SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29, 2025 — Alex, the AI recruiting partner transforming how companies discover and hire talent, today announced it has raised $20 million in funding, including a $17 million Series A round led by Peak XV Partners with participation from CHROs at Fortune 500 companies, Y Combinator, Uncorrelated Ventures, and other investors including Tim Sackett, Kris Fredrickson, and Dalton Caldwell. The funding also includes a $3 million Seed round led by 1984 Ventures. This investment will enable Alex to deepen its AI capabilities, expand its team, and further its mission to match every open job with the right candidate.

In today’s competitive landscape, companies often struggle to efficiently sift through vast talent pools, leading to missed opportunities for both candidates and recruiters. Traditional hiring processes can be slow, inconsistent, and reliant on gut instinct, preventing deserving candidates from shining.

Alex leverages AI agents to solve these challenges by conducting video and phone interviews, running resume screens, scheduling follow-ups, detecting fraudulent candidates, capturing structured notes, and syncing seamlessly with applicant tracking systems (ATS). With over 20 autonomous workflows, Alex empowers recruiting teams to look beyond the obvious candidates, evaluate more people more fairly, and uncover hidden gems who might otherwise be overlooked.

“In my 20 years in talent acquisition, I’ve worked with a ton of recruiting software and Alex is a game-changer,” said Tim Sackett, General Partner at HR Tech 100 Fund and a leading voice in talent acquisition. “Adopting the newest and best AI technologies isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity for top talent organizations, and Alex is leading the charge.”

Alex frees recruiters to focus on what they do best: building relationships with pre-qualified candidates, advising hiring managers, and guiding individuals towards successful careers. This not only accelerates the hiring process but also significantly improves the quality of hires, ensuring that every candidate gets their chance to shine.

In just 18 months, Alex has powered hiring for hundreds of companies across tens of thousands of jobs at some of the world’s largest employers — including Fortune 100s, major financial institutions, nationwide restaurant chains, and Big 4 accounting firms.

“In the future, AI agents will run the entire recruiting process autonomously. It’s inevitable. Alex.com has incredible customer love and usage curves,” said Arnav Sahu, Partner at Peak XV Partners. “In the end-state, Alex could redefine how hiring is done across the entire labor market. We are excited to be a part of this journey with Aaron and John as they build a category-defining company.”

Alex’s core mission is to ensure that no great candidate is lost in the talent pool. By enabling recruiters to widen their search and delve deeper, Alex provides every candidate the opportunity to be discovered, effectively closing the gap between a promising role and a deserving candidate.

About Alex
Alex is an AI recruiting partner that automates recruiter busywork. By automating and streamlining workflows in areas including phone screens, video interviews, fraud detection, and notetaking, Alex empowers companies to find the best talent faster and more fairly, while ensuring every candidate has the opportunity to be discovered. Backed by world-class investors including Y Combinator and Peak XV Partners, Alex is used by global employers and Fortune 500 enterprises around the world.

Media contact:
Michelle Faulkner
Big Swing
617-510-6998
[email protected]

SOURCE Alex

Funding to Launch new CPG Sustainable Consumer Brand

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 — Aspyr Living, a natural lifestyle company, announced today a $250,000 lead investment from RJD Green (OTCPK: RJDG) as part of a $3.0 million seed funding round. RJD Green will provide both capital and growth expertise to support the launch of Aspyr Living’s innovative new consumer brand, Ascend®.

Aspyr Living helps people live healthier lives with a new generation of safe, high performance home, laundry and personal care products that outperform toxic chemical-based national brands.

Its flagship brand, Ascend®, features proprietary, patent-pending botanical technologies preferred by consumers over toxic national brands after a single use. The funding will be instrumental in bringing these products to market and solidifying Aspyr Living as an emerging leader in the home, health, and wellness space.

“We’ve cracked the code to delivering superior performance for naturally derived household cleaning and laundry products using botanicals, instead of petrochemicals. The results are household cleaning & laundry products that are safer, stronger, and preferred by consumers,” said Benjamin Shell, CEO of Aspyr Living.

“We’re thrilled to have RJD Green as our lead investor for this funding round,” said Shell.  “Their track record of building companies is precisely the kind of expertise we need as we scale operations and introduce our industry-first products to North America.”

RJD Green’s investment builds on a successful 3,000-store Walmart private label test, which demonstrated significant consumer demand for products based on Aspyr Living-derived technologies. The pilot generated over $5 million in sales from 2 million units, with over 98% of consumers preferring the products over top chemical brands. The test also showed a strong 70%+ repurchase rate, proving mass market appeal and a loyal customer base.

Aspyr Living is expected to hit retail shelves with its Ascend® Home Essentials line in early 2026, followed by the launch of its groundbreaking Ascend® Sanitizing Laundry Detergent in Summer 2026. It’s the first consumer detergent to kill 99.9% of bacteria in a home washing machine and represents the most significant advance in home laundry care in 70 years.

About Aspyr Living

Aspyr Living is a natural lifestyle company helping people live healthier lives industry-first safe, natural, and effective home, laundry and personal care products that outperform toxic chemical-based national brands.

Aspyr Living is a natural lifestyle company transforming the $32 billion home and laundry care products market. The company’s vision is to help families live healthier lives by providing safe, effective, and science-backed products and removing toxic chemicals from U.S. homes. Visit www.aspyr-living.com.

About RJD Green, Inc.
RJD Green, Inc. (OTCPK: RJDG) is a publicly traded holding company focused on acquiring and managing assets and companies in the construction, green environmental, and healthcare service sectors. RJD Green is dedicated to providing shareholders with access to small and medium businesses with significant growth opportunities. Visit www.rjdgreen.com.

SOURCE Aspyr Living Inc.

BTCS pioneering an ‘Active Treasury’ model coupling BTC exposure with emerging ecosystems.

WARSAW, Poland, Sept. 29, 2025 — BTCS, the largest European Digital Asset Treasury Company (DATCO), today announced plans to raise an additional $100 million through a Series G fundraise, coming immediately on the heels of its recently closed Series F. This rapid succession of capital formation highlights strong market confidence in the model of institutional-scale digital asset treasuries.

Proceeds from the Series G will be deployed to expand BTCS’ diversified treasury strategy. With 60% exposure to $BTC, 30% with $ZIG, and 10% to $CORE. This active treasury model combines BTC exposure with emerging ecosystems. By operating the core infrastructure of blockchain networks and adding assets like CORE DAO and ZIGChain, it generates operational revenue, with the goal of delivering yield even in flat markets.

Most public companies follow MicroStrategy’s passive ‘buy-and-hold’ crypto strategy. But with BTCS’ revolutionary Active Treasury Strategy, proceeds won’t sit idle. Instead, they’ll be deployed into staking, DeFi, and validator operations to generate sustainable yield. Thanks to ZIGChain and CORE DAO‘s native yields, BTCS will no longer have to leverage its BTC holdings to earn competitive yields. BTCS continues to assess other ecosystems for validator participation.

“This next phase builds on the momentum of our Series F and underscores our conviction that the future of digital asset treasuries lies in productive deployment, not passive storage,” said Marlena Lipińska, CEO of BTCS S.A.”The inclusion of ZIGChain in BTCS’s treasury strategy highlights a broader shift toward productive digital asset treasuries,” said Abdul Rafay Gadit, Co-founder of ZIGChain and member of BTCS’s Supervisory Board. “Unlike passive holdings, validators and staking rewards create recurring revenue streams while directly strengthening the networks themselves. We see this model as a sustainable path forward for listed companies seeking transparent and resilient exposure to digital assets.”

BTCS innovates with its corporate treasury by strategically acquiring and holding digital assets to build long-term shareholder value through both its infrastructure operations and direct exposure to the top digital currency.

Its primary focus is to generate consistent revenue by providing the critical infrastructure that underpins global blockchain networks, which involves running validator nodes and offering staking-as-a-service. But BTCS stands apart from other publicly traded companies that invest in crypto by actively participating in the consensus mechanisms of various blockchains. 

This means BTCS not only earns rewards and fees, but also directly contributes to the security and stability of the entire digital asset ecosystem.

With the Series G raise announcement, Europe’s largest DATCO continues to set benchmarks for institutional blockchain adoption, combining diversification, compliance, and yield-generation into a model built for long-term success.

About BTCS SA

Part of Warsaw’s NewConnect market, BTCS has the distinction of being the first publicly-traded, pure-play blockchain infrastructure company, offering investors a unique vehicle to participate in the growth of the decentralized market. The company’s core business focuses on operating validator nodes and offering staking services, generating revenue by actively participating in and strengthening blockchain ecosystems. Its leadership team combines decades of experience from the traditional finance and crypto worlds, including seasoned veterans in capital markets, asset management, and blockchain technology.

About ZIGChain

ZIGChain is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain designed to democratize access to investment opportunities, facilitate financial inclusion regardless of income level, technical skill, or geographic location. ZIGChain enables developers and institutions to launch scalable, compliant protocols for profit-sharing, fund tokenization, and real-world asset management.

Its ecosystem includes Zignaly, a licensed social investment platform connecting over 600,000 users with more than 150 professional portfolio managers. ZIGChain also supports Zamanat, the world’s first Shariah-compliant real-world asset (RWA) tokenization platform, combining ethical finance with programmable blockchain infrastructure.

For more information about ZIGChain, users can visit zigchain.com

Contact:
Media Team
[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2784590/BTCS_Logo.jpg

SOURCE BTCS

The three-year partnership aims to raise $1.17 million through corporate donations, matched funding, product contributions, and fundraising to accelerate access to safe, sustainable energy.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 29, 2025 — RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, today announces a new three-year partnership with international development charity SolarAid. Together, RS Group and SolarAid aim to raise $1.17 million (£1 million) to deliver clean, safe solar lighting to 150,000 people living in rural communities across Africa without access to electricity.

The partnership forms a central part of RS Group’s 2030 ESG action plan and champions the shared ambition to “make amazing happen for a brighter world.” By combining corporate donations, matched funding, RS PRO product contributions, employee fundraising, and gifts in kind, RS Group will help accelerate SolarAid’s mission to create thriving solar businesses that tackle poverty and climate change.

Just one solar light benefits every member of the household, leading to a 90% reduction in kerosene, candles, and torches and a 95% reduction in energy costs, and enabling children to study safely after sunset. It also reduces carbon emissions, supporting the transition to renewable energy. A paraffin candle emits three times its weight in CO₂, and a kerosene lamp emits over a ton of carbon every three years.

Employee engagement at the heart of the partnership
RS and SolarAid are closely aligned as providers of products and solutions that support the low-carbon transition with a focus on renewables. As a leader in industrial MRO services, the RS team’s expertise will directly support SolarAid’s global and local repair programs, helping to create a circular solar economy in off-grid communities. RS employees worldwide will be encouraged to get involved through skills-based volunteering, fundraising challenges, and awareness-raising activities. Planned initiatives include:

• Skills-based volunteering: RS experts will seek to support SolarAid projects, such as improving its Repair App, which helps communities extend the life of solar lights and reduce waste through simple repairs.
• On-the-ground engagement: Opportunities to visit SolarAid-supported communities in Malawi and Zambia, as well as welcoming SolarAid representatives to RS markets for live demonstrations.
• Night Without Light: An awareness initiative where employees spend a night without electricity, experiencing the challenges faced by off-grid communities.
• Active for Change: A global fundraising challenge where employees raise money by logging physical activity in teams.

RS employees are entitled to two annual volunteering days, and the company aims to inspire 50% of colleagues to use this time to support their communities and the SolarAid partnership.

Bridging ambition with proven impact
SolarAid’s recent, remarkable achievement in Kasakula, Malawi, underscores the partnership’s potential. On August 26, 2025, 100% of households, all local schools, and the health clinic in Kasakula gained solar access through the Light a Village initiative — highlighting what’s possible when communities, charities, and partners align around a bold, shared goal.

A brighter future through collaboration
“We are proud to partner with SolarAid on this important mission,” said Andrea Barrett, Chief Sustainability Officer at RS Group. “Access to clean, safe solar lighting is a powerful catalyst for education, safety, and opportunity. By combining the passion of our people with the innovation of our customers and suppliers, we can make amazing happen for communities that need it most. The success in Kasakula is a living proof point. Achieving 100% access in one of the world’s poorest and most remote regions shows that universal energy access is not just achievable, but scalable.”

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with RS Group,” said John Keane, CEO of SolarAid. “From the very start, our shared purpose and alignment have been clear. Like RS Group, we strive to innovate the best solutions for our customers so that we can deliver sustainable energy access. We are incredibly excited by the huge opportunity we have together, to progress our mission and to bring clean, safe lighting and power to those living in the most remote, hardest to reach communities. Together, we really will make amazing happen for a brighter world.”

Driving long-term impact
The partnership builds on RS Group’s track record of impactful collaborations, including raising nearly $1.17 million (£1 million) for The Washing Machine Project since 2020. By focusing on engagement opportunities for employees, customers, and suppliers, RS Group and SolarAid aim to create a movement of shared purpose and innovation. To amplify the collective impact, RS Group will match donations and funds raised by employees, further reinforcing its commitment to empowering communities.

About RS Group
RS is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.

We operate in 36 markets, stock over 830,000 industrial and specialist products, and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building, and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital, and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it’s our people that make the difference.

Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people, planet and profit.

RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2025 reported revenue of £2,904 million.

For more information, please visit https://www.rsgroup.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).

About SolarAid
Established in 2006, SolarAid is a UK-based international charity dedicated to bringing solar power to rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Together with its social enterprise, SunnyMoney, SolarAid is pioneering innovative enterprise programs that tackle poverty and climate change by providing access to clean, safe solar lighting to homes, clinics, and schools. To date, SolarAid has distributed 2.3 million lights across sub-Saharan Africa.

For more information, please visit http://solar-aid.org or connect with SolarAid on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

Editorial Contact & Media Inquiries:
[email protected]

Image Download:
RS Group Solar Aid PR.jpg

SOURCE RS Group plc

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 29, 2025 — Southeast Asia’s digital bank Yup has recently secured $32 million in their latest equity funding through its C-1 round, backed by US investment firms including Moore Strategic Ventures, Spice Expeditions and Platanus, with participation from other institutional investors and existing shareholders. The raise marks a pivotal moment for the company as it accelerates efforts to expand its customer base and edge closer to profitability.

Since founded in 2021, Yup has demonstrated robust financial performance and consistent growth, cementing its position as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising platforms in Fintech space. The company now serves millions of credit card holders and expects to reach break-even by the end of 2025—an achievement that reflects both operational discipline and strong market demand.

Beyond financial performance, Yup is advancing financial inclusion by expanding access to affordable, technology-driven financial services for underbanked and underserved populations in Southeast Asia. By providing working- and middle-class consumers with reliable credit and digital banking solutions, the company is unlocking new economic opportunities while reinforcing the region’s financial resilience.

“We have a very clear vision since our Day 1, which is to be the principal payment tool for the working-class / middle-class customers in Southeast Asia. We have seen our revenue approximately double each year for the past three years, and we expect that momentum to accelerate even further in 2026 and 2027.” said Donny Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of Yup. “This round gives us the firepower to scale our reach and deepen engagement with our users. We’re thrilled to have Moore Strategic Ventures, Spice and Platanus onboard as strategic partners in our next phase.”

The C-1 round brings Yup’s total equity funding to over $100 million, positioning the company for further expansion and potential strategic moves in 2026. “Over the past 4 years, we have successfully closed 6 rounds of equity fundraising, even during periods of capital market volatility. The continued support from global investors speaks volumes about their confidence in our long-term vision and execution.” added by Gavin Guo, CFO of Yup. ” This funding will be used to take our customer base to the next level and further refine our product experience.”

Yup’s fundraising comes as global investors increasingly look to Southeast Asia for resilient, tech-enabled growth stories in the Payment industry. Investors cited that the great market potential from Indonesia, which is one of the most promising emerging markets, and the company’s disciplined execution are the key reasons for them to bet on Yup. With macroeconomic tailwinds continuing and digital adoption surging, companies like Yup are drawing renewed attention from capital markets.

SOURCE Yup

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 29, 2025 — Signal Rock Capital, a South Florida-based private investment firm, today announced an investment in Thermae Retreat (“Thermae” or “the Company”), a leading subscription-based holistic wellness retreat centered on sauna, cold plunge, and integrative mind-body-spirit practices. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kelly Doyle founded Thermae in 2013 after a transformative month-long retreat in Holland that inspired her to bring a similar experience to the United States. She was drawn to the deep healing and personal awakening she found in traditional, nature-based Finnish-style saunas and pools, leading her to establish Thermae as a space for physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal. Ms. Doyle will remain actively engaged in the business, continuing to shape the culture and community ethos that have defined Thermae since its inception.

Sam Hafermann, Managing Partner of Signal Rock Capital, commented, “Having first been a customer and now an investor, I can say Thermae is more than a wellness center—it’s a sanctuary built on the values of connection, healing, and presence. We are honored to partner with Kelly and the team to preserve the essence of what makes Thermae unique while unlocking new opportunities for growth and impact. We see Thermae as the cornerstone of a broader multi-location, purpose-driven wellness platform.”

“This partnership with Signal Rock allows us to stay true to our vision while gaining the resources and support needed to grow,” said Ms. Doyle. “I’m excited to see Thermae expand its reach, touching more lives while staying grounded in the philosophy and practices that our community values.”

Signal Rock Capital plans to invest further in enhancing Thermae’s physical spaces, expanding service offerings, and creating a replicable model for additional locations in select U.S. markets.

About Thermae Retreat

Thermae Retreat is a holistic wellness retreat based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Inspired by Finnish sauna culture and integrative wellness practices, Thermae offers sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy, meditation, art, and community-centered experiences. Its mission is to create sanctuaries that restore balance across the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of life. For more information, please visit https://thermaeretreat.com/

About Signal Rock Capital

Signal Rock Capital is a South Florida–based independent sponsor investment firm growing founder-led B2B industrial, infrastructure, and consumer service businesses with $1M–$5M of EBITDA. The firm partners with entrepreneurs to preserve their legacy while providing capital, strategic resources, and operational expertise. Signal Rock Capital’s approach emphasizes long-term stewardship, collaborative growth, and building enduring platforms across multiple industrial and consumer service sectors. For more information, please visit https://www.signalrockcap.com/

Media Contact:
Joanne Lessner
[email protected]
(212) 222-7436

Thermae:
(954) 604-7930
www.thermaeretreat.com

Signal Rock Capital:
(954) 799-6909
[email protected]
www.signalrockcap.com

SOURCE Signal Rock Capital

The new venture is backed by Biovance Capital, Torrey Pines Investment, and OrbiMed. Mondego Bio is advancing a portfolio of first- and best-in-class PTPN2 inhibitors designed to transform cancer immunotherapy.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 29, 2025 — Mondego Bio is strategically positioned to address one of oncology’s biggest challenges: overcoming immune resistance in solid tumors. Its proprietary PTPN2 inhibitors combine oral bioavailability, high selectivity, and favorable safety and tolerability profiles, supporting their potential as best-in-class agents for combination immuno-oncology regimens. These drug candidates were designed and optimized using Expert Systems’ AI/ML-driven molecular design and predictive pharmacology platform, dramatically accelerating the path from concept to clinical readiness.

“Solid tumors remain one of the greatest unmet needs in medicine,” said Dr. Tudor Oprea, CEO of Expert Systems Inc. “By integrating predictive ADMET and PK/PD modeling with in-silico and in vitro new-approach methodologies (NAMs), we gave Mondego Bio a decisive edge — identifying high-potential PTPN2 inhibitors and accelerating their journey into development..”

Expert Systems will continue to provide strategic, scientific, and technological support as Mondego Bio advances its pipeline into first-in-human studies. This collaboration highlights Expert Systems’ unique ability to create and scale high-value biotech ventures, de-risking early-stage innovation for investors and partners.

About Expert Systems Inc.

Expert Systems Inc. is a life sciences accelerator dedicated to launching tomorrow’s breakthrough therapies. Its AI/ML-powered platforms span the full biotech lifecycle: ideation, rational drug design, financing, preclinical and clinical development, NAMs, regulatory strategy, and market positioning and partnering support.

With a proven track record of creating multiple Seed and Series A companies, Expert Systems has supported over 30 R&D programs funded by institutional investors and strategic partners across North America, Europe, and Australia. By shortening timelines from in silico discovery to first-in-human trials, Expert Systems delivers compelling, investable biotech opportunities with clear exit pathways.

For more information, visit www.expertsystems.inc.

Media Contact:
Bill Farley, CBO
Expert Systems Inc.
[email protected]  

SOURCE Expert Systems, Inc.

• Backed by global leaders in aviation, energy, and climate investing, OXCCU strengthens its position as a critical player in the global push for commercially viable sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
• Series B investors include IAGi Ventures (the dedicated corporate venturing arm of the International Airlines Group), Safran Corporate Ventures, and Orlen VC alongside re-investment from world-class Series A participants.

OXFORD, England, Sept. 29, 2025 — OXCCU, the Oxford University spin-out developing a one-step process to convert waste carbon into SAF, has raised £20.75 million ($28 million) in an oversubscribed Series B funding round. The round includes new investors Orlen VC, Safran Corporate Ventures, International Airlines Group (IAG), Hostplus, and TCVC, alongside continued support from existing backers Clean Energy Ventures, IP Group/Kiko Ventures, Aramco Ventures, Eni Next, Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford.

This new capital will enable OXCCU to accelerate its commercialisation efforts, expand its operations, and advance its next phase of technology scale-up. It builds on the launch of the company’s OX1 demonstration plant at London Oxford Airport in 2024. Their second demonstration plant, OX2, is underway and will be fully operational in 2026.

The announcement comes at a time of growing regulatory momentum and market demand for sustainable fuels. However, despite mandates such as the UK SAF mandate and ReFuelEU, high production costs remain a major barrier to widespread adoption.

“In a market where capital is tight and investors are rightly selective, this raise is a testament to the strength of our science, the clarity of our mission, and the urgency of the problem we’re solving,” said Andrew Symes, CEO of OXCCU. “What we’re seeing is that serious players with truly distinctive technologies are still getting funded.”

The funding reflects increasing recognition that driving down SAF production costs is critical to unlocking aviation decarbonisation at scale. OXCCU’s process simplifies SAF production pathways by eliminating the need for reverse water gas shift or e-methanol steps. Instead, its patented iron-based catalyst enables the direct synthesis of jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons from gaseous waste carbon in a single exothermic reaction. This reduces capital and operating costs, and reduces the carbon intensity of the fuel.

The catalyst’s ability to operate with a wide range of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen input gas compositions gives it the flexibility to efficiently convert different feedstocks such as reformed biogas, gasified wood waste, and pure carbon dioxide with hydrogen.

Jonathon Counsell, Group Sustainability Director at International Airlines Group (IAG), said:
“We recognise the need for the world to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and for the aviation sector to play its part and to develop sustainably. IAG has been a leader in the sector, being the first airline group globally to commit to net zero by 2050. We are further committed to our goal of meeting 10% of our fuel needs with SAF by 2030. Meeting these goals will be supported by this investment into OXCCU which is part of our strategy of developing new partnerships to produce next-generation fuels.”

Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the Management Board of ORLEN, said:
“We invest in the technologies of tomorrow to effectively transform our business. This year, we introduced SAF—sustainable aviation fuel produced from renewable and waste raw materials—into our offering. In line with our strategy, by 2035 we aim to become one of the leading producers of SAF in Europe. Supporting the achievement of this goal is a new investment by ORLEN VC in the technology of OXCCU, a company enabling the conversion of green hydrogen and carbon dioxide into synthetic aviation fuel. Its commercialization will strengthen our market competitiveness and support our pursuit of carbon neutrality.”

Nathalie Stubler, Safran Chief Sustainability Officer comments: “At Safran, we are committed to advancing the decarbonization of aviation. In addition to the development of new technologies in our own products such as engines and aircraft equipment, we are also supporting the de-risking and industrial scale-up of the most promising sustainable aviation fuel technologies.”

Daniel Goldman, Managing Partner and Co-founder of Clean Energy Ventures, said: “OXCCU stands out not only for its differentiated technology but also for the speed of its progress toward commercial plants. In just a few years, the company has advanced from the lab to a commercial demonstration facility, proving that waste carbon and hydrogen can be converted directly into jet fuel at low cost. That rapid progress is reshaping the sustainable aviation fuel market, unlocking the affordability aviation needs to decarbonize. With the extraordinary leadership team and support of its strategic investors, we are confident OXCCU will lead the decarbonization of fuels and chemicals in the coming years.”

Dr Robert Trezona, Partner, Cleantech at IP Group, said: “This round is a significant milestone, not just for the Company, but for the sector – significant capital being put to work from established industry actors on a credible path to fully decarbonise aviation. OXCCU showcases the UK’s ability to lead in climate innovation, turning world-class science into global solutions, while generating jobs and lasting impact. We’re proud to continue to support the company as it scales its compelling single-step technology.”

OXCCU’s solution meets both environmental and commercial demands, with applications that extend beyond aviation into chemicals and plastics.

“This is a critical time for climate tech, as the urgency continues to increase,” added Symes. “Aviation needs a solution, and the serious lever is SAF. The challenge is SAF cost and that is exactly what we are addressing at OXCCU.”

About OXCCU TECH LTD

OXCCU, a spin-out company from the University of Oxford, is developing novel catalysts and reactor designs to convert waste carbon into liquid hydrocarbons with high conversion and selectivity for use as fuels and chemicals. The company is headquartered in the UK, with operations at Begbroke Science Park, Oxford, and London Oxford Airport.

Contact details:

UK contact: [email protected]
US contact: [email protected]

About International Airlines Group (IAG)

International Airlines Group (IAG) is one of the world’s largest airline groups with 600+ aircraft carrying more than 122 million customers to 260 destinations across 91 countries each year. Its leading airlines in Spain, the UK and Ireland include Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL and Vueling. The Group also consists of two complementary businesses: IAG Cargo and IAG Loyalty. At IAG, transformation and innovation enable us to maximise value and efficiencies across the Group. IAGi, our dedicated innovation function, plays a critical role in scouting and accelerating breakthrough technologies that have the potential to reshape aviation.

Contact details: [email protected]

About ORLEN

The ORLEN Group is an integrated multi-energy concern. The company operates in 10 domestic markets: Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Canada, Norway, and Pakistan. Its offer reaches over 100 countries across 6 continents. The company’s activities include extraction of crude oil and natural gas, processing and sale of petroleum products, as well as generation and distribution of energy. A key element of ORLEN’s mission is to be a leader in the energy transformation process in the region.

Contact details: [email protected]  

About Safran

Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 100,000 employees and sales of €27.3 billion in 2024, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes research and development programs to maintain the environmental priorities of its R&T and innovation roadmap. Safran Corporate Ventures is Safran’s venture capital arm, tasked with funding innovative technology businesses and startups. Since being founded in April 2015, it has contributed financing to innovative companies active in sectors related to Safran’s businesses (decarbonizing aircraft industry, Industry 4.0, onboard components, new materials, new services). Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.

Contact details: [email protected] 

About IP Group

IP Group accelerates the impact of science for a better future. As the most active UK based, early stage science investor, we develop and support some of the world’s most exciting businesses in deeptech, life sciences and cleantech (led by Kiko Ventures). Through Parkwalk, the UK’s largest growth EIS fund manager, we also back world-changing innovation emerging in leading universities and research institutions. Our specialist investment team combines sector expertise with an international approach. Together we have a strong track record of success, having backed high-profile companies including Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc, Featurespace, First Light Fusion, Hysata, and Oxa. IP Group is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code IPO. For more information, please visit our website at ipgroupplc.com.

Contact details: [email protected] 

About Clean Energy Ventures

Clean Energy Ventures invests in climate tech solutions with potential for multi-gigaton CO₂ reductions over the next three decades. Identifying exceptional engineering and leadership teams, CEV is a company builder, leaning in to support extraordinary innovations and leaders from seed stage through successful commercialization. Often the first partner to founders, CEV provides the capital, expertise, and care needed to help decarbonize global energy markets. Learn more at cleanenergyventures.com.

Contact details: [email protected] 

SOURCE OXCCU

With a $9M seed round led by Eclipse, Anode is pioneering a new category of mobile energy infrastructure

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 26, 2025 — Anode, a provider of on-demand power from battery-native, mobile microgrids, emerged from stealth today with $9 million in seed funding led by Eclipse. The funding will accelerate deployments of Anode’s mobile battery energy storage system (mBESS) technology with initial customers and strategic partners.

Anode’s mBESS technology and microgrid solutions offer a superior alternative to power rental services that rely on generators and fuel delivery. With a vertically integrated business model that combines purpose-built hardware, proprietary software, and AI-powered services, Anode delivers flexible, high-performance solutions to the largest customers that rely on temporary power, including utilities, data center owners, general contractors, and EV/AV fleet operators.

“U.S. electricity consumption is growing 5 times faster than recent historical averages, and our electric grid is struggling to keep up. The rapid electrification of our economy is creating transmission bottlenecks and electricity shortfalls, increasing demands for flexible, cost-competitive, grid-independent power,” said Paul Huelskamp, co-founder and CEO of Anode. “Anode’s AI-orchestrated microgrid solutions create a new model for large electricity users who can’t wait on the grid or be held back by legacy technologies to scale their operations.”

A Critical Inflection Point for Grid-Dependent Electricity

The profound increase in electricity demand – driven by AI data center growth, EV adoption, and industrial automation – is straining an already-aging electrical grid. Climate change magnifies the risks of business disruption to an electrifying economy. Historically, the temporary power industry has offered a stopgap in the form of generators and mobile refueling services, but these analog solutions are polluting, inefficient, and expensive.

Anode’s technology and business model create a new paradigm in the form of mobile batteries and on-demand energy delivery. Capitalizing on declining battery costs and advancements in AI, Anode can deliver energy at prices that are competitive with grid electricity and a fraction of the cost of fossil-fuel powered solutions.

A Team Built for Scale

Anode’s founding team brings together expertise in autonomous vehicle development, EV powertrain engineering, battery manufacturing, and renewable energy project finance. With a proven track record in scaling disruptive technologies, the team is uniquely positioned to reimagine the temporary power value chain, while creating a new economy for on-demand power from mobile microgrids.

“Anode is solving one of the most urgent challenges in the energy transition: Access to reliable, clean, and on-demand power,” said Jiten Behl, partner at Eclipse. “Their vertically integrated model and world-class team enable them to scale rapidly and electrify some of the most critical industries of the future. Anode is uniquely positioned to bridge the gaps in existing electrical infrastructure by delivering scalable energy solutions that will unlock growth across transportation, manufacturing, and beyond.”

About Anode

Anode pioneers energy capture and distribution technologies that accelerate electrification. Founded by a team of experts in autonomous systems, EVs, battery manufacturing, and clean energy finance, Anode is building the infrastructure and services to power the energy transition. Learn more at https://anode.tech/.

About Eclipse

With approximately $5 billion in assets under management, Eclipse is a team of operators and investors partnering with exceptional companies from ideation to all stages of growth, unlocking solutions to age-old physical industry problems through the intersection of bits and atoms and the rise of physical AI. For more information, visit www.eclipse.capital.

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SOURCE Anode