More Than 98% of NVIDIA Reference Performance Across Six Training Configurations, Validated Under Full Load

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 18, 2026 — PaleBlueDot AI (“the Company”), a Silicon Valley-based AI intelligence platform founded in 2024, today announced that its NVIDIA HGX B300 cluster has achieved NVIDIA Exemplar Cloud status for large-model training workloads. Working closely with NVIDIA’s engineering team, the Company met NVIDIA’s performance requirements across every benchmarking recipe, exceeding the 95% performance threshold across all tests. This recognition validates the cluster’s performance, resiliency and scalability, giving AI laboratories and enterprise customers greater confidence when running demanding training workloads at scale.

What Is NVIDIA Exemplar Cloud?
NVIDIA established Exemplar Cloud in 2025 to address a real problem: running production-scale AI workloads is a data-center-scale challenge, requiring optimization across the entire infrastructure stack. When that optimization breaks down, performance suffers. Users see slow responses, rising compute costs, unpredictable reliability and higher TCO, while innovation slows. Exemplar Cloud gives providers a standard benchmark to validate their infrastructure against, so buyers can compare against a standard rather than a claim.

This Exemplar Cloud status delivers tangible advantages to AI laboratories and enterprise customers via a credible performance reference during procurement reviews and project budget approvals.

“Achieving NVIDIA Exemplar Cloud status on NVIDIA HGX B300 is an important validation of the engineering discipline behind our AI infrastructure,” said Stephen Watts, CEO of PaleBlueDot AI. “Customers need more than access to leading GPUs. They need predictable performance and sustained reliability at scale. We focus on optimizing the full stack, from compute, networking and storage to scheduling and operations, so customers can run their most demanding training workloads with confidence.“

Performance Validated On Real-World Training Workloads
PaleBlueDot AI’s benchmark campaign encompassed six mainstream large-model training workloads: DeepSeek-V3, GPT-OSS, Nemotron-H, Qwen3, and two distinct Llama 3.1 configurations. This selection covers the model families that define frontier training today.

Every test run exceeded 98% of NVIDIA reference performance. Results held across divergent model architectures, parameter scales ranging from moderate to frontier-class, and multiple numerical precision formats, demonstrating near-reference training performance as a standing property of the cluster rather than the outcome of any single favorable configuration.

These results demonstrate our ability to deliver consistent, optimized training performance across different model architectures, parameter scales and numerical precision formats.

Engineered For Performance And Reliability At Scale
PaleBlueDot AI’s Blackwell Ultra cluster is built on NVIDIA HGX B300 systems. Each compute node contains eight NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs connected through NVIDIA NVLink and NVIDIA NVLink Switch, creating a fully interconnected AI infrastructure compute domain within each node.

The HGX B300 training cluster adopts an 800Gb/s non-blocking NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand networking architecture, eliminating cross-node communication bottlenecks that commonly restrict distributed training efficiency at production scale. Each GPU is equipped with a dedicated 800Gb/s high-speed network connection, providing aggregate compute-network bandwidth of up to 6.4 Tb/s per node.

PaleBlueDot AI has optimized the infrastructure as an integrated system spanning:

• Accelerated computing and system tuning: Customized hardware configurations aligned with NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra GPUs and the data center’s high-density power and air-cooling design help maximize per-GPU computing output.
• High-performance network architecture: The 800Gb/s non-blocking NVIDIA Quantum-X800 InfiniBand fabric is designed to provide lossless, low-latency communications for large-scale distributed training.
• High-throughput storage: A parallel storage system and 63.36TB of local NVMe cache per compute node accelerate training-data loading and frequent checkpoint operations.
• Workload scheduling and resource orchestration: Optimized scheduling logic improves resource utilization, reduces computing waste and helps lower idle training costs.
• Full-lifecycle cluster monitoring and operations: Automated 24/7 alerting and operational mechanisms reduce unexpected interruptions to long-running training workloads.

The cluster also incorporates topology-aware scheduling, NVIDIA GPUDirect RDMA, collective communication optimization and automatic isolation of unhealthy nodes. Together, these capabilities improve large-scale training efficiency and reduce the impact of infrastructure faults on active workloads.

Validated For Sustained Full-Load Operation
Beyond NVIDIA’s benchmark assessment, PaleBlueDot AI completed a continuous full-load stability test on its HGX B300 cluster.

This week-long, non-stop simulation replicated production scenarios in which enterprise training jobs run continuously for days or weeks. The test covered the cluster’s compute, networking, storage and scheduling systems, verifying stable operation under sustained heavy load.

It has also deployed high-density power delivery and purpose-built air-cooling infrastructure to support continuous full-load operation. These systems help maintain stable operating conditions and optimal GPU performance.

In addition, the Company has established a multi-stage quality assurance framework covering:

• Hardware burn-in testing
• Single-node acceptance testing
• Cluster-level long-duration stability testing

This process helps identify hardware or configuration inconsistencies before production deployment and maintain consistent performance and configuration across the cluster.

For AI laboratories and enterprises, these capabilities translate into more predictable workload performance, faster data loading and checkpoint operations, lower risk of disruption and greater confidence when scaling complex training workloads.

Advancing Production-Ready AI Infrastructure
This achievement represents another milestone in PaleBlueDot AI’s continued investment in high-performance AI infrastructure. The Company will continue optimizing capabilities across computing, networking, storage, scheduling, monitoring and operations to provide reliable, production-ready infrastructure for increasingly demanding AI workloads.

“Performance at scale is determined by how well every layer of the infrastructure works together,” added Stephen Watts. “Our core focus is translating cutting-edge NVIDIA GPU hardware into standardized, production-ready and reliable computing capacity that enterprises can adopt efficiently at scale.”

The Exemplar Cloud achievement builds on PaleBlueDot AI’s longstanding collaboration with NVIDIA. The Company will continue working closely to bring next-generation NVIDIA architectures to training and inference workloads for enterprise customers around the world.

About PaleBlueDot AI
PaleBlueDot AI is a Silicon Valley-based AI Intelligence platform with a growing global footprint. The company delivers high-performance agentic AI infra through a unified platform designed for enterprise-scale deployment. Guided by its mission to make intelligence universally accessible, PaleBlueDot AI enables organizations to build, deploy, and scale AI faster, better, and cheaper. Named after the image of Planet Earth taken on the 1990 Voyager space mission coined by Carl Sagan as “a pale blue dot,” the company shares a belief in the transformative potential of AI technology to benefit all of humanity.

Media Contact
[email protected]

SOURCE PaleBlueDot AI

Public Company CFO with Capital Markets and Governance Experience to Lead the Company’s Proposed  Uplisting

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Aug. 18, 2026 — Vertical Data Inc. (OTCQB: VDTA) (“Vertical Data” or the “Company”), operator of VerticalData.io, GPUfinancing.com and Vertical Edge, today announced the appointment of Chris Downs as Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective August 17, 2026. He will also serve as the Company’s principal financial officer and principal accounting officer.

As Interim Chief Financial Officer, Downs will lead the Company’s finance and accounting functions, with a primary near-term focus on the Company’s planned uplisting of its common stock from the OTCQB® Venture Market to a national securities exchange. Prior to this appointment, he advised the Company as a consultant on its finance, reporting and uplisting activities.

“Chris is joining Vertical Data at an important inflection point in our growth,” said Deven Soni, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Data. “Chris has spent most of the past decade as the Chief Financial Officer of a Nasdaq-listed  company, and has built a career around exactly the work in front of us: listing compliance, capital markets execution and the reporting and governance foundation a company needs to operate as a public company and exchange listed issuer. That experience maps directly to our primary near-term objective of uplisting to a national securities exchange.”

Downs most recently served for approximately six years (November 2019-March 2026) as Chief Financial Officer of CNS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he led the company’s financings, including follow-on, PIPE, at-the-market and equity line transactions, and directed its SEC regulatory and Nasdaq compliance and governance modernization. He previously served as Interim Chief Financial Officer of InfuSystem Holdings, Inc., where he led the company through an SEC restatement and a series of refinancings that significantly reduced its cost of debt over three years, and as a director and Audit Committee Chair of EBET, Inc. Earlier in his career, he advised on more than $4 billion of announced M&A transaction value as a healthcare investment banker at Citigroup, Alterity Partners and Maren Group. Across his career he has raised and arranged more than $285 million of capital across public equity, private placements and asset-based lending.

“Vertical Data sits at the center of the rapid buildout of AI computing infrastructure, across GPUs, financing and facilities,” said Downs. “My focus from day one is executing the uplisting and strengthening the financial foundation of reporting, controls and capital structure to support the Company’s growth as a listed company.”

Downs is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Treasury Professional and a Certified Corporate FP&A Professional. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Houston–Clear Lake and a B.S. in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Christopher Creatura, who previously served as Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Chief Credit Officer of the Company, where he will lead credit and underwriting for the GPUfinancing.com platform. 

“I want to thank Christopher Creatura for his contributions as Chief Financial Officer since the Company’s founding,” said Soni. “His move to Chief Credit Officer puts him where his experience creates the most value as we scale GPU financing.”

About Vertical Data Inc.

Vertical Data Inc. (OTCQB:VDTA) is an AI infrastructure company operating three platforms. VerticalData.io provides enterprise GPU provisioning and managed infrastructure. GPUfinancing.com arranges structured financing for GPU deployments. Vertical Edge holds equity in the data centers the Company sources, develops, leases and manages. Together, the three platforms deliver hardware, financing and facilities under one company. For more information, https://verticaldata.io/investor-relations/

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “continue,” “estimate” and “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s management transition, its pursuit of an uplisting to a national securities exchange, its GPU financing initiatives, and its business strategy and objectives. These statements are based on current assumptions and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks include, but are not limited to, market conditions, availability of capital, execution risks, the Company’s ability to satisfy the quantitative and qualitative requirements for listing on a national securities exchange, and other factors beyond the Company’s control. There can be no assurance that the Company’s listing application will be approved.

These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2025, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended December 31, 2025, March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2026, as well as subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, unless required by law.

SOURCE Vertical Data Inc

• Lead investors include 8VC and Townhall Ventures, as well as new investors including AIF, John Doerr, Richard Merkin and the Leon Levine Foundation

CHICAGO, Aug. 18, 2026 — Hopscotch Primary Care (“Hopscotch”), a technology-enabled primary care model that serves patients in rural communities, has raised $53 million in its series D financing. Founded in 2021, the company serves more than 15,000 patients across the Southeastern United States, with its largest concentration in rural Western North Carolina. Hopscotch will use the new funding to deepen access across the region, expand into new rural markets, and continue to scale its technology-powered operations. Lead investors in the round include 8VC and Townhall Ventures, with participation from existing investors including aMoon Fund, Citi Impact Fund, Alumni Ventures and K2 HealthVentures. New investors in the round include the Autism Impact Fund (AIF), John Doerr, Chairman of Kleiner Perkins, and Dr. Richard Merkin, Founder of Heritage Provider Network, and the Leon Levine Foundation.

All across the country, rural health care is in crisis: physicians are retiring, hospitals are closing, and gaps in care are worsening. But we see a rare window for change: historic federal investment, deep engagement among the States, and rapid advances in AI and digital health are now bringing new momentum to the sector. Hopscotch was built to meet that moment, marrying direct provision of access with outcomes-multiplying technology that brings simple, joyful, connected care to small towns and rural communities across America. That includes same-day visits, 24/7 access to a patient’s care team, and proactive outreach – all backed by technology that reduces administrative burden so providers can focus on delivering great care. The company’s results demonstrate the efficacy of its model, with a Net Promoter Score of 89, patient retention consistently above 90%, and management of medical expenses powering MLR improvement of more than 25 percentage points for patients over their first two years. Paired with operating excellence, that performance is already translating to profitable operations in Western North Carolina.

“At Hopscotch, we believe that access to world-class primary care is the building block of healthier patients and communities. We recruit dedicated clinicians to rural communities and empower them with advanced technology to deliver access where other companies do not operate,” said Tim Gronniger, Chief Executive Officer. “This new funding comes at an inflection point for Hopscotch, and for rural health care as a whole. We are accelerating our growth into more small towns while improving outcomes, delighting patients, and building a sustainable future for the communities we serve,” added Mr. Gronniger.

“The best use of AI is to amplify human potential. Hopscotch is giving clinicians the tools to care for more patients with greater insight, while preserving the trusted relationships at the heart of primary care. That’s exactly the kind of technology that can transform healthcare in rural America and fundamentally improve lives,” said John Doerr, Chairman of Kleiner Perkins.

“Healthcare shouldn’t just show up when something’s wrong. At Hopscotch, we build lasting relationships with our patients: knowing them, staying connected, and helping them stay healthy over time, not just responding when they’re sick. It’s a model that works because it’s built around the patient, not around the visit, and that’s what lets us grow without losing the relationship at the center of it,” said Dr. Aditi Mallick, Chief Medical Officer.

About Hopscotch Primary Care

Hopscotch Primary Care is a technology-enabled primary care company that delivers simple, joyful, connected care to patients in rural communities. Founded in 2021, Hopscotch serves more than 15,000 patients through 12 clinical locations in rural communities across the southeastern United States. Dedicated care teams provide same-day access and support that extends beyond clinic walls, powered by an innovative suite of technology that strengthens human connections rather than replacing them. The company’s mission is to transform lives in rural communities through accessible and proactive value-based care.

For more information please visit www.hellohopscotch.com

Media contact:

Dan Tarman

[email protected]

213.705.8454

SOURCE Hopscotch Primary Care

A leading independent provider of savings solutions and technology enters its next phase with expanded scale and capabilities

DRESHER, Pa., Aug. 18, 2026 — Ascensus, the engine at the center of America’s savings ecosystem, announced today a new ownership structure co-led by Stone Point Capital (“Stone Point”) and Genstar Capital (“Genstar”). Stone Point and Genstar are each investing new capital and will hold equal stakes in the company. Ascensus will continue to operate with its current leadership team, client relationships, and service model.

The investment provides additional long-term strategic support from two specialist firms as Ascensus enters its next phase of growth. Stone Point, an investment firm focused on the financial services industry and related sectors, initially invested in Ascensus in 2021. Genstar, a private equity firm focused on investments in targeted segments of the financial services, software, industrials, and healthcare industries, returns as an owner having previously been a lead investor in Ascensus from 2015 to 2021.

Ascensus, a leading independent provider of tax-advantaged savings solutions and technology, supports more than 16 million savers¹ and oversees more than $1.3 trillion in assets under administration² as of August 3, 2026. The company has continued to expand its capabilities, including through its previously announced acquisition of AmericanTCS, which added new trust and custody, pooled employer plan, and fiduciary capabilities to its platform.

“Stone Point’s decision to continue as an owner paired with Genstar’s decision to return as an owner is a powerful endorsement of our long-term strategy, our people, and the strength of our business,” said Nick Good, CEO, Ascensus. “Against the backdrop of savings industry growth, Ascensus enters its next chapter with greater scale, broader capabilities, and significant opportunities to create value for our clients, partners, and savers. Going forward, together with Stone Point and Genstar, we are well-positioned to continue investing in technology and AI, client service and experience, and the broader capabilities that will fuel our long-term growth.”

“Our decision to reinvest in Ascensus reflects our strong conviction in the company and the opportunities ahead,” said Fayez Muhtadie, Co-Head of Private Equity at Stone Point. “As the leading independent player in the savings ecosystem, Ascensus has a differentiated market position, significant scale, and a compelling opportunity to benefit from powerful long-term industry trends. Having partnered closely with the senior management team at Ascensus since 2021, we have tremendous confidence in their ability to build on Ascensus’ leadership position.”

“The market for tax-advantaged savings is underpinned by durable growth, and Ascensus is a scaled, independent player well positioned to capture that opportunity. We know Ascensus well from our first partnership, and the business has continued to outperform, adding scale and capabilities while demonstrating consistent execution,” said Tony Salewski, Managing Partner at Genstar. Sid Ramakrishnan, Managing Director at Genstar, added, “Genstar’s experience across the wealth and asset management ecosystem reinforces our conviction in the Company. We look forward to supporting the management team alongside Stone Point.”

The transaction is expected to close in the coming months, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. At that time, Stone Point and Genstar will assume joint governance of Ascensus. GIC, a global institutional investor which originally invested in Ascensus in 2019, will remain invested alongside Stone Point and Genstar as part of the transaction.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, and Wells Fargo served as financial advisors and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal counsel to Ascensus. Lazard Frères & Co. LLC served as buyside financial advisor to Stone Point. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as buyside financial advisors and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal counsel to Genstar.

About Ascensus
Ascensus is the engine at the center of America’s savings ecosystem. The company makes saving easier by bringing together intuitive technology, AI, and high-touch service to support better financial outcomes for savers, small- to mid-sized businesses, state governments, and leading corporations and financial institutions. Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and nonqualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, as well as fiduciary and total rewards services. The company supports over 16 million savers and oversees more than $1.3 trillion in assets under administration as of August 3, 2026. For more information, visit ascensus.com.

About Stone Point Capital
Stone Point is a leading investment firm with more than $75 billion in assets under management across private equity, credit and insurance solutions. Drawing on more than three decades of experience and sector specialization, the firm focuses on the financial services industry and related sectors. Stone Point invests in and partners with talented management teams primarily based in North America and Western Europe. In addition, our capital markets team supports the firm, portfolio companies and other clients by providing custom financing solutions. Stone Point is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, with offices in New York and Palm Beach. For more information, please visit www.stonepoint.com.

About Genstar Capital
Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high-quality companies for over 35 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $51 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, industrials, healthcare, and software industries.

Media Contacts:

For Ascensus
Greg Winter
[email protected]

For Stone Point Capital
[email protected]

For Genstar Capital
[email protected] 

¹ Figure includes American Trust Retirement recordkeeping participants
² Figure includes AmericanTCS AUA

SOURCE Ascensus

• Future Standard acquires minority stake in KDC, expanding access to differentiated direct investment opportunities in capital-intensive sectors requiring specialized expertise.
• Partnership creates a powerful value proposition for investors seeking direct exposure to targeted high-growth infrastructure themes and for project owners seeking the technical expertise and capital pathways needed to scale.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18, 2026 — Future Standard, a $94 billion global alternative asset manager, today announced the close of a strategic investment in KDC, launching a partnership with this specialized infrastructure development and execution firm focused on helping companies scale high-demand capital-intensive infrastructure projects. Future Standard has acquired a minority stake in KDC and has an option to acquire control in the future.

KDC was co-founded by Future Standard CEO Edwin Conway and the Kamine family, whose principals have spent decades developing, financing, constructing and operating infrastructure businesses. Their platform is designed to bring that same execution-oriented expertise to capital-intensive projects tied to rising demand for data, energy security, advanced manufacturing and critical minerals.

The partnership brings together two complementary capabilities: KDC’s ability to help infrastructure project owners solve complex development, operational and commercialization challenges in order to scale, and Future Standard’s experience creating access to differentiated private market investment opportunities for institutional and private wealth clients. Together, the firms believe they can help bridge a persistent gap in the market: projects that benefit from powerful secular demand and proven technical expertise but require specialized operating support and sophisticated capital raising to scale.

“Future Standard was founded to identify durable areas of growth early, shape emerging markets as they develop and create responsible ways for clients to access opportunities that have historically been difficult to reach,” said Michael Forman, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Future Standard. “KDC reflects that same pioneering mindset. Its principals have spent decades building infrastructure businesses, and that operating credibility matters, as true value in the middle market is typically driven by hands-on, active engagement by managers. We believe this partnership will give investors access to compelling direct investment opportunities at the leading edge of infrastructure, further expanding the set of differentiated offerings we can bring to clients.”

KDC focuses on what it describes as the “missing middle” of infrastructure investing: projects and companies that may be beyond the scale of venture capital but are often too early-stage, technical or operationally intensive for traditional infrastructure investors. By combining development, engineering, construction, operations and capital structuring and capital raising within one integrated platform, KDC seeks to help promising projects become financeable, executable and scalable.

“The best infrastructure opportunities are rarely created by capital alone,” said Edwin Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Future Standard and Co-Founder of KDC. “They require technical judgment, operating discipline and the ability to bring the right partners together at the right time. Having helped build KDC alongside the Kamines, I have seen how valuable that combination can be for project owners and investors alike. Through this partnership, Future Standard aims to offer clients access to opportunities, and alpha, that are often hard to find and even harder to execute by helping KDC accelerate the development of projects tied to the infrastructure needs of a more digital, electrified and resilient economy.”

The relationship is expected to build on deep expertise embedded in Future Standard’s platform, including the digital infrastructure and asset-backed investment capabilities added through the firm’s acquisition of Post Road Group in 2025. Together, KDC’s development and execution expertise and Future Standard’s established investment, distribution and solutions capabilities are expected to create a differentiated platform for sourcing, evaluating, financing and scaling opportunities across the infrastructure value chain.

“Some of the most compelling investment opportunities are created by long-term structural shifts that require expertise, innovation and private capital,” said Hal Kamine, Co-Founder of KDC. “KDC’s background includes over 40 years of developing, building and owning assets across traditional and renewable power plants, a nationwide data and telecom platform and other manufacturing technologies. KDC was built for the point at which innovation moves into execution where many project owners have strong technologies, strong demand signals and compelling commercial opportunities but need an experienced partner and operational expertise to help them navigate the path from development to deployment. Future Standard’s investment gives KDC a unique strategic financial partner with scale, deep client relationships and a strong commitment to expanding access to private markets for these opportunities. We believe that combination will be valuable for project owners, investors and the broader infrastructure ecosystem.”

For Future Standard, the partnership represents the next step in the firm’s long-standing commitment to innovation and access. That commitment has included pioneering new structures in the wealth channel and expanding its institutional middle-market platform and building global investment capabilities. For more than 30 years Future Standard has focused on helping clients participate in private markets in thoughtful, differentiated ways. KDC is expected to add another avenue for the firm to originate direct investment opportunities in sectors where demand for private capital, operational expertise and disciplined execution is rapidly growing. The transaction also builds on a period of significant momentum for Future Standard. In recent years, the firm has expanded its platform through the acquisitions of Portfolio Advisors and Post Road Group’s digital infrastructure and asset-based teams, broadened its global footprint with new offices in Asia and the Middle East, opened a new headquarters in Philadelphia and significantly increased assets under management. The partnership with KDC continues that trajectory, reinforcing Future Standard’s position as a forward-looking alternative asset manager focused on bringing clients access to areas of durable growth before they become broadly available.

About Future Standard
Future Standard is a global alternative asset manager serving institutional and private wealth clients, investing across private equity, credit and real estate. With a 30+ year track record of value creation and $94 billion in assets under management, we back the business owners and financial sponsors that drive growth and innovation across the middle market, transforming untapped potential into durable value.¹

1. Total AUM estimated as of June 30, 2026.

Contact information
Media
Marc Hazelton
[email protected]

SOURCE Future Standard

Broadwing Capital Fund I LP exceeds target and hard cap, supports emerging manager’s hands-on strategy for building lower middle market manufacturing and services platforms

DALLAS, Aug. 18, 2026 — Broadwing Capital Management LLC (“Broadwing”), the Dallas-based private equity firm specializing in lower middle market manufacturing and services investments, today announced the final close of Broadwing Capital Fund I LP (“Fund I”) with $440 million in total capital commitments. The general partner and affiliates made significant incremental commitments to a parallel fund that invests pro rata with Fund I.

Fund I exceeded its $350 million target and was oversubscribed following strong demand for an operationally active, deeply experienced emerging manager from a diverse group of institutional investors, including pension plans, insurance companies, foundations and funds of funds, as well as family offices and RIAs.

Founded in 2022 by long-time private equity investors Eliot Kerlin and Andrew Boisseau, Broadwing invests in domestic founder-, family- and operator-owned manufacturing and services companies. The firm partners with businesses that demonstrate opportunities for organic and acquisition growth and operational improvement. Broadwing utilizes its proprietary Broadwing Flight Path℠ and Broadwing Capital Playbook™ to identify opportunities, underwrite investments, and accelerate value creation at portfolio companies throughout the partnership period.

“We’re on a mission-driven journey to build the most trusted and transformative private equity firm in the lower middle market, and Fund I reflects the confidence our investors have placed in our team, our strategy and our track record,” said Eliot Kerlin, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Broadwing. “I’m both humbled and energized by investor response that exceeded our expectations. Our incredible team is excited about how Fund I will enable our expansion as we thoughtfully scale niche platforms into market leaders through hands-on operational support that enhances companies, cultures, and communities.”

“A generational wave of businesses is on the precipice of changing hands, and we started Broadwing to give founders and investors a path to make the most of this opportunity,” said Andrew Boisseau, Co-Founder and Partner of Broadwing. “Many firms talk about operational partnership, but we purpose-built our model around it, with a Resource Group that equips and enables management teams to drive sustainable growth. Fund I gives us the capital to do that across six platform investments today, with more to come.”

Broadwing expects to continue pursuing platform investments and add-on acquisitions across its core areas of focus.

Raymond James Private Capital Advisory served as the exclusive placement agent for Fund I. Greenberg Traurig, LLP served as legal counsel.

About Broadwing
Broadwing is a Dallas-based private equity firm specializing in lower middle market manufacturing and services investments. The firm thoughtfully scales niche platforms into market leaders through hands-on operational support that enhances companies, cultures, and communities. Broadwing is known for its founder-friendly approach, experienced team of resource partners, and a values-driven commitment to long-term growth. Since its founding in 2022 by two long-time private equity investors, Broadwing has raised over $730 million of committed capital and closed 26 acquisitions.

To learn more, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

SOURCE Broadwing Capital

40-video mini series of free lessons on business cash flow, capital, and growth across six themes. 

NEW YORK and TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 18, 2026 — Byzfunder, the alternative finance partner that has provided more than $1.75 billion in funding to over 30,000 small businesses since 2019, today launched Money Master Class, a video series hosted by CEO Ilya Fridman designed to help small business owners better understand and manage their relationship with capital.

Money Master Class reflects how Byzfunder works with the businesses banks overlook.

When a bank says no — or takes weeks to make a decision — an owner needs answers they can act on now. Byzfunder gives them both the knowledge and the capital to move.

But this isn’t just a show about how money works. It’s about how business owners have been taught to think about money.

Traditional bank underwriting tends to favor businesses with stable, predictable revenue and financial histories that fit conventional models. That approach works well for many companies, but it can leave seasonal, fast-growing or less conventional businesses with fewer options. Over time, that dynamic has contributed to a broader cultural assumption: that borrowing is a last resort, and that needing capital is a sign something’s wrong.

That assumption costs business owners real opportunities — the contract they don’t take, the hire they delay, the inventory they don’t order — not because the capital isn’t out there, but because they’ve absorbed a rule that was never really written for them.

Money Master Class exists to close that gap. Ilya Fridman, CEO of Byzfunder, uses the show to reframe capital as a normal tool for growth — timed and used deliberately, the same way a company plans hiring or inventory. The series spans six themes: Founder’s Mindset, Funding Fact vs Myth, Cash 101, Read the Room, Inside the Trade, and Real Talk — answering some of the questions owners are afraid to ask.

“Most business owners were never handed a playbook for the money side of running a company,” said Ilya Fridman, CEO of Byzfunder. “Money Master Class is designed to be that playbook — clear, practical and free. It’s education first, built to help owners make smarter decisions about cash flow, growth and capital. We want to be a trusted partner in that journey — long before funding is needed and long after it’s received.”

What the series covers

The 40-video series spans six themes — from cash flow fundamentals and Founder’s Mindset to the lending industry landscape and vertical deep dives. New episodes are released weekly and are available on demand through Byzfunder’s YouTube channel and social media channels.

Watch Money Master Class at byzfunder.com/resources/money-master-class.

About Ilya Fridman

Fridman brings more than two decades of experience as both an entrepreneur and a business financing executive. Over the course of his career, he has built and operated businesses across lending, logistics, technology and other industries, growing companies from zero to more than $250 million in annual revenue. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of scaling businesses, navigating economic cycles and securing capital at critical moments, Fridman brings an owner’s perspective to small business finance. Through Money Master Class, he is translating those lessons into practical guidance designed to help business owners make smarter decisions about cash flow, growth and the strategic use of capital.

About Byzfunder

Founded in 2019, Byzfunder is a full-service alternative finance partner for small and medium-sized businesses across the United States. Byzfunder funds the businesses banks overlook — companies with real revenue, real operations, and real growth needs. Business owners can apply in five minutes, with funding available as soon as the same day. The company has funded more than $1.75 billion since inception. Funding now. Future secured.

For more information, visit byzfunder.com.

Media Contact

Xin Hamilton, CMO

[email protected]

byzfunder.com

SOURCE Byzfunder

Dedicated financing platform, backed by 11-bank syndicate and supported by equity sponsors GI Partners and MSIP, will fund more than 130 MW of new capacity under construction and in planning

DENVER, Aug. 18, 2026 — Flexential, a leading provider of secure and flexible data center solutions, has established an $800 million credit facility to accelerate the development of new data center capacity in markets where the company’s customers are growing and demand continues to build.

The financing will support more than 130 megawatts (MW) of new capacity across four key markets in Flexential’s national platform, providing a scalable source of capital to build ahead of enterprise and AI-driven infrastructure needs. Projects currently under construction include a 36 MW facility in Atlanta-Douglasville, Georgia; a 36 MW facility in Portland-Hillsboro, Oregon; and a 22.5 MW facility in Denver-Parker, Colorado. Also planned are another 36 MW facility in Portland-Hillsboro and a 4.5 MW expansion adjacent to Flexential’s existing operations in Atlanta-Norcross, Georgia.

“We are collaborating closely with our customers and partners and making infrastructure investments today based on where we know they are growing,” said Ryan Mallory, CEO of Flexential. “Our customers are planning years in advance, and they need confidence that the capacity, density and connectivity they’ll need will be there when they’re ready. This financing gives us the ability to invest ahead of that demand and deliver the infrastructure to support their growth.”

The new facility creates a dedicated financing vehicle for Flexential’s development portfolio, providing committed capital to support projects as they move from planning through construction and delivery. It also builds on Flexential’s broader investment strategy to expand capacity across its national footprint while maintaining the flexibility to respond to evolving customer requirements.

The $800 million facility was oversubscribed and upsized 60% from the initial target of $500 million due to strong demand. The facility is supported by a syndicate of 11 leading digital infrastructure banks and complements ongoing equity investment from Flexential’s sponsors, GI Partners and MSIP. TD Securities served as administrative agent and joint coordinating lead arranger and joint bookrunner. RBC Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan served as joint coordinating lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. Goldman Sachs, ING, SMBC, Bank of America, and KeyBanc served as joint lead arrangers. Flagstar, Citibank, and Investec served as co-documentation agents. Simpson Thacher was Flexential’s legal advisor for the transaction.

About Flexential

Flexential empowers the IT journey of the most complex businesses by offering customizable IT solutions designed for today’s demanding high-density computing requirements. With colocation, cloud, interconnection, data protection, and professional services, the FlexAnywhere^® platform anchors our services in 40 data centers across 18 highly connected markets on a scalable 100+ Gbps private network backbone. Flexential solutions are strategically engineered to meet the most stringent challenges in security, compliance, and resiliency. Experience the power of IT flexibility and how we enable digital transformation at www.flexential.com.

Media Contact

Christian Rizzo

Gregory for Flexential

[email protected]

SOURCE Flexential

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2026 — J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital, the life sciences venture and growth equity arm within J.P. Morgan Asset Management, today announced the appointment of Bruce N. Rogers, Ph.D., as Venture Partner. Dr. Rogers will leverage his extensive background in medicinal chemistry, translational science, neuroscience, and immunology to develop and scale innovative companies with Life Sciences Private Capital.

Dr. Rogers is a seasoned drug discovery and development expert with a strong track record of building innovative companies that deliver therapies across biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Rogers currently serves as President and CEO of an emerging precision immunology firm and a portfolio company of J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital.

Prior to that, Dr. Rogers was President of Morphic Therapeutic, where he originally joined as Chief Scientific Officer in 2016, built the company’s platform, and delivered a portfolio of assets including MORF-057. Following Morphic’s acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2024 for $3.2 billion, he transitioned to Eli Lilly as Senior Vice President and CEO of Morphic, overseeing the integration of Morphic’s portfolio and team. Before his tenure at Morphic, Dr. Rogers served as Head of Neuro-Opportunities at Pfizer and spent 16 years within the medicinal chemistry divisions at Pfizer and Pharmacia, where he led teams that advanced over a dozen small molecule candidates into clinical trials across multiple neuroscience indications.

“Dr. Rogers has built a career that spans a diverse range of therapeutic areas and drug modalities, and that breadth of experience is a real asset to our team,” said Dr. Stephen Squinto, CIO of Life Sciences Private Capital. “We look forward to working alongside him as we continue to grow our platform and support the next generation of life sciences companies.”

Biography

Bruce N. Rogers, PhD, serves as President and CEO of an emerging precision immunology company focused on developing therapies that selectively target disease-driving T-cell populations. Previously, Dr. Rogers was President of Morphic Therapeutic, a biopharmaceutical company developing integrin therapies for serious chronic diseases, having initially joined the company as Chief Scientific Officer in 2016, building its platform and delivering a portfolio of assets including MORF-057. Following Morphic’s acquisition by Lilly in 2024 for $3.2 billion, he transitioned to Lilly, where he held the roles of Senior Vice President and CEO of Morphic, overseeing the integration of Morphic’s portfolio and team. Dr. Rogers brings deep experience in drug discovery and development, encompassing preclinical and clinical programs, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, translational science, DMPK, strategic partnering, and R&D planning. Before his tenure at Morphic, he served as Head of Neuro-Opportunities at Pfizer, leading innovative initiatives for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including direct brain delivery of protein therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease and oncology-oriented approaches. He also spent 16 years in progressively senior roles within the medicinal chemistry divisions at Pfizer and Pharmacia, leading teams that advanced over a dozen small molecule candidates into clinical trials for various neuroscience indications, such as tavapadon for Parkinson’s disease and emraclidine for schizophrenia. Dr. Rogers has co-authored more than 60 scientific publications, reviews, and abstracts, and is credited as a co-inventor on over 85 patents and patent applications. He holds a BA in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, he was a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at the University of California prior to entering the pharmaceutical industry.

About J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital

J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital (“LSPC”), is the life sciences platform of J.P. Morgan Private Capital, the investment arm for private companies across the capital structure with a focus on venture and growth investing within J.P. Morgan Asset Management. LSPC partners with leading early-stage biotherapeutics and late-stage healthcare companies. The early stage biotechnology practice is focused on company creation, Seed and Series A investments across all therapeutic areas in biotechnology. The late-stage healthcare practice is focused on Series B through pre-IPO investments within biotechnology, medical devices, tools, diagnostics, healthcare technology and pharmaceutical services.

About J.P. Morgan Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of $4.6 trillion as of June 30, 2026, is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information, visit: www.jpmorgan.com/am.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (“U.S.”), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $5.0 trillion in assets and $375 billion in stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2026. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

SOURCE J.P. Morgan Asset Management