Pilot competition led by NXTUS, HTA fueled by $500,000 Walton Family Foundation Grant

WICHITA, Kan., Dec. 15, 2025 — NXTUS, Inc., along with HTA, today introduced HealthCatalyst NWA, a unique innovation program designed to expand growth opportunities for early-stage companies and make Northwest Arkansas a proving ground for technology tools addressing pressing needs in health and economic vitality.

The Walton Family Foundation awarded NXTUS a $500,000 grant to fund the HealthCatalyst NWA 2026 pilot program, aiming to close a critical gap in Arkansas’s innovation economy: too few pathways for the region’s nonprofits to access and implement the health- and community-tech tools offered by startups.

The program will help regional community partners and health care providers solve costly problems while ensuring the participating startups have critical market feedback and commercial traction to move their companies forward in Northwest Arkansas.

The HealthCatalyst NWA program will build on the success of the Kansas-focused NXTSTAGE Community Health and Vibrancy Pilot Competition, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, which has prompted more than 77 health and economic vibrancy innovation projects since 2021.

“This unique program can help Northwest Arkansas continue to build its reputation and reality as a thriving region and a great place to grow a business,” said Mary Beth Jarvis, President and CEO of NXTUS. “HealthCatalyst NWA will pair local providers with leading innovators offering solutions for their most pressing challenges. With this, the region grows as a hub for promising technology tools, helping startups thrive and driving improved population health and economic-growth outcomes.”

“The Health Catalyst NWA program will be instrumental in connecting visionary startups with local healthcare and community partners,” said Yee-Lin Lai, Senior Program Officer, Walton Family Foundation. “By supporting NXTUS, we are investing in innovative solutions that will improve lives and expand the region’s entrepreneurial capacity.”

By using NXTUS’s proven model and HTA’s strong network of Arkansas partners, HealthCatalyst NWA will attract both Arkansas-based and global startups to scale innovative solutions.

“In addition to addressing community health challenges through funded and facilitated pilots, one goal of the HealthCatalyst program is to continue attracting talent to Northwest Arkansas,” said Jeff Stinson, Director of HTA. “Startup companies conducting pilot projects here will be required to maintain a presence here, which contributes to our ever-expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

To date, HealthCatalyst NWA community partners include Arisa Health, the Arkansas Department of Health, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Community Clinic, Havenwood, Mercy, Our Blood Institute, Spring Creek Food Hub, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Washington Regional Medical System. These organizations represent a broad cross-section of healthcare providers and community-based organizations working to advance health and well-being in Northwest Arkansas.

Applications for startups to compete in HealthCatalyst NWA open January 1, 2026. In the spring, select contenders will be matched with community organizations to focus on the most promising collaborations. Pilot agreements will be finalized over the summer, with projects launching in the fall, placing startup staff on site in Northwest Arkansas to implement and scale their solutions. Pilot outcomes—including community impact, job creation, and service enhancements and expansions—will provide valuable insights into the impact and future value of the program to the region.

Learn More: https://hta.health/healthcatalyst-nwa
Apply Here: https://www.f6s.com/health-catalyst-nwa/ 

About NXTUS:
NXTUS, Inc helps entrepreneurs grow companies of significance. The organization works to connect startup founders with community resources, capital, and customers. NXTUS manages NXTSTAGE programs, which are aimed at connecting startups to mature businesses and regional partners looking to become customers for their innovations and to help accelerate the pace of innovation and startup growth in the region, as well as Accelerate Venture Partners, a fast-growing regional angel investor syndicate.

About HTA:
HTA is an innovation hub that builds collaborations between healthcare organizations, community partners, and early-stage companies to accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies and services in Arkansas. Through programs like HealthCatalyst, HTA connects innovative startup companies with community-based organizations to pilot and implement solutions that advance population health, health equity, mental health, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. More information can be found at HTA.health.

Media Inquiries:
Elleigh Peters
+1-501-766-0633
[email protected]

SOURCE NXTUS, Inc.

Closes $60 Million Series A Financing Round Backed by New and Existing Investors

$92 Million Raised to Date Across Seed and Series A Financings

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 15, 2025 — Link Cell Therapies (“Link”), an oncology cell therapy company, today announced its official launch from stealth with a $60 million Series A financing that was led by Johnson & Johnson, through its corporate venture capital organization, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, Inc. , with participation from founding investors Samsara BioCapital and Sheatree Capital, as well as Wing Venture Capital and other new strategic and financial investors.

Link’s proprietary logic-gating technologies allow for safe targeting of multiple antigens that are co-expressed on cancer cells but do not overlap or only minimally overlap in their normal healthy tissue expression. This platform enables the creation of next-generation CAR-T therapeutics for solid and liquid cancers built upon an entirely new landscape of “clean” target pairs.

“We recognized that for most cancer types, particularly solid tumors, the promise of CAR-T therapies is limited by a dearth of cancer-specific targets and abundant expression of most solid tumor targets in normal vital tissue,” said Co-Founder Robbie Majzner, MD of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. “Link is advancing a technology that we developed while at Stanford University that allows for logic-gated CAR-T cell control. The Link-based CAR activates and kills target cells only when a combination of antigens is co-localized on the tumor, thereby bypassing normal tissues that express only one of those targets. We believe this approach will enable potent CAR-T therapies to attack a wide range of tumors while sparing healthy tissue.”

Link Cell Therapies Announces $92 Million Raised Across Seed and Series A Financings

The Series A financing, which follows a 2022 Seed Round led by Samsara and Sheatree, adds a number of strong financial and strategic investors to the syndicate, including JJDC, Inc, Bristol Myers Squibb, Kyowa Kirin, Wing Venture Capital, and Sherpa Healthcare Partners.

“It has been a pleasure to support Link Cell Therapies since its founding,” said Abraham Bassan, Member of the Link Board of Directors and Partner at Samsara BioCapital. “The team at Link has advanced a unique technology that could enable the development of multiple, impactful treatments for patients with cancer. I have been impressed with the team’s achievements and the progress on Link’s lead program and pipeline.”

Link’s Progress and Development Status

Link’s lead program, LNK001 for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (“RCC”), is on track for an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and initiation of dosing in a Phase I clinical trial in 2026. LNK001 targets two antigens that are uniquely and highly co-expressed in most RCC tumors. LNK001 is designed to enable tumor-specific efficacy while avoiding on-target, off-tumor toxicity that has limited prior experimental therapies targeting each individual antigen. 

Link’s second program being developed for colorectal cancer will target Development Candidate selection in 2026 and initiation of human clinical studies in 2027. The company has multiple additional CAR-T programs in earlier development in solid and liquid cancers that will be developed internally or through partnerships.

For inquiries and information, contact Link Cell Therapies at [email protected].

About Link Cell Therapies

Link Cell Therapies (“Link”) is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, California that was founded in 2022 by Robbie Majzner, MD and Crystal Mackall, MD at Stanford University. Link’s proprietary logic-gating technologies allow for safe targeting of multiple antigens that are co-expressed selectively on cancer cells, thereby reducing the risk of on-target, off-tumor toxicity. This enables discovery of an entirely new landscape of “clean” target pairs, and development of next-generation CAR-T therapeutics for solid and liquid cancers. Link’s team features industry-leading scientists collaborating with top-tier advisors and life science financial and strategic investors committed to improving outcomes for cancer patients. To learn more, please visit linkcelltx.com.

About Samsara BioCapital

Founded in 2017, Samsara BioCapital is a leading biotech investment firm focused on identifying opportunities across public and private markets. Samsara invests across the full spectrum from early-stage start-up to late-stage clinical assets with a focus on companies that will have a significant impact on patients and address high unmet medical needs. Samsara works with entrepreneurs and top-tier management teams that they believe will have a meaningful impact on innovative therapeutics. The Samsara team has deep expertise in biotech with significant experience working together prior to founding the firm. The team is led by Srinivas Akkaraju, who has over twenty-seven years of industry experience and has an MD and a PhD in Immunology from Stanford University.

SOURCE Link Cell Therapies

PARIS and NEW YORK and LONDON, Dec. 15, 2025 — AMTD Group Inc. (“AMTD Group”), AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB), AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD) and The Generation Essentials Group (“TGE”, NYSE & LSE: TGE), a subsidiary of AMTD Digital Inc., announce jointly that TGE has entered into a sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”) to purchase an 80% stake in the Upper View Regalia Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The aggregate consideration of the transaction is HK$300 million (equivalent to approximately US$38.6 million), following specific terms and conditions of the SPA. Closing of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

Upper View Regalia Hotel is strategically situated in the heart of Kuala Lumpurs vibrant commercial and business district, providing convenient pedestrian access to both Sunway Putra Mall and the Putra World Trade Centre. The hotel comprises over 129 rooms and a range of amenities, including a fully equipped gym, a library, and a stunning rooftop Infinity Pool, and an award-winning restaurant.

The addition of Upper View Regalia Hotel further strengthens TGE’s global hospitality offerings. This acquisition in Kuala Lumpur also marks TGE’s fourth major hotel project of the year, reaffirming the company’s commitment to expanding its global footprint with premium properties in key markets around the world.

As of the date of this announcement, the hotel portfolio of TGE (including those with executed SPAs pending completions) consists of six properties located in major cities worldwide, offering over 800 rooms. This portfolio includes the iclub AMTD Sheung Wan Hotel in Hong Kong, Dao by Dorsett AMTD Singapore, along with recent projects in New York, London, Australia, and Malaysia.

About AMTD Group

AMTD Group is a conglomerate with a core business portfolio spanning across media and entertainment, education and training, and premium assets and hospitality sectors.

About AMTD IDEA Group

AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) represents a diversified institution and digital solutions group connecting companies and investors with global markets. Its comprehensive one-stop business services plus digital solutions platform addresses different clients’ diverse and inter-connected business needs and digital requirements across all phases of their life cycles. AMTD IDEA Group is uniquely positioned as an active super connector between clients, business partners, investee companies, and investors, connecting the East and the West. For more information, please visit www.amtdinc.com or follow us on X (formerly known as “Twitter”) at @AMTDGroup.

About AMTD Digital Inc.

AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD) is a comprehensive digital solutions platform headquartered in France. Its one-stop digital solutions platform operates key business lines including digital media, content and marketing services, investments as well as hospitality and VIP services. For AMTD Digital’s announcements, please visit https://ir.amtdigital.net/investor-news.

About The Generation Essentials Group

The Generation Essentials Group (NYSE and LSE: TGE), jointly established by AMTD Group, AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) and AMTD Digital Inc. (NYSE: HKD), is headquartered in France and focuses on global strategies and developments in multi-media, entertainment, and cultural affairs worldwide as well as hospitality and VIP services. TGE comprises L’Officiel, The Art Newspaper, movie and entertainment projects. Collectively, TGE is a diversified portfolio of media and entertainment businesses, and a global portfolio of premium properties. Also, TGE is special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsor manager in global media, entertainment, and gaming areas.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs, plans, and expectations of AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital and/or The Generation Essentials Group, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the filings of AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital and The Generation Essentials Group with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and none of AMTD IDEA Group, AMTD Digital and The Generation Essentials Group undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

For AMTD IDEA Group:
IR Office
AMTD IDEA Group
EMAIL: [email protected] 

For AMTD Digital Inc.:
IR Office
AMTD Digital Inc.
EMAIL: [email protected] 

For The Generation Essentials Group:
IR Office
The Generation Essentials Group
EMAIL: [email protected]

SOURCE AMTD IDEA Group; AMTD Digital; The Generation Essentials Group

With investment from Georgian, Hedosophia, Khosla Ventures, and NVentures, new round takes total funding over $200M

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2025 — PolyAI, a leader in enterprise conversational AI, has raised $86 million in Series D funding, co-led by Georgian, Hedosophia, and Khosla Ventures. Additional investors include NVentures (NVIDIA’s venture capital arm), British Business Bank, Citi Ventures, Squarepoint Ventures, Sands Capital, Zendesk Ventures, and Point72 Ventures.

PolyAI has now surpassed $200 million in total funding to power helpful, human-like conversations that transform how enterprises speak with their customers. The company counts 100+ enterprises as customers today, with over 2,000 live deployments across 45 languages and more than 25 countries.

According to a Total Economic Impact™ study by Forrester, PolyAI customers achieve 391% return on investment, including an average of $10.3 million in savings, improved customer and employee experiences, stronger insights, and significant increases in profit.

The company’s agentic AI now does the work of 1,000+ full-time employees at multiple enterprises. Its customers span financial services, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, energy, and retail — including household names such as Marriott, Caesars Entertainment, PG&E, UniCredit, Foot Locker, and many more. Across PolyAI’s customer base, its AI agents’ impact amounts to around $1 billion in total value created each year.

“PolyAI started with a simple idea: enterprises should sound human,” said Nikola Mrkšić, CEO and Co-Founder of PolyAI. “We turned that idea into reality, and it led to something far greater: the emergence of the agentic enterprise. This is a living, breathing system that understands what your customers, employees, and AI agents are doing in real time — and helps them all succeed together. Like seeing a single drop of water and fixing a leak before it bursts, the agentic enterprise can detect and respond to problems and opportunities before human agents even know they exist. We’re building this future with the world’s leading enterprises, where our AI helps millions of customers every day.”

Emily Walsh, Lead Investor at Georgian and a returning investor through three consecutive rounds, added: “For the world’s largest brands, customer service is no longer just a cost center, it’s a massive opportunity for value creation. PolyAI’s ability to deploy lifelike voice agents at enterprise scale unlocks significant savings and revenue. We believe that PolyAI is building the category-defining platform for customer service in the AI era, and we’re excited to co-lead this round.”

PolyAI will use this latest funding to further develop the proprietary technology behind its Agent Studio platform and expand go-to-market efforts, with the goal of enabling more global enterprises to transform toward the agentic future.

To learn more, visit www.poly.ai.

About PolyAI
PolyAI is transforming customer experience with AI agents that help enterprises show up as the best versions of themselves in every conversation. We are trusted by global leaders including Marriott, Caesars Entertainment, PG&E, and UniCredit to handle their most complex customer interactions. Our agents deliver human-level understanding with enterprise-grade reliability, and many of our largest deployments already do the work of 1,000+ full-time employees.

SOURCE PolyAI

Backed by $6M in Funding, the company cuts through industry jargon with a glass-only, spring-sourced water that’s precisely filtered, mineralized, and third-party certified

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12, 2025 — Loonen, the first purified spring water that’s glass-bottled, third-party certified, and tastefully balanced with minerals your body needs, launches today. Alongside its debut in select retailers across California and nationwide on Amazon, the brand has secured $6M in funding led by Brand Foundry Ventures to help set a new standard in bottled water.

The idea for Loonen began with Clara Sieg, a new mom and longtime venture investor. After seeing progress across nearly every consumer category, she was struck by how little evolution had taken place in the most essential one: water. Nearly half of U.S. tap water contains PFAS, with over 55% of systems testing positive for lead, and no federal limits for microplastics in bottled or tap water. The bottled water industry, long marketed as a cleaner alternative, is often less regulated than the tap. Loonen exists to change that.

“Loonen was born from a moment of panic that turned into purpose,” said Clara Sieg, co-founder of Loonen. “When I was pregnant with my daughter, I became aware of how much plastic and contamination hides in the water we drink. Partnering with David, who understands the structural issues in the beverage industry, turned that urgency into a solution: water that’s verified clean, free from microplastics, and balanced with the highest quality minerals to taste the way water should.”

Together with co-founder David Kimmell, a seasoned beverage operator who helped build Spindrift into a nationally recognized brand, they identified that most bottled waters fall into two flawed categories: purified municipal tap waters that retain chemical byproducts, or minimally treated “natural” sources that can carry trace contaminants like nitrates, arsenic, and radiologicals. Believing that clean water should not be a tradeoff, the two set out to create a water that lived up to its promise, marrying a high-quality source with equally high-quality filtration, mineralization, and bottling.

“After years in the beverage industry, I saw how little transparency existed, especially in bottled water,” said David Kimmell, co-founder of Loonen. “Consumers believed they were getting something clean, but the sourcing and bottling practices behind most products told a different story. That gap drove us to create Loonen with a different level of integrity.”

Loonen’s process begins with protected mountain springs in California. The water is transported in stainless steel, purified through a chemical-free physical membrane filtration,  and then precisely mineralized with lab-tested elements like trace magnesium and Celtic sea salt for a naturally crisp taste. Each batch is verified by accredited third-party labs, with results accessible via a QR code on every bottle and box.

Drawing on the scientific research that shaped its founding, Loonen is further supported by a group of leading health and wellness experts who guide the company’s approach to purity and transparency. Its advisory board includes Robin Berzin, MD (functional medicine), Manasa Mantravadi, MD (pediatrics), Kelly LeVeque, CCN (clinical nutrition), and Alisa Vitti, HHC, AADP (hormonal health and nutrition).

“As a pediatrician, I’ve seen how something as simple as water can be one of the most powerful tools for a child’s health,” said Dr. Manasa Mantravadi. “At the same time, we know that plastics can leach harmful chemicals into what our kids eat and drink. Choosing water that is free from harmful chemicals isn’t just better for children’s growth and development today – it’s an investment in their long-term health as adults.”

Loonen is available nationwide on Amazon and in select retailers across California. Broader distribution will follow in 2026.

About Loonen

Loonen is a modern bottled water company committed to purity, transparency, and responsible design. The company sources water from protected mountain springs, filters to remove what others miss, rebalances with essential minerals, and bottles exclusively in glass. Every bottle is tested for forever chemicals, microplastics, and over 300 contaminants – then third-party verified with results publicly shared. Loonen is water as it should be. To learn more, visit loonen.com or follow along on Instagram @loonenwater.

Media Contact:
Kirsten Anderson
908-334-5784
[email protected]

SOURCE Loonen

Financing funds the global Phase 2b clinical trial in atopic dermatitis and Phase 2 clinical program in molluscum contagiosum

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Dec. 12, 2025 — Alphyn Biologics, Inc., a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class Multi-Target Therapeutics^®, today announced the close of its $25 million, twice-oversubscribed Series B financing. Proceeds will fund the Phase 2b global clinical trial of Alphyn’s lead drug candidate, Zabalafin Hydrogel, for atopic dermatitis (AD), initiate a second Phase 2 clinical program for the treatment of the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), and expand the company’s supply of drug raw material.

The round was led by QCA Investment Group and included existing investors Angel Physicians Fund, Serial Stage Venture Partners, a corporate fund, and several new investors.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of our current and new investors. This financing reflects their confidence in our Multi-Target Therapeutic Drug Platform and our unique and highly differentiated drug candidates for atopic dermatitis and the molluscum contagiosum virus,” said Alphyn CEO Neal Koller. “We are well-positioned to rapidly advance Zabalafin Hydrogel towards our next key milestones – two pivotal Phase 3 trials – while broadening our pipeline of breakthrough therapies for skin diseases.”

Alphyn is developing Zabalafin Hydrogel as the first therapeutic to directly treat the distinct but interconnected drivers of AD – inflammation, itch, bacteria, and dry skin – and to directly treat the distinct but interconnected drivers of MCV – the virus itself, itch, inflammation and, in many sufferers, dermatitis (molluscum rash) and the added bacterial infection with its associated pain. Drugs on the market and being studied in clinical trials for both diseases directly target only one of the disease drivers, leaving the body to later fight the others. Zabalafin Hydrogel, with its expected strong efficacy and patient tolerability profile, has the potential for sustained management and long-term control of these diseases. For MCV, it has the potential to be the first direct antiviral drug that is safe, gentle and effective, and therefore the first real treatment option for the millions of children afflicted with this disease. Current marketed therapeutics destroy the skin and are blistering and painful for patients.

“Alphyn is breaking new ground with a first-in-class, natural topical therapeutic that is expected to directly addresses all of AD’s problems and have the potential for long-term, continuous use,” said Tony Shipley, chairman of Alphyn’s lead investor, QCA Investment Group. “With an experienced leadership team and their continued strong execution, Alphyn is poised to meet two tremendous market needs and bring patients a highly innovative new therapy for AD and MCV.”

ABOUT ALPHYN BIOLOGICS

Alphyn Biologics, Inc. is a clinical-stage dermatology company developing first-in-class Multi-Target Therapeutics^® for severe and prevalent skin diseases based on its Zabalafin Platform. Its lead product candidate, Zabalafin Hydrogel, is being developed as a topical treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), the most common form of eczema, and the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), an unsightly, pruritic (itchy), and highly contagious skin infection predominantly in children.

Zabalafin Hydrogel is unique in its ability to directly treat all the interconnected problems of both AD and MCV. For AD, Zabalafin Hydrogel directly treats the immuno-inflammatory component of the disease, directly treats pruritus (itch), directly treats the bacterial component of AD, and directly treats xerosis (dry skin). For MCV, Zabalafin directly targets the virus itself, directly treats itch, directly treats inflammation and, in many sufferers, directly treats dermatitis (molluscum rash) and the added problem of  bacterial infection with its associated pain.

Alphyn’s Zabalafin Platform has multiple bioactive compounds and, therefore, multiple mechanisms of action to support treatment of an individual disease in multiple ways, for anticipated improved efficacy, and to provide a robust pipeline of dermatologic therapeutics that have potential advantages in efficacy, safety, side effect, patient tolerability, and regulatory marketing authorization. Alphyn is based in Annapolis, Maryland, and Cincinnati, Ohio, and has wholly owned subsidiaries in Australia and Austria. The company became operational in 2020 and has raised approximately $34 million.

SOURCE Alphyn Biologics, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2025 — Azio AI, the artificial intelligence compute and GPU infrastructure subsidiary of Azio, today announced its active participation in early-stage technical and infrastructure discussions supporting the Philippines’ national initiative to modernize and restructure its sovereign investment platform, including the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) and Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC).

The engagement follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2024 directive to pause and comprehensively restructure the MIF, initiating a renewed 2024–2025 planning cycle focused on governance reform, capital optimization, and long-term national development priorities. As part of this reset, Philippine policymakers and advisors are evaluating artificial intelligence compute, data-center infrastructure, and sovereign digital capacity as foundational components of future economic competitiveness.

Azio AI’s involvement reflects the Company’s broader corporate strategy to expand into sovereign, government, and public-sector AI infrastructure—an emerging global market driven by national data sovereignty requirements, AI industrial policy, and the need for domestically controlled compute capacity.

Strategic Positioning for Sovereign-Scale AI Infrastructure

Azio AI has been engaged in non-binding, early-stage technical discussions to assist with the evaluation of GPU-based AI data centers, sovereign compute architectures, and modular deployment models aligned with international best practices and comparable sovereign modernization frameworks.

As a certified distributor of Supermicro (NASDAQ: SMCI) high-density server systems and NVIDIA GPU platforms, Azio AI is positioned to support sovereign and public-sector stakeholders across the AI infrastructure value chain, including equipment pathway analysis, modular data-center design, and phased deployment planning.

Investor Perspective: Strategic Significance

From an investor perspective, sovereign and public-sector AI infrastructure represents a structurally attractive growth vertical characterized by large-scale deployments, phased capital investment cycles, and long-term infrastructure expansion. Governments worldwide are increasingly treating AI compute as strategic national infrastructure, similar to energy, telecommunications, and transportation.

Azio AI believes this positioning supports long-term shareholder value by aligning the Company with multi-year infrastructure initiatives that may include recurring hardware deployments, system upgrades, and expansion opportunities across multiple jurisdictions.

Outlook

Azio AI will continue supporting technical evaluations, infrastructure modeling, and deployment frameworks as Philippine authorities advance toward their 2025 MIF restructuring objectives. Any potential commercial engagement remains subject to definitive agreements, regulatory approvals, and standard corporate governance processes.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding potential future engagements, infrastructure deployments, market opportunities, and strategic positioning. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

About Azio

Azio is a technology-focused company providing advanced computing, infrastructure, and digital solutions across enterprise, public-sector, and emerging technology markets. Through its subsidiaries, Azio supports organizations seeking scalable, high-performance systems designed to meet modern data and AI-driven demands.

About Azio AI

AZIO AI (www.azionai.ai) provides enterprise-grade GPU servers, AI compute clusters, and scalable data-infrastructure solutions. The Company supports governments, universities, media organizations, and enterprise AI teams with high-performance hardware and modular infrastructure designed for mission-critical workloads.

Media Contact

Phoenix Management
[email protected]
888-228-0122

SOURCE Azio AI Corporation

ATLANTA, Dec. 11, 2025 — Ten promising tech-enabled startups have completed the latest Geekz Ventures GROWTH pre-accelerator program.

The startups, from a range of industries — including media, SaaS, fintech, and entertainment — were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants across the United States. They reflect rising demand for culturally grounded innovation and scalable solutions that serve diverse populations and markets.

This second GROWTH cohort continues Geekz Ventures’ mission to back overlooked and underestimated founders building early-stage tech ventures.

“This year’s Geekz Ventures cohort is one of the most innovative and imaginative groups I’ve ever worked with,” said Geekz Ventures Program Manager Brandon Wilkins. “Their ideas are bold, their execution is sharp, and they’re genuinely poised to make waves in their respective markets. It’s been inspiring to watch them push boundaries and build with such conviction. If the future of entrepreneurship were placed in the hands of founders like these, we’d all be in good shape.”

The GROWTH pre-accelerator combines targeted mentorship, hands-on training, and equity-free grant funding. Led by respected operators and seasoned industry experts, the program offers behind-the-scenes access and insight into what it truly takes to launch and grow a startup.

“We have an outstanding cohort this year,” said Geekz Ventures Executive Director Kunbi Tinuoye. “I am confident that our founders are now better equipped to navigate the entrepreneurial journey and scale their ventures.”

This year’s mentors include heavy hitters such as serial entrepreneur Mykolas Rambus; media executive Alex Hughes; returning mentors Kathryn O’Day, a venture partner, Derrick Williams, a strategic finance leader; and Gary Stewart, former Techstars managing director, alongside a range of other seasoned operators.

Storytelling That Wins Investor Attention

Among the standout sessions was a workshop led by Mike Lightman, founder of Hate Your Deck, who focused on the power of storytelling in pitch decks. “The best pitch decks don’t explain everything — they build curiosity one slide at a time,” said Lightman. “When founders treat their deck like a children’s book instead of a data dump, investors actually want to meet with them.”

With Geekz Ventures’ deep commitment to founder well-being, returning mentor, certified executive coach and licensed therapist, Chantel Cohen led sessions on work–life integration and sustainable leadership, helping founders build companies without burning out.

“The Geekz Ventures GROWTH pre-accelerator program provides a unique opportunity for early-stage founders to receive mentorship and guidance from seasoned professionals in various industries, and I’m glad to return as a mentor to the 2025 cohort,” said returning mentor Candice Washington.

Hayti founder and Geekz Ventures alum Cary Wheelous, who also worked with this year’s founders, added: “This year’s Geekz Ventures cohort is about tackling fundamental market gaps and economic barriers that the mainstream tech ecosystem continues to overlook. It’s essential because it provides the focused capital and networks required to scale solutions built by and for the culture into powerful, high-value assets.”

The 10-week program includes sessions on MVP development, customer discovery, audience growth, business operations, preparation for competitive accelerators, founder financing, and brand visibility. By the end of the program, participants are ready to thrive in an ever-changing tech landscape.

Below are the ten startups selected for the 2025 Geekz Ventures GROWTH pre-accelerator.

Troodie

Troodie is an AI-powered social commerce platform that transforms how restaurants grow and retain customers. The platform enables creators to share and monetize their recommendations, helping diners discover locally trusted spots. Founded by Taylor Davis, Troodie sits at the intersection of food culture, influencer marketing, and community-driven discovery.

Beebz

Beebz is building a video-first marketplace that changes how people find and book local businesses. Instead of scrolling through long text listings, users browse short-form videos and can book instantly, merging discovery and action in a single step. The company was founded by Habeeb Ayangbade and is designed for Gen Z and younger consumers who trust real video over static reviews and images.

Black Launch

BlackLaunch is a culture-first professional networking platform designed to strengthen connections, collaboration, and economic mobility for Black professionals, creators, and entrepreneurs. The platform offers a dedicated digital ecosystem where users can find community, exchange opportunities, and expand their networks. Led by founder Titus Colloway, BlackLaunch reflects the growing demand for spaces built around cultural identity and shared advancement.

PaintLabs

PaintLabs, publicly known as PaintCo, is reinventing fan engagement by replacing traditional, slow, labor-intensive face painting with high-precision, fast-printed body art. The company enables stadiums and sports venues to offer rapid, customizable designs that boost revenue while creating a standout fan experience. Led by SueAnn Hollowell, whose background in sports and immersive technology anchors the startup’s vision, PaintCo is on a mission to modernize on-site sports art.

ConcordeApp

ConcordeApp is a B2B SaaS platform that transforms networking from an inconsistent, manual activity into a structured and data-driven growth engine. By quantifying relationship-building efforts, the platform helps companies turn connections into real, measurable business outcomes. Founded by Chaste Christopher Inegbedio, ConcordeApp draws on her enterprise operations experience to streamline how professionals develop and maintain business relationships.

Runwei

Runwei is a chat-based, multilingual, voice-enabled platform designed to democratize access to non-dilutive, non-debt capital. Through a single streamlined system, entrepreneurs can search for, apply to, and track grants, fellowships, awards, and other funding opportunities. Built by Aixa Elgazwe to remove friction from the process, Runwei is powered by a deep commitment to equitable access to capital.

CloutBank

CloutBank is creating what founder Todd Sheridan calls the world’s first AI-native credit infrastructure. The platform helps digital creators build credit profiles that reflect the realities of modern online income, addressing a major gap in the traditional financial system. CloutBank’s model aims to ensure creators are recognized as legitimate economic actors with access to predictable financial tools and returns.

Fanatech

Fanatech is developing an all-in-one sports engagement platform where athletes, teams, and fans connect through interactive technology. Its tools deepen fan involvement, enhance loyalty, and unlock new monetization opportunities across the sports ecosystem. Founded by Jonathan Makonnen, Fanatech sits at the intersection of sports culture and modern engagement tech.

Tykoon AI

Tykoon AI is an NIL creator-growth platform that supports emerging and often overlooked student-athletes as they build, monetize, and manage their personal brands. Using AI-powered tools, the company simplifies brand development and unlocks opportunities traditionally out of reach for underserved talent. The platform is led by founder Peter Lwuh, who is focused on helping athletes fully realize the value of their name, image, and likeness.

Budget University

Budget University is an online edtech platform delivering accredited financial literacy education to middle and high school students, homeschooling families, and underserved communities. Through its learning management system, students can access coursework on budgeting, investing, student loans, real estate, and long-term wealth building. Founder Shelby Patrice aims to equip young people with the tools they need to navigate modern financial systems with confidence.

About Geekz Ventures

Geekz Ventures is a Techstars Foundation-backed, registered 501(c)(3) non-profit virtual pre-accelerator that supports underestimated entrepreneurs who are launching early-stage tech-enabled startups. Other partners include Village Capital and Black Innovation Alliance. The program provides community, curriculum, coaching, funding, and resources designed to help founders validate their ideas, secure early customers, and prepare for follow-on funding opportunities. The accelerator is industry-agnostic, with a particular focus on media, connectivity, entertainment, and mobile technology.

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SOURCE Geekz Ventures

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 11, 2025 — Veteran Ventures Capital (VVC) announces its participation in the $60 million Series A financing of Vatn Systems (Vatn), a defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for the US military, allied nations, and commercial customers. The investment marks Vatn’s entry into VVC’s Fund II portfolio, underscoring the firm’s growing focus on scalable, dual-use autonomous systems that strengthen national security.

Founded in Rhode Island by lifelong maritime practitioners and seasoned defense engineers, Vatn Systems is redefining how undersea missions are conducted. The company develops low-cost, modular AUVs designed to operate in large numbers—enabling distributed sensing, rapid ISR, mine countermeasures, and emerging undersea effects missions. Vatn’s platforms leverage a proprietary inertial navigation system and plug-and-play payload architecture, allowing operators to rapidly tailor vehicles for military, commercial, and scientific applications.

“Vatn exemplifies the kind of mission-driven innovation VVC was created to support,” said Derren Burrell, Founder and Managing Partner of Veteran Ventures Capital. “Their team is fielding the undersea mass our national security enterprise urgently needs, and they’re doing it with a level of technical rigor and operational intuition that’s rare in this sector. We’re proud to partner with BVVC, and to join Lockheed Martin Ventures, SAIC Ventures, Airbus Ventures, and other strategic investors who recognize the decisive advantage Vatn brings to the undersea domain.”

“We’re honored to partner with Veteran Ventures Capital,” said Nelson Mills, CEO and co-founder of Vatn Systems. “Their team understands the pace and demands of the national security landscape, and they bring the operational and strategic insight that companies in this sector need as they scale. This investment accelerates our ability to build and deliver undersea mass for customers who require reliable, rapidly deployable systems at a fraction of the cost.”

Vatn Systems has demonstrated rapid technical and commercial progress throughout 2025, delivering vehicles to U.S. government customers, conducting successful open-water demonstrations, and expanding production capacity to meet accelerating demand. The company’s modular design philosophy allows new mission profiles to be integrated in days rather than months—an advantage that resonates across defense, offshore energy, port security, and environmental monitoring.

“Vatn represents exactly the kind of founder-led ingenuity we seek to back,” said Craig Jaques, General Partner at Veteran Ventures Capital. “Their team has blended deep ocean experience with modern autonomy and manufacturing discipline, resulting in undersea systems that can be produced affordably and deployed at scale. As naval operations shift toward attritable, unmanned architectures, Vatn is exceptionally well positioned to become a category-defining player.”

Beyond its defense mission set, Vatn’s technology opens meaningful opportunities in civilian markets. Low-cost AUVs enable more persistent monitoring of coastal infrastructure, improved maritime domain awareness, expanded access for scientific research, and new tools for environmental stewardship—all areas where demand is growing as ocean resources become increasingly vital and contested.

About Veteran Ventures Capital

Veteran Ventures Capital invests in dual-use national security technologies, focusing on companies led by veteran entrepreneurs and leaders. Committed to advancing U.S. technological superiority, Veteran Ventures Capital provides capital, mentorship, and strategic guidance to high growth companies serving critical government and commercial markets. VVC’s portfolio includes leading companies in defense, aerospace, cybersecurity, and other sectors essential to national security, including notable investments in Hidden Level, Cambium, Agile Space Industries, and Asylon Robotics, amongst others. For more information, visit www.veteranventures.us and follow the firm on LinkedIn.

About Vatn Systems

Vatn Systems is a leading defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles that can be deployed at scale for the US military and allies. Founded in 2023 by a team of maritime experts and military leaders, Vatn Systems is on a mission to be the next underwater defense prime in a world where autonomous systems dominate naval battlefields. Vatn’s flagship products include the Skelmir S6 compact modular underwater effector and the Skelmir S12, a 12.75-inch diameter platform that merges the capabilities of a traditional AUV with the agility and performance of a lightweight torpedo, designed to attrit threats, deploy sensors and decoys, and support electronic warfare missions at scale. Both vehicles are powered by INStinct, Vatn’s proprietary inertial navigation system that delivers precise, GPS-free navigation in harsh maritime environments at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems. For more information, visit www.vatnsystems.com and follow the company on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Veteran Ventures Capital