Founder-led biotech company launching the next generation of renewable proteins in the U.S., backed by American industrial leaders and strategic capital.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 14, 2025 — Nortian, a biotech company pioneering the production of ultra-pure collagen through a proprietary, vertically integrated process, today announced it has raised $41 million in a landmark funding round—one of the largest in the collagen space—to launch its U.S. manufacturing operations and accelerate commercialization.

The round was led by AJ Hollander, one of the world’s largest hide processors and traders, which brings unmatched scale and security in hide sourcing, processing over 10,000 hides daily across five U.S. facilities. Additional participation came from Hubbard Ingredients, the owner of Integrated Proteins, a Midwest-based supplier to the global animal protein industry; XPTO, the family office of XP Inc.’s founding partners; and several prominent family offices from Texas and the Midwest. Together, these investors bring deep operational expertise and industrial alignment, ensuring Nortian is positioned for long-term growth and supply chain resilience.

With a post-money valuation of $100 million, Nortian is now poised to activate its state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturing hub — the largest in the country —  in St. Joseph, Missouri. The production facility spans over 90,000 square feet on a 24-acre site, with an initial capacity of 600 tons per month and plans to scale up to 1,000. The project is expected to create 138 new jobs in the region, supporting local economic development alongside national production goals. Nortian’s proprietary process transforms hides—typically discarded in the meat industry—into highly purified collagen with 99% purity and 98% protein concentration, among the highest in the global market. In doing so, the company is also tackling a longstanding environmental challenge: animal waste. By reclaiming and upgrading this byproduct, Nortian is creating a scalable model for upcycling animal byproducts into high-value ingredients, bridging industrial food systems with modern biotech to drive impact across health, nutrition, and manufacturing.

“Eighty percent of collagen sold in the U.S. is still imported, often with limited quality control,” said Andre Albuquerque, Nortian’s Founder & CEO. “We’re building the most advanced and reliable high-protein ecosystems in the world. Fully made in the U.S. and optimized for next-generation health and nutrition.”

Nortian’s U.S.-first strategy is tightly aligned with today’s economic and policy climate. With tariffs on imported collagen, rising consumer demand for local manufacturing, and strong federal and state incentives, the company is uniquely positioned to meet demand for performance collagen across nutrition, beauty, and pharmaceuticals.

Before founding Nortian, André Albuquerque built and sold Suplax, one of the largest supplement contract manufacturing companies in Latin America. He later founded an ingredient manufacturing company, which was acquired by an investment fund in 2024. With over a decade of experience in the food, supplements, and ingredients sectors — Albuquerque brings a proven track record of scaling category-defining businesses. Nortian’s leadership team includes alumni from Morgan Stanley, UBS, and leading biotech companies, and is supported by a board of seasoned operators and strategic investors.

“Nortian combines American manufacturing muscle with biotech-level precision,” said Benjamin Ganz, Founding Partner of AJ Hollander. “This team knows how to scale, and they’re doing it with the right partners, in the right place, at the right time.”

The global collagen market is expected to nearly double from $9.8 billion in 2023 to nearly $20 billion by 2030, fueled by growing demand across the wellness, food, and pharmaceutical industries. Nortian’s collagen is engineered with targeted amino acid enhancements to support performance, recovery, and overall bioavailability. Early testing indicates benefits on par with whey protein, with broader functional applications and a cleaner, more traceable sourcing model.

For additional information, please contact [email protected]

About Nortian

Founded in 2024, Nortian is a U.S.-based biotechnology company pioneering the production of ultra-pure collagen from hide through a proprietary, vertically integrated process. Designed for use across the supplements, food, and pharmaceutical industries, Nortian’s ingredients meet the highest standards of purity and performance. With industrial operations in Missouri, the company is proudly built in America and positioned for global scale.

SOURCE Nortian

• Royal Canin a global leader in pet health nutrition and Mars biggest brand, is opening its largest dry pet food factory globally in Lewisburg, Ohio.
• The $450M investment is the single largest investment in a Royal Canin manufacturing site and will create up to 270 new jobs in the region.
• It is part of a larger $6B investment in U.S.-based manufacturing by Mars over the past five years.

MCLEAN, Va., May 14, 2025 — Mars, Incorporated, a global leader and maker of more than 40 beloved snacking, food and pet brands in the United States, including CESAR®, SHEBA®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS® and Ben’s Original™, is announcing the expansion of its U.S. Royal Canin® manufacturing capacity through the opening of a 450,000 square-foot facility in Lewisburg, Ohio. The $450 million site will create up to 270 new full-time jobs over the next five years united around a cat and dog-first culture and will produce enough dry pet food to feed 4 million pets annually. In the United States, Mars has a presence in 49 states, employs over 70,000 Associates and operates 37 factories in addition to veterinary clinics, labs and 14 global and regional offices.

Poul Weihrauch, CEO of Mars, Incorporated, said: “Our latest investment in Ohio is an important milestone in Mars ongoing commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing. Over the last five years, we invested over $6 billion in the U.S. and we plan to continue to grow our ability to supply the domestic market. The Royal Canin facility in Lewisburg provides an important opportunity to further Mars science-based innovation while supporting a community of people and pets that has long been a part of the Mars family.”

“The decision by Royal Canin and parent company Mars to locate in Ohio represents a significant vote of confidence in Ohio’s business environment, our talented, highly trained workforce and our outstanding quality of life,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “We are pleased that Royal Canin is locating in Lewisburg and we look forward to partnering with them as they succeed in Ohio, the heart of it all.”

The state-of-the-art facility uses standardized systems and process designs tested across Royal Canin facilities to replicate the brand’s precise nutrition. The site can manufacture the brand’s entire regional dry kibble portfolio, making it the largest dry pet food factory globally for the brand. The facility has also earned a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, demonstrating a globally recognized sustainability achievement.

“The investment made into our Lewisburg site continues to represent the growth of the pet nutrition industry and the evolving needs of our pets and their owners,” said Daryn Brown, Regional President, Royal Canin North America. “We’re proud to expand and scale our capabilities to provide tailored nutrition to our North American market and continue expanding our presence within Lewisburg and Preble County.”

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED 
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $55bn family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Royal Canin®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, M&M’S®, SNICKERS® and BEN’S ORIGINAL™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles — Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom — inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

ABOUT Royal Canin®: 
Royal Canin® is part of the Royal Canin Division in the Mars, Incorporated group, and a global leader in Health Through Nutrition for cats and dogs fulfilling its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Founded in 1968 by French veterinarian, Dr. Jean Cathary, Royal Canin® designs precise, science-based nutrition for cats and dogs available at pet specialty retailers and veterinary practices worldwide.

Over the years, Royal Canin® has pushed the limits of nutrition and knowledge in partnership with pet professionals, including breeders and veterinarians. Its unique business approach puts the nutritional requirements of cats and dogs at the heart of innovation. Pet’s age, lifestyle, size, breed, and sensitivities are studied through science and observation to produce diets that meet their specific needs.

Royal Canin® generates value not only for pets, but also for people and the planet. This means being mutually beneficial to the ecosystem, empowering Associates, building enduring relationships with stakeholders, and always thinking about how to ensure a viable future for generations to come.

To learn more about Royal Canin®, visit www.royalcanin.com.

Media Contact: 
Mary Jane McComiskey
[email protected]

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated

LONDON, May 14, 2025 — Vintage Investment Partners (“Vintage”), a global venture capital platform with $4.3 billion in AUM and founded in 2003, today announced the opening of its first European office in London and the appointment of Leyla Holterud as Partner to lead Vintage’s further expansion across the region.

Vintage has been actively investing in Europe for over a decade, backing leading venture funds and private tech companies, while facilitating cross–border investment and corporate innovation through its Fund of Funds, Growth, and Secondary investment strategies. Establishing a presence in London marks a key milestone in Vintage’s mission to invest in Europe’s best funds and companies, and serve as a strategic bridge across multiple venture ecosystems. This move comes at a time of renewed energy and ambition among European founders, as breakout companies emerge across the continent. Vintage is proud to support this next wave of growth.

Leyla Holterud Joins Vintage as Partner

A seasoned Venture Capital and Growth Equity investor, Leyla Holterud joins Vintage after nearly a decade at StepStone Group, where she most recently served as Managing Director, Venture Capital & Growth Equity. There, she led global investments across fund commitments, co–investments, and secondaries, with a focus on the EMEA region. Her earlier roles included investment positions at Morgan Stanley on the Alternative Investment Partners’ Private Equity team, and as an Equity Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. She began her career at Citi in London.

Based in London, Leyla will spearhead Vintage’s European efforts, deepening relationships across the ecosystem, while continuing to identify, invest in, and support leading fund managers and private tech companies.

“I’m delighted to join Vintage Investment Partners, leading the European office, and further strengthening the connection between Europe’s tech ecosystem and Vintage’s outstanding global VC platform. After more than a decade investing in VC and Growth globally from London, I’m excited to double down on European tech and innovation -partnering with the market’s best funds, entrepreneurs, and LPs to help power the next wave of growth. Vintage’s global platform brings not just capital, but true partnership, connecting founders with insights, customers, and scale across markets,” Leyla shared.

“Leyla brings an exceptional combination of global and regional investment expertise in venture capital and growth equity. She is the ideal leader to scale our European platform and the bridges we have been building between Europe and the rest of the world for well over a decade,” said Asaf Horesh, Co–Managing Partner at Vintage.

“Leyla’s track record as a disciplined, thoughtful investor has earned her deep respect across the venture capital and growth equity ecosystems. The opening of an office in London under her leadership, highlights Vintage’s excitement regarding the opportunities in the region, and our plans to accelerate investments in European venture capital. In particular, we see significant opportunity to support CEOs, founders and fund managers through tailored secondary solutions, while also participating in direct investments into breakout companies at the growth stage, and also plan to further broaden our Value+ services we are offering to the market,” added Abe Finkelstein, Co–Managing Partner at Vintage.

About Vintage Investment Partners

Founded in 2003, Vintage Investment Partners is a global venture capital platform managing more than $4.3 billion across Fund–of–Funds, Secondary, and Growth–Stage strategies in the U.S., Europe, Israel, and Canada. Vintage is invested in many of the world’s leading venture funds and growth–stage tech startups and has exposure directly and indirectly to over 6,800 technology companies. Through Value+, its free–of–charge platform connecting venture–backed startups with corporations seeking innovation, Vintage has facilitated more than 300 pilots, purchase orders, and paid proof–of–concepts, generating over $200 million in revenue for startups.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2686583/Vintage_Investment_Partners_Leyla_Holterud.jpg

SOURCE Vintage Investment Partners

NVIDIA Founder & CEO Dr. Jensen Huang’s Iconic Leather Jackets Among Gala Highlights Fueling University’s Vision

HONG KONG, May 13, 2025 — A constellation of over 200 influential leaders from academia, industry and philanthropy converged last Saturday at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) for the spectacular inaugural Gala Dinner celebrating the official launch of the HKUST Foundation. The landmark event, a testament to the community’s profound commitment to future innovation and talent, successfully raised over HK$35 million. The remarkable sum, significantly boosted by the iconic leather jackets signed by Dr. Jensen HUANG, Founder and CEO of NVIDIA and a 2024 HKUST Honorary Doctor of Engineering, alongside his generous matching donations, will powerfully advance HKUST’s ambitious vision for nurturing world-class talent and pioneering groundbreaking innovation. 

Established under the University Council, the HKUST Foundation is envisioned as a vital bridge, uniting a community of supporters who share a common goal: to empower HKUST in its enduring mission to inspire, innovate, and transform. The Gala Dinner marked a pivotal moment, not only celebrating the new chapter but also strengthening existing alliances and forging new partnerships. These collaborations are crucial for enhancing the University’s cutting-edge teaching and research capabilities, while enriching our students’ educational and career pathways.

A Confluence of Visionaries
The event commenced with a warm welcome from HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM, President Prof. Nancy IP, and HKUST Foundation Chairman Prof. Albert IP, addressing the esteemed Partners and Board Members of the HKUST Foundation and all distinguished guests. The glittering assembly included luminaries such as Dr. LI Ning, Chairman of Viva Group; Dr. the Hon. Vincent LO, Founder and Chairman of Shui On Group and HKUST Honorary Court Chairman; Dr. the Hon. Henry TANG, Chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board; Sir Gordon WU, Chairman and Director of Hopewell Holdings Limited; Dr. Adrian CHENG, Non-Executive Vice-Chairman of the New World Development Company Limited; Mr. YEUNG Fan, Vice-Chairman and General Manager of Glorious Sun Group, and renowned artist Mr. Kenny CHUNG Chun-To. Other senior leadership from HKUST, including Council Vice-Chairman Ms. Edith SHIH, University Treasurer Mr. Stephen YIU Kin-Wah, and Vice-President for Administration and Business and Acting Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Prof. TAM Kar-Yan and members of Council, were also present to mark the historic occasion.

Iconic Donation Pledge Ignites Generosity
A thrilling highlight of the evening was the charity auction and exclusive pledge sessions. Expertly helmed by Ms. JIN Ling, Christie’s first “Golden Mallet Award” auctioneer in China, the pledge featured three iconic leather jackets emblazoned with “HKUST” and worn by Dr. Jensen Huang and Prof. Harry Shum – two autographed by Dr. Huang (one featuring a personal message), and a third contributed by Prof. Shum. Other prized items included four rare red wines generously donated by Dr. The Hon. Henry Tang, and an exquisite ink wash painting by celebrated painter Ms. Yvonne CHOW Hau-Yee. All items found enthusiastic new owners and contributed to the night’s fundraising triumph.

Demonstrating his profound commitment to nurturing future innovators, Dr. Huang, through the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation, magnanimously matched donations generated from his jackets with HK$10 million. This significant contribution will establish the HKUST Top Engineering Scholars Award, which is designed to recognize undergraduate students for exceptional academic performance, leadership, and impactful contributions to the university, as well as PhD students for pioneering research, innovation and academic excellence.

Voices of Vision and Gratitude
HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry Shum expressed profound gratitude to all the participants, “It is a distinct honor to celebrate this monumental milestone with our esteemed donors and partners, who share our vision for the future of education, innovation, and societal impact. From a coastal blueprint to a global innovation beacon, HKUST’s journey mirrors the power of partnership. The can-do spirit of our faculty, staff and students, as well as the steadfast support of our donors and alumni, have fueled transformative breakthroughs. Together, we are poised to make an even greater impact across Hong Kong, the Mainland, and the world.”

HKUST President Prof. Nancy Ip shared her heartfelt appreciation, “HKUST is where curiosity meets impact, where dreams are forged, boundaries are shattered, and breakthroughs are born. Over the last three decades, we have grown into a world-class institution ranked among the top 50 in the world. With the support from all generous donors here and from afar, we are nurturing pioneers who will lead the next wave of scientific and societal breakthroughs. This is just the beginning.”

HKUST Foundation Chairman Prof. Albert Ip remarked, “This event celebrates the Foundation’s impact and the enduring spirit of collaboration and philanthropy. My deepest thanks to the Organizing Committee, particularly Co-chairman Jennifer Cheng & Terry Tsang, both Council Members, Foundation Partners and Board members, and all patrons and sponsors for making this possible. As Dr. Jensen Huang commended HKUST as the “MIT of Asia“, I look forward to welcoming our 100,000-strong alumni base and all who believe in innovation without borders to join us in writing HKUST’s next chapter.”

An Evening of Memorable Performances and Unity
The Gala Dinner captivated attendees with an array of memorable performances. The University Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring renowned violinist and HKUST Honorary Fellow Ms. Jue YAO delivered a stunning opening. Later, a mesmerizing guzheng duet by Dr. Raymond CHAN and Prof. XU Lingzi blended traditional and contemporary artistry to thunderous applause. The evening culminated in a deeply moving moment as HKUST senior leadership and Foundation Board members led a rousing group rendition of the University Anthem, uniting all present in a powerful celebration of HKUST’s indomitable spirit and legacy.

The proceeds from this historic gala will be strategically channeled to advance HKUST’s future development through cultivating exceptional talent, spearheading pioneering research, and driving innovation-led initiatives.

Download photos here: https://bit.ly/43anb0a

SOURCE The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

EVANSVILLE, Ind., May 13, 2025 — ePackageSupply.com, a leading supplier of food-grade containers and packaging, announced today that it has secured a strategic investment from Michael Wittmeyer, former CEO and co-founder of JM Bullion, one of the nation’s largest online precious metals retailers. Wittmeyer will also join the company as Managing Director, supporting the team’s efforts to expand its digital capabilities and scale nationwide.

The announcement comes during a period of significant momentum for the Indiana-based company. ePackageSupply.com recently opened a new Midwest distribution facility and now serves more than 6,000 businesses nationwide, shipping over 3 million containers monthly. The company’s customers range from food distributors and co-packers to small manufacturers and emerging consumer brands.

Amid growing tariff uncertainty and rising interest in domestic sourcing, ePackageSupply.com‘s U.S.-based supply chain has become a key differentiator. Over 98% of the company’s products are made in the USA, enabling faster fulfillment, more reliable quality, and protection from global shipping volatility.

“We’ve always believed in the importance of American manufacturing and supply chain control—not just for reliability, but for our customers’ peace of mind,” said Paul Saunders, Founder and CEO. “As we grow, we’re doubling down on that commitment while continuing to improve the customer experience.”

Wittmeyer, who led JM Bullion from its founding to over $1 billion in annual revenue, brings experience in ecommerce strategy, performance marketing, and logistics. At ePackageSupply.com, he will advise on strategic planning, digital growth initiatives, and operational scaling.

“This is a well-run company with strong values, loyal customers, and a huge opportunity to modernize a traditionally offline industry,” said Wittmeyer. “The team is already doing excellent work—I’m just here to help support their vision and accelerate what’s already working.”

Eric Reffett, General Manager, added:

“We’re growing across both B2B and direct-to-consumer channels, and continuing to invest in technology, automation, and service. Having additional experience and perspective around the table will help us execute even more effectively.”

Later this year, ePackageSupply.com plans to launch a revamped ordering experience featuring self-service bulk ordering, custom labeling and design tools, and a wider selection of eco-friendly products.

About ePackageSupply.com 

ePackageSupply.com is a U.S.-based, majority Veteran-owned supplier of food-grade containers, lids, and packaging products. The company serves small to midsize businesses, food distributors, and manufacturers with a focus on fast shipping, custom solutions, and responsive support. Learn more at ePackageSupply.com.

Media Contact:

Paul Saunders
Founder/CEO
[email protected]

SOURCE ePackageSupply

CALGARY, AB, May 13, 2025 — Scription Maintenance, a pioneering technology startup in the commercial foodservice industry, is transforming equipment maintenance from hourly rates into a subscription model. Their Scription360 program eliminates financial risk for restaurant equipment operators while aligning the incentives of equipment service companies to financially benefit from equipment uptime, rather than equipment breakdowns. 

Founded in 2020, Scription launched the program to provide predictable recurring revenues for the service company, while resulting in stable monthly costs, simplified operations, and faster and more efficient repair for the equipment operator. This alignment of incentives is ushering in a new era of technology adoption and reducing the total cost of equipment ownership for top franchise brands in the quick-serve restaurant industry. 

“We’re excited to leverage this capital towards expanding the Scription360 program throughout North America, and to welcome an incredible industry leader, Gerritt Graham, as our new CEO to do it,” said Scription Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Justin Villiers.

“Coming off a decade in the insurance industry, I understand the power of products that offer business owners stability and certainty in running their operations. Scription is uniquely positioned to lower the total cost of risk for our clients. I am honored and excited to be joining this exceptional management team,” stated Gerritt Graham, CEO of Scription.

Scription is the only outcome-based service platform for the foodservice industry, and its predictive maintenance technology is the future of the equipment maintenance space. With customized, hassle-free, monthly fixed-price coverage for equipment assets, Scription simplifies foodservice equipment maintenance across the board for restaurant owners and operators. By improving equipment replacement planning, removing cost uncertainty, and increasing visibility into equipment spending, restaurants lower their total cost of risk and gain control of cash flow, saving both time and money.

“Scription is bringing about a paradigm shift in how restaurant owners and operators manage equipment risk to the P&L,” said Rick Viton, Partner at IA Capital Group. “The management team’s deep understanding of the industry, data analytics capabilities and unparalleled service network uniquely position Scription to deliver on this vision. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Justin, Gerritt and the whole Scription team.”

To date, Scription has raised $10.35M USD. In 2023, Scription raised $2.5M USD in a pre-seed round, led by investor Markd. A $7.85M USD seed closed in January 2025 led by investors IA Capital and further participation from Markd. 

“The overwhelming response from national franchisees and investors since launch has exceeded expectations. With this new round of funding, we’re awfully proud of Scription and its expanded reach and remain excited to watch it continue to develop more partnerships with ambitious operators,” said Parker Beauchamp, Managing Partner at Markd.

About Scription

Scription is a pioneering technology company that is aligning the incentives of the commercial foodservice maintenance and repair industry through their innovative new program; Scription360. Founded in 2020, Scription is on a mission to use predictive analysis to drive equipment uptime and reduce total cost of ownership. With customized, hassle-free, monthly fixed-price coverage for equipment assets, Scription eliminates financial risk for restaurants and creates incentives for both operators and equipment service technicians to prioritize consistent equipment uptime. For more information, please visit www.scription.ai.

About IA Capital

IA Capital Group is a New York-based venture capital firm and manager of the Inter-Atlantic funds, with a 25-year track record of successfully partnering with founders to shape the future of financial services and insurance. IA Capital manages strategic venture capital programs on behalf of more than 20 insurance companies and is the most experienced venture capital firm focused primarily on insurtech.

About Markd

Markd is a venture capital company focused on funding and partnering with transformative insurtechs. It pays homage to the insurance industry’s legacy while helping design its future. Markd’s mission is to power substantial work and continually inspire more ideas to prevent hurt and loss.

SOURCE Scription

Bestow tripled revenue in 2024, achieved 10x growth over two years, and expects to continue growing exponentially, with profitability on the horizon

DALLAS, May 13, 2025 — Bestow Inc., a leading insurance technology company, today announced the close of a $120 million oversubscribed Series D funding round, including primary and secondary investments. The round was co-led by Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives and Smith Point Capital. In addition to the equity financing, Bestow also secured a $50 million credit facility from TriplePoint Capital.

The capital will fund the development of new products and services and help accelerate the expansion of Bestow’s platform in the life and annuities space. Bestow plans to increase its workforce to meet growing enterprise demand.

“This investment strengthens Bestow’s position as the preferred partner for life insurance and annuity providers seeking to modernize and scale,” said Melbourne O’Banion, CEO and Co-founder of Bestow. “We are accelerating product innovation to help the industry stay ahead of market trends, unlock new opportunities, and build lasting competitive advantages through technology. We are deeply grateful to our investors and carrier partners for their support and shared belief in our mission to modernize the life insurance and annuities space.”

As part of the investment, Ashwin Gupta, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, will join Bestow’s board of directors. “There is a growing need for a modern insurance technology platform that enables better solutions and outcomes for life and annuity carriers,” said Gupta. “We believe Bestow has developed such a platform and is driving innovation in the industry. We are excited to invest in Bestow as they continue to expand their capabilities and reimagine the future of insurance technology.”

“The life insurance industry has remained virtually untouched by innovation for three decades,” said Keith Block, Founder and CEO of Smith Point Capital. “Bestow isn’t just offering another tech tool—they’re fundamentally transforming how insurers create and deliver products at the very core of their business operations. Their impressive enterprise customer roster, unprecedented for such a young company in this traditionally risk-averse market, demonstrates that Bestow has identified a truly mission-critical opportunity. Smith Point Capital is incredibly proud to not only invest in Bestow to help them accelerate their growth, but also partner with them as they redefine the industry.”

This funding milestone follows Bestow’s 2024 divestiture of Bestow Life Insurance Company, a direct-to-consumer life insurance carrier, to Sammons Financial Group, marking a strategic shift to focus exclusively on enterprises through its vertical software platform, purpose-built for the entire life insurance value chain.

Today, Bestow partners with industry leaders, including Nationwide, Transamerica, USAA, Sammons Financial Groups, among others, and will be announcing additional partners in the coming months. The company continues to boast a 100% customer retention rate and has achieved a 245% year-over-year increase in transaction volume. The Series D round caps a period of strong growth for Bestow, and the company expects this growth to continue exponentially.

About Bestow

Bestow built the leading end-to-end platform for life insurers to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance profitability across the entire value chain. From product development and advanced underwriting to seamless policy administration, our solutions enable carriers to deliver exceptional products and experiences to agents and customers. Discover how Bestow is shaping the future of insurance at Bestow.com.

About Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is one of the leading investors in alternatives globally, with over $500 billion in assets and more than 30 years of experience. The business invests in the full spectrum of alternatives including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, sustainability, and hedge funds. Clients access these solutions through direct strategies, customized partnerships, and open-architecture programs.

The business is driven by a focus on partnership and shared success with its clients, seeking to deliver long-term investment performance drawing on its global network and deep expertise across industries and markets.

The alternative investments platform is part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which delivers investment and advisory services across public and private markets for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals. Goldman Sachs has more than $3.1 trillion in assets under supervision globally as of December 31, 2024.

Since 2003, Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives has invested over $13 billion in companies led by visionary founders and CEOs. The team focuses on investments in growth stage and technology-driven companies spanning multiple industries, including enterprise technology, financial technology, consumer and healthcare.

About Smith Point Capital

Smith Point Capital Management, LLC is a venture capital firm redefining growth equity for the intelligent enterprise. We invest in mission-critical enterprise software at the convergence of data, AI, edge computing, and precision applications. Our operator-led approach combines Fortune 500 executive experience with deep investment expertise, providing both hands-on operational support and strategic capital to help companies accelerate growth and maximize market impact. For more information, visit www.smithpointcapital.com.

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SOURCE Bestow Inc.

BOSTON, May 13, 2025 — Somite AI, a TechBio company leveraging foundation models and proprietary AI to accelerate human cell therapy development, closed its Series A funding round, raising more than $47 million. The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from SciFi VC, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Fusion Fund, Ajinomoto Group Ventures, Pitango HealthTech, TechAviv, Harpoon Ventures, along with angel investors such as Dr. R. Martin Chavez (former Chairman of Recursion), and Fidji Simo (outgoing CEO of Instacart and incoming CEO of Applications at OpenAI).

Somite AI is building DeltaStem, a platform and foundation model designed to revolutionize the production of human cells. This funding positions Somite AI to accelerate key therapeutic programs, including beta cells for type 1 diabetes, articular cartilage for orthopedic applications, satellite cells for muscular diseases, and hematopoietic cells for blood disorders, and further develop the capabilities of its DeltaStem platform.

“We’re building the foundation model for the human cell,” said Dr. Micha Breakstone, Founder and CEO of Somite AI. “By generating the world’s largest cell signaling dataset at 1000x the efficiency of current methods, we’re training DeltaStem to deliver protocols with unmatched purity, scalability, and reliability. We are rapidly driving towards an AlphaFold moment for developmental biology, enabling the scalable production of any cell, for anyone.”

Somite AI’s proprietary capsule technology generates cell state transition data at an unprecedented scale, achieving efficiency 1000x greater than existing methodologies. This data feeds into the DeltaStem foundation model, significantly accelerating and optimizing the development of novel cell differentiation protocols.

“Traditional cell therapies are expensive, slow to develop, and unpredictable. AI can systematically solve these challenges,” said Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. “Somite AI’s foundation models, once fully developed and validated, will not only create value for their own pipeline, but have the potential to reshape the entire field of human cell therapy.”

Somite AI was co-founded by Dr. Micha Breakstone, a seasoned AI entrepreneur (Chorus.ai, acquired for $575 million), and Dr. Jonathan Rosenfeld, Head of the Fundamental AI Group at MIT, alongside prominent scientific co-founders:

• Prof. Olivier Pourquié, member of the National Academies of Science and Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School
• Prof. Allon Klein, James Prize recipient, Harvard Medical School
• Prof. Jay Shendure, member of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Washington
• Prof. Cliff Tabin, Chair of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, member of the National Academy of Sciences

Media Contact:
[email protected]

Website: www.somite.ai

SOURCE Somite Therapeutics

Fincom and Nasdaq Verafin enter global partnership, bringing clients holistic sanctions screening and anti-money laundering compliance solutions

TEL-AVIV, Israel, May 13, 2025 — Fincom, a leader in anti-money laundering (AML) Sanction Screening and Entity Resolution technology, today announced the successful completion of its Series B funding round, securing a strategic investment led by Nasdaq Ventures, with participation from Macquarie Group, G1 Ventures, and existing investors including AnD Ventures and ff Venture Capital. This investment marks a significant milestone in Fincom’s growth journey and underscores confidence in its vision and market potential.

Global banks are facing increasing complexity in managing sanctions compliance, with resource constraints, evolving regulatory requirements, and limitations in legacy Sanctions and Watchlist screening solutions that result in high volumes of false positives. According to research by Celent, sanctions screening alone makes up 20% of the $35 billion spent on Financial Crime & Compliance technology by financial institutions globally. The digitization of financial services has led to faster payments, requiring scalable solutions that handle an increased volume of transactions. Meanwhile today’s geopolitical landscape underscores the need for additional data and multilanguage capabilities.

Fincom’s unique approach to sanctions screening leverages proprietary computational linguistics, distance-based algorithms, and advanced phonetics that are structure-, language-, and data source-agnostic. This innovative approach enables Fincom to more seamlessly compare and match written text in multiple languages and sources, delivering greater accuracy and efficiency in alerts all while consistently driving over 80% operational cost savings for its clients. Today, dozens of U.S. banks leverage Fincom’s AML compliance solutions to mitigate sanctions risk and ensure regulatory compliance.

Gideon Drori, Founder and CEO of Fincom, said “This investment is a testament to the hard work and achievements of our team, our customers’ confidence in our solutions, and the trust our investors have in our vision. We are excited to take the next step in enhancing the AML compliance space, making a substantial positive impact and delivering significant value to our current and future customers.”

In addition to joining the Nasdaq Ventures portfolio, Fincom will enter a global partnership with Nasdaq Verafin, Nasdaq’s financial crime management technology business. A trusted partner to more than 2,600 financial institutions, Nasdaq Verafin has delivered industry-leading solutions and innovative data approaches to address the complex needs of banks’ anti-financial crime programs for more than two decades. Through this partnership, financial institution clients of Nasdaq Verafin and Fincom will benefit from advanced Sanctions Screening capabilities, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs, better compliance, and improved customer engagement through innovative technology.

“Fincom brings a wholly unique and innovative approach to sanctions screening that delivers faster, more accurate results when compared to legacy approaches, simplifying the increasingly complex world of AML compliance and enabling improved regulatory adherence,” said Gary Offner, Senior Vice President, Head of Nasdaq Ventures at Nasdaq. “We are pleased to welcome Fincom to the Nasdaq Ventures portfolio. With the launch of our new partnership between Nasdaq Verafin and Fincom, we have an opportunity to build upon the natural synergies between our two platforms, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to help our clients better identify and address instances of potential financial crime.”

Gary Munitz, Global Co-Head Macquarie Capital Venture Capital, said “Fincom’s AML solutions deliver exceptional value, as evidenced by the company’s extraordinary growth and stellar client retention. We are excited to partner with Fincom’s founders and employees to accelerate their strategy of replacing legacy providers and manual processes with cloud-based, market-proven AML solutions.”

Earlier this year, Fincom announced the expansion of its U.S. team to support the growing North American market. Proceeds from the Series B financing will support Fincom’s efforts to accelerate its international growth and launch new offerings, including screening for Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) and adverse media, as well as Verification of Payee (VOP) services.

About Fincom
Fincom brings innovation to AML Technologies, delivering cutting-edge solutions for Sanctions Screening and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of AML compliance. It offers a unified suite supporting diverse AML sanction screening applications, all payment types (Wire, Instant Payments, ACH, and Swift), KYC Onboarding and Ongoing (pKYC), Trade Finance, and improving compliance activities while reducing sanctions screening operational costs.
To learn more, visit Fincom’s website.

About Nasdaq Ventures
Launched in 2017, Nasdaq Ventures is the global venture investing program of Nasdaq, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ). Focused on cultivating technology advancement within financial services, Nasdaq Ventures invests in companies driving innovation in market infrastructure, data, analytics & workflow technologies, anti-financial crime, digital assets, ESG, and emerging asset classes. To learn more, visit: www.nasdaq.com/nasdaq-ventures.

About Nasdaq Verafin
Nasdaq Verafin provides Financial Crime Management Technology solutions for Fraud Detection, AML/CFT Compliance, High-Risk Customer Management, Sanctions Screening and Management, and Information Sharing. More than 2,600 financial institutions, representing more than $10T in collective assets, use Nasdaq Verafin to prevent fraud and strengthen AML/CFT efforts. Visit www.verafin.com. 

About Macquarie Capital Venture Capital
Macquarie Capital is the advisory, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group. It encompasses corporate advisory, a full spectrum of capital solutions, including capital raising services from equity, debt and private capital markets and principal investments from Macquarie’s balance sheet. Macquarie Capital’s Venture Capital team partners with founders to build great companies. With a successful 30-year track record of combining expertise and capital to accelerate growth, the team invests in early-stage companies and help build them into global businesses that make a real-world impact. Visit

Macquarie Capital Venture Capital.

Fincom Media Contact:
Ofer Farkash
[email protected] 
+1.302.455.2216

Nasdaq Media Contact:
Nick Eghtessad
[email protected]
+1.929.996.8894

SOURCE Fincom