Led by SignalFire, Farsight will use this round of funding to build on its innovative agent technology, powering revolutionary use cases and partnerships across the financial services sector

NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 — Farsight, the pioneering technology company transforming workflows and insights at financial institutions, today announced its Series A fundraise and $16M in capital raised. Working with leading firms across investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, and wealth management, Farsight empowers companies to automate and customize workflows, seamlessly add integrations, and develop bespoke features tailored to their enterprise-specific challenges.

This round was led by SignalFire, with participation from RRE Ventures, Link Ventures and K5 Ventures as well as contributions from many strategic angel investors at firms including Blackstone, Oaktree, Searchlight, Bank of America and more. The funding will be used to continue advancing Farsight’s industry-leading solution and rapidly scale its team, while expanding its network of partners and customers.

Co-founded by MIT graduates Samir Dutta, Noah Faro, and Kunal Tangri, Farsight is reimagining how financial institutions operate—tackling not just inefficiency, but enabling sharper execution and unlocking new business opportunities. Although some estimates show that over 40% of finance tasks could be automated, many junior and mid-level employees continue spending time on manual, repetitive work. This inefficiency delays the creation of valuable insights and prevents teams from focusing on strategic decision-making.

“Finance has been trapped in an endless cycle of inefficient processes that waste billions annually and contribute to high employee turnover,” said Samir Dutta, Co-Founder and CEO of Farsight. “At Farsight, we’re solving a systemic problem—not just by automating tasks like CIM generation and DCF modeling to boost productivity and accuracy, but by empowering teams to execute faster, seize more opportunities, and bring more strategic value to the table. By freeing talent from the drudgery of manual work and surfacing new actionable ideas, we enable firms to operate with greater agility, win more deals, and scale intelligently.”

Farsight’s technology stands apart due to its ability to execute complex workflows directly within the existing behavior patterns of users. The outcomes speak for themselves: in 2024, Farsight experienced record growth, with revenue increasing tenfold and the customer roster expanding 5x.

“As recovering investment bankers ourselves, we immediately saw the power of Farsight to save countless all-nighters,” said Wayne Hu, Partner at SignalFire. “Samir, Noah, and Kunal combine a unique blend of AI, security and trust, and deep user empathy themselves to build the end to end workflow, datasets, and controls needed to actually bridge the last mile problem for analysts across the finance sector and generate the self-reinforcing feedback loops to continually improve.”

Media Contact:
Steve Hirsch
Hirsch Leatherwood
[email protected]
914-844-4978

About Farsight
Farsight is on a mission to revolutionize financial workflows and help firms better compete by providing the industry’s first AI-powered strategic and automation platform that works directly within users’ existing behavior patterns. Farsight serves leading institutions across the investment banking, private equity, hedge fund, and wealth management fields.

Farsight is based in New York City. For more information, visit https://farsight-ai.com/.

About SignalFire
SignalFire is the first VC firm built like a technology company to better serve the needs of founders as they build and scale their startups. With approximately $3B in assets under management, SignalFire invests in applied AI companies from pre-seed to Series B in key sectors, including healthcare, cybersecurity, infrastructure, consumer, and other enterprise verticals. Learn more at www.signalfire.com.

SOURCE Farsight

“Power Forward” connects high-growth startups in $847B sports, entertainment and real estate tech markets with active investors

LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2025 — Equity Angels — an entrepreneurial support organization dedicated to fostering fair access to opportunity — announced Power Forward, a tech investment summit launched in partnership with Twenty Five Ventures and Distinct Concierge. This inaugural event brings together high-potential startups and active investors in the rapidly expanding sports, entertainment and real estate technology markets.

Stacy Spikes, founder of MoviePass and bestselling author of “Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider,” will headline the July 14 event at the Fairmont Century Plaza. The summit features a $100,000 funding competition where selected startups compete for a Special Purpose Vehicle funded by Twenty Five Ventures and other participating investors.

The event addresses a significant market opportunity: while sports tech, entertainment tech, and proptech represent an $847 billion combined market, less than 2% of venture funding reaches founders from underrepresented backgrounds in these high-growth categories.

“The numbers are clear — these markets hold massive untapped potential. Power Forward gives us direct access to founders building the next wave of companies in areas where we’re already investing,” stated Maximillian Diez, General Partner at Twenty Five Ventures.

Unlike traditional networking events, Power Forward operates as an interactive investment summit. Startup applicants undergo a rigorous selection process and pitch directly to a curated group of active investors and strategic partners. Companies already confirmed include PairGap, Reeku, Convierge, Chambr, Goby Homes, ARKI, Free Agent, Sengo, Rely, Kahlab, Breadcrumb and Wauvea.

Participating companies represent three key categories:

• Sports Technology: Analytics platforms, fan engagement tools and athlete performance systems
• Entertainment Technology: Content creation platforms, distribution networks and audience monetization tools
• Real Estate Technology: Accessibility solutions, financing platforms, enhanced user experience and property management innovations

“This isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about identifying the best investment opportunities in high growth markets. Through Power Forward, we’re creating a vital ecosystem where incredible innovation from founders who traditionally haven’t had access to capital are seen,” remarked Katherine Winston and Kenya Burrell-VanWormer, Co-Founders and Managing Partners of Equity Angels, in a joint statement.

Beyond Spikes’ keynote on building resilient companies in competitive markets, the summit features industry leaders including:

• Patrick Lee, Co-Founder of Rotten Tomatoes and Fanverse
• Thai Randolph, Co-Founder of HARTBEAT and Interim CEO of Rock the Bells
• Craig D’Cruze, COO of Inverted Ventures
• Simon Chen, CEO of Arrival Home Loans
• c. Craig Patterson, Award-Winning Filmmaker
• Ted Schilowitz, Technology Futurist

Panel discussions will cover the $84 trillion wealth transfer reshaping investment patterns, the impact of AI on content creation and monetization, new approaches to homeownership accessibility and emerging opportunities in women’s sports.

Event Details

What: Power Forward Summit
When: July 14, 2025
Where: Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles
Format: Investor roundtables, main stage presentations, $100K funding competition

The summit is invitation-only for investors and startups. Ecosystem partners may register at www.equity-angels.com/power-forward.

SOURCE Equity Angels

PITTSBURGH, June 11, 2025 — Highmark Health has been awarded a $1.75 million grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation to help older adults in western Pennsylvania confidently use technology to manage their health and improve their overall well-being. The two-year initiative, called “SUPPORT for Seniors”, will address the unique challenges seniors face when using health-related technology.

While technology offers convenience and bridges gaps between doctor visits, ongoing personal interaction and support are vital to establish familiarity, confidence, and trust in the use of health technology.

“Health care is rapidly transforming, with technology playing a central role in enhancing patient care and outcomes,” said Anil Singh, MD, MPH, MMM, senior vice president, executive medical director, population and curated health, Highmark Health. “With the investment from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, the SUPPORT for Seniors project will help us better understand and reconcile the digital gap and empower older adults to actively manage their health through accessible technology.”

During the two-year program, Highmark Health plans to support 150-200 Highmark members aged 65 and older in western Pennsylvania. The program will focus on individuals receiving in-home health support while managing chronic conditions such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure (CHF), or a behavioral health condition.

“Identifying patients at the right time and enabling them to stay engaged in essential health programs is fundamental in shifting more care to the home and outside of institutional settings,” said Mona Siddiqui, MD, senior vice president for home and community services at Highmark Health. “Through this funding, Highmark Health will study how to best design a support system to boost seniors’ self-assurance, enabling them to manage their health while remaining in the home.”

Highmark Health will use predictive analytics, through its post-acute network management company, Helion, to develop an algorithm that identifies older adults who would benefit most from using technology to manage their health and match them with tailored solutions.

To provide hands-on support, the organization will equip community health workers (CHWs) with specialized training to offer personalized technical assistance, enabling older adults to effectively leverage health technology. This dedicated support will complement the care provided by home health nurses, allowing them to focus on other aspects of care.

The program’s success will be measured by tracking seniors’ adoption and engagement with technology, the effectiveness of CHW support, and the impact on patient health, including reductions in hospitalizations and improvements in chronic condition management. A continuous feedback loop, informed by data-driven evaluation, will ensure the support system remains adaptable, relevant, and cost-effective in improving health engagement and outcomes while reducing health care utilization for participants.

Support for the initiative is part of the Henry L. Hillman Foundation’s Aging Well strategic priority, which aims to help the region prepare for a smaller and older population and promote healthy aging among its residents. 

This initiative builds on Highmark Health’s pilot program, also funded by a $250,000 grant from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation, which explored technology barriers for Allegheny County seniors with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Highmark Health is uniquely positioned to lead the development of this improved technology support system, leveraging insights from its pilot study.

About Highmark Health

Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA-based enterprise that employs more than 44,000 people who serve millions of Americans across the country, is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and enGen. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to more than 7 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York, as well as dental insurance, and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses. Allegheny Health Network is an integrated delivery network in western Pennsylvania comprised of 14 hospitals, more than 2,500 affiliated physicians, ambulatory surgery centers, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a research institute, a group purchasing organization, and health and wellness pavilions. enGen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Highmark Health whose dynamic ecosystem of smart automation and technology supports and streamlines complex operations for health plans and their provider partners. To learn more, visit www.highmarkhealth.org. 

About Henry L. Hillman Foundation

Henry L. Hillman Foundation works to ensure that Pittsburgh’s considerable strengths, assets, and advantages are fully leveraged to make it one of the world’s most innovative and forward-looking cities, building on the late Henry L. Hillman’s legacy for solving big problems through civic leadership and collaboration. Henrylhillmanfoundation.org

*Please note the full name of Henry L. Hillman Foundation should be used and not shortened to “Hillman Foundation,” which is a similarly named but separate entity.

PR Contact:

Catherine Clements, Highmark Health

724-757-2800

[email protected]

SOURCE Highmark Health

Following successful validation, the AI-driven bioactive discovery company announces $3.6 mm round to scale next-gen food-as-medicine metabolic health solutions

TEL AVIV, Israel, June 11, 2025 — Lembas (www.hellolembas.com), an AI-powered bioactive peptide discovery company, has emerged from stealth mode with a scientific breakthrough in activating GLP-1 – the key hormone that helps regulate appetite and metabolism. The company closed an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round of $3.6 mm led by FLORA Ventures, who also incubated the company, with participation from a group of leading venture capital funds Bluestein Ventures, Fresh Fund, Longevity Venture Partners, Maia Ventures, Siddhi Capital, Mandi Ventures and SDH.

Nearly 75% of US adults are overweight or obese*, but the new GLP-1 pharmaceuticals are out of reach for many due to lack of accessibility, prohibitive costs, and severe side effects. This creates an urgent opportunity for the food and supplements industries to provide evidence-based solutions that help consumers manage their weight more naturally and effectively.

Lembas is pioneering the next generation of science-backed bioactive ingredients for the functional food and supplements industry, with its first solution, GLP-1 Edge, targeting the $560B** global weight management industry. GLP-1 Edge is designed to naturally regulate appetite by enhancing the body’s own GLP-1 response. It integrates easily into bars, shakes, snacks, beverages and supplements, bringing metabolic health into consumers’ everyday routines.

The company’s proprietary computational AI discovery platform rapidly screens, analyzes and designs food-grade bioactive peptides that work with the natural metabolic mechanisms. In less than a year, Lembas discovered and designed food-grade bioactives that demonstrated positive cell and animal model results, stimulating successfully GLP-1 secretion to blood.

While Lembas’ initial focus is on natural GLP-1 for weight management and metabolic health, its computational platform has been developed to accelerate the discovery of new science-backed functional ingredients across a broader pipeline of health and wellbeing benefits.

Founded in 2024, Lembas is backed by a licensed university patent pending technology and led by an accomplished team of serial entrepreneurs and interdisciplinary scientists: Shay Hilel (CEO), Dr. Zohar Barbash (CTO), Prof. Maayan Gal (CSO) and Dr. Daniel Bar. Its executive team and board consist of seasoned senior executives from PepsiCo, Mondelez, IFF, Shiru and Brightseed, including Rob Hargrove, former Chief R&D Officer at Mondelez.

“At Lembas, we’re creating a new category of science-backed nutrition, empowering consumers for the first time to effectively and conveniently manage their weight through companion food and supplements without pricy prescriptions, injections, and unpleasant side effects,” said Shay Hilel, Co-Founder and CEO of Lembas. “Our early validation and the strong interest from global food and supplement companies shows there is a massive unmet need for our GLP-1 Edge solution, that works naturally with the body, not against it.”

Gil Horsky, Founding Chairman of Lembas and Managing Partner FLORA Ventures: “As a longtime food industry executive and investor in the space, I believe the discovery of GLP-1 is the biggest disruptor the food industry has faced in decades. Lembas is the first science-backed company enabling food players to seize this disruptive opportunity by setting a new bar for food-as-medicine.” Horsky added: “We’re combining deep-tech with cutting edge science to unlock a scalable, credible path to make functional food actually functional.”

With this funding, Lembas will accelerate scale-up and commercialization of its GLP-1 Edge bioactive, expand its AI discovery platform, and deepen commercial agreements across the ingredients, food and supplements value chain.

About Lembas

Lembas is an AI-powered discovery company pioneering the next generation of science-backed bioactives for the functional food and supplements industry, with its first solution, GLP-1 Edge, targeting the $560B global weight management industry. Backed by university-patented research and a proprietary AI computational platform, Lembas is building a scalable pipeline of food-grade bioactive ingredients that unlock the potential of food as medicine. For more information, please visit www.hellolembas.com, LinkedIn.

Sources

*Agrawal, N. Three-Quarters of U.S. Adults Are Now Overweight or Obese. The New York Times. November 14, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/well/obesity-epidemic-america.htm.
**IMARC Group https://www.imarcgroup.com/weight-management-market?.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2707304/Lembas_1.jpg
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2707293/Lembas_2.jpg

For media inquiries, partnership opportunities and more information: 
[email protected]

SOURCE Lembas

• Financing co-led by new investors EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from Roche Venture Fund, as well as all existing investors
• Proceeds will support clinical development of lead program SB-007 in Stargardt disease
• Funding will also advance a broader pipeline of genetic medicines targeting indications in ophthalmology, neurology, and other undisclosed therapeutic areas

BARCELONA, Spain, June 11, 2025 — SpliceBio, a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering Protein Splicing to address diseases caused by mutations in large genes, today announced the close of a $135 million Series B financing co-led by new investors EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from Roche Venture Fund, as well as all existing investors: New Enterprise Associates, UCB Ventures, Ysios Capital, Gilde Healthcare, Novartis Venture Fund, and Asabys Partners.

The funding will be used to advance the clinical development of SpliceBio’s lead gene therapy candidate, SB-007 for Stargardt disease, including the ongoing interventional Phase 1/2 ASTRA study and the observational POLARIS study. SB-007 is the first dual adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enter clinical development for Stargardt disease. SB-007 has also received regulatory clearance for clinical development from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Stargardt disease is an inherited retinal disorder caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene that leads to progressive vision loss and blindness, with no approved treatments available. SB-007 is designed to address the underlying genetic cause of the disease by producing a functional copy of the full-length ABCA4 protein with the potential to treat all patients, regardless of their specific ABCA4 mutation. The proceeds will also be used to accelerate SpliceBio’s pipeline of AAV gene therapy programs in ophthalmology, neurology, and other undisclosed indications that utilise the company’s proprietary Protein Splicing platform.

“This financing marks a pivotal milestone for SpliceBio as we advance the clinical development of SB-007 for Stargardt disease and continue to expand our pipeline across ophthalmology, neurology and beyond,” said Miquel Vila-Perelló, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SpliceBio. “The support from such high-quality investors underscores the strength of our programs and our unique Protein Splicing platform and its potential to unlock gene therapies for diseases that remain untreatable today. We are building a company positioned to lead the next wave of genetic medicines.”

SpliceBio is redefining and expanding the scope of diseases that can be tackled with gene therapies by addressing a fundamental limitation of AAV vectors in their inability to deliver genes that exceed their limited packaging capacity of 4.7 kilobases. Many genetic disorders remain untreatable because the necessary gene is too large to fit into the AAV vectors. SpliceBio’s unique Protein Splicing platform leverages the use of a family of proprietary, engineered proteins called inteins, originally developed at Princeton University. The company’s technology enables the splitting of the gene into two (or more) transgenes that are then delivered using dual AAV vectors. Once inside the cell, the DNA of each transgene is transcribed into messenger RNA and translated into protein. SpliceBio’s engineered inteins are designed to then assemble the full-length protein that is needed to treat the disease.

Daniela Begolo, Managing Director at EQT Life Sciences, commented: “We are proud to support SpliceBio, a pioneer among the next-generation of genetic medicine companies. Its Protein Splicing platform is designed to offer a novel solution to deliver large genes with AAV, one of the field’s most pressing challenges, and exemplifies our commitment to backing transformational science that can meaningfully benefit patients’ lives.”

Laia Crespo, Partner at Sanofi Ventures, remarked: “With compelling data for its lead program, SB-007, and a highly differentiated platform, we are excited to support SpliceBio as it tackles a fundamental challenge for genetic medicines. By enabling the delivery of large and complex genes through its novel AAV vector Protein Splicing technology, SpliceBio has the potential to make a significant impact on the field of gene therapy and to deliver best-in-class therapies to patients.”

Carole Nuechterlein, Head of Roche Venture Fund, added: “We are impressed by the team’s strong execution, the momentum behind SB-007 in Stargardt disease, and the platform’s potential to unlock a new class of genetic medicines. We are proud to support SpliceBio at this pivotal stage of growth as they advance their lead program through clinical development and explore additional high-impact indications.”

In connection with the financing, Daniela Begolo, Managing Director at EQT Life Sciences, Laia Crespo, Partner at Sanofi Ventures, and Carole Nuechterlein, Head of Roche Venture Fund, will join the SpliceBio Board of Directors.

About SpliceBio
SpliceBio is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering Protein Splicing to address diseases caused by mutations in large genes. The Company’s lead program, SB-007, targets the root cause of Stargardt disease, a genetic eye disease that causes blindness in children and adults. SpliceBio’s pipeline comprises additional gene therapy programs across therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology and neurology. SpliceBio’s platform is based on technology developed in the Muir Lab at Princeton University after more than 20 years of pioneering intein, Protein Splicing, and protein engineering research. For additional information, please visit www.splice.bio. 

About SB-007
SB-007 is an investigational Protein Splicing dual AAV gene therapy in development for the treatment of Stargardt disease. It is designed to restore expression of the native full-length ABCA4 protein in the retina. SB-007 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA in the US and the European Commission in Europe. In December 2024, SB-007 received FDA IND clearance, marking the first-ever clearance for a dual AAV gene therapy in Stargardt disease. Alongside initiation of the Phase 1/2 ASTRA study, with the announcement of the first patient dosed in March 2025, SpliceBio continues to advance POLARIS, a natural history study of the disease. Both studies are actively recruiting. For more information or to enquire about participation in the studies, please visit https://splice.bio/clinical/.

About EQT Life Sciences 
EQT Life Sciences was formed in 2022 following an integration of LSP, a leading European life sciences and healthcare venture capital firm, into the EQT platform. As LSP, the firm raised over EUR 3.0 billion (USD 3.5 billion) and supported the growth of more than 150 companies since it started to invest over 30 years ago. With a dedicated team of highly experienced investment professionals, coming from backgrounds in medicine, science, business, and finance, EQT Life Sciences backs the smartest inventors who have ideas that could truly make a difference for patients. More info: www.eqtgroup.com. Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

About Sanofi Ventures
Sanofi Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Sanofi, focused on investing in promising early-stage healthcare companies. The firm supports pioneering innovations in biotechnology, digital health, and life sciences aligning with Sanofi’s mission to bring life-changing treatments to patients worldwide. For more information visit: www.sanofiventures.com

About Roche Venture Fund
The Roche Venture Fund is the corporate venture fund of Roche and invests in innovative life science companies. Over the past 20 years, the Roche Venture Fund has invested in over 60 companies globally and currently has a portfolio of around 30 companies located in 10 countries. As part of a multinational healthcare company, the Roche Venture Fund has access to considerable expertise both internally and externally and co-invests with leading venture funds, including other corporate venture funds, on a regular basis.
https://www.roche.com/venturefund 

SOURCE SpliceBio

The innovative, late-night bakery is poised for accelerated global expansion alongside investor group

PHILADELPHIA, June 10, 2025 — Today, Insomnia Cookies, the beloved late-night bakery brand disrupting the indulgence category for over two decades, announced a significant milestone in its growth journey. Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners have increased their investment in the company and will acquire Krispy Kreme’s stake, further strengthening their commitment to Insomnia Cookies’ future.

This transaction represents a pivotal moment in accelerating Insomnia’s trajectory. Backed by an industry-leading economic model, a passionate cult-like brand following, and a powerful omni-channel strategy, Insomnia is delivering sustained, ambitious growth—achieving double-digit annual revenue increases and robust profit expansion through both organic growth and new bakery openings.

With this exceptional performance and this deepened partnership with Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners, the brand is now on track to scale to 1,800 bakeries globally over the next decade.

“We’re excited for this next phase of growth with Verlinvest and Mistral Equity Partners,” said Seth Berkowitz, CEO and Founder of Insomnia Cookies. “We’re united by a shared vision: to establish Insomnia as the undisputed leader in the indulgence category. With this support, we’re poised to rapidly scale and deliver more warm, delicious cookies to Insomniacs around the world.”

“We believe Insomnia Cookies has all the ingredients to become a global icon in quality indulgence: a visionary founder, a cult-like following, and a clear edge in digital convenience,” said Clément Pointillart, Managing Director at Verlinvest. “We’re proud to deepen our commitment to Seth and the team as we help take Insomnia across the globe.”

“We are thrilled to deepen our investment in a brand that brings joy to customers one cookie at a time. Insomnia’s world class logistics and distribution platform, high-quality products, and passionate customers have reinforced our confidence in their continued growth and success,” said Andrew Heyer, Managing Director at Mistral.

To further support its global growth ambitions, Insomnia Cookies has strengthened its executive leadership team with a trio of seasoned leaders:

• Brent Chu, Chief Financial Officer – With an extensive background in consumer goods and retail finance from companies such as PepsiCo, Ferrara Candy Company, and La Colombe, Chu is spearheading Insomnia’s financial growth strategy.
• Katie Seawell, Chief Marketing Officer – A marketing executive with vast experience at top CPG and retail brands such as Starbucks, Seawell leads brand strategy, customer experience, and go-to-market initiatives as Insomnia enters new markets.
• Stephanie Boughner, Chief People Officer – Boughner brings deep expertise in talent development and organizational culture from her experience at Curio Wellness, Aramark, and Talent Solutions TAPFIN, focusing on building a strong foundation for long-term success.

With strong financial performance, a loyal customer base, and growing demand for its crave-worthy offerings, Insomnia Cookies is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of indulgent innovation.

About Insomnia Cookies
Insomnia Cookies is a category-disrupting late-night bakery brand. Founded in 2003 by then-student Seth Berkowitz at the University of Pennsylvania, the company began near college campuses and has since grown to nearly 350 locations across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Known for its cult-like following and omni-channel model, Insomnia is engineered to deliver warm, delicious cookies anytime, anywhere—and plans to open 1,800 locations globally over the next decade. Insomnia Cookies and its ice cream offerings are available in-store, for local delivery, and via nationwide shipping. For menu updates, delivery options, and more, visit www.InsomniaCookies.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.

About Verlinvest
Verlinvest is an international, family-backed evergreen investment company. It identifies inflection points in consumer behaviors and partners with the businesses that are driving these consumer revolutions forward while having a positive impact. Established in 1995, with offices in Brussels, London, New York, Mumbai, and Singapore, Verlinvest focuses on the FMCG, health, consumer technology, and lifestyle categories, investing across three strategies: Platform, Growth, and Venture. Its portfolio includes the likes of Oatly, Tony’s Chocolonely, K1 Speed, Vita Coco, and Mutti.

About Mistral Equity Partners
Mistral Equity Partners is a New York City-based private equity firm that specializes in the consumer and media sectors and is especially attracted to businesses that are supported by strong demographic trends and fundamental changes in consumer preferences. Mistral invests primarily in North American companies with enterprise values between $100 million and $300 million. Mistral’s principals also have invested capital through Haymaker Acquisition Corp. and its successor SPAC entities managed by Mistral CEO Andrew Heyer and Mistral Managing Director Christopher Bradley. Mistral and Haymaker portfolio investments include or have included: Jamba Juice, Lovesac, OneSpaWorld, Biote, ARKO, Vino Volo, and Shearer’s Foods.

Media Contact:
Eddie Ravert
610-731-7229
[email protected]

SOURCE Insomnia Cookies

TULSA, Okla., June 10, 2025 — T.D. Williamson (“TDW”), a global leader in pipeline infrastructure technology and services, announced today a strategic investment from funds managed by Apollo (NYSE: APO) (the “Apollo Funds”). SCF Partners, a Houston-based private equity firm specializing in energy & infrastructure services investments that acquired TDW in June 2022, will continue to retain a majority ownership stake.

TDW has been a leader in the pipeline maintenance and integrity industry for over 100 years. The company offers a comprehensive suite of maintenance and asset optimization solutions that enhance safety, reliability, and performance throughout the full lifecycle of pipeline infrastructure. A recognized technology leader, TDW holds more than 500 registered patents, including innovations in advanced isolation, integrated pigging, in-line integrity assessment and repair — deployed across both infrastructure and utility end markets.

Bob McGrew, CEO of TDW, said, “At TDW, we are committed to delivering best-in-class, technically differentiated solutions to support the evolving needs of the operators of critical pipeline infrastructure. This investment by Apollo Funds, alongside our existing relationship with SCF Partners, marks a significant milestone in our journey as we continue to invest in meeting the needs of our customers through innovation and expanding our global reach.”

Scott Browning, Partner at Apollo, said, “TDW has a long track record of innovation and serving customers across the pipeline industry value chain. We look forward to supporting TDW management and SCF to accelerate strategic growth initiatives that contribute to the safety, reliability and efficiency of energy infrastructure to help serve global energy demand trends.”

“For over a century, TDW has stood at the forefront of pipeline integrity and innovation,” commented Deviyani Misra-Godwin, Managing Director at SCF. “Over the past three years, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the company, with the team expanding its technology and product portfolio, deepening customer relationships, and continuing to lead the way on safety and operational excellence. We’re honored to continue to work alongside TDW’s world-class team and excited to welcome Apollo Funds as a strategic partner in this next chapter of growth.”

TDW and SCF Partners were advised by Vinson & Elkins LLP, while Kirkland & Ellis LLP advised the Apollo Funds.

About T.D. Williamson

T.D. Williamson (“TDW”) serves the gathering, transmission, and distribution sectors of the pipeline industry with a global portfolio of products and services, including advanced isolation, integrated pigging, integrity assessment and repair solutions. With both onshore and offshore applications, TDW offers expansive pipeline maintenance and asset optimization activities. TDW cultivates long-term relationships with pipeline operators that endure throughout the life of a pipeline. To learn more, visit www.tdwilliamson.com.

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

About SCF Partners

Founded in 1989, SCF provides equity capital and strategic growth assistance to build and grow leading energy service, equipment, and technology companies that operate throughout the world. SCF has invested in more than 80 platform companies, made more than 370 additional acquisitions, and developed 18 publicly listed energy service and equipment companies over its history. The firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and has offices in Aberdeen and Australia. For more information, please visit www.scfpartners.com.

Media Contact:
Kat Eaton
Sr. Manager, Marketing Communications
T.D. Williamson
[email protected]

SOURCE T.D. Williamson

Fund is backed by nine institutional investors and further cements Plug and Play as the largest
corporate innovation platform in the world

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 10, 2025 — Plug and Play, one of the world’s most active early-stage investors, announced today during its Silicon Valley June Summit 2025 the closing of its $50 million Fintech & AI Fund with nine institutional investors. Plug and Play runs nine funds in total.

The fund is the largest industry-themed fund the company has raised to date and invests in companies globally. The fund reflects the evolution of the innovation journey taken by many high-profile financial services companies.

Over the years, many of Plug and Play’s limited partners have actively participated in pilot and innovation programs and aided in collaborative development efforts. This participation reinforces the partners’ trust in Plug and Play and its ability to recognize, fund, and scale innovative technologies.

“Plug and Play’s ecosystem has been a valuable source of innovation and market insight,” said Sandeep Manchanda, Head of Insurance M&A and Partnerships at EXL, one of the investors of the fund. “With this fund, we’re taking that engagement even further – partnering earlier and more strategically with the AI-driven technologies shaping the next chapter of insurance and financial services.”

Plug and Play made the fund announcement during the Enterprise & AI Expo, a part of the Silicon Valley June Summit 2025. The event features three days of more than 75 speakers and more than 200 startups coming together to discuss and demonstrate a range of technologies at the company’s Sunnyvale headquarters.

“AI is changing everything and industry startups are scaling faster than ever,” said Eugenio Gonzalez, Partner at Plug and Play. “The fund supports our value proposition of accelerating sales cycles by connecting companies with the right decision makers at global corporations. It is a key part of this dynamic ecosystem that includes a roster of entrepreneurs and corporations we’ve developed over the years. It reflects a shift from shorter-form experimentation to long-term value creation as this fund allows us to back exceptional founders earlier and support them more meaningfully as they build the future of fintech, enterprise, and insurtech.”

In addition to capital, Plug and Play provides portfolio companies with access to a global network of over 550 corporate partners across more than 25 industries. This network provides startups with opportunities, including pilot projects, customer acquisition, and revenue growth. Plug and Play brings a strong track record, with more than 300 successful exits and a global portfolio of thousands of startups.

About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 60+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Turing, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/.

© Plug and Play Financial Services Fund I, L.P. (legal entity of the Fintech & AI Fund)

Plug and Play Press Contact
Jacky Tsang
Senior Communications & PR Associate
[email protected] 

SOURCE Plug and Play

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2025 — Trustible™, a leading AI governance platform enabling safe and compliant AI adoption, today announced a $4.6 million Series Seed financing round. The round was led by Lookout Ventures, with participation from the Office of Eric Schmidt, Tau Ventures, Inner Loop Capital, Alumni Ventures, FoundersX, former Deloitte CIO Larry Quinlan, former Relativity CEO Mike Gamson, and former Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, alongside existing investors Harlem Capital, Vamos Ventures, and JHH VC.

“We’re thrilled to lead Trustible’s latest financing round,” said Will Rayner, General Partner at Lookout Ventures. “Trustible’s ability to enable customers to accelerate AI adoption in complex, enterprise environments sets them apart. The team’s vision and execution to-date convinced us this was the right company to tackle this enormous market opportunity.”

“We’re proud to partner with Lookout Ventures and our exceptional group of investors who share our conviction for AI governance as a strategic enabler of AI adoption,” said Gerald Kierce, Co-Founder and CEO of Trustible. “This capital will fuel our next stage of growth as we scale our team, deepen product capabilities, and empower even more global organizations to accelerate safe and compliant AI adoption.”

The backing from investors with deep expertise in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, cybersecurity, and privacy underscores Trustible’s central role in helping enterprises govern AI systems effectively and at scale.

“Ensuring the responsible adoption of AI is one of the greatest challenges—and opportunities—of our time,” said Dr. Eric Schmidt, angel investor in this round. “Trustible uniquely addresses this critical need, and I’m excited to support their vision for safer, scalable AI adoption.

A Microsoft Security study published last month revealed that an overwhelming 91% of senior executives surveyed admitted their organizations are “not prepared to manage the risks” posed by AI, and 85% said they feel unprepared to comply with emerging AI regulations. Trustible is addressing this problem for its customers—38% from the Fortune 500, 62% publicly traded companies, and over 87% with global operations—by embedding Trustible’s AI governance intelligence and capabilities across their legal, compliance, security, and technology functions.

Trustible’s AI-enabled software platform has become a critical accelerator of AI adoption, helping organizations move beyond experimentation and into production with confidence. One Fortune 500 customer in the CPG industry doubled the number of AI use cases since adopting Trustible. The platform provides enterprises with the capabilities they need to align AI innovation with risk, compliance, and ethical standards—unlocking value while safeguarding against reputational and regulatory pitfalls:

• Centralized Oversight & Control of Enterprise AI Use: A unified platform to govern AI—spanning internal and third-party systems use cases, models, and vendors—to provide visibility, accountability, and collaboration across the organization.
• Integrated AI Risk & Compliance Management: Continuous monitoring and embedded workflows that translate global regulations and internal policies into AI assessments, automated risk intelligence, and approval gates.
• Actionable Intelligence & Guided Governance for AI: Taxonomies, recommendation models, and in-app guidance fuse Trustible’s deep AI and policy expertise into the platform, delivering tailored insights that simplify governance decisions, highlight emergent risks, and accelerate responsible AI adoption.

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact:

Tanner Bokor
Director of Marketing
(703) 307-9572
[email protected]

About Trustible
Trustible is the leading AI governance platform enabling safe and compliant AI adoption. Their AI governance platform enables enterprises to identify, measure, and mitigate AI risk to accelerate AI adoption. The company is headquartered in the Washington D.C. area. For more information, visit trustible.ai.

About Lookout Ventures

Lookout Ventures invests in seed stage enterprise tech startups located outside of Silicon Valley. Our partners have been thematically focused on investing in AI, cybersecurity, infrastructure software, and vertical SaaS for over a decade. Lookout has offices in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.lookoutventures.com.

SOURCE Trustible