BEIJING, 22. Mai 2026 — BAI Capital gab heute den ersten Abschluss seines neuesten USD-Fonds bekannt, der 800 Millionen US-Dollar anstrebt. Beim ersten Abschluss wurden Mittelbindungen in Höhe von 600 Millionen US-Dollar erreicht. In einer Zeit, in der die globale Kapitalallokation disziplinierter geworden ist und Wachstumsinvestitionen sich wieder auf die kommerzielle Validierung und Ausführung konzentrieren, spiegelt der erste Abschluss die Anerkennung der institutionellen Investoren für die Erfolgsbilanz von BAI Capital, die tiefe Verwurzelung im asiatischen Technologie-Ökosystem und die globalen Investitionsmöglichkeiten wider.

BAI Capital wurde 2008 gegründet und kann auf eine 18-jährige Erfolgsbilanz mit 22 Börsengängen und 51 Exits im Bereich Trade Sale & Secondary Sale zurückblicken. Im Laufe der Jahre hat die BAI ihren Investitionsansatz und ihre organisatorischen Fähigkeiten als Reaktion auf die sich ändernden Marktbedingungen weiterentwickelt und gleichzeitig eine unverwechselbare institutionelle Positionierung entwickelt. Das Unternehmen konzentriert sich nicht nur auf die Innovation selbst, sondern auch darauf, wie Innovation geografische Grenzen überschreiten und zu einer Quelle langfristiger Wertschöpfung für globale Märkte werden kann.

Der neue Fonds wird auf den Stärken von BAI Capital im Bereich der Wachstumsinvestitionen aufbauen, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf Unternehmen liegt, die eine kommerzielle Validierung erreicht haben und ein hohes Potenzial für eine überregionale Expansion aufweisen. Die BAI wird sich auf drei Kategorien von Möglichkeiten konzentrieren: neue Wachstumsplattformen, die von chinesischen Spitzenunternehmen geschaffen werden, die nach Übersee expandieren; global ausgerichtete Unternehmen, die aus dem asiatischen Innovationsökosystem hervorgehen und sich zu multinationalen Unternehmen entwickeln; und internationale Unternehmen mit weltweit führenden Innovationskapazitäten, die den chinesischen Markt nutzen können, um sich zu vergrößern. Der Fonds wird Sektoren wie Technologie und KI, Finanzdienstleistungen, Verbraucher und Unterhaltung sowie Unternehmensdienstleistungen abdecken.

BAI Capital ist der Ansicht, dass der Kern der Wachstumsinvestitionen heute darin besteht, qualitativ hochwertige Unternehmen zu identifizieren, die bereits ihre technologische Stärke, ihre Kundenbindung und ihre wirtschaftliche Lebensfähigkeit unter Beweis gestellt haben. Mit einem schärferen globalen Urteilsvermögen und einer qualitativ hochwertigen Zusammenarbeit mit den Anteilseignern will die BAI diesen Unternehmen helfen, ihr Wachstumspotenzial in eine echte Expansion auf breiteren Märkten umzusetzen.

Anna Long, Gründerin und Managing Partner von BAI Capital, sagte: „Wir sind sehr dankbar für das anhaltende Vertrauen und die starke Unterstützung durch unsere bestehenden und neuen Investoren. In der heutigen Investitionsumgebung wird mehr denn je Wert auf Validierung, Lieferung und Disziplin gelegt. Der Kern des neuen BAI-Fonds ist nicht die Verfolgung von Konzepten in der Frühphase, sondern die Unterstützung von Unternehmen, die bereits ihre technologische Stärke, ihre Kundenbindung und ihre kommerzielle Lebensfähigkeit in stark umkämpften Märkten unter Beweis gestellt haben und die die Fähigkeit besitzen, überregional zu expandieren. Wir sind davon überzeugt, dass die technologischen Fähigkeiten, die Geschäftsmodelle und die organisatorische Effizienz, die in Asien, insbesondere in China, entwickelt wurden, zu einer wichtigen Quelle für globales Wachstum werden. Die Rolle des BAI besteht darin, diesen validierten Innovationen zu helfen, größere Märkte zu erschließen und zu Unternehmen mit echter globaler Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu wachsen.”

BAI Capital ist tief in Chinas Technologie- und Industrie-Ökosystem verwurzelt und erweitert gleichzeitig kontinuierlich seine globale Perspektive und seine überregionalen Fähigkeiten. Durch die Nutzung des im Laufe der Jahre aufgebauten Partnerschaftssystems, insbesondere der intensiven Zusammenarbeit mit weltweit führenden Technologieunternehmen und strategischen Industriepartnern, sowie des globalen Netzwerks und der Industrieressourcen von Bertelsmann hat die BAI einen Plattformvorteil entwickelt, der lokale Erkenntnisse mit globaler Zusammenarbeit verbindet.

Bertelsmann ist ein Medien-, Dienstleistungs- und Bildungsunternehmen mit mehr als 75.000 Mitarbeitern, das in rund 50 Ländern der Welt tätig ist. Das Unternehmen erzielte im Geschäftsjahr 2025 einen Umsatz von 19 Milliarden Euro. BAI Capital hat seine Wurzeln bei Bertelsmann Asia Investments innerhalb der Bertelsmann-Gruppe und schloss sein erstes unabhängiges Fundraising im Jahr 2021 ab. Nach seiner Unabhängigkeit hat BAI Capital weiterhin die Bertelsmann-Plattform genutzt, um relevante Portfoliounternehmen mit Mehrwert zu unterstützen.

Auch in Zukunft wird BAI Capital in Asien verwurzelt und mit der Welt verbunden sein. Mit einer offenen Perspektive und langfristiger Geduld wird das Unternehmen die nächste Generation von Unternehmen bei ihrer Entwicklung zu wirklich globalen Unternehmen unterstützen.

BEIJING, 22 mai 2026 — BAI Capital a annoncé aujourd’hui la première clôture de son dernier fonds en USD, visant 800 millions de dollars. La première clôture a permis d’atteindre 600 millions de dollars d’engagements. À une époque où l’allocation des capitaux au niveau mondial est devenue plus disciplinée et où l’investissement dans la croissance se recentre sur la validation et l’exécution commerciales, la première clôture reflète la reconnaissance par les investisseurs institutionnels des antécédents de BAI Capital, de ses racines profondes dans l’écosystème technologique asiatique et de ses capacités d’investissement à l’échelle mondiale.

Fondée en 2008, BAI Capital a fait ses preuves depuis 18 ans, avec 22 introductions en bourse et 51 ventes commerciales et ventes secondaires. Au fil des ans, la BAI a continué à faire évoluer son approche de l’investissement et ses capacités organisationnelles en réponse à l’évolution des conditions du marché, tout en développant un positionnement institutionnel plus distinctif. L’entreprise se concentre non seulement sur l’innovation elle-même, mais aussi sur la manière dont l’innovation peut franchir les frontières géographiques et devenir une source de création de valeur à long terme pour les marchés mondiaux.

Le nouveau fonds s’appuiera sur les atouts de BAI Capital en matière d’investissement dans la croissance, en mettant l’accent sur les entreprises qui ont obtenu une validation commerciale et qui présentent un fort potentiel d’expansion transrégionale. La BAI se concentrera sur trois catégories d’opportunités : de nouvelles plateformes de croissance créées par des entreprises chinoises championnes qui s’étendent à l’étranger, des entreprises à vocation mondiale qui émergent de l’écosystème d’innovation asiatique et qui deviennent des entreprises multinationales, et des entreprises internationales dotées de capacités d’innovation de premier plan au niveau mondial qui peuvent tirer parti du marché chinois pour s’étendre. Le fonds couvrira des secteurs tels que la technologie et l’IA, les services financiers, la consommation et le divertissement, ainsi que les services aux entreprises.

BAI Capital estime que l’essentiel de l’investissement dans la croissance consiste aujourd’hui à identifier des entreprises de grande qualité qui ont déjà fait la preuve de leur puissance technologique, de l’intérêt qu’elles suscitent auprès de leurs clients et de leur viabilité commerciale. Grâce à un jugement global plus fin et à une collaboration de meilleure qualité avec les actionnaires, BAI vise à aider ces entreprises à traduire leur potentiel de croissance en une expansion réelle sur des marchés plus vastes.

Anna Long, fondatrice et associée directrice de BAI Capital, a déclaré : « Nous sommes profondément reconnaissants de la confiance et du soutien continus de nos investisseurs actuels et nouveaux. Aujourd’hui, l’environnement d’investissement met plus que jamais l’accent sur la validation, la livraison et la discipline. L’objectif principal du nouveau fonds de BAI n’est pas de poursuivre des concepts en phase de démarrage, mais de soutenir des entreprises qui ont déjà fait la preuve de leur puissance technologique, de l’intérêt de leurs clients et de leur viabilité commerciale sur des marchés hautement concurrentiels, et qui ont la capacité de s’étendre à d’autres régions. Nous pensons que les capacités technologiques, les modèles d’entreprise et l’efficacité organisationnelle forgés en Asie, en particulier en Chine, sont en train de devenir une source importante de croissance mondiale. Le rôle de la BAI est d’aider ces innovations validées à pénétrer des marchés plus vastes et à devenir des entreprises véritablement compétitives à l’échelle mondiale. »

BAI Capital est profondément ancrée dans l’écosystème technologique et industriel chinois, tout en élargissant continuellement sa perspective mondiale et ses capacités interrégionales. En s’appuyant sur l’écosystème de partenariat qu’elle a construit au fil des ans, en particulier ses collaborations approfondies avec des leaders technologiques mondiaux et des partenaires industriels stratégiques, ainsi que sur le réseau mondial et les ressources industrielles de Bertelsmann, BAI a développé une plateforme avantageuse qui associe une vision locale à une collaboration mondiale.

Bertelsmann est une société de médias, de services et d’éducation qui emploie plus de 75 000 personnes et opère dans une cinquantaine de pays à travers le monde. L’entreprise a généré un chiffre d’affaires de 19 milliards d’euros au cours de l’exercice 2025. BAI Capital trouve ses origines dans Bertelsmann Asia Investments du groupe Bertelsmann et a réalisé sa première levée de fonds indépendante en 2021. Après son indépendance, BAI Capital a continué à tirer parti de la plateforme Bertelsmann pour fournir un soutien à valeur ajoutée aux entreprises de son portefeuille.

À l’avenir, BAI Capital continuera d’être enracinée en Asie et connectée au monde. Avec une perspective ouverte et une patience à long terme, l’entreprise soutiendra la prochaine génération d’entreprises au fur et à mesure qu’elles se développent pour devenir des entreprises véritablement mondiales.

“Aboard was founded to bring automotive-grade design and engineering to the travel trailer category, so people can travel with the reliability, comfort, and confidence they expect from a modern vehicle without being limited by hookups or complicated RV systems,” said Jiangtao Lyu, Founder of Aboard. “With our first travel trailer now in advanced prototype and validation, we’re investing in production readiness and bringing Aboard into the outdoor communities where our customers already live, travel and gather.”

Aboard’s first product is an EREV travel trailer built like a vehicle. Engineered as one integrated system, it combines energy, mobility, and living into a single platform, delivering a quiet electric experience with built-in energy independence, vehicle-level towing and control, automated comfort systems, and automotive-grade manufacturing, like high-precision stamped body and door systems. Aboard’s holistic approach creates a travel trailer designed for ease of use, upgrading the experience in a modern, yet familiar package.

Aboard will mark its formal public launch on May 29 at Outside Days in Denver, CO, a two-day outdoor industry conference and three-day festival, where the company will showcase its travel trailer and discuss product configurations, which start at $80,000. Attendees will be able to tour the travel trailer, meet the Aboard team, and learn more about the company’s vision for modern mobile living.

About Aboard
Aboard is a Southern California-based company building products for modern mobile living. Built by a team with deep roots in automotive engineering, Aboard brings the precision, integration, and rigor of vehicle design into a new form of living. Starting with a fully integrated travel trailer, Aboard is rethinking how people move, live, and connect—designing systems that make life on the road feel as seamless and considered as life at home. aboardrv.com

Media Contact
[email protected]

SOURCE Aboard

Tackling a $773B problem, CVRD is fixing the broken government contracting benefits system that has shortchanged workers, penalized contractors, and cost taxpayers more than it should for decades

MIAMI, May 21, 2026 — CVRD Health, the technology platform modernizing how federal contractors manage health and welfare benefits, today announced $5 million in seed funding led by Upfront Ventures, and joined by Waterline Ventures and Distributed Ventures. The investment will accelerate platform development, expand CVRD’s compliance and member advocacy teams, and bring its solution to federal contractors of all sizes nationwide.

The federal government spends over $773 billion on contracts annually with private companies, employing the millions of workers who staff federal buildings, military bases, courthouses, veterans’ hospitals, and government agencies. Under the Service Contract Act (SCA), Davis-Bacon Related Acts (DBRA), and prevailing wage laws, every contractor is legally required to provide employees both base wages and a fringe benefit allowance, which must be applied toward qualifying benefits such as health insurance, retirement, paid leave, life insurance, and disability.

However, traditional health plans frequently exceed the fringe allowance, forcing contractors to absorb the difference out of their own margins. Meanwhile, their employees are limited to rigid, one-size-fits-all coverage. The administrative burden of compliance also falls disproportionately on smaller contractors, shrinking the competitive bidding pool and ultimately driving up costs for the federal government.

The tools contractors rely on today were designed for commercial employers and retrofitted for government contracting as an afterthought. While significant infrastructure exists to help contractors win work, almost nothing exists to help them manage profitability once the contract is awarded.

CVRD’s platform provides contractors real-time visibility into their benefit obligations, spend, and reimbursement status, ensuring no fringe dollars go unrecovered. The platform pairs this financial transparency with full benefits administration through an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA), which provides each employee tax-free funds to choose coverage that fits each individual’s needs. Every employee is also assigned a dedicated member advocate, who can help select a plan, answer coverage questions, and offer on-going support.

“Winning a government contract is only half the battle,” said Alexa Baggio, Co-Founder and CEO of CVRD Health. “The industry has almost no infrastructure dedicated to helping contractors actually execute that work profitably. Meanwhile, the workers doing that work have fringe dollars that are legally theirs — and right now, too much of that money gets eaten up by an inefficient system instead of going to the people who earned it.”

Contractors using CVRD recover 100% of their benefits spend, stay compliant with federal laws and prevailing wage requirements, while offering employees real choices in healthcare. CVRD works with federal contractors nationwide, including Aptive Resources, which saved over half a million dollars in its first year after switching, representing a 52% reduction in average premiums and a 30% drop in monthly employer contributions, while employees gained access to plans optimized for their location and family situation.

“The government contracting market is one of the largest and most underserved sectors in the U.S. economy when it comes to purpose-built technology,” said Kevin Zhang, General Partner at Upfront Ventures. “CVRD has identified a structural problem affecting millions of workers and thousands of businesses — and built the only solution designed specifically to solve it.”

CVRD is available now to federal government contractors at becvrd.com.

ABOUT CVRD HEALTH

CVRD Health (pronounced “covered”) is the only fringe benefit optimization and compliance platform built exclusively for government contractors, by government contractors. Headquartered in Miami, FL, CVRD’s platform gives contractors real-time visibility into what they owe, what they’ve spent, and what they’re owed back — so no benefit dollar goes unrecovered or out of compliance. Paired with full benefits administration and dedicated member support, CVRD helps contractors stay compliant, protect their margins, and offer employees real choices in healthcare coverage. For more information, visit becvrd.com or contact [email protected].

SOURCE CVRD Health

San Francisco-based venture firm partners early with technical founders building intelligent systems and critical infrastructure for the physical world

SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2026 — IXSAR Capital, a San Francisco–based venture firm investing at the frontier of Space Technology, Autonomy, and Robotics, today announced its focused venture platform designed to back technical founders building the next generation of intelligent systems, physical AI, and advanced infrastructure.

IXSAR Capital partners early with founders developing hard engineering solutions across orbit, road, factory, field, and other complex operating environments. The firm is built around a concentrated, high-conviction strategy and provides hands-on support across customer access, go-to-market strategy, talent, supply chain, manufacturing, regulatory pathways, and strategic partnerships.

“Software changed the world through code. The next wave will be defined by intelligent systems that move through, sense, and reshape the physical world,” said John Gabriel, General Partner of IXSAR Capital. “IXSAR Capital was created for the founders building in that frontier—where deep technical execution, commercial discipline, and long-term strategic support matter from day one.”

IXSAR focuses on companies operating in three core sectors:

• Space Technology — infrastructure, systems, and enabling technologies supporting the expanding space economy.
• Autonomy — intelligent platforms capable of perception, planning, and real-world execution.
• Robotics — machines and systems that automate, augment, and transform physical industries.

For founders, IXSAR Capital offers more than capital. The firm works with early-stage teams on technical and commercial diligence, customer introductions, enterprise and OEM partnerships, dual-use pathways, manufacturing strategy, and key hires. IXSAR is particularly focused on companies where engineering depth creates durable advantages and where execution requires navigating complex markets, supply chains, and regulatory environments.

For investors, IXSAR provides focused exposure to sectors the firm believes will shape the coming decade of technology and industrial transformation. Its strategy is designed around concentrated conviction, category specialization, and active company-building support.

“Space, autonomy, and robotics are converging with advances in AI, sensors, edge compute, power systems, and manufacturing,” added John Gabriel “That convergence is creating a new class of companies: intelligent systems businesses that can transform logistics, defense, mobility, industrial automation, agriculture, infrastructure, and beyond. IXSAR exists to help those companies become enduring platforms.”

Founders building in Space Technology, Autonomy, or Robotics can contact IXSAR Capital at [email protected] with the subject line “Founder Intro.” Institutional investors, family offices, and strategic LPs may contact [email protected] with the subject line “LP Inquiry.”

About IXSAR Capital

IXSAR Capital is a San Francisco–based venture capital firm investing at the frontier of Space Technology, Autonomy, and Robotics. The firm partners early with technical founders turning hard engineering into durable companies, supporting teams across customer access, go-to-market strategy, talent, supply chain, manufacturing, and regulatory strategy. IXSAR Capital’s mission is to back the teams building intelligent systems and infrastructure that will reshape industries and improve how people live and work.

Media Contact

IXSAR Capital
Email: [email protected]
Website: ixsar.com

SOURCE IXSAR

AI Therapy Platform Backed by Tony Robbins, Apolo Anton Ohno, Prime Movers Lab and Others Prioritizes Proactive Care, Helping Users to Find a Path Forward

SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2026 — Today, The Path, the global AI therapy platform designed for creating long-term mental wellness, announced $14.3 million in seed funding led by Prime Movers Lab with participation from Apolo Anton Ohno, Deontay Wilder, Designer Fund and others. The company was co-founded by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author and philanthropist Tony Robbins; Anson Whitmer, a founding member of the Calm app who led its data science and AI team; and Tyler Sheaffer, who founded Calm’s engineering team. Previously known as Mental, The Path has evolved to deliver AI therapy tools for daily living to help users build emotional resilience.

“Mental health care is backwards. We only step in once someone has reached a crisis point. I’ve seen this play out in my own family, and I knew we needed to build a platform that worked differently,” said Whitmer. “The Path is built on a new premise: the system is designed to understand where users are psychologically and guide them forward with continuity and intelligent sequencing. Unlike general-purpose AI, The Path is purpose-built for psychological growth, remembering user history, challenging assumptions and helping users build toward long-term goals. We want to help people understand their emotions, build healthier habits and find a clear way forward.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion people worldwide live with a mental health condition, yet most do not receive adequate care. Meanwhile, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that for most Americans, more than a decade passes between when mental health symptoms first appear and when they receive care. Existing solutions fall short of addressing the personal, sensitive needs of those managing mental health challenges. Projections show the shortage of qualified mental health professionals is worsening, highlighting the need for more accessible solutions.

The Path takes a new approach. The platform is built on multiple foundational models specifically designed for therapy and coaching. These models are guided by clinical expertise and trained to prioritize efficient and effective problem resolution over user engagement. Unlike traditional AI chatbots which reinforce blind spots and cognitive distortions, The Path functions like a guide, integrating principles from therapy and coaching and adapting them based on where each user is in their mental health journey.

The Path users select an AI therapist that fits their needs, and the platform personalizes a program from there. Between live sessions, The Path delivers customized homework, interventions and training to drive progress across multiple focus areas. It is also the only AI therapy platform built to support users who do reach a crisis state, offering robust safety features including facilitation with crisis hotline services as well as connection to human therapists. On a recent safety benchmark, The Path scored 95 while the best models from OpenAI and Anthrophic scored a 65.

“I’ve spent decades studying human potential, and here’s what I know: the gap between hitting rock bottom and getting real help is where too many people disappear. That gap is a crisis,” said Robbins. “Mental health support has lagged behind human need for far too long. The Path is delivering what the industry has failed to: personalized, accessible support for anyone who needs it, anytime they need it. Anson and the team are building something that has the potential to save lives and help millions of people.”

“Anson and his team have pioneered the frontier of AI and mental health for years. With The Path they have built a platform that enables proactive mental health and wellness,” said Dakin Sloss, founder and general partner at Prime Movers Lab. “By combining clinically-informed AI with a deeply personalized user experience, The Path sets itself apart from general-purpose models that struggle with the nuances of psychological safety. This isn’t just another chatbot, it’s a sophisticated guide that understands the continuity of a human journey. We are proud to lead this round and work alongside the team to scale this life-changing technology and redefine the mental health landscape.”

“Elite performance, whether on the ice or in the boardroom, is built on consistent, proactive mental training,” said Ohno. “The Path is the first platform I’ve seen that treats mental wellness like a discipline. It’s a 24/7 partner that helps you find clarity regardless of where you are in your mental health journey. The Path lowers the barrier for millions to start their own path toward greatness. I invested because this platform gives people the tools to navigate life with grace and resilience. It’s not just about getting through a crisis; it’s about having a guide to help you get to the next level.”

First launched as Mental, the AI technology The Path is built on has been used by more than 50,000 members and processed over 3.5 million messages. The Path will use the funding to continue to build the team and scale the platform while pursuing clinical research initiatives.

The Path is available now on the App Store and Google Play, or at thepath.ai.

About The Path
The Path is a global AI therapy platform that helps users turn overwhelming thoughts into clear patterns and practical next steps. Available 24/7 via iOS and Android, The Path is backed by Prime Movers Lab, Tony Robbins, Apolo Anton Ohno, Deontay Wilder, Designer Fund and others. Learn more at thepath.ai.

SOURCE The Path

NEW YORK, May 21, 2026 — Vêtir, the AI-powered luxury wardrobe operating system redefining how high-value consumers get dressed, shop, and manage their wardrobes, today announced the successful first close of its Series A, raising $5.5 million at a $150 million valuation.

The round was led by a curated consortium of investors across technology and luxury-adjacent family offices, including Laidlaw & Company, reflecting a long-term approach to building both the brand and the platform. The Series A saw strong participation from strategic partners as Vêtir continues building what it sees as a category-defining AI commerce platform for luxury fashion.

The raise comes at a pivotal moment for both AI and the luxury sector. While most AI-driven commerce has focused on discovery and transactions, Vêtir is built to act as a system of record for the wardrobe, bringing together what clients already own, what they want, and how they live in one place. This positions the company as an early mover in serving the high-value, high-context luxury consumer, where personalization, discretion, and long-term relationships are paramount.

Over the past year, the company has seen accelerated adoption, including:

• 200% month-over-month organic user expansion
• 3,500%+ growth in B2B clients
• 9x year-over-year revenue growth
• >$2,500 average order value (AOV)

“As Vêtir grows, we’ve been very deliberate in how we’ve built both the product and the company,” said Kate Davidson Hudson, Founder and CEO of Vêtir. “The focus is on building intelligence around the wardrobe itself—well beyond a traditional shopping interface. With our lead investors now in place, we’ve kept a small portion of the round open for a few strategic partners who can add real value as we continue to scale globally.”

Vêtir operates as an always-on, highly contextual AI stylist, learning from a client’s wardrobe, preferences, calendar, travel, and purchase behavior. The result is a persistent layer of personalization that extends well beyond the point of sale. Features like image and video search, photorealistic try-on, and instant closet uploads are all built into Vêtir’s proprietary technology.

On the enterprise side, Vêtir is building a CRM-like layer for private stylists and luxury clienteling teams—bringing structure and continuity to what has traditionally been a fragmented, relationship-driven space. By capturing post-purchase behavior, wardrobe data, and client preferences over time, the platform helps brands and stylists deliver a more precise, high-touch experience while also increasing long-term customer value.

With this funding, Vêtir plans to accelerate development of its personalization engine, expand its global presence, and deepen integrations with enterprise partners across luxury fashion and retail.

Alongside the financing, Vêtir is strengthening its leadership and governance with a series of high-profile appointments across technology, media, and luxury commerce. The company welcomes Stephanie Horton, Senior Director of Global Commerce at Google, and Nina Garcia, Editor-in-Chief of ELLE and Project Runway judge, to its Advisory Board. These appointments bring deep expertise across global commerce infrastructure, media, and luxury consumer behavior, reinforcing Vêtir’s position at the intersection of fashion and technology.

In addition, Jemma Plaue joins as SVP, Global Styling & Strategy, as the company scales its high-touch clienteling and styling operations. She brings experience from Mytheresa, MR PORTER, and NET-A-PORTER, most recently leading Personal Shopping, North America at Mytheresa, where she oversaw one of the company’s highest-performing client segments.

Vêtir is available on iOS and via web at vetirapp.com.

About Vêtir
Vêtir is an AI-powered luxury wardrobe operating system that transforms how consumers get dressed, shop, and manage their wardrobes. By combining a digital closet, personalized styling, and integrated commerce, Vêtir delivers a seamless, intelligent experience tailored to each client’s lifestyle. The platform serves both consumers and enterprise partners, enabling a more connected and data-driven approach to luxury fashion.

Media Contact
vê[email protected] 

SOURCE Vêtir

Blockchange Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Compound VC, and Primitive Ventures back Cycles’ mission to clear the most debt, for the most people, with the least money moved.

TORONTO, May 21, 2026 — Cycles, a startup building an open, privacy-preserving clearing network for crypto markets and stablecoin payments, announced today it has raised $6.4 million in funding led by Blockchange Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Compound VC, Primitive Ventures, and angels. The round brings Cycles’ total funding to $8.7 million, following a $2.3 million pre-seed in 2025. This funding will accelerate the development and rollout of the Cycles clearing network and scaling of the first products built on top, including its first institutional product, Cycles Prime, which enables trading firms to net OTC obligations privately across the network, reducing liquidity requirements and counterparty exposure without requiring collateral, the movement of assets, or any change in counterparties. Cycles Prime is launching with Lynq and FalconX as anchor partners.

Traditional financial institutions use clearing systems to reduce the amount of money that needs to move between counterparties. Instead of every firm sending full payments back and forth, clearing offsets obligations so that only the net difference needs to move. Crypto markets largely operate without this infrastructure today, creating liquidity bottlenecks, higher counterparty risk, and settlement inefficiencies across billions in daily trading volume.

Spun out of Informal Systems and led by Cosmos co-founder Ethan Buchman, Cycles nets obligations across crypto trading and payment flows through a multilateral clearing network  designed to improve capital efficiency and unlock new opportunities for growth.

“Clearing is a financial superpower that has historically only been available to large financial institutions,” said Ethan Buchman, Co-founder and CEO of Cycles. “Our goal is to bring that superpower to everyone else, through a privacy-preserving clearing network with capital efficiency at its core, and without centralized intermediaries.”

The consequences of operating without clearing infrastructure are not theoretical. On October 10, 2025, more than $19 billion in crypto leverage was liquidated in roughly a single day – the largest single-day deleveraging event in crypto history, with 70% of forced liquidations occurring in just 40 minutes (Amberdata, FTI Consulting). Much of the digital asset market still operates on a gross basis without netting, requiring participants and market makers to fully prefund trades, an inefficient use of capital that amplifies fragility when markets move fast (Markets Media).

“Clearing is the cornerstone of capital-efficient markets like foreign exchange allowing the movement of massive volumes of value without crippling liquidity requirements,” said Rob Schmults, General Partner at Blockchange Ventures. “We see Cycles providing an essential coordination layer to bring the efficiency and effectiveness of clearing to new markets. Doing this will allow businesses to clear and settle payments privately, optimize capital flow, and reduce the need for idle capital. As global adoption accelerates, Cycles can become a category defining standard for how value is settled and netted across entire ecosystems and markets.”

Cycles is building a unified clearing network that serves as a base layer for an ecosystem of capital-efficient financial applications.  It is initially launching two products built on a shared clearing architecture: Cycles Prime for institutional trading firms and Cycles Pay for stablecoin payments.

Cycles Prime enables institutional trading firms to net OTC obligations privately across the network, reducing liquidity requirements and counterparty exposure without requiring collateral, the movement of assets, or any change in counterparties. Institutional trading firms interested in joining the Cycles Prime beta can apply for a spot at cycles.money/prime.

“Legacy settlement rails weren’t built for today’s 24/7 global markets. We support Cycles’ mission to create a unified clearing layer for on-chain finance, an important step in modernizing global financial infrastructure,” commented Matt Lepow, Trade Ops Lead at FalconX. “As a pilot partner for Cycles Prime, FalconX is proud to contribute to a more capital-efficient method for institutions to manage short-term obligations.”

Cycles Pay is a stablecoin payments app for individuals and businesses to pay and get paid, put idle balances to work, and maintain privacy throughout. Payments are routed through Cycles’ clearing engine, which nets obligations across participants to minimize capital movement. Invoicing, expense management (and soon credit) will help businesses optimize cashflow on stablecoin rails. Try the app and sign up for private beta access to business features at cycles.money/pay.

About Cycles
Cycles is building a private clearing network for crypto markets and stablecoin payments. Spun out of Informal Systems, Cycles uses zero-knowledge proofs, trusted execution environments, and multilateral clearing to preserve privacy while enabling net settlement. Its first products, Cycles Prime and Cycles Pay, bring privacy-preserving clearing infrastructure to institutional trading firms, businesses, and individuals.

SOURCE Cycles

• ONE Bow River backs cutting-edge unmanned aircraft system technologies aimed to strengthen U.S. national security
• Capital injection fast-tracks PteroDynamics development and deployment of next-generation autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for defense and commercial applications.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 21, 2026 — ONE Bow River National Defense Fund (“ONE Bow River”) has made a strategic investment in PteroDynamics Inc., an innovator in autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems. The investment will enable PteroDynamics to accelerate development and flight testing of the company’s novel Transwing^® VTOL unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and scale manufacturing to meet growing global demand in the defense and commercial sectors.

ONE Bow River’s National Defense Fund invests in critical technology companies that aim to advance U.S. national security and strengthen the industrial base. PteroDynamics’ Transwing is a revolutionary VTOL aircraft system that folds its wings to transition between configurations optimized for vertical and winged horizontal flight.

“The need for next-generation VTOL UAS platforms to automate surveillance and contested logistics operations to remote locations in harsh environments is growing every day,” said Kevin O’Neil, Chief Investment Officer at ONE Bow River. “That is exactly the area where PteroDynamics excels. We’re committed to helping PteroDynamics scale its engineering, operations, and manufacturing to take advantage of a growing market opportunity.”

“PteroDynamics is at an exciting inflection point. The Transwing’s unique performance capabilities and compelling multi-mission flexibility are attracting increasing interest from defense and commercial operators in the U.S. and around the world,” said PteroDynamics CEO Matthew Graczyk. “The strategic partnership with ONE Bow River allows us to leverage their deep operational expertise and industry and government relationships to seize these opportunities while delivering more value to the market.” 

The strategic growth investment will support the buildout of PteroDynamics engineering operations, further development of the Transwing VTOL UAS platform, flight testing, and scaled manufacturing. PteroDynamics Transwing UAS platform aligns with the ONE Bow River’s focus on differentiated technology platforms that support contested logistics, aerospace, and national defense readiness.

The autonomous fourth-generation P4 Transwing VTOL UAS has a take-off weight of 89 pounds with a maximum payload of 15 pounds. In 2025, the U.S. Navy awarded PteroDynamics a contract to design and develop the company’s larger fifth-generation P5 Transwing, which will have a maximum take-off weight of 330 pounds and a range of over 400 nautical miles carrying a 50-pound payload at 70 knots. Initial flight testing begins later this summer.

About PteroDynamics

PteroDynamics Inc. is an innovation leader in autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems. PteroDynamics’ patented Transwing^® aircraft folds its wings to transition seamlessly between configurations optimized for vertical and winged horizontal flight, combining the speed, range, and endurance of fixed-wing aircraft with superb VTOL performance in a highly efficient unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platform that overcomes inherent limitations in other VTOL designs. Transwing’s unique capabilities are ideal for automating time-sensitive delivery of critical high-value payloads to hard-to-reach locations with no runways and in austere conditions, including dual-use military and commercial applications like maritime logistics support, payload delivery to remote locations without airstrips, and reconnaissance and surveillance. For more information, please visit www.pterodynamics.com.

About ONE Bow River

At the heart of ONE Bow River’s mission is a commitment to invest in, nurture, and advance companies focused on software and data solutions for the Government. Guided by the investment principles of the Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital, ONE Bow River seeks to identify new opportunities that promote sustainable growth across its portfolio. ONE Bow River strives to deliver unparalleled value to shareholders while significantly enhancing our nation’s defense capabilities. For further details, please visit https://onebowriver.com.

Media Contact:
John Sommerfield
PteroDynamics
+1 415-310-5052
[email protected]

SOURCE ONE Bow River National Defense Fund