Monthly Archives: January 2025

Lady Technologies, Inc. Creators of kegg, has Secured $6.5 million in Series A to put Cervical Mucus at the Forefront of Women’s Health and Build a Vaginal Health Platform

“Our unique form factor allowed us to collect the largest dataset on cervical fluid changes, enabling us to develop the first comprehensive vaginal health platform to provide women with unique unparalleled insights into intimate health and fertility,” said Kristina Cahojova, Founder & CEO of Lady Technologies. Initially Cahojova created kegg in response to a dearth of solutions for women: “I was shocked that women were being asked to determine changes in cervical mucus using their fingers. I set out to build a technology-driven product, to change the status quo and to enable every woman to have total agency over her own body.”   

With this round of capital, Lady Technologies will invest in its proprietary technology, research and development on cervical mucus and adjacent vaginal health markers. Alongside these developments, Lady Technologies will expand applications for women from trying to conceive, to postpartum, contraception and beyond. By taking a personalized, data-driven approach, Lady Technologies is revolutionizing women’s health by surfacing vaginal health information that has long been overlooked. Cervical mucus is a known biomarker for fertility, but the applications to support women beyond conception are vast including non-hormonal birth control and infections.

“We are incredibly excited to have assembled a world-class Board of Directors at the intersection of consumer, technology and health,” said Cahojova. Lady Technologies’ Board of Directors is chaired by veteran investor, CEO of Relentless Consumer Partners, and prior CEO of TB12, John Burns. He is joined by Tara McRae, SVP of Marketing and Brand Strategy for North America at Puma, Michael Horvath, founder and prior CEO of Strava, and Lady Technologies CEO and COO, Kristina Cahojova and Sylvia Kuyel.

“We believe women’s health is at an inflection point. Lady Technologies has demonstrated product-market fit in its core trying-to-conceive market and there is tremendous potential for other applications of the technology,” said John Burns, CEO at Relentless Consumer Partners. “Consumer wellness is rapidly evolving, and we think Lady Technologies’ bold approach to women’s health has the potential to drive outsized success.” “There is a gap in the market for companies built for women-first, and there is tremendous potential for Lady Technologies to drive community and lifetime engagement for women with the health platform we are building,” said Michael Horvath, founder and prior CEO of Strava.

To learn more about Lady Technologies and kegg, go to ladytechnologies.com.

About Lady Technologies

Lady Technologies is changing the status quo for women, families and society by enabling every woman to access total agency over her health. Lady Technologies’ first product, kegg, is a fertility tracker and pelvic floor trainer that analyzes vaginal data by measuring changes in cervical mucus to identify women’s full fertile windows. kegg’s proprietary vaginal health platform provides women with actionable insights that support her on her personal health journey. To date, kegg has supported 50,000 women and families on their trying-to-conceive journey.

Relentless Consumer Partners

Relentless acquires and invests in high-potential consumer brands, taking an active role in driving outsized shareholder returns.  We have a relentless devotion to supporting entrepreneurs as they push the boundaries between passion and obsession, and we are fanatical about elevating products, services, and experiences that empower people to live better lives.  For two decades we have partnered with extraordinary founders and teams to build brands that are redefining consumer experience across health, wellness, consumer healthcare, sports and fitness. 

For more information visit www.relentlessconsumer.com

SOURCE Lady Technologies

hostU closes second round of financing adding key strategic partners.

CHICAGO, Jan. 14, 2025 — hostU, a sublet marketplace for university students, announced that it closed its second fundraising round. The round was led by a significant single-family office based in Atlanta. The round also included Edwin Marcial’s Thirteen Castles, which led hostU’s initial financing round, as well as Ryan Kalil, Mark Wassersug, Pat Breen, and Phillip Hight

“I’m humbled by the support of an all-star team of investors with experience across technology, data, brand building, marketing, law, and real estate, to help create the leading marketplace for student sublets,” said Bella Le Sage, Founder and CEO of hostU. “When we started thinking about capital partners, we realized we had a unique opportunity to bring the world’s foremost experts around the table. Having access to Mark Wassersug’s extensive experience as the COO and CIO of Intercontinental Exchange, along with Ryan Kalil’s talent for creating engaging content at Mortal Media, are just a couple of examples of why we’re so excited about the incredible partners joining us to achieve hostU’s mission of enabling student mobility.”

The financing will enable hostU to expand into key markets nationwide, develop a robust AI-driven data engine, and enhance its technology platform. Edwin Marcial, founding Chief Technology Officer of the Intercontinental Exchange and architect of the hostU platform, remarked, “We are thrilled with hostU’s progress and remain committed to enhancing the platform to provide students with a safe, secure way to monetize underutilized leases and find affordable housing. Empowering students to pursue opportunities like internships or studying abroad inspires our team to build a product that is not only secure but also delivers a seamless user experience.”

About hostU

hostU (www.joinhostU.com) facilitates simple, safe and secure sublets within the university community. hostU’s matching algorithm pairs guests with hosts based on preferences and needs, notifying them of potential matches. For more information you can reach hostU at [email protected].

SOURCE hostU

Electric Vehicle Company Harbinger Raises $100 Million in Series B Funding Co-Led by Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund and Leitmotif

The company will use the funds to accelerate growth and achieve higher volume production of its revolutionary medium-duty platform

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14, 2025Harbinger, a leading medium-duty electric vehicle (EV) company, today announced it has raised $100 million in Series B funds. Harbinger will use the funds to substantially accelerate its growth by deploying higher volume production capacity to meet demand for its purpose-built electric platform. Harbinger will also use the funds to expand its sales, parts and service operations for nationwide deployment. The funding round was co-led by Capricorn‘s Technology Impact Fund, a part of the prominent venture capital firm with $10 billion under management and investments in leading electrification companies, and Leitmotif, a new U.S. venture capital firm anchored by European industrial interests. The Series B round includes a significant additional investment from leading investment firm Tiger Global and continued support from other return investors including The Coca-Cola System Sustainability Fund, managed by Greycroft; ArcTern Ventures, a prominent climate tech investment firm; THOR Industries and its investment partner TechNexus; as well as continuing investments by Ridgeline, Maniv Mobility, Ironspring Ventures, Schematic Ventures, and Overture Climate

“Harbinger has demonstrated a remarkable ability to reach significant milestones far quicker than other EV companies,” said Dipender Saluja, Managing Partner of Capricorn Investment Group’s Technology Impact Fund. “The market has been impressed by their ability to develop large portions of the vehicle in-house to drive down unit costs, while remaining capital efficient.”

Harbinger’s ability to secure substantial capital, particularly in a challenging economic environment, is a reflection of the company’s track record, investor confidence, and large unmet demand for its core product. Milestones include:

  • An order book of 4690 vehicle orders, valued at approximately $500 million, from notable customers including:
    • Bimbo Bakeries USA, the U.S. business of Grupo Bimbo, the world’s largest baking company, and producer of iconic brands including Sara Lee Bread®, Thomas’®, Entenmann’s® and more.
    • THOR Industries, the world’s largest recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturer known for its family of companies which include Airstream, Jayco, Tiffin, Thor Motor Coach and others.
  • THOR and Harbinger recently unveiled the world’s first Class A hybrid motorhome. Built on a Harbinger hybrid platform with a range of up to 500 miles, this RV is praised for driving like a car.
  • To date, the company has raised $200 million since its inception in 2021.
  • Harbinger has closed two up-rounds during an extended down-market period, including its successful $73 million Series A funding round that closed in 2023.
  • Harbinger has assembled an impressive management and technical team that hails from Tesla, Rivian, Ford, Anduril, SpaceX, Toyota, Honda, Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, and more.

Harbinger continues to scale rapidly while consistently hitting projected milestones. The Series B funds will position Harbinger to:

  • Ramp to higher-volume production capacity through initial start of production and beyond to meet extraordinary customer demand for the company’s products
  • Advance the build-out of the company’s distribution, customer support and service operations
  • Invest in new product lines and continued technology development, particularly around ADAS technologies and complementary products such as the company’s recently announced hybrid RV chassis and future cab chassis.

Among other things, the funds give Harbinger the flexibility to invest in long-term, higher-volume supplier tooling, a key component to improving cost of goods sold and keeping vehicle prices low for customers. The funds will also be invested into marketing and sales activities, as the company continues to build out a robust dealer-supported sales and service network.

“Harbinger is leading the medium-duty trucking industry toward electrification, and customers have responded with strong and growing interest,” said Jens Wiese, Managing Partner, Leitmotif; and former Head of Group M&A, Investment Advisory and Partnerships at Volkswagen AG. “Our objective is to support companies making strides toward decarbonization and that have the potential to become category-defining players in their respective industries. Harbinger’s versatile electric or serial-hybrid chassis can serve nearly every use case in the medium-duty vehicle segment. It’s an ideal fit that will accelerate the trucking industry’s shift to an electric world.”

“Harbinger is entering a rapid growth phase where we are focused on scaling production of our customer-ready platform,” said John Harris, Co-founder and CEO, Harbinger. “These funds catalyze significant revenue generation. We’ve developed a vehicle for a segment that is ripe for electrification, and there is a strong product market fit that will help fuel our upward trajectory through 2025 and beyond.”

One of the strong key drivers of customer interest is that Harbinger offers a superior EV product at price parity with traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles after federal government tax incentives. The company achieves this largely through its vertically integrated approach to building its proprietary EV stripped chassis. This first-of-its-kind electric chassis is designed for medium-duty vehicles, such as walk-in vans, box trucks, recreational vehicles (RVs), delivery vans, emergency and disaster response vehicles and more. The stripped chassis includes all major vehicle systems, which Harbinger designs and assembles in-house. This approach allows the company to maintain tight controls on the quality of its product while keeping costs low and delivering a higher-performing, safer and more durable solution than electric vehicle retrofits on existing combustion engine platforms. Harbinger’s pragmatic approach to EV development and commercialization are central to the company’s success.

About Harbinger
Harbinger is an American commercial electric vehicle (EV) company on a mission to transform an industry starving for innovation. Harbinger’s best-in-class team of EV, battery, and drivetrain experts have pooled their deep experience to support the growing demand for medium-duty EVs. Leveraging a foundation of proprietary, in-house developed vehicle technologies designed specifically for commercial and specialty vehicles, Harbinger is bringing a first-of-its-kind EV platform to market, priced at acquisition parity to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. Harbinger: familiar form, revolutionary foundation.

To learn more about Harbinger, please visit www.harbingermotors.com. You can find the company press kit HERE.

About Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund
The Technology Impact Fund (TIF) is a venture capital partnership that invests in companies developing and scaling novel engineering-based solutions to climate change and other global challenges. TIF’s investment process is grounded in comprehensive perspectives on long-term, global trends in technology, transportation, power, storage, efficiency, semiconductors, aerospace, sensors, earth data and analytics. TIF is an early investor in iconic companies including Tesla, Joby Aviation, SpaceX, QuantumScape, Redwood Materials, Planet Labs, Saildrone, Nuvia and Innovium.

Capricorn Investment Group is an investment firm founded to demonstrate that it is possible to invest profitably while driving sustainable positive change. Capricorn manages about $10B in assets for investors who strive for extraordinary investment results by leveraging market forces to accelerate large scale impact.

Learn more at www.capricornllc.com

About Leitmotif
Leitmotif is an independent venture capital firm anchored by a $300 million commitment from European industrial interests. With investors in Palo Alto and Munich, it actively bridges the innovation ecosystems of the US and Europe. Leitmoitf’s first fund focuses on decarbonization and leans later stage.

Learn more at www.leitmotif.vc

Harbinger Media Contact
Stacy Morris
Futurista Communications
310-415-9188
[email protected] 

SOURCE Harbinger

FIZE Medical Secures $30 Million in Series A Funding to Drive Innovations in Fluid Management Technology Culminating in a $14 Million Series A-4 Round Led by Rapha Capital Management

FIZE Medical is a commercial-stage company, solidifying its position as a pioneer in smart fluid management technology by expanding its geographical reach to the U.S., EU, and Asian markets. The company is also advancing its technological development and is set to soon launch AI-based predictive capabilities that will serve as a Decision Support System (DSS) by means of advanced data analysis. The market for AI-based technologies in critical care is currently estimated at approximately $12 billion annually.

Superior Technology

Managing the hemodynamic status of critically ill patients is a major challenge for intensive care teams, as inaccurate diagnosis leading to misguided treatment can lead to severe complications and is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units. In the United States alone, over 4 million patients are hospitalized annually in intensive care units, with more than one-third experiencing circulatory shock, which carries a mortality rate of approximately 40%.

Additionally, around 50% of ICU patients develop AKI (Acute Kidney Injury) during hospitalization, resulting in mortality rates exceeding 20%. Early detection of AKI and Shock may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

The company’s technology meets these challenges with digital, continuous and real-time monitoring of kidney output. The data is streamed, minute by minute in real-time to a bedside device and the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR), providing proactive never before available, accurate data of changes in kidney function to the medical team, alerting them to important events when they are determined by the FIZE kUO “smart” device. By helping medical teams adjust therapies promptly, FIZE Medical’s groundbreaking innovation simplifies clinical decision-making , enables improved patient outcomes, aims to reduce mortality, and alleviates the workload on healthcare professionals.

Commercial Momentum

The company saw an impressive surge in demand in 2024, driving rapid development and operational growth. Sima Faifman Kuchersky, FIZE Medical’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted: “In response to the growing demand across both domestic and international markets, we have strategically expanded our production capabilities—strengthening internal operations while leveraging our partnership with Cicor facilities in Vietnam to ensure scalability and efficiency.”

A-4 Funding Round

Over the next year, FIZE Medical plans to expand its platform to include advanced AI-driven patient condition predictions, intra-abdominal pressure measurement, and additional features aimed at enhancing patient care.

The Series A-4 financing was led by Rapha Capital Management, founded by its President, Kevin Slawin, M.D., a successful and experienced urologist, domain experts on the “best practice” for maintaining kidney health and Foley catheter management, oncologic and robotic surgeon, who is now focusing now on advancing disruptive healthcare technologies. 

Joining this round is Valitas Venture Capital, known for its innovative approach to go-to-market strategies in the healthcare sector. Valitas Co-Founder and former Medtronic executive Tal Shnider will join FIZE Medical’s board as an observer, bringing valuable expertise in MedTech and commercialization.

Also participating in the round is eHealth Ventures, a strategic investor that provides access to global distribution channels, connections with key opinion leaders (KOLs), and a robust commercial network. Yair Hadar, representing eHealth Ventures, will join FIZE Medical’s board as an observer. eHealth Ventures’ involvement will play a critical role in accelerating FIZE Medical’s expansion into the U.S. market while reinforcing its leadership in smart fluid management technology.

Dror Zerem, CEO of FIZE Medical, commented:
“We are thrilled to have Rapha Capital as the lead investor in this funding round, reaffirming their commitment to our mission. This funding, alongside support from Valitas Venture Capital, eHealth Ventures, and our existing investors, will enable us to accelerate our expansion into the U.S. and EU healthcare markets. With our innovative fluid management solutions, we look forward to positively impacting more hospitals and patients globally.”

FIZE Medical Mission

FIZE-kUO® strives to empower clinicians with real-time, actionable data at their fingertips, enabling next-generation, AI-powered fluid management. The company consistently pushes the boundaries of fluid management technology, revolutionizing patient care and improving medical efficiencies worldwide.

To learn more please visit fizemedical.com

About Rapha Capital Management, LLC

Rapha Capital Management, LLC is an investment advisory firm focused on making strategic investments in early stage, non-public biotechnology companies, through special purpose, joint venture entities (SPVs), which it manages.  Rapha Capital was founded by its President, Kevin Slawin, M.D., a successful and experienced urologist, oncologic and robotic surgeon focusing now on disruptive healthcare technologies. Previously, he was the founder of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the very first CAR-T cell company, which he took public in 2014 with a $55 million crossover Series C and a successful $161 million IPO in December 2014. 

After leaving Bellicum, he founded Rapha Capital Management, LLC (https://raphacap.com), which offers alternative asset management services to Rapha’s fifteen SPVs, Rapha Capital Investment I to XV, LLC, as well as to its private equity fund, Rapha Capital PE Life Sciences Fund VI, which is the current vehicle for all investments managed by Rapha Capital Management.

For more information about Rapha Capital Management, email [email protected] or visit https://raphacap.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2596701/FIZEMedical_Robotictechnology.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2596700/FIZEMedical_FIZEkUOdevice.jpg

Contact:
Eran Blankenstein
[email protected]

SOURCE FIZE Medical

EMN Raises Series A Funding to Revolutionize Nutrition for Surgery

TORONTO, Jan. 14, 2025 – Enhanced Medical Nutrition, Inc. (EMN), a food-as-medicine company that commercializes novel, evidence-based medical nutrition products to improve outcomes in surgery, announced today a USD $5 million over-subscribed Series A financing round led by dsm-firmenich Venturing and the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. with participation from PeakBridge, Elder Ventures, angel investors and existing shareholders.

The funds will be allocated to scale the company’s expansion of ENROUTE®, an innovative nutrition program designed for the dietary management of surgery. By addressing the importance of nutritional requirements for patients undergoing surgical procedures, EMN is dedicated to pioneering a new standard of care where nutrition technology is leveraged to reduce risk, accelerate recovery, and enhance overall patient outcomes.

“Nutrition is widely recognized as a critical factor in improving surgical outcomes, yet there remains a significant gap in solutions tailored specifically to patient’s needs,” said Eric Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of EMN. “This inflection point is a complete team effort and will enable us to accelerate our mission and vision of supporting surgeons and their care teams and positively influencing patients. We’re thrilled to partner with dsm-firmenich Venturing, the CVC arm of Ajinomoto, PeakBridge, and all our investors as we expand ENROUTE® across North America.”

“We believe EMN is positioned to significantly impact the standard of care in surgery,” said Arpesh Mehta, Investment Director at dsm-firmenich Venturing. “The company’s dedication to scientific validation and patient-centric innovation aligns with our vision of leveraging functional ingredients and empowering market-ready solutions that improve human health. This financing marks an exciting step for the company, as they expand their reach and deliver value to a growing market.”

“As an amino acid technology company, Ajinomoto has a strong interest in the impact of nutritional supplementation for surgical patients, from prehabilitation to rehabilitation to healthy aging,” said Shunji Takehana, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ajinomoto Innovation Strategy and Corporate Venture Capital. “This investment in EMN is a starting point of a strategic partnership and a continuation of Ajinomoto’s investment in medical nutrition. We look forward to helping Eric and his team scale their impact as they transform surgical care and improve patient outcomes.”

“This investment reflects PeakBridge’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions in the food-as-medicine space,” said Gali Artzi, Chief Technology Officer at PeakBridge. “EMN’s approach brings an essential and timely innovation to an underserved market, one that will significantly improve patient outcomes and drive meaningful progress in healthcare nutrition.”

About Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN)

EMN is a transformative food-as-medicine company with a mission to improve outcomes in surgery with nutrition. The company develops medical nutrition products to help patients prepare better and recover faster. Based in Toronto, Ontario and Chicago, Illinois, the company’s flagship product, ENROUTE®, is designed to address the unique nutritional requirements of patients undergoing surgery, reducing risk, accelerating recovery outcomes, and improving patient experience. EMN is redefining how nutrition can be integrated within healthcare.

About ENROUTE®

ENROUTE® is a proprietary, evidence-based nutrition program designed for the dietary management of surgery. ENROUTE® is implemented as part of innovative surgical protocols focused on patient optimization. These surgical protocols leverage ENROUTE® to reduce risk, accelerate recovery, and enhance overall patient outcomes. Unlike the current standard of care, which overlooks nutrition, ENROUTE® is tailored to address surgery patients’ unique metabolic and physiological demands. ENROUTE® works by providing targeted nutrients and addressing deficiencies to support the body’s healing processes, including muscle mass, tissue repair, and immune function. Administered pre-and post-operatively, ENROUTE® is a convenient solution that seamlessly integrates into surgical protocols, enabling healthcare providers to incorporate medical nutrition for their patients.

ENROUTE® was developed through extensive research and testing, leveraging patented technology licensed from university inventors. It is supported by clinical evidence and aligns with the highest safety and efficacy standards. ENROUTE® is indicated for adult patients preparing for surgery, with a current focus on orthopedic surgery populations. Visit www.getenroute.com for complete product information, including detailed clinical data and usage guidelines.

Food-as-medicine is the new frontier in healthcare, with innovative and emerging treatment options. Medical foods, functional foods, and tailored meals offer patients a means to proactively prevent and treat health conditions.

SOURCE Enhanced Medical Nutrition

Michele Pedrocchi Appointed Chair of Kinomica

LONDON, Jan. 14, 2025 — Kinomica Ltd., a developer of diagnostics for precision oncology, today announced the appointment of Roche Diagnostics’ former Global Head of Strategy and Business Development, Dr Michele Pedrocchi as its new Chair of the Board of Directors.

With his more than 30 years of successful track record in Life Science and in-vitro Diagnostics and as a former member of the Executive Committee at Roche Diagnostics, Michele has extensive experience and understanding of the growth drivers of a business, including commercial execution and innovation of business models and products. His industry impacting achievements include an instrumental role in establishing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a routine diagnostics methodology in Europe and his pioneering role in introducing patient selection for targeted oncology treatments through Companion Diagnostics (CDx), as well as venturing into digital health solutions.

Tim Fell, Chief Executive Officer of Kinomica, said: “As an international executive who has brought ground-breaking diagnostic solutions into routine clinical practice, Michele’s experience and guidance will be invaluable as Kinomica seeks to do the same with phosphoproteomic diagnostics for therapy selection.”

Michele Pedrocchi, new Chair of the Board of Directors of Kinomica, commented: “I am thrilled to be taking on this role as Kinomica has great potential for contributing in a fundamental way to truly precision medicine. This world-class team of scientists has made impressive inroads on the promise of phosphoproteomics to guide cancer treatment. Making this proprietary approach and insights widely available is our declared goal.”

The new Chair appointment follows a financing round led by Mercia Ventures with additional participation from BGF, Longwall Ventures and other existing investors, that sees the company’s Board of Directors further strengthen with the appointments of Dr Robert Hornby and Joanna Smart as investor directors for Mercia Ventures and BGF respectively.

About Kinomica

Kinomica is a developer of precision oncology diagnostics. The company has developed KScan®, a phosphoproteomic diagnostic platform to help clinicians better realize the full potential of precision medicine by predicting which of the drugs currently approved to treat a disease a particular patient will respond best to, thereby aiding clinical decision making. Learn more at www.kinomica.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2422786/5114826/Kinomica_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Kinomica Ltd.

Platform Partners Completes $180 Million Capital Raise

HOUSTON, Jan. 13, 2025 — Platform Partners LLC (“Platform”) a private investment company founded in 2006, today announced it successfully closed on $180 million of follow-on equity capital commitments to its perpetual investment vehicle, Platform Partners Investment Company LLC. Platform exceeded its original target with commitments from both existing and a select group of new shareholders, bringing total assets under management to approximately $800 million.

Consistent with Platform’s historical approach, the new capital, added to the existing capital base, will primarily be used to invest $20 to $100 million of equity per investment in growing, founder or family-owned companies. Platform’s perpetual investment model and ability to recycle capital allows business owners to operate with a long-term, growth-oriented perspective without pre-defined exit timelines.

“After initially setting out to raise $150 million of additional capital, we are pleased to report that we exceeded our goal,” said Fred Brazelton, CEO and Co-Founder of Platform Partners. “As always, we are grateful for the support and trust each of our investors has shown Platform both during this capital raise and since our inception in 2006. Our shareholder network of successful executives and family offices has always been part of our firm’s ‘secret sauce,’ and we are pleased to add a few new, like-minded investors in addition to our core group during this financing round.”

Platform has more than 20 investment and portfolio support professionals who will be responsible for deploying the newly raised capital alongside funds generated by Platform’s existing businesses. Platform founders, employees, and affiliates continue the firm’s heritage by collectively being the largest investor in the capital raise.

Since the firm’s founding in 2006, Platform has invested in over 30 initial platform companies. For more information, please visit Platform Partners’ website.

Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal counsel and no placement agent was used for the capital raise.

About Platform Partners LLC
Founded in 2006, Platform Partners LLC is a private investment company based in Houston that makes investments in lower middle-market companies with the intent of growing these businesses into industry leaders through a combination of organic and acquisition growth. Platform invests through a perpetual holding company structure allowing for a long-term, patient approach to partnering with entrepreneurs to build companies. The company manages total assets of approximately $800 million. For more information, please visit www.platformllc.com.

SOURCE Platform Partners

BBT.live Expands Seed Funding to $11.5 Million to Revolutionize Secured Connectivity for Service Providers’ Small and Medium Business (SMB/SME) Clients

NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2025 — BBT.live, a trailblazer in secure connectivity over public infrastructure, proudly announces the expansion of its seed funding round to $11.5 million, driven by an additional $2 million investment. Leading the round is a key investor – Accel Solutions Group Ltd., an Israeli public company and strategic supporter of BBT.live’s mission. This funding bolsters the company’s BeBroadband® as a Service platform, an innovative SaaS solution tailored for service providers targeting the lucrative SMB/SME market by providing Enterprise-Grad solutions to Small and Medium Businesses when the cost performance is the best!

Delivering High-Performance Solutions with Efficient Budgets

BBT.live has successfully developed a commercially viable, high-performance technological platform while maintaining remarkably efficient budgets and minimal capital raises so far, which is unusual in this field—a standout achievement in a competitive market. This accomplishment underscores the platform’s quality, innovation, and significant added value, earning recognition from prospective clients and partners. BBT.live provides service and compliant solutions and no product components that require integrations in the complex field.

Strategic Focus on Japan: A Market Ready for Advanced Solutions

With its patented advanced technology, BBT.live is poised to seize strategic opportunities in the Japanese market, its primary global focus. Japan, known for its stringent requirements for security and reliability, sets a high bar for competitors and provides the perfect landscape for BBT.live to showcase its exceptional capabilities. The market’s readiness for next-generation technologies aligns with BBT.live’s advanced solutions, minimizing the need to prove demand and allowing the company to focus on delivering unmatched quality and reliability.

BBT.live’s operations in Japan benefit from a robust local presence led by BBT.live’s Japanese operations general manager, Kiyoshi-san, has strong personal connections and support from a key and strategic shareholder (Terilogy Service Weare) who also serves as a major Value Added Distributor and integrator in the region. These factors position the company for significant success and expansion in Japan.

BeBroadband® as a Service: Revolutionizing Connectivity

BBT.live’s BeBroadband® as a Service platform introduces a transformative business model designed to streamline service provider sales cycles, reduce customer acquisition costs (CAC), and improve Lead-to-Cash (L2C) efficiency. The platform delivers secure, managed connectivity comparable to private networks over public infrastructure. Key technologies include SD-WAN, SSE, SASE, and ZTNA – all-inclusive in one simple platform, ensuring robust communication infrastructure, enhanced security, and seamless operational continuity for branches, remote endpoints, and mobile sites – The art of simplicity.

Positioned in a High-Growth Global Market

The SD-WAN, SSE, SASE, and ZTNA sectors, valued at approximately $200 billion, represent some of the fastest-growing markets globally. Amid intense competition and significant mergers and acquisitions, BBT.live has carved out a unique niche by delivering tailored solutions for ISP/vISP’s SMB/SME clients—a highly profitable segment for service providers worldwide.

Expanding Global and Domestic Partnerships

BBT.live has made significant inroads in Japan through a strategic partnership with Terilogy Japan, a key investor and marketing partner. Successful initiatives, including a launch event in Tokyo and ongoing demonstration installations, are building trust and positioning BBT.live as a leading provider in the region.

In Israel, the company is advancing installation projects with major local telecom providers. These collaborations highlight BBT.live’s ability to deliver high-quality, reliable solutions tailored to diverse client needs.

Innovative SaaS Model Driving Adoption

BBT.live’s SaaS-based model offers service providers:

  • Operational Efficiency: Rapid deployment over existing networks.
  • Reduced Financial Risk: Eliminates the need for substantial capital investment.
  • Accelerated Sales Cycles: Swift transitions from agreements to deployments.

Patented Technology Supporting Growth

The BeBroadband® platform combines cutting-edge features:

  • Simple, Fast Implementation: Reduces complexity and enhances usability.
  • Scalable Management and Automation: Tailored for SMB/SME clients in global markets.
  • Machine Learning Integration: Boosts security and dynamic network performance.
  • Self-Learning Capabilities: Adapts seamlessly to multi-user, global environments.

BBT.live Expands Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

BBT.live, a Tel Aviv-based leader in secure connectivity solutions, with a subsidiary in New Jersey led by Dr. Yun Sang Park, former EVP of Samsung Mobile, Korea, is transforming the SME market with its flagship BeBroadband® platform. Backed by Ronen Shor, CEO of Accel and Chairman of the Board, who leads the seed extension investment, BBT.live is poised for significant global growth.

The leadership team features Moshe Levinson, CEO & Co-Founder; Professor David Hay, Chief Science Officer and former member of the elite Israeli Unit 8200 (Israel’s NSA equivalent); and Erez Zelikovitz, EVP Chief Product and Revenue Officer. They are supported by active board members like Dani Harari, a former Unit 8200 commander, and strategic advisors such as Oren Baron, a seasoned EY strategist.

Since its founding in 2020, BBT.live has grown and formed partnerships with global leaders, including Prodware Group France, Check Point, Rohde & Schwarz, and Advantech. With a strong presence in Israel and the USA, BBT.live is redefining secure connectivity standards for SMDs/SMEs worldwide.

Investor and Leadership Insights

“Every Service Provider and/or Virtual Service Provider we engage with emphasizes the need for a simple solution without major integrations and no capital expenditure on their part,” said Moshe Levinson, CEO & Co-Founder of BBT.live. “With the confidence of our investors, including Accel, we are delivering simplified and secured connectivity to customers previously underserved by our competitors.”

Ronen Shor added, “This additional investment is a testament to the resilience of the Israeli tech sector and the strength of the BBT.live team and technology. I am confident that we will continue to navigate global and domestic challenges successfully.”

About BBT.live

BBT.live is a leading software company specializing in secure connectivity solutions for service providers. Its patented BeBroadband® platform ensures robust communication infrastructure over public networks, enabling service providers to deliver premium, secure connectivity to SMB/SME clients with unmatched efficiency and reliability.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Be Broadband Technologies Ltd.
Mr. Jack Lehmann, VP of Marcom 
Email: [email protected] 
Tel: +1 845.445.8737

SOURCE BBT.live

Proper Good, Inc. Successfully Secures New Funding to Fuel Growth

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13, 2025 —  Proper Good, Inc., a leader in ready-to-eat meal solutions, announced today that it successfully secured additional funding in the fourth quarter of 2024 to support the expansion of its 19 affordable meal options, which include oats, soups, and pastas. This milestone underscores the company’s ongoing growth and dedication to providing accessible, ready-made meal choices to a broader audience.

Available in thousands of Walmart locations for under $5 each, Proper Good meals are designed to make healthy and convenient eating accessible to all. The funding round was primarily backed by internal investors and board members, with a strategic focus on driving retail growth and introducing Proper Good to new households in 2025.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have the incredible backing of our investors as we deepen our retail partnerships,” said Christopher Jane, Co-Founder & CEO of Proper Good. “This support empowers us to bring an even wider variety of delicious, easy meals to Walmart shelves in 2025—making mealtime a breeze for everyone!”

These funds will be strategically deployed to accelerate product development, expand operations, and enhance customer offerings, ensuring Proper Good continues to innovate and lead in the ready-to-eat food space

With a proven track record, innovative solutions, and visionary leadership, Proper Good has garnered significant interest from the investment community. The company remains dedicated to making wholesome, affordable, and convenient meals a staple for households across the nation.

For more information about Proper Good, Inc or to inquire about this offering, please contact:

Media Contact
Jenelle Hamilton PR
Jenelle Hamilton
[email protected]
+1 646.421.9139

SOURCE Proper Good Inc.