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
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.
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.
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.
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
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].
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, Investing X Space-tech, Autonomy and Robotics
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.
