Grant aims to expand food assistance efforts to help communities affected by the Greater Los Angeles Wildfires

LOS ANGELES, May 1, 2025 — The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is pleased to announce a $1 million grant from the American Red Cross to the Food Bank’s disaster relief fund. These funds will help people facing disasters in the wake of the Greater Los Angeles Wildfires.

This partnership aims to expand and enhance the services the Food Bank provides in Los Angeles County, enabling the organization to reach more individuals and families in need with emergency food and nutrition support. With this funding, the Food Bank will continue the distribution of emergency food kits, stock community agency partners and provide shelf-stable food to those experiencing food insecurity due to the disaster.

“We are deeply grateful to the American Red Cross for this generous grant,” said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “As wildfires displace families and disrupt lives across Los Angeles County, this support will allow us to continue providing critical food assistance to our neighbors.”

“The Red Cross is proud to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank as they deliver this essential service across their vast network of agency partners,” said Amanda Ree, director of wildfire long-term recovery programs at the American Red Cross. “Hunger is just one of the many challenges made worse with disaster and thanks to this partnership, together, we can play a part in alleviating it, as survivors across the County work to recover and rebuild.”

This partnership is part of the national Red Cross Long-Term Recovery Program, which supports individual and household recovery and addresses community-wide needs following a disaster.

If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please visit LAFoodBank.org/find-food.

About Los Angeles Regional Food Bank:
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been mobilizing resources to fight hunger in Los Angeles County for over 50 years. To support the Food Bank’s vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, food and grocery products are distributed through a network of partner agencies and other Food Bank programs. The Food Bank also energizes the community to get involved and support hunger relief, especially through volunteerism, and conducts nutrition education campaigns and advocates for public policies that benefit people served and improve nutrition security. The Food Bank is rated at the highest level by Candid and Charity Navigator, and 96% of all revenue goes to programs. For more information, visit LAFoodBank.org.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

Media Contact: David May
Telephone: (323) 383-1319
[email protected]

SOURCE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK

Two Loans Totaling $145 Million Secured; Lenders are Silver Point Capital and Brodsky/Tikehau Capital

BROOKLYN, N.Y., May 1, 2025 — Charney Companies and Tavros today announced significant funding for 175 Third Street, the planned fourth building in their jointly developed campus Gowanus Wharf. Once completed, 175 Third Street will be the largest building in Gowanus, with approximately 1 million square feet and 1,000 residences. Upon completion of the project, Charney and Tavros will have developed and will own over 2 million square feet and 2,200 residences in Gowanus, making them the largest owner in the neighborhood.

Two acquisition/pre-development loans totaling $145 million have been secured, with Silver Point Capital providing $110 million and Brodsky/global alternative asset manager Tikehau Capital providing $35 million as the mezzanine lender.

“This acquisition represents a major step forward in our vision for Gowanus Wharf and we truly value the commitment of our partners, Silver Point Capital and Brodsky/Tikehau Capital,” said Justin Pelsinger, COO Charney Companies. “We’re thrilled to secure this significant site, our fourth in the portfolio, and embrace the opportunity it presents. Our focus will be on delivering high-quality, much-needed housing for New Yorkers and actively participating in the positive transformation and further development of the vibrant Gowanus neighborhood.”

With 37,000 square feet of publicly accessible waterfront esplanade and open space, 175 Third Street is directly across from Whole Foods and is considered the southern gateway to Gowanus. Design and landscape elements will be led by James Corner Field Operations, the renowned landscape architects whose works include the High Line in Manhattan, Fresh Kills Park on Staten Island, and Domino Park in Brooklyn.

“175 Third represents the culmination of our work in creating Gowanus Wharf as the market leading new residential innovation in New York City, said Nicholas Silvers, Founding Partner, Tavros. “This project will crystallize all of the incredible efforts from the community board, elected and the surrounding special Brooklyn neighborhoods to rezone and elevate what is possible in NYC when the public and the private sectors work together to achieve great things.”

“We are excited to partner with Charney Companies and Tavros in the acquisition of this dynamic project,” said Anthony DiNello, Head of Direct Lending, Silver Point Capital. “The development of new, high-quality, transit-oriented projects is critical, and we look forward to supporting Charney and Tavros in bringing 175 Third Street to fruition.”

“The Brodsky Organization is proud to provide mezzanine financing to Tavros and Charney alongside our partners at Tikehau. Together, Brodsky and Tikehau are committed to providing financing solutions and contribute to the vibrancy and growth of emerging neighborhoods like Gowanus,” said Thomas Brodsky of Brodsky.

“We are proud to support the next chapter of the Gowanus transformation with Charney Companies and Tavros, building upon a strategic partnership with The Brodsky Organization,” said Maxime Laurent-Bellue, Co-head of Credit and Edoardo Crotta, executive director within the Real Estate Credit team, Tikehau Capital “This investment reflects the strength of our growing global credit franchise and marks a significant step in our expansion into the U.S. real estate market. We are committed to financing high-impact, forward-looking developments that deliver long-term value for communities and investors alike.”

A JLL team led by Senior Managing Directors Christopher Peck and Peter Rotchford, Senior Director Nicco Lupo, Managing Director Lauren Kaufman, and Vice President Jonathan Faxon represented the borrowers.

About Charney Companies:
Founded in 2013, Charney Companies is a fully integrated real estate development, construction, brokerage, and management firm with a focus on developing, owning, and operating first-class residential and commercial real estate in the New York City Metro area. From ground-up construction to adaptive reuse and value-add repositioning, Charney plays an integral role in all aspects of the development process and leverages the expertise and experience of their principals to deliver superior products to the marketplace and best-in-class returns for their investors. Charney owns, operates, and is under construction on two million square feet throughout Brooklyn and Queens, and has won awards and accommodations from municipal organizations and media outlets for their work over the last 5 years. For more information, visit: https://charneycompanies.com/.

About Tavros:
Tavros is a privately-owned real estate investment management and development firm. They invest on a discretionary basis, with a strong focus on New York City, and a global investor base of family offices, trusts, high net worth individuals, and institutions. Core to the Tavros discipline is the quality of its partnerships with tenants, investors, and lenders. As an owner and property manager, Tavros aims to ensure a positive experience for its tenants through attention to detail and a focus on quality of life.

About Silver Point:
Silver Point is a leading global credit investing firm founded in 2002. With a dedicated team of over 350 employees, Silver Point oversees $38 billion in investable assets across a comprehensive credit platform that includes public and private investment strategies. Silver Point’s Direct Lending business has delivered customized financing solutions to middle-market companies across a broad range of industries. It works in close partnership with borrowers, developing a thorough understanding of their businesses and addressing a wide variety of capital needs with speed and certainty. Silver Point’s flexible mandate is designed to allow clients to execute on M&A activity, refinancings and growth capital, among a range of transaction types. Silver Point’s Direct Lending business manages over $16 billion in investable assets. For more information, please visit www.silverpointcapital.com.

About Brodsky:
The Brodsky Organization is one of Manhattan’s most established developers, owners, and managers of residential and commercial spaces in New York City. The Brodsky Organization’s relationship with its residents is the foundation of its success. Every element of building life is supported by a dedicated and attentive management team. The Brodsky Organization offers intelligently designed apartments with exceptional views, which are in some of the most desirable neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The company has developed over 10,000 apartments in more than 85 rental, condominium, and co-op buildings. The portfolio ranges from charming brownstones to renovated pre-war doorman buildings, to newly constructed high-rises with extensive building amenities. The neighborhoods span from West and Greenwich Village to Chelsea, Midtown West to Morningside Heights, and Midtown East to Carnegie Hill and Downtown Brooklyn.

About Tikehau Capital:
TiTikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management Group with €50.6 billion of assets under management (at 31 March 2025). Tikehau Capital has developed a wide range of expertise across four asset classes (credit, real assets, private equity and capital markets strategies) as well as multi-asset and special opportunities strategies. Tikehau Capital is a founder-led team with a differentiated business model, a strong balance sheet, proprietary global deal flow and a track record of backing high quality companies and executives. Deeply rooted in the real economy, Tikehau Capital provides bespoke and innovative alternative financing solutions to companies it invests in and seeks to create long-term value for its investors, while generating positive impacts on society. Leveraging its strong equity base (€3.2 billion of shareholders’ equity at 31 December 2024), the Group invests its own capital alongside its investor-clients within each of its strategies. Controlled by its managers alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital is guided by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and DNA, shared by its 750 employees (at 31 March 2025) across its 17 offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America. Tikehau Capital is listed in compartment A of the regulated Euronext Paris market (ISIN code: FR0013230612;  Ticker: TKO.FP). For more information, please visit: 

SOURCE Gowanus Wharf

TORONTO, PALO ALTO, Calif. and EDMONTON, AB, May 1, 2025 – Raiven Capital, the cross-border venture firm known for its AI and IoT investments, announces the launch of Raiven Climatech, a $100M USD fund targeting high-growth startups building digital infrastructure to solve global sustainability and climate challenges.

Raiven Climatech builds on its successful early-stage investment record merging deeptech with market-ready applications. The fund focuses on scalable, intelligent systems—leveraging AI and IoT to enable real-time decision-making, resource optimization, and emissions reduction across many sectors – energy, manufacturing, mobility, and agriculture.

“The next generation of climate solutions will come from connected, data-driven platforms,” said Paul Dugsin, General Partner and Co-Founder of Raiven Capital. “We’re looking for founders building mission-critical systems with global potential—and we bring more than capital. Our global network and deep operational experience help accelerate scale.”

A key differentiator of Raiven Climatech is its anchor investor: Frog Lake First Nation (FLFN). This landmark partnership mobilizes First Nation capital in the VC space, aligning a shared vision of building commercially successful, future-focused businesses that deliver environmental and economic outcomes.

“We see venture capital as a tool to shape a future that aligns with our values,” said Cliffton Cross, FLFN representative. “Raiven uniquely understands that profitability and impact are not at odds—and empowers us to back technologies that are both investable and transformational.”

Raiven’s Climatech Fund serves as a platform to commercialize Indigenous-led innovation, blending traditional knowledge systems such as “two-eyed seeing” with frontier technologies to develop practical, market-driven solutions in digital infrastructure and clean energy innovation.

“Frog Lake First Nation approached us as they saw the results from our first tech fund—and wanted to co-create a more ambitious future,” said Supreet Manchanda, General Partner at Raiven. “This partnership focuses on mobilizing capital, uncovering undervalued ideas, knowledge-transfer while delivering outsized returns.”

Raiven’s approach to climate innovation is a fundamental re-platforming of global industry. The most valuable companies of the next decade will be those that turn AI and IoT powered sustainability into defensible, high-margin business models.

About Frog Lake First Nation

Frog Lake First Nation invests in transformative innovation that blends Indigenous values with cutting-edge technology. By investing in innovation FLFN sees a path to clean energy and sustainability. According to the Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) initiative, 200+ Indigenous-led clean energy projects are operational or under development across Canada. FLFN is among the first Indigenous organizations in North America to anchor a venture capital fund focused on climate tech and digital transformation.

About Raiven Capital

Raiven Capital is a global VC, investing at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and operational transformation. With hubs in Silicon Valley, Toronto, and Dubai, Raiven has delivered multiple successful exits since 2020. Its portfolio spans deeptech and digital platform companies driving systemic change. Learn more at raivencapital.com or follow Dry Powder, Raiven’s thought leadership platform.

SOURCE Raiven Capital

Latest Series A3 financing includes Labcorp, along with new and longtime investors

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 1, 2025 — CND Life Sciences, Inc. (CND) announced today that it has raised $13.5 million in its Series A equity financing round, with $8.6 million in its most recent Series A3 offering. The company’s strong growth has been fueled by its innovative Syn-One Test^® that uses skin biopsy tissue to detect and quantify the abnormal form of the alpha-synuclein protein, a known pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy and other related disorders.

“This is a defining time for the neurodegeneration field,” said Richard J. Morello, CND’s chief executive officer. “CND uses proven technology to help clinicians diagnose diseases like Parkinson’s earlier and more precisely than ever before, while collaborating with biopharmaceutical companies to improve the chances for successful clinical trials for novel therapies. We are grateful for the significant support of our mission by many dedicated investors.”

CND launched its Syn-One Test in late 2019, which has been used by nearly 3,000 neurologists and other clinicians to aid in the diagnosis of synuclein-associated disorders like PD for more than 35,000 patients. In 2024, CND published a key study in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrating Syn-One’s 95.5% sensitivity overall in detecting abnormal synuclein in patients with different synuclein-associated diseases. Additionally, Syn-One Biomarker Technology™, which leverages CND’s AI-assisted platform NerValence™ to quantify the amount of synuclein detected in cutaneous nerves, is being applied in multiple pharmaceutical clinical trials with the hope of measuring an investigational drug’s effect on the pathological protein.

“Without accurate diagnosis and objective measures of disease progression and therapy response, treatment of the synuclein-related disorders will be hampered,” said Christopher Gibbons, MD, chief scientific officer of CND. “Using our proprietary technology, we are able to support a more precise diagnosis and provide convenient, reproducible measures of disease progression and severity in PD, DLB and other synucleinopathies. These advancements offer real opportunities to deliver more effective patient care and accelerate development of disease-modifying therapies.”

CND’s latest Series A3 round included funding from existing investor groups Cambrian Capital Partners, Tanis Ventures, Lupo Labs, Top Corner Capital, HonorHealth, Triana, Gold Bench Capital and BlueStone Ventures and from new investors Labcorp, a global leader of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, MBX Capital and Vilas Ventures.

“We are excited to support CND’s mission to scale access to their Syn-One Test as part of our deep commitment to help deliver innovative neurology tests and treatments,” said Megann Vaughn Watters, Labcorp’s vice president of New Ventures & Strategic Alliances. “We are encouraged by the strong adoption of CND’s innovative testing that is providing actionable information to ordering clinicians and closing gaps in care for patients facing neurodegenerative diseases.”

About CND Life Sciences
CND Life Sciences supports the care of patients facing the potential diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease and other neurological conditions. Operating a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Scottsdale, Arizona, CND developed the Syn-One Test to help clinicians diagnose synucleinopathies that include Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure and REM sleep behavior disorder. Syn-One uses proprietary immunofluorescence techniques to detect, visualize and quantify phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in cutaneous nerves. Results of a prospective, multicenter NIH-sponsored study of the Syn-One Test were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2024 demonstrating >95% sensitivity overall in patients with a clinically determined synucleinopathy.¹ The test analyzes three small skin biopsy samples collected in a clinician’s office through an in-office patient procedure and includes an assessment of intraepidermal nerve fiber density and other important pathologic markers. Nearly 3,000 neurologists and other clinicians in 50 states have used the Syn-One Test to support their diagnostic evaluation of patients. The company also collaborates with biopharmaceutical companies on clinical trials for investigational therapies targeting neurodegenerative diseases and is conducting studies assessing the test’s ability to provide early disease detection and prognostic insights. For more information, visit cndlifesciences.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

¹Gibbons CH, Levine T, Adler C, et al. Skin biopsy detection of phosphorylated α-synuclein in patients with synucleinopathies. JAMA. 2024;331(15):1298–1306. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.0792.

Media Contact:
Jaryd Leady
(856) 803-7855
[email protected]

Company Contact:
Kathryn Van Wie
SVP, Commercial Strategy & Market Development
[email protected]

SOURCE CND Life Sciences

Firm Raises $225M Fund VIII and $75M Plus IV Growth Fund to reinforce its long-term commitment to leading at seed and backing breakout companies through scale

SAN FRANCISCO, May 1, 2025 — Uncork Capital, one of Silicon Valley’s most established early-stage venture capital firms today announced the close of $300 million in new capital across two funds: Uncork VIII, a $225 million seed fund, and Uncork Plus IV, a $75 million growth fund.

“Through more than two decades—and multiple boom-and-bust cycles—we’ve consistently backed new ideas that became category-defining companies while backing bold founders at the earliest stages, when others hesitate,” said Andy McLoughlin, Managing Partner at Uncork Capital. “In times of volatility, founders need conviction-backed capital more than ever. We believe this is one of the most compelling moments to build—and to invest in—the foundational technologies of tomorrow. These new funds position us to do just that.”

Uncork VIII will invest in early-stage startups across B2B software, developer tools, and infrastructure, continuing the firm’s strategy of leading 35 seed rounds while maintaining significant follow-on reserves. The firm expects to write slightly larger checks with Fund VIII and target marginally higher initial ownership, reflecting a conviction-led approach. Through the Plus IV fund, Uncork will double down on its breakout portfolio companies as they reach their inflection point and scale.

Uncork’s portfolio spans multiple inflection-stage companies, including:

• Late-Stage: Human Interest, LaunchDarkly, Carrot
• Scaling Fast: Tailscale, Hallow, Loft Orbital, ClassDojo, Wrapbook, Crossbeam, and Fountain
• AI-Native and Early-Stage: GPTZero, Nuon, Ivo, Numeral, Final Round

“Uncork has proven to be the most supportive and helpful investor on our cap table,” said Jeff Schneble, CEO of Human Interest.  “Their ability to effectively communicate our vision and progress to potential investors has been instrumental in raising hundreds of millions of dollars in capital. In fact, many of our current investors were initially introduced to us through Uncork, significantly accelerating our company’s growth. They have consistently provided support at every stage and have actively participated in all our financing rounds. We consider Uncork to be one of the top early-stage investors in today’s market and highly recommend them to anyone building a high-growth company.”

Uncork has built its reputation by backing transformative technologies years ahead of the curve—from early bets in AI to foundational SaaS infrastructure. With over 60 years of collective investing experience, the team reviews over 3,000 startups annually and invests in only the most exceptional founders.

“We seek founders solving real problems with authentic insights, invest early in exceptional teams building transformative companies, and stay the course, said Amy Saper, Partner at Uncork. “Having backed AI-native startups for nearly a decade, we see some of our most exciting portfolio companies building on generative models and creating the infrastructure for the AI economy itself.”

Limited partners in the new funds include top-tier university endowments, pension funds, mission-aligned institutions, and repeat backers of the firm’s prior vehicles—demonstrating sustained confidence in Uncork’s disciplined strategy and founder-first ethos.

“With a proven track record of identifying future tech leaders, a well-respected brand in the VC community, and a great team at its core, Uncork Capital has the vision, discipline, and founder alignment we look for,” said Becky Connolly, Co-founder and Managing Partner at Tiger Iron Capital. “Their early recognition of breakthrough technologies and ongoing support for those companies make them ideal partners. We’re proud to be part of their next chapter.”

The close of these funds marks Uncork’s 21st year and ushers in a new chapter in the firm’s evolution. Andy McLoughlin now steps into the role of sole managing partner, while founder Jeff Clavier steps back from day-to-day management and continues to invest in frontier tech and emerging innovation.

About Uncork Capital

Uncork Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm that helps founders build category-defining companies from the earliest stages. For more than two decades, through multiple boom-and-bust cycles and across the tech landscape, the firm has backed over 275 companies, including Fitbit, Sendgrid, Eventbrite, Poshmark, and Postmates, as well as fast-growing startups like Human Interest, LaunchDarkly, Carrot Fertility, Tailscale, Loft Orbital, Hallow, Wrapbook, Crossbeam, Fountain, GPTZero, Nuon, Ivo, Numeral, and Final Round. Today, Uncork continues to support the next generation of builders shaping industries across AI, SaaS, infrastructure, consumer, and frontier tech.

Learn more at uncorkcapital.com or follow along on LinkedIn and X.

Media Contact
Michael Celiceo, CodePR
[email protected]

SOURCE Uncork Capital

The copy-trading platform has raised a total of $47M to redefine retail investing — shifting the focus from picking stocks to picking people

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 — dub, the copy trading app, today announced its Series A raise of $30 million, co-led by Notable Capital and Neo, with participation from Sandberg Bernthal Venture Partners, Peak6 Strategic Capital, and Correlation Ventures. The funding includes a $5.5 million venture debt facility provided by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank. The new funding comes just one year after launching from stealth and surpassing 1 million downloads, and will be used to scale its creator-driven marketplace for retail investing, while expanding accessibility and features to reach more investors at every level.

dub is redefining retail investing by turning it into an engine for education and access, not speculation. While almost 40% of Americans still don’t own a single stock and 88% of market wealth is held by the wealthiest 10%, dub is empowering a new generation to participate meaningfully in the markets. Unlike traditional trading apps that encourage risky bets, dub allows financial influencers and investors to share real, transparent portfolio strategies that anyone can mirror with a single tap. This shift from stock picking to people selection to invest drastically simplifies investing and reduces the skill barrier to participation, enabling users to build true financial literacy and invest with confidence. As the accelerating wealth gap fuels national conversations and political movements, dub is creating a more inclusive investing model—one that gives everyone a chance at building wealth.

“The ultra-wealthy have long leveraged expert money managers to invest their capital. Now, dub brings that same advantage to everyday investors in an accessible and user-friendly way,” said Steven Wang, founder and CEO of dub. “As the largest wealth transfer in history takes place, younger investors face unprecedented exposure to risky financial products and questionable investment advice from social media, with almost 40% of young investors relying on platforms like YouTube or TikTok for financial guidance. Rather than fighting this trend, dub embraces it by curating a transparent, educated marketplace where anyone can easily invest alongside portfolio strategies built by investors with track records or share their own. By prioritizing investing through results-driven portfolios over risky bets, dub empowers a new generation to invest confidently and intelligently.”

At the heart of dub’s platform is a creator program operated by dub Advisors which rewards experienced investors with royalties for sharing their model portfolio strategies. This innovative approach transforms investing wisdom into a monetizable asset, allowing successful portfolio creators to gain visibility and be compensated for their insights. By turning investing into a collaborative, knowledge-sharing marketplace, dub is reshaping how financial expertise is discovered and democratized.

“Steven and the dub team have demonstrated clarity in creating a platform and emerging community that meet the needs of everyday consumers, while also providing access for proven but less known investors to gain a greater following,” said Hans Tung, Managing Partner, Notable Capital and dub board member. “We’re looking forward to partnering with dub as they build for the long term and demystify the complex world of retail investing.”

“dub’s momentum heralds a new era in consumer investing and the rise of a whole new class of investor-influencers,” said Ali Partovi of Neo, which has backed Kalshi, Bluesky, and Cursor. “The sheer ambition of this startup is breathtaking, and I’m proud that we backed Steven and team from the beginning.”

By combining social media’s influence with a regulated, educational, and transparent investing experience, dub is making expert-driven investing accessible to everyone. Today, dub has raised a total of $47 million and surpassed one million downloads by retail investors excited to experience copy-trading.

To learn more or join the dub community, please visit www.dubapp.com or download the dub app through the Apple or Android store.

About dub

DASTA Incorporated (“dub”) is the first copy-trading platform in the United States that lets users copy the portfolios of other investors with a single tap. dub’s innovative platform gives industry experts, financial influencers, and retail associates with a knack for trading, the ability to share their insights and investment portfolios— all through an easy-to-use mobile platform. Dub is owned and operated by DASTA Incorporated. Advisory services, including the Creator Program are provided by DASTA Investment LLC (“DASTA Investments”), an SEC-registered investment adviser. Brokerage services, including peer to peer copy trading, provided by DASTA Financial, LLC (“DASTA Financial”), an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”).

SOURCE dub

SCHENECTADY, N.Y., May 1, 2025 — Quest Global is honored to announce a $10 million endowment to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), aimed at advancing engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. This gift establishes the Ajit Prabhu Catalyst Endowment and the Ajit Prabhu Catalyst Fund donated by the Prabhu family, supporting the Office of Strategic Alliances and Translation (OSAT) to equip RPI students and faculty to solve some of the hardest engineering problems for today and tomorrow.

The Catalyst Fund will support accelerating groundbreaking ideas into proof-of-concept prototypes or market-ready ventures. The Fund will help bridge the gap between lab research and real-world application, allowing RPI’s brightest minds to focus not only on solving today’s challenges but also on anticipating tomorrow’s opportunities. This endowment will help translate research into application to benefit society. 

“Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and in particular my mentor Dr. John Brunski in the Biomedical Engineering department shaped my career and expanded my worldview, allowing me to dream of infinite possibilities,” said Ajit Prabhu, CEO & Co-founder, Quest Global. “This gift from our family reflects our commitment to empowering students and faculty to pursue ambitious ideas and develop innovative solutions. My dream is that this gift will inspire students to tackle the toughest engineering problems and deliver unparalleled value to humanity.”

Dr. Jonathan Dordick, Vice President of OSAT, highlighted the significance of the contribution: “The Ajit Prabhu Catalyst Fund represents a powerful opportunity for RPI’s entrepreneurial community. This fund will enable students and faculty to innovate freely, knowing they have the resources to turn new discoveries into viable products and thriving businesses.”

Ajit Prabhu’s leadership at Quest Global, one of the world’s fastest-growing engineering services firms with over 21,000 engineers worldwide, underscores his dedication to solving the hardest engineering problems across industries including Aerospace, Energy, High Tech, and Automotive. His core belief—that culture and aspiration are as critical as strategy—aligns perfectly with RPI’s mission to inspire the next generation of forward-thinking problem-solvers.

About Quest Global

At Quest Global, it’s not just what we do but how and why we do it that makes us different. We are in the business of engineering, but what we are really creating is a brighter future. For over 25 years, we’ve been solving the world’s most complex engineering problems. Operating in 18 countries, with over 84 global delivery centers, our 21,000+ curious minds embrace the power of doing things differently to make the impossible possible. Using a multi-dimensional approach, combining technology, industry expertise, and diverse talents, we tackle critical challenges faster and more effectively. And we do it across the Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Energy, Hi-Tech, MedTech & Healthcare, Rail and Semiconductor industries. For world-class end-to-end engineering solutions, we are your trusted partner. 

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1824 for the application of science to the common purposes of life, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the first technological research university in the United States. Today, it is recognized as a premier university, noted for its robust and holistic learning community that connects creativity with science and technology. RPI is dedicated to inventing for the future, from shaping the scientists, engineers, technologists, architects, and entrepreneurs who will define what’s next for humanity, to research that bridges disciplines to solve the world’s toughest problems. Learn more at rpi.edu.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1830310/Quest_Global_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Quest Global

Financing led by Bain Capital Ventures, alongside Salesforce Ventures and all existing investors, with Bosch Ventures seeking to participate, will drive global expansion and accelerate R&D

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 — Astronomer, the company behind Astro, the leading unified DataOps platform powered by Apache Airflow®, today announced it has secured $93 million in Series D funding led by Bain Capital Ventures, alongside Salesforce Ventures and existing investors including Insight, Meritech, and Venrock, with Bosch Ventures seeking to participate. Astronomer will use the funding to expedite research and development, and to strategically expand the company’s international presence.

“While this is just one step in Astronomer’s journey to build a durable, lasting software company, we’re thrilled to have one of our earliest investors, Bain, leading the round,” said Andy Byron, CEO, Astronomer. “All of our investors are committed to Astronomer’s long-term vision because of our recent momentum, the massive market demand for the platform we’re building, and the macro tailwinds that support our vision. Whether it’s getting enterprise AI into production at scale, maximizing data platform value through cost optimization, or just driving more value from data in general–everything we do at Astronomer is at the heart of boardroom conversations across the world.”

The financing comes at a time of tremendous momentum for Astronomer and Airflow, the open-source framework and de facto standard for data orchestration that sits at the core of Astronomer’s offerings. In the past year, Astro expansion beyond data orchestration included data observability/lineage, data quality, integrated dbt workflows, cost optimization and other capabilities as Astronomer continues to invest in Astro as the leading unified DataOps platform.

Last fiscal year Astronomer saw:

• 150%+ YoY Astro ARR growth
• Improved operational efficiency, with a two year path to profitability
• World-class 130% Net Revenue Retention
• 90%+ product utilization with customers

Meanwhile, Airflow has surged in popularity alongside the rise of AI and MLOps. Airflow is used by more than 80K organizations and was downloaded more than 324M times in 2024. Astronomer’s engineering efforts are critical to driving Airflow releases, including the recent general availability of Airflow 3.0 – the most significant release in project history. This watershed release makes Airflow easier to use, with enhanced security and the ability to run anywhere, all while introducing an architecture that is tailor-made to support production AI at scale.

Investor Quotes

“We invested in Astronomer in 2019 with a simple bet: Airflow would become the standard for data orchestration,” said Enrique Salem, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures. “Today, it runs at over 80,000 companies and drives 30 million downloads a month. We backed Astronomer because they’re not only riding that wave; they’re building the enterprise control plane on top of it. As AI raises the stakes for reliable, scalable data infrastructure, we’re doubling down on our investment. Orchestration is just the start. The team at Astronomer are poised to unify the entire DataOps stack.”

“We have been fortunate enough to back the Astronomer team since 2021 and witnessed impressive execution since Andy joined the team in 2023,” said Paul Drews, Managing Partner of Salesforce Ventures. “By using data orchestration as an entry point into the broader DataOps ecosystem, Astronomer is uniquely positioned to consolidate critical functions—from observability and cost management to governance and quality. We believe Astronomer is on track to become the control plane for the modern data stack, and a category-defining company in data infrastructure.”

“For years, Bosch has continued to scale its Airflow usage as a data orchestration framework driving an increasing number of business-critical projects,” said Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, Managing Director Bosch Ventures. “The success we saw leveraging Airflow internally was a validating factor in our decision to back Astronomer.”

Further Resources

• Read Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s thoughts on unified DataOps
• Learn more about Airflow 3, the biggest Airflow update ever
• Download the State of Airflow Report 2025
• Try Astro now with a 14-day free trial
• Get started today with Astro Observe

About Astronomer

Astronomer empowers data teams to bring mission-critical software, analytics, and AI to life and is the company behind Astro, the industry-leading unified DataOps platform powered by Apache Airflow®. Astro accelerates building reliable data products that unlock insights, unleash AI value, and power data-driven applications. Trusted by more than 700 of the world’s leading enterprises, Astronomer lets businesses do more with their data. To learn more, visit www.astronomer.io.

Apache® and Apache Airflow® are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Apache Software Foundation in the United States and/or other countries. No endorsement by the Apache Software Foundation is implied by the use of these marks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Taylor Jones
[email protected]

SOURCE Astronomer

New capital will accelerate product development and customer expansion as demand surges for virtual touring and faster leasing workflows.

NEW YORK, May 1, 2025 — Peek, the virtual leasing platform that helps property managers and owners accelerate the leasing process and reduce vacancy loss, announced today that it has raised $5 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Moneta Ventures, with participation from Timber Grove Ventures and other existing investors.

Peek transforms the apartment rental experience by enabling prospective renters to tour and lease units online with the same ease as shopping on an e-commerce platform. By automating the leasing process – including unit-level 3D tours, self-guided tours, and in-depth data and analytics – Peek helps multifamily operators lease faster, driving lower vacancy loss and increasing property income.

“We’re excited to partner with the Moneta Ventures team to continue scaling Peek,” said Austin Lo, CEO and Founder of Peek. “As renters increasingly expect a digital-first experience and operators look for tools to boost operating performance and data to power business critical decisions, we see a massive opportunity to reimagine leasing end-to-end.”

Peek has already driven faster leasing and increased operating revenue for hundreds of thousands of multifamily units across the U.S., including national portfolios and high-growth regional operators. Property owners and managers using Peek’s platform report up to 30% fewer vacant days, 3x more prospect tours compared to legacy 3D tour platforms and increased visibility into leasing performance.

“Peek is modernizing an industry that has lagged behind in digital transformation,” said Jeff Olyniec, Partner at Moneta Ventures. “The Peek team has demonstrated tremendous revenue growth and capital efficiency to date, and we believe their platform delivers not only a better experience for renters, but clear and measurable ROI for operators.” Jeff Safferman, Partner at Timber Grove Ventures added, “We’ve seen our LPs and multifamily partners prioritizing efficiency and a better renter experience, and we’re proud to continue backing a clear industry leader.”

The company also announced two key additions to its board of directors: Jeff Olyniec, Partner at Moneta Ventures, and Luke Morris, Co-Founder at CREXI. These strategic appointments bring decades of experience in proptech, venture capital, and scaling high-growth technology companies. “Both Jeff and Luke bring incredible industry knowledge and operational expertise that will be invaluable as we work to make Peek the industry standard for virtual leasing,” said Lo.

The company plans to use the funding to expand its go-to-market efforts, grow its engineering and customer success teams, and enhance integrations with leading property management and marketing platforms.

To learn more about Peek, visit www.peek.us.

About Peek
Peek accelerates the leasing process and reduces vacancy loss for property managers and owners by bringing the e-commerce experience to the process of renting a home. The company’s 3-D virtual touring and leasing automation tools are used by leading multifamily operators nationwide.

About Moneta Ventures
Moneta Ventures is a venture capital firm that partners with early-stage, high-growth enterprise technology companies across the U.S. West Coast and Texas. Founded by serial entrepreneurs with a history of building and scaling successful technology businesses, Moneta pairs capital with hands-on operational support to help founders grow enduring companies. Since 2014, the firm has invested in more than 50 companies across emerging and underserved venture markets, including Aumni, VideoVerse, Grin, Mindtickle, Sibros, and App Orchid. Moneta has offices in Austin, TX and Folsom, CA.

Media Contact:
Audrey Barker
8058074733
[email protected]

SOURCE Peek