TULSA, Okla., Dec. 11, 2023 — The University of Tulsa and Hurricane Ventures have announced two new start-up investments, BPEndo and Titan Intake.

“We are excited by the continued momentum of Hurricane Ventures,” said Chris Wright, director of UTulsa’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Created in partnership with 46 Venture Capital, Hurricane Ventures is a funding catalyst for student, alumni, faculty and staff startups.

Leveraging university resources, Hurricane Ventures is seeding early-stage companies to drive real impact across the economy and further the mission of UTulsa’s Collins College of Business. Launched in early 2023, Hurricane Ventures has raised $2 million – well on its way to a $10 million goal – to commercialize intellectual property, create new ventures and attain venture capital funding. The university aims to provide seed capital for 100 companies started by UTulsa affiliates.

In September, Hurricane Ventures announced its first start-up investments, SkinCheck and Airwise Solutions. The investments in BPEndo and Titan Intake were announced at a recent Friends of Finance meeting organized by Collins College of Business.

Dr. Jeffery Blonsky, who received his UTulsa degree in biological science in 1999, is a key partner in BPEndo. The company’s Insufflation Retention Device (IRD) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in colonoscopy procedures. The BPEndo IRD was designed to improve the colonoscopy experience for patients, physicians and payors. The company has made substantial progress toward securing a global patent portfolio and recently received FDA clearance for the IRD.

“Having partners such as Hurricane Ventures is invaluable,” said Dr. Robert Holbrook, founder and CEO. “The funding provided is instrumental in overcoming the obstacles founders face when bringing a new device to market. I am grateful for all their support.”

Titan Intake, founded by Patrick Bruce, Rachel Brown and Jhonathan Vazquez, is revolutionizing health care with its patient referral software driven by artificial intelligence. The unique platform automates incoming referral data directly into electronic medical records, ensuring clinics immediately capture, process and communicate patient referrals.

“Hurricane Ventures’ new fund is a game-changer for Tulsa’s startup scene, particularly addressing a vital gap in early-stage financing. This funding will empower us to expand our reach to clinics across the nation, accelerate our growth and boost Tulsa’s economy,” said Bruce, who received his UTulsa degree in philosophy in 2013.

SOURCE The University of Tulsa

IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 11, 2023 — University Lab Partners (ULP) announces Lionheart Health as the winner of the inaugural Golden Passport Pitch Competition, sponsored by Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie Company.

Lionheart Health will be awarded a 1-year sponsored lab bench at University Lab Partners, the premier wet lab incubator in Irvine, CA. In addition, Lionheart Health’s team will have the opportunity to engage with industry mentors including scientific and business leaders from Allergan Aesthetics and ULP.

“Through our support of Lionheart Health, Allergan Aesthetics is continuing to drive innovation in aesthetics medicine forward and accelerating the growth and development of entrepreneurs and researchers in the field,” said Darin Messina, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Allergan Aesthetics R&D, AbbVie. “We are committed to continued investment in early science and regenerative technologies and defining the future blueprint for the aesthetics industry.”

Howard Leonhardt, Founder and CEO of Lionheart Health shared, “We are grateful for the Golden Passport opportunity offered through Allergan Aesthetics and University Lab Partners. This support is essential to scaling Lionheart Health’s aesthetics applications, improving health span, and overall quality of life.”

The 2023 winner was chosen among many worthy applicants by an expert panel of judges including Charlie Hee, Ph.D., Vice President, Device R&D Fillers and Device Sciences, Allergan Aesthetics, Dr. Sherly Soleiman, Founder of Cosmetic Injectables Center, Dr. Arisa E. Ortiz, Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology and Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UC San Diego, Dr. Hisham Seify from Newport Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Associates and Prestige Surgery Center, and Michael Hill, Managing Director at Octane Capital Markets.

Life science startups at ULP benefit from professional mentoring and consulting with Experts-in-Residence, networking events, and unique access to technical core facilities. Since 2019, ULP has incubated a total 64 companies with over $535M raised and successfully graduated 8 startups.

For more information about The Golden Passport, visit https://www.universitylabpartners.org/our-events/golden-passport-demo-day

About University Lab Partners
University Lab Partners (ULP) is a premier, nonprofit, wet lab incubator located in Orange County, CA. ULP operates 2 facilities in Irvine and Aliso Viejo, CA. ULP offers highly equipped wet lab facilities along with the benefits of peer-to-peer interactions among a life science-focused entrepreneurial community. For more information, visit www.universitylabpartners.org

About Allergan Aesthetics
At Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, we develop, manufacture, and market a portfolio of leading aesthetics brands and products. Our aesthetics portfolio includes facial injectables, body contouring, plastics, skin care, and more. Our goal is to consistently provide our customers with innovation, education, exceptional service, and a commitment to excellence, all with a personal touch. For more information, visit www.allerganaesthetics.com

SOURCE University Lab Partners

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 11, 2023 — LAMF Global Ventures Corp. I (Nasdaq: LGVCU, LGVC, LGVCW) (“LAMF” or the “Company”), announced today that on December 11, 2023, its board of directors (the “Board”) decided to extend the date by which the Company must consummate an initial business combination (the “Deadline Date”) from December 16, 2023 to January 16, 2024. This is the second of up to six one-month extensions of the Deadline Date available to the Company pursuant to its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

About LAMF Global Ventures Corp. I

LAMF Global Ventures Corp. I is a special purpose acquisition company whose business purpose is to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. LAMF is sponsored by affiliated parties of LAMF LLC (d/b/a Los Angeles Media Fund), a multifaceted media and entertainment company whose primary business is financing and producing feature films, television series, documentary projects and live events, the management of professional athletes, and investing in complementary technology businesses to the foregoing. LAMF is led by Jeffrey Soros, its Chairman, and Simon Horsman, its Chief Executive Officer, the co-founders of LAMF LLC. The members of LAMF’s sponsor also include affiliates of 10X LLC (“10X Capital”), an investment firm connecting Wall Street with Silicon Valley. 10X Capital invests across the capital structure, with a focus on companies using technology to disrupt major industries, including finance, healthcare, natural resources, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture and real estate. LAMF’s securities are traded on Nasdaq under the ticker symbols LGVC, LGVCU and LGVCW.

SOURCE LAMF Global Ventures Corp. I

HOUSTON, Dec. 11, 2023 — Digital Wildcatters, a pioneering community platform for the next generation of energy professionals, announced today that it has successfully closed its seed plus funding round, raising $2.5 million. This milestone underscores the company’s commitment to transforming the energy industry through innovative technology, community engagement, and pizza parties.

The round was led by industry veteran Chuck Yates and witnessed participation from notable entities such as Diamondback Energy and ProFrac, along with other angel investors deeply rooted in the energy sector. This funding follows a previously successful $2 million seed round raised from angel investors in 2021.

“Our industry’s survival depends on recruiting the next generation of energy workers. We must adapt to their digital, content-rich world, as we currently lag behind, like a VHS tape in a Netflix world. Digital Wildcatters is our path to modernization,” said Chuck Yates.

Digital Wildcatters will channel these funds into further developing and commercializing ‘Collide,’ their professional networking app designed to revolutionize the energy industry. Collide encompasses three core features: a professional network for energy professionals to share information and build connections, ‘Collide Jobs’ for companies to discover qualified talent, and ‘Collide Pro,’ an AI-driven content search engine that provides streamlined access to industry information.

“Our mission is to empower the next generation of energy professionals to advance their careers and collaboratively address the global energy crisis,” said Collin McLelland, Co-founder and CEO of Digital Wildcatters. “We are incredibly grateful to have an investor base that not only believes in our vision but also supports our endeavor to craft innovative products that will redefine the future of the energy industry.”

The funding round officially closed on December 1, 2023, marking a significant step forward for Digital Wildcatters in its journey to be a catalyst for change in the energy sector. The company’s array of transformative in-person events, podcasts, and technology offerings positions it as a leader in facilitating professional growth and industry advancement.

For more information about Digital Wildcatters, please contact Misty Gerberman at [email protected].

About Digital Wildcatters:

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Digital Wildcatters is a community for the next generation of energy professionals. It focuses on enabling professionals to stay on top of the latest trends, expand their networks, and advance their careers in the energy industry.

SOURCE Digital Wildcatters

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 11, 2023 — Hoba Therapeutics, a Novo Holdings-founded Danish biotech company dedicated to developing novel therapeutic proteins for patients living with chronic neuropathic pain and hearing loss, today announced that it has raised EUR 23 million (USD 25 million) in a Series A financing first close. The financing was co-led by Indaco Venture Partners and Medical Incubator Japan, and includes investments from current investors Novo Holdings, Eir Ventures, and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). In the syndicate is also The European Innovation Council Fund with an investment as part of the Accelerator funding program under Horizon Europe.

Hoba Therapeutics is developing HB-086 for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain conditions.

Neuropathic pain represents a significant unmet medical need, affecting more than 400 million patients worldwide. HB-086 is a non-opioid compound with a unique mode of action, targeting the underlying cause in the peripheral nervous system to reverse neuropathic pain. A comprehensive preclinical data package demonstrated a fast onset and long-acting analgesic effect, and also the ability to prevent the development of neuropathic pain. The proceeds of the Series A first close will enable Hoba Therapeutics to advance HB-086 through late pre-clinical development to the completion of Phase 1 clinical studies in patients for painful Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN). The indication is selected as a gateway indication into chronic neuropathic pain disorders and is a painful, often debilitating condition caused by cancer treatment with certain chemotherapy drugs.

“We are thrilled to close the first round of the Series A,” said Torsten M. Madsen, CEO of Hoba Therapeutics. “This is an experienced investor syndicate backing Hoba Therapeutics. In addition to the participation of our current investors, we have strengthened the syndicate with the participation of funds from Europe and Japan, along with strong support from The European Innovation Council Fund. This shows the shared perspective on the large unmet need we aim to fill and reflects our focus and commitment to help patients worldwide and we believe that these funds can contribute significantly to achieving our objectives.”

“Indaco is proud to have led this Series A round, together with Medical Incubator Japan, and we are excited to join Hoba Therapeutics as an investor,” added Goncalo Rebelo de Andrade, Partner at Indaco BIO Fund. “At Indaco, we give priority to companies that, like Hoba Therapeutics, are aimed at tackling the underlying causes of disease and are led by high-profile committed teams. In advancing pioneering pharmaceutical solutions, the leadership team at Hoba Therapeutics exhibits extraordinary expertise and commitment. While focusing firmly on both scientific excellence and patient benefit, they are well-positioned to make a substantial impact in healthcare.”

Camilla Petrycer Hansen, Principal, Seed Investments, Novo Holdings, said: “As a founding investor, we are excited about the prospects of Hoba Therapeutics. A staggering number of people globally endure the debilitating consequences of chronic pain every day, a vast issue largely neglected by the market due to a dearth of innovation in this field for many years. This unmet need is not only a burden for patients but also imposes significant costs on healthcare systems. Together with Eir Ventures and EIFO, we are delighted to welcome new investors into our syndicate, firmly believing in their substantial contribution to the continued progress of Hoba Therapeutics.”

Dr. Kenji Harada, Investment Officer at Medical Incubator Japan, expressed his excitement about the investment in Hoba, a Danish innovation: “It’s a great honour for us to take a co-lead position in this round. I firmly believe that Hoba Therapeutics’ programs will yield significant positive impacts on pain management and related therapies. This investment in an outstanding Danish company not only signifies our support, but also paves the way for future investments from Japan into Danish and other European biotech companies.”

Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board, said: “The EIC Fund has established itself as a strong force in EU deep-tech investments. This unique form of financing via EIC – combining grants and equity – is proving itself highly attractive to Europe’s most promising start-ups. Our investment will provide Hoba Therapeutics with means to help patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain worldwide.”

About chronic neuropathic pain
Chronic neuropathic pain is a significant global health issue, affecting a substantial portion of the population worldwide. In Europe, the prevalence is estimated to be 6–8%^[1] of the general population. Chronic neuropathic pain represents an enormous personal and economic burden. Neuropathic pain is a chronic disorder resulting from damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. Causative factors are lesions in or disorders of the nervous system, such as injury, pressure, toxic agents (e.g., chemotherapy), viral infections, and metabolic disorders. These lesions lead to aberrant functioning of sensory nerve cells, resulting in a chronic, debilitating sensation of pain.

Chronic neuropathic pain is primarily managed with antidepressants (including TCAs, SSRIs, and SNRIs), antiepileptic drugs like pregabalin and gabapentin, and opioids. These medications modify pain perception and stabilise nerve cells, but their effectiveness varies widely among individuals, and they often fail to provide complete pain relief. Side effects, such as dizziness, tiredness, and addiction risks are major concerns. A major limitation is that these drugs generally don’t target the specific causes of neuropathic pain, and their efficacy is reduced when the underlying conditions, like nerve damage, cannot be treated effectively^[2],[3].

The complexity and variability of chronic neuropathic pain necessitates a multifaceted treatment approach and highlights the need for ongoing research and development of more effective and safer treatment options. The global neuropathic pain market is estimated to be valued at USD 7.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.2% during the next seven years^[4].

About Hoba Therapeutics
Hoba Therapeutics is a Danish biotech developing restorative treatments for chronic pain disorders and hearing loss. Both indications have a clear unmet medical need for safe and efficacious treatments for millions of patients worldwide. Hoba Therapeutics is developing HB-086 for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. HB-086 is a non-opioid compound with a unique mechanism of action targeting the peripheral nervous system to reverse neuropathic pain and the underlying cause of the disease. The second drug candidate HB-097 is a pharmacological treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. Preclinical data of HB-097 show both a preventive effect of hearing loss by protecting nerve cells and a regenerative effect by reversal of already induced damage.

Hoba Therapeutics was founded in 2016 by Novo Holdings and Borean Innovation. Hoba Therapeutics received the Accelerator grant from the European Innovation Council in 2021 and the Grand Solution grant from Innovation Fund Denmark in 2018.

About Novo Holdings A/S
Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure, and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development.

As of November 2023, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 150 billion. 

www.novoholdings.dk

About The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark
The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) is the national promotional bank and export credit agency of Denmark combined in one financial institution. EIFO provides a single point of access for Danish companies as well as for their foreign and domestic business partners who need risk-tolerant government capital. EIFO wants to support the successful businesses which can grow the Danish economy and green the globe. We make the world Denmark’s business.

www.eifo.dk

About Eir Ventures
Eir Ventures I AB is a Nordic life science venture capital fund that invests in private companies with outstanding entrepreneurs developing transformative therapeutic approaches. The fund commenced its investment activities in 2020 and invests in opportunities addressing significant unmet medical needs for new therapies, medical technology, and digital health. Eir Ventures AB is led by a team of experienced life science investors and is supported by a strong investor syndicate consisting of leading local and international institutional investors and, uniquely, leading Nordic universities.  www.eirventures.eu

About Indaco Venture Partners
Indaco Venture Partners SGR is one of the largest independent Italian venture capital asset management companies, with over EUR 350 M in assets under management, focused on companies that innovate in electronics, robotics, new materials, medtech, biotech – pharma and digital. Indaco Bio Fund (around EUR 100 M) is exclusively dedicated to investing in the development of innovative pharmacological therapies, across all therapeutic indications but with particular attention to Oncology, CNS, Ophthalmology, Metabolic diseases, Virology, and Infectious diseases. Indaco is focused on the Italian Biotech sector with select investments in other European countries, USA, Canada, and Israel.

www.indacosgr.com

About Medical Incubator Japan
Medical Incubator Japan is a venture capital firm based in Japan specialising in investments within the biotech sector across the EU, Japan, and the US. Their investment portfolio encompasses pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and cutting-edge life science technologies driven by AI. Although their history is relatively concise, they currently manage approximately USD 50 M in assets. Medical Incubator Japan is on the brink of commencing investments from their newly established fund shortly.

www.medicalincubatorjapan.com/en/

About The European Innovation Council Fund
The European Innovation Council Fund from the European Commission is an agnostic Fund: it invests across all technologies and verticals, and all EU countries and countries associated to Horizon Europe. It provides the investment component of the EIC Accelerator blended finance. The European Investment Bank acts as investment adviser to the EIC Fund.

The EIC Fund aims to fill a critical financing gap and its main purpose is to support companies in the development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies, bridging with and crowding in market players, and further sharing risk by building a large network of capital providers and strategic partners suitable for co-investments and follow-on funding.

The Fund pays particular attention to the empowerment and support of female founders as well as the ambition to reduce the innovation divide among EU countries.

Hoba Therapeutics ApS
Ole Maaløes vej 3
Copenhagen
DK-2200

www.hobatherapeutics.com

[1] Neuropathic Pain: The Scope of the Problem – PMC (nih.gov)

[2] Neuropathic pain in adults: pharmacological management in non-specialist settings – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)

[3] Pharmacotherapy for Neuropathic Pain: A Review – PMC (nih.gov)

[4] “Neuropathic Pain Market Analysis” by Coherent Market Insights

SOURCE Hoba Therapeutics

OXNARD, Calif., Dec. 8, 2023 — Bureo, a groundbreaking California-based B Corp that is on a mission to end fishing net pollution by providing fishermen with an end-of-life solution for discarded fishing nets, today announced it has closed a Series B investment in its latest funding round. The round was led by Toyota Tsusho Corporation and supported by Mirova, Ocean 14 Capital, Conservation International Ventures and Susquehanna Foundation. Tin Shed Ventures – Patagonia’s venture capital fund – was the initial seed investor in Bureo.

Since its founding in 2013, Bureo remains the only supplier for 100% recycled, wild caught and discarded fishing nets that are 100% traceable to the source. Bureo works directly with the fishing communities to provide the resources needed to responsibly dispose of their fishing nets when they are no longer of use. And through recent advancements in Bureo’s recycling process, the company is now able to convert the nets into a fully traceable, premium 100% recycled Nylon 6 material, called NetPlus, that rivals virgin Nylon 6 in durability and quality yet offers a proven reduction in environmental impact and lessens our reliance on virgin plastic.

“We feel a responsibility to bring our solution to more coastal communities around the world – and we are thankful for the increased recognition and resources to expand our work,” says Bureo co-founder David Stover. 

These recent investments will fund the growth of Bureo’s net collection and recycling operation to a growing list of global coastal communities. As of today, Bureo is on track to collect more than 3.3 million pounds of end-of-life fishing nets within 2023 for recycling through actively operating in seven countries across the Americas (United States, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina). Increased funding will also go towards an advanced traceability system that will deliver fishing net source information through QR codes that can be tracked throughout the supply chain of NetPlus material. 

This funding round comes at a pivotal time for Bureo. As the company celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is also on track to represent 1% of the recycled Nylon fabric market globally, having collected more than 10 million pounds of discarded fishing nets for recycling to date. Companies currently using NetPlus recycled nylon in their products include Patagonia, Costa, Yeti, Rivian, Outerknown, Trek, Quicksilver, Orvis and more.

https://bureo.co/

Inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE Bureo

Valley Enables Businesses to Automate Their Outreach and Sales Call Booking Processes.

GREENWICH, Conn., Dec. 8, 2023 — O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (“OSV”), a family office that invests in ambitious seed and pre-seed startups, announced today that it has invested in Valley.  

Founded in 2022 by Zayd Ali, Valley is an automated sales development representative that allows business leaders to leverage the power of AI in booking sales calls. Using Valley, businesses can automate their outreach and sales call booking processes in just a few easy steps, enabling them to expand their reach and generate more leads at a considerably lower cost.   

OSV’s founder, Jim O’Shaughnessy, commented; “AI has the potential to free businesses from countless menial tasks. Sales prospecting is certainly one of them. We believe Zayd is a superb, passionate young founder with the chance to make a real mark in the sector.”

“We are thrilled to welcome O’Shaughnessy Ventures,” said Valley founder & CEO Ali; “personally, it was a no-brainer for me given their team’s focus on technological exploration and positive-sum leaps in technology. After our first meeting with the team, there was an immediate alignment and mutual belief in our vision of the role technology has played throughout history in automating away monotony and robotism in both personal and professional life. We both believe sales is one of the areas most poised for that disruption and having them in our corner means we are in pole position to continue making that vision a reality.” 

About O’Shaughnessy Ventures

OSV is a family office that invests in ambitious seed and pre-seed startups. Founded by Jim O’Shaughnessy, a pioneer in quantitative investing, founder of O’Shaughnessy Asset Management, and author of four books on investing, OSV aims to provide financial support and to partner in growing the next life-changing ideas. For more information, visit https://www.osv.llc/.

Media Contact:
Ena Gong
O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC
(917) 355-7420
[email protected]

SOURCE O’Shaughnessy Ventures, LLC

• ‘AI WAVE 2023’: Shaping the Future of Industries with AI, Offering a Platform for Investment Insights
• Steve Jang and Kanyi Maqubela, Kindred Ventures’ Managing Partners, Led the Discussions with the Leading AI Startups from Silicon Valley and Held Fireside Chats with SK Networks and SoftBank Ventures Asia’s Key Leaders.
  … The Session Continued with Discussions on the Outlook, Trends, and Strategies in the AI-Related Market by Three Hosting Companies.
• Sunghwan Choi, SK Networks President & COO, Unveils the Business-oriented Investment Company Model and SK Networks’ AI Investment Strategy
• Live Demonstration of Humane’s ‘AI Pin’ Invested in Late 2022 Signals the Imminent Rise of Next-Gen Communication Devices and Personal Co-Pilot Devices
• “Our Commitment to Innovation: Enhancing Financial Story Completeness and Elevating Investor Value”

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 8, 2023 — SK Networks, a key player in investments targeting promising future sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) and data, jointly organized a forum presented by Kindred Ventures, envisioning the transformative future of AI. The event brought together global leaders to discuss the trajectory of the AI market and the development of a robust ecosystem.

On December 8th, SK Networks (CEO: Ho-Jeong Lee) announced the successful hosting of “AI WAVE 2023,” a collaborative effort held at Wavehill, Walkerhill Hotel & Resort. Presented by Kindred Ventures and in partnership with SK Networks and SoftBank Ventures Asia, which have formed in-depth cooperative relationships with SK Networks in the global investment sector, the event facilitated insightful discussions in the AI domain. It drew in approximately 150 industry experts, including representatives from startups and investment firms, both at home and abroad.

AI WAVE 2023, which took place on the afternoon of December 7th, served as a platform to showcase trends and investment strategies in the AI field. Additionally, the event featured an Investor Relations (IR) meeting that spotlighted global technology startups such as ‘Perplexity,’ an interactive AI search engine startup, Extropic, a physics-based AI startup, and ‘Hour One,’ a generative video AI SaaS provider.

As the host of the forum, the Founder and Managing Partner of Kindred Ventures took the stage at the podium and explained the purpose of the event, saying, “This will be a time to explore how AI is shaping the future of consumer internet, mobile computing, and supercomputing.”

Following this, the three companies, Kindred Ventures, SK Networks, and SoftBank Ventures Asia, have also established a program for open and collaborative discussions on AI prospects, trends, and strategies.

Joonpyo Lee, the CEO of SoftBank Ventures Asia, expressed his expectations for future AI trends, stating that “AI technology is expected to evolve in a more customized way, with an increasing number of entrepreneurs who possess expertise in various fields combining their strengths with AI to drive innovation.

SK Networks President & COO Sunghwan Choi delved into the company’s transformative journey marked by strategic partnerships and investments in the AI sector. He elaborated on SK Networks’ innovative evolution into a business-oriented investment company, with a specific focus on digital transformation (DT) domains like AI.

In a significant strategic shift, SK Networks, operating through the U.S. investment corporation ‘Hico Capital,’ has been actively engaged in substantial investments. Since 2020, the company has been channeling funds into hyperscale data center investments, contributing to noteworthy entities like the AI-based device startup ‘Humane,’  the unmanned tractor automation solution company ‘Sabanto,’ and the smart farm startup ‘Source.ag.’. This robust investment strategy has empowered SK Networks to strengthen its network and internal capabilities within the dynamic AI industry. In a decisive move to bolster its competencies, the company recently completed the acquisition of ‘Encore,’ a leading domestic data solution management firm. This strategic acquisition is poised to significantly amplify the potential for creating data-driven AI synergy across SK Networks’ headquarters and subsidiaries, opening up lucrative avenues for additional strategic investments.

President Choi remarked, “With the anticipated transformative impact of AI on industries at large, we are actively incorporating this technology into our operations to spearhead changes in our business model and pave the way for new avenues of growth.” He further emphasized, “SK Networks plans to enhance the ecosystem related to future industries, including AI, to expand its role as a ‘Global Innovation Gatekeeper’.”

The event highlighted a live demonstration of Humane’s AI Pin, a cutting-edge device and software platform startup jointly invested by Kindred Ventures and SK Networks. Imran Chaudhri, Co-Founder of Humane, personally showcased the functionality of the AI pin, roughly the size of a pocket watch, seamlessly integrating OpenAI and proprietary and open source AI models. Kicking off with the screen activation triggered by a laser emitted from the AI pin when the palm is placed nearby, attendees on-site were captivated by diverse features, including voice and touch capabilities for calling and texting, AI technology-driven e-mail summarization, real-time translation of English and Spanish conversations, and providing calorie information upon recognizing food. Anticipation for Humane’s AI Pin as a next-generation communication and personal co-pilot device has surged, drawing comparisons to the impact of smartphones. Humane is strategically gearing up for global market penetration, with its official launch slated for early next year, starting in the U.S.

SK Networks has announced its commitment to hosting future events, providing a platform to share insights into the evolving industrial landscape with investment partners, fostering mutual growth. Furthermore, the company is enhancing its global investment system to strengthen the foundation for future growth and drive innovation across its businesses through AI and data. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to enhance the comprehensiveness of the company’s financial narrative, facilitating a clearer understanding of the future vision for both members and shareholders. SK Networks is dedicated to a continued pursuit of innovation, aiming to garner consensus from stakeholders.

An official from SK Networks affirmed, “We are devoted to consistently generating value for our investors, going beyond organizing influential global forums in Korea alongside Kindred Ventures and SoftBank Ventures Asia, leading entities in global technology investments, including AI.” He underscored, “It is important to have a democratic and liberal AI, so we will enhance the SK Networks ecosystem to discover a Korea-based foundation model company and help it enter the global market.

SOURCE SK Networks

Platform includes expertise in finance, technology, media and sports

SEATTLE, Dec. 7, 2023 — Today, Ackerley Sports Group (“ASG”) announced the launch of an investment platform focused on investment in the future of sports and media.  On the back of their investment in Leeds United FC, the new platform will invest in sports teams, leagues, and growth stage sports technology on a global basis. 

Ackerley Sports Group is an expansion of the investment practice established in 2002 by Ted and Chris Ackerley at Ackerley Partners.  Over four decades, Ackerley Partners owned all or a part of a number of professional sports franchises, including the Seattle SuperSonics, the Seattle Storm, the Seattle Seadogs, the Seattle Seawolves, the Coachella Firebirds and most recently the launch of the 32nd NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken. 

“We created Ackerley Sports Group because we are witnessing a rapid technology-fueled change across the sports and media landscape.  Historically there was not much overlap between the sports / media ecosystem and the tech sector.  Now, sports and technology have become intertwined like never before. Technology companies are disrupting the sports and media landscape by changing how we play and how we engage with media and athletes. Technology companies are also embracing the unique power of sports to bring communities together. We’re seeing these change around the world,” said co-founder, Ted Ackerley.

“Ackerley Sports Group will benefit from the strong team we have put together and the relationships built over many decades of impactful business building.  We will partner with athletes and sports executives to source off-market investment opportunities and enhance outcomes. Sports, media and entertainment have traditionally been very gated and closely held industries. We will leverage our vast partner network and experience across multiple markets to help create new connectivity between sports, technology, and media,” said Ackerley Sports Partners co-founder, Chris Ackerley.

Additionally, ASG recently participated as partners and investors in the ownership transition of Leeds United Football Club (LUFC) which saw 49ers Enterprises assume majority control of the club.

“We are excited to have Ackerley Sports Group and their history in professional sports as owners, partners, and operators, join our group as stewards of Leeds United,” said Paraag Marathe, Chairman of Leeds United Football Club.

49ers Enterprises, the strategic investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers, has been a minority investor in Leeds since 2018. 49ers Enterprises expanded their investment in 2021 and, as of this summer, took over 100% ownership of the club with investment from Ackerley Sports Group, among others.

Capital Eleven has joined Ackerley Sports Group as an LP in the LUFC SVP.  Notable athlete participants in the Ackerley Partners SPV include:

Cliff Avril, Seattle Seahawks (retired)
James Dayson, Professional Race Car driver
David Forst, Oakland A’s (General Manager)
Cameron Hewes,  Ballard FC (Owner)
Jed Kaplan,  Memphis Grizzlies (Minority Owner)
Alex Smith,  San Francisco 49ers (retired)
Malcolm Smith, Seattle Seahawk (retired SB MVP)
Brady Quinn, NFL QB (Retired)

About Ackerley Sports Group
Ackerley Sports Group is an expansion of the investment practice established in 2002 by Ted and Chris Ackerley at Ackerley Partners.  Over four decades, Ackerley Partners and the Ackerley family have owned all or a part of a number of professional sports franchises, including the Seattle SuperSonics, the Seattle Storm, the Seattle Seadogs, the Seattle Seawolves, the Coachella Firebirds and most recently the launch of the 32nd NHL franchise, the Seattle Kraken. 

SOURCE Ackerley Sports Group