TOKYO and PALO ALTO, Calif., May 26, 2026 — bitBiome, a pioneering force in the field of discovery, design and engineering of novel enzymes, proteins, strains, and ingredients, today announced that it has closed an oversubscribed seed extension round. This investment underscores bitBiome’s traction and global relevance in the engineering biology and bio-manufacturing landscape.

With this investment, bitBiome is poised to accelerate its mission to discover and engineer microbial enzymes and pathways at scale, leveraging its deeply curated and fast-expanding microbial database, cutting-edge modeling and predictive capabilities, and high-throughput enzyme, pathway and strain engineering platforms. The collaboration aligns with their partners’ strategic focus on engineered biology and the bioeconomy, as a frontier technology with both commercial and strategic implications. 

“This investment reflects our conviction that bitBiome’s unique microbial database-and-model stack is a differentiator in the enzyme and strain engineering space,” said Yuji Suzuki, CEO of bitBiome. “With this added strategic support, bringing our total equity and non-dilutive funding including grant to over 45 million USD, we will deepen our modelling-first approach to provide much higher probabilities of success, continue to expand our global presence, and drive partnerships across industrial biotech, pharma and life science, synthetic biology and advanced biomanufacturing.”

As biology becomes increasingly data-driven, investors are placing greater emphasis on platforms with differentiated datasets, predictive modeling capabilities, and scalable commercialization pathways. bitBiome’s integrated approach—combining microbial biodiversity, AI, and high-throughput engineering—positions the company at the forefront of this shift.

“We are thrilled to partner with bitBiome. The company has amassed a uniquely diverse microbial database, which combined with its advanced modeling capabilities, gives them an edge in enzyme discovery, engineering, and biomanufacturing,” said Olivia Jones, Managing Director, IQT. “We believe this capability is strategically important, not only for commercial enzyme innovation, but also for advancing the frontier of engineered biology and biosecurity. We’re excited to see bitBiome scale globally.”

Shinya Kasuga, General partner of IT-Farm said, “IT-Farm is proud to make our follow-on investment in bitBiome, a leading applied AI company in data-driven bioscience, leveraging the world’s largest proprietary microbial genome database to drive novel enzyme discovery for biosynthesis applications. We are particularly excited by the company’s pioneering approach to scalable genome AI commercialization, built upon its unprecedented mass of data and unique strengths in microfluidics & biosynthesis technologies. As a Tokyo-based cross-border deeptech VC since 1999, we look forward to further supporting the company’s global fundraising and business development by leveraging our international network and decades of experience.”

“We are excited to partner with bitBiome as it builds a foundational data and discovery platform for the next generation of biomanufacturing,” said Andrew Hyung of Valuence Ventures. “By combining proprietary single-cell microbial genome sequencing, one of the world’s largest microbial gene databases, and AI-enabled enzyme discovery and engineering, bitBiome is unlocking microbial biodiversity that traditional approaches cannot reach and turning it into actionable commercial solutions. The company has paired a differentiated technology moat with real customer traction, strong capital efficiency, and a clear path toward products, data licensing, and scalable biomanufacturing applications. We are proud to support the bitBiome team as they expand globally and help establish microbial biodiversity as a new infrastructure layer for the bioeconomy.”

“We at Darwin highly value the unique and globally rare technological foundation bitBiome has built in the field of synthetic biology. A major competitive advantage is the company’s ability, through its proprietary technology platforms—”bit-MAP,” “bit-GEM,” and “bit-EVO”—to conduct end-to-end exploration, analysis, and implementation—from the discovery of useful genes to the development of enzymes and microbial production strains—with high precision and speed, utilizing the vast, untapped resources of microorganisms. We highly appreciate the progress of their multiple product development pipelines using synthetic biology, while anticipating future customer demand. We are pleased to be able to continuously support the company’s growth through this investment,” said Kazuaki Konno, Partner of Darwin Ventures.

About bitBiome
bitBiome is a biotechnology company unlocking the full potential of our planet’s microbes to power the future of the bioeconomy. bitBiome’s platform is built on their proprietary single-cell microbial genome analysis technology, bit-MAP ^®, which has enabled the creation of bit-GEM: an extensive and groundbreakingly diverse and growing microbial database of over 3 billion sequences, sourced primarily from environmental samples and predominantly containing sequences not present in public databases. Leveraging their expertise in bioinformatics, machine learning and unique use of AI technologies, the company practices a comprehensive and differentiated enzyme discovery and enzyme, pathway and diversified strain engineering platform, bit-EVO, to rapidly develop and manufacture bio-based products. bitBiome is committed to improving existing biomanufacturing industries and creating new ones by delivering unique nature-inspired bio-based products that cannot be enabled elsewhere.

To learn more about bitBiome’s platform and services, visit www.bitbiome.bio.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE bitBiome

Sofinnova Partners leads oversubscribed round joined by new and returning strategic investors, fueling expansion of P2’s award-winning beauty and personal care portfolio and entry into performance polymers, home care, coatings, and crop care

WOODBRIDGE, Conn., May 26, 2026 — P2 Science, Inc., a leading green chemistry company transforming sustainable feedstocks into high-performance ingredients, today announced the close of an oversubscribed $23 million up round led by Sofinnova Partners. Sofinnova is a leading European life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London, and Milan. The financing will accelerate P2’s commercial growth in beauty and personal care ingredients and expand the company’s green chemistry platform into new markets, including aroma technologies, performance polymers, home care, coatings, and crop care.

New investors Emerald Technology Ventures and GS Futures joined the round alongside continued backing from existing investors including Lewis & Clark Partners, dsm-firmenich ventures, Connecticut Innovations, Elm Street Ventures, Chanel, BASF, and Safer Made, L.P. The strong participation from both new and returning partners reflects growing confidence in P2’s commercial traction, proven innovation leadership, and the scalability of its green chemistry platform.

“This milestone validates the strength of our technology and the urgency of global demand for clean, scalable manufacturing solutions,” said Oihana Elizalde, CEO of P2 Science. “With this new funding, we are positioned to supercharge our beauty business and bring real green chemistry solutions to entirely new industries. We are deeply grateful to our existing investors, whose continued partnership has been instrumental in getting us here, and we are thrilled to welcome Sofinnova Partners, Emerald Technology Ventures, and GS Futures to the P2 family as we begin this next chapter of growth.”

The financing continues a period of significant commercial and scientific momentum for P2. The company was named to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in both 2025 and 2026 and was recently selected for L’Oréal’s €100M sustainable innovation accelerator, L’AcceleratOR. P2 also launched two breakthrough beauty ingredients, Citrolatum® P, a 1:1 plant-based replacement for petrolatum, and CitroComplex® Nourish, a high-performance natural oil blend for skin and hair care and entered a strategic partnership with Algenesis to develop 100% biobased, biodegradable polyurethanes. Most recently, P2 was awarded $2.8 million in non-dilutive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E to accelerate catalyst innovation through AI-enhanced autonomous laboratories.

“P2 Science has demonstrated that green chemistry can compete on performance, not just sustainability credentials. The commercial foundation the team has built in beauty is strong, and the platform has real reach into adjacent markets. We are excited to support this next phase of growth,” said Michael Krel, Partner at Sofinnova Partners.

The capital raise comes at a pivotal moment for sustainable and advanced manufacturing. As brands and consumers demand higher-performing, healthier products and as global markets accelerate the shift away from petrochemicals, P2 Science is uniquely positioned to lead; combining a commercially proven beauty ingredients portfolio, a versatile green chemistry platform, and the manufacturing capabilities to scale. Backed by a world-class syndicate of strategic and financial investors and complemented by competitive non-dilutive funding from federal partners, P2 is the chemistry company of the next generation, rooted in performance, sustainability, and scale.

About P2 Science

P2 Science is a green chemistry company, co-founded by Professor Paul Anastas and Dr. Patrick Foley at the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale, that designs and manufactures renewable specialty ingredients for the personal care, flavor & fragrance, and performance materials markets. Using the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry as its foundation, P2 develops proprietary chemical processes and products inspired by nature’s chemistry to deliver high performance with sustainability at scale. For more information, visit www.p2science.com.

Media Contact:

Oihana Elizalde
P2 Science, Inc.
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE P2 Science

As Q1 2026 data from altshare shows founders navigating tighter fundraising conditions, the company is entering the U.S. market, offering founders a more connected and centralized approach to equity management

NEW YORK, May 26, 2026 — altshare, an AI-powered Equity Management Intelligence platform, announces its expansion into the U.S. market alongside the release of its Q1 2026 “The New Rules of Private Funding: Capital Is Selective” report, examining how tighter capital markets are reshaping startup funding and equity strategy. Drawing on data from more than 3,000 companies across the altshare ecosystem, the Q1 report found that investors remain active but are directing capital toward fewer, stronger companies with greater strategic relevance. For founders, that shift is making early financing decisions more consequential across Seed and Series A.

As more startups navigate increasingly selective fundraising conditions, altshare is bringing its Equity Management Intelligence platform to the U.S., giving founders, CFOs, and legal teams clearer visibility into how fundraising affects ownership, control, and long-term growth. Unlike legacy systems that separate workflows across multiple tools, altshare centralizes cap table management, 409A valuations, scenario modeling, waterfall analysis, and stakeholder visibility into a single, AI-powered platform.

Key findings of the Q1 2026 report include:

• Founder ownership and dilution: Founder ownership saw its sharpest stage-to-stage decline between pre-seed and Seed, when early dilution from SAFEs, prior financing, option pool adjustments, and new investments are often formalized in the cap table. Consequently, these metrics underscore how early-stage structuring and financing vehicles heavily shape a founding team’s long-term corporate control.
• Seed funding trends: Seed activity slowed in Q1 2026, with a median investment of $4.8 million and a median pre-money valuation of $10.4 million, landing at the lower end of altshare’s forecast range. altshare’s Q2 2026 projections point to stabilization, though the pace of recovery remains tied to global conditions.
• Series A market reset: Series A rounds also pulled back, with median investment falling to $9.6 million from $12.8 million in Q4 2025, signaling that investors are becoming more selective at the Series A stage.
• Sector performance: AI and cyber remain the strongest categories in Seed and Series A, maintaining premium valuations despite Q1 pullbacks, reflecting growing investor selectivity even in high-demand sectors. The fintech sector continued to decline in Q1 2026, with median investment sizes falling below the 2025 average. HealthTech remains one of the more stable sectors, with relatively modest declines in investment and valuation, attracting investors willing to operate on longer timelines and driven more by clinical and regulatory milestones than by broader market sentiment.
• Liquidity conditions: Liquidity conditions improved, with the share of companies exiting as planned rising to 36.7%, the highest level in the dataset compared to previous years.

The report also found that geopolitical instability, including the Iran conflict during Q1 2026, further shifted capital toward cyber and other defense-adjacent industries. This made the market’s K-shaped recovery more pronounced, with strategically critical sectors attracting capital flows while other industries experienced slower growth.

“Equity is one of the most critical and complex components of building a company,” says Ronen Solomon, Founder and CEO of altshare. “The Q1 2026 report shows that investors aren’t stepping away from private funding, but are responding to a changing global environment by backing companies that are directly relevant to today’s market and geopolitical realities. We are excited to bring U.S. founders a more connected way to manage equity, replacing outdated and fragmented processes with a platform that gives companies greater clarity and control as they grow.”

About altshare: altshare is an AI-powered, controlled equity management platform built for founders, CFOs, and finance teams who need a single system of record for equity operations. From early stage through IPO and beyond, altshare automates compliance, valuations, modeling, and reporting, enabling companies to scale without complexity. altshare meets the world’s most demanding standards as PwC’s Global Vendor of Choice and is trusted by market-leading clients for efficiency, accuracy, and compliance at scale.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2987761/altshare.jpg

Media Contact
Inbar Kneller
ReBlonde for altshare
[email protected] 

SOURCE Altshare

With 10x revenue growth and the trust of over $15B of GMV across more than 1,000 customers, Stord deepens its investment in physical intelligence, launching Stord Labs to advance robotics and next-generation AI across the full commerce stack, so every independent brand can deliver consumer experiences that surpass Prime.

ATLANTA, May 26, 2026 — Stord today announced a $250 million Series F funding round at a $3 billion valuation, led by existing investors doubling down on the company’s accelerating growth and expanding market leadership. The round included Strike Capital, Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Franklin Templeton, Baillie Gifford, G Squared, Bond, and Lux, among others. Alongside the raise, Stord announced Stord Labs, its dedicated environment for advancing physical AI and robotics. Stord is building what independent commerce has always needed and never had: the physical intelligence layer.

“For years, every independent brand has been left to figure out on their own how to compete against the consumer experience Amazon has spent decades and hundreds of billions building. By every measure, independent brands have been losing. Stord exists to level that playing field. We give independent brands the complete commerce stack: the fulfillment network, software, and AI, to deliver a consumer experience that surpasses Prime. Our vertical integration and scaled network create compounding advantages that deliver better, faster, cheaper outcomes with every order we touch. As AI and physical intelligence advance across our platform, that advantage for our customers is rapidly accelerating.” — Sean Henry, Founder and CEO of Stord

Announcing Stord Labs

Stord Labs is a physical intelligence lab at Stord’s Atlanta headquarters where the company builds and validates agentic AI, robotics, and advanced automation against real orders, on the same live operating system powering Stord’s production network, before deploying proven innovations across nearly 100 facilities immediately, with no re-integration. The next generation of physical intelligence cannot be built in simulation or vendor demos. It requires real operational complexity, and Stord Labs is where that work gets done.

The connection between physical infrastructure, vertically integrated technology, and a massive and growing dataset creates a critical and compounding advantage. Training models on live fulfillment data across nearly 100 facilities, $15 billion in annual GMV, and 8 billion data points per year means every order processed makes the network smarter, faster, and cheaper to operate. Stord Labs is where that flywheel accelerates.

Physical Intelligence at Scale

Stord’s revenue has grown approximately 10x over the past four years. That growth has a clear inflection point: 2023, roughly six months after the launch of ChatGPT. Owning the fulfillment network, the software platform, and the data layer simultaneously positioned Stord to move faster on AI than the broader industry. The company’s software business tripled in 2025 and is growing faster than its overall business, with new bookings more than doubling quarter over quarter in Q1 2026. Stord has completed 8 acquisitions, each exceeding its targets, because the same platform, operational excellence, and applied intelligence powering Stord’s network rapidly transforms every facility and customer base it acquires. Today, Stord operates a network of more than 4,000 people with over 200 dedicated to software engineering, product, data science, and physical infrastructure.

“Commerce infrastructure gets built once. From our earliest conversations with Sean Henry, it was clear Stord was assembling something rare: software, physical infrastructure, and AI combined in a way that turns fulfillment into a competitive advantage rather than a cost center. We believe the rise of agentic purchasing will increasingly favor platforms where software and physical operations are deeply integrated. Stord is building that infrastructure. That is why Strike is proud to deepen our partnership in this round.” – John Lagomarsino, Strike Capital

“We believed in that vision when Kleiner Perkins first backed Stord in 2019, and our conviction has only grown as Stord turns fulfillment into a source of speed, clarity, and customer trust.” — Ilya Fushman, Partner, Kleiner Perkins

The Battleground for Independent Commerce

Amazon’s dominance, controlling more than one-third of U.S. online commerce, was built not on a superior storefront or payment system, but on Prime: the promise of fast, reliable, trackable delivery that permanently reset consumer expectations. Every consumer who has experienced Prime now carries that expectation to every other checkout, on every other website, for every other brand.

The most consequential layer of commerce, what happens after checkout, has been left to every brand to figure out on its own. When a brand wins a customer directly, they capture the full margin, the full data, and the full relationship. The moment a platform controls the customer, margin compresses, data disappears, and the brand becomes a commodity.

“I’ve run over $50 million in product sales through Amazon FBA. Amazon makes you feel like a SKU. Stord makes us feel like a brand. That’s the gap, and Stord is exactly built to fill it.” — Imran Jawaid, doingwell

About Stord

Stord is The Consumer Experience Company. Stord provides the fulfillment network, software, and AI that independent brands need to compete on the quality of their direct consumer relationships, from the delivery promise shown at checkout to the return that converts into a repurchase. Through Stord Labs, Stord is advancing the physical intelligence layer that makes its network faster, smarter, and more reliable with every order. With nearly 100 fulfillment locations worldwide, more than 1,000 customers, and over $15 billion in GMV processed annually, Stord’s packages touch nearly one in four U.S. households every year. Stord is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit stord.com.

SOURCE Stord

140-unit Class A BTR community advances to lease-up under institutional management; Phase II launches early 2027

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn., May 26, 2026 — Forest Creek Partners, a family-office-backed real estate platform, today announced the $15 million recapitalization of Phase I at Villages at Forest Creek, a 140-unit Class A build-to-rent (BTR) community on the Germantown/Collierville border — two of Greater Memphis’s most affluent submarkets. The facility covers the 48 delivered units and supports lease-up; Phase II’s remaining 92 units break ground in early 2027.

SIP Ventures served as exclusive strategic advisor, building the institutional operating plan, onboarding a national property management firm, and leading the capital markets process. Genesis Capital provided the bridge facility.

Class A Asset, A+ Submarket

Villages at Forest Creek is the owners’ second Class A BTR community in the area, built to for-sale specification. The 140 three-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhomes average ~1,600 sq ft with attached garages, nine-foot ceilings, masonry façades, fully tiled baths, stainless appliances, luxury vinyl plank, and smart-home technology. The community offers a resort-style pool and clubhouse, with top-rated schools and major employment centers nearby.

Strong Renter & Capital Markets Demand

Lease-up is off to a strong start, consistent with Sun Belt trends where Class A BTR continues to outperform on absorption and rent growth. The SIP-led process drew competitive interest from multiple lenders before closing with Genesis on the most flexible terms.

“No comparable Class A rental product exists in this market,” said John Porter, principal at Forest Creek Partners. “Two A+ submarkets, top schools, demand that supports institutional rental economics long term.”

“Residents are validating the thesis — this area needed a true Class A townhome community, and renters will pay for quality,” added principal John Gallina.

“Forest Creek is what institutional BTR wants right now — Class A product, A+ location, for-sale build, credible sponsor,” said Sherzod Ibragimov, Managing Principal of SIP Ventures. “We wrapped institutional infrastructure around their expertise: operating plan, national PM partner, capital structure on their terms.”

About Forest Creek Partners Forest Creek Partners brings nearly a century of local homebuilding experience to Class A BTR in Greater Memphis.

About SIP Ventures Founded in 2025, SIP Ventures creates Class A+ BTR communities and partners with leading institutional allocators, developers, and homebuilders.

Contacts:

Forest Creek Partners

Wayne Sparks

[email protected]

SIP Ventures

Sherzod Ibragimov

[email protected]

SOURCE SIP Ventures

• This 3-stage round was led by a strategic investor as demand for high quality natural colors accelerates globally
• Earlier this year the FDA approved ‘Beetroot Red’, Phytolon’s first product made by fermentation; the effective date is subject to FDA procedures
• The last stage in the round was supported by existing investors including Millennium Foodtech, NextGen Nutrition Investment Partners (NGN), Colorcon Ventures, and Yossi Ackerman.

YOKNE’AM, Israel, May 26, 2026 — Phytolon, a biotechnology company pioneering fermentation-based natural color solutions announces the close of its $23.6 Million Series B financing to commercialize its natural food colors in the US. This round reflects growing market demand for high-performing, economic, and sustainable natural alternatives to synthetic dyes.

This round was led by an undisclosed strategic investor. The funds were secured during three stages. Most of the funds were secured in the last stage in April, with participation from existing investors, including Millennium Foodtech, NextGen Nutrition (NGN), Colorcon Ventures, and Yossi Ackerman.

The financing follows the FDA approval of Beetroot Red, the company’s first natural colorant in its portfolio (an effective date of the final ruling is yet to be set). Beetroot Red complies with the required standards of performance and clean label that CPGs and consumers expect in the modern food markets. Produced via fermentation of baker’s yeast, Beetroot Red is an elevated natural color rooted in cost efficiency, robust supply, and environmental sustainability.

Halim Jubran, Phytolon’s Co-Founder and CEO, commented on the transaction: “This new funding will be allocated to support sales and supply to CPGs and to distribution partners in the US and beyond. I am excited to see our portfolio of strategic investors increase, enabling us to grow our business and establish our footprint in the market”.

James Cali, General Partner at NGN, also offered his thoughts on the transaction: “Phytolon is at the nexus two mega-trends — consumer and regulatory demand to remove artificial dyes and advances in fermentation to offer natural ingredients with better functionality, cost and sustainability. With a strong network of strategic partners and recent FDA approval, Phytolon is well positioned to capitalize on the transition toward natural dyes across food and supplements products.”

About Phytolon Ltd.
Phytolon is a biotechnology company developing natural food colors using proprietary precision fermentation technology. Its mission is to transform how natural colors are made by delivering high-quality, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for the global food and beverage industry.  With a portfolio based on two core pigments– yellow and purple– Phytolon enables a rich palette of vibrant colors spanning yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. For more information, visit www.phytolon.com

Media Contact
Elyse Lovett
[email protected]

SOURCE Phytolon

U.S.-backed venture platform positions New Zealand as a global innovation gateway, offering investors exposure to proprietary technology companies and Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa eligibility

AUCKLAND, New Zealand and MIAMI, May 23, 2026 — Bridgewest Venture Fund I LP has successful first close of approximately NZ$60.2 million from a group of institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and international migrant investors, positioning the Fund as one of the leading gateways for offshore capital seeking exposure to Australia and New Zealand’s rapidly emerging deep-technology ecosystem. With this validation and strong support from New Zealand investors, Bridgewest Venturesis now raising funds from sophisticated US investors.

The Fund is structured as an eligible investment under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program, offering qualifying global investors a pathway to New Zealand citizenship while meeting approved investment criteria under the country’s migrant investment framework.

Bridgewest Ventures also expects growing interest from U.S. and Australia-based investors seeking geographic diversification away from increasingly crowded North American, European, and Asian venture markets.

As part of its international expansion strategy, Bridgewest Ventures has also commenced fundraising activities in Australia following the recent granting of an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). The Australian distribution strategy is being led by John van der Wielen, Senior Adviser to Bridgewest Group, and will include a June 2026 investor roadshow targeting sophisticated investors, family offices, private wealth advisers and institutional capital partners across key Australian markets.

“Global investors are actively looking for differentiated markets where innovation quality is high but capital competition remains relatively low,” said Saum Vahdat, Chief Executive Officer of Bridgewest Ventures. “New Zealand and Australia are producing globally relevant intellectual property in sectors such as life sciences, medical technology, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and clean technology — yet the market remains significantly undercapitalized relative to the quality of innovation being developed. We believe this creates a compelling asymmetry for sophisticated investors.”

Bridgewest Ventures operates with a hybrid model that combines U.S.-grade investment discipline and global operating capability with an established local New Zealand and Australia presence and sourcing network. Parent company Bridgewest Group has more than 25 years of experience building and investing in growth companies across seven countries.

Unlike many traditional venture funds that operate as passive financial investors, Bridgewest Ventures emphasizes active operational engagement intended to reduce execution risk and accelerate commercialization pathways for portfolio companies.

The firm focuses on identifying proprietary opportunities within New Zealand and Australia’s innovation ecosystem at an earlier stage than what many international investors can access directly. Bridgewest Ventures then works actively with portfolio companies to de-risk technology, strengthen governance, expand commercial capability, and create pathways into larger global markets.

“Our strategy is built around discovering and developing companies before they become visible to broader international capital markets,” said Paul Brownsey, General Partner of Bridgewest Venture Fund I.

“We believe New Zealand and Australia represent one of the more overlooked innovation markets globally. Through our local operating presence, proprietary sourcing network, and active management model, we aim to help companies scale internationally while giving our limited partners exposure to growth opportunities that are often unavailable in larger, more efficient venture markets,” added Brownsey.

Bridgewest Ventures has committed approximately NZ$6.0 million of its own capital into the Fund on the same terms as external investors, reinforcing alignment between the manager and limited partners.

The Fund remains open for additional commitments through Q4 2026 and is targeting total commitments of NZ$100 million.

Bridgewest Ventures invests across sectors including:

• Life Sciences
• Medical Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Advanced Materials
• Clean Technology

By connecting international capital with New Zealand-originated innovation, Bridgewest Ventures aims to help companies expand globally while supporting high-value employment, export growth, and commercialization of intellectual property developed within New Zealand’s research and technology sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can US investors invest in rapidly emerging deep-tech ventures in New Zealand and Australia?

Bridgewest Venture Fund I LP accepts institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and international migrant investors. The Fund is one of the leading gateways for offshore capital seeking exposure to Australia and New Zealand’s rapidly emerging deep-technology ecosystem. The Fund remains open through Q4 2026 and targets total commitments of NZ$100 million. Contact Bridgewest Ventures for information.

Is Bridgewest Venture Fund I eligible under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa program?

Yes. Bridgewest Venture Fund I is structured as an eligible investment under New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa program, allowing qualifying international investors to meet approved investment criteria under New Zealand’s migrant investment framework while gaining exposure to the country’s emerging deep-technology sector.

Why are investors looking at New Zealand and Australia for venture capital opportunities?

New Zealand and Australia are increasingly recognized as overlooked innovation markets producing globally competitive technology and research. Bridgewest Ventures like many international investors, see the region as an opportunity to access high-quality intellectual property, earlier-stage companies, and geographic diversification outside traditional venture hubs such as Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia, and gain exposure to stable markets that may offer resilience during periods of global economic and geopolitical volatility.

What makes Bridgewest Ventures different from traditional venture capital firms?

Unlike many venture capital firms that operate primarily as passive financial investors, Bridgewest Ventures uses an active operational model designed to help portfolio companies scale globally. The firm works closely with founders to strengthen commercialization, governance, strategic partnerships, and international market expansion.

Additional information is available at:
Bridgewest Ventures

About Bridgewest Ventures

Bridgewest Ventures is the venture capital platform of Bridgewest Group, focused on building globally competitive companies originating from New Zealand and international research ecosystems. With operations across seven countries and more than 25 years of venture creation and investment experience, Bridgewest Ventures combines institutional investment capability, operational expertise, and international commercial networks to help emerging companies scale globally.

Media & Investor Contact

Saum Vahdat
Chief Executive Officer
Bridgewest Ventures
+1 310 717 5600
[email protected] 

Paul Brownsey
General Partner
Bridgewest Ventures
+64 21 447 076
[email protected] 

John Van der Wielen
Senior Adviser
Bridgewest Group
‭+61 472 510 006‬
[email protected] 

SOURCE Bridgewest Ventures

BEIJING, 22 mei 2026 — BAI Capital kondigde vandaag de eerste sluiting aan van zijn nieuwste USD-fonds, gericht op US $ 800 miljoen. De eerste sluiting bedroeg 600 miljoen USD aan verbintenissen. In een tijd waarin de wereldwijde kapitaaltoewijzing gedisciplineerder is geworden en groei-investeringen zich opnieuw richten op commerciële validatie en uitvoering, weerspiegelt de eerste sluiting de erkenning door institutionele beleggers van het track record van BAI Capital, de diepe wortels in het technologische ecosysteem van Azië en de wereldwijde investeringsmogelijkheden.

BAI Capital, opgericht in 2008, heeft een track record van 18 jaar opgebouwd, met 22 beursintroducties en 51 handelsverkoop- en secundaire verkoopexits. BAI heeft in de loop der jaren zijn investeringsbenadering en organisatorische mogelijkheden verder ontwikkeld als reactie op veranderende marktomstandigheden, en tegelijkertijd een meer onderscheidende institutionele positionering ontwikkeld. Het bedrijf richt zich niet alleen op innovatie zelf, maar ook op hoe innovatie geografische grenzen kan overschrijden en een bron van langetermijnwaardecreatie voor wereldwijde markten kan worden.

Het nieuwe fonds zal voortbouwen op de sterke punten van BAI Capital op het gebied van groei-investeringen, met een focus op bedrijven die commerciële validatie hebben behaald en een sterk potentieel voor cross-regionale expansie vertonen. BAI zal zich richten op drie categorieën van kansen: nieuwe groeiplatforms gecreëerd door Chinese kampioenbedrijven die zich in het buitenland uitbreiden; wereldwijd georiënteerde bedrijven die voortkomen uit het innovatie-ecosysteem van Azië en zich uitbreiden naar multinationale bedrijven; en internationale bedrijven met wereldwijd toonaangevende innovatiecapaciteiten die de Chinese markt kunnen benutten om schaal te bereiken. Het fonds zal betrekking hebben op sectoren zoals technologie en AI, financiële diensten, consumenten- en entertainmentdiensten en zakelijke diensten.

BAI Capital is van mening dat de kern van hedendaagse groei-investeringen bestaat in het identificeren van hoogwaardige bedrijven die reeds technologische kracht, klantbetrokkenheid en commerciële levensvatbaarheid hebben aangetoond. Met een scherper globaal oordeel en een betere samenwerking tussen aandeelhouders wil BAI deze bedrijven helpen hun groeipotentieel om te zetten in echte expansie in bredere markten.

Annabelle Long, oprichter en managing partner van BAI Capital, zei: We zijn diep dankbaar voor het voortdurende vertrouwen en de sterke steun van zowel onze bestaande als nieuwe investeerders. De hedendaagse investeringsomgeving legt meer nadruk dan ooit op validatie, levering en discipline. De kern van het nieuwe fonds van BAI is niet om concepten in een vroeg stadium na te jagen, maar om bedrijven te ondersteunen die al technologische kracht, klantbetrokkenheid en commerciële levensvatbaarheid hebben aangetoond in zeer concurrerende markten en die het vermogen hebben om zich over regio’s heen uit te breiden. We geloven dat de technologische mogelijkheden, bedrijfsmodellen en organisatorische efficiëntie die in Azië, met name in China, zijn gesmeed, een belangrijke bron van wereldwijde groei worden. De rol van BAI is om deze gevalideerde innovaties te helpen grotere markten te betreden en uit te groeien tot bedrijven met een echt wereldwijd concurrentievermogen.”

BAI Capital is diep geworteld in het technologische en industriële ecosysteem van China en breidt zijn wereldwijde perspectief en cross-regionale mogelijkheden voortdurend uit. Door gebruik te maken van het ecosysteem van partnerschappen dat het in de loop der jaren heeft opgebouwd, met name de diepgaande samenwerking met wereldwijde technologieleiders en strategische industriële partners, evenals het wereldwijde netwerk en industriële middelen van Bertelsmann, heeft BAI een platformvoordeel ontwikkeld dat lokale inzichten combineert met wereldwijde samenwerking.

Bertelsmann is een media-, diensten- en onderwijsbedrijf met meer dan 75.000 werknemers dat actief is in ongeveer 50 landen over de hele wereld. Het bedrijf genereerde in het boekjaar 2025 een omzet van 19 miljard EUR. BAI Capital vindt zijn wortels in Bertelsmann Asia Investments onder de Bertelsmann Group en voltooide zijn eerste onafhankelijke fondsenwerving in 2021. Na haar onafhankelijkheid heeft BAI Capital het Bertelsmann-platform blijven gebruiken om waardevolle ondersteuning te bieden aan relevante portefeuillebedrijven.

In de toekomst zal BAI Capital nog steeds in Azië geworteld zijn en verbonden zijn met de wereld. Met een open perspectief en langdurig geduld zal het bedrijf de volgende generatie bedrijven ondersteunen terwijl ze uitgroeien tot echt wereldwijde bedrijven.

BEIJING, May 22, 2026 — BAI Capital today announced the first close of its latest USD fund, targeting US$800 million. The first close reached US$600 million in commitments. At a time when global capital allocation has become more disciplined and growth investing is refocusing on commercial validation and execution, the first close reflects institutional investors’ recognition of BAI Capital’s track record, deep roots in Asia’s technology ecosystem, and global investment capabilities.

Founded in 2008, BAI Capital has built an 18-year track record, with 22 IPOs and 51 trade sale & secondary sale exits. Over the years, BAI has continued to evolve its investment approach and organizational capabilities in response to changing market conditions, while developing a more distinctive institutional positioning. The firm focuses not only on innovation itself, but also on how innovation can cross geographic boundaries and become a source of long-term value creation for global markets.

The new fund will build on BAI Capital’s strengths in growth investing, with a focus on companies that have achieved commercial validation and show strong potential for cross-regional expansion. BAI will focus on three categories of opportunities: new growth platforms created by Chinese champion companies expanding overseas; globally oriented companies emerging from Asia’s innovation ecosystem and scaling into multinational businesses; and international companies with globally leading innovation capabilities that can leverage the Chinese market to achieve scale. The fund will cover sectors including technology and AI, financial services, consumer and entertainment, and business services.

BAI Capital believes that the core of growth investing today is identifying high-quality companies that have already demonstrated technology strength, customer traction, and commercial viability. With sharper global judgment and higher-quality shareholder collaboration, BAI aims to help these companies translate growth potential into real expansion across broader markets.

Anna Long, Founder and Managing Partner of BAI Capital, said: “We are deeply grateful for the continued trust and strong support from both our existing and new investors. Today’s investment environment places greater emphasis than ever on validation, delivery, and discipline. The core of BAI’s new fund is not to chase early-stage concepts, but to support companies that have already demonstrated technology strength, customer traction, and commercial viability in highly competitive markets, and that possess the ability to expand across regions. We believe the technological capabilities, business models, and organizational efficiency forged in Asia, especially in China, are becoming an important source of global growth. BAI’s role is to help these validated innovations enter larger markets and grow into companies with true global competitiveness.”

BAI Capital has been deeply rooted in China’s technology and industrial ecosystem, while continuously expanding its global perspective and cross-regional capabilities. Leveraging the partnership ecosystem it has built over the years, particularly its deep collaborations with global technology leaders and strategic industry partners, as well as Bertelsmann’s global network and industrial resources, BAI has developed a platform advantage that combines local insight with global collaboration.

Bertelsmann is a media, services, and education company with more than 75,000 employees that operates in some 50 countries around the world. The company generated revenues of €19 billion in the 2025 financial year. BAI Capital traces its roots to Bertelsmann Asia Investments under Bertelsmann Group, and completed its first independent fundraising in 2021. Following its independence, BAI Capital has continued to leverage the Bertelsmann platform to provide value-added support to relevant portfolio companies.

Looking ahead, BAI Capital will continue to be rooted in Asia and connected to the world. With an open perspective and long-term patience, the firm will support the next generation of companies as they grow into truly global businesses.