This new program provides an excellent opportunity to bolster the state’s economy.

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 3, 2025 — Elevate Capital, Oregon’s first inclusive venture capital fund supporting diversity and inclusion, has been selected by Business Oregon to manage the SSBCI (State Small Business Credit Initiative) Venture Direct program. This selection marks a significant advancement for Oregon’s early-stage startups.

“The honor of managing the SSBCI Venture Direct program follows a highly competitive selection process with Business Oregon and reflects Elevate Capital’s reputation and effectiveness in fostering innovation and growth in Oregon’s startup community with investment. We are thrilled to receive the continued trust and confidence from the State of Oregon,” says Nitin Rai, Elevate Capital’s Founder and Managing Partner.

“This recognition builds on Elevate Capital’s successful track record managing the Gap Fund I and Gap Fund II, also backed by Business Oregon. Our team has demonstrated a strong commitment to nurturing emerging businesses, and this new program provides an excellent opportunity to bolster the state’s economy,” says Ben Nahir, Venture Principal, Elevate Capital.

Funding Requirements

• The SSBCI Venture Direct program will allocate up to $15M to invest in Oregon startups over the next four to six years.
• Elevate will catalyze additional investment opportunities into Oregon startups, as each SSBCI investment requires at least a 1:1 match at the time of investment.
• The SSBCI portfolio will include at least 40% SEDI (socially and economically disadvantaged individuals) -owned businesses.
• This Fund will invest in all new companies.

About Elevate Capital

Founded in 2016, Elevate Capital is the nation’s first institutional venture capital fund primarily targeting investments in underrepresented entrepreneurs, including women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities, and those with limited regional access to capital and opportunities. Through the Innovation Gap Funds, Elevate supports high-risk research-driven innovation in Oregon by investing at the earliest stages in startups from healthcare, life sciences, cleantech, sustainability, and other target-traded sector industries. Visit elevate.vc or follow Elevate Capital on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Elevate Capital

Affineon Health Expands AI Inbox to Tackle Provider Burnout, Improve Patient Care

DENVER, Feb. 3, 2025 — Affineon Health, a leader in AI-powered solutions to streamline the inbox for healthcare physicians and providers, today announced successfully closing a $5 million oversubscribed funding round. GPG Ventures led the seed round with participation from existing investor, AI Fund, and several other new investors.

The funding enables Affineon to accelerate product development, expand its fast-growing market presence, and deepen its impact on one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: the administrative burden on providers that’s a leading cause of physician burnout.

“We’re empowering healthcare providers by automating tedious tasks so they can spend more time on patient care and less on administrative work,” said David Norris, Co-Founder and CEO of Affineon Health. “This oversubscribed round underscores how important solving this problem is and positions Affineon to scale our AI inbox to improve even more lives.”

Transforming Provider Inboxes with AI
By automating routine lab results, prescription renewals, and patient communications, Affineon reduces inbox volume up to 80% and saves providers over five hours per week, while improving response times and the patient experience. Seamlessly integrated with electronic health record (EHR) systems, providers reclaim their time in Affineon’s AI inbox without disrupting existing workflows.

Investor Perspectives
“By slashing the time doctors spend wrangling their inbox, Affineon reduces a major healthcare pain point,” said Claire England, Investment Partner at GPG Ventures. “We’re thrilled to back this experienced team’s innovative AI inbox and their dedication to improving physician efficiency and patient care.”

“The healthcare industry is hungry for solutions that combine advanced AI technology with practical applications,” said Matt Miller, Managing Partner at Headwater Ventures. “The administrative burden physicians face every day is why we invested in Affineon, with its unique AI inbox solution”

Other new investors in this round include Deepwater, Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV), Headwater Ventures, and Signal Peak Ventures. Together with GPG Ventures and AI Fund, their support reflects solid investor confidence in Affineon’s market leadership and momentum. This round brings Affineon’s total capital raised to $6 million.

Accelerating Momentum

The funding builds on Affineon’s recent achievements, including:

• Market traction: Partnering with leading health systems, physician practices, and EHRs like athenahealth.
• Innovation: Advancing AI-powered tool development for lab results, Rx renewals, and patient communication.
• Recognition: Establishing itself as an essential innovator reducing provider burnout and improving patient care.

About Affineon Health
Affineon Health’s AI inbox streamlines provider workflows and eases administrative burdens. Its flagship solutions improve efficiency, reduce burnout, and help healthcare providers focus on delivering high-quality patient care. Affineon integrates seamlessly with EHR systems, saving providers time and enhancing the healthcare experience.

About the Investors
GPG Ventures is a Texas-based healthcare VC firm. With offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, GPG Ventures invests nationally in biotech, digital health, medtech, consumer health, and general B2B tech. Individual and family office LPs have invested alongside the firm’s partners in more than 100 portfolio companies since 2011.
AI Fund is a venture studio that strives to move humanity forward by accelerating the adoption of AI. Acting as a minor co-founder, AI Fund partners with entrepreneurs to form new companies together. AI pioneer Andrew Ng launched AI Fund in 2018 with $176 million from top-tier firms such as Greylock, NEA, Sequoia, and Softbank Group.
Deepwater Asset Management manages equity investment funds across the growth spectrum in public and private markets. They seek to invest in transformative technologies and innovators that will unlock value for their investment partners.
Benhamou Global Ventures (BGV) is a cross-border VC firm with deep roots in Silicon Valley and a focus on global Enterprise 5.0 AI technology innovation.
Headwater Ventures is a Minneapolis-based VC firm investing in tech founders building the next generation of category-defining healthcare companies.
Signal Peak Ventures is a Salt Lake City-based VC firm investing in technology companies in emerging markets, primarily outside of Silicon Valley.

Media Inquiries:
Affineon Health
Marc Feder
[email protected]
www.affineon.com

SOURCE Affineon Health

Flyover Capital, SineWave Ventures lead funding round, former Chief of NSA’s Trusted Systems Research Group joins board

LAWRENCE, Kan., Feb. 3, 2025 — Invary, a pioneer in Runtime Integrity solutions, successfully raised a $3.5 million Seed funding round from SineWave Ventures, Flyover Capital, Hyperlink Ventures, and KCRise Fund. This funding enables Invary to advance its mission of verifying the Runtime Integrity of entire systems, ensuring comprehensive confidentiality and security.

Invary’s patented solutions, powered by technology exclusively licensed from the National Security Agency (NSA), are leading a paradigm shift in confidential computing, bringing advanced runtime security already deployed in high-assurance federal entities to the commercial sector. Join Invary and federal and commercial experts in a live webinar February 24th to learn more.

Dr. Patricia Muoio, General Partner at SineWave Ventures and former Chief of NSA’s Trusted Systems Group, is joining Invary’s Board of Directors. Muoio brings deep expertise in cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and strategic planning across both federal and commercial sectors.

“It is time for enterprises to stop letting attackers dictate the rules of the game, instead capitalizing on having home-field advantage,” said Dr. Muoio. “Invary’s Runtime Integrity solution is an important technology for any enterprise looking to enhance their security posture.”

The seed funding will accelerate the launch of Invary’s Windows Kernel Runtime Integrity solution and groundbreaking eBPF Runtime Integrity verification, complementing its established Linux Runtime Integrity solution. Invary’s technology additionally supports verifying Trusted Execution Environments (TEE), such as AMD’s SEV-SNP, ensuring systems remain uncompromised at runtime. These offerings provide continuous state-based verification of vital layers core to security, enabling customers to detect sophisticated threats and zero-day malware that are invisible to other threat detection mechanisms.

“By successfully validating critical government systems, Invary has demonstrated its capability to address some of the most demanding challenges in system security. Invary is experiencing growing interest from the private sector, further fueled by its upcoming launch of Runtime Integrity for Windows,” said Dan Kerr, Partner at Flyover Capital. “The real-time system integrity approach pioneered by Invary has the potential to redefine how industries think about and implement security in the years ahead.”

Flyover Capital, which also led Invary’s Pre-Seed round, has reinforced its support in this funding round, underscoring its strong belief in Invary’s groundbreaking capabilities and the urgent need for its technology in today’s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

“Invary is redefining runtime security with our upcoming eBPF Runtime Integrity solution,” said Jason Rogers, CEO of Invary. “Researched in part with the NSA’s Trusted Mechanisms group under a CRADA, this solution extends basic built-in BPF protections, ensuring that eBPF programs and their data remain unaltered in memory at runtime. Combined with our Windows and Linux Kernel Runtime Integrity solutions and runtime TEE attestation, we are bringing the confidentiality and security trusted by high-assurance federal systems to the commercial market.”

Leading federal and commercial organizations trust Invary to strengthen Zero Trust Architectures by verifying runtime integrity and eliminating the foundational assumptions on which security postures are built.

“At Spencer Fane, safeguarding our data is our highest priority,” said Wai Sheng Cheng, Head of Security for Spencer Fane. “Invary’s ability to verify the confidentiality and security of our systems at runtime represents a significant advancement in protection. By reinforcing the foundation of our security posture, Invary enhances our ability to protect our critical data.”

Invary’s technology is seamlessly integrated into partner solutions, as demonstrated by its incorporation into Vibrint’s enterprise solution offerings. For example, this collaboration brings Invary’s advanced Runtime Integrity solutions to Vibrint’s high-performance computing (HPC) offering, delivering the level of confidentiality and assurance that national security customers demand.

“We are excited to be working with Invary,” said Scott Clark. “Their unique technology is helping Vibrint elevate our Zero Trust solutions, enabling our customers to gain a stronger advantage in achieving their national security missions. We look forward to building on this collaboration and exploring new ways to drive innovation together.”

With its Runtime Integrity solutions, Invary protects critical systems against tampering, persistence, and hidden threats by continuously measuring and verifying system behavior at runtime. By delivering solutions for Linux, Windows, eBPF, and Trusted Execution Environments, Invary ensures that organizations can operate with confidence across the entire technology stack.

About Invary

Invary delivers industry-leading Runtime Integrity solutions that ensure the security and confidentiality of critical systems. Built on NSA-licensed technology, Invary provides comprehensive protection for Linux, Windows, eBPF, and Trusted Execution Environments. By continuously verifying runtime integrity, Invary safeguards systems against tampering and advanced threats, enabling Zero Trust Architectures across federal and commercial sectors.

For more information, visit [www.invary.com].

About SineWave Ventures

SineWave Ventures is a leading venture capital firm that bridges the gap between innovative startups and established enterprises, with a particular focus on fostering connections with government agencies and the public sector. By investing in transformative technologies and solutions, SineWave empowers early-stage companies to scale and make meaningful impacts across industries. With deep expertise, a robust network, and a commitment to driving progress, SineWave serves as a catalyst for growth, helping startups navigate complex markets and achieve sustainable success.

For more information, visit [https://sinewave.vc/].

About Flyover Capital 

Flyover Capital is a leading early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to creating the next generation of technology success stories outside the traditional tech hubs. The firm invests in transformative companies and venture funds across industries such as cybersecurity, FinTech, InsurTech, privacy and security, dual-purpose tech, and productivity solutions. Flyover’s portfolio reflects its commitment to solving critical challenges and fostering innovation that drives economic growth. By leveraging its deep expertise and extensive network, Flyover Capital supports the development of groundbreaking solutions that redefine industries and create lasting impact.

For more information, visit [https://www.flyovercapital.com/].

About Vibrint

Vibrint helps national security customers Make the Right Call, sustaining mission advantage at the forefront of intelligence gathering and analysis. Our teams of technologists, analysts and mission specialists pursue innovation in high-performance computing, SIGINT research and analysis, software and systems development, and mission resilience. The systems we create and the services we provide enhance our customers’ capacity and capability for harvesting and harnessing data, enhancing the quality and speed of mission-critical decisions. Within our Collaboration Lab environment, we leverage our technical expertise to explore future capabilities vital to the U.S. national security mission. Vibrint is based in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.

For more information, visit [www.vibrint.com].

About Spencer Fane

Spencer Fane is a full-service business law firm focused on providing results that move clients and their businesses forward. With direct access to firm leadership and a different approach to client engagement, its attorneys instill confidence and certainty that the clients’ interests are the firm’s priority.

For more information, visit [spencerfane.com].

Media Contact
Kelsey O’Shaughnessy
PANBlast for Invary
[email protected]

SOURCE Invary

Pet biotech establishes board of directors, looks ahead to therapies for autoimmune disease, obesity and allergy.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3, 2025 — Vetigenics, a clinical-stage animal health biotechnology company specializing in antibody therapeutics for pets, announces significant progress over the past year, including closing a $6 million seed round and advancing multiple clinical-stage programs.

The investment sets the stage for accelerated growth and value creation for Vetigenics. The funds will be used to advance clinical-stage programs toward pivotal trials, accelerate exciting preclinical candidates, and scale up operations and manufacturing.

“The funding underscores the confidence our investor partners have in our ability to achieve significant progress in a capital-efficient manner,” says Adriann Sax, President, CEO and co-founder of Vetigenics. “They share our belief in the potential of biologics to treat a variety of diseases in pets and the unique capabilities of Vetigenics to stay ahead in this evolving field.”

In addition to this financing success, two major trials using Vetigenics’ antibodies to treat canine cancer have reached key milestones:

• VGS-001 (anti-cCTLA4): The antibody therapy was combined with palliative radiation to treat oral melanoma in dogs. The trial is complete, and encouraging results are expected to be published in 2025.
• VGS-002 (anti-cPD1): The study using VGS-002 as monotherapy in dogs with urothelial carcinoma is nearing completion and promising results are anticipated later this year.

“It is very exciting to see Vetigenics’ checkpoint inhibitors safely addressing significant unmet needs in common veterinary cancers,” says Nicola Mason, BVetMed, PhD, DACVIM, FRCVS, Vetigenics co-founder and clinical investigator.

Vetigenics is also advancing its promising preclinical programs to treat autoimmune disease, obesity and allergy in pets. These therapeutic innovations are expected to address significant unmet needs in companion animal care. In particular, VGS-003 (anti-cCD19 mAb) has been evaluated in vivo and is on track to enter clinical trials by the end of 2025.

“The unique construction of the CANIBODY™ library offers Vetigenics the ability to isolate antibodies to the most challenging targets,” says Don Siegel, PhD, MD, Vetigenics co-founder and researcher.
“To date, our technology has enabled novel antibody generation across therapeutic areas and species in a variety of formats.”

The company has also established a board of directors made up of prominent industry leaders to guide its continued growth:

• Chand Khanna, DVM, PhD, a leader in comparative oncology and translational medicine
• Stephen Lesser, JD, MBA, a seasoned strategic advisor in biotechnology and life sciences
• Caleb Frankel, VMD, an EMR pioneer and tech innovator in the veterinary space
• Adriann Sax, MBA, President, CEO and co- founder of Vetigenics.

With a promising pipeline of clinical trials, new strategic partnerships, and an expanded team of experts, Vetigenics is poised to continue transforming pet health in 2025. The company remains committed to helping pets live their best lives through cutting-edge science and collaborative efforts with partners and supporters.

About Vetigenics
Vetigenics is a clinical-stage animal health biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing targeted antibody therapies for pets from a platform that provides unlimited therapeutic potential. Its proprietary CANIBODY™ technology unlocks faster, more cost-effective, and ethical solutions to develop superior antibodies proven effective in humans with cancer and chronic diseases but created specifically for pets. The company’s innovative technology and pioneering expertise in antibody discovery and development are trusted by global animal health partners and the National Cancer Institute. At Vetigenics, we are dedicated to enabling pets to live their best lives. For more details, visit www.vetigenics.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Vetigenics

SINGAPORE and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2025 — Deep-tech startup Nibertex, a pioneer in waterproof breathable membranes, has successfully closed its pre-Series A funding round with participation from Foxmont Capital Partners and ADB Ventures – the impact investment arm of the Asian Development Bank, and other prominent family offices in the region.

The funding will be deployed to ramp up production capacity, enabling Nibertex to meet growing demand from the consumer textiles market while positioning itself for expansion into adjacent sectors such as protective textiles, automotive ventilation, healthcare, and personal protective equipment.

Nibertex’s breakthrough in developing PFAS-free electrospun polyurethane (“ePU”) membranes positions the company as a critical player in addressing this global challenge while delivering eco-conscious solutions to meet consumer and regulatory demands.

PFAS are “forever chemicals” or toxic substances known for their persistence in the environment and links to cancer and other health risks. With bans on PFAS in textiles looming across the EU, California, and New York, global brands are urgently seeking sustainable solutions.

Nibertex’s PFAS-free membranes deliver unmatched waterproofing and breathability performance for textiles. The company has pioneered the scalable production of PFAS-free ePU membranes through its two state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in the Philippines, demonstrating that it can meet global demand while aligning with stricter environmental regulations and standards. These membranes are critical for global brands seeking sustainable, high-performance materials amidst tightening regulatory restrictions on harmful chemicals like PFAS.

“This pre-Series A funding is a testament to the trust our investors place in our technology and the potential of our market,” said Jaemin Park, co-founder of Nibertex. “The demand for sustainable, high-performance materials has never been higher, and this investment allows us to accelerate production and meet the growing needs of our clients across multiple industries.”

Nibertex has seen a surge in orders from global textile brands and is gaining traction in high-value sectors such as firefighter fabrics and professional applications. The company also continues to push the boundaries of electrospinning technology for new applications in mattresses, automotive, and healthcare solutions.

ADB Ventures’ support underscores the importance of finding sustainable alternatives to widely used industrial materials. “Nibertex’s technology supports the global shift towards the use of safer and more sustainable materials,” said Charles Cole Navarro, of ADB Ventures. “By eliminating PFAS and delivering high-performance waterproof breathable membranes, Nibertex is addressing a critical global challenge. We look forward to supporting its growth as it expands beyond textiles into new industries.” 

Jelmer Ikink, Founding Partner at Foxmont Capital Partners said, “We are very happy to have worked closely with ADB Ventures on this round, which highlights proof of Nibertex’s impact. The growth and potential Nibertex has shown over the last quarters have exceeded our expectations, and we are proud to have made a follow-on commitment to fuel Nibertex’s growth.”

The funds will also support Nibertex in scaling production lines at its second facility, expanding R&D efforts for professional textiles, and building capacity to meet future demand in emerging applications.

Having secured this pre-Series A milestone, Nibertex now sets its sights on a Series A round in 2025 to further build out production capacity in response to already existing demand, as it continues to lead the charge in sustainable, high-performance nanofiber technology.

About Nibertex    

Founded in 2019, Nibertex is a deep-tech startup revolutionizing nanofiber technology. With proprietary electrospinning processes, Nibertex produces PFAS-free nanofiber membranes that are lightweight, breathable, and durable. These membranes serve industries spanning technical textiles, healthcare, filtration, automotive, and professional applications.

SOURCE Nibertex

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Feb. 3, 2025 — HealthTech Arkansas and MedAxiom have launched year four of HeartX, a cardiovascular-focused healthcare accelerator that facilitates guaranteed hospital pilot projects and clinical trials for accomplished, early-stage companies bringing new cardiovascular innovations to the market.

Applications for the 2025 HeartX cohort opened on February 1st, and five companies will be selected in September 2025. The program is seeking companies in three categories: digital health and software, medical devices, and diagnostic platforms. Each company will receive $150,000 of investment capital and is guaranteed at least one pilot project or clinical study with cardiology practices in Arkansas and around the country.

“The HeartX program exemplifies our commitment to bridging the gap between promising cardiovascular innovations and real-world clinical validation,” said Jeff Stinson, director of HealthTech Arkansas. “By guaranteeing early-stage companies direct access to leading cardiology practices for pilots and clinical trials, we’re enabling these innovators to rapidly demonstrate impact, refine their solutions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. We’re proud to collaborate with MedAxiom again to bring transformative technologies to market.”

“The HeartX accelerator provides young companies with what they need most – access,” said Joe Sasson, PhD, MedAxiom’s chief commercial officer and executive vice president of Ventures. “Participating in HeartX provides funding, exposure, and commercialization support, helping to reach dozens of cardiovascular programs looking for solutions to improve care delivery. We’re confident that this year’s applicants will consist of the best cardiovascular innovations globally, and we encourage all companies focused on improving cardiovascular care to apply.”

HealthTech Arkansas is in its eighth year of administering accelerator programs focused exclusively on provider engagement with early-stage companies, and is now in its fourth year of partnering with MedAxiom on HeartX.

More information can be found at HeartXaccelerator.com.

ABOUT HEALTHTECH ARKANSAS
HealthTech Arkansas helps to drive innovation for healthcare provider organizations through its accelerator programs and through internal innovation programming. Its flagship accelerator, HeartX, recruits worldwide for the most accomplished cardiovascular-focused startups in the areas of digital health, medical devices, and diagnostic platforms. Those companies accepted into the program are guaranteed at least one pilot project or clinical trial from among the ten largest hospitals and health systems in Arkansas. More information can be found at HealthTechArkansas.com.

ABOUT MEDAXIOM
MedAxiom, an American College of Cardiology Company, is the cardiovascular community’s premier source for organizational performance solutions. MedAxiom is transforming cardiovascular care by combining the knowledge and power of hundreds of cardiovascular organization members, thousands of administrators, clinicians and revenue cycle experts, and dozens of industry partners. Through the delivery of proprietary tools, smart data and proven strategies, MedAxiom helps cardiovascular organizations achieve the Quadruple Aim of better outcomes, lower costs, improved patient experience and improved clinician experience. Learn more at medaxiom.com.

For more information, contact:
Jeff Stinson
501.766.0633
[email protected]    

SOURCE HealthTech Arkansas

Agency Previously Served as Long-term PR Partner for ZeeVee Which was Purchased by Kramer in 2024

NEW YORK and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 3, 2025 — Kramer, a global leader in audiovisual experiences, has tapped Feintuch Communications to implement a business-to-business public relations campaign in North America and Latin America.

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Tel Aviv, Kramer is a designer, manufacturer and distributer of advanced pro AV technology from signal management and cloud-based communication to collaboration and control systems. The privately held company has subsidiaries and offices in more than 20 countries and a broad network of representatives and distributors on all continents.

In 2024, Kramer purchased ZeeVee, a prominent provider of audio visual over internet protocol (AVoIP) technology. ZeeVee had been a client of Feintuch Communications since April of 2018 and part of the firm’s pro AV practice.

“The Feintuch Communications team did an admirable job of building marketplace awareness of ZeeVee and continued to work hard in support of the brand during our critical integration period,” said Amit Ancikovsky, Americas president, Kramer. “The time is right to amplify our message and support our business development efforts throughout North America, our most critical market, and Latin America. We look forward to the continuing collaboration with the Feintuch Communications team.”

“Our work with ZeeVee, over the past seven years, has been a labor of love and we’re gratified that Kramer has chosen our team to continue providing support to its expanding family of products and services,” said Henry Feintuch, president, Feintuch Communications. “We are already working closely with company management in the U.S. to target the pro AV and end-user community with actionable information about Kramer in support of thought leadership and generating leads.”

Feintuch Communications’ pro AV team is led by Feintuch and Doug Wright, vice president. The firm has represented numerous pro AV organizations including HDMI Licensing Administrator, Legrand, Atlona, Silicon Line and AptoVision.

About Kramer

Kramer audio-visual experiences power creativity, collaboration, and engagement. From  AVSM to advanced cloud-based communication, collaboration and control solutions, Kramer creates audio-visual experiences that are more engaging, more inclusive, and more connected than ever before.

Headquartered in the heart of Startup Nation – Tel Aviv, Israel with locations around the world, Kramer’s audio-visual experts are designing the future of engagement technology. Physical and digital boundaries have blurred. But no matter how hybrid our world becomes, our desire for real, human connection will never cease.

Kramer’s intuitive, seamless technology breaks down walls, bridges gaps, and makes people feel closer together even when they’re far apart.

kramerav.com  

About Feintuch Communications 

Feintuch Communications (www.feintuchcommunications.com), based in New York City, is an award-winning technology public relations firm with a focus on business results. A founding partner of PR World Alliance (www.PRWorldAlliance.com), the firm specializes in b2b and b2c programs in technology, pro AV, financial services, advertising and media, energy and cleantech and corporate. Feintuch Communications prides itself on its strong service ethic, senior counsel and hands-on support. 

SOURCE Feintuch Communications, Inc.

CHICAGO, Feb. 3, 2025 — Dream Exchange is pleased to announce Sean Carswell as the latest investor to join a growing community of individuals dedicated to championing access to capital for small businesses.

Mr. Carswell is a professor in the Engineering Department at the State University of New York Maritime College (the “College”). Mr. Carswell has an extensive professional career in roles spanning across engineering and transportation. Mr. Carswell is the faculty adviser for the College’s National Society of Black Engineers (“NSBE”) student chapter, a student-led organization that aims to increase the representation and engagement of Black engineering students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (“STEM”).  Mr. Carswell’s long-standing relationship with the NSBE shows his desire of providing mentorship, encouragement and empowering environment for underrepresented individuals in these fields.

“My decision to invest in Dream Exchange stems from a deep belief in the power of inclusive financial systems,” said Mr. Carswell. “As someone who has dedicated my career to uplifting and mentoring underrepresented communities, I recognize how crucial access to capital is for driving innovation and success. Dream Exchange is creating a space where equity and opportunity align, and I am honored to be part of this movement.”

“Our growing investor community, which now includes distinguished individuals like Sean Carswell, underscores the importance of our mission,” said Joe Cecala, Founder and CEO of Dream Exchange. “His background in leadership and dedication to fostering growth in underserved communities aligns perfectly with our vision for transforming the financial landscape. This investment reflects the collective commitment of those who join us in reshaping access to fairness and opportunity in public capital markets.”

About Dream Exchange

The Dream Exchange has submitted a preliminary draft of its application to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to become the first minority-controlled company to operate a licensed stock exchange in the history of the United States and is in the process of responding to comments from the SEC, as well as preparing its operations for when it receives approval. In addition, Dream Exchange is championing the creation of a new type of stock exchange called a venture exchange, which will list and trade the securities of smaller, early-stage companies. Dream Exchange’s mission is to create equal access to a marketplace that instills ethics, humanity, and fairness into finance.

Visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn for more.

MEDIA CONTACT 
Jane Hayton
Chief Public Officer
 312 882 2691

SOURCE Dream Exchange

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2025 — Riot, an employee-focused cyber-protection software platform, announced today a $30 million Series B financing round led by New York-based venture capital firm Left Lane Capital. This investment will fuel Riot’s product development and international expansion, further solidifying its position as a market leader in employee cybersecurity. The funding round brings Riot’s total raised capital to $45 million and includes participation from existing investors Y Combinator, Base10, and FundersClub.

With the rapid emergence of generative AI, companies are increasingly apprehensive about the enhanced capabilities of hackers. Combined with the proliferation of publicly available data online, artificial intelligence enables malicious actors to create more personalized and realistic attacks designed to deceive collaborators. As a result, employees are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, as witnessed by the acceleration of phishing incidents, which have increased 1,265% in the last two years.¹ 

“Hackers are leveraging the latest innovations in artificial intelligence to create extremely targeted and sophisticated attacks capable of deceiving the most vigilant employees,” said Benjamin Netter, Founder and CEO of Riot. “We’re in a race against time to develop tools that will protect businesses from these new threats. Our goal with Riot is to protect more than ten million employees by 2027.“

Riot’s platform goes beyond traditional cyber awareness solutions, which often rely on generic, unengaging training modules. By seamlessly integrating with an organization’s IT stack, Riot will assess employees’ cyber posture, detecting potential vulnerabilities — such as the lack of strong authentication on certain services, and will proactively guide employees in resolving these weaknesses. To do this, Riot will rely on its cyber companion Albert, which will share actionable recommendations in real time via corporate communication tools such as Slack or Microsoft Teams.

This proactive approach is designed to complicate life for hackers, who rely on shortcomings in employee security posture to launch successful attacks. “As AI technology continues to mature, phishing attacks will become more sophisticated, personalized, and harder to detect. Empowering your team with the right tools and knowledge is the best defense against these evolving threats,” said Matthew Miller, Partner at Left Lane Capital. “Riot’s innovative approach focuses on employees as the first line of defense against cyber attacks. The cost of a data breach or cyberattack has significant financial and reputational implications for companies, making these training and prevention tools a necessity now more than ever.”

Since being founded in 2020, Riot has grown to protect more than 1,500 organizations across all sectors, including technology leaders like Mistral AI, Y Combinator, and Modern Treasury, as well as established enterprises such as L’Occitane, Deel, Intercom, and French newspaper Le Monde. The company has also surpassed $10 million in annual revenue in 2024, representing another year of significant triple-digit growth. The new funding will accelerate Riot’s international expansion, with plans to open two new offices and double its current workforce within the next twelve months.

About Riot

Riot is the first real-time employee cybersecurity monitoring solution. The Riot platform enables cybersecurity teams in companies of all sizes to assess and improve the cyber posture of their employees, making them the first line of defense against hackers.

Founded in 2020 at Y Combinator by Benjamin Netter (CEO) and Louis Cibot (CTO), Riot has now raised a total of $45 million in capital from Frst Capital, FundersClub, Base10, Left Lane and business angels such as Guy Podjarny (founder of Snyk) and Severin Hacker (co-founder of Duolingo).

For more information, visit tryriot.com.

About Left Lane Capital

Founded in 2019, Left Lane Capital is a New York– and London-based global venture capital and growth equity firm investing in hyper-growth consumer and SMB businesses with enduring customer relationships. Left Lane’s mission is to partner with extraordinary entrepreneurs who create category-defining companies across growth sectors of the economy. Select investments include GoStudent, Choco, Wayflyer, Mentorshow, La Belle Vie, Bilt Rewards, Blank Street, M1 Finance, Animaj, Kings League, Holy, Kittl, and more.

For more information, visit leftlane.com.

SOURCE Riot