• Led by new investor Innovation Industries, with matching contributions from existing investors, Partners in Equity and Invest-NL, the $85M round also drew support from EQT Life Sciences and Health Innovations, demonstrating strong confidence in ViCentra’s next phase of growth
• Fresh capital fuels scale-up, regulatory pathway, and commercialization of Kaleido 2, the world’s smallest, lightest, and only lifestyle-oriented insulin patch pump in its class

UTRECHT, Netherlands, Sept. 3, 2025 — ViCentra, a European medical device company redefining insulin delivery for people with diabetes, today announced the successful close of an upsized $85 million Series D financing led by new investor Innovation Industries, a leading European deeptech venture capital firm, with matching participation from existing investors Partners in Equity and Invest-NL, alongside continued support from EQT Life Sciences and Health Innovations. With this fresh funding, ViCentra will accelerate manufacturing scale-up, launch the next-generation Kaleido 2 patch pump in Europe, and prepare for U.S. market entry.

Kaleido is the smallest, lightest, and most precise insulin patch pump in its class, uniquely designed as a lifestyle product that is discreet, intuitive, and personalized. Designed to feel more like personal technology than a traditional medical device, Kaleido features premium materials, and users can select their own favorite aluminum shells from a range of ten preset color options. Integrated with Diabeloop’s self-learning automated insulin delivery algorithm and compatible with the Dexcom CGM sensor, Kaleido positions ViCentra at the forefront of next-generation diabetes care, helping reach many more users and improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. Strong initial commercial uptake of Kaleido in Germany, France, and the Netherlands has driven demand beyond initial expectations. This financing enables ViCentra to scale the business for rapid revenue acceleration.

“Kaleido is a true disruptor — small, discreet, featherlight, and beautifully designed. It empowers people with diabetes by offering a more personal and distinctive choice in both function and style. Built with empathy and precision, it honors those who live with diabetes every day. With this funding, we can now meet surging European demand and fast-track our entry into the U.S. market. This is a pivotal moment — for ViCentra, and for the community we serve,” said Tom Arnold, Chief Executive Officer at ViCentra.

The global insulin delivery market is one of the largest and fastest growing medical device segments, driven by the rising prevalence of diabetes and increasing demand for solutions that blend clinical effectiveness with everyday usability. The insulin pump market alone is projected to reach over $14 billion by 2034. Patch pumps represent the fastest-growing segment of the insulin delivery market, signaling a broader industry shift toward compact, wearable, and patient-centric solutions. ViCentra is uniquely positioned to meet this need, offering a user-friendly, sleek design-led alternative to traditional systems.

“ViCentra is redefining insulin pump therapy with a platform that truly centers the user experience – combining clinical performance with design simplicity and wearability,” commented Caaj Greebe, Partner at Innovation Industries. “At Innovation Industries, we invest in pioneering companies that blend world-class technology with clear commercial potential. ViCentra exemplifies this by delivering a next-generation system addressing the urgent need for better treatment options in diabetes care. We’re proud to lead this investment round and partner with Tom and the team as they deepen and expand their presence in Europe and prepare for U.S. entry.”

ViCentra will be in attendance at the 61st Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), taking place from September 15–19, 2025, at the Vienna Congress & Convention Center (VIECON) in Vienna, Austria. The company will be available to meet with key clinicians, investors, and strategic partners to discuss advancements in insulin delivery and explore strategic partnerships.

About Kaleido
Kaleido is redefining the category of wearable insulin delivery as the first insulin patch pump designed with the form, function, and simplicity of a lifestyle product. Compact, featherlight, and discreet, Kaleido is designed with a focus on personal technology rather than a traditional medical device. It is made from premium materials and features customizable aluminum shells in ten color options, enabling self-expression, not just glycemic control. It offers users flexibility in how and where they wear their pump, allowing people with diabetes to manage their therapy in a way that fits seamlessly into their daily lives.

It is the smallest, lightest, most precise insulin patch pump in its class—delivering advanced, automated insulin therapy through seamless integration with Diabeloop’s clinically validated hybrid closed loop algorithms, DBLG1 and DBLG2.

About ViCentra
ViCentra is on a mission to improve life with diabetes through empathetic innovation, simplicity, and design excellence. The company develops and manufactures the Kaleido insulin patch pump system, a flexible, discreet, and beautifully crafted alternative to traditional insulin pumps. Headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands, ViCentra is expanding across Europe and preparing for U.S. market entry. Its investors include Innovation Industries, Partners in Equity, Invest-NL, EQT Life Sciences, Health Innovations, and INKEF. More information about ViCentra can be found at www.hellokaleido.com

About Innovation Industries
Innovation Industries is a leading European deep tech venture capital firm with €1 billion in capital under management. The firm invests in visionary science and engineering-based companies that tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. With a strong belief that deep tech can deliver both outsized financial returns and global impact, Innovation Industries partners with exceptional entrepreneurs and researchers to turn scientific breakthroughs into transformative companies. The firm provides long-term capital and strategic support from lab to scale, actively bridging the gap between academia and industry through close collaboration with leading technical universities, research institutions and industry partners. Innovation Industries has offices in Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Munich.

About Partners in Equity
Partners in Equity is a private investment firm whose mission is to support companies and funds that create solutions to environmental challenges. The firm is building a portfolio of investments in sustainable agriculture and food systems, circularity, and climate solutions, while also continuing to support existing portfolio companies, including in healthcare. Founded in 2003, Partners in Equity has invested in a range of companies in different stages. Having invested in ventures, they understand that meaningful change takes time and effort. The firm partners with organizations whose missions and values align with their own and remains committed for the long term. Partners in Equity’s ambition is to be a partner of choice by entrepreneurs, funds, and impact investors.

About Invest-NL           
Invest-NL is the National Promotional Institution of the Netherlands, committed to driving a sustainable and innovative future. They accelerate and finance major societal transitions in the fields of Agrifood, Biobased & Circular Economy, Deep Tech, Energy, and Life Sciences & Health. As a system player, Invest-NL connects innovative entrepreneurs, financiers, knowledge institutions, and governments—both in the Netherlands and abroad. They remove barriers, mobilize capital, and help develop emerging sectors. Through capital, expertise, and new financial instruments, they invest in tomorrow’s solutions.

SOURCE ViCentra

TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 2, 2025 — LightYX, a construction technology startup enabling precise, on-site laser projection of building plans, today announced it has raised $11 million in Series A funding. The round was led by NOVA by Saint-Gobain, the venture arm of Saint-Gobain, worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, with participation from U.S.-headquartered Yachad Capital Partners, Shibumi International, Somersault Ventures, and private investors in real estate and construction from Israel and abroad. In addition to private investments, LightYX has received six grants from the Israel Innovation Authority since its inception, totaling $3.3 million, for the development of groundbreaking deep tech solutions.

LightYX has developed an electro-optical system that uses laser projection to display construction plans directly onto floors, ceilings, and walls with 1/16-inch (under 2 millimeters) accuracy – currently the best on the market. This innovation allows workers to follow layout instructions precisely – such as where to place walls, HVAC, electrical, or plumbing systems – eliminating guesswork, reducing errors, and accelerating finishing phases. The system also scans and adapts plans in real time to reflect field conditions. The company holds several registered patents for its technology, establishing its position as a pioneer in the field.

“Construction layout is still often done with chalk lines, tape measures, and paper drawings. We’re replacing that with live, intelligent laser projection,” said Guy Ben-Romano, CEO and Co-Founder of LightYX. “This funding enables us to scale rapidly in the U.S. and Europe and transform how contractors work on-site.”

LightYX works with dozens of U.S. contractors and subcontractors, particularly in drywall and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) installation, and partners with leading construction distributors. Its laser projection system has been deployed in several hundred projects, covering more than 25 million square feet of layouts. The new funding will drive U.S. expansion, accelerate product development, build new partnerships in the U.S. and Europe, and deepen customer relationships. LightYX targets over 3x growth in 2026.

Tomer Elran, GM of U.S. Operations and Co-Founder, added: “We’ve seen tremendous traction with top-tier general contractors in the U.S. Our goal is to become the default standard for on-site construction layout, bringing precision and productivity to construction sites.”

Uri Yehuday, CTO and Co-Founder, emphasized the technological edge: “We fuse optical engineering, real-time vision, and AI-based plan recognition into a system that understands construction logic. It’s hardware and software innovation built from scratch specifically for field teams.”

Pierre-Emmanuel Thiard, CEO, Saint-Gobain Ecophon and board member of LightYX: “Saint-Gobain invests in technologies that shape the future of building. LightYX is solving a fundamental productivity challenge with a simple, elegant, and scalable solution. We are excited to support their vision.”

About LightYX
www.lightyx.com

LightYX develops smart laser projection systems that guide construction layout with precision, speed, and adaptability. The company’s mission is to bring digital accuracy to every jobsite and empower workers with intuitive, real-time guidance tools.

LightYX Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n163dE18lNI

Contact:
Dani Zeevi, Chairman, [email protected], +972-544-988845

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n163dE18lNI
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762395/LightYX_Team.jpg

SOURCE LightYX

Strategist, author of Microtrends, Harvard alumnus shares insights on unicorn trends, global shifts, and investor sentiment

BOSTON, Sept. 2, 2025 — Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs (HAE) announced today that Mark Penn, Harvard alumnus, renowned strategist, author of Microtrends, and Chairman & CEO of Stagwell, will headline a Fireside Chat at the HAE Startup World Cup Regional on September 12 at Harvard Medical School. The conversation will be moderated by his classmate, Bill Reichert, Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures.

Penn’s groundbreaking work decoding “microtrends” has helped leaders anticipate major market shifts by spotting small but powerful behavioral changes. This candid conversation will reveal signals founders can use to make smarter product, pricing, and go-to-market decisions.

“Bringing Mark to the HAE Startup World Cup Regional puts a spotlight on the practical side of trendspotting and how to turn signal into strategy,” said Regina Ryan, President of Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs. “Founders will walk away with a sharper lens on where demand is moving and how to position for it.”

“Great founders are great pattern recognizers,” added Bill Reichert of Pegasus Tech Ventures. “Mark’s insights translate directly into decisions that get you funded and keep you growing.”

The HAE Startup World Cup Regional will showcase twelve Harvard alumni-founded startups, each competing for the chance to advance to the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley and vie for a $1 million investment prize from Pegasus Tech Ventures. For those unable to attend in person, a global livestream will make the event accessible worldwide.

Venue: The Martin Conference Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Date: Thursday, September 12 (in-person & livestream available)
Audience: Founders, investors, alumni, and the global innovation community

Tickets: Available at https://hae-startupworldcup.eventbrite.com/(in-person & livestream options)

Members of the media may request credentials and interviews with Mark Penn, Bill Reichert, and finalist founders. Press & Interview Inquiries can contact Regina Ryan, President, [email protected]

Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs, an official Harvard University alumni organization, champions founders through 22 global chapters, accelerators, programs, and events. The Startup World Cup Regional marks a bold new chapter—showcasing alumni innovation and opening doors to global funding opportunities. Learn more at www.harvardae.org

The Startup World Cup is the #1 startup pitch competition in the world, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With 100+ regional pitch competitions in 60+ countries, the Startup World Cup provides a global platform for startups to showcase their innovations and secure funding.

Pegasus Tech Ventures is a global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley with $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus also offers a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large, global corporations that wish to partner with cutting-edge technology startups. Pegasus is the organizer of the Startup World Cup and the investment partner of the HAE Accelerator.

Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) is the challenger holding company built to transform marketing. Mark Penn serves as Chairman and CEO. Learn more at stagwellglobal.com.

Media Contact:
Regina Ryan, President
Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs
[email protected]

SOURCE Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 2, 2025 — Kapital, a global financial institution and the leading AI-driven platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Latin America, today announced the successful close of its up to $100 million Series C funding round, doubling its valuation to $1.3 billion in under two years and achieving profitability. The round was led by Tribe Capital and co-led by Pelion Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, Marbruck Ventures, and True Arrow. The new capital will accelerate the build-out of Kapital’s unified, AI-powered financial ecosystem designed to maximize SMB performance across the region.

Kapital was built as a technology-first bank, designed from the ground up as financial infrastructure rather than a legacy institution patched with software. Every system was architected to be efficient, scalable, and automated. That foundation allows Kapital to develop new products natively while also acquiring traditional institutions, stripping out outdated infrastructure, and rebuilding them on its stack. The result has been higher margins, longer customer lifetimes, and lower loss ratios compared with fintechs that don’t own banking licenses or infrastructure.

“We are proud to join an elite group of unicorns emerging from Latin America. Kapital is already profitable, and our growth continues to accelerate through the unique combination of a banking license and proprietary software,” said CEO Rene Saul. “By taking a regulatory-first approach and ensuring each step in our expansion is aligned with policymakers, Kapital is setting a new standard for tech-enabled banking in the region.”

This strategy has already scaled Kapital’s balance sheet to $3 billion and extended its reach to 300,000 customers across the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia.

“What makes our model possible is not just capital, but our ability to modernize infrastructure through advanced AML/KYC compliance, machine learning, and AI-driven risk systems. Kapital is emerging as the most forward-learning technology bank in the region – built on a foundation that is both financial and computational, designed to compound advantage with every product, acquisition, and customer we bring onto the platform,” added Chief Financial Officer Fernando Sandoval.

Kapital has been recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer in both 2024 and 2025 and was named to CNBC’s Disruptor 50 list in 2024.

About Kapital
Kapital Bank is a global financial institution transforming business access to capital through its advanced technology platform. With operations in Mexico and Colombia, it offers innovative and accessible business solutions driven by artificial intelligence. Kapital enables companies to manage operations, loans, and cash flow efficiently, giving them the competitive edge of large corporations—at a fraction of the cost.

SOURCE Kapital

Onward FX signals that venture is flowing beyond the coasts as Arkansas emerges as a destination for entrepreneurship; applications open nationwide through Sept. 15

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 2, 2025 — A state long known for big-box retail and agriculture is now drawing the attention of Silicon Valley and Wall Street. On Oct. 30, 24 venture capital firms representing $4 billion in assets under management will converge in Little Rock, Ark., for Onward FX, the Heartland’s premier founder-funder exchange. Qualified startups nationwide are invited to apply by Sept. 15.

The move marks the first statewide expansion of Onward FX, a Bentonville-born program that has already facilitated more than 500 curated startup-investor meetings. Unlike a typical demo day, the model is built for outcomes: one in four startups in past cycles secured a term sheet, with dozens more advancing into diligence.

“Onward FX gives founders direct access to investors who can change the trajectory of their company,” said Serafina Lalany, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Council’s entrepreneurship program. “These are high-value conversations with decision-makers who understand your business and are ready to explore real opportunities.”

The statewide expansion comes at a pivotal moment. Nearly one-third of all early-stage venture deals in the United States are now happening in the Heartland, evidence that capital is flowing beyond traditional hubs like Silicon Valley and New York. Concurrently, industrial tech startups are transforming legacy industries that form the backbone of Arkansas’ economy, from manufacturing and logistics to agriculture and retail.

The Oct. 30 convening will host funds from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Miami, Houston, Salt Lake City, Madison and beyond. Firms include Alpha Edison, Blumberg Capital, Plug and Play Ventures, Mercury Fund, Signal Peak Ventures, TMV, Flyover Capital, Lightship Capital, Tech Square Ventures and corporate venture arms such as Tyson Ventures.

For many venture capitalists, it will be their first trip to Arkansas. For founders, whether based in Little Rock, Kansas City, Los Angeles or New York, it will be a rare chance to connect directly with decision-makers in an environment built for real dealmaking.

The high-touch approach taken by Onward FX, launched last year as VC Immersions, has demonstrated results:

• $4 billion in combined assets under management represented by participating VC firms
• More than 500 curated founder–investor meetings facilitated since launch
• More than 200 participating companies across prior events
• One in four startups in a previous cycle received term sheets, with dozens more advancing conversations with investors

“Our team has invested in two startups we met through previous cycles,” said Matt Hickman, Principal at Plains Ventures, whose firm has already invested in two startups discovered through earlier Onward FX events. “Onward FX delivers meaningful outcomes for both founders and investors, and we look forward to continuing to find exceptional companies in Arkansas.”

Onward FX is a partnership between Northwest Arkansas Council and Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The program builds on earlier events supported by the Walton Family Foundation focused on delivering education and resources for startups while raising the region’s profile as an entrepreneurial destination. Together, the partners are betting that a curated exchange of capital and ideas can help advance Arkansas as a destination for founders and funders alike.

“Arkansas is proving to be a place where founders can build, scale and thrive,” said Esperanza Massana Crane, director of AEDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division. “The new statewide Onward FX initiative will create opportunities for our entrepreneurs to connect directly with top-tier investors while also showcasing Arkansas’ growing innovation economy. This partnership highlights our commitment to supporting startups at every stage and ensuring they have the capital, mentorship and resources needed to succeed.”

How to apply and attend
Founders can apply at onward.nwacouncil.org/fx by Sept. 15. Applications are open to startups nationwide, and companies do not need to be based in Arkansas to participate. While the highly-coveted private meeting spots are limited, Onward FX also features networking opportunities for a broader set of participants to engage in meaningful conversations and catalyze powerful relationships. Review and register for consideration at luma.com/onwardfx.

About Onward FX
Onward FX is the Heartland’s premier founder-funder exchange, designed to accelerate venture capital activity outside traditional coastal hubs. Since its launch in 2024, the program has facilitated over 500 curated investor-founder meetings and helped secure millions in early-stage financings for startups nationwide.

About the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
At AEDC, we know economic advancement does not happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.

About the Northwest Arkansas Council
Founded in 1990 by Sam Walton, J.B. Hunt, Don Tyson and other business leaders, the Northwest Arkansas Council serves as a regional convener for economic and community initiatives. The Council works to advance quality of life, attract talent, improve the workforce, create job opportunities and upgrade infrastructure across the region. Learn more at nwacouncil.org.

Contacts:
Nate Green, Communications Director
Northwest Arkansas Council
[email protected]
501-650-4653

Amanda Horn, Communications
Northwest Arkansas Council
[email protected]
775.636.2567

Link to logos

SOURCE Northwest Arkansas Council

AMSTERDAM, Sept. 2, 2025 — EQT Life Sciences is pleased to announce that the EQT Health Economics strategy has invested in Cyted Health, a leading gastrointestinal (GI) molecular diagnostics company. The USD 44 million Series B financing round was led by EQT Life Sciences and co-led by Advent Life Sciences and British Business Bank (formerly British Patient Capital), with continued support from existing investors Morningside and BGF. The financing includes a non-dilutive contribution from a strategic partnership with HCA Healthcare.

The financing will be used to accelerate the commercial expansion of Cyted’s diagnostics platform in the US, consolidate existing commercial success across the UK, and expand its portfolio of advanced diagnostic tests. Cyted’s existing platform consists of EndoSign®, an FDA 510(k)-cleared device enabling minimally invasive collection of esophageal cells, and advanced biomarker molecular testing for the detection of esophageal conditions.

Cyted’s technology has already demonstrated significant success across the UK’s National Health Service, completing over 35,000 tests and building a robust portfolio of peer-reviewed publications proving unmatched patient acceptability and real-world clinical impact.

“This Series B financing marks a defining moment for Cyted as we continue to deepen our commitment to detecting esophageal diseases earlier,” said Marcel Gehrung, CEO and Co-founder of Cyted Health. “This investment will help us consolidate our leading position in the market by expanding our US presence and adding new life-saving innovations to our advanced diagnostics portfolio.”

Bruno Holthof, Partner at EQT Life Sciences, commented: “Cyted is strongly positioned to redefine the standard of care in upper GI diagnostics worldwide. Its minimally invasive diagnostics platform is the standout innovation to capture this significant market opportunity, and we’re delighted to add the company to our portfolio.”

Founded by leading experts at the University of Cambridge, Cyted is pioneering the development of minimally invasive cell collection coupled with proprietary biomarker discovery to transform the detection of pre-cancerous, cancerous, and inflammatory esophageal conditions.

Cyted’s Series B financing round follows the recent expansion of its advisory panel to establish a Clinical Advisory Board. The Board comprises leading clinicians and researchers in gastroenterology and oncology who will provide strategic guidance as Cyted builds its advanced diagnostics portfolio and widens its footprint in the US.

Contact
EQT Press Office, [email protected]

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

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-life-sciences-leads-usd-44-million-series-b-financing-in-cyted-health-to-accelerate-us-expansion,c4228125

The following files are available for download:

The Fund aims for a final close of $225 million by June 2026

SINGAPORE, Sept. 2, 2025 — Venturi Partners, a leading consumer growth fund announced the first close of its second fund at $150 million. This milestone, supported by existing and new investors marks strong momentum towards Venturi’s overall target of $225 million.

Building on the success of Fund I, Fund II will back disruptive, purpose-driven brands across India and Southeast Asia that are positioned to benefit from structural tailwinds including rising consumer spending and favourable demographics. Fund II will make initial investments of $15-40 million in 10 companies across high growth consumer sectors. Alongside the main fund, investors will also be able to co-invest on a 1-1 ratio.

This investment strategy is reinforced by Venturi’s distinct value creation approach that lies in its close collaboration with founders and active board level participation by leveraging the team’s deep sector operating expertise.  

Nicholas Cator, Founder & Managing Partner of Venturi Partners, commented: “We are grateful for the continued trust and confidence of our existing investors and welcome our new partners. This strong response validates our investment thesis and the strength of our unique team that we have built over the last five years.”

Rishika Chandan, Managing Partner of Venturi Partners, commented: “Amidst global volatility, India continues to emerge as a strong growth market, creating a compelling long-term investment opportunity that aligns well with our strategy. With our hands-on operating expertise, we are confident we will deliver strong returns.”

Track Record from Fund I

In June 2022, Venturi Partners closed its debut fund at $180 million, backed by prominent families in Europe and Asia including Frédéric de Mévius (AB InBev family) and Ackermans & van Haaren, a listed Belgian investment company. Fund I’s portfolio includes Livspace, Country Delight, Believe, Pickup Coffee, Dali, K-12 Techno Services and JQR, with an upcoming eight investment to conclude it.

About Venturi Partners: 

Venturi Partners is a consumer-focused growth equity platform investing in Series B-D stage companies across India and Southeast Asia. Founded in 2020, Venturi backs consumer-centric and purpose-driven brands by combining strategic capital with operational excellence to help them scale sustainably and profitably.

For more information, visit www.venturi.partners

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762083/image_5010522_5114303_Logo.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2762086/Venturi_Team_Photos_2025.jpg

HONG KONG, Aug. 31, 2025 — Obita, an enterprise-level cross-border payment and digital financial network, announced the completion of its angel round financing exceeding US$10 million. The round was co-led by Vision Plus Capital and Mirana Ventures, with participation from Legend Capital, HashKey Capital, Web3.com Ventures, and other prominent institutions and individual investors. The funds will be allocated to system R&D, compliance infrastructure development, and global market expansion, accelerating the deployment of its stablecoin-based cross-border payment network.

Amid a global wave of stablecoin legislation and compliance advancements, cross-border payments are undergoing a revolutionary transformation.

With compliant stablecoins at its foundation, Obita is building a blockchain-native payment network under its Obita Mesh framework, empowering global enterprises to experience low-cost, real-time settlement with regulatory-compliant solutions. Addressing industry pain points such as high foreign exchange costs, delayed settlements, and insufficient fund flow transparency, Obita integrates enterprise-grade compliance systems, cross-border clearing networks, and unified treasury management tools to redefine the ways capital flows for cross-border trade, e-commerce, and supply chain platforms. The company has an initial focus on high-growth markets in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

“Cross-border payments are at a tipping point driven by stablecoin innovation,” said Dayong ZHANG, Co-founder and CEO of Obita. “We aim to integrate blockchain technology’s revolutionary potential into real-world global capital flows through our enterprise-grade, end-to-end, compliant, secure, and high-quality integrated services.”

“Cross-border B2B payment is a crucial infrastructure for global trade. Obita’s stablecoin-centred solution significantly improves cost efficiency,” said Yiran LIU, Managing Partner at Vision Plus Capital. “We have full confidence in Obita team’s accumulated experience in global fintech and diverse cross-sector backgrounds. Vision Plus Capital has a broad cross-border fintech portfolio and looks forward to exploring more use cases for stablecoins in the payment sector.”

Obita’s management team brings together top talent from fintech, cross-border payments, and the digital asset industries, possessing deep technical expertise and forward-looking vision. The team has extensive experience in global payment network development, compliance operations, and financial payment product design, having consistently led innovation and iteration in the cross-border digital payment industry.

Dayong ZHANG, the Co-founder and CEO of Obita, is a renowned leader in fintech, global payments, and the digital-asset industry. Previously serving as CCO of HashKey Group, CEO of HashKey Onchain BG, and Executive Director at RD Technologies, he spearheaded the development of fiat products for HashKey’s trading platform, led HashKey Chain to become Hong Kong’s preferred compliant blockchain for Real World Assets (RWA) projects, and facilitated the entry of HKDR—a stablecoin initiated by RD Technologies—into the HKMA’s stablecoin issuer sandbox. During his tenure as Ant Group’s Regional Head for South Asia and Southeast Asia, he led the creation of multiple market-leading unicorn digital wallet products and significantly expanded Ant’s global payment network.

Vincent YANG, Co-founder and CBO of Obita, is a seasoned entrepreneur who successfully founded abComo and anyStarr, and is a former co-founder of Longbridge Securities. As a key member of AliExpress and Ant Financial’s international business development team, he led multiple cross-border payment and digital financial projects in Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America. He has deep understanding and execution capabilities in global market operations, strategic partnerships, and business scaling from 0 to 1.

David Toh, Managing Partner of Mirana Ventures, said “By embedding compliant stablecoin settlement into global trade, Obita is catalysing industry-wide upgrades.”

“Bridging Web2 and Web3 worlds represents the biggest opportunity in today’s fintech landscape,” said Tony WANG, Managing Director of Legend Capital. “Obita’s team, with deep expertise across both domains, is uniquely positioned to lead this trend.”

Chao DENG, CEO of HashKey Capital also added that “Obita’s solution aligns perfectly with HashKey’s strategic focus on digital assets, compliance, and infrastructure development. Together, we will accelerate industry-wide transformation.”

With a clear mission to reshape global financial infrastructure through compliant, blockchain-native solutions, Obita is positioned at the forefront of the stablecoin-powered digital finance revolution. Backed by a world-class team and a strong network of strategic investors, the company is accelerating its efforts to drive real-world adoption across high-growth markets and redefine the future of cross-border financial connectivity.

About Obita
Obita is a global B2B financial infrastructure and digital finance network enabling stablecoin-driven transactions for enterprises, merchants, and fintechs. Learn more at https://www.obita.xyz

SOURCE Obita

NEW YORK, Aug. 28, 2025 — Credit Coop, the protocol transforming credit markets by turning business cash flows into programmable collateral, today announced the close of a $4.5 million seed funding round led by Maven 11 and Lightspeed Faction, with additional participation from Coinbase Ventures, Signature Ventures, Veris Ventures, TRGC, and dlab.

This funding round will be leveraged to increase headcount through engineering and business development hires, rapidly expanding Credit Coop’s operations. The company’s platform delivers real-time settlement, automated loan servicing, and transparent credit monitoring, providing institutional lenders direct access to uncorrelated yield backed by verifiable cash flows. Credit Coop’s “mix and match” approach allows businesses to leverage both traditional assets and future cash flows to secure credit, unlocking unprecedented capital efficiency to help businesses with their working capital needs.

Christopher Walker, Founder and CEO of Credit Coop, commented on today’s news: “We’re eliminating the friction that has kept credit markets stuck in the 20th century. With strong traction and growing demand, this funding round accelerates our mission to serve every business that’s been told to wait 30 days for the capital they need today. We’re making credit work for the 21st century—instant, transparent, and always on.”

At the core of Credit Coop is its innovative Secured Line of Credit, powered by the Spigot smart contract. This groundbreaking technology allows businesses to collateralize their future revenues, creating a novel form of programmatic recourse that enhances capital efficiency for borrowers while providing unparalleled security for lenders. With its onchain execution, all lending activities are transparent, efficient, and programmable, changing the standard by which lending services operate.

“Credit Coop represents a fundamental shift in how credit markets operate. By giving lenders direct control over repayment flows, they have eliminated counterparty risk, enabling undercollateralized lending. Under Christopher’s leadership, we see Credit Coop as a sharper, cleaner and more composable credit stack. This represents a major step forward for capital efficiency, providing better infrastructure not just for DeFi and cryptonative projects, but for the global financial system that is progressively moving onchain.”- Alexander Essle, investor at Maven 11.

To date, Credit Coop’s platform has handled $150 million in total volume, with over $8.5 million in active loans. Trusted partners include Rain, Coinflow, Tulipa Capital, Re7 Capital, and Valinor among others. Through Credit Coop’s collaboration with Visa, the platform is enabling card issuers to leverage card receivables as programmable collateral, detailed in an upcoming case study.

For more information on Credit Coop, please visit: https://www.creditcoop.xyz/

About Credit Coop
Credit Coop is transforming credit markets with blockchain-powered infrastructure that turns business cash flows into programmable collateral. Our platform delivers real-time settlement, automated loan servicing, and transparent credit monitoring. Credit Coop provides institutional lenders direct access to uncorrelated yield backed by verifiable cash flows. By replacing courts with code and intermediaries with smart contracts, Credit Coop is building the foundation for a new generation of credit markets that are transparent, programmable, and settle around the clock.

Media Contact
[email protected]

SOURCE Credit Coop