Round led by Energize Capital underscores critical need for software to operate profitable energy projects at scale and enable the clean energy transition

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6, 2025 — Tyba, a leading energy storage optimization platform, today announced $13.9 million in Series A funding led by Energize Capital. The round includes new investment from Pear VC, Mobilize Climate Capital, and Borusan Ventures and follow-on investment from Powerhouse, Wireframe, Virta, and Lorimer. This brings Tyba’s total funding to $18.15 million.

This capital will help Tyba scale its AI-enabled energy forecasting, trading and optimization solution, which helps energy producers maximize revenue, support grid reliability, and strategically expand their portfolios as they transition to clean energy. 

The U.S. power grid is transforming, driven by a shift to clean energy and rising electricity demand. Battery storage, in particular, is essential for maximizing the efficiency and profitability of renewable energy investments, ensuring power is available whenever it’s needed and at prices that make these investments worthwhile. In the last three years, storage capacity has grown 6x, to an estimated 30GW, indicating the rapid increase in energy storage needs.

Despite this rapid growth, managing storage assets is inherently complex given rapidly evolving power markets and the range of services batteries can provide. Operators need advanced forecasting and optimization tools, like Tyba, to ensure they can continue to support grid needs while remaining profitable.

“Batteries are essential to develop more clean energy and power our modern economy. For the companies building and operating battery storage facilities, figuring out how to maximize the value of their assets and maintain a competitive edge remains a constant challenge,” said Michael Baker, CEO & Co-founder of Tyba. “Tyba is the autopilot system for batteries. Our platform forecasts opportunities, executes automated dispatch and bidding strategies, and provides the visibility and control needed for traders and asset managers to manage their facilities profitably and at scale. We make the nitty gritty of battery operations easy so our customers can focus on meeting our country’s energy needs.”

Tyba works with many of the world’s leading energy companies, such as TotalEnergies, and supports the operations of over 1GWh of storage assets in Texas and California. In the past year, Tyba has tripled its customer base, launched its Asset Operations product, and is delivering revenue outcomes in the top 5% of assets. Since Tyba’s founding, its Project Simulation product has been used to model over 100GW of projects under development and secure over $1 billion in funding.

“TotalEnergies is rapidly growing our generation portfolio, and Tyba’s platform has been key to maximizing our asset’s performance,” said Michael Heitmann, Head of US Short Term Power for TotalEnergies. “Their solution empowers our team to focus on high-leverage, strategic decisions while their platform handles the execution of day-to-day operations, making them a valued and reliable partner.”

Tyba’s platform is where automation meets control. The Asset Operations product formulates optimal bidding strategies and automates dispatch, while empowering operators to make quick, strategic adjustments with the click of a button. This ensures profitability with less oversight, freeing teams to focus on developing the next wave of energy storage systems, which can be designed using Tyba’s Project Simulation product.

“Large-scale energy storage is proving to be essential to the energy transition, especially as we respond to surging global energy demand and an increasingly complex power grid,” said Tyler Lancaster, partner at Energize Capital and a member of Tyba’s board of directors. “However, operational challenges continue to be one of the most significant barriers to scale for battery assets, in part due to the active, hands-on management these assets require. Tyba’s solution tackles this challenge head-on, leveraging AI to enhance the profitability of battery storage by facilitating development decision-making and optimizing dispatch strategies. We are excited to partner with the Tyba team and support the company in this next phase of growth.”

This funding will help Tyba expand its forecasting and optimization capabilities into new markets, and across asset classes. To continue broadening its offerings, the company is hiring across its engineering, modeling, and commercial functions.

About Tyba
Tyba helps energy companies maximize the profitability of energy projects with a unified simulation and operations platform. Developers, owners, and operators use Tyba as their mission control center – to inform and automate energy storage operations, while maintaining the ability to make strategy adjustments with the click of a button. This approach helps their partners – including TotalEnergies, White Pine Renewables, and Linea Energy – maximize project revenue and sustainably scale their portfolios. We believe that profitable renewable energy investments are essential to ensure the clean energy transition. With Tyba, profit maximization and grid decarbonization go hand-in-hand.

About Energize Capital
Energize Capital is a leading investor in climate solutions. Founded in 2016 and based in Chicago, Energize seeks to scale sustainable innovation by partnering with the builders and operators shaping the future. To date, Energize has funded 30 companies and deployed more than $750 million through its venture capital and growth equity strategies. Anchored by founding partner Invenergy, the firm is backed by strategic, institutional, and impact LPs including CDPQ, Credit Suisse, GE Vernova, Xcel Energy, Caterpillar, HASI and more. For more information on Energize, please visit www.energizecap.com.

SOURCE Tyba

Supported by key partners AlleyCorp, Fast Forward, Firedoll Foundation, and the GitLab Foundation, the funding will drive advancements in Mobile Pathways’ groundbreaking AI tools for immigration legal cases.

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6, 2025 — Mobile Pathways, a leading tech nonprofit ensuring fair access to justice for immigrants, has successfully raised $1 million to advance its AI-based technology platform Pathfinder. Supported by key partners like GitLab Foundation, Firedoll Foundation, AlleyCorp, and Fast Forward, this funding will transform the way immigration attorneys and advocates manage complex immigration cases.

Specifically, the new funding will drive advancements in Pathfinder, a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) tool that automates immigration status alerts, centralizes vital legal information, and provides data-driven insights. Ultimately, this initiative will break down barriers for asylum seekers by improving access to justice while opening up better employment opportunities.

“Pathfinder has been a game-changer for my law firm,” says Gianfranco De Girolamo, immigration attorney at DGO Legal. “It helps my team understand cases instantly, from consultation to adjudication, while alerting us of any changes.”

Through new enhancements, Pathfinder’s AI technology will leverage U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data to speed up the work authorization process. Most importantly, the new funding will allow immigration nonprofits to access Pathfinder’s case history reports for free.

The number of asylum seekers seeking relief in the United States has tripled since 2022, and Mobile Pathways’ recent data underscores the urgent need for legal support.

“We’re proud to partner with Mobile Pathways to expand the reach of Pathfinder’s technology, enabling immigration advocates to empower communities with fair access to justice and meaningful employment opportunities,” said Ellie Bertani, CEO of GitLab Foundation.

Harnessing the power of AI in immigration law is challenging, given its overlap with multiple government agencies. As such, key supporter AlleyCorp has played a pivotal role through its Nonprofit ENG(INE) initiative to help Mobile Pathways advance Pathfinder’s AI capabilities.

“We understand that AI is a powerful, yet complex tool—one that requires expertise, care, and thoughtful guidance to truly make an impact,” said Florencia Herra Vega, Partner at AlleyCorp and CEO of AlleyCorp Nord, its Montreal-based engineering arm. “Pathfinder represents what is possible when innovation meets purpose. We proudly support Mobile Pathways in scaling this transformative technology to empower underserved immigrant communities.”

Mobile Pathways’ growth as an impactful tech nonprofit will blaze new trails at the intersection of justice, technology, and AI.

“This milestone reflects the power of cross-sector collaboration,” said Jeffrey O’Brien, CEO of Mobile Pathways. “With these advancements, we aim to rewrite the narrative for millions of immigrants facing legal and employment challenges.”

About Mobile Pathways

Mobile Pathways was founded in 2018 by an award-winning immigration attorney, Jeffrey O’Brien, seasoned innovator Poesy Chen, and philanthropist Bartlomiej Jan Skorupa to further their vision of democratizing legal assistance to underserved immigrants. They build technology to connect immigrants with reliable legal and employment information via mobile technology and AI.

For more information, please visit pathfinder.mobilepathways.org.

CONTACT: Jessica Mann, [email protected]

SOURCE Mobile Pathways

Advancing Adoption through Enhanced Mass Production and Accelerated Product Launches

TOKYO, Feb. 6, 2025 — Cellid Inc., a developer of AR glasses displays and spatial recognition engines for next-generation devices, today announced that it has raised a total of USD 13 million (JPY 2 billion) through a private placement with Development Bank of Japan Inc. as the lead investor, and through a third-party allotment of new shares to funds managed or involved in the management of More Management Co., Ltd.; CVC fund jointly established by Kyocera Corporation and Global Brain Corporation; 15th Rock, Inc.; and FFG Venture Business Partners Co., Ltd. This latest financing brings Cellid’s total funding raised to date to approximately USD 33 million (JPY 5.2 billion).

Cellid’s core business is the development of displays for AR glasses and spatial recognition engines. In particular, Cellid boasts the industry’s most advanced technology in the development and design of the world’s largest, widest field of view and lightest weight waveguide, and has succeeded in developing the first full-color projection technology using plastic materials.

Last November, Cellid announced the release of “Reference Design” (verification model) -eyeglass-type AR glasses that employs the optical see-through waveguide display method. By adopting our original waveguide, we succeeded in creating a design that is no different from that of ordinary glasses and lightweight (approx. 58g), and compared to conventional head-mounted display-type glasses, the new glasses reduce eye fatigue even after long hours of daily use.

This financing will enable Cellid to strengthen the lineup of products and reference designs that are key components of AR glasses, such as micro projectors and waveguides, and promote the development of business areas that make use of reference designs. Cellid will also accelerate the market launch of their products by strengthening their mass production system.

Underwriters

• Development Bank of Japan Inc.
• More Management Co., Ltd.
• KVIF-I Limited Partnership（Limited partner: Kyocera Corporation; General partner: Global Brain Corporation）
• 15th Rock, Inc. 
• FFG Venture Business Partners Co., Ltd

Cellid CEO Satoshi Shiraga comments:

“We are honored that the Development Bank of Japan Inc. and other financial investors and partners have recognized Cellid’s business, which is centered on the development of displays for AR glasses and spatial recognition engines, as well as our growth potential. As AR glasses are increasingly attracting attention as a more accessible next-generation device, we are pursuing their evolution through the development of key components for AR glasses, such as waveguides and micro projectors. With this financing, we aim to accelerate the market launch of our products and contribute to the further adoption of AR glasses by acquiring top talent in Japan and abroad, while strengthening our technological development capabilities and expanding our mass production system.”

Investor Comments

Akira Nagai, Senior Vice President, Growth & Cross Border Investment Department, Development Bank of Japan Inc.

“AR glasses have been in the limelight in recent years as next-generation wearable devices, but innovation in lenses, a key component, is essential for their full-scale diffusion. In this context, we are highly impressed with Cellid’s world-class technology for waveguide lenses and the fact that it has established a supply chain through close collaboration with Japanese optical materials and semiconductor processing companies, which are highly competitive worldwide. DBJ feels that Cellid has the potential to become the de facto standard for waveguides and will do its utmost to support Cellid’s growth strategy in the future.”

Akihiro Matsuyama, Representative Director, More Management Co., Ltd. 

“We are pleased to announce that we have executed a follow-on investment in Cellid from our fund, whose lead investor is AXA Life Insurance Co. Ltd. We highly valued their advanced technologies related to AR and decided to invest for them to commercialize their products with global companies. We expect that their products will bring people’s relationship with computers closer and bring innovation to their lives. As a shareholder, we will actively support them.”

Shouichi Nakagawa, Executive Officer, Senior General Manager, Corporate R&D Group, Kyocera Corporation

“We are very pleased that KVIF-I has invested in Cellid. We are committed to cutting-edge research and development to fulfill our corporate Management Rationale, ‘contribute to the advancement of society and humankind’. AR and other XR technologies are building a new relationship between humans and computers. Glass waveguides and spatial recognition engines developed by Cellid are essential in our search for the next generation of key devices. We are committed to supporting Cellid as they take on the challenge of using their advanced technology to contribute to the advancement of society and humankind.”

Tetsu Nakajima, Founder/General Partner, 15th Rock, Inc.

“The AR glasses market continues to expand, with large companies expected to enter the market. Cellid, with its innovative manufacturing technology and knowledge, has huge potential for growth. 15th Rock, with a core focus on supporting innovations in Human Augmentation, will fully support Cellid’s mission by making the most of the knowledge and network it has cultivated to date.”

Miruto Ōhara, Investment Manager, Investment Department, FFG Venture Business Partners

“We are very pleased to invest in Cellid, a leading Japanese developer of AR glasses devices, which are rapidly gaining attention around the world, especially among big tech companies, as the next-generation device following smartphones. CEO Satoshi Shiraga and his management team have great potential to develop cutting-edge Japanese technology on a global scale. It is very exciting to imagine a near future in which Cellid’s products will be available in the market and in the hands of many people around the world. The entire Fukuoka Financial Group (FFG) is committed to supporting Cellid’s further growth and address of challenges.”

About Cellid
Cellid specializes in the development of advanced AR glass display modules, focusing on waveguides and spatial recognition engines for next-generation devices. Leveraging unique optical simulation and proprietary production technologies, Cellid has developed display modules as thin and lightweight as standard eyeglass lenses, delivering clear images and one of the world’s largest fields of view for waveguides. Additionally, Cellid offers industry-specific solutions powered by spatial recognition technologies such as Cellid SLAM. By integrating cutting-edge AR display hardware with real-world spatial recognition software, Cellid is driving the “Blending of Physical and Digital World,” making exceptional information tools more accessible, practical, and convenient for users worldwide

Media Inquiries: 

Michael Kornspan
[email protected] 

SOURCE Cellid Inc.

The funding will enable Piano to enhance its platform capabilities, expand its market presence, and support strategic initiatives aimed at driving growth and delivering innovative digital solutions to its clients

MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 6, 2025 — Runway Growth Capital LLC (“Runway”), a leading provider of growth loans to both venture and non-venture-backed companies seeking an alternative to raising equity, today announced its role as the lead lender in a $75 million senior secured term loan facility that is part of a $120 million financing to Piano, a global leader in digital experience management, customer journey orchestration, and advanced analytics. The financing also includes a $45 million Series D investment led by Updata Partners, a Washington, D.C.-based growth equity firm focused on technology. This capital will enable Piano to optimize its platform, expand its market presence, and support strategic growth initiatives.

Founded in 2010, Piano offers an end-to-end platform that allows enterprises to more quickly identify, understand, and serve their customers. The Piano platform leverages unique data architectures that operate at massive scale and at orders of magnitude faster than competing solutions. This product helps global, national, and local brands and publishers achieve revenue growth while empowering teams to launch relevant audience experiences seamlessly, at scale, and with complete privacy-compliance.

With its US-headquarters in Philadelphia, PA and a presence in over 15 offices worldwide, including Amsterdam, Paris, Singapore, Berlin, Buenos Aires, New York, and Tokyo, Piano serves a diverse client base across six continents. Piano has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing, innovative technology companies by organizations such as Red Herring, the World Economic Forum, and Deloitte.

“Piano’s innovative approach to digital experience management and its market leadership position makes it an ideal partner for Runway,” said Jeff Goldrich, Managing Director at Runway. “We are excited to support Piano’s continued expansion and their commitment to delivering exceptional solutions to their clients.”

“This financing from Runway Growth Capital provides us with the resources to further enhance our platform and accelerate our growth strategy,” said Trevor Kaufman, CEO of Piano. “We appreciate Runway’s confidence in our vision and look forward to advancing our mission to empower businesses with the tools they need to understand and influence customer behavior.”

“The range of industries and business problems Piano is able to address with its technology is incredibly impressive,” added Ted Cavan, Managing Director at Runway Growth Capital. “The Piano team has built a truly industry-leading technology and we are thrilled to be a part of their continued success.”

About Runway Growth Capital LLC
Runway Growth Capital LLC is the investment adviser to investment funds, including Runway Growth Finance Corp. (Nasdaq: RWAY), a business development company, and other private funds, which are lenders of growth capital to companies seeking an alternative to raising equity. Led by industry veteran David Spreng, these funds provide senior term loans of a target of $30 million to $150 million to fast-growing companies based in the United States and Canada. For more information on Runway Growth Capital LLC and its platform, please visit www.runwaygrowth.com.

About Piano
Piano is a leading digital experience platform that empowers organizations to understand and influence customer behavior by putting the power of data and logic into the hands of their employees. Piano’s end-to-end platform leverages data, artificial intelligence, and commerce features to help brands and publishers achieve revenue growth while enabling teams to launch relevant audience experiences. With a global presence and a diverse client base, Piano has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing, innovative technology companies worldwide. For more information, visit www.piano.io.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance, condition, or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Runway’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Runway undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

SOURCE Runway Growth Capital LLC

WEXFORD, Pa., Feb. 6, 2025 — COEPTIS, Inc. (Nasdaq: COEP) (the “Company” or “Coeptis”), a pioneering technology company dedicated to advancing cutting-edge technologies and artificial intelligence at the forefront of innovative biotechnology therapeutic solutions, today announced the successful closure of an additional $5.7 million in its final Series A Preferred Offering, bringing the total financing round to $10 million. This significant achievement highlights investor confidence in Coeptis’ innovative therapeutic solutions and its strategic pivot towards technology-driven growth.

The financing was led by CJC Investment Trust, an entity controlled by board member Christopher Calise, through an increase in their initial investment in the round. Under the terms of the latest financing, the Series A Preferred is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $8.00 per share, subject to limitations. Additionally, investors received an aggregate 15% equity interest in the Company’s newly formed subsidiaries, SNAP Biosciences Inc. and GEAR Therapeutics Inc. This announcement follows an initial closure of $4.3 million in June 2024.

“We’re thrilled to announce the successful closure of our second Series A Preferred financing,” said Brian Cogley, CFO of COEPTIS. “This funding is pivotal as we expand our operational capabilities and enhance shareholder value through our new Technology Division. The integration of AI-driven tools, particularly from our recent acquisition of the NexGenAI Affiliates Network platform, is vital in revolutionizing our approach to marketing and operational efficiencies in the highly regulated biopharmaceutical sector.”

The proceeds from this financing will be utilized to strengthen the Company’s balance sheet, repay outstanding obligations, and support general corporate purposes, alongside the $4.3 million already raised. Moreover, the additional capital will accelerate Coeptis’ ongoing integration of advanced AI solutions and automation capabilities, enhancing not only research processes but also the overall operational framework of the Company.

“This additional financing enables Coeptis to not just fortify its mission in cell therapy but also empowers us to drive innovation in technology and AI,” added Dave Mehalick, President and CEO of COEPTIS. “By fostering a culture of responsible innovation, we aim to capitalize on diverse growth opportunities, creating a self-sustaining business model that establishes a strong foundation for long-term success and profitability.”

About COEPTIS, Inc.

COEPTIS, Inc., together with its subsidiaries Coeptis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GEAR Therapeutics, Inc., and SNAP Biosciences, Inc. (collectively “Coeptis”), is a biopharmaceutical and technology company focused on developing innovative cell therapy platforms for cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases. Coeptis aims to advance treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes through its cutting-edge research and development efforts.

The Company’s therapeutic portfolio is underscored by assets licensed from Deverra Therapeutics, which include an allogeneic cellular immunotherapy platform and DVX201, a clinical-stage, unmodified natural killer cell therapy technology. COEPTIS is also developing a universal, multi-antigen CAR technology licensed from the University of Pittsburgh (SNAP-CAR), alongside GEAR cell therapy and companion diagnostic platforms in collaboration with VyGen-Bio and distinguished medical researchers at the Karolinska Institute.

Building on its core competencies, COEPTIS has recently established a Technology Division, which focuses on enhancing operational capabilities through advanced technologies. This division features AI-powered marketing software and robotic process automation tools acquired from NexGenAI Solutions Group, designed to optimize business processes and improve overall efficiency.

Headquartered in Wexford, PA, COEPTIS is dedicated to advancing its mission within the regulatory framework set forth by the FDA, ensuring that all activities align with the highest standards of compliance and patient care. For more information on COEPTIS, visit https://coeptistx.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and statements of our management made in connection therewith contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions, and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When we use words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, we are making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve significant risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially and perhaps substantially from our expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: (1) the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; (2) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Deverra licensed assets, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth economically and hire and retain key employees; (3) the risks that the Company’s products in development or the newly-licensed assets fail clinical trials or are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other applicable regulatory authorities; (4) costs related to ongoing asset development including the Deverra licensed assets and pursuing the contemplated asset development paths; (5) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (6) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (7) the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on any of the foregoing risks and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. All forward-looking statements are subject to significant uncertainties and risks including, but not limited, to those risks contained or to be contained in reports and other filings filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings made or to be made with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof unless required by applicable laws, regulations, or rules.

Contacts
[email protected]

SOURCE Coeptis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

–Firm Closed Record Number of Tactical Credit Investments in Q4,
Focused Principally on Specialty Finance and Corporate Lending–  

–Siguler Guff Also Launched its First Evergreen Credit Fund for Tactical Credit
and Its Credit Platform Raised Over $1.2 Billion—

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2025 — Siguler Guff & Company, LP (“Siguler Guff” or the “Firm”), a multi-strategy private markets investment firm with approximately $18 billion of assets under management, today announced that it ended 2024 with a record quarter of deal activity across its Tactical Credit investment strategy. Tactical Credit, one vertical of the Firm’s private credit offerings, is an absolute return investment strategy focused on private credit across specialty finance and corporate lending, with the flexibility to capitalize on market dislocations within traded credit. The strategy seeks investments with stable income, low market correlation, and shorter duration.

The record quarter deal flow follows a strong overall fundraising year for the broader Siguler Guff credit platform, which raised over $1.2 billion in new commitments during the last twelve months.  During 2024, the Firm also brought to market its first evergreen fund, Siguler Guff Tactical Credit Evergreen Fund (‘TCEF’), which had its first closing in May 2024 and has accepted additional capital since then.

A highlight of certain deals closed in Q4 includes:

• Lead lender and administrative agent for a $54 million senior secured credit facility to support a private equity firm’s acquisition of a provider of asset-efficient auto logistics solutions for blue-chip auto manufacturers
• Sole lender and administrative agent for a $50 million senior secured credit facility to a digital transformation firm owned by an independent sponsor and family office
• Sole lender for $30 million B-Note of a senior secured loan to finance the third phase of luxury condominium development located in South Florida
• $50 million commitment to a programmatic forward flow agreement to purchase personal installment loans with an attractive equity cushion from a large, long-established originator
• $35 million secondary purchase of a portfolio of LP interests in 4 alternative credit funds

“We were pleased by the record pace and range of tactical credit investments during the fourth quarter,” said Michael Apfel, Partner and Head of Credit and Special Situations at Siguler Guff. “We are currently finding exceptional opportunities in asset-backed finance, lending to businesses with less than $50 million of EBITDA, and real estate lending, which we expect to continue in 2025. With our flexible mandate, we are fortunate in that we can take advantage of all market conditions.” 

Drew Guff, Co-Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Siguler Guff, added, “Siguler Guff has built an information and sourcing edge which the firm fostered over nearly 30 years. We believe the real value for investors in private markets is not in increasingly larger and more competitive deals, but rather in more difficult-to-access niches, smaller companies, and complex situations where demand for capital is at a premium and risk-adjusted return profiles are superior.”

Since 2002, Siguler Guff’s credit platform has invested $9 billion through evolving economic and market environments and provides a range of credit investment strategies focused on direct corporate lending, specialty finance, and special situations investing.

About Siguler Guff

Siguler Guff is a multi-strategy private markets investment firm with approximately $18 billion of assets under management and more than 29 years of investment experience. Siguler Guff seeks to generate strong, risk-adjusted returns by focusing opportunistically on market niches. Siguler Guff’s core investment strategies include private credit and special situations, small business private equity, real estate and emerging markets. Siguler Guff’s investment products include direct investment funds, multi-manager funds and customized separate accounts targeting specific areas of compelling opportunity. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in New York, Siguler Guff maintains offices in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Houston, TX, and West Palm Beach, FL. To learn more about Siguler Guff, please visit www.sigulerguff.com.

SOURCE Siguler Guff

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 6, 2025 — As electric-vehicle sales continue to increase, Presto, an all-in-one EV charging platform, announced today that it has raised $15 million in seed funding from Union Square Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures, and Jetstream. Through Presto’s top-rated app and APIs, fleets can find, charge, and pay for reliable on-the-go charging across thousands of Presto’s partner public charging stations. These new funds will be used to onboard new fleets, integrate more chargers, and add new features.

Founded in 2023 by J.J. Raynor and Ashwin Dias, former Uber executives who launched Uber’s electrification program, Presto’s platform is used by some of the largest electric fleets, including Uber, Avis, Hertz and Zipcar.

Fleets and drivers are rapidly choosing electric vehicles for their lower total costs, reduced maintenance, and clean air benefits. As of Q3 2024, 9% of all U.S. car sales were electric. However, finding and accessing reliable public charging continues to be a barrier to EV adoption. There are now more than 200,000 public charging stations operated by over 50 different companies, each with their own software, mobile apps, and charging hardware. For fleets, navigating this diverse charging ecosystem while on-the-go is a challenge. 

Presto simplifies charging by enabling fleets to seamlessly find, charge, and pay across thousands of charging stations operated by Presto’s charging partners through one easy-to-use app or API. Presto’s machine-learning recommendation engine ingests real-time information on charger availability and reliability to recommend chargers to fleets for reliable charging. 

“Presto addresses a critical gap in the EV ecosystem—a unified and effortless charging experience—that enables fleets and their drivers to charge across networks,” said J.J. Raynor, co-founder and CFO of Presto. “This new funding allows us to scale up our efforts to support more fleets and charging partners.”

Large fleets have found immediate success working with Presto. Car rental companies, including Avis, Hertz, and Zipcar provide the Presto app to their customers when they rent an EV, making it easier for them to charge during their rental. Uber drivers, who have been rapidly switching to electric vehicles, get access to special pricing with EVgo in addition to charging across networks via the Presto app. 

“J.J. and Ashwin saw a problem that EV rideshare drivers deal with every day and they jumped in to fix it,” said Rachel Pinkham, Head of US&C Electrification Operations at Uber. “What really stands out is their customer-centric approach—features like price discovery and the recommendation engine are clever, practical tools that genuinely help drivers save time and money.” 

“Easily accessible electric vehicle charging is crucial for a smooth member experience and to drive sustainable transportation further,” said Will Sowers, Senior Manager of Public Partnerships and Policy at Zipcar. “Since each Zipcar is shared between 50 to 90 members and sees more use than a personal vehicle, our professional fleet teams use Presto to help maintain our electric vehicle fleets in select cities.” 

For its charging partners, Presto helps them onboard more fleet charging demand, grow charger utilization and improve charging economics. EV chargers are expensive to deploy—a typical fast charger installation costs between $116,000 and $167,000. As a result, charging operators naturally want to maximize charger utilization while minimizing congestion and optimizing for customer experience.

“Presto has made onboarding new fleet customers easy for us,” said Kate Gridley, Business Development Lead at EVgo. “Presto’s platform provides fleets with the tools they need to charge seamlessly, and fleet usage has been an important driver of our rising network utilization.” 

Nick Grossman, partner at Union Square Ventures who led the firm’s investment in Presto said, “We believe in J.J. and Ashwin’s vision to create a unified platform that transforms EV charging into a magical experience.  Presto’s traction with both fleets and charge point operators speaks to the urgency and size of the opportunity.”

With the new funding, Presto plans to scale up its operations and continue investing in its technology to support more fleets and charging partners on their road to electrification.

About Presto
Presto is an electric vehicle (EV) charging platform that powers seamless and reliable charging experiences for fleets, mobility providers, and businesses. Presto’s platform makes working with fleets seamless for charging partners, while fleet partners can quickly and easily roll out an all-in-one charging solution using Presto’s highly-rated mobile app (available for iOS and Android) or integrate charging into their customer experiences using Presto’s easy APIs. Learn more at www.prestocharging.com.

Business Contact
[email protected]

Media Contact
Chris Allieri
Mulberry & Astor
[email protected]

SOURCE Presto

The Fund features a high-quality venture portfolio targeting top-performing, oversubscribed funds and companies

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Feb. 6, 2025 — Leading global private markets investment management firm Hamilton Lane (Nasdaq: HLNE) today announced the final close of its Venture Access Fund (“VAF” or “the Fund”), which successfully exceeded its target fund size, raising $615.3 million in commitments. 

VAF, which closed 23% over its $500 million target, features a venture portfolio that targets top-performing, oversubscribed funds and companies, while leveraging the extensive platform, access and relationships Hamilton Lane has built over its nearly 30 years of investing in the space. The Fund’s unique composition of primary and secondary transactions is designed to accelerate capital back to investors and mitigate the J-curve, providing Limited Partners with a fee-efficient, best-in-class VC solution.

Building on Hamilton Lane’s extensive track record and nearly $117 billion in AUM and AUA* across venture and growth equity, VAF is the firm’s first globally distributed venture vehicle and represents an evolution of its Venture and Growth Equity Platform. The fundraise centered on attractive venture capital market dynamics and LP demand, with participation from a group of global and diversified investors, spanning public and corporate pension funds, financial institutions, Taft-Hartley plans, family offices and foundations and endowments.

Miguel Luina, Co-Head of Venture and Growth Equity at Hamilton Lane, commented: “We are thrilled to announce the final close of the inaugural Venture Access Fund, which surpassed our target fund size despite the difficult fundraising environment. This achievement is a testament to the confidence our clients and investors have in our ability to access premier venture opportunities and navigate a dynamic market. 

VAF represents a unique opportunity for investors to gain exposure to what we believe to be best-in-class venture capital managers, breakout companies, well-priced secondaries and high-potential co-investments. Our institutional approach to portfolio construction and strong relationships aimed to deliver a high-quality experience to investors of all types.”

“For those with scale, expertise and strong relationships, the current VC market presents compelling opportunities, driven by active company formation and rapid value creation from AI and other disruptive technologies, and lower overall capital availability. Specifically, the opportunity set within the secondary market is robust, as the trend of companies staying private longer persists, causing existing shareholders to seek alternative methods of liquidity,” said Matt Pellini, Co-Head of Venture and Growth Equity at Hamilton Lane.

The firm has been active in the venture and growth equity space for nearly three decades, with deep experience investing across separately managed accounts, including its annual commingled Hamilton Lane Venture Capital Fund series, which was first established in 2009. Hamilton Lane is focused on concentrating capital into what it believes to be best-in-class, high-growth companies through fund investments with venture and growth managers, direct investments and solution-oriented secondaries. The strategy is designed to produce an asymmetric return profile that limits losses, while capturing the attractive upside that venture and growth equity investments can provide. For more on the firm’s Venture and Growth Equity Platform, click here.

*As of 9/30/24

About Hamilton Lane

Hamilton Lane (Nasdaq: HLNE) is one of the largest private markets investment firms globally, providing innovative solutions to institutional and private wealth investors around the world. Dedicated exclusively to private markets investing for more than 30 years, the firm currently employs approximately 740 professionals operating in offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Hamilton Lane has $956 billion in assets under management and supervision, composed of nearly $135 billion in discretionary assets and more than $821 billion in non-discretionary assets, as of December 31, 2024. Hamilton Lane specializes in building flexible investment programs that provide clients access to the full spectrum of private markets strategies, sectors and geographies. For more information, please visit our website or follow Hamilton Lane on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Hamilton Lane

Funding Fuels Global Expansion with New Facilities that Strengthen Supply of Chitosan Chemistries.

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 5, 2025 — Tidal Vision, a biotechnology company transforming critical industries with chitosan-based chemistries, announced the closing of an oversubscribed $140M Series B financing round. The round exceeded its original target due to demand from strategically aligned investors including Cambridge Companies SPG, Eni Next (the corporate venture arm of Eni S.p.A), Milliken & Company, KIRKBI Climate, Convent Capital, SWEN Capital Partners’ Blue Ocean Fund, MBX Capital, Oman Investment Authority’s IDO Investments, and more.

This financing fuels Tidal Vision’s ability to continuously increase the performance, economics, and ease of adoption of chitosan-based solutions with greater production capacities and expanded research and development resources. The company is building new infrastructure in Europe, Texas, and Ohio, further expanding its footprint. Resources will also be invested in accelerating R&D in chitosan and adjacent technologies, adding to the company’s already impressive intellectual property portfolio. With a greater number of both commercial-scale and R&D facilities around the world, Tidal Vision will make chitosan-based solutions more accessible to customers globally.

“We are thrilled to have these strategically aligned capital partners onboard and supportive of accelerating our mission,” said Craig Kasberg, CEO of Tidal Vision. “We’ve already demonstrated it’s possible to make our biomolecular solutions outcompete. Now, we’re building infrastructure that’ll allow us to better serve customers who operate in critical industries providing the clean water, agriculture production, and materials necessary for everyday life.”

“We’re pleased to have led this $140M Series B growth equity round for Tidal Vision,” said Filipp Chebotarev, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Cambridge Companies SPG. “Tidal Vision is the global leader in chitosan extraction, modification, characterization, and commercial applications. These important investments will enable Tidal Vision to continue to apply these crucial scientific breakthrough technologies commercially across a variety of sectors.”

About Tidal Vision: 
Tidal Vision is a global leader in scalable biomolecular solutions for critical industries, such as water treatment, agriculture, and material science. Our mission is to create positive and systemic environmental impact. We’re building a world where chitosan-based technologies are more economical, better performing, and easier to adopt. We invite the leaders of modern industry to join us in creating systemic impact globally.

Learn more at www.TidalVision.com and on LinkedIn. 

SOURCE Tidal Vision