Three Portfolio Company Exits Deliver Over 2x Return, Defying VC Downturn Trends

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2025 — While much of the venture capital world has faced turbulence and declining returns, How Women Invest is charting a different course, proving that investing in women isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing.

Launched in 2020, How Women Invest’s inaugural fund has already achieved exits with return multiples. The exited companies, Gaiascope, Long Game, and Hitch, underscore the strength of investing in female-led innovation, even in a challenging VC climate where many portfolio companies are struggling or shutting down.

“This exit is a powerful example of what happens when women invest in women—with both capital and conviction. As a Founding LP of How Women Invest and the CEO of Hitch, I experienced how this fund is redefining venture: backing bold missions, creating real value, and proving that purpose and profit can grow together,” says Heather Jerrehian, Investor, Tech Executive, and Author of Sail to Scale.

Lauren Kuntz, CEO and Co-founder of Gaiascope, Inc shared, “From the first meeting with How Women Invest, it was clear this group was unlike any other—they sincerely understood what we did, wanted us to succeed, and were willing to roll up their sleeves with whatever support we needed. The network within How Women Invest is unparalleled and we leaned heavily on their experience to help us through the challenges that are start-up life. A lot of investors promise support, but How Women Invest is one of the few that actually delivers: the women in this network have actually been there, done that, and know what you’re going through. They provide advice that comes from a depth of experience and empathy, and for us it was integral to our growth and ultimately successful exit.”

While industry headlines have spotlighted mass layoffs and tech valuation freefalls, How Women Invest’s focus on diverse, capital-efficient, and impact-driven startups is paying off. These exits validate what research has shown for years: women-led companies deliver. In fact, women-run businesses generate twice as much revenue per dollar invested compared to male-run firms (BCG). 

How Women Invest exclusively backs women-founded and women-led companies, building a portfolio that reflects the kind of leadership the future demands, visionary, inclusive, and resilient.

“These exits aren’t lucky breaks, they’re proof points,” said Julie Castro Abrams, CEO of How Women Lead and Managing Partner of How Women Invest. “When women control capital and invest in other women, the data and the returns, speak for themselves.”

How Women Invest’s focus to identify visionary female founders, provide them with smart capital and a powerful network, and deliver strong returns while rewriting the future of venture, remains steadfast, with a clear path forward and growing momentum behind its powerful mission. 

For more information, visit www.howwomeninvest.com.

Media Contact: Laura Henson, HVM Communications
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 917-539-7812

SOURCE How Women Invest

The fund invests in B2B fintechs operating in Latin America and the US

MIAMI, June 24, 2025 — Kiara Capital, a Miami-based venture capital firm founded by serial fintech entrepreneurs, has announced the first close of its inaugural fund. The fund focuses on early-stage B2B fintech startups operating in Latin America, and cross-border markets linked to the United States.

Founded in 2023, Kiara Capital specializes in early-stage investments, from pre-seed to seed. Since inception, the firm has reviewed over 160 opportunities and made five investments, including Astride, a U.S.-based fintech offering accounting solutions for foreign investors, and Payana, a platform using AI to enhance financial operations for small and mid-sized businesses in Mexico and Colombia. Kiara’s current portfolio spans startups in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and the U.S., with approximately $2 million already deployed.

The fund was co-founded by Michael Esrubilsky and Daniel Arippol. Michael Esrubilsky brings over 25 years of experience in fintech, with four successful fintech exits in Brazil totaling nearly $1 billion. As an angel and seed investor, he has built a track record of 14 investments with a 9.8x multiple on invested capital (MOIC) and a 45%+ internal rate of return (IRR) in US dollars. Daniel Arippol complements the team with more than 15 years of experience in private equity, venture capital, and innovation across emerging markets. He has also served as an advisor to multiple high-growth technology and financial services companies operating in both Latin America and the United States.

After validating its investment thesis using only partner capital, Kiara Capital has now opened its first external fundraising round. The fund targets $30 million, with the potential to close at $40 million. Investors include founders, bank CEOs, VC partners, and family offices with strong interest in fintech and financial innovation. The founding partners remain the largest investors in the fund, ensuring strong alignment with LPs.

“Opening the fund to outside investors is a natural next step — one that expands our investment capacity while maintaining full alignment,” said Esrubilsky. “We’re bringing in knowledgeable, experienced partners to co-invest with us in the opportunities we’re already pursuing.”

He noted that even as new investors join, the Kiara founding partners will continue to hold a significant stake in the fund, committing to never fall below 10% of total capital.

Kiara Capital aims to build a high-conviction portfolio of 15 to 20 startups, with initial checks starting at $500,000 and substantial reserves allocated for follow-on rounds. The fund is structured in the United States to support global flexibility while maintaining a strong emphasis on Latin American and US cross border markets.

The timing, according to the partners, is favorable for early-stage investing, given attractive valuations and an increasing flight to quality among top founders. Kiara’s edge lies in its active support model — providing hands-on strategic and technical guidance based on the partners’ own experiences as successful operators and investors.

“We prioritize founders who have deep expertise in the industries they’re building in, excel in execution, and often come through trusted referrals in the ecosystem,” said Arippol. “We look for companies that combine strong product-market fit with the potential for outsized impact in the financial sector.”

About Kiara Capital

Kiara Capital is a Miami-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage B2B fintech investments, with operations across Latin America and the United States. The firm blends entrepreneurial experience, disciplined deal selection, and close founder collaboration to generate strong returns.

To learn more, visit: https://www.kiara.capital

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2715775/7.jpg

SOURCE Kiara Capital

Waltz’s real estate investment financing platform for foreign investors secures $50M in equity and debt to supercharge $1B in U.S. loan volume

MIAMI, June 24, 2025 — Waltz, the all-in-one platform streamlining U.S. residential real estate financing for foreign national investors, announced it has secured $50 million to date in total equity and debt funding, including a new $25 million line of credit. The new capital will support Waltz’s ability to fund up to $1 billion in loan volume. This comes amid surging global demand for Waltz’s end-to-end digital platform, which allows foreign investors to quickly and easily form an LLC, open a U.S. bank account, exchange currencies, secure financing, and close on property purchases.

The new line of credit is provided by affiliates of Setpoint Capital. Waltz will use this line of credit to originate additional U.S. mortgage loans for foreign buyers through its fully digital platform, so it can support Waltz’s official launch across Latin America (LATAM), with a focus on Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina—the first three being the region’s largest sources of U.S. real estate investment. Since its launch in July 2024, Waltz has processed more than $300 million in loan applications across four continents.

Amid headlines of global economic uncertainty, Waltz has seen strong demand for U.S. investment property mortgages from LATAM. Waltz has already transacted with the nation’s largest brokerages, such as RE/MAX and eXp Realty. The company is spearheading and disrupting the industry with its technology enhanced by AI across all aspects, from onboarding to underwriting, processing, and selling loans to Wall Street’s most reputable institutions such as Acra Lending (subsidiary of HPS, acquired by BlackRock), Atlas SP (backed by Apollo), and others.

“The demand from Latin America was immediate and that is not surprising—U.S. real estate is a blue chip investment for foreign nationals. The stability, rooted in the historical strength of the U.S. economy, facilitates wealth creation from financing options, the potential for passive income streams, and property value appreciation. When paired with customer-centric digital solutions, it becomes clear why digital platforms like Waltz resonate with today’s global investors,” said Yuval Golan, Founder and CEO of Waltz.

“With Waltz’s full-service approach, they are streamlining investment opportunities and making it easier for individuals across the globe to invest in income-producing residential properties in the US,” said Kendall Ranjbaran, Managing Director of Investments at Setpoint Capital. “Setpoint is proud to provide a tailored credit solution as they continue to scale.”

Latin American Expansion: Market-Driven and Ready to Scale

Waltz’s expansion into Latin America follows a successful beta rollout and robust inbound interest from the region. Data shows that Latin American buyers are 29% of international investors in U.S. residential real estate (from purchases of existing property sales alone, not including new developments), with Mexico, Brazil and Colombia leading the region. Building upon a multilingual team that speaks ten languages, Waltz has introduced dedicated resources for Latin Americans, offering localized content and support in both Spanish and Portuguese through specialized marketing, while expanding its sales and customer support teams.

The company is also in the final stages to bring its advanced technologies and capabilities such as foreign exchange and quick cross-border transfers for LATAM countries, starting with Mexico and Brazil.

About Waltz Inc.—
Waltz is an all-in-one investment platform designed to make U.S. property investment simpler for international buyers. Waltz is a lender that streamlines investment property financing through an app-like experience that also handles identity verification, U.S. LLC and EIN setup, bank account opening, remote closing, and ongoing support. Backed by TLV Partners and Aleph, along with notable angel investors such as RE Angels, Ofir Ehrlich, David Krell, Talmon Marco, and Eyal Lifshitz. Waltz serves both international clients and foreign investors residing in the U.S. Waltz partners with Synctera to power banking and payments, with Airwallex, a leading global financial platform, to facilitate fast foreign currency conversions, and with Regent Bank, an FDIC-insured partner for U.S. bank accounts. Learn more at www.getwaltz.com. 

About Setpoint Capital—
Setpoint Capital is an investment manager focused on asset-backed private credit opportunities enabled through the Setpoint Technologies platform that provides unique value through technology, operations and insights. As an investment manager and direct lender (through its affiliates), Setpoint Capital integrates financial expertise with operational excellence to create capital solutions that enhance efficiency for its partners and investors.

Waltz is a financial technology company. Banking services are provided by Regent Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC Insurance only covers failure of insured depository institutions. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through FDIC deposit insurance to apply. Waltz proudly offers financing in markets where foreign investment in residential real estate is permitted under applicable laws.
Airwallex is a leading global financial platform for modern businesses, offering trusted solutions to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend management to embedded finance. For more information, visit www.airwallex.com.

SOURCE Waltz

Town Hall Ventures Leads $30M Funding Round, with Participation from Kaiser Permanente Ventures

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2025 — Today Arine, the leader in AI-driven medication intelligence, announced a Series C funding round. Town Hall Ventures, known for backing transformative healthcare solutions, led the round with participation from Kaiser Permanente Ventures and other existing investors. This $30 million dollar round brings Arine’s total funding to $66 million and cements Arine’s position at the forefront of healthcare innovation, empowering the company to accelerate its mission of redefining medication management across the healthcare continuum at a time when the industry faces unprecedented financial and regulatory pressures.

“This is a defining moment for healthcare and for Arine,” said Yoona Kim, PharmD, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Arine. “Mounting cost pressures and sweeping policy changes are forcing the industry to rethink how care is delivered. Amid these challenges, medications have emerged as one of the most powerful—and underleveraged—tools to improve outcomes and control costs. With this new capital, we’re expanding our ability to deliver meaningful impact for each patient, when the system needs it most.”

Arine’s AI platform focuses on the critical area of medication optimization, delivering scalable, personalized, and cost-effective medication therapy that is essential to success in value-based care. Designed for leading health plan and risk-bearing providers, Arine’s platform leverages large, diverse datasets to identify the right individuals, recommend the most effective interventions, and continuously measure impact to ensure meaningful outcomes.

Arine’s approach has consistently achieved >10% in total cost savings and >40% reduction in hospitalizations. These outcomes have led to >100% growth in the last year and an average contract expansion of 80% with existing clients.

“The rising cost of medications and the consequences of suboptimal medication use presents significant opportunities for innovation, particularly using AI. What sets Arine apart is not just its transformative technology, but its ability to consistently deliver measurable value for clients across populations, especially in underserved communities. The company’s phenomenal leadership team combines deep clinical and AI expertise with a bold vision for the future,” said Andy Slavitt, General Partner at Town Hall Ventures. “Their platform is not just solving today’s problems—it’s anticipating tomorrow’s challenges. We’re proud to support Arine as they drive the next wave of healthcare innovation.”

“We’ve been partnering with Arine since 2020, and year after year, the value has been clear,” said Caroline Carney, MD, MSc, FAPA, FAPM, CPHQ, President and Chief Medical Officer at Magellan Health. “Arine continues to expand the capabilities of their platform in ways that drive even greater impact—advancing evidence-based quality, improving patient-centered outcomes, and delivering meaningful cost savings. It’s that ongoing evolution that makes them such a valuable long-term partner.”

With the new funding, Arine will focus on several key areas to meet evolving industry needs. Arine plans to expand its capabilities in specialty pharmacy management — a fast-growing and costly area of healthcare. At the same time, the company is accelerating AI innovation to automate high-volume, low-complexity tasks, allowing providers to focus more on direct patient care. Arine will also continue to integrate comprehensive data to further personalize medication therapy. Together, these advancements expand Arine’s impact and set a new standard for how technology can drive scalable, meaningful change in healthcare.

About Arine
Arine is a leading AI-powered medication optimization platform that improves patient outcomes and reduces healthcare costs by ensuring that patients receive the most effective and appropriate medications. By integrating advanced analytics with deep clinical expertise, Arine provides timely, personalized recommendations, enabling health plans and at-risk provider organizations to enhance medication safety, adherence, and effectiveness among their members. Learn more at arine.io.

About Town Hall Ventures
Founded in 2018, Town Hall Ventures has invested in or participated in the build of 40 companies that improve how care is provided to underserved and under-represented communities. Select portfolio companies include Cityblock Health, Curana Health, Equality Health, Habitat Health, Landmark Health, Suvida Health, Strive Health, Thyme Care, and Unite Us. Learn more at www.townhallventures.com.

SOURCE Arine

Multi-stage strategy will support high-growth companies across global enterprise technology markets

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, 2025 — Sentinel Global, a venture capital firm dedicated to connecting visionary founders with real-world adopters, today announced the close of its inaugural fund, Sentinel Fund I, with committed capital totaling $213.5 million. The fund will invest globally in multi-stage enterprise technology companies, with a focus on technologies built for mission-critical performance, regulatory readiness, and scalable deployment across complex systems.

Founded by veteran investor Jeremy Kranz, Sentinel Global was created to close the gap between builders and enterprise adopters. With more than 25 years of experience in global technology investing and 20+ successful IPOs, including iconic companies such as Affirm, Zoom, Coinbase, and DoorDash, Kranz and his team bring a deep understanding of the innovation landscape. They recognize that the next wave of innovation will not only require technical vision, but also strong connection with customers, systems, and the markets where adoption happens.

“Innovation stalls when builders and adopters don’t meet,” said Jeremy Kranz, Founder and Managing Partner of Sentinel Global. “Our mission is to bridge that divide, connecting startup ambition with the real-world systems that drive enterprise markets. That takes not only capital but also context, conviction, and partnership.”

Sentinel’s model is rooted in research-driven conviction and deep operational partnership. Through its proprietary research and advisory platform, Sentinel Labs, the firm conducts hands-on research into enterprise readiness, helping startups solve tangible adoption challenges faced by institutions.

The fund targets foundational technologies driving enterprise transformation, including open-computing architectures, interoperable commerce, cybersecurity, and data systems. Sentinel’s approach is tailored for global complexity. The team has strong, active relationships with buyers and stakeholders across North America, Europe, Asia, and emerging markets, and views go-to-market support as essential at every stage.

The Sentinel team includes former founders, venture investors, and enterprise operators with decades of experience building and scaling solutions across sectors such as enterprise AI, supply chain innovation, and fintech. This collective background enables a hands-on, research-informed strategy that bridges the worlds of early innovation and enterprise adoption.

“Our goal is to back solutions that are not just visionary but ready for deployment. They must be built to scale, comply, and thrive in the most demanding environments,” said Kranz. “Sentinel was built to partner with founders who think globally, prioritize trust and are ready to bring transformational technologies to real world systems.”

About Sentinel Global
Sentinel Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm investing in enterprise technology companies that are reshaping the systems underpinning global markets. Sentinel helps founders bring scalable, defensible, and adoption-ready platforms to market. The firm provides deep research, high-conviction capital, and access to a global network of institutions, partners, and domain experts. Sentinel Global is headquartered in San Francisco and invests worldwide. For more information, visit www.sentinelglobal.xyz.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

SOURCE Sentinel Global

New Approach Delivers Production AI in 90 Days as Enterprises Seek Faster Path to Value

MINNEAPOLIS, June 24, 2025 — Blank Metal, an AI-native engineering company, today announced $3 million in seed funding to help enterprises overcome a critical challenge: 88% of AI pilots never reach production. The round, led by Rally Ventures, Traction Capital and Pure Play Partners, backs a fundamentally different approach to enterprise AI delivery.

The Enterprise AI Challenge

According to IDC, 88% of enterprise AI initiatives stall in “pilot purgatory”, creating a costly gap between potential and reality. Enterprises invest millions in proof-of-concepts that never scale to production, leaving boards questioning ROI and teams frustrated by lack of progress. Blank Metal addresses this challenge with a 90-day guarantee, demonstrating the company’s confidence in its ability to move enterprise AI from pilot to production.

“Much of the current AI work is being done by consulting companies that were built for a different era—when shipping software was so expensive that it required the kind of extensive deliberation and large teams those companies still deploy today,” said Matt Johnson (MJ), CEO of Blank Metal. “But AI has changed the game. You can now build, test, and iterate so quickly – without sacrificing quality, security, stability – that the traditional approach actually prevents value realization.”

A New Model for a New Era

Blank Metal positions itself as an “anti-consultancy” because AI demands a completely different approach:

Traditional Consultancy Model:

• 6-month strategy phases before building
• Large, leveraged teams incentivized to bill hours
• 18+ month transformation programs
• Proof-of-concepts and pilots that never make it to production
• Success measured in deliverables and power-point decks

Blank Metal Model:

• Time-boxed strategy compressed to days/weeks
• Small senior teams that ship production-ready AI solutions weekly
• 90-day or less production deployments
• < 5% overhead – majority of client budget builds, not burns
• Success measured in business impact

“Realizing the value of AI doesn’t have to take so long and cost so much,” Blank Metal COO Mark Hines explained. “When you can prototype in days and deploy in weeks, the entire delivery model needs to change.”

Proven Results in Production

Recent client engagements demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach:

• A national insurer achieved 20% revenue increase through AI-powered underwriting—deployed to production in 6 weeks
• An enterprise client realized 30% productivity gains from a GenAI platform now running in production across the entire employee base

These aren’t just pilots or POCs—they’re production systems delivering measurable business value.

Why Investors Are Backing This Approach

“We invested because Blank Metal solves the real problem in enterprise AI—the gap between pilot and production,” said Brock Noland, Partner at Pure Play Partners. “Traditional firms are structured for long engagements and billable hours. Blank Metal is structured for rapid value delivery.”

Matt Meents from Traction Capital puts it bluntly, “The era of paying consultants to study your problems is over. The future belongs to partners who build solutions that deliver value, quickly.”

Justin Kaufenberg, Managing Director at Rally Ventures and Blank Metal Co-founder, adds, “This team has proven that exceptional execution and rapid iteration beat perfect planning every time. They understand that in AI, learning happens through shipping, not just strategizing.”

Leadership Built for the AI Era

Blank Metal’s leadership team combines deep enterprise experience with a builder’s mindset: Veterans of GoKart Labs with multiple startup exits: Matt Johnson (CEO) • Mark Hines (COO) • Eric Johnson (CTO) • Elli Rader (CRO) • Teresa Marchek (Head of Product) • Missy Bemm (Head of Partnership Operations).

Accelerating the Path to Value

The funding will help Blank Metal scale its approach by growing the senior engineering team, developing proprietary AI that compresses timelines and protects budgets, and expanding the “90-Day Production Guarantee” to more enterprises.

“We understand the pressure enterprises face,” MJ said. “Boards want to see AI delivering value, not consuming resources. Teams want to build solutions, not attend steering committees. We built Blank Metal for companies ready to move from idea(s) to production.”

“Don’t just talk about AI, ship it,” has become the company’s rallying cry—not as a criticism of strategy and planning, but as recognition that AI’s value comes from iteration in production, not perfection in pilot.

About Blank Metal

Blank Metal, an AI-native engineering company, partners with enterprises to deliver production AI in 90 days or less. The company’s approach combines strategic thinking with rapid implementation, ensuring AI initiatives deliver measurable business value. Founded by proven technologists, Blank Metal offers a production guarantee that traditional consulting cannot match. Visit blankmetal.ai to learn more.

Media Contact
Rachel Subasic
Rally Ventures
[email protected]

SOURCE Blank Metal

The Company built the first proprietary AI Care Copilot for its market-leading platform Phamily© to solve for the clinical and financial needs of all healthcare stakeholders

NEW YORK, June 24, 2025 — Jaan Health, the company behind the AI-powered proactive care platform Phamily©, announced it has secured more than $25 million in funding to accelerate the transformation of between visit care for millions of patients struggling with chronic conditions. The financing was capped by $15 million in non-dilutive growth capital from Level Structured Capital (an affiliate of Level Equity), a diversified private investment firm with more than $4.5 billion in assets under management that is focused on providing capital to rapidly growing software and technology-enabled businesses.

“Managing the ongoing needs of patients with chronic diseases is by far and away the number one challenge in healthcare and cannot be solved with an occasional doctor’s visit,” said Nabeel Kaukab, Founder and CEO of Jaan Health. “Over the past decade, we have established a novel virtual care platform and proprietary artificial intelligence, Phamily, that improves both patient outcomes and provider profitability for over 150 healthcare organizations, while significantly reducing the total cost of care for payors. Our new funding will enable us to extend the benefits of Phamily to millions more patients across the United States.”

Phamily is Jaan Health’s patient engagement software and AI that enables healthcare organizations of any size to deliver high-quality, proactive care management at population scale. With a multi-year track record of clinical and operational success, Phamily has served the needs of hundreds of thousands of patients, representing over 250 different chronic condition diagnoses, and changed the way physicians think about delivering high impact, between-visit care during an era of healthcare labor shortages and rising costs. This funding will enable the Company to build upon Phamily’s existing market leadership in virtual care, expand into new market segments and further penetrate health systems and integrated networks, while making key hires to support the company’s rapid growth.

“Jaan Health is seeing tremendous clinical demand for the Phamily platform, and sought the optimal financial partner to help them scale the next phase of their growth,” explained Barry Osherow, Partner, Level Structured Capital. “We were impressed that they had built a strong, successful, eight-figure business without needing institutional capital. In a market crowded with health tech companies making claims or predictions around AI, Jaan Health stands out for their proprietary data sets, operational strength, capital efficiency, and transformational vision for patient care at scale.”

“Phamily makes great care management accessible to thousands of our patients who need it,” says Bappa Mukherji, CEO of rural hospital management company Java Medical Group. “Like many health systems, our hospitals are under crushing pressure from decreased reimbursement and healthcare labor economics. Phamily not only lets us provide better care but enables us to do so with massive labor efficiency and fair compensation. We see Phamily as a key component of our patient care strategy, and we congratulate the Jaan Health team on securing the funding that will cement their long-term success.”

Jaan Health was advised by Sunil Abraham, Managing Director at KeyBanc Capital Markets, the corporate and investment banking arm of Cleveland-based KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY).

About Jaan Health and Phamily

Jaan Health is a leading AI-based care management company serving healthcare providers across the United States. For nearly a decade, the company has leveraged its easy-to-use, proprietary technology to enable health systems, medical groups, and ACOs to utilize small teams and existing resources to deliver high quality, high-ROI proactive care to hundreds of thousands of previously underserved patients.

Phamily, the company’s core technology platform, has transformed chronic disease management with clinically tested AI and easy-to-use software that enables physicians and care teams to offer their patients high touch, individualized care that has traditionally been rationed due to labor constraints and the cost of care. Phamily helps ensure healthcare providers are compensated fairly for providing high-quality care between office visits, while improving the lives of patients with chronic diseases and reducing the overall burden on taxpayers and the health system.

Learn more at phamily.com.

About Level Equity

Level Equity is a lower middle market private investment firm focused on providing capital to rapidly growing software and technology-enabled businesses.  Level provides long-term capital across various transaction types in support of continued growth.  The firm has raised over $4.5 billion in committed capital for their closed funds and co-investments, and has made over 125 investments since its inception. For more information, visit https://www.levelequity.com.

Media Contact
Alyssa Drew
Director of Strategic Growth
[email protected] 

Investor Relations Contact
Eugene Krishnan
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]

SOURCE Jaan Health

Marlin Heritage Europe III Significantly Exceeds Target and Secures €1 Billion, Over 50% More Than Prior Europe Fund

Builds on Marlin’s 20-Year Track Record Successfully Investing in Leading Software, Technology and Services Businesses

LOS ANGELES and LONDON, June 24, 2025 — Marlin Equity Partners (“Marlin”), a global investment firm with nearly $10 billion in capital commitments, today announced the final close of its third European fund, Marlin Heritage Europe III, SCSp (“Heritage Europe III” or the “Fund”), at its €1 billion hard cap. The Fund was oversubscribed and significantly surpassed its target, receiving over 50 percent more in limited partner commitments than its predecessor. The Fund builds on Marlin’s 20-year track record of successfully investing in leading software, technology and services businesses.

The Fund received strong support from both existing and new investors globally, including public and private pensions, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, consultants and family offices. Consistent with previous funds, Heritage Europe III will seek to invest in high-potential software, technology and services companies that will benefit from Marlin’s strong track record of accelerating growth and scaling businesses through go-to-market enhancements, product innovation, operational excellence and strategic M&A. To date, the Fund has already completed investments in Treasury Intelligence Solutions (TIS), Radar Healthcare, Napier AI and Didomi.

“We are thankful for the tremendous support we have received for Heritage Europe III, our largest European-focused fund yet,” said Peter Spasov, Co-President of Marlin. “The success of this fundraise is a testament to the consistency of our investment approach, as well as our proven ability to scale strategic assets and deliver outcomes such that over 75% of our exits have been to strategic acquirers since the firm’s inception. We are incredibly proud of the team, platform and culture we’ve built, which are based on our commitment to exceptional execution and collaborative approach as a firm. We look forward to further scaling our European business and to delivering strong returns for our investors.”

“Marlin has distinguished itself through its deep expertise in the European middle market, established in-region presence and ability to execute value-enhancing initiatives for its investors and portfolio companies,” added Jan-Olivier Fillols, a Senior Managing Director of Marlin. “We are humbled by the confidence our growing base of LPs have placed in Marlin and believe we are well positioned to deliver on the compelling market opportunities ahead.”

Since inception, Marlin has closed 13 funds and completed over 260 acquisitions.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel and UBS Group AG acted as exclusive private placement advisor and placement agent in the formation of Heritage Europe III.

About Marlin Equity Partners

Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with nearly $10 billion in capital commitments specializing in the software, technology and services sectors. Marlin’s mission is to partner with exceptional management teams to drive scale and enhance long-term value in businesses through its deep domain expertise, extensive network and operational transformations focused on product innovation, go-to-market enhancements and strategic M&A. Founded in 2005, Marlin has completed over 260 acquisitions and raised 13 funds. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an additional office in London. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.

SOURCE Marlin Equity Partners

New funding supports Echandia’s North American expansion and growing demand for zero-emission marine vessels

STOCKHOLM, June 24, 2025 — Echandia, the leading Swedish maritime battery system supplier, today announced new long-term financing from S2G Investments (“S2G”), a multi-stage firm with a dedicated oceans strategy. The investment is made as part of Echandia’s most recent funding round, announced in March 2025, and brings the total funding round to SEK 325 million (USD $34 million). It marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to accelerate maritime electrification worldwide.

S2G is Echandia’s first U.S.-based investor, aligning with the company’s growing presence in North America, including its new production facility in Marysville, Washington. The investment will fund the scale-up of Echandia’s production capacity, accelerate its U.S. market presence, and advance R&D initiatives aimed at extending the performance and durability of its technology.

“This is a major milestone for Echandia and we are excited to accelerate our global expansion with S2G on board,” said Torbjörn Bäck, CEO of Echandia. “S2G brings deep experience in maritime and energy system transitions, and we’re proud to have a mission-aligned partner supporting our growth. With North America serving as a critical growth region, we believe we’re well-positioned to help operators cut emissions and hedge against fuel price volatility, while enhancing vessel performance.”

Echandia’s advanced Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) battery systems are purpose-built for the unique demands of maritime operations, offering high safety, long lifespan, and low maintenance performance in heavy-duty environments where today’s conventional lithium-ion or diesel systems often fall short. Its technology powers a range of vessel types, including ferries, tugboats, RoRo/RoPax ships, and offshore workboats, enabling both fully electric and hybrid propulsion. Its customers include global system integrators like Siemens and ABB, as well as operators such as Molslinjen (Denmark) and WETA San Francisco.

Echandia’s revenue quadrupled in 2024 and is projected to triple again in 2025, driven by strong market demand and an expanding order pipeline. With pressure mounting from international regulations, such as the IMO’s carbon intensity targets, the EU Emissions Trading System, and tax reforms affecting maritime fuels, battery solutions like Echandia’s are increasingly seen as critical for achieving compliance and boosting vessel efficiency.

Echandia’s momentum in North America continues to grow. In 2024, the company was selected to supply battery systems for the San Francisco Bay Ferry’s REEF (Rapid Electric Emission Free) Program, which will deploy the first high-speed, zero-emission ferries in the U.S. Battery deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026.

“At S2G, we view electrification as one of the most immediate and scalable pathways to decarbonize a significant portion of the 100,000+ vessels that make up the global maritime fleet,” said Kate Danaher, Managing Director of S2G’s oceans strategy and member of Echandia’s board of directors. “Their team understands the complexities of the sector and is delivering practical, durable solutions at scale. We’ve seen that their technology is already proving itself in the field, and their growth trajectory reflects the urgency and opportunity in this space. We’re proud to support their expansion and help accelerate the transition to zero-emission maritime transport.”

The announcement coincides with the start of the Electric & Hybrid Marine Expo Europe, where Echandia is exhibiting at Hall 8, Stand 5020. Attendees are invited to meet the team and learn more about the next generation of marine battery systems.

About Echandia

Echandia is challenging the maritime industry with safer electrification. Since its founding in 2018, Echandia has rapidly become a global leader in maritime battery systems, with delivery and orders of over 90 systems for electrification projects worldwide. Our systems are tailored to optimize energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, supporting the maritime industry’s transition towards sustainable operations. Based in Stockholm, we serve customers across the globe. Learn more at www.echandia.com.

About S2G Investments

S2G is a multi-stage investment firm focused on venture and growth-stage businesses across food & agriculture, oceans, and energy. The firm provides capital and value-added resources to companies and leadership teams pursuing market-based solutions designed to deliver greater value, improved outcomes, and enhanced performance over traditional alternatives. With a commitment to creating long-term, measurable outcomes, S2G structures flexible capital solutions that can range from venture funding through growth equity to debt and infrastructure financing. For more information about S2G, visit s2ginvestments.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Johan Winlund, Marketing & Communication Manager at Echandia
+46 76 117 55 41
[email protected] 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

SOURCE Echandia Group