Monthly Archives: January 2025

Sonocharge Energy Announces US$23.5M round with participation from Honda, Cycle Capital and current investors Khosla Ventures and Temasek

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 22, 2025 — Sonocharge Energy – an innovative tech company enabling the world’s batteries to last longer, charge faster and be safer – today announced $23.5M financing round led by ClimateTech venture capital firm Cycle Capital, with participation of Honda, current investors Khosla Ventures, Temasek, and non-dilutive funding partners.

“Sonocharge Energy is the first investment out of our Fund V, a venture growth fund focused on electrification, power electronics and photonics. We’re thrilled to partner with Honda, Khosla Ventures and Temasek to support the company through its growth phase as it is accelerating the commercialization of its solutions in a wide range of applications,” said Andrée-Lise Méthot, Founder and Managing Partner at Cycle Capital. “As we’re actively looking at deploying $350M in the ClimateTech sector in the next few years, Sonocharge Energy is an exemplary case of how technology can facilitate electrification by improving performance and scale its deployment.”

“Sonocharge Energy has an innovative technology that enables longer battery life and faster charging. This technology uses acoustic waves to significantly increase the charge cycle life of batteries, and Honda has high hopes for its potential. To Honda, this is a useful technology as longer battery life will help to reduce environmental impact and improve convenience for EV users. Honda will continue to discover, collaborate with, and invest in innovative ventures such as Sonocharge Energy through Honda Xcelerator Ventures1, our global program for open innovation,” said Manabu Ozawa, Managing Executive Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

“We are pleased to see Cycle Capital and Honda join our current investor syndicate.” said An Huang, CEO of Sonocharge Energy. “We’re grateful to be supported by such a strong group of investors that bring invaluable resources, experience, and commercial partnerships crucial to scaling our company. This funding will enable us to advance core R&D, and work closely with our customers to optimize for their specific use case and prepare for manufacturing.”

This marks an important milestone for the company and comes on the heels of customer-funded lab tests demonstrating significantly improved performance with lithium-ion batteries using Sonocharge Energy’s technology. This new funding will enable the company to grow its team in its new location in Silicon Valley and accelerate the commercial deployment of its solutions with key EV and battery manufacturers to extend the range and performance of batteries.

About Sonocharge Energy

Sonocharge Energy, Inc is developing a platform solution to improve battery performance with acoustic wave induced electrolytic motion to overcome charging performance and improve safety in lithium batteries. The novel technology provides a reduced-cost solution that extends battery life for e-mobility and various energy storage applications. For more information on the company visit: https://www.sonochargeenergy.com.

About Cycle Capital

Cycle Capital is a leading Climatetech venture capital platform scaling impactful, sustainable innovation. Founded in 2009, Cycle Capital invests across North America and Europe in growing companies commercializing solutions to the major ecological challenges and contributing to a net-zero transition. Cycle Capital is the founder of Cycle Momentum Accelerator + Innovation Engine. Cycle Capital has developed an ESG and impact assessment methodology integrated into the investment workflow from the pre-investment phase to the exit of the portfolio company. For more information on Cycle Capital, visit: cyclecapital.com.

About Honda

Established in 1948, Honda is a global mobility company with its head office in Tokyo. To realize a sustainable and safe society, Honda seeks to achieve zero environmental impact and zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles by 2050. Besides providing motorcycles, automobiles, power products, aircraft, and other products and services, Honda will explore diverse future strategies toward achieving its goals, such as through investment in outstanding startups.

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1 *Honda Xcelerator Ventures is Honda’s global open innovation program designed to facilitate collaboration between startups and Honda. The program is driven at the global level by Honda Innovations Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

SOURCE Sonocharge Energy, Inc

Cenergy Power Closes Preferred Equity Investment from Aiga Capital Partners

Preferred Equity Investment Supports the Development, Construction and Operations of Cenergy’s 300+ MW Solar Portfolio

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 22, 2025 — Cenergy Power (“Cenergy” or the “Company”), a national-scale solar developer, announced the closing of a preferred equity investment from Aiga Capital Partners (“Aiga”). Cenergy specializes in the development, construction management, ownership and operation of small utility-scale, community solar, and commercial and industrial solar assets.

The preferred equity investment supports the development of Cenergy’s 300+ MW portfolio of solar assets, which includes more than 50 MWs of operating and in-construction projects in Maine, Illinois and California. The investment underpins the Company’s goal of establishing its presence as an independent power producer while also selling projects to trusted partners.

William Pham, CEO of Cenergy, said, “Aiga’s investment arrives at an inflection point for Cenergy, as we position ourselves to not only grow our development platform, but also strengthen our ability to own and operate solar assets. We are excited to start the partnership with Aiga at this defining moment in our 19-year history, and to leverage Aiga’s well-known finance and development expertise in renewable energy to get us to the next level of our corporate journey.”

Rory Meyers, Managing Partner of Aiga, added, “Cenergy’s differentiated culture emphasizes the value of partnership and collaboration. Their entire team is committed to the local communities in which the Company operates, which has resulted in a high-quality portfolio of solar projects throughout the U.S. Aiga is excited to partner with Cenergy’s management team, bringing our extensive renewables experience, relationships and capital to support Cenergy’s differentiated platform so it can continue to scale its solar development and operations platform.”

About Cenergy Power

Cenergy, formed in 2006 by a group of seasoned power system professionals and financial experts, is a leading distributed generation and small utility-scale solar developer, owner and operator with more than 450 MWs of experience working with local communities and businesses on value-added solar projects. For more information, please visit: www.cenergypower.com

About Aiga Capital Partners

Aiga is a minority-owned investment adviser supporting the Energy Transition with structured debt and equity investments for developers of sustainable assets in North America. In an effort to contribute towards net zero emission goals, its strategy targets growth capital deployment opportunities in renewable energy, energy storage and other sustainable infrastructure sectors. To learn more, visit: www.aigacapital.com

Contacts
[email protected]
Aiga Capital Partners
LinkedIn

SOURCE Aiga Capital Partners

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical Secures Financial and Strategic Investment from 5 Horizons Capital to Advance SJP-001 Clinical Trial with Novotech

HUNTINGTON, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2025 — Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical, a leader in innovative solutions targeting inflammation and metabolic health, proudly announces a financial and strategic investment from 5 Horizons Capital. Horizon, as the lead investor for the Phase 2 clinical trial of SJP-001, Sen-Jam’s flagship therapeutic, is paving the way for innovation in collaboration with Novotech, a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO), while actively seeking follow-on investments to further accelerate this groundbreaking initiative.

The SJP-001 clinical trial, which recently received ethics approval in Australia, is designed to evaluate the therapeutic’s efficacy in mitigating inflammation and promoting metabolic health, specifically targeting relief from dietary and alcohol-induced overindulgence. With the support of 5 Horizons Capital, Sen-Jam is poised to execute a robust trial strategy in collaboration with Novotech, renowned for its expertise in early-phase clinical trials.

Jim Iversen, Co-Founder and CEO of Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical, stated, “We are thrilled to welcome 5 Horizons Capital as a financial and strategic partner to our team, on our journey to revolutionize inflammation care. Their investment and expertise in advancing clinical-stage therapies will enable us to bring SJP-001 closer to patients worldwide. With Novotech’s excellence in trial management and 5 Horizons’ visionary support, we are one step closer to transforming how the world addresses metabolic health and inflammation.”

Aaron Ray, Managing Director of 5 Horizons Capital, commented, “As the lead investor in Sen-Jam’s Phase 2 clinical trial for SJP-001, we are proud to be part of this community that has the potential to redefine how inflammation is treated globally. We are committed to supporting this groundbreaking therapeutic as it moves into clinical trials. Additionally, we look forward to collaborating with other investors to drive follow-on funding and accelerate the development of this promising asset.”

This partnership underscores Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical’s commitment to delivering scalable, accessible solutions that enhance global health outcomes. By combining 5 Horizons Capital’s financial and strategic expertise, Novotech’s clinical trial leadership, and Sen-Jam’s groundbreaking technology, this collaboration positions SJP-001 as a potential game-changer in the global market for metabolic and inflammatory health.

About Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical is a pioneering biotech company transforming the treatment landscape for inflammation and metabolic disorders. Through its proprietary “Pleiotropic Anti-Inflammatory Remedies” (PAIR) technology, Sen-Jam delivers precision therapies that work in harmony with the body’s immune system to mitigate systemic risks associated with chronic inflammation while supporting long-term health and vitality. To learn more visit wefunder.com/senjam.

About 5 Horizons Capital
5 Horizons Capital specializes in supporting biotech companies during the critical in-human clinical trial phase. By providing capital and strategic guidance, 5 Horizons empowers the development of transformative therapies, accelerating value inflection points and driving innovation in life sciences.

About Novotech
Novotech is Asia-Pacific’s leading full-service CRO, with over 25 years of experience in managing clinical trials across all phases and therapeutic areas. Novotech is committed to delivering high-quality clinical development services that enable biotech companies to bring innovative therapies to market efficiently.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical
Christine Leonard
781-913-1902
[email protected]

SOURCE Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

Anti-CRO Lindus Health Raises $55M in Series B Funding to Transform the Clinical Trial Landscape

  • Lindus Health is the ‘anti-CRO’ fixing the broken clinical trial industry, setting the stage for greater scientific innovation and lower healthcare costs.
  • The company offers clinical trials that are up to three times faster and produce demonstrably better quality trial data than traditional players.
  • The Series B was led by Balderton Capital and will be used to further develop Lindus Health’s proprietary AI- and technology-enabled delivery of clinical trials.

NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2025 — Lindus Health, “the anti-CRO” running radically faster, more reliable clinical trials, announced today it has raised $55M in Series B funding. The round was led by new investor Balderton Capital, with support from Visionaries Club and existing investors Creandum, Firstminute, and Seedcamp. The company is backed by a star-studded strategic advisory board, including Robert S. Langer, founder of Moderna and over 40 other biotechnology companies, and Tim Garnett, former CMO of Eli Lilly, amongst others.

As the only major provider offering fully integrated CRO services and in-house trial management technology, Lindus Health is uniquely positioned to leverage big data and AI. The $55M in new funding will allow the company to further develop their AI technology and eClinical platform, Citrus™, to optimize study design, automate central monitoring of study data, enable instant biostatistics, and more, as well as hiring in key areas including clinical operations and product development.

All new medical treatments must undergo rigorous testing through clinical trials, which are run by contract research organizations (CROs), to demonstrate that they are safe and effective. CROs are notorious for running trials over-time and over-budget – 85% of clinical trials are delayed – and the clinical research process has become exponentially slower and more expensive over the last two decades. The CRO industry has remained stagnant with extremely limited adoption of technology or modern approaches to streamline clinical development. This ultimately hinders the pace treatments can reach patients and drives up research and healthcare costs. From 2021 to 2022 alone, the cost of developing a single drug was estimated to have increased by almost $300M. These costs are passed on to patients in the form of higher drug prices and insurance premiums. 

Lindus Health is disrupting the $112B CRO industry with its tech-first “anti-CRO” approach, thanks to a combination of in-house technology and vertical integration of services. The company has leaned heavily into the power of AI and automation through their proprietary clinical trial software platform, Citrus™. It also built sophisticated methods for central patient recruitment and enabling new trial designs. This has resulted in massive efficiency gains, with clinical trials that are up to three times faster and produce demonstrably better quality trial data, ultimately setting the stage for greater scientific innovation and lower healthcare costs.

“The antiquated CRO model is failing the industry and failing patients, with inefficiencies and misaligned incentives propelling costs and causing researchers to stumble before their breakthroughs can reach patients,” said Meri Beckwith, co-founder of Lindus Health. “Lindus breaks the cycle by completely reinventing the way clinical trials operate, allowing life science companies to iterate faster.”

“The last 20 years have seen huge breakthroughs in fundamental scientific research, but this isn’t impacting the general population because of the artificial bottleneck that clinical trials create,” said Michael Young, co-founder of Lindus Health. “We’re fixing that with a new paradigm for running trials underpinned by technology. That doesn’t just lead to faster trials, it changes the way companies can think about drug development going from waterfall big bets to agile research.” 

Launched in 2021, Lindus Health has operated a total of 42 end-to-end clinical trials, making an impact across a broad range of market segments including psychiatry, diagnostics, and respiratory health. The company has enrolled over 36,000 patients in their trials across North America and Europe, including collaborations with Aktiia on a 7,500-patient device study and Pharmanovia on a Phase IV trial for insomnia.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Lindus Health in their mission to improve the clinical research ecosystem,” said Suranga Chandratillake, General Partner at Balderton. “In an industry marked by slow growth and fragmentation, their vision for how clinical trials should operate and unwavering commitment to help improve patient outcomes puts them on a completely different playing field than other companies in this space. With the last two decades of developments in the life sciences and artificial intelligence we are at the cusp of an exciting new wave of drug discovery, Lindus’ pioneering mission to build the anti-CRO will enable the translation of these discoveries into the therapeutics that will improve the health and lives of millions of people.”

Lindus Health’s pioneering use of machine learning (ML) to predict clinical trial outcomes from historical trial data and optimize study design has earned recognition in Nature. The company also facilitated foundational research into perceptions on clinical trial participation across various demographic groups, conducted alongside Oxford University, highlighting its commitment to turning patient insights into actionable steps that improve trial outcomes. Lindus has earned numerous accolades such as inclusion in WIRED Startups 100, Sifted, and others that reflect Lindus’ growing influence on the way clinical trials are executed and managed.

This latest funding marks a pivotal step in Lindus Health’s journey to create monumental change in the way clinical research is conducted. By breaking free from outdated industry norms, the company is unlocking the potential for groundbreaking treatments to reach patients more efficiently, setting the stage for better healthcare for all.

To learn more about Lindus Health and its bespoke CRO, site, and technology solutions for clinical trials, visit www.lindushealth.com.

About Lindus Health
Lindus Health is an anti-CRO running radically faster, more reliable clinical trials for life science pioneers – bringing ground-breaking treatments to patients more quickly. This is achieved through a commercial model that aligns incentives (fixed-priced quotes per study, with milestone-based payments), a world-class clinical operations team with its unique software platform, and access to over 40 million Electronic Health Records.

Clinical trials are the biggest bottleneck to advances in healthcare. Lindus Health removes this constraint through end-to-end execution of clinical studies driven by technology and forward-thinking approaches to clinical operations.

To date, Lindus Health has delivered clinical trials across the US, UK and Europe to tackle a range of conditions, including diabetes, asthma, acne, social anxiety, major depressive disorder, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome and insomnia. The company has raised over $80M from investors including Peter Thiel, Balderton, Creandum, Firstminute Capital, and Seedcamp.

About Balderton Capital
Balderton Capital is a multistage venture firm with more than two decades of experience supporting Europe’s best founders from Seed to IPO. We have both early and growth funds and invest across the technology sector, with a proven track record backing AI, fintech, B2B SaaS, digital health, mobility, gaming and marketplace companies. Previous investments include Darktrace, Depop, Flywire, Kobalt, MySQL, Nutmeg, Peakon, Recorded Future, Talend and THG. Balderton’s current portfolio includes: Aircall, Beauty Pie, Contentful, Dream Games, GoCardless, Lendable, Matillion, Merama, Photoroom, Revolut, Tibber, Wayve, Writer and ZOE.

Media Contact:
Jodi Perkins
Amendola for Lindus Health
[email protected]

SOURCE Lindus Health

Trinity Capital Inc.’s Equipment Finance Vertical Celebrates Milestone: Over $1 Billion in Fundings to High-Growth Companies

PHOENIX, Jan. 22, 2025Trinity Capital Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIN) (“Trinity Capital” or the “Company”), a leading alternative asset manager, today announced that its equipment finance vertical has surpassed $1 billion in fundings to high-growth companies since 2018. This milestone underscores the Company’s commitment to supporting the growth and innovation of businesses in a variety of industries, including manufacturing & automation, energy, space technology, climate tech, and artificial intelligence.

“Crossing the $1 billion mark is a testament to the strength and dedication of our equipment finance team,” said Kyle Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Capital. “We believe the market is primed for continued growth of this vertical and we’re excited to build on this momentum, driving even greater value for our clients and stakeholders.”

Trinity Capital has established itself as a key player for capital expenditure (CapEx) financing. With a dedicated team of investment professionals, the equipment financing vertical has supported companies such as Hermeus Corp., DrinkPAK LLC, Hadrian Automation, Inc., Rocket Lab USA, Inc., and Dandelion Energy in scaling their operations, fueling innovation and advancing key sectors in manufacturing.

“The success of the equipment financing vertical highlights the growing demand for flexible, innovative financial solutions that align with the strategic goals of companies across various industries,” said Ryan Little, Senior Managing Director, Equipment Finance at Trinity Capital. “This financing solution empowers companies to access additional capital without diluting their equity base, which not only strengthens their capital structure but also positions them for long-term success.”

Cited fundings include debt investments made by the equipment finance vertical from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2024. Prior to January 16, 2020, such investments were made through Trinity Capital’s predecessor funds, the first of which was launched in 2008. On January 16, 2020, these predecessor funds were merged with and into Trinity Capital, immediately after which Trinity Capital began operating as a business development company.

About Trinity Capital Inc.
Trinity Capital Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIN) is an international alternative asset manager, aiming to provide investors with stable and consistent returns through access to the private credit market. We source, vet, and invest in dynamic privately funded growth-oriented companies, giving our investors access to a strong and diversified portfolio. With distinct business verticals, Trinity Capital stands as a trusted partner for innovative companies seeking tailored growth capital solutions. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the firm has an international footprint, supported by a dedicated team of strategically located investment professionals. For more information, visit the company’s website at trinitycapital.com and stay connected by following us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

SOURCE Trinity Capital Inc.

Belfry Raises $12 Million Series A to Accelerate Innovation and Growth

Funding round led by Base10 Partners to expand platform capabilities and market reach

NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2025Belfry Software, a modern platform for physical security providers, announced it has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round, bringing Belfrys total financing to $20 million. The investment was led by Base10 Partners with continued support from existing investors Bienville Capital and Aglaé Ventures. This capital will accelerate product innovation and the delivery of exceptional customer experiences to meet rising market demand.

Belfry has transformed how security businesses operate by consolidating critical functions including scheduling, timekeeping, payroll, billing, and more, into a single, integrated solution. This allows security providers to improve back office efficiency, enhance employee experiences, and focus on delivering exceptional service to their customers.

Security businesses face unique challenges, from complex scheduling needs to compliance and payroll intricacies. Our mission has always been to simplify these processes with intuitive yet powerful tools and outstanding support,” said Jordan Wallach, Co-Founder & CEO of Belfry. This investment allows us to deliver even more value to our customers and expand our impact across the industry. Were just getting started.” 

We are excited to support the Belfry team as they continue to build a best-in-class product that is purpose-built for their customers,” said Caroline Broder, Partner at Base10 Partners. The security market in particular has very specific workforce and staffing-related workflow needs which are underserved by incumbent vertical solutions or by attempts to apply non-vertical platforms to the security industry. Spending time with Belfrys customers and other leading security businesses has deepened our conviction that Belfrys dynamic scheduling, integrated payroll, and all-in-one product offering will help security businesses to improve operations and invest in the growth of their businesses.”

Belfry empowers security businesses to overcome their toughest challenges with measurable value delivered through purpose-built features:

  • Streamline Back-Office Operations: The industry’s only fully embedded payroll system transforms timesheets into payroll in just three clicks, saving valuable administrative time.
  • Optimize Labor Costs: Smart scheduling tools match the right officer to each post, reducing overtime and improving workforce efficiency.
  • Demonstrate Accountability to Security Clients: Real-time dashboards and tracking tools offer full visibility into site activities, enabling businesses to showcase ROI and build trust.
  • Enhance Employee Satisfaction: Intuitive tools and simplified workflows make it easier for employees to manage their schedules, leading to happier, more productive teams and reduced turnover.

Belfry has enabled us to work smarter, not harder,” said Jim Houpt, Owner of Merchants Security Service in Dayton, OH. As a fourth-generation owner, Ive seen how outdated systems hold our industry back. Our previous platform was antiquated and frustrating; I avoided using it. Belfry is quick, intuitive, and does everything we need. Since switching, weve been able to smooth out our operational processes, cut overtime in half, and improve profitability. Belfry is a true partner for us and the backbone of our company.”

The platforms combination of advanced technology and exceptional customer service has positioned Belfry as the leading choice for forward-thinking security businesses.

For more information about Belfry and its solutions, visit www.belfrysoftware.com.

About Belfry Software

Belfry is a venture-backed technology provider, transforming the way security guard services companies operate. From streamlined payroll and HR to advanced scheduling and security operations, Belfry empowers businesses to work smarter, reduce administrative overhead, and focus on delivering exceptional service. The company is headquartered in New York, NY. Learn more at www.belfrysoftware.com.

About Base10 Partners

Founded by Adeyemi Ajao and TJ Nahigian, Base10 is a San Francisco-based venture capital fund investing in founders who believe purpose is key to profits and in companies that are automating sectors of the Real Economy. This includes heavily investing in Business-in-a-Box companies, which employ a multi-product strategy to consolidate core business operations in one platform that is purpose-built for a particular Real Economy end vertical or sector. Through its program the Advancement Initiative, Base10 donates a portion of profits to underfunded colleges and universities to support financial aid and other key initiatives. Portfolio companies include Notion, Figma, Nubank, Nowports, Motive, Chili Piper, and Popmenu. Connect via base10.vc.

Media Contact
Ellie Tippett
KCPR
[email protected]
415.328.8079

SOURCE Belfry

Vertice raises $50 million Series C to simplify procurement

Lakestar leads round with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and 83North

LONDON and NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2025 — Vertice, the spend optimization platform, today announced $50 million in Series C funding led by Lakestar. This investment brings the total raised to over $100 million. Additional participants include Perpetual Growth and CF Private Equity, alongside existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and 83North.

This oversubscribed round is the latest milestone in Vertice’s 2.5 year growth journey, exponentially scaling its worldwide revenue and customer base whilst maintaining best in class capital efficiency. The company has grown revenue 13x over the past 2 years. The Series C investment will further accelerate Vertice’s mission to create the go-to unified backbone for modern procurement teams. In 2025, Vertice will open several new regional offices and drive product development by tripling its engineering team. New automated product capabilities and integrations will help enterprise procurement and finance teams improve visibility, streamline processes, reduce costs, and make better decisions.

Procurement teams struggle every day with opaque approval processes, rising prices, compliance threats and a lack of clarity over best pricing. The market’s current response is disparate and disconnected point solutions, including procurement workflow builders, contract negotiation, benchmarking data and SaaS spend optimization. Vertice has seized a recognised leadership position in procuretech by delivering all of this within a single, unified platform.

Vertice offers fully customizable procurement workflows that deliver AI-supported insights into spend optimization, usage and risk management directly within the workflow itself. These insights are based on Vertice’s negotiation experience across $3.4bn of SaaS and cloud spend on behalf of hundreds of enterprise customers globally, plus the unmatched benchmarking data Vertice has on 16,000+ software vendors. Vertice workflows have consistently more than halved purchasing cycles, curtailed maverick spending, while reducing SaaS and cloud costs by as much as 30%.

“We created our own unfair advantage,” commented Roy Tuvey, Founder and CEO at Vertice. “After spending two years perfecting our SaaS and cloud spend optimization, achieving product-market fit and taking market share from established players, we’ve brought all of our data and insights directly into the workflow experience. All employees can now initiate any purchase, quickly, transparently and at the best price, while procurement can fully customize the workflows to their needs and embed granular approvals.”

Vertice’s proposition has been eagerly adopted by hundreds of finance and procurement leaders including the teams at ASML, Euronext, Grant Thornton, and Santander. In the last 12 months, Vertice has significantly grown its enterprise customers in the US, EMEA and APAC – the only spend optimization platform to have significant presence and customer base in all three regions.

Stephen Day, CPO at Kantar and a member of Vertice’s Advisory Board, commented, “The curse and the blessing of procurement is that it is the only business process that any employee could perform – with or without authorization. Control and visibility of every purchase therefore becomes essential, but it can be painfully difficult when data and intelligence is disparate. Unifying these data sources and processes into a single platform that is built with the stakeholder experience in mind, as much as for procurement leaders, solves so many challenges – and is a huge opportunity for Vertice.”

Georgia Watson, Partner at Lakestar, said “Vertice has consistently demonstrated its ability to execute, innovate, and drive key growth metrics year after year, all at scale. We firmly believe there is no organization better positioned to become the unified platform of choice for the modern procurement team.”

Vertice was founded by serial entrepreneurs Roy and Eldar Tuvey. The brothers have two decades of experience running enterprise SaaS companies, most notably founding ScanSafe and Wandera, which exited for $200 million (Cisco) and $400 million (JAMF).

About Vertice:

Vertice is the spend optimization platform enabling businesses to simplify their procurement workflows, gain granular control and visibility of their spend, and realize cost savings of as much as 30%. Vertice manages $3.4 billion in spend worldwide for hundreds of enterprise customers in over 30 countries and is headquartered in London with additional offices in New York, Sydney, Brno and Johannesburg. Learn more at www.vertice.one.

Media contact: [email protected]

About Lakestar

Lakestar is one of the leading pan-European venture capital firms. Lakestar’s mission is to find, fund and grow disruptive businesses that are enabled by technology and founded by exceptional entrepreneurs in Europe and beyond. Founded by Klaus Hommels in 2012, Lakestar manages an aggregated volume of over €2bn across four early stage funds and two growth funds. The team actively advises and supports portfolio companies in marketing, recruitment, technology, product development and regulatory insight, accompanying founders from seed to early stage, growth stage or exit.

Lakestar currently has the privilege of holding investments in Aleph Alpha, Auterion, Blockchain, Builder.ai, Colossyan, GetYourGuide, HomeToGo, IsarAerospace, Neko Health, Revolut, sennder and Terra Quantum to name a few. A long-standing champion for Europe’s digital sovereignty, Lakestar has a presence in London, Berlin and Zurich with a team of 40 talented individuals from 18 countries. Visit us on LinkedIn and our website www.lakestar.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2602629/Roy_and_Eldar_Tuvey_Vertice_Founders.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2603579/Vertice_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Vertice

H2, Inc. Secures $16 Million in Bridge Funding to Expand Flow Battery Manufacturing Capacity

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 21, 2025 — H2, Inc., an industry-leading vanadium flow battery (VFB) developer and manufacturer headquartered in South Korea, successfully raised $16 million in recent bridge funding, finalized in the second half of 2024. This brings the company’s total accumulated funding to $77 million. The round was led by STIC Investments which is one of the largest and a leading private equity firm in Korea, with participation from KRUN Ventures and Lighthouse Combined Investment.

The newly raised capital will be primarily allocated to constructing the company’s new, state-of-the-art K2 Plant. This facility will significantly expand H2’s manufacturing capacity to 1.2 GWh per annum, marking a major milestone in the global flow battery and long-duration energy storage industry. Scheduled to begin operations in 2026, the K2 Plant will triple the current capacity of the K1 Plant, which stands at 330 MWh per year. The company has already secured the land for the K2 Plant to achieve its target annual production capacity as quickly as possible.

The K2 Plant will focus on producing H2’s three flagship VFB products: the EnerFLOWTM 500 series, optimized for 4-hour energy storage applications, and the EnerFLOWTM 600 series, engineered for applications lasting 8 hours or more. The EnerFLOW 600 series incorporates H2’s proprietary HYPERSTRUCTURETM technology, which significantly reduces system footprint. The first EnerFLOWTM 640 units are scheduled to be deployed in Spain’s largest 8.8 MWh VFB project, with installation planned for mid-2025. In addition to the EnerFLOWTM series, the plant will support the mass production of UL-certified, high-performance 5000-series VFB stacks based on H2’s proprietary design. These stacks are a key factor for success in the VFB industry. 

Dr. Shin Han, founder and CEO of H2, Inc. stated, “The successful bridge funding strongly validates H2’s commercial readiness in terms of product quality and mass production capability. The forthcoming K2 Plant will be a pivotal asset, enabling us to meet the growing global demand for sustainable long-duration energy storage solutions that enhance grid resilience and support renewable energy adoption”

SOURCE H2, Inc.

Theromics Inc. Appoints Experienced Industry Leader Dr. Suman Lal as Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Lal brings operational, development, and funding expertise to Theromics at a pivotal time as the company prepares to submit its first product for FDA clearance.

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass., Jan. 21, 2025 — Theromics Inc., a biotechnology company developing next-generation thermal accelerant technologies for enhanced ablation procedures and more precise and effective drug delivery, today announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Ron Murphy, and the appointment of Suman Lal, MBBS, PhD, MBA, as his successor. Mr. Murphy will remain with the company in an advisory capacity.

Dr. Lal’s appointment marks a significant step forward for Theromics Inc. as the company moves its lead programs toward commercialization. The company’s proprietary biopolymers offer a unique approach to enhancing the efficacy and safety of minimally invasive procedures, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Theromics Inc. is currently focused on submitting for FDA clearance of its HeatSYNC™ gel for enhanced soft tissue ablation by year-end.

Mr. Murphy served as CEO of Theromics Inc. for five years, guiding the company through significant milestones, including securing an STTR grant and seed funding from the NSF, establishing meaningful developmental partnerships, and completing the first run manufacturing of its commercial-ready HeatSYNC™ product.

“Ron’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing Theromics Inc. as a leader in developing innovative biopolymer technologies. We are deeply grateful for his contributions and are pleased he will continue to advise the company,” said John Brooks III, Board Member. “Suman is joining Theromics at a critical time as the company transitions from development to a commercial-stage company, and I am confident his diverse industry experience will be critical as we enter our next stage of growth.”

Dr. Lal brings extensive experience in the life sciences industry, with a distinguished career spanning both academia and the private sector. His background includes clinical medicine, translational research, and business development in the life sciences. Dr. Lal has strong experience working with major research institutions and universities such as Columbia University, Mayo Clinic, and Cornell University to commercialize inventions in therapeutic areas of neuroscience and oncology. Prior to joining Theromics, he held the position of Senior Advisor to the Cambridge Innovation Center, developing initiatives with multinational corporations and governments focused on building innovation infrastructure and ecosystems.

“I am honored to join Theromics Inc. at this exciting stage of its development,” said Dr. Lal. Theromics’ innovative biopolymer platform has broad applicability and the potential to revolutionize soft tissue ablation and localized drug delivery, addressing significant unmet medical needs. I look forward to working with the talented team at Theromics to advance our pipeline and bring these life-changing therapies to patients.

About Theromics Inc.:

Theromics has developed a nanopolymer platform technology to address the shortcomings of thermal ablation of soft tissue. HeatSYNC™ and CryoSYNC gels are IP-protected, biocompatible, and made of human proteins that facilitate energy transfer in human tissue, allowing for larger and more effective soft tissue ablations to mitigate the current 30% recurrence rate. In addition, the gel can be delivered directly into a tumor and combined ablation with therapeutics to localize the therapy in a controlled fashion and mitigate the systemic side effects of these therapies. We call this new therapy “TACT” – Thermally Activated Combination Therapy.

Contact: Suman Lal
Company Name: Theromics Inc.
Contact Phone Number: +1 (312) 375-9617
Contact E-mail: [email protected]
Website URL: www.theromicsinc.com

SOURCE Theromics Inc.