SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 9, 2025 — Xcellerant Ventures (XVC) today announced the launch of the Jetstream Venture Fund (Jetstream), an innovative interval fund recently declared effective by the SEC. Jetstream seeks to provide professionals with access to venture-style investments that were traditionally limited to institutional institutions and the ultra-wealthy through a minimum investment of $20,000.

Structured for accessibility and flexibility, Jetstream allows investors to:

• Buy in starting at $20,000 (versus $250K–$500K minimums in traditional VC)
• The ability to withdraw funds every six months
• Stay invested through the full growth cycle of a company with an evergreen structure
• Share all profits with no carried interest profit sharing (instead, a flat 2.9% management fee applies plus operating expenses)

“Early-Stage Venture capital has been the highest-performing asset class in the U.S. for decades, but most professionals have been shut out,” said Mike Shufeldt, General Partner at Xcellerant Ventures. “Jetstream was built to close that gap and give professionals a straightforward, professionally managed way to take part in early innovation.”

Backed by Proven Healthcare & Innovation Leadership
Jetstream is led by John Shufeldt, MD, JD, MBA, a nationally recognized physician, entrepreneur, and investor who has built and sold multiple healthcare companies. Dr. Shufeldt pioneered and scaled NextCare Urgent Care, later sold to private equity, launched MeMD, acquired by Walmart Health, and continues to lead healthcare innovation through ventures like VivaMed BioPharma.

“I’ve spent my career building companies that solve problems in healthcare,” said Dr. Shufeldt. “With Jetstream, we’re applying that same entrepreneurial approach to investing; giving investors access to the kind of opportunities that can transform industries.”

Joining him is Chris Yoo, PhD, a scientist, entrepreneur, and venture investor with a background in bioinformatics and commercialization, Doug Sylvester, JD, LLM, a visionary leader at the intersection of law, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and Mike Shufeldt, MBA, a decorated Air Force fighter pilot and healthcare entrepreneur. Together, the leadership team blends medical expertise, operational experience, and venture acumen.

“Unlike many venture firms, we’ve been operators inside the industries we invest in,” said Dr. Yoo. “We understand the challenges and opportunities because we’ve lived them. That’s the perspective Jetstream brings to its investors.”

Positioned at the Intersection of Healthcare and Innovation
While Jetstream is structured as a generalist fund, its leaders see particular opportunity in MedTech, BioTech, and HealthTech — areas where Shufeldt and Yoo have decades of combined experience. Their vantage point allows Jetstream to identify and support companies with real-world impact, while giving investors access to deals that were previously behind closed doors.

“We’re looking for breakout opportunities where innovation meets scale, whether that’s in healthcare, life sciences, or adjacent high-growth sectors,” said Sylvester. “We are at the forefront of the public-private trend and want to invite everyone who is interested in early-stage VC investing to take a close look at our Fund.”

About Jetstream Venture Fund
Jetstream Venture Fund is an interval fund managed by Xcellerant Ventures and Sweater Industries LLC, that seeks to provide investors access to early-stage, high-growth companies with flexible terms, lower minimums, and no carried interest. Jetstream is one of the first funds of its kind, bringing venture-style investing opportunities to a wider professional audience. Back-end administration is provided by Sweater Ventures a ground-breaking turnkey fund management company.

About Xcellerant Ventures
Xcellerant Ventures (XVC) is a Phoenix-based venture capital firm investing in early- and seed-stage startups in HealthTech, MedTech, and BioTech. With a team of seasoned investors and industry leaders, XVC supports transformational companies through regulatory pathways, commercialization, and scaling strategies. www.xcellerantventures.com

Disclosure
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund and can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by visiting the Fund’s website at https://www.jvf.vc. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Media contact: Dawson Fearnow at MMPR Marketing, [email protected], 602-264-2655

SOURCE Xcellerant Ventures

• Built on one of the world’s largest Parkinson’s and dementia datasets and adopted across major U.S. health systems and NHS Trusts, Kneu is creating a population-scale foundation for managing neurodegenerative decline
• Kneu’s smartphone platform, FDA-cleared for Parkinson’s tremor measurement, is the first clinically validated system to track motor, speech and cognitive change entirely by phone, embedding proactive monitoring into daily life and clinical workflows
• Powered by clinically trained AI models that turn voice, movement and memory into predictive biomarkers, Kneu helps detect neurological decline earlier and support timely intervention

LONDON, Oct. 9, 2025 — Kneu Health, a precision neurology platform for Parkinson’s and dementia, today announced the close of a $5.6 million oversubscribed seed round. Co-led by Oxford Science Enterprises and Cedars-Sinai, with participation from Social Impact Enterprises, JIMCO, G.K. Goh Ventures and SXSW London, the funding will accelerate U.S. expansion by scaling Parkinson’s deployments, expanding commercial capacity, and publishing outcomes data, while also advancing dementia monitoring. The round brings Kneu’s total funding to date to $11.2 million.

Neurological disorders are surging into a major public health crisis. Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological disease worldwide, while dementia cases are projected to triple by 2050. In the U.S., patients often wait many months between specialist visits, and neurologist shortages are leaving health systems unable to keep up with demand. The result is a care model that reacts too late, after decline has already accelerated, instead of providing the continuous support patients and families need.

Kneu’s technology builds on more than a decade of longitudinal research, expanded with over 500,000 digital measures from 1,400+ users across NHS and U.S. deployments. Clinically trained AI models analyze speech, movement and cognition to generate predictive biomarkers that stratify risk across populations and guide targeted interventions. FDA clearance for smartphone-based Parkinson’s tremor measurement affirms the platform’s clinical rigor and enables proactive monitoring to be embedded directly into daily life and care pathways. Clinicians report delivering better patient care, with 67% of cases achieving faster-than-standard access to treatment and data-driven insights supporting medication changes for over half of patients. Patients themselves report up to a 30% improvement in knowledge, confidence, and self-management—translating into greater independence and daily functioning. NHS pilots demonstrate the platform’s ability to boost efficiency by 30%, reduce emergency admissions, and shift Parkinson’s care from reactive to planned settings—equivalent to saving 1,000 bed days in a single provider.

“We’ve spent the last two years proving that remote monitoring can transform neurological care. Clinicians are getting clearer insight without added workload, patients no longer face months of uncertainty between visits, and gain confidence that changes will be recognized rather than missed,” said Caroline Cake, co-founder and CEO, Kneu Health. “This funding allows us to bring that model to the U.S. at the right moment, when health systems are ready to move beyond band-aid solutions and embrace continuous neurological care as core infrastructure, accessible to anyone with a smartphone.”

With first contracts underway at Cedars-Sinai and Mass General Brigham and participation in the Global Incubator Programme at Texas Medical Center Innovation (TMCi), Kneu has established a presence in America’s most influential medical ecosystems. Together, these efforts point to a larger shift: neurology can no longer rely on episodic care alone, and Kneu is showing that continuous data belongs at the center of how health systems operate.

“Neurology has had plenty of algorithms. What it has lacked is longitudinal signal that clinicians can trust and act on inside real workflows. Kneu has turned everyday phone interactions into a clinically governed measurement layer that scales across populations without new hardware or staffing,” said Joel Schoppig, Health Tech Investment Principal, Oxford Science Enterprises. “With evidence emerging on both sides of the Atlantic, Kneu is laying the foundation for a reference dataset and operating platform in Parkinson’s and dementia that raises standards of care while finally making the economics work for hospitals and payers.”

“The strength of Kneu’s approach is how rigorous science is carried through into day-to-day practice. By giving neurologists longitudinal signal between visits, the platform reduces avoidable appointments and sharpens focus on the cases that matter most,” said Nirdesh Gupta, Managing Director, Cedars-Sinai Technology Ventures. “This is the kind of clinically governed infrastructure we look for, and it is why we chose to back Kneu and bring it into our ecosystem.”

About Kneu Health 
Kneu Health is pioneering continuous intelligence for neurological care through smartphone-based monitoring of Parkinson’s and dementia. Built on Oxford University’s decade-long longitudinal research and validated across leading health systems, the company’s FDA-cleared platform transforms daily interactions into clinical insights that enable earlier intervention and personalized care. Backed by Oxford Science Enterprises, Cedars-Sinai, and a global syndicate of investors, Kneu operates across eight NHS Trusts and flagship U.S. health systems. Learn more at kneuhealth.com.

Media contact:
[email protected]

SOURCE Kneu Health

HANGZHOU, Chine, 9 octobre 2025 — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ : JZXN ; la « société ») a annoncé aujourd’hui les détails de la mise en œuvre de son plan d’investissement d’un milliard de dollars US précédemment divulgué. La société a l’intention de lever des fonds auprès d’investisseurs du marché et d’exécuter le plan par le biais d’un programme d’achat continu, plafonné à 1 milliard de dollars américains.

À la suite de l’annonce initiale, la société a précisé que la structure du capital serait diversifiée. Jiuzi a mené des discussions approfondies avec des investisseurs institutionnels, des investisseurs axés sur la valeur à long terme et stratégiques, et a reçu des intentions d’investissement positives. Les sources de financement devraient inclure des financements sur le marché, des engagements supplémentaires de la part des actionnaires existants, des revenus générés par les opérations et la participation d’investisseurs institutionnels. Cette diversification diversifiée reflète non seulement la forte reconnaissance par le marché des capitaux des fondamentaux et de la stratégie de la société, mais offre également une garantie solide pour la bonne exécution du plan.

Tao Li, PDG de Jiuzi Holdings, a commenté l’événement : « Nous sommes encouragés par le fort soutien que ce plan a reçu de la part d’investisseurs issus d’horizons divers. Cela représente non seulement la reconnaissance de nos réalisations, mais aussi la confiance dans notre capacité à créer de la valeur à l’avenir. Une base solide de capitaux stratégiques à long terme nous permettra de poursuivre nos objectifs avec une plus grande assurance. »

Le plan d’investissement est conçu pour accroître la part de marché mondiale, optimiser la structure du capital et améliorer la valeur à long terme pour les actionnaires. En introduisant des capitaux diversifiés et en suivant un processus d’exécution rigoureux, JZXN vise à consolider sa position de leader et à saisir de nouvelles opportunités de croissance. Les premiers achats dans le cadre de ce plan devraient commencer dans les deux semaines.

La société a réaffirmé que toutes les transactions seront effectuées de manière transparente et dans le respect total des lois, des réglementations et des règles du marché applicables. Les mises à jour seront communiquées en temps utile afin de garantir à tous les investisseurs un accès égal à l’information.

Cette annonce marque une étape importante pour JZXN, qui entame une nouvelle phase de croissance et se positionne pour un succès à long terme.

À propos de Jiuzi Holdings, Inc.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. est l’un des principaux fournisseurs d’infrastructures de recharge intelligentes pour les véhicules à énergie nouvelle (NEV) dans les villes de deuxième rang en Chine. La société est spécialisée dans les stations de recharge rapide à courant continu de grande puissance intégrées à des systèmes de stockage d’énergie, et prévoit de poursuivre son expansion jusqu’en 2026 pour soutenir les objectifs de neutralité carbone de la Chine et le transport durable. Pour obtenir plus d’informations, rendez-vous sur jzxn.com.

HANGZHOU, Cina, 9 ottobre 2025 — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN (la “Società”) ha annunciato oggi i dettagli dell’esecuzione del suo piano di investimento in conto capitale da 1 miliardo di dollari USA precedentemente divulgato. La Società intende raccogliere fondi tramite investitori di mercato e attuare il piano tramite un programma di acquisto continuativo, con un limite massimo di 1 miliardo di dollari.

Dopo l’annuncio iniziale, la Società ha ulteriormente chiarito che la struttura del capitale assumerà una forma diversificata. Jiuzi ha condotto discussioni approfondite con investitori istituzionali, investitori di valore a lungo termine e partner strategici e ha ricevuto espressioni di investimento positive. Si prevede che le fonti di finanziamento includeranno finanziamenti di mercato, impegni aggiuntivi da parte degli azionisti esistenti, ricavi generati dalle operazioni e partecipazione di investitori istituzionali. Questo mix diversificato non solo riflette il forte riconoscimento da parte del mercato dei capitali dei principi fondamentali e della strategia della Società, ma fornisce anche una solida garanzia per la corretta esecuzione del piano.

Tao Li, CEO di Jiuzi Holdings, ha commentato: “Siamo incoraggiati dal forte sostegno che questo piano ha ricevuto da investitori con background diversi. Rappresenta non solo un riconoscimento per i nostri successi, ma dimostra anche la fiducia nella nostra capacità di offrire valore futuro. Una solida base di capitale strategico a lungo termine ci consentirà di perseguire i nostri obiettivi con maggiore sicurezza.”

Il piano di investimento è concepito per espandere la quota di mercato globale, ottimizzare la struttura del capitale e accrescere il valore azionario a lungo termine. Introducendo capitale diversificato e seguendo un processo di esecuzione disciplinato, JZXN intende consolidare la propria posizione di leadership e a cogliere nuove opportunità di crescita. Si prevede che i primi acquisti nell’ambito del piano inizieranno entro due settimane.

La Società ha ribadito che tutte le transazioni saranno condotte in modo trasparente e nel pieno rispetto delle leggi, dei regolamenti e delle regole di mercato applicabili. Gli aggiornamenti saranno resi noti tempestivamente per garantire a tutti gli investitori pari accesso alle informazioni.

Questo annuncio segna una traguardo importante per JZXN, che intraprende la prossima fase di crescita e si posiziona per un successo a lungo termine.

Informazioni su Jiuzi Holdings, Inc.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. è un fornitore leader di infrastrutture di ricarica intelligenti per veicoli a nuova energia (NEV) nelle città cinesi di basso livello. L’azienda è specializzata in stazioni di ricarica rapida CC ad alta potenza integrate con sistemi di accumulo di energia e prevede di proseguire l’espansione fino al 2026 per supportare gli obiettivi di neutralità carbonica e di trasporto sostenibile della Cina. Per maggiori informazioni, visitare il sito jzxn.com.

HANGZHOU, China, 9. Oktober 2025 — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN; das „Unternehmen”) gab heute die Einzelheiten der Umsetzung seines zuvor bekannt gegebenen Kapitalplans in Höhe von 1 Milliarde US-Dollar bekannt. Das Unternehmen beabsichtigt, Mittel über Marktinvestoren zu beschaffen und den Plan über ein fortlaufendes Kaufprogramm mit einer Obergrenze von 1 Milliarde US-Dollar umzusetzen.

Im Anschluss an die ursprüngliche Ankündigung stellte das Unternehmen weiter klar, dass die Kapitalstruktur diversifiziert sein wird. Jiuzi hat ausführliche Gespräche mit institutionellen Anlegern, langfristig orientierten Investoren sowie strategischen Partnern geführt und positive Investitionsabsichten erhalten. Zu den Finanzierungsquellen werden voraussichtlich Marktfinanzierungen, zusätzliche Zusagen bestehender Aktionäre, Einnahmen aus dem operativen Geschäft sowie die Beteiligung institutioneller Anleger gehören. Dieser diversifizierte Mix spiegelt nicht nur die starke Anerkennung der Fundamentaldaten und der Strategie des Unternehmens durch den Kapitalmarkt wider, sondern bietet auch eine solide Gewähr für die reibungslose Durchführung des Plans.

Tao Li, Geschäftsführer von Jiuzi Holdings, kommentierte: „Die starke Unterstützung, die dieser Plan von Investoren mit unterschiedlichem Hintergrund erhält, stimmt uns zuversichtlich. Sie stellt nicht nur eine Anerkennung unserer Leistungen dar, sondern auch das Vertrauen in unsere Fähigkeit, in Zukunft Werte zu schaffen. Ein solides Fundament aus langfristigem, strategischem Kapital wird uns in die Lage versetzen, unsere Ziele mit größerer Zuversicht zu verfolgen.”

Der Kapitalplan zielt darauf ab, den globalen Marktanteil auszubauen, die Kapitalstruktur zu optimieren und den langfristigen Unternehmenswert zu steigern. Durch die Einführung von diversifiziertem Kapital sowie einen disziplinierten Ausführungsprozess will JZXN seine Führungsposition festigen und neue Wachstumschancen nutzen. Die ersten Ankäufe im Rahmen des Plans werden voraussichtlich innerhalb von zwei Wochen beginnen.

Das Unternehmen bekräftigte, dass alle Transaktionen transparent sowie in voller Übereinstimmung mit den geltenden Gesetzen, Vorschriften und Marktregeln durchgeführt werden. Aktualisierungen werden rechtzeitig bekannt gegeben, um sicherzustellen, dass alle Anleger gleichen Zugang zu den Informationen haben.

Diese Ankündigung ist ein wichtiger Meilenstein für JZXN, da das Unternehmen die nächste Wachstumsphase einleitet und sich für einen langfristigen Erfolg positioniert.

Informationen zu Jiuzi Holdings, Inc.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. ist ein führender Anbieter von intelligenter Ladeinfrastruktur für neue Energiefahrzeuge (NEV) in Chinas Städten der unteren Ebenen. Das Unternehmen ist auf Hochleistungs-Gleichstrom-Schnellladestationen mit integrierten Energiespeichersystemen spezialisiert und plant bis 2026 eine weitere Expansion, um Chinas Ziele zur Kohlenstoffneutralität und für einen nachhaltigen Verkehr zu unterstützen. Weitere Informationen finden Sie auf jzxn.com.

HANGZHOU, China, 8 oktober 2025 — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN; het “Bedrijf”) kondigde vandaag de details aan voor implementatie van haar eerder bekendgemaakte kapitaalplan van US$1 miljard. Het bedrijf wil via marktinvesteerders fondsen werven en het plan uitvoeren via een doorlopend aankoopprogramma met een maximum van US$1 miljard.

Na de eerste aankondiging heeft het Bedrijf verder verduidelijkt dat de kapitaalstructuur een gediversifieerde vorm zal aannemen. Jiuzi heeft met institutionele investeerders, langetermijninvesteerders en strategische partners uitgebreide gesprekken gevoerd en ontving positieve investeringsintenties. Naar verwacht zullen de financieringsbronnen bestaan uit marktfinanciering, aanvullende toezeggingen van bestaande aandeelhouders, inkomsten uit activiteiten en deelname van institutionele investeerders. Deze gediversifieerde mix weerspiegelt niet alleen de sterke erkenning door de kapitaalmarkt van de fundamenten en de strategie van het Bedrijf, maar biedt ook een solide zekerheid voor een vlotte uitvoering van het plan.

Tao Li, CEO van Jiuzi Holdings, gaf volgend commentaar: “We zijn aangemoedigd door de sterke steun die dit plan van investeerders met verschillende achtergronden kreeg. Het is niet alleen een erkenning van onze verwezenlijkingen, maar ook een blijk van vertrouwen in ons vermogen om in de toekomst waarde te creëren. Een solide basis van strategisch kapitaal op lange termijn zal ons in staat stellen om onze doelen met meer vertrouwen na te streven.”

Het kapitaalplan is bedoeld om het wereldwijde marktaandeel uit te breiden, de kapitaalstructuur te optimaliseren en de waarde op lange termijn voor aandeelhouders te vergroten. Door gediversifieerd kapitaal in te brengen en een gedisciplineerd uitvoeringsproces te volgen, wil JZXN haar leidende positie consolideren en nieuwe groeikansen benutten. Naar verwacht zullen de eerste aankopen in het kader van het plan binnen twee weken aanvangen.

Het Bedrijf bevestigde opnieuw dat alle transacties transparant en in volledige overeenstemming met de toepasselijke wet- en regelgeving en marktregels zullen worden uitgevoerd. Updates zullen tijdig worden bekendgemaakt om ervoor te zorgen dat alle investeerders gelijke toegang tot informatie hebben.

Deze aankondiging is een belangrijke mijlpaal voor JZXN nu het bedrijf de volgende groeifase inzet en zich positioneert voor succes op lange termijn.

Over Jiuzi Holdings, Inc.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. is een toonaangevende leverancier van intelligente laadinfrastructuur voor NEV (voertuigen op nieuwe energie) in de kleinere steden van China. Het Bedrijf is gespecialiseerd in krachtige gelijkstroom-snellaadstations geïntegreerd met energieopslagsystemen en is van plan om in 2026 verder te blijven uitbreiden om de doelstellingen van China op gebied van koolstofneutraliteit en duurzaam transport te ondersteunen. Meer informatie: jzxn.com.

– Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. anuncia la puesta en marcha gradual de un plan de adquisición de criptomonedas por valor de 1.000 millones de dólares; la primera compra de bitcoins se completará en un plazo de dos semanas

HANGZHOU, China, 8 de octubre de 2025 — Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN; la «compañía») ha anunciado hoy los detalles de la implementación de su plan de capital de 1.000 millones de dólares estadounidenses, previamente revelado. La compañía tiene la intención de recaudar fondos a través de inversores del mercado y ejecutar el plan mediante un programa de compra continuo, con un límite máximo de 1.000 millones de dólares estadounidenses.

Tras el anuncio inicial, la empresa aclaró que la estructura de capital adoptará una forma diversificada. Jiuzi ha mantenido extensas conversaciones con inversores institucionales, inversores de valor a largo plazo y socios estratégicos, y ha recibido intenciones de inversión positivas. Se espera que las fuentes de financiación incluyan la financiación del mercado, compromisos adicionales de los accionistas existentes, ingresos generados por las operaciones y la participación de inversores institucionales. Esta combinación diversificada no solo refleja el fuerte reconocimiento del mercado de capitales de los fundamentos y la estrategia de la empresa, sino que también proporciona una sólida garantía para la ejecución fluida del plan.

Tao Li, consejero delegado de Jiuzi Holdings, comentó: «Nos alienta el fuerte apoyo que este plan ha recibido de inversores con diversos antecedentes. Representa no solo el reconocimiento de nuestros logros, sino también la confianza en nuestra capacidad para generar valor en el futuro. Una base sólida de capital estratégico a largo plazo nos permitirá perseguir nuestros objetivos con mayor confianza».

El plan de capital está diseñado para ampliar la cuota de mercado global, optimizar la estructura de capital y mejorar el valor a largo plazo para los accionistas. Mediante la introducción de capital diversificado y siguiendo un proceso de ejecución disciplinado, JZXN pretende consolidar su posición de liderazgo y aprovechar nuevas oportunidades de crecimiento. Se espera que las compras iniciales en el marco del plan comiencen en un plazo de dos semanas.

La empresa reafirmó que todas las transacciones se llevarán a cabo de forma transparente y en pleno cumplimiento de las leyes, reglamentos y normas del mercado aplicables. Las actualizaciones se divulgarán de manera oportuna para garantizar que todos los inversores tengan el mismo acceso a la información.

Este anuncio marca un hito importante para JZXN, ya que se embarca en la siguiente fase de crecimiento y se posiciona para el éxito a largo plazo.

Acerca de Jiuzi Holdings, Inc.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. es un proveedor líder de infraestructura de recarga inteligente para vehículos de nueva energía (NEV) en ciudades de menor nivel de China. La empresa se especializa en estaciones de recarga rápida de CC de alta potencia integradas con sistemas de almacenamiento de energía y tiene previsto continuar su expansión hasta 2026 para apoyar los objetivos de neutralidad en carbono y transporte sostenible de China. Para obtener más información, visite jzxn.com.

• Crescendo co-founders Anand Chandrasekaran and Andy Lee partner with former Wix eCommerce COO Golan Agmon to launch new company
• Early OpenAI and Square investor Vinod Khosla, Celesta Capital, and the Anthology Fund are company’s early investors and shareholders
• Product designed to bring AI benefits like increased revenue and better conversions to “little tech”, helping SMBs build 1-to-1 customer relationships at scale

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 8, 2025 — HiOctave, the AI software company helping small and mid‑sized businesses (SMBs) automate and personalize customer experiences, today announced its launch and $15M in financing, led by Vinod Khosla and Khosla Ventures. Additional investors and shareholders include Celesta Capital, Anthology Fund, operated jointly by Anthropic and Menlo Ventures, and Carya Venture Partners.

HiOctave was incubated by co-founders Andy Lee, Alorica Founder and Executive Chairman; and Anand Chandrasekaran, Managing Partner at Celesta Capital and formerly at Meta, Five9, and General Catalyst. Lee and Chandrasekaran previously co-founded Crescendo, an AI-powered customer experience platform for enterprises that combines AI and human agents. Within 20 months of founding, Crescendo has grown to $100M in revenue and delivered more than 500 agentic AI deployments for mid-market enterprise customers. Golan Agmon, previously eCommerce COO for $10B SMB software company Wix, will join HiOctave as co-founder and CEO.

SMBs make up over 90% of U.S. businesses, employ 45% of the private workforce, and generate 44% of U.S. GDP – yet, most lack modern, AI‑native tools to maintain high‑touch customer relationships at scale. HiOctave’s platform is designed to enable SMB founders and lean teams to deliver high‑touch, high‑trust customer service without high overhead, despite typically not having teams dedicated to vendor selection or deployment. The platform provides off-the-shelf customer satisfaction management for SMBs delivered in an easy-to-use, mobile-first experience, including autonomous voice and digital agents, automated quality monitoring, voice of customer analytics, and escalation tools.

“Agentic AI will transform how small businesses operate,” said Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures. “SMBs have long been underserved by traditional software. HiOctave will empower entrepreneurs to run their businesses in the era of AI, led by a team with a proven track record of bringing AI to new markets and deep experience building for small business owners.”

“We’re grateful for Vinod’s partnership and shared belief that off-the-shelf CSAT has huge growth potential within the $750B SMB software market,” said HiOctave co-founder and Celesta Capital Managing Partner Anand Chandrasekaran. “With Golan joining as CEO alongside Andy and myself, we have the foundation for a powerhouse team that blends SMB‑platform know‑how, large‑scale CX operations, and AI product leadership. We are confident HiOctave can transform customer experience for SMBs.”

“I’ve spent my career creating companies that help enterprises deliver customer support at scale,” said co-founder and Executive Chairman Andy Lee. “With HiOctave, we’re bringing together that same ethos to offer best-in-class AI to SMBs—without the enterprise price tag. We’re excited to help smaller companies automate the repetitive, elevate the human moments of engagement and connection, and more easily grow loyalty and revenue.”

“I am excited to bring my experience helping SMBs grow their online businesses and harness it for Agentic AI to reimagine how SMBs connect with their customers,” said Golan Agmon, HiOctave’s Co-Founder and CEO. “SMBs everywhere are looking for omnichannel experiences that build lasting loyalty and restore authentic relationships – we believe HiOctave can be that partner to help their businesses truly thrive.”

The new capital will accelerate product development and go‑to‑market as HiOctave delivers enterprise‑grade automation—at SMB‑friendly price points—to help business owners rebuild direct, durable relationships with their customers. Learn more at hioctave.ai.

Media Contact:
Anand Chandrasekaran, Co-Founder
[email protected]
650.387.2744  

SOURCE HiOctave

Funding Will Be Used To Expand Producer Footprint and Further Enhance Its “Human+” Proprietary Technology

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 8, 2025 — QuoteWell, a tech-driven wholesale insurance brokerage, today announced an additional $12 million in financing, bringing the company’s total capital raised to $32 million. The funding will be used to expand QuoteWell’s producer footprint and deepen investment in the company’s proprietary, AI-driven platform.

The funding was led by New Enterprise Associates, with new investors Brand Foundry Ventures and ClockTower Ventures joining the round. Other existing investors Goldcrest Capital and Floating Point also participated, along with a number of strategic angel investors.

“At Brand Foundry, we see insurance as a massive market that has yet to benefit from the same level of innovation and use of technology as other sectors,” said Brian Spaly, General Partner, Brand Foundry Ventures. “We take pride in backing the best founders in Austin, and we believe QuoteWell is one of our city’s standout startups.”

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, QuoteWell will leverage the new funding to accelerate its growth in key markets, specifically its producer footprint in the Southeast and on the West Coast. Additionally, the company will continue to invest in research and development, focusing on AI-driven automation within its proprietary platform to enhance QuoteWell’s “Human-first. Always Advanced.” approach.

“We’ve consistently focused on building a platform that empowers producers to be more efficient and effective, and this new funding will allow us to double down on that strategy,” said Joey Bouchard, Founder and CEO of QuoteWell. “Our ability to seamlessly fuse the best of technology and human expertise is what sets us apart. I don’t believe many players across the insurance ecosystem have managed to actually apply AI in meaningful ways to unlock real leverage with their talent pool—I believe we’ve cracked that.”

QuoteWell specializes in placing complex, commercial risks in the non-admitted insurance market, including construction, energy, real estate, manufacturing, and more. By combining real insurance expertise with tech-enabled workflows, the company provides a modern solution for a traditionally outdated industry, helping agency owners and producers place tough risks faster and grow their book of business.

“Clocktower has made many insurance investments and spent significant time evaluating digital and modern wholesale brokerages,” said Ned Daoro, Managing Director at ClockTower Ventures. “What sets QuoteWell apart is their focus on building and automating the internal brokerage experience, combined with a diverse and differentiated carrier panel. We believe they are the true challenger in the space.”

ABOUT QUOTEWELL

QuoteWell is a tech-driven wholesale insurance brokerage, specializing in placing complex, small-to-mid-size commercial risks in the non-admitted insurance market. Founded in 2021, the company’s mission is to make the process of placing complex risks faster and easier by combining advanced, AI-powered technology with human expertise. Learn more about QuoteWell’s Human+ approach at QuoteWell.com.

SOURCE QuoteWell