ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 12, 2025 — MoirAI Cloud just landed a $1 million pre-seed round to take AI data center efficiency to the next level. Backed by prominent angel investors, this funding accelerates the company’s AI-driven software to cut power consumption by 95%, lower costs, and increase efficiency.

“The way AI and cloud infrastructure scale today is wildly inefficient. We’re changing that,” said Robert Twitchell, CEO of MoirAI Cloud. “Our software doesn’t just cut waste —it unlocks productivity and business growth for AI and its users.”

Today’s data centers burn massive amounts of energy, especially with LLM-based AI models. MoirAI Cloud breaks the outdated “more compute = more power” paradigm with an intelligent system that optimizes real-time power usage, cooling, and server efficiency. The result? Lower energy bills, reduced demand for top-tier hardware, and a more sustainable future.

This funding fuels MoirAI Cloud’s next phase: expanding the team, scaling product development, and forging strategic partnerships to bring this energy-saving tech to data centers worldwide. 

About MoirAI Cloud
MoirAI Cloud aims to make AI and data centers smarter and not wasteful. Founded in 2024 by telecommunications and electronic warfare expert Robert Twitchell, the company develops AI-driven infrastructure software that reduces energy costs, increases efficiency, and helps businesses scale without unnecessary resource drain.

For more information, visit www.moiraicloud.ai

SOURCE MoirAI Cloud

HOUSTON, March 12, 2025 — Amperon, a leading provider of AI-powered energy forecasting and analytics solutions, today announced a strategic investment from National Grid Partners, the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid (NYSE: NGG). This investment will further accelerate Amperon’s commercial expansion across North America and Europe, enhancing its ability to provide best-in-class AI-powered energy forecasting and market analytics to utilities, independent power producers, and energy market participants.

The investment from National Grid Partners underscores the growing demand for advanced AI-driven solutions that help utilities and energy companies navigate the complexities of modern energy markets. With increasing volatility in power markets and the transition to a more distributed and decarbonized grid, Amperon’s platform helps its customers improve grid reliability, manage financial risk, and optimize renewables.

“National Grid Partners offers a wealth of strategic value as an investor,” said Sean Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder of Amperon. “Their deep industry expertise and commitment to innovation make them an ideal partner as we continue scaling our operations and expanding our footprint in key energy markets. This investment allows us to accelerate our commercial reach, particularly in the UK, where grid modernization and resilience are at the forefront of the energy transition.”

National Grid owns and operates the high voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales as well as the UK’s largest electricity distribution network. It also serves more than 20 million people in New York and Massachusetts.

In June 2024, Amperon expanded into 15 European countries, solidifying its position as a leading provider of energy forecasts. The company’s AI-powered forecasting models have outperformed many incumbents in accuracy, most notably in France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, and the UK, enabling market participants to optimize energy strategies and enhance grid stability. With advanced machine-learning capabilities, improved physics-based modeling, and new weather ensemble features, Amperon continues to invest and improve its accuracy, with an average 10% improvement in accuracy over the last six months.

“As the energy landscape becomes more complex and dynamic, the need for accurate, real-time data and predictive insights has never been more critical,” said Raghuram Madabushi, Investment Director at National Grid Partners. “Amperon’s AI-driven approach to forecasting is a perfect fit with our vision for a smarter, more resilient grid – and this marks the inaugural investment from our new, $100 million commitment to AI solutions advancing our energy system. We believe Amperon will play a vital role in scaling innovation across utilities, and we see significant potential for their AI-powered solutions to enhance grid operations in both the US and UK.”

Amperon has established itself as a trusted partner for energy retailers, utilities, and independent power producers, such as Ørsted, Axpo, AES, and Rhythm Energy, delivering AI-powered forecasts that enable real-time, data-driven decision-making. By providing precise insights, Amperon helps its customers manage resources more effectively and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. Now, with the support of National Grid and National Grid Partners, Amperon will further enhance its product offerings, expand its UK presence, and solidify its position as the go-to platform for energy forecasting services.

About Amperon

Amperon is the leading energy forecasting company, positioned at the intersection of energy data and AI. Founded in 2018, Amperon has become a trusted partner to power and utility companies, delivering demand, renewable generation, and price forecasts. With cutting-edge predictive analytics, seamless data integrations, and premium customer support, Amperon enables customers to enhance grid reliability and optimize asset performance. Committed to grid modernization, Amperon is the forecasting company of the energy transition.

For more information about Amperon, visit www.amperon.co.

About National Grid Partners

National Grid Partners is the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid plc., one of the world’s largest investor-owned energy companies. By providing corporate venture capital, business development counsel and direct integration with National Grid’s innovation teams, National Grid Partners is accelerating the energy transition and helping new technologies reach critical scale faster. We also convene the NextGrid Alliance (www.ngalliance.energy), a network of senior innovation executives from more than 120 worldwide utility companies focused on harnessing the industry’s latest technologies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, National Grid Partners has offices in Boston, London, and New York. Visit ngpartners.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1809160/Amperon_Logo.jpg

Relationship will extend availability of venture debt to technology and life science companies nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2025 — Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, announced today it has entered into a strategic lending relationship with Pinegrove Venture Partners (Pinegrove). SVB and Pinegrove expect to deploy a combined $2.5 billion in venture debt loans to technology and life science companies over the coming years. 

Backed by Sequoia Heritage and Brookfield Asset Management, Pinegrove is a venture investment platform with combined assets under management of greater than $10 billion that works with founders, fund managers and limited partners while SVB is the leading provider of venture debt to the innovation economy. Pinegrove and SVB, through its Strategic Capital Group, are able to extend the amount of venture debt available to fast-growing companies. Pinegrove acquired SVB Capital, SVB’s former venture capital arm, from its former parent, SVB Financial Group, in 2024.

“This marks a reunion for two teams that have worked together for many years with a common goal – to support the innovation economy,” said Marc Cadieux, President of SVB. “SVB and Pinegrove understand the needs of innovation economy clients and together we can provide expanded access to financing solutions that will help them succeed and scale. Given our shared history, we have a great head start on a successful relationship.”

“The Pinegrove team has been working with SVB for over a decade to develop creative and innovative venture debt financing solutions. The result has been highly differentiated and flexible offerings that meet the financing needs of companies and venture investors. We couldn’t be more thrilled about this continued collaboration, and we are excited for the next decade of working with the leading bank in the innovation economy,” said Jim Ellison, Managing Partner and Head of Private Credit at Pinegrove.

Pinegrove has maintained a trusted relationship with SVB for over a decade, collectively committing more than $10 billion in venture debt across 550 loans.

About Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of some of the world’s most innovative companies and investors. SVB provides commercial banking to companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity and venture capital industries. SVB operates in centers of innovation throughout the United States, serving the unique needs of its dynamic clients with deep sector expertise, insights and connections. SVB’s parent company, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCNCA), is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets. First Citizens Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at svb.com

About Pinegrove Venture Partners

Pinegrove Venture Partners operates as a powerful venture investment platform that provides solutions to meet the unique needs of fund managers, founders, and limited partners in the innovation economy.

For 25 years, Pinegrove has been a premier investment and strategic partner for institutional investors seeking access to leading opportunities in the venture ecosystem. With the support and sponsorship of Brookfield and Sequoia Heritage and combined assets under management of greater than $10 billion, Pinegrove deploys capital across a complementary suite of offerings spanning venture capital fund of funds, venture debt, secondaries, and co-investments.

SOURCE Silicon Valley Bank

The Company’s New Technology is Designed to Support Overall Space Operations Critical for Consumer Applications and National Defense

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 12, 2025 — Quantum Space, a leader in advanced space operations, is launching its life extension services to enhance satellite mission longevity and operational efficiency. Leveraging its highly maneuverable Ranger spacecraft, these services include mission extension, orbital adjustment, and refueling—addressing the growing demand for sustainable and cost-effective satellite operations.

This initiative aligns with Quantum Space’s commitment to maximizing the value and lifespan of orbital assets for commercial and government clients. The Ranger’s rapid maneuverability and repositioning capabilities enable seamless transitions between orbits to meet diverse mission requirements.

“At Quantum Space, we are dedicated to transforming space operations by providing life extension solutions that empower our clients to realize the Freedom to Maneuver for achieving their mission objectives more effectively,” said Ben Reed, Cofounder and Chief Innovation Officer of Quantum Space. “Our advanced technologies and strategic partnerships position us to deliver unparalleled service in the evolving space economy.”

The Ranger spacecraft features high delta-velocity maneuvers, substantial payload capacity, and precision operations, making it an ideal solution across various orbital regimes. Designed for persistent operations exceeding 15 years, Ranger reduces the need for frequent satellite replacements, lowering overall mission costs while supporting national security and commercial needs.

As part of its expansion, Quantum Space secured investment from Sporos Capital Partners in its Series A round, accelerating the deployment of its in-space mobility and mission extension solutions.

“Quantum Space is at the forefront of transforming how assets operate in orbit, and we believe their life extension services will be critical to the future of space logistics,” said Nishant Machado, Managing Partner at Sporos Capital. “Our investment reflects our confidence in their leadership, technology, and vision for sustained space operations.”

With these life extension services, Quantum Space is reinforcing the resilience and sustainability of space operations, offering greater maneuverability and longevity for national security initiatives, commercial ventures, and scientific research.

For more information, visit quantum-space.com.

Media Contact:
[email protected]
240-956-4580
quantum-space.com

SOURCE Quantum Space

Investment to Accelerate Growth and Expand Recyling-as-a-Service Offering for Industrial Solvents

NEW YORK, March 12, 2025 — Nuveen, the $1.3 trillion asset manager of TIAA, today announced a $30 million equity investment in CleanPlanet Chemical (“CleanPlanet”), a leading provider of recycling-as-a-service for industrial solvents. The investment, made by Nuveen’s Private Equity Impact team, will support CleanPlanet’s growth initiatives and enable the company to scale its proprietary on-site recycling technology.

The investment is the fourth from Nuveen Climate Inclusion Fund II, which seeks to address two of the greatest sustainable development challenges: climate change and inequality. By investing in businesses that drive an inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy, the strategy aims to generate strong financial returns while delivering measurable social and environmental impact.

Founded in 2012, CleanPlanet aligns with Nuveen’s private equity impact strategy by providing a sustainable alternative to traditional solvent disposal methods, serving industries such as flexible packaging, coatings, automotive and chemicals among many others. Unlike incineration or centralized recycling, both of which are transporation-intensive, CleanPlanet’s on-site solution significantly reduces waste and emissions while lowering costs for customers. In 2024, CleanPlanet recycled more than 15 million pounds of solvent waste, saving customers millions of dollars in costs and avoiding over 36,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the company has hundreds of units in operation across various industries and geographies.

“We’re excited to partner with Nuveen to accelerate the adoption of our technology,” said Alex Richert, CEO of CleanPlanet. “Globally, more than 80% of solvents generated each year are disposed of rather than recycled – contributing to emissions and environmental pollution. Our technology can recover most of these solvents, transforming them into a perpetually reusable product that is both cost-effective and sustainable. There is a perception that sustainability solutions come with a price tag. CleanPlanet’s recycling as a service business model provides day one cost savings of 30-50%+ with no CAPEX. This is a true waste to value solution. With Nuveen’s support, we are well-positioned to scale our impact and meet the growing demand for circular solutions.”

“CleanPlanet offers a game-changing approach to industrial waste reduction that directly lines up with our investment thesis,” said Ted Maa, Managing Director of Private Equity Impact Investing at Nuveen. “Beyond decarbonization, its offering drastically cuts hazardous waste and delivers immediate costs savings to customers. We are thrilled to partner with CleanPlanet to drive both financial returns for our investors and measurable benefits for the environment.”  

Backed by TIAA, Nuveen has long been a leader in impact investing. The firm pursues positive social and environmental impact alongside competitive financial returns across various asset classes, offering a range of investment opportunities in both private and public markets. Today, Nuveen has deployed over $33.5 billion in strategies¹ that deliver measurable social and environmental benefits to people, communities, and the planet.

For more information on CleanPlanet Chemical, please visit www.cleanplanetchemical.com. 

About Nuveen
Nuveen, the investment manager of TIAA, offers a comprehensive range of outcome-focused investment solutions designed to secure the long-term financial goals of institutional and individual investors. Nuveen has $1.3 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2024 and operations in 27 countries. Its investment specialists offer deep expertise across a comprehensive range of traditional and alternative investments through a wide array of vehicles and customized strategies.

For more information, please visit www.nuveen.com.

Media Contact
Andrew Chironna | [email protected] | 212.913.1015

¹31 Dec 2024; Impact strategies may have a varying mix of impact, ESG leaders, and traditional securities. Assets under management is inclusive of underlying investment specialists and any sleeves managed on behalf of TIAA’s General Account with specific responsible investing criteria or characteristics inherent to the investment thesis/asset class. Capabilities can be reflected in strategies/vehicles across fund families, including affiliates and sub-advised agreements.

SOURCE Nuveen

Financing Led by RA Capital Management with Participation from Other Existing Investors
Canaan Partners and Cenova Capital

VT3989 is the Only TEAD Autopalmitoylation Inhibitor for which Compelling Clinical Efficacy
Data Have Been Reported, Highlights Best-in-Class Profile

Funding will Support Company’s Continued Advancement of VT3989 Toward Registrational
Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Mesothelioma

 SAN MATEO, Calif., March 12, 2025 — Vivace Therapeutics, Inc., a small molecule discovery and development company developing first-in-class cancer therapies targeting the Hippo pathway, today announced the closing of a $35 million Series D financing. The round was led by RA Capital Management, an existing investor, and included investment from other existing investors Canaan Partners and Cenova Capital. Proceeds will support the continued clinical development of the company’s first-in-class and best-in-class transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) autopalmitoylation inhibitor, VT3989, with an initial focus on mesothelioma. In conjunction with the financing, Jake Simson, Ph.D., partner at RA Capital Management, has joined the company’s board of directors.

VT3989 is a novel small molecule cancer therapeutic that targets the Hippo pathway by inhibiting palmitoylation of members of the TEAD protein family. The compound has been evaluated in more than 150 patients to date in an ongoing, open-label Phase 1 clinical study and is the first and only member of the TEAD autopalmitoylation inhibitor class for which compelling clinical efficacy data have been publicly reported. In addition to promising efficacy, VT3989 has demonstrated excellent safety in the Phase 1 trial, positioning the compound with a best-in-class profile.

Clinical findings for VT3989 have been particularly notable in patients with mesothelioma who have failed chemotherapy and immuno-oncology combination regimens, which represent the only approved therapies in this indication. These results will be presented at a major medical conference in the second half of 2025. Based on these data, Vivace is working to advance VT3989 toward a randomized registrational Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with mesothelioma and intends to discuss its plans with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this year.

“Since participating in Vivace’s Series C round, we have had a front row seat for the tremendous progress the company has made in its efforts to address the significant unmet treatment need of patients with mesothelioma. The team’s impressive drive and continued execution made our decision to lead this Series D round an easy one,” said Dr. Simson. “Based on the clinical progress to date, we believe that VT3989 is well positioned to serve as a dramatic leap forward in the mesothelioma standard of care, offering hope to patients battling a terrible disease with limited treatment options.”

“The results of our clinical evaluation of VT3989 to date give us confidence that the appropriate next step for the program is advancement into a registrational Phase 3 trial in patients with mesothelioma. We are now laser focused on executing against this strategy, including completing our ongoing clinical study and meeting with FDA to align on next steps,” said Sofie Qiao, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Vivace Therapeutics. “We are grateful to RA Capital for leading this round, as well as the continued support from Canaan Partners and Cenova Capital.  This new funding will prove critical to enabling our successful development of VT3989.”

About Phase 1 study of VT3989
The Phase 1 study of VT3989 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04665206) is a multi-center, open label trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and biological activity of VT3989 in patients with refractory metastatic solid tumors, including refractory pleural malignant mesothelioma.

About Vivace Therapeutics, Inc.
Vivace Therapeutics is a small molecule drug discovery and development company focused on targeting the Hippo pathway. The company is pursuing a first-in-class approach to treat human carcinomas of high unmet medical needs. Based in San Francisco Bay Area, the company has raised $105 million to date. For more information, please visit www.vivacetherapeutics.com.

Contact information
Sofie Qiao, Ph.D.
President and CEO
[email protected]
650.666.2753

Tim Brons
Vida Strategic Partners (media)
646-319-8981
[email protected]

SOURCE Vivace Therapeutics, Inc.

• Less than two years after launch in April 2023, Plata’s valuation reached USD 1.5B after receiving its banking license authorization in December 2024, surpassing one million active customers in early 2025.
• The USD 160 million Series A equity round brings the total investment that Plata has made into the Mexican economy since its launch to over USD 750 million.
• Series A, which positions Plata as one of Mexico’s most valuable Digital Banks*, was led by Kora.

MEXICO CITY, March 11, 2025 — Plata, the Mexican digital bank that received its banking license authorization in December 2024, has successfully closed its Series A equity round with a USD 1.5 billion valuation less than two years after launching operations and after surpassing one million active credit card users.

The Series A raised USD 160 million in a combined equity round, led by Kora—a global investment firm specializing in emerging digital economies—, subject to regulatory approvals. The round also saw participation from Moore Strategic Ventures, among other U.S. and European investors. Following this transaction, Plata has now secured a total of USD 750 million in debt and equity investment since its inception to deploy in Mexico.

With this investment, Plata demonstrates confidence in the Mexican market and strengthens its commitment to digitalizing financial services in the country. Coupled with the recent approval of a banking license, Plata consolidates its position in Mexico as a pioneer in financial innovation.

“The real value of Plata lies in the collective talent we’ve gathered to achieve exceptional growth while maintaining a strong financial model,” said Neri Tollardo, Co-Founder and CEO of Plata. “I am confident that our focus on technological solutions, accessible through an intuitive and simple customer-facing app, sets a benchmark for financial services in Latin America. Our products have been met with incredible enthusiasm, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.“

“We believe financial services are a powerful driver of economic development in emerging markets and have been fortunate to partner with companies driving this change across the globe,” said Nitin Saigal, Co-Founder of Kora. “Plata has an exceptional team, in our view, with a unique combination of talent and integrity that positions it to be one of the key players driving this change in Mexico. We are excited to strengthen our partnership with them.”

“With a highly experienced team, a Banking license authorization, proprietary technology like our own core banking system, and this capital investment, we are confident that we will continue to be one of the fastest-growing digital banks in Latin America. Even more, we are poised to be a driver of change in digitalization and financial inclusion,” added Tollardo

Additionally to the Series A investment, some of Plata’s most notable capital markets transactions completed since inception include a USD 200mln warehouse facility from Fasanara Capital, a London-based fund manager, and a USD 55mln Senior Unsecured Bond, which was the first unsecured issuance for a Mexican Non-Bank Financial Institution since 2021.

A Digital Bank with a Human Touch

Founded in Mexico City by international banking executives led by Neri Tollardo and Danil Anisimov, Plata started operations in April 2023, and since then, it has grown to a global team of over 1,500 employees, with close to 40% of them STEM professionals and responsible for the development of Plata’s own core banking system (infrastructure, systems, and applications), enabling faster and more efficient innovation and solution implementation. This positions Plata as one of the few financial companies that, instead of outsourcing this service, develops its infrastructure internally.

True to its value proposition of simplifying the financial experience through cutting-edge technology, Plata remains committed to operating as a fully digital bank. This means Plata will not have physical bank branches. Instead, it will offer all of its products and services through its digital platform, prioritizing accessibility and efficiency for its users.

“While we are a 100% digital platform, we understand the importance of human contact in addressing any questions or issues. Not having physical branches leads us to make exceptional customer service one of our main pillars. We offer instant response via chat and a direct contact phone number without any phone menus,” explained Tollardo.

In addition to its internal development team, Plata directly hires all of its agents who handle customer requests and its ambassadors, who deliver cards to clients’ homes and perform identity verification in person.

About Plata:

Plata is a high-tech Mexican financial platform authorized with a Banking license. Plata’s promise in Mexico is to raise the standards of financial products and services through innovation, excellence in customer service, and greater benefits for people’s money. Plata is on the mission of transforming the Mexican financial experience by overcoming the limitations of traditional banking. Backed by its own technology, Plata offers a simpler, safer, and more efficient financial experience.

With a team of over 1,500 employees, Plata has developed its own banking infrastructure and works with the support of AI, which allows the company to make a difference in the financial landscape. In less than two years of operations in Mexico, Plata has achieved one million active customers. platacard.mx 

About Kora:

Kora is a global investment firm with over a decade of experience seeking to invest alongside exceptional teams building internet and financial services businesses across emerging digital economies. koracap.com

About Moore Strategic Ventures:

Moore Strategic Ventures, LLC is the privately held investment company for Louis M. Bacon, Founder and CEO of Moore Capital Management, LP. moorecap.com

SOURCE Plata

This program brings $1M in funding to companies reinventing after Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C., March 11, 2025 — Optimist Ventures, Western North Carolina’s premier accelerator and investment fund, is officially open for applications, offering an unparalleled opportunity for early-stage, tech-enabled startups to secure funding and mentorship. The deadline to apply is March 23, 2025.

This program brings $1M in funding, with each selected startup receiving $50,000 — half as a non-dilutive grant and half as a Shared Profit Agreement (SPA) note, meaning founders retain full ownership while investors see long-term returns. This hybrid model is founder-friendly, investor-aligned, and designed for sustainable success.

Unique to this model is the SPA Note vehicle “The Shared Profit Agreement (SPA) was born out of a desire to create a founder-friendly, regionally aligned funding model. Unlike traditional equity investment, where founders dilute their ownership and often feel pressure to exit on an investor’s timeline, the SPA allows startups to retain full control. Instead of giving up a percentage of the company, founders commit to sharing a percentage of revenue or profit, based on a fixed sliding scale.

This structure works particularly well in a region like Western North Carolina, where many businesses are capital-efficient, bootstrapped, and value independence. Founders appreciate that the SPA allows them to focus on profitability and long-term impact, rather than short-term valuations. So far, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—entrepreneurs love the flexibility, and investors appreciate that it aligns incentives around building sustainable businesses rather than chasing the next funding round,” said Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures. 

Who Should Apply?

Optimist Ventures is seeking ambitious, tech-enabled companies across Western North Carolina. But what does “tech-enabled” really mean? If your startup leverages technology to scale, optimize, or enhance business operations— you’re tech-enabled.

• A CPG startup using AI to manage supply chain logistics? That’s tech-enabled.
• A restaurant-tech platform optimizing food waste with predictive analytics? Tech-enabled.
• A manufacturing company integrating IoT sensors to improve efficiency? You guessed it—tech-enabled.
• A health & wellness brand deploying a mobile app for personalized user experiences? Absolutely tech-enabled.

If your business uses software, data, automation, or digital tools to accelerate growth, Optimist Ventures is built for you.

Why This Model is a Game-Changer

Traditional venture capital models often force founders into all-or-nothing trajectories—chasing unicorn status at all costs or losing control of their business. Optimist Ventures does things differently.

• Half Grant, Half SPA Note: Founders only pay back a portion of the investment, reducing financial risk.
• No Equity Surrendered: Keep full ownership while accessing crucial capital.
• Investor Returns Without Founder Burnout: The SPA model ensures investors see returns without forcing aggressive, unsustainable growth.
• Support Beyond the Check: Mentorship, connections, and a network that genuinely invests in your success.

Backed by Philanthropy & Innovation

Optimist Ventures is powered by a coalition of visionary partners, including Venture Asheville, the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville Buncombe County, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Dogwood Health Trust, Truist Bank, Poppy Popcorn, individual philanthropists, and the Bank of America Foundation, ensuring that startups receive not just capital, but a community of champions behind them.

Apply Now

If you’re a Western North Carolina-based founder with a high-growth, tech-enabled venture, the time to apply is now. Applications are open through March 23, 2025, with selections announced in early April.

• **Apply today at **OptimistVentues.co and join the next wave of innovation in WNC!

Media Contact: Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO, Optimist Ventures Director, Venture [email protected], 954-205-1352

Optimist Ventures is a founder-friendly investment fund and accelerator dedicated to fueling the next generation of tech-enabled startups in Western North Carolina. Built on a hybrid funding model, Optimist Ventures provides $50,000 per company—half as a non-dilutive grant and half as a Shared Profit Agreement (SPA) note—allowing founders to scale their businesses without sacrificing ownership. Backed by venture philanthropy and forward-thinking investors, Optimist Ventures supports companies that leverage technology, data, automation, and digital tools to drive innovation in their industries. With mentorship from proven entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts, Optimist Ventures is more than capital—it’s a growth engine for the next wave of ambitious startups. Optimist Ventures operates in partnership with Venture Asheville and the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville–Buncombe County, playing a key role in shaping WNC’s startup ecosystem. For more information, visit www.OptimistVentures.co.

SOURCE Optimist Ventures

Anagram Ventures has led the $3M funding round, which furthers Rakurai’s mission to deliver high TPS and high yield to builders and stakers on Solana

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11, 2025 — Rakurai, the infrastructure project supercharging Solana staking, has closed a $3 million seed funding round led by Anagram Ventures. Other investors in this round include Colosseum, Slow Ventures, Robot Ventures and Crypto.com. P2P.org, GlobalStake and Cyber Fund also participated, highlighting Rakurai’s potential to drive significant advancements in decentralized infrastructure.

Today’s funding will advance the rollout of Rakurai’s high-yield Solana staking platform, offering high QoS (quality of service) transaction landing through increased efficiencies to retail and institutional participants alike. In standard benchmark tests, Rakurai nodes deliver 5x the TPS (transactions per second) compared to the standard Solana client. The investment will also fuel product development and partnership growth.

Ali Rizvi, CEO of Rakurai, said: “Today’s funding news is one of many more milestones to come, as we build and deliver products that significantly increase TPS on Solana. Rakurai has been able to accelerate Solana nodes through our unique innovations in transaction scheduling, which boost block rewards and benefit users, stakers and node operators, enabling everyone to thrive on Solana.”

Founded by a team with extensive expertise in building ultra-low-latency, high throughput systems for algorithmic trading, Rakurai is led by ex-Apple, Silicon Valley engineer Ali Rizvi, who has more than 20 years of experience and a background in ASIC/SOC design. In last year’s Colosseum Solana Renaissance Hackathon, Rakurai won the top prize in the infrastructure track. 

David Feiock, CIO at Anagram Ventures said: “One of the greatest challenges that Solana faces today is the frequency of conflicting transactions and scheduler bottlenecks, which have resulted in inefficiencies in block packing. Rakurai’s solution aims to tackle this issue by optimizing the process, allowing for more efficient block creation and ultimately increasing validator rewards. We think Rakurai will be a critical piece of the IBRL puzzle”

About Rakurai

Rakurai is a trusted validator that boosts TPS with proprietary scheduling and pipeline optimizations. Operating on the Solana network, Rakurai builds transaction-dense blocks providing users, dApps and bots superior transaction landing when they use the platform and also enhances yield for stakers through sharing of block rewards. Node operators can access higher block rewards and deliver higher yields by quickly deploying the Rakurai client. Stakers can access this yield by staking with any Rakurai node or leveraging Rakurai’s Liquid Staking Pool (raiSOL). For more information, see rakurai.io.

SOURCE Rakurai