SAN FRANCISCO, July 28, 2025 — E2B, the leading provider of open-source cloud infrastructure specifically designed for AI agents, has raised a $21 million Series A funding round led by global software investor Insight Partners, with participation from Decibel, Sunflower Capital, and Kaya, along with prominent angels such as Docker’s former CEO Scott Johnston. The investment will enable E2B to accelerate the expansion of its cloud infrastructure offerings, enhance its open-source interoperability with other infrastructure providers, and scale its enterprise-focused engineering and go-to-market teams globally.

This funding round reflects E2B’s vision of having dedicated infrastructure for agents with secure and safe sandboxes that can spin up rapidly, providing computer-use features for agents to carry out complex, multi-step tasks. This vision is embraced by 88% of Fortune 100 companies that have already signed up with E2B.

E2B’s customer list already includes leading AI innovators such as Hugging Face, Perplexity, Groq, and Manus. Beyond these, E2B is used by top foundation model providers and Fortune 100 enterprises. These companies leverage E2B’s sandboxed cloud environments to run secure, complex agentic workflows that can reduce deployment times, boost security, and accelerate innovation.

“The expectations we have from AI agents in the enterprise are great. However, we expect them to scale and perform on legacy infrastructure not designed for agentic use,” said Vasek Mlejnsky, Co-founder and CEO of E2B. “E2B solves this by equipping AI agents with safe, scalable, highly performant cloud infrastructure as well as tools that help agents scale in production.”

E2B plans to strengthen its open-source sandbox protocol as a universal standard and further develop enterprise-grade modules like secrets vault and monitoring tools.

“Insight Partners is excited to back E2B’s visionary team as they pioneer essential infrastructure for AI agents,” said Praveen Akkiraju, Managing Director at Insight Partners. “Such rapid growth and enterprise adoption can be difficult to achieve, and we believe that E2B’s open-source sandbox standard will become a cornerstone of secure and scalable AI adoption across the Fortune 100 and beyond.”

“The future of enterprise productivity is agent-driven,” added Mlejnsky. “Our goal is to provide the standard runtime infrastructure for this new era of work.”

About E2B

E2B provides open-source cloud sandboxes for AI agents, equipped with all tools necessary for them to complete complex tasks like generating analyst-grade reports or building websites from a single prompt. E2B is trusted by enterprises and hyper-growth startups like Perplexity, Hugging Face, and Groq to securely deploy, scale, and manage complex AI agentic workflows.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2024, the firm has over $90B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE E2B

New investment from BDC’s investment arm, BDC Capital, Lobby Capital, Flying Fish, and J-Ventures will accelerate Apera AI’s growth across international automotive, Tier 1 supplier, and industrial manufacturing sectors.

VANCOUVER, BC, July 28, 2025 — Apera AI, the leader in 4D Vision for industrial robotic automation, today announced the closing of an over-subscribed Series A financing round. The round includes a significant new investment from BDC’s investment arm, BDC Capital, Canada’s most active venture capital investor, alongside increased participation from existing investors Lobby Capital, Flying Fish Ventures, and J-Ventures. The capital will accelerate Apera AI’s rapid growth, enabling further investment in people, processes, and product innovation in 4D Vision technology for AI-powered robotic automation.

New funding comes amid surging demand for robotic automation across global manufacturing. Apera AI is already experiencing nearly 3X year-over-year revenue growth and has established a strong customer base that includes all six major North American automotive OEMs, their Tier 1 suppliers, and more than 100 industrial manufacturers.

“At BDC, we hold a firm belief that hard tech investments in industrial innovation are pivotal in fueling economic expansion and addressing future opportunities,” said Aditya Aggarwal, Managing Partner, Industrial Innovation Venture Fund, BDC Capital. “We see 4D Vision as transformative innovation for vision-guided robotics to unlock industrial manufacturing automation. The world’s top automotive manufacturers and dozens of global industrial companies already rely on Apera AI’s technology. We’re thrilled to invest in their future, and help create another Canadian champion.”

As part of its expansion strategy, Apera AI has strengthened its executive leadership team with four new appointments. Peter Brouwer joins as Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Genèse Castonguay has been appointed Vice President of Marketing, Joseph Lee, CA joins as Chief Financial Officer, and Robert St-Jacques assumes the role of Vice President of People. Each brings extensive experience scaling high-growth technology companies across AI, automation, and enterprise software.

“This is an exciting time of growth at Apera AI,” said Sina Afrooze, CEO and Founder of Apera AI. “Our 4D Vision technology is solving robotic automation challenges that were previously impossible by unleashing the true power of AI for real-world manufacturing. With this infusion of capital and a world-class leadership team, we’re scaling our ability to serve the most advanced manufacturers in the world.”

Solving Complex Automation Challenges with 4D Vision

Apera AI’s patented 4D Vision platform combines cutting-edge 3D vision with AI—the “fourth dimension”—to give industrial robots human-like vision and advanced artificial intelligence. This enables high-speed, precise performance in applications such as bin picking, de-racking, and complex assembly. Unlike traditional 3D vision systems that often falter in real-world manufacturing, Apera AI’s 4D Vision is powered by AI and enables robots to adapt to shifting bins, changing lighting conditions, worn grippers, and complex part geometry—unlocking robot speed, accuracy, and reliability in the most demanding industrial settings.

“Our customers aren’t just looking for tools—they’re looking for long-term partners who can scale with them,” said Brouwer, SVP of Global Sales. “Apera AI is uniquely positioned with the right technology, expertise, and now capital to meet that need. We’re doubling our sales team and opening a new office in Detroit this fall to be even closer to our customers in North America’s manufacturing heartland.”

Making AI Invisible: No-Code Artificial Intelligence for the Factory Floor

Apera AI’s ongoing product innovation focuses on making advanced automation accessible. Recent releases include no-code setup tools, AI-powered calibration, and real-time diagnostics—all designed to minimize deployment time and maximize operational reliability.

“AI is most powerful when it’s invisible,” said Castonguay, VP of Marketing. “Manufacturers shouldn’t have to think about machine learning—Apera AI let’s engineers focus on production, uptime, and performance. Our mission is to make vision-guided robotic automation radically more accessible.”

Built for Manufacturers, Backed by Experts

With a growing team across North America and Europe, Apera AI has built a reputation for delivering outstanding engineering support, reliable deployments, and measurable ROI. The company’s partner-centric approach ensures that every deployment is aligned with production goals and delivers long-term value.

“With global demand for intelligent automation at an all-time high, Apera AI’s Series A round marks a pivotal moment for the company—and a major leap forward for the industry,” said Buddy Arnheim, Founding Partner at Lobby Capital. “Apera AI is delivering not just a product, but a new standard for robotic vision in real-world manufacturing.”

About Apera AI Inc.

The pioneer in 4D vision for robotic automation, Apera AI makes factories more productive by empowering robots with human-like vision and advanced artificial intelligence, dramatically increasing speed and accuracy. Its patented 4D Vision system unlocks factory performance, enabling automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and other industrial manufacturers to achieve unmatched levels of productivity, quality, and cost savings. To learn more, visit www.apera.ai.

Media Contacts:

Genèse Castonguay
Vice President, Marketing
Apera AI Inc.

1-(855)-273-7224
1-(604) 200-4544
[email protected]

SOURCE Apera AI

Startup is reshaping the economics for small hospitality brands, leveraging “causal inference” AI to deliver enterprise-grade pricing and demand tools to SMBs.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28, 2025 — TakeUp, the AI-powered revenue optimization platform for independent stays, announced today that it has secured a Series A round of funding, led by 1848 Ventures, that will total $11M upon the round’s completion. The funds will expand TakeUp’s complete reinvention of how small hospitality brands drive demand, convert guests, and capture every dollar of revenue, powered by causal inference AI that continuously learns and adapts to market dynamics.

Independent properties have been left behind in the adoption race for modern revenue tools. More than 92% still price manually, relying on outdated rules and gut checks instead of real-time market data. Each year, independents leave as much as 30% or more of their revenue on the table while trying to keep pace with big brands, which are armed with teams of analysts and AI systems.

TakeUp’s platform utilizes causal inference AI models, which continuously fine-tune pricing based on real-world guest behavior, running upwards of 38,000 micro analyses per day across its customer base. These models learn how different prices perform across various dates, booking windows, and guest segments. By providing this platform at a price point geared toward SMBs, TakeUp gives independent stays the level of insight typically afforded to large hospitality brands possessing enterprise software and data science teams.

“There can’t be a monopoly on AI for a handful of brands if the industry is going to continue to grow and thrive,” said Bobby Marhamat, CEO of TakeUp. “So, we’re tearing down the walled garden and democratizing the landscape by giving our customers transparent, automated tools to win – first on pricing and eventually across the entire revenue funnel.”

Independent stays face critical gaps in demand generation, conversion, and revenue strategy that are make-or-break in today’s unpredictable market. TakeUp is building an end-to-end revenue engine to fill those gaps, giving small operators the power to punch above their weight in a crowded market.

By observing what works and what doesn’t, the system adapts in real-time, setting prices that meet the market moment by moment. TakeUp then pairs every property with a dedicated revenue strategist who acts as an extension of the team, turning pricing into a competitive advantage. Over the last 12 months, TakeUp has grown its customer base by more than 300%, helping hundreds of boutique hotels, inns, and glamping properties capture topline growth and reclaim hours spent on manual rate management.

“With TakeUp’s real-time dynamic pricing and the support of our dedicated rep, we’re making smarter pricing decisions faster—and bringing in more revenue,” said Doug Bagnasco, Owner of Devonfield Inn. “It gives us a real edge in the market, and the time we’re saving goes right back into creating a better experience for our guests.”

With the new funding, TakeUp will accelerate its roadmap to become the revenue optimization platform for independent stays, expanding beyond pricing into AI-powered demand generation and conversion products, giving independents control over the entire guest revenue journey.

“The independent hospitality space has been underserved for too long. Smaller hotels have been left with spreadsheets while big brands use AI to win guests and dollars,” said Kal Amin, managing partner at 1848 Ventures. “TakeUp is arming this industry with smarter tools and bold execution. They’re not just building software—they’re giving independents a fighting chance in a market stacked against them.”

About TakeUp

TakeUp is the AI-powered revenue optimization partner for independent hotels, inns, and glamping retreats. Purpose-built for properties without data science teams or big-brand budgets, TakeUp stands apart by pairing enterprise-grade AI with dedicated revenue experts, driving an average 20% revenue increase and saving operators up to 15 hours a week on manual pricing. Founded in 2022, TakeUp’s mission is to give independent stays powerful, approachable tools to help them compete and win in a fast-moving market.

Media Contact:
Escalate PR for TakeUp
617-240-1516
[email protected]

SOURCE TakeUp

Startup raises $12.5M Seed to help enterprises tackle the <1% of vulnerabilities that statistically matter

BOISE, Idaho, July 28, 2025 — Root Evidence, the cybersecurity startup championing evidence-based security, announces it has raised $12.5 million in a seed round. The oversubscribed financing was led by Ballistic Ventures with participation from Grossman Ventures, and others. The investment brings together an incredible group of highly accomplished figures in cybersecurity supporting Root Evidence’s mission of delivering evidence-driven solutions that distill digital risk into quantifiable business outcomes. Read the full press release on the Root Evidence website.

Veteran Founding Team

Root Evidence’s founders, Jeremiah Grossman (Chief Executive Officer), Robert “RSnake” Hansen (Chief Technology Officer), Heather Konold (Chief Operations Officer), and Lex Arquette (Chief Product Officer), are a widely recognized team of serial cybersecurity entrepreneurs with decades of experience who have led multiple successful companies.

Grossman previously co-founded WhiteHat Security, later joined SentinelOne as Chief of Security Strategy early on prior to their record-setting IPO, and then co-founded Bit Discovery with this same team in 2020, which was quickly acquired by Tenable in 2023. Grossman and Hansen’s innovations have been credited with revolutionizing entire sectors of the cybersecurity industry, from web application security to attack surface management, while Lex Arquette, co-founder of WhiteHat Security and Bit Discovery, built Meta’s (then known as Facebook) homepage and growth systems that onboarded their first billion users. For years members of the team have also been startup investors, board members, and advisors who have contributed to many other successful startups. Together they are now setting their sights on one of cybersecurity’s biggest and most persistent challenges: vulnerability management.

The Vulnerability Management Challenge

Many CISOs have long expressed frustration with the state of vulnerability management. They are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of vulnerability findings, struggle to maintain full coverage of their attack surface, and face constant challenges in prioritizing what to fix first and justifying the resources needed for remediation. Yet, the reality is that only a small fraction, well under 1% of all known vulnerabilities, statistically matter – adversaries only actively exploit a handful to cause material harm. Root Evidence is on a mission to change that.

Why Root Evidence?

“We decided the best way for us to move the needle in cybersecurity is by taking on vulnerability management because the old approaches clearly aren’t working. Companies want to be confident that the truly riskiest vulnerabilities are being found and need new ways to demonstrate that what they fix measurably reduces the likelihood of a breach, and translates that impact into actual real dollars and cents,” said Grossman.

Root Evidence will cut through the noise by enabling security teams to calculate the financial risk to their organization, allowing them to focus first on the small number of vulnerabilities that have the greatest impact when remediated and genuinely reduce the chance of a breach.

At the heart of the company’s approach is evidence-based security, a practice that prioritizes security decisions using the strongest evidence of risk. The company’s very name reflects this philosophy. In terms of vulnerability management, “Root Evidence” is the highest standard of evidence and means: “proof a specific vulnerability has been exploited in the wild, led to a reported breach, and resulted in material financial loss.” Since root evidence has been historically sparse, using this approach previously was not possible, until now.

The Root Evidence solution does not rely on scanning a list of Known Exploitable Vulnerabilities (KEVs) or a “new” severity scoring algorithm. The company is developing a truly next-generation, and fully integrated vulnerability scanning and attack surface management technology. Adversaries are getting faster, focused on scale, and constantly attacking each and every Internet-facing asset, but only looking to exploit just a tiny fraction of the over 300,000 vulnerabilities cataloged as CVEs in the National Vulnerability Database. The product will be the fastest and most scalable vulnerability management solution available, specifically designed to rocket those issues that have been proven to result in losses to the top of the priority list.

“Success in vulnerability management is no longer about who can report the most theoretical vulnerabilities, no matter how technically severe. Organizations need proof, with evidence, of which vulnerabilities are known to cause the most damage if left unaddressed, to focus on remediating those first. That’s what Root Evidence does.” said Robert Hansen, CTO of Root Evidence.

Investor Backing and Next Steps

With decades of cybersecurity success behind them, the Root Evidence founders have assembled an incredible group of investors and advisor community underscoring the confidence in their vision. Leading the investment is Roger Thortnon, General Partner at Ballistic Ventures, who founded Fortify Software and AlienVault. Thornton has been searching for a team with the right idea and pedigree to take advantage of the opportunity to reinvigorate the stagnant vulnerability management space.

“The Ballistic partners have years of first-hand experience in vulnerability management, so we know the massive problem of vulnerability overload all too well. The industry is antiquated, and ripe for visionary thinking. Root Evidence’s evidence-based strategy is exactly what’s needed to solve it. This team has done it before, literally changed how the industry approaches security, and now poised to once again push the industry forward. We’re proud to support such an accomplished team,” said Thortnon.

Root Evidence already has strong early interest from leading enterprises, including several in the Fortune 500, who urgently need better solutions and want to help shape and accelerate its product roadmap. This highlights the demand for a smarter approach to vulnerability management and meaningful technology innovation. Root Evidence is now expanding its group of design partners who want to apply an evidence-based approach in real-world environments. For interested organizations, contact [email protected].

The Root Evidence team will be attending the upcoming Black Hat USA conference in Las Vegas (August 2-7, 2025). To meet onsite, email [email protected].

About Root Evidence

Root Evidence is a cybersecurity company advancing evidence-based vulnerability management to help organizations focus on the small percentage of vulnerabilities that are actually exploited in the wild, have caused reported breaches, and led to material financial losses. With Root Evidence, security teams can calculate the financial risk to their organization, prioritize remediation efforts where they have the greatest impact, and genuinely reduce the likelihood of a breach. Founded in July 2025 by industry veterans Jeremiah Grossman, Robert Hansen, Heather Konold, and Lex Arquette, Root Evidence is headquartered in Boise, Idaho and backed by Ballistic Ventures, Grossman Ventures, and a roster of leading cybersecurity experts.

About Ballistic Ventures

Ballistic Ventures is a venture capital firm solely dedicated to early-stage cybersecurity and cyber-related companies. The partners have spent their entire careers defending against every cyber threat conceivable. Members of the firm have founded, operated, and funded over 90 successful cybersecurity firms – including Abnormal Security, AlienVault, ArcSight, Fortify, Mandiant, and Shape Security – led over 10,000 security professionals globally, and have 40+ years of experience in venture capital. Our experience provides entrepreneurs impactful support from people focused on the same mission. Our networks and relationships open doors for our founders. Learn more at ballisticventures.com.

SOURCE Root Evidence

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 28, 2025 — MapLight Therapeutics today announced an oversubscribed $372.5 million Series D financing. The financing was co-led by Forbion and Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from additional new investors, including Sanofi, accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc. and Avego BioScience Capital. The financing also included strong participation from MapLight’s existing investors, including funds managed by Novo Holdings, 5AM Ventures, Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities and others.

MapLight’s lead program, ML-007C-MA, is an oral fixed-dose combination of the investigational M₁/M₄ muscarinic agonist, ML-007, co-formulated with a peripherally acting anticholinergic (PAC). ML-007C-MA is designed to activate both M₁ and M₄ muscarinic receptors in the CNS to drive efficacy, while synchronizing the pharmacokinetics of the agonist and antagonist components to mitigate peripheral cholinergic side effects.

With this financing, MapLight will advance ML-007C-MA through ongoing Phase 2 trials for schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease psychosis. The financing will also fund the exploration of other potential indications for ML-007C-MA, as well as the continued advancement of other clinical and preclinical pipeline programs.

“The caliber of this new investor group, combined with the continued strong support from our high-quality existing shareholders, is a testament to MapLight’s compelling vision and strategy,” said Christopher Kroeger, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of MapLight. “This financing is a clear validation of our differentiated product pipeline, dedicated team and commitment to advancing new medicines for brain disorders that make a difference in the lives of patients and their families.”

In connection with the financing, Nanna Lüneborg, Ph.D., M.B.A., General Partner at Forbion will join the Board of Directors of MapLight. “We see significant opportunity in ML-007C-MA as a potential best-in-class M₁/M₄ muscarinic agonist that is well positioned to address the substantial unmet medical need in schizophrenia, ADP and other CNS indications,” said Nanna Lüneborg.

“We are excited to partner with the outstanding team and investor syndicate at MapLight to fuel these important new innovations in the CNS space,” said Josh Richardson, M.D., Managing Director, Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives.

Learn more at www.maplightrx.com.

For investor inquiries: [email protected]

For media inquiries: [email protected]

About MapLight

MapLight Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating central nervous system disorders. The company was founded by globally recognized leaders in psychiatry and neuroscience research to address the lack of circuit-specific pharmacotherapies available for patients. MapLight’s discovery platform holds the potential to fill this void by identifying neural circuits causally linked to disease and targeting those circuits for therapeutic modulation.

About Forbion

Forbion is a leading global venture capital firm with deep expertise in Europe and offices in Naarden, The Netherlands, Munich, Germany and Boston, USA. Forbion invests in innovative biotech companies, managing approximately €5 billion across multiple fund strategies that cover all stages of (bio-) pharmaceutical drug development. In addition, Forbion leverages its biotech expertise beyond human health to address ‘planetary health’ challenges through its BioEconomy fund strategy, which invests in companies developing sustainable solutions in food, agriculture, materials, and environmental technologies. Forbion’s team consists of over 30 investment professionals that have built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with 130 investments across 11 funds. Forbion’s record of sourcing, building and guiding life sciences companies has resulted in many approved breakthrough therapies and valuable exits. Forbion typically selects impactful investments that will positively affect the health and well-being of people and the planet, as well as meet its financial return objectives. The firm is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. Forbion operates a joint venture with BGV, the manager of seed and early-stage funds, especially focused on Benelux and Germany.

About Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives

Goldman Sachs  is one of the leading investors in alternatives globally, with over $500 billion in assets and more than 30 years of experience. The business invests in the full spectrum of alternatives including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, sustainability, and hedge funds. Clients access these solutions through direct strategies, customized partnerships, and open-architecture programs.

The business is driven by a focus on partnership and shared success with its clients, seeking to deliver long-term investment performance drawing on its global network and deep expertise across industries and markets.

Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives was established in 2021 and focuses on later-stage venture investments, targeting therapeutic companies in early clinical development with multi-asset portfolios. The Life Sciences team bring decades of experience investing in the sector and leverage the expansive resources of the Goldman Sachs platform to source differentiated investments and partner with companies to enhance value creation.

The alternative investments platform is part of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which delivers investment and advisory services across public and private markets for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals. Goldman Sachs has approximately $3.3 trillion in assets under supervision globally as of June 30, 2025.

SOURCE MapLight Therapeutics, Inc.

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2025 — Spear AI, a leading developer of maritime artificial intelligence solutions, today announced the successful completion of its seed funding round with investments from Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures. The funding will support the expansion of Spear AI’s product portfolio, scaling of its Horizon platform, and the growth of its specialized maritime sensor capabilities, while also broadening its technical and subject matter expert services in applied data and AI.

Spear AI provides an integrated suite of solutions and services that combine cutting-edge software, modular sensors, and highly specialized engineering expertise. In addition to its flagship Horizon platform—which manages and labels acoustic data for AI development—Spear AI offers subject matter expert and technical expert support services to design, implement, and operationalize AI pipelines and data infrastructure. The company’s teams of machine learning engineers, data engineers, software engineers, cloud architects, and operational subject matter experts have a track record of developing and fielding applied AI capabilities for national security missions, including advanced MLOps pipelines, reinforcement learning platforms, and mission-critical decision support tools.

“This investment is a validation of our vision to transform maritime data into actionable intelligence,” said Michael Hunter, co-founder and CEO of Spear AI. “Scare the Bear Capital and Cortical Ventures understand the urgency of delivering operationally relevant AI at the edge, and their support enables us to accelerate delivery to our defense and commercial partners.”

“Our mission has always been to close the gap between emerging AI technology and real-world mission demands,” said John McGunnigle, co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CTO. “This funding enables us to grow our technical services and engineering teams to help more partners build the data and AI capabilities they need to operate faster, safer, and smarter in the maritime domain.”

Spear AI is already working closely with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy, with plans to expand both commercially and internationally in the coming years.

“At Scare the Bear Capital, we look for companies that have exceptional leadership and opportunities to significantly grow their products or services within the Federal Government. With Spear, we found both,” said Matt Dean, managing partner, Scare the Bear. “Our group of advisors and I are incredibly excited to partner with John and Mike to help them achieve their vision for Spear.”

“I had the privilege of working with John when I was at DataRobot and he was with the Navy, and I’m excited to work with John and Michael because they’re exactly the type of founders we look for: capable, mission-driven, and experts in their field. I believe the best companies to invest in operate at the intersection of opportunities to (a) save the world and (b) generate significant returns, and Spear is a clear example of that,” said Jeremy Achin, cofounder and general partner, Cortical Ventures.

About Spear AI

Founded in 2021, Spear AI designs and delivers advanced artificial intelligence solutions that integrate seamlessly with maritime sensors, defense platforms, and edge computing environments. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Falmouth, MA and Groton, CT, Spear AI develops modular AI application software such as the Horizon platform and affordable maritime sensors engineered for rapid deployment and high-tempo operations. In parallel, the company provides specialized technical services, including AI strategy development, data pipeline design, algorithm development, and operational integration, supporting clients in building and sustaining cutting-edge AI capabilities. Spear AI’s team includes leaders from the Navy’s Project Harbinger and Project Maven, bringing unmatched experience in operationalizing AI at scale. For more information, visit Spear.ai.

About Cortical Ventures
Cortical Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs building the next generation AI Companies. The firm was started by DataRobot founder Jeremy Achin and Igor Taber, who previously led Corporate Development at DataRobot and was an early investor in the company while he was at Intel Capital. Cortical Ventures was started to invent, incubate and invest in the companies leading the AI revolution. The firm is backed by leading VC firms and partners, AI luminaries and top founders and operators in the industry.

About Scare the Bear Capital:
Scare the Bear Capital is a private investment firm focusing on small to mid-tier businesses. Scare the Bear is more than just the name of our company, it’s our mission and our business philosophy. We partner with small businesses to help them show the strength and maturity of mid to large size companies. They can then command the level of valuation typically reserved for their larger counterparts. We execute this vision in partnership with a group of advisors that have experience leading and operating firms in our industry.

Press Contact:
Lisi Skrien
[email protected]

SOURCE Spear AI

Cliantha Research spearheads clinical study as growing evidence and investor enthusiasm converge around inflammation-based innovation.

HUNTINGTON, N.Y., July 25, 2025 — Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical has initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for its pioneering hangover prevention therapy, SJP-001, now underway in Canada with global research partner Cliantha. This milestone positions SJP-001 to become the first FDA therapy to directly target the inflammatory root cause of alcohol-induced symptoms—moving beyond surface-level relief like hydration. It also represents a flagship validation of Sen-Jam’s PAIR Technology (Preemptive Anti-Inflammatory Regulators) platform—a scalable, modular technology designed to unlock next-generation broad spectrum anti-inflammatory therapies for a wide range of inflammation-driven conditions with massive unmet needs.

Amid increasing global scrutiny of alcohol’s long-term health risks, SJP-001 arrives at a pivotal moment. In January 2025, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a stark warning linking chronic alcohol consumption to increased cancer risk, citing systemic inflammation as a major driver—a warning that echoes the scientific foundation of Sen-Jam’s therapeutic approach. 

“We’re not only addressing the acute discomfort of the morning after,“ said Jackie Iversen, RPh, MS, Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer at Sen-Jam. “We’re contributing to the global response to alcohol-related inflammation and long-term health implications.”

“At Desire Ventures, we back companies that combine purpose and performance. Supporting a Canadian-led clinical program with worldwide implications makes Sen-Jam a natural fit,” said Assad S. Aslam, Managing Partner of Desire Ventures, an investor in the program.

Sen-Jam’s peer-reviewed publication from January 2025 further elaborates on this connection, reinforcing the need for innovation specifically targeting inflammatory responses:
  Read: Alcohol Use, Inflammation, and Cancer Risk

Inflammation is the Mechanism. SJP-001 is the Solution. And the Market is Ripe for a Leader.

SJP-001 is protected by 23 global patents and built on a novel combination of repurposed drugs designed to safely disrupt the inflammatory cascade triggered by alcohol consumption. Unlike surface-level remedies, SJP-001 targets the biological driver of hangover symptoms—offering a scientifically grounded, first-in-class approach.

A published pilot study has already shown significant reductions in both the severity and duration of symptoms, confirming the compound’s early efficacy:
  Pilot Study of SJP-001 – PubMed

Further reinforcing this approach, Dr. Joris Verster—widely regarded as the father of alcohol hangover research—has recently published a comprehensive review of existing remedies underscoring the importance of inflammation-targeted interventions. His analysis validates anti-inflammatory mechanisms as the most promising route for future therapies:
  Verster 2024 Review – Journal of Translational Medicine

“Our innovation is about more than relief—it’s about resilience, well-being, and protecting people who choose to consume alcohol socially,” continued Iversen. “According to the World Health Organization, that’s approximately 2.4 billion people globally.”

And the global market is finally catching up to science. Grand View Research projects the hangover remedies market will grow at a 14.9% CAGR, reaching $6.2 billion by 2030—a category long dismissed as folklore now emerging as a credible, clinical frontier.

A Movement in Motion: Sen-Jam’s Community-Powered Model Attracts 1,100+ Investors Backing the Future of Preventive Pharma

The tides are turning in healthcare. As consumers demand more control over their well-being, and investors seek meaningful exposure to preventive, protective, and more elegant inflammation-targeted therapies, Sen-Jam is answering the call—with science, structure, and choice.

To give mission-aligned supporters maximum flexibility, Sen-Jam is offering three complementary ways to participate:

• Philanthropic Giving via CataCap
• Community Investing via Wefunder
• Reg D 506C – Contact Sen-Jam Directly

“We’re democratizing access to a market traditionally closed off to all but the largest players,” said Jim Iversen, CEO. “This is about more than raising capital. It’s about building a values-aligned community that’s invested in the future of health and in helping each other live healthier, longer lives.”

Sen-Jam has already attracted over 1,100 investors, with about 30% choosing to invest a second time—a signal of trust, traction, and shared belief in the company’s mission and model. If you’re interested in exploring their fundraising campaign, visit their Wefunder offer.

Interested parties are also invited to join Sen-Jam’s leadership for an exclusive deep dive into SJP-001’s market potential, the science behind it, and how you can participate in the journey. Next Wednesday, July 30th at 1pm EST. Registration for this event is required and can be secured here.

About Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical is a drug innovation company developing safe and efficacious therapies for some of the world’s most widespread and costly health challenges. By repurposing well-characterized small molecules through its proprietary delivery platform—and leveraging the FDA’s accelerated 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway—Sen-Jam is building a new class of anti-inflammatories designed to target the entire spectrum of inflammatory pathways, not just one or two like traditional blockbusters. This platform approach opens doors to faster clinical validation, broader indications, and therapies that are not only effective—but accessible, safe, and scalable. Investor information available at Wefunder. Learn more at www.sen-jam.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical
Christine Leonard
[email protected]
781-913-1902

SOURCE Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2025 — Junipero Capital, venture capital firm focused on tactical investment strategies in the technology sector, today announced the successful liquidation of its latest investment vehicle. The vehicle, focused on leveraged options in public tech equities, delivered a gross return of 2.18x, a net return of 1.93x after fees, and an extraordinary IRR of 4,107.76%, all within a 2.5-month investment period.

This result reinforces Junipero Capital’s ability to generate venture-scale returns through concentrated, time-bound strategies. The firm’s first fund, Junipero Fund I, which is now fully liquidated, produced a gross MOIC of 4.62x, DPI of 3.47x, and a 44.17% IRR over five years (March 2017 – March 2022), outperforming both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ.

“Delivering a near-2x net return in under three months reflects not only our rigorous research and execution discipline, but also the growing relevance of flexible, high-leverage strategies in public markets,” said Ignacio Vilela, Managing Partner at Junipero Capital. “We believe the traditional boundaries between public and private tech investing are blurring — and that creates opportunities for managers who can move decisively.”

Junipero Fund I deployed capital across 17 companies in 8 technology sectors, resulting in 9 IPOs, 7 secondary sales, and 1 acquisition. Notable investments included Okta, Coinbase, DocuSign, Zscaler, and Robinhood.

Through its various vehicles, Junipero Capital has previously invested in a number of leading technology companies, including Scale AI, Groq, CoreWeave, Notion, Blockdaemon, Stripe, and SpaceX.

Junipero Capital currently manages over $50 million in assets from a diversified base of private and institutional investors.

Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or investment products. Junipero Capital does not currently have any open investment offerings and is not soliciting capital through this communication.

SOURCE Junipero Capital

With this new funding, Armada will scale production of Leviathan, a first-of-its-kind, megawatt-scale, full-stack modular data center (MDC) that can be deployed faster, cheaper, and more flexibly than any other similar product in the field.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2025 — Armada, the hyperscaler for the edge, today announced a $131 million strategic funding round with new strategic investors including Pinegrove, Veriten, and Glade Brook as well as participation from existing investors including Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Shield Capital, 8090 Industries, M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), Overmatch, Silent Ventures, Felicis, and Marlinspike. This latest investment round coincides with the launch of Leviathan, a first-of-its-kind ruggedized MDC designed for fast, flexible deployment, enabling megawatt-scale computing power in the world’s most contested and communications-challenged areas. With Leviathan, Armada is taking a major step to advance American leadership in energy and AI through an alternative approach that enables distributed AI training and inference. Leviathan joins the Galleon product line and offers 10x more compute power than Armada’s next-largest form factor.

“American energy and AI dominance hinges on one thing: moving massive compute to the edge—fast—where data and low-cost power live,” said Dan Wright, Co-Founder and CEO of Armada. “Leviathan, the newest member of our Galleon product line, does exactly that. Each unit delivers megawatt-scale performance in a fraction of the time and much more flexibly than traditional data centers, due to their ability to rapidly adapt to changes in AI chips and cooling, and co-locate with all available land and energy, regardless of its form or location. This latest product launch and funding further accelerate our mission to bridge the digital divide and ensure that the world runs on the American AI stack.”

Leviathan, the larger counterpart to Armada’s Triton data center in the Galleon product line, has ten times the amount of compute capacity at megawatt scale. Powered by the Armada Edge Platform (AEP), Leviathan delivers autonomous compute and real-world AI with speed, resilience, and reliability. Leviathan is adaptable to customer requirements, designed for scalability with the ability to relocate between locations and markets as customer requirements evolve. Deployable in remote, mission-critical environments, Leviathan can be co-located with stranded natural gas, solar, nuclear, or other alternative energy sources. It can be operational in weeks, eliminating traditional data centers’ long timelines and site limitations. As China ramps up efforts to export its AI stack and races to control the compute and energy supply chains of the future, the U.S. and its allies must move faster. Leviathan gives America the infrastructure advantage—modular, sovereign, and ready to deploy—so the U.S. can lead not just in AI development, but in the physical systems that power it. Leviathan enables AI-era dominance by delivering rapid compute power without the heavy infrastructure demands of traditional data centers.

“From day one, we backed Armada because they saw what others missed: America’s AI leadership hinges on owning the entire stack—from power and silicon to software—and being able to deploy it anywhere,” said Trae’ Stephens, Partner at Founders Fund and early Armada backer. “Leviathan drives that vision forward, expanding the Galleon lineup from suitcase-sized edge nodes for lightweight analytics and inference to megawatt-scale modules that can train and serve frontier models in the harshest environments. With a Galleon for every workload, Armada keeps U.S. and allied AI efforts a step ahead.”

The launch advances Armada’s broader vision for distributed, sovereign AI infrastructure, as outlined in a recent white paper detailing the need to tightly couple energy and compute to sustain U.S. leadership in the global AI race. Armada is partnering with organizations such as Fidelis New Energy and Bakken Energy to deploy Leviathans in strategic locations across the U.S. and allied territories—including North Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Louisiana—where surplus power can be converted into high-density compute.

“Leviathan embodies our belief that hardware should behave like software: deployable, upgradeable, and governed entirely by code,” said Pradeep Nair, Founding CTO of Armada. “Paired with the turnkey Armada Edge Platform and its growing Marketplace of AI models and applications, Leviathan’s liquid-cooled, energy-agnostic modules deliver megawatt-scale training and inference in weeks—bridging the digital divide by bringing AI straight to the edge, where data and power already live.”

For more on this launch, read the Founders’ Blog.

About Armada
Armada is a full-stack edge infrastructure company delivering compute, storage, connectivity, and AI/ML capabilities to the most remote and rugged industrial environments on Earth. From energy to defense, Armada enables organizations to operate at the edge—without compromise.

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Armada