announced today that it has amended and upsized its existing debt facility by securing an additional $330 million of financing. Apogem Capital led the financing which was significantly over-subscribed and jointly arranged by Crescent Capital, both existing lenders to KAP. Since May of 2021, the Company has raised nearly $1.0 billion to pursue its objectives of partnering with premier independent insurance agency platforms, delivering successful client solutions and accelerating growth through an integrated services and operations platform.

KAP completed 2023 approaching $300 million in run-rate revenue and has closed 88 transactions since 2020. With over 1,300 employees nationwide, KAP and its Platform Partners operate across 14 states, providing client-centric solutions in risk management, employee benefits and other financial services.

KAP CEO Patrick Kinney, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded facility, stating, “We are thrilled to broaden our reach and to continue delivering unparalleled value to our clients and partners. The future is promising, and we are strategically positioned to expand our impact in the industry.”

“This recent round of financing further validates the value of KAP’s unique and differentiated offering and that we are delivering exceptional financial results,” said Tony Rossi, Chief Financial Officer of Keystone Agency Partners. “We believe we are well positioned to achieve our ambitious organic and inorganic growth objectives by continuing to invest and elevate the level of services and integration we deliver to our Partners.”

Bill Kindorf, Managing Director at Apogem provided insights into the significance of this strategic round. “This significant facility expansion not only reflects our belief in KAP’s strategic vision but also fortifies their capacity to drive impactful growth in the insurance industry. We look forward to continuing our collaborative journey.”

In 2023, Business Insurance recognized KAP as the 40th largest among US Commercial Retail Brokers, based on its brokerage revenue in 2022. The additional $330 million of funding facility marks a pivotal moment in the company’s journey, propelling it towards even greater achievements in the dynamic and evolving insurance industry.

About Keystone Agency Partners
Keystone Agency Partners is a rapidly growing insurance brokerage platform that acquires and partners with independent insurance agencies throughout the United States. KAP provides best-in-class services and capital investment that unlocks potential and delivers outsized and profitable growth within its Platform agencies. Keystone Agency Partners was founded in 2020 in partnership with Keystone Insurers Group, Inc. and affiliates of Bain Capital, LP. For more information, please visit: www.keystoneagencypartners.com.

Media Inquiries
Stuart Kail, Director of Brand & Communications
[email protected]

SOURCE Keystone Agency Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 2024 — f7 Ventures, a mission-driven venture capital firm dedicated to identifying and empowering founders who possess exceptional operational skills and invaluable lived experiences, proudly announces the addition of two exceptional individuals, Emma Rodgers and Kaley Sirak Harder, to their distinguished team.

“We are thrilled to welcome Emma Rodgers and Kaley Sirak Harder to f7 Ventures,” said Kelly Graziadei, Co-founder and General Partner at f7 Ventures. “Emma’s years of experience building and leading product and business operations teams, coupled with her deep understanding and approach to customer segmentation and finding product-market fit, will be hugely valuable to f7 founders. We could not be more excited for f7 founders to have the opportunity to work with her.”

“Likewise, we are thankful to SHIFT, which helps active military professionals transition to roles in tech, for introducing us to Kaley last year,” said Joanna Lee Shevelenko, Co-Founder & General Partner at f7. “We have had the pleasure of working closely with her first as an f7 Fellow to grow and elevate f7’s impact. Her years of strategy work with the Air Force and thoughtful approach to venture and the companies we work with will propel us forward in 2024 and beyond,” said Shevelenko.

Rodgers joins f7 Ventures as an Executive-in-Residence, offering consulting services to f7 and our founder community. She brings over 20 years of expertise in commercial leadership, product development, and marketing in consumer tech, commerce/payments, mobile advertising, and media at Meta/Facebook, McKinsey & Company, and Warner Bros. Rodgers’s track record of steering teams to achieve product-market fit, elevate brands, and scale businesses aligns with f7 Ventures’ commitment to propelling forward-thinking ventures.

During 11 high-growth years at Meta/Facebook, Rodgers has played instrumental roles building and scaling multiple multi-billion-dollar business lines, including Facebook’s early mobile advertising business, developer platform, SMB tools, and B2B/B2C Commerce and Payment solutions. Her leadership in propelling projects from inception to scaled success offers immense value across the f7 portfolio.

“I’m thrilled to contribute to f7 Ventures as an exec-in-residence,” said Rodgers. “The firm’s commitment to supporting bold founders in building next-generation companies aligns with my passion for building and growing some of the world’s most special brands. I look forward to teaming up with f7 to consult founders and help accelerate portfolio growth.”

Simultaneously, f7 Ventures proudly appoints Kaley Sirak Harder as Chief of Staff, leveraging her exceptional background as a military veteran and strategic leader. Sirak Harder’s eight years of service in US Air Force Special Operations, notably as a Combat Aviation Advisor, showcased her ability to scale allied countries’ military capabilities and navigate competitive landscapes with determination.

Transitioning from the military, Sirak Harder’s stint at Raft, a digital consulting firm, saw her oversee impactful projects worth $100 million and manage a team of 100 engineers, contributing significantly to the company’s substantial 30% headcount growth in 2023. Sirak Harder earned her undergraduate degree and officer commission from the US Air Force Academy and her MBA shortly thereafter. Her diverse skill set and strategic prowess perfectly complement f7 Ventures’ ethos of fostering innovation and nurturing groundbreaking ventures.

“It is an honor to serve as Chief of Staff at f7 Ventures, a firm dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation,” said Sirak Harder. “My background in military special operations and strategic leadership has equipped me to navigate challenges with resolve. I am thrilled to play a crucial part in driving f7 Ventures to unprecedented success contributing not only to its ongoing growth but also actively participating in the transformation of the venture capital landscape.”

Emma Rodgers and Kaley Sirak Harder are welcomed additions to the distinguished f7 Ventures executive team led by Kelly Graziadei & Joanna Lee Shevelenko, Co-Founders & General Partners, and including Francisca Gilmore, f7 Ventures’ Vice President of Investment and Platform. Gilmore joined f7 early in 2023 from WhatsApp where she was a Product Manager after graduating from Stanford’s Business School. Gilmore also worked at a Gates-funded non-profit in Vietnam and managed growth at a Google Ventures-backed early stage company. f7’s strategic expansion strengthens the firm’s unwavering commitment to supporting early stage founders and propelling innovation across diverse industries.

About f7 Ventures
f7 Ventures is a mission-driven pre-seed/seed venture capital firm dedicated to identifying and empowering early stage founders. Originally founded as an angel fund by seven ex-Facebook female leaders, the firm officially launched in early 2019. Today, led by General Partners Kelly Graziadei and Joanna Lee Shevelenko, f7 Ventures invests out of a $50 million institutional fund and has made 37 investments since April 2021. With a focus on operational skills and lived experiences, f7 Ventures supports founders from high-growth tech companies building the next decade defining companies. For more information, visit www.f7ventures.com

Media Contact:
Kelly Graziadei
6508623569
[email protected]

SOURCE f7 Ventures

Strategic Investment to Fuel Rapid Growth and Facilitate Product Expansion to Reduce Healthcare Costs

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 16, 2024 — HCAP Partners, a California-based private equity firm and nationally recognized impact investor, today announced its investment in Apprio, a provider of specialized healthcare technology solutions and services for hospitals and health systems with a focus on automized solutions. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Apprio’s solutions are especially vital in today’s environment. Following the end of the Covid-19 public health emergency and the end of Medicaid continuous enrollment, millions of people stand to lose Medicaid coverage. Apprio’s next-generation patient enrollment platform assists hospitals in securing medical insurance coverage for uninsured patients so individuals can access the care they need. In addition, Apprio’s robotic process automation (RPA) platforms support critical revenue cycle functions that health systems depend on to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Apprio delivers value for healthcare organizations by increasing revenue, reducing operational costs, and optimizing care delivery.

Led by Hope Mago and Jessica Kim at HCAP, the investment reflects HCAP’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation in the healthcare sector and supporting diverse-owned and diverse-led companies. HCAP’s capital will help scale and support the evolution of Apprio’s offerings to drive greater access to care through its patient enrollment software EnrollmentMax^™ and lowering healthcare costs in hospitals and healthcare systems by deploying its RPA platform RpaMax^™.

“We’re looking forward to the potential impact of Apprio’s advancements as they not only drive operational efficiency for hospitals but also address the critical issue of uninsured patients and contribute to substantial cost savings for healthcare institutions,” said Hope Mago, Partner at HCAP. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to invest in Apprio. This is an exciting time to support a pioneer in healthcare who is driving greater access to care.”

“Apprio is excited to partner with HCAP to begin this next stage in our company’s growth. As a leader in healthcare IT automation and advanced eligibility and enrollment, Apprio is committed to helping the entire industry advance to reduce healthcare costs and enhance the quality of care,” said Darryl Britt, CEO of Apprio.

About HCAP Partners
HCAP Partners is a diversely owned private equity firm specializing in providing mezzanine debt and private equity for underserved, lower-middle market companies throughout California and the Western United States. The firm seeks to invest $3 million to $25 million in established businesses generating between $10 million and $100 million in revenues in the healthcare, software, services, and manufacturing industries. HCAP Partners has invested in over 60 companies since its founding and through ongoing, active engagement with portfolio companies provides value-added resources to help optimize performance and increase enterprise value. The firm has been an ImpactAssets 50 fund since 2014 and, through its Gainful Jobs Approach^™, works to facilitate a positive impact on underserved businesses, their employees, and their communities through active portfolio engagement. For more information, please visit http://www.hcap.com/.

About Apprio
Apprio provides specialized healthcare technology and service solutions to commercial hospitals, health systems and federal/defense agencies. With over 20+ years of experience implementing transformative solutions in healthcare and technology, Apprio delivers value by increasing revenue, reducing operational costs, and optimizing care delivery. Founded in 1998, Apprio has completed automation projects and technology implementations for America’s largest federal healthcare agencies and more than 45 private hospitals.

Contact:
Ro Thompson
2128400017
371321@email4pr.com

SOURCE HCAP Partners