The one-day fast-pitch event at Indiana University offers startups millions in non-dilutive funding and exclusive access to top VC firms to scale the next generation of game-changing technologies.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Aug. 20, 2026 — The American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) today announced the launch of the Horizon Manufacturing Cup, a fast-pitch competition awarding a total of $3 million in funding, including a $1 million grand prize, to five manufacturing startups along with fostering connectivity with the Venture Capital community. The competition will be held on Indiana University’s campus in Bloomington, Indiana, on October 20, 2026. Interested companies should submit their proposals here.
“The Horizon Manufacturing Cup will further solidify Indiana’s role as the heart of America’s defense industrial base,” said Senator Jim Banks. “It will help identify manufacturing startups vital to designing, building, and scaling the technologies our warfighters need. I am proud of ACMI’s continued investments in Indiana and partnerships with IU.”
The Horizon Manufacturing Cup aims to identify and accelerate the scaling of critical hardware, materials, manufacturing technologies across several sectors. Winning companies will also gain access to advanced manufacturing prototyping equipment, industrial infrastructure, technical resources, supply chains, scaling space, and talent networks at ACMI’s National Security Industrial Hub.
“To secure our nation’s industrial capacity, we must fund innovation and provide the physical infrastructure required to scale production,” said Senator Todd Young. “ACMI’s Horizon Manufacturing Cup bridges the gap between disruptive technology concepts and real-world industrial output, anchoring critical capabilities right here in Indiana.”
Designed to strengthen the domestic industrial base and accelerate advanced manufacturing technology, the competition invites startups, spin-outs, and emerging technology firms to present their capabilities for a chance to secure both non-dilutive awards and additional investment from leading Venture Capital firms.
“America is going through a manufacturing renaissance, and we need to tap into our best and brightest minds to scale their impact,” said John Burer, Founder and CEO of ACMI. “We are proud to work with our partners to invest at the crossroads of America and build the American industrial base in our heartland.”
Presentations will be evaluated by a panel of judges on technical merit, innovation, prototype readiness, industrial impact, commercialization potential, and readiness.
ACMI bridges commercial markets and national security interests, increasing economic resilience, diversifying the American industrial capabilities, and ensuring a robust defense industrial base. The Horizon Manufacturing Cup is designed to support companies scaling prototypes into production and the defense manufacturing supply chain.
About the American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) The American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation (ACMI) is an industrial group focused on revitalizing the United States’ manufacturing base by building essential infrastructure and providing the strategic investment and support modern manufacturers need to scale. Operating through its affiliates—ACMI Federal, ACMI Capital, and ACMI Properties—ACMI aligns public and private capital, specialized resources, and technical expertise to bridge critical gaps in domestic production. By partnering with emerging and established companies across vital industrial sectors, ACMI is expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity, strengthening supply chains, accelerating innovation, and increasing economic resilience across the American industrial base.
European Capital Solutions Fund II Exceeds Predecessor by Nearly 75% and Demonstrates Strong Demand for Crestline’s Flexible, Partnership-Driven Approach to Value Creation
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 20, 2026 — Crestline Management, L.P. (“Crestline”), a global alternative investment management firm, today announced the final close of Crestline European Capital Solutions Fund II (“ECSFII” or the “Fund”) with $625 million in capital commitments, nearly 75 percent larger than Fund I. The Fund received strong support from both existing Crestline clients and new investor relationships globally, including a diverse group of public and private pension plans, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors.
Consistent with the European Capital Solutions Strategy Crestline has employed since 2015, ECSFII originates, structures and finances tailored capital solutions – ranging from senior debt to structured equity – for asset-backed and lower-middle-market businesses across North and Western Europe. The strategy targets situations underpinned by tangible collateral, including hard assets such as real estate, infrastructure and transportation, financial and esoteric assets such as music royalties and litigation finance, as well as asset-heavy, often entrepreneur-led or family-owned companies seeking transitional capital. It is managed by Crestline’s European Capital Solutions team, whose senior leadership has worked together for more than 20 years and has deployed approximately $2.0 billion across 45 transactions in Europe. Since launching in 2025, ECSFII has demonstrated strong early momentum, establishing a diversified portfolio with approximately 35 percent of the fund committed and a significant realization completed as of Q2’26.
“The successful close of ECSFII reflects the trust our investors have placed in us, and we are deeply grateful for their continued partnership and support,” said Michael Guy, Executive Managing Director and Head of European Credit. “The European lower-middle-market continues to face a significant and persistent funding gap—one that requires creativity, speed and deep asset-level underwriting expertise. ECSFII was designed to address this opportunity. The Fund’s early momentum reflects the experience, capabilities and relationships our team has developed over more than a decade, and we look forward to continuing to deliver for our investors.”
“Crestline has spent well over a decade building relationships and a proprietary sourcing network in this market, which lets us access bilateral opportunities that are often difficult to replicate,” said Keith Williams, Executive Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Crestline. “The financing needs of lower-middle-market European businesses continue to grow, and our hands-on approach to structuring is purpose-built to meet them. We are grateful for the support behind ECSFII, and we look forward to putting this capital to work and continuing to grow our European platform.”
About Crestline Management, L.P.
Crestline is a global alternative investment management firm founded in 1997 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, with affiliate offices in London, New York, Tokyo, and Toronto. The firm has approximately $18 billion of credit assets under management (as of March 31, 2026) including its capital solutions, direct lending, and portfolio finance platforms. Crestline operates as part of Rithm Capital Corp. (NYSE: RITM), a global alternative asset manager with significant experience managing credit and real estate assets and an integrated platform that spans asset-based finance, residential and commercial real estate lending, mortgage servicing rights, and structured credit. For more information, visit www.crestlineinvestors.com.
Contact Sam Cohen/Jonathan Warren Gasthalter & Co. 212-257-4170 [email protected]
Joseph Beyene awarded an O’Shaughnessy Fellowship to advance a skin treatment that blocks the biological process ticks rely on to feed on skin
GREENWICH, Conn., Aug. 20, 2026 — O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (OSV), an investment firm that empowers creators, has awarded an O’Shaughnessy Fellowship to Joseph Beyene, a scientist and entrepreneur based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Joseph Beyene, scientist, entrepreneur and 2026 O’Shaughnessy Fellow, is developing a skin treatment designed to prevent tick bites by targeting the biological process ticks rely on to feed.
Beyene will use the fellowship to advance a skin treatment designed to prevent tick bites, a growing public health threat as tick-borne diseases spread into new regions. Most repellents are designed for insects like mosquitoes and stop working once a tick reaches skin. Other pesticides lose effectiveness as ticks develop resistance to them. Beyene’s treatment instead targets a biological process specific to how ticks feed, an approach no current product addresses directly. Over the next 12 months, he plans to complete independent field trials of the lead formulation and build early commercial traction.
Beyene earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in cell and molecular biology from San Francisco State University. He obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where his doctoral research contributed to the foundational science behind Vesigen Therapeutics, a Harvard spinout that raised a $28.5 million Series A round. Today, Beyene is adjunct faculty in Northeastern University’s Graduate Biotechnology Program, where he teaches drug development and scientific communication.
OSV’s founder and CEO, Jim O’Shaughnessy, commented, “Joseph’s resilience, experience and ambition made awarding him a fellowship an extremely easy decision. We’re honored to be backing him.”
“I envision a world where people and animals can live safely, protected from tick-borne diseases,” said Beyene. “I am deeply grateful to OSV for believing in this vision.”
About the O’Shaughnessy Fellowships Program
Launched in 2023, the O’Shaughnessy Fellowships program discovers and empowers the world’s boldest creatives, builders and researchers. Fellows receive a grant of up to $100,000 and gain access to OSV’s network of founders, investors and experts. OSV will award up to 20 fellowships in 2026.
Beyene is the nineteenth fellow announced in 2026. More information about previous fellows is available at OSV’s website.
Applications for the O’Shaughnessy Fellowships are now closed and will reopen on Jan. 1, 2027. Individuals interested in applying can do so via OSV’s website.
About O’Shaughnessy Ventures
OSV is a creative investment firm that empowers creators to bring their ideas to life. Founded by Jim O’Shaughnessy, a pioneer in quantitative investing, founder of O’Shaughnessy Asset Management, and author of five books, OSV aims to provide financial support and to partner in growing the next life-changing creative ideas.
OSV combines Jim’s deeply rooted interest in all things art, science, investing and technology with his long-held desire to establish scenarios designed to help promising creators and their inspiring ideas succeed, regardless of age, location, job history or level of education. For more information, visit OSV’s website.
Media Contact: Ena Gong O’Shaughnessy Ventures LLC (917) 355-7420 [email protected]
Backed by gaming industry leaders and a newly completed Series A, the company is building the next generation of safe online experiences for Gen Alpha
IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 20, 2026 — Magic Potion Games, the studio behind Imagine Island, today announced a major milestone for the company after Imagine Island welcomed more than one million players during beta through entirely organic growth. Backed by a newly completed Series A, Magic Potion is entering its next chapter as it builds the next generation of safe online environments for Gen Alpha.
Imagine Island is a safe social online world for Gen Alpha, combining creative gameplay and shared experiences with live moderation and age-appropriate safety features.
Founded by industry veterans behind iconic gaming experiences including Club Penguin, Electronic Arts, Disney Online, and Epic Games, and backed by an experienced group of gaming founders, operators, and investors including Square Enix, 1AM Gaming, 1Up Ventures, and Konvoy, Magic Potion is reimagining what online games can be for Gen Alpha by putting creativity, community, and most importantly, child safety at the heart of every experience.
“We believe play has the power to inspire, connect, and create lasting memories,” said Hideaki Uehara, General Manager of the Investment and Business Development Department and Head of Square Enix Collective at Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. “What impressed us about Imagine Island is its commitment to building a safe and welcoming virtual world for children while encouraging creativity and self-expression. Combined with the experience and passion of the Magic Potion team, we are excited about the future they are creating.”
As children spend more time socializing, creating and expressing themselves online, many parents feel they’re choosing between platforms that prioritize engagement and monetization over child wellbeing, or limiting online play altogether. Imagine Island was built to offer a different path: an online world designed from the ground up to encourage creativity, self-expression and positive social experiences in an environment parents can trust. Designed specifically for children ages 6–13, Imagine Island combines live moderation, COPPA-compliant privacy protections, and age-appropriate social features to create a trusted online environment for kids and families.
“As both game developers and parents, we’ve always believed Gen Alpha shouldn’t have to choose between fun and safety online,” said Stephen MacDonald, Founder and CEO of Magic Potion Games. “Reaching one million players organically tells us that vision is resonating with families around the world. We’re just getting started, and we’re excited to continue expanding Imagine Island while staying true to the values that brought us here.”
The Series A financing welcomes Gregory Milken, Founder and Managing Partner of 1AM Gaming, who shares the same vision for children’s online experiences, to Magic Potion’s Board of Directors alongside Josh Chapman, General Partner at Konvoy. Magic Potion has been supported by industry veterans, Alex Seropian, founder of Bungie the studio behind Halo, and Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin, who have helped guide the company’s growth as members of its advisory team.
“Magic Potion is building something that addresses a real need for Gen Alpha and their families, and the early response demonstrates there’s significant demand for online worlds that combine creativity, community and trust,” said Alex Seropian. “The team behind Imagine Island understands what makes online worlds meaningful while recognizing the expectations families have today, and I’m simply thrilled to help shape a platform built specifically for them.”
Following the beta, Magic Potion is preparing a significant expansion of Imagine Island. Later this year, the company will launch several major new entertainment partnerships that will bring some of the world’s largest children’s franchises to the platform, alongside new gameplay experiences, creator tools, community events, and a parent-friendly membership model designed to provide clear value without relying on aggressive monetization.
With more than one million players already experiencing Imagine Island during beta, no paid marketing, and a nomination for Best Web Game of the Year in the 2026 Pocketgamer Awards, Magic Potion enters its next chapter focused on expanding the platform while remaining committed to creating one of the one of the most trusted online platforms for children and families.
Magic Potion Games is a game studio building the next generation of safe online experiences for Gen Alpha. Its flagship platform, Imagine Island, combines creativity, community and play in an online world designed specifically for children and families. Founded by veterans from Club Penguin, Electronic Arts, The Walt Disney Company, and Epic Games, and backed by investors including Square Enix, 1AM Gaming, 1Up Ventures, and Konvoy, the company is creating an environment where children can safely explore, create and connect while giving parents confidence in their online experiences.
Financing supports first spinout of Orchard Ultrasound Innovation as MaxQ Medical advances its transurethral imaging and therapy system for BPH and prostate cancer
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 20, 2026 — MaxQ Medical, Inc., a private health-tech company developing an all-in-one transurethral imaging and therapy system for prostate care, today announced the closing of a $31.5 million Series A financing. The round was led by Atlantic Blue Ventures, S3 Ventures, and Olympus Innovation Ventures with strong participation from our existing investor, Hillside Capital. Funds will be used to grow the team and advance the company’s clinical program.
“Men with prostate disease have had to choose between treatments that don’t do enough and treatments that come with consequential tradeoffs and side-effects. The MaxQ system is designed to offer the durability of gold standard resective therapies with side-effects more comparable to tMIS solutions,” said Amir Tehrani, CEO of MaxQ Medical. “I want to thank our investors for their support, our exceptional team for their dedication, and Amir Abolfathi, our executive chairman, co-leading this financing effort with me. This funding lets us continue the clinical evaluations already underway and move closer to giving physicians and their patients a better option.”
MaxQ Medical is developing a platform technology that combines advanced imaging with tissue-selective therapy in a single transurethral procedure, giving urologists full visibility inside the prostate and the ability to treat what they see, without the anatomic limitations of approaches that work from outside of the prostate. The design is intended to preserve the urethra and minimize side effects such as injury, swelling and bleeding, and impact on sexual functions which remain common concerns with current treatment options. The company’s first indication is benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), with plans to expand into focal therapy for prostate cancer and, longer term, into broader prostate diagnostics including biopsy and tumor mapping.
“Our work in semiconductor ultrasound has spanned decades, and this is the first time we’ve taken that foundation and built a complete imaging and therapy system around it,” said Professor Pierre Khuri-Yakub, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Orchard Ultrasound Innovation and Professor Emeritus of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. “MaxQ is our first spinout company, and I’m proud of how far the team has taken this technology, from an idea in the lab to a platform that’s ready to change how we care for men with prostate disease. I look forward to seeing it reach the patients who need it most.”
“There’s a strong need in urology for technology that allows physicians to see and treat the prostate in one setting, and we’re encouraged by MaxQ’s vision for treating prostate disease,” said Gabriela Kaynor, Chair of Olympus Innovation Ventures. “We’re excited to see the field develop novel technologies that can help shape and revolutionize the future of endoscopy-enabled care.”
About MaxQ Medical MaxQ Medical, Inc. is a health-tech company based in Sunnyvale, California developing a fully automated, urethra-preserving, outpatient ultrasound imaging and targeted therapy system for prostate care. The platform is designed to give urologists complete visibility of the prostate and the ability to deliver individualized treatment in a single procedure, starting with BPH and expanding into prostate cancer focal therapy and prostate diagnostics. The MaxQ System is investigational and is not currently available for commercial use in the United States. For more information visit maxqmedical.com.
About Orchard Ultrasound Innovation Orchard Ultrasound Innovation is a Sunnyvale, California-based company founded to commercialize breakthrough ultrasound technology developed out of Stanford University. Orchard’s work builds on decades of research in semiconductor ultrasound, led by co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Pierre Khuri-Yakub, inventor of the Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT). The company develops and spins out ultrasound-based technology across medical and commercial applications, with MaxQ Medical as its first spinout company. For more information, visit orchardultrasound.com.
About S3 Ventures Founded in 2005, S3 Ventures is the largest and longest-serving venture capital firm born in Texas and investing nationwide. Backed by a philanthropic family with a multi-billion-dollar foundation, we empower visionary founders with the patient capital and true resources required to grow extraordinary, high-impact companies in Business Software and Healthcare Technology. With over $1B in assets under management, we lead Seed, Series A, and Series B rounds—with initial investments ranging from $500K to $15M and the capacity to invest $25M over the life of a company. Learn more at www.s3vc.com.
Life sciences leaders Ramon Felciano and Rickard El Tarzi join board as company scales commercialization of its molecular cell architecture platform
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 20, 2026 — Pixelgen Technologies, developer of the first high-throughput platform for mapping molecular cell architecture, today announced it has closed an oversubscribed $15.5 million (approximately SEK 150 million) Series B financing to accelerate global commercialization of its Proxiome Kit and expand the company’s presence in key markets. The financing round was led by new investor Flat Capital, with continued participation from existing investors Industrifonden and Navigare Ventures.
“This financing gives us the resources to expand globally as demand grows for our Proxiome Kit and our data analysis and visualization software,” said Pixelgen CEO and co-Founder Simon Fredriksson, PhD. “We’re proud to have Flat Capital join us and to have the continued confidence of Navigare and Industrifonden. Their support will help accelerate our commercial reach, grow our team and product portfolio, and bring molecular cell architecture to more researchers and new applications.”
Pixelgen’s Proxiome Kit is the first platform to enable high-throughput mapping of molecular cell architecture at nanoscale resolution, providing researchers with a new way to study cell function and disease mechanisms. While conventional proteomic approaches primarily measure protein abundance, the Proxiome Kit reveals how proteins are organized, clustered and localized on the surface of individual cells. Powered by the Proximity Network Assay, the Proxiome Kit enables researchers to investigate architectural features of cell state, disease and treatment response that are not captured by abundance measurements alone.
“Pixelgen’s technology gives researchers the ability to study disease mechanisms and identify novel biomarkers in an entirely new way. We believe this could open new avenues for research in cancer, immunology and autoimmune disease, while broadening our understanding of basic biology,” said Rickard El Tarzi, CEO of Flat Capital. “Pixelgen’s leadership team has successfully commercialized multiple life sciences products globally, and we look forward to supporting the company through its next phase of growth.”
Alongside the financing, Pixelgen is adding Flat Capital CEO Rickard El Tarzi and life sciences industry veteran Ramon Felciano, Ph.D, to its board of directors.
El Tarzi brings extensive experience in investments, strategic development and board leadership from his time in private equity and industry. He joins the board in his capacity as CEO of Flat Capital. Previous experience includes serving as Chief Strategy & Product Officer at Olink Proteomics, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientifc, where he helped shape the company’s strategic direction through its initial public offering and eventual sale.
Ramon Felciano, Ph.D., is a life sciences technology entrepreneur working at the intersection of data, technology, and life sciences. He founded Ingenuity Systems, a pioneer in AI-driven genome interpretation and precision medicine, acquired by QIAGEN in 2013 for $105 million. At QIAGEN he served as chief technology officer and vice president of data strategy, founding QIAGEN Digital Insights, the company’s industry-leading molecular data and AI software business unit. On the board, Felciano will work with Pixelgen’s leadership to build digital capabilities (software and data) that help translate the company’s technical differentiation – the molecular cell architecture platform – into company-level competitive advantage.
“Rickard and Ramon bring highly complementary experience to Pixelgen at an important stage in our growth,” Fredriksson said. “Rickard understands what it takes to scale and commercialize life sciences research platforms globally, while Ramon has built AI and data businesses with products that have been adopted by biotech R&D, a key sector for us moving forward.”
About Pixelgen Technologies
Pixelgen Technologies has commercialized the first high-throughput platform for mapping molecular cell architecture at nanoscale resolution, enabling researchers to analyze how proteins are organized, clustered and localized on the surface of single cells. Founded in 2020 by a team of experienced innovators and entrepreneurs and headquartered in Stockholm, the company helps researchers move beyond abundance measurements to capture the architectural features of cell state, disease and treatment response across immunology, hematology, oncology and cell therapy.
Polychain Capital leads the round, with participation from Bullish, Keyrock, BitGo, FalconX, G-20, Flowdesk, JPEG Trading, and Sentient Capital.
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2026 — Blueprint Finance, the core developer of Concrete, today announced the completion of a strategic funding round led by Polychain Capital, with participation from Bullish, Keyrock, BitGo, FalconX, G-20, Flowdesk, JPEG Trading, Sentient Capital, Andes, and 2Square.
The strategic round brings together a group of investors spanning venture capital, institutional trading, custody, liquidity provision, and digital asset infrastructure. The financing will support Blueprint Finance as it continues to scale Concrete, its full-stack vault infrastructure that is designed to enable institutions, protocols, and asset managers to launch, manage, and allocate capital through sophisticated on-chain strategies.
Concrete continues to design and build infrastructure for a new phase of decentralized finance — one in which vaults increasingly function as programmable on-chain capital allocators. Rather than requiring allocators to manage execution, accounting, risk controls, rebalancing, and integrations across fragmented protocols independently, Concrete provides the infrastructure to bring these functions together within a unified vault system.
The company has also continued to expand its work with protocols, asset issuers, networks, and institutional allocators to build vaults that can support on-chain yield products and serve as core liquidity infrastructure.
Beyond scaling its vault infrastructure, Blueprint Finance has continued to expand the Concrete ecosystem with new on-chain financial primitives, including AssetCX and concUSD. These products represent the next evolution of Concrete: moving to build new assets, markets, and financial products on top of its institutional-grade foundation.
“DeFi is moving beyond the era where capital allocation was defined by chasing the highest advertised yield,” said Nic Roberts-Huntley, CEO and co-founder of Blueprint Finance. “The next phase is about infrastructure: giving professional allocators the controls, transparency, automation, and risk management they expect while preserving everything that makes on-chain markets powerful. This strategic round brings together firms that understand those markets from every angle, and we’re excited to have them alongside us as we scale Concrete into the infrastructure layer for on-chain asset management.”
The round reflects growing institutional interest in vault infrastructure as digital asset markets mature. Institutional allocators increasingly require more than access to on-chain yield: they need auditable accounting, defined operational permissions, scalable execution, transparent risk controls, and infrastructure capable of operating through rapidly changing market conditions.
“Who participated in this round is as important to us as the capital itself,” added Roberts-Huntley. “These are firms that operate at the center of digital asset markets. Bringing that expertise into the Concrete ecosystem gives us strategic partners across liquidity, execution, custody, and distribution as we build infrastructure designed for the next generation of on-chain capital.”
About Blueprint Finance
Blueprint Finance builds infrastructure for institutional on-chain finance and is the core developer of Concrete.
Concrete is a full-stack vault infrastructure platform designed to power the next generation of on-chain asset management. Its modular architecture enables institutions, protocols, asset issuers, and allocators to build and operate vaults with automated execution, accounting, risk controls, and quantitative strategy tooling.
By combining DeFi-native composability with institutional-grade operational infrastructure, Concrete is building the foundation for scalable, transparent, and programmable capital markets on-chain.
Veteran macro strategist joins Corgi Invest to lead market strategy and investor education across the firm’s ETF lineup.
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2026 — Corgi Invest today announced that Jeff Weniger, CFA, has joined the firm as Chief Investment Strategist. In the role, Mr. Weniger will help shape product strategy and lead the firm’s market commentary and investor-education efforts.
Jeff Weniger
Corgi Invest, the ETF platform of AI financial infrastructure company Corgi, currently manages approximately $944 million across 197 ETFs as of August 17, 2026. Technology-driven from inception, the platform develops thematic, leveraged, structured-buffer and fixed-income ETFs, with an emphasis on cost-efficient access to specialized market exposures. The appointment comes as the firm expands its research and education capabilities following the rapid buildout of its ETF lineup.
Mr. Weniger joins Corgi Invest from WisdomTree Asset Management, where he served as Head of Equity Strategy. He has more than 20 years of experience in investment strategy and asset allocation. Before WisdomTree, he spent more than a decade at BMO, most recently as Director, Senior Strategist in the firm’s U.S. wealth management business, where he co-managed ETF model portfolios for the U.S. and Canada and served on the asset allocation committee. Mr. Weniger is a CFA® charterholder and is a frequent commentator in financial media, including CNBC, Bloomberg, and Barron’s.
“Our lineup has grown rapidly, and Jeff’s arrival comes at an important point as Corgi Invest enters its next phase of growth. He brings a differentiated perspective, deep market expertise, and an exceptional ability to identify opportunities across complex and evolving market environments. We believe he is one of the best in the business, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the team” said Miles Braden, Portfolio Manager at Corgi Invest.
“What stood out to me is how much this team has built so rapidly. The speed they operate at is stunning, and the 197 ETFs they have brought to market speak for themselves. I am looking forward to taking Corgi Invest to the next level,” said Mr. Weniger.
About Corgi
Founded in 2025, Corgi is an AI Financial Infrastructure Company creating innovative products in insurance and finance. We’re building the foundation for a new generation of financial services, with AI and technology at the core from day one. To learn more about Corgi, follow us onLinkedIn, onX, or at www.corgiinvest.com
Important Information
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Funds and should be read carefully before investing. A copy of the prospectus is available at www.corgiinvest.com.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Funds are newly organized and have limited or no operating history. ETF shares trade at market price (not NAV), are not individually redeemable, and may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
This release is informational only and not an offer or solicitation; offers are made only by prospectus. Statements attributed to individuals reflect their views as of the date of this release, are subject to change, and do not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Chartered Financial Analyst® and CFA® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute. WisdomTree Asset Management is not affiliated with Corgi Strategies, LLC, Corgi, or Paralel Distributors LLC, and has not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted the Funds.
Paralel Distributors LLC (FINRA/SIPC) is the distributor. Corgi Strategies, LLC is the adviser. Paralel is unaffiliated with Corgi Strategies, LLC and Corgi. Control No.: COR138
FundingdrivesBlackbeardtomaximumproductionrateandacceleratesanew longer-range strike system
TORRANCE, Calif., Aug. 19, 2026 — Castelion, a cutting-edge defense technology company working to restore America’s conventional deterrence capability, today announced a $1 billion Series C fundraise. This financing will accelerate the scaled production of Blackbeard, Castelion’s first low-cost, mass-producible hypersonic strike missile, while expanding the company’s product portfolio to longer-range strike weapons and defensive systems.
Exclusive view of Blackbeard at Castelion HQ, the first hypersonic weapon designed and built by Castelion.
Castelion Series C Design Illustration
The Series C round is a combination of $800 million in equity financing and $250 million in committed financing for a revolving credit facility. The equity financing was co-led by JPMorganChase’s Strategic Investment Group — part of the firm’s Security and Resiliency Initiative, Andreessen Horowitz, and funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG). Lightspeed Venture Partners, Lavrock Ventures, Altimeter, General Catalyst, and Interlagos joined new investor T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc* in investing in the fundraise. The round values Castelion at $13 billion.
Castelion has secured more than $500 million in U.S. military contracts over the past 18 months and took Blackbeard from a clean sheet to program of record in under four years, with fielding targeted for 2027.
“Deterrence depends on unapologetic American strength; highly capable weapon systems that adversaries fear produced in quantities they can’t imagine at a price taxpayers can afford,” said Bryon Hargis, Co-Founder and CEO ofCastelion. “There’s a manufacturing renaissance underway and this round turbocharges American production of Blackbeard. Designed in California, built in New Mexico, supplied from small and large businesses across the United States; Blackbeard is an example of what America can do when private capital and Government work together.”
“Castelion is helping to address a critical national security challenge by bringing greater speed, agility and manufacturing capacity to the development of next-generation defense technologies,” said Todd Combs, Head of the Strategic Investment Group for JPMorganChase’s Security and Resiliency Initiative. “Through the Strategic Investment Group, part of the firm’s Security and Resiliency Initiative, JPMorganChase is proud to support companies that are strengthening the defense industrial base, delivering more affordable and scalable solutions to today’s pressing challenges, and advancing the innovation that underpins long-term national and economic security.”
“We backed Castelion when it was a small team that wanted to build what the department of War most needed faster and cheaper than the experts thought possible,” said Katherine Boyle, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz.
“Four years later there is a factory in New Mexico and a production agreement with the Department of War. American Dynamism has always believed that the hardest and most important problems are physical ones, and this is the clearest proof of it we have that excellent teams can help solve them.”
“We view Castelion as a critical asset to national security, advancing next-gen technology that strengthens America’s defense industrial base,” said Aaron Hurwitz, Managing Director on Carlyle’s Aerospace, Defense & Government team. “We’re excited to partner with the team as they accelerate development and expand capacity.”
Since its founding, Castelion has moved from early development to repeated flight testing, operational integration, and construction of a dedicated high-rate production capability. This new capital will allow Castelion to move faster across three priorities:
Increasing Blackbeard Production Capacity. Castelion will heavily expand manufacturing capacity at and beyond the company’s Project Ranger site in Sandoval County, New Mexico. The 1,000-acre Project Ranger Campus is the largest dedicated hypersonic missile manufacturing facility in the nation. Castelion previously committed more than $250 million in private infrastructure spend at the site and will now commit hundreds of millions more to expand manufacturing capacity of Blackbeard.
Developing a Longer-Range Strike System. Castelion is accelerating development and test of a much longer-range precision strike weapon which has been in development at Castelion for several years. This weapon leverages core technologies, components, and manufacturing techniques from the Blackbeard weapon. The goal is to complement large, exquisite systems with a dramatically lower-cost alternative that can be produced at much higher rates – making long-range hypersonic strike a capability that can be fielded in meaningful quantities.
Developing Defensive Systems. Castelion is developing defensive systems that builds on the technologies, manufacturing methods, and rapid iteration model developed for Blackbeard. This effort will be focused on bringing lower-cost, higher production rates, and greater magazine depth to increasingly important air and missile defense missions.
“Lightspeed led Castelion’s Series A before a complete system had flown,” said Ravi Mhatre, Co-Founder of Lightspeed Venture Partners. “Three rounds later the company is mixing its own propellant in New Mexico and shipping hardware to the services. Very few teams convert capital into physical capability at that ratio, which is why we have invested in every round since.”
“We backed Castelion at pre-seed, when this was still just an idea, and the production demand it’s generating today is the clearest signal we’ve ever seen,” said Alex Poulin, Partner at Lavrock Ventures. “In under four years, Castelion has gone from clean sheet to program of record, one of the fastest ramps in the sector. Lavrock is proud to keep backing the team as they scale Blackbeard and bring new systems online.”
“Castelion has earned extraordinary trust and credibility by demonstrating technology that creates an asymmetric advantage and can be built at speed, cost, and scale,” said Erik Kriessmann, Partner at Altimeter. “They’ve turned ambitious promises into flight-tested hardware and real production capacity for critical national security priorities. The opportunity ahead is enormous, and we believe Castelion is building one of the most important defense companies of this generation.”
“Bryon, Sean and Andrew have built Castelion on strong fundamentals,” said Emma Norchet of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. “The company has contracts in hand, a manufacturing campus built with its own capital, and unit economics that improve with scale — truly unique characteristics for a company before it reaches the public markets. We are thrilled to be participating in this round.”
“We believe credible deterrence will be won by companies that manufacture at the speed of the threat, build on frontier technology, and attract exceptional talent,” said Alexa Liautaud, Partner at General Catalyst. “Castelion exemplifies that rigor, and we are proud to deepen our partnership as the team works to close a critical hypersonic gap.”
“Castelion is at the forefront of defense manufacturing in the nation,” said Tom Ochinero, Chairman and Founding Partner of Interlagos Capital. “They’re building the capabilities to produce thousands of hypersonic weapons a year, something the U.S. has never seen before. Interlagos is proud to back their $1 Billion Series C and the broader shift this represents.”
AboutCastelion: Castelion builds American hypersonic deterrence through rapid, affordable, and scalable production of advanced strike weapons. Blackbeard is the first American hypersonic missile engineered from inception for industrial-rate output, commercial unit cost, and continuous flight test iteration. The company is headquartered in Torrance, California, with manufacturing operations in New Mexico, Texas, and California, and offices in Washington D.C. For more information on Castelion, please visit www.castelion.com.
*An account advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
