Significant milestone in the progress of Wheatland Solar Project in Indiana which is on track for completion in early 2026

MIAMI, June 10, 2025 — Origis Energy, one of America’s leading renewable energy and decarbonization solution platforms, today announced the successful financial closing of the Wheatland solar project with MUFG, one of the 10 largest financial groups in the world.

The portfolio financing package supports two major Origis Energy projects. The Wheatland Solar project in Knox County, Indiana, will provide 150 MWac of solar capacity and is slated for completion in the first half of 2026. It is supported by a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with CenterPoint Energy. Meanwhile, the Optimist Solar + Storage project in Clay County, Mississippi, will deliver 200 MWac of solar power and 50 MW 4HR of energy storage. This project is expected to be operational by early 2026 and is supported by a PPA with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The Optimist portion of the MUFG deal closed in late 2024. Origis Energy serves as the developer, owner, and operator for both projects.

“Origis Energy is excited to have achieved this financing milestone on Wheatland Solar with MUFG and other financing partners. We continue to see unprecedented growth in demand for electricity and look forward to completing this project for CenterPoint and its customers,” said Vikas Anand, Chief Executive Officer of Origis Energy.

“We are proud to have partnered with Origis on this financing. It is a testament to our strong relationship and MUFG’s commitment to supporting the development of renewable energy projects across the country,” said Patrick Klein, Managing Director on the Project Finance Americas team at MUFG. “Supporting our clients’ development projects and business goals is one of the tenets of our bank. We relish the opportunity to be a part of the Optimist and Wheatland projects that will provide clean and affordable power while creating jobs and economic opportunities in the region.”

MUFG was Coordinating Lead Arranger, Green Loan Coordinator and Administrative Agent, and participating banks included: Associated Bank, CoBank, National Bank of Canada and NatWest, as Joint Lead Arrangers, and Amalgamated Bank and Siemens Financial Services as Lenders.

Latham & Watkins represented Origis Energy in the Wheatland transaction, with Taft Stettinius serving as Local Counsel. Milbank, LLP acted as MUFG’s counsel, with Dentons serving as MUFG’s Local Counsel.

More information is available about the projects here:
Optimist Solar + Storage https://origisenergy.com/project/optimist-solar-storage/
Wheatland Solar https://origisenergy.com/project/wheatland-solar/

About Origis Energy
Origis Energy is accelerating the transition to a carbon-free future by Reimagining Zero^SM. As one of America’s leading renewable energy and decarbonization solution platforms, the company continues to expand and reimagine its contribution to the world’s net-zero goals. Origis Energy puts customers first to deploy a wide range of sustainable solutions for grid power generation, performance optimization, and long-term operation of solar and energy storage plants across the U.S. Learn more at OrigisEnergy.com.

About MUFG and MUFG Americas
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) is one of the world’s leading financial groups. Headquartered in Tokyo and with over 360 years of history, MUFG has a global network with approximately 2,100 locations in more than 50 countries. MUFG has nearly 160,000 employees and offers services including commercial banking, trust banking, securities, credit cards, consumer finance, asset management, and leasing. The Group aims to be “the world’s most trusted financial group” through close collaboration among our operating companies and flexibly respond to all the financial needs of our customers, serving society, and fostering shared and sustainable growth for a better world. MUFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York stock exchanges.

MUFG’s Americas operations, including its offices in the U.S., Latin America, and Canada, are primarily organized under MUFG Bank, Ltd. and subsidiaries, and are focused on Global Corporate and Investment Banking, Japanese Corporate Banking, and Global Markets. MUFG is one of the largest foreign banking organizations in the Americas. For locations, banking capabilities and services, career opportunities, and more, visit www.mufgamericas.com.

SOURCE Origis Energy

NEW YORK, June 10, 2025 — CRH Ventures, the venture capital unit of CRH, has led a Series A investment in VODA.ai, with participation from L-Stone Capital.

Founded in 2017, VODA.ai’s platform helps utilities to manage aging water infrastructure by providing AI-driven predictive analytics to assess pipe condition and risk across transmission, distribution, and collection systems. To date, the Boston-based company’s proprietary platform has analyzed over one million miles of pipe across 26 U.S. states and six countries, enabling utilities to prioritize the protection of critical infrastructure and efficiently allocate resources.

“This investment expands CRH’s existing smart water management solutions and represents a significant step forward in our mission to support technologies that make infrastructure smarter, more resilient, and more sustainable,” said Eduardo Gomez Mendoza, Head of CRH Ventures. “VODA.ai is a standout innovator in AI-driven asset management that can play a critical role in helping utilities around the world to deliver safe, reliable and clean water to the communities they serve.”

The investment will support VODA.ai’s growth, expand its R&D capabilities, and accelerate innovation to better serve municipal utilities and private water operators worldwide. It builds on a commercial partnership announced earlier this week between VODA.ai and Oldcastle Infrastructure, CRH’s leading water infrastructure business in North America, which will enhance market access and collaboration opportunities.

“CRH brings more than capital – it brings global reach, deep infrastructure expertise, and a shared vision for innovation,” said George Demosthenous, CEO of VODA.ai. “We’re excited to work together to scale our impact and help utilities make smarter, data-driven decisions.”

“This investment in VODA.ai reflects CRH’s commitment to supporting transformative solutions that address the world’s most pressing infrastructure challenges,” added Jason Jackson, President, Oldcastle Infrastructure. “We’re excited to support its next phase of growth.”

About CRH Ventures
CRH Ventures is the venture capital unit of CRH, a leading provider of building materials solutions. With access to CRH’s Venturing and Innovation Fund, CRH Ventures partners with and invests ambitiously and strategically in ConTech and ClimateTech start-ups across the entire construction value chain. For more information visit www.crhventures.com. 

About CRH
CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) is the leading provider of building materials solutions that build, connect and improve our world. Employing 80,000 people at over 3,800 operating locations in 28 countries, CRH has market leadership positions in North America and Europe. As the essential partner for transportation and critical infrastructure projects, complex non-residential construction and outdoor living solutions, CRH’s unique offering of materials, products and value-added services helps to deliver a more resilient and sustainable built environment. The company is ranked among sector leaders by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating agencies. A Fortune Global 500 company, CRH’s shares are listed on the NYSE and LSE. For more information visit: www.crh.com.

About VODA.ai
VODA.ai is a Boston-based SaaS company that uses artificial intelligence to enhance decision-making for water utilities. Its platform provides detailed insights into the condition and risk of water and wastewater systems, enabling utilities to prioritize repairs and investments with confidence. Learn more at www.voda.ai.

About Oldcastle Infrastructure
Oldcastle Infrastructure, A CRH Company, is a leading provider of infrastructure solutions for the water, communications, and energy markets. With an extensive network of manufacturing facilities and a focus on operational excellence, the company delivers innovative and sustainable products and services throughout North America. Utilizing scale, product breadth, and more than 50 years of engineering expertise, the company delivers products and services designed for wastewater treatment, stormwater management and drainage, access & cable management, telecom & fiber utilities, security walls, electrical C&I, and smart infrastructure. The Oldcastle Infrastructure team partners with municipalities, utilities, contractors, asset owners and engineers to build and maintain the critical infrastructure that powers and connects our communities. For more information, visit www.oldcastleinfrastructure.com.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2706416/CRH_Ventures_Logo.jpg

SOURCE CRH Ventures

Appoints Tom Gillespie, former managing partner of In-Q-Tel, to lead the Fund, along with Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka, former partner at Canaan Partners

SAN FRANCISCO, June 10, 2025 — Geodesic Capital today announced the first close of the Geodesic Alliance Fund, with $250 million in funding. The Geodesic Alliance Fund is a first-of-its-kind venture fund focused on advancing the U.S.-Japan Alliance by investing in technologies that enhance national security, economic resilience, and cross-border innovation.

The fund primarily targets early-stage U.S. startups in national security sectors like AI, space, cybersecurity, autonomy, and dual-use deep technologies, and provides more than just capital. Portfolio companies benefit from hands-on support, including strategic guidance, regulatory navigation, and introductions to customers, partners, and talent in Japan.

The Geodesic Alliance Fund builds on Geodesic’s established track record. Since 2015, the firm has raised nearly $1 billion across multiple funds, supporting high-growth U.S. companies such as Databricks, Netskope, Saronic and Scale AI, and helping them scale into Japan through a curated network of corporate, policy, and technical leaders.

“The Geodesic Alliance Fund is a new model for cross-border venture—where commercial success and strategic alignment go hand-in-hand,” said Ambassador John Roos, Founding Partner at Geodesic Capital and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan. “We believe the future of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific depends on deeper U.S.-Japan technology cooperation—and we’re building the platform to make that happen.”

To lead the new fund, Geodesic Capital has appointed Tom Gillespie, formerly Managing Partner at In-Q-Tel, the strategic investment arm of the U.S. national security community. He will lead the Alliance Fund alongside Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka, a deep tech investor and former partner with Canaan Partners, with support from the broader Geodesic team.

“I’ve spent the last two decades investing at the intersection of national security and innovation, while creating long-term value for investors,” said Tom Gillespie. “This fund presents a rare opportunity to scale that work internationally. Japan is stepping up its defense investments and innovation ambitions, and we’re excited to build the bridge between global startups and Japan’s strategic ecosystem.”

“Japan is one of America’s most capable and indispensable allies—especially in East Asia, where strategic stability depends on close cooperation in emerging domains like space,” said General John W “Jay” Raymond (Ret.), former Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force. “From satellite communications and space situational awareness to lunar exploration and commercial ventures, U.S.-Japan collaboration in space multiplies our capabilities and strengthens our resilience–aligning innovation, industry, and strategy across both nations and the broader Indo-Pacific.”

Limited Partners include prominent Japanese corporations and Japanese governmental institutions that are deeply aligned with Geodesic’s mission of advancing the U.S.-Japan relationship through technological innovation, while generating returns for investors. In addition, senior U.S. and Japanese advisors will support companies navigating commercial and governmental environments.

“This isn’t just a fund—it’s a platform for long-term strategic partnership,” added Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka. “We’re bridging the next generation of U.S. early-stage, deep tech startups with a network of Japanese corporates, government leaders, and investors who are committed to building tomorrow’s global technology companies.”

The Geodesic Alliance Fund expects to announce its first investments later this year. Geodesic is currently accepting additional LP commitments and plans a final close in the coming year.

About Geodesic Capital
Geodesic Capital is a venture capital firm focused on bridging Silicon Valley and Asia through strategic technology investments. With nearly $1 billion under management and a decade of experience supporting U.S. startups and Japanese corporates, Geodesic helps founders scale globally while delivering strategic value to its partners. Founded by former U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, the firm is uniquely positioned at the intersection of venture capital, national security, and cross-border collaboration.

Learn more at www.geodesiccap.com

SOURCE Geodesic Capital

• Series A Funding will be used to advance Mosanna’s nasal spray therapy through Phase 2 Clinical Trials
• Biotech veteran David Weber has been appointed CEO to lead the company through clinical development
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nearly 1 billion people globally, with the majority undiagnosed and underserved with current treatment options

STOCKHOLM, June 9, 2025 — EQT Life Sciences is pleased to announce that the LSP 7 fund has invested in Mosanna Therapeutics (“the Company”). The clinical-stage biotech company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is developing an easy-to-use nighttime nasal spray to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that aims to restore the body’s natural airway control. The financing was led by EQT Life Sciences and Pivotal bioVenture Partners, along with Forbion, Broadview Ventures and Norwest as co-lead investors. Returning investors included founding investor Forty51 Ventures as well as Supermoon Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).

“What sets Mosanna apart is its fundamentally different approach to sleep apnea, treating it as a neurological and muscular dysfunction rather than a purely mechanical issue” said Daniela Begolo, Ph.D., Managing Director at EQT Life Sciences, who will be joining the Board of Directors. “MOS118 is the first therapy with the potential to restore the body’s natural airway reflex with the simplicity of a nasal spray. MOS118 has the potential to dramatically improve adherence and outcomes in a patient population that has long been underserved.” 

OSA is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, affecting an estimated 1 billion people globally. Left untreated, OSA is linked to serious health risks including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression and excessive daytime sleepiness – contributing to workplace and car accidents. Despite OSA’s prevalence, treatment has largely focused on mechanical solutions that are often uncomfortable and disruptive. 

Mosanna is pioneering a pharmaceutical solution for sleep apnea patients with MOS118, a nasal spray administered at nighttime that helps restore the body’s natural airway reflex. MOS118 targets the upper airway muscles that are responsible for maintaining airway patency. Research has shown that in OSA patients, the natural airway reflex becomes less active at night, leading to a loss of airway patency and the occurrence of apnea. The new funding will support the advancement of MOS118 through Phase 2 development while also supporting the expansion of Mosanna’s pipeline. 

Mosanna also appointed veteran biotech leader David Weber, Ph.D., as President and Chief Executive Officer to guide Mosanna’s next stage of growth. With more than 30 years of experience spanning drug development, capital formation and corporate strategy, Dr. Weber has led teams across both public and private life sciences companies. Dr. Weber was also appointed to Mosanna’s Board of Directors. 

“Mosanna is taking a truly transformational approach to sleep apnea treatment – offering a non-invasive, non-mechanical solution designed to seamlessly fit into daily life,” said Dr. Weber. “No one has sleep apnea while awake, because our bodies instinctively keep the airway open. Mosanna simply helps to restore this natural reflex during sleep – delivering a nasal spray alternative to invasive mechanical workarounds. With this funding, we’re accelerating development to bring this groundbreaking treatment to patients who desperately need better options.” 

Contact
EQT Press Office, [email protected] 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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—Menlo Ventures leads oversubscribed Series B as Runwise’s platform redefines how buildings cut costs, boost safety, and drive climate impact, proving that smart infrastructure finally pencils—

NEW YORK, June 9, 2025 — Runwise—the leading smart operating system for buildings—today announced a $55M Series B financing round. The round was led by Menlo Ventures—a leading venture capital firm investing at the forefront of AI—with meaningful participation from new investors MassMutual Ventures, Nuveen Real Estate, Multiplier Capital, and Munich Re Ventures, alongside returning backers Soma Capital, Alumni Ventures, Helium-3, Cooley, and Fifth Wall. The fresh capital will support product innovation, team expansion, as well as entry into new core markets. The raise brings Runwise’s total funding to $79M.

“Most buildings—old and new—still run on 1960s technology, wasting billions of dollars, making living and working in cities less safe and comfortable, and generating massive amounts of CO2,” shared Jeff Carleton, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Runwise.”Every building needs to be rebuilt with software, not bricks. That’s what we’re doing at Runwise, transforming outdated infrastructure into intelligent systems that can be installed in a day, paid back in months, and scaled across entire portfolios, said Lee Hoffman, President & Co-Founder, Runwise. “This round gives us the fuel to accelerate that mission and become the global default for the real estate industry,” added Mike Cook, Chief Growth Officer & Co-Founder, Runwise.

This round was twice oversubscribed, underscoring investor confidence in Runwise’s category-defining approach to making buildings smarter, more efficient, and cost-effective. Steve Sloane, Partner at Menlo Ventures, will join Runwise’s Board of Directors as part of this investment.

“Over the next decade, there will only be two types of companies: those that drive AI innovation and those that enable AI to transform the physical world,” said Sloane. “Runwise is perfectly positioned at the intersection of these forces, bridging the critical gap between AI and the built environment. Their platform is fundamentally changing how buildings operate, creating smarter, more sustainable spaces at scale. We’re excited to partner with Runwise as they bring this transformative tech to new heights.”

Runwise is now installed in more than 10,000 buildings across the U.S., serving upwards of 1,000 customers, including major real estate owner-operators like Related, Equity Residential, First Service Residential, MTA, Port Authority, National Grid, Rudin, LeFrak, UDR, Douglas Elliman, and Akam, among others. These assets have collectively saved over $100 million in energy costs to-date.

“Runwise delivers exactly what building operators need: real savings and simplicity,” stated John Skipper, Director of Energy Management at First Service Residential. “More than 150 of our buildings have installed Runwise, and in most buildings we have seen up to 30% in energy savings, while making the buildings more comfortable, and easier to manage. It’s a win for affordability, a win for operations, and a win for the environment.” 

Runwise’s vertically integrated platform combines proprietary hardware, wireless connectivity, and cloud-based software to automate and optimize building operations. With rapid deployment and a typical payback period of under five months, it marks the first time the economics of installing a smart operating system for buildings actually pencil — unlocking true portfolio-wide scale. Since its seed round, the company has grown over 30X and is on track to nearly double again this year, driven by demand for solutions that deliver tangible ROI, operational simplicity, and environmental impact.

Runwise is the most capitalized and widely deployed smart building platform in the U.S., setting a new standard for how smart buildings operate, proving that the future of infrastructure runs on software.

About Runwise
Runwise is the leading smart control platform transforming buildings into software. Installed in over 10,000 buildings across the U.S., Runwise operates key heating, cooling, electric, and water systems more intelligently, helping real estate owners and operators cut energy costs, boost safety, automate management, and reduce emissions at scale. Founded in 2010 by Jeff Carleton, Lee Hoffman, and Michael Cook, Runwise is based in NYC. Its vertically integrated platform combines proprietary wireless technology and hardware, with cloud-based software to automate building operations with rapid deployment and payback in under five months. Runwise has saved customers over $100 million in energy costs to-date and is one of the largest private-sector reducers of carbon emissions in the country. Backed by top investors including Menlo Ventures, Fifth Wall, and Nuveen Real Estate, Runwise is setting a new standard for how smart buildings operate. To learn more, visit www.runwise.com.

About Menlo Ventures
Menlo Ventures, is a leading early-stage venture capital firm investing at the forefront of AI. Our portfolio includes more than 80 public companies and over 165 exits through mergers and acquisitions. Currently managing more than $6 billion in assets, we invest at every stage across Consumer, Enterprise, and Healthcare. Our portfolio companies include Abnormal Security, Anthropic, Benchling, Carta, Chime, Harness, Pinecone, Poshmark, Pillpack, Recursion, Roku, Rover, Siri, Typeface, Uber, and Warby Parker. We strive to have a positive impact on everything we do. When we’re in, we’re ALL IN, and we are ALL IN on AI. To learn more, visit menlovc.com.

SOURCE Runwise

Series A funding to advance MOS118 through Phase 2 clinical trials

Biotech veteran David Weber appointed CEO to drive clinical development

Obstructive sleep apnea affects nearly 1 billion people globally, with the majority undiagnosed and underserved with current treatment options

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 9, 2025 — Mosanna Therapeutics, a biotech company rethinking treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), today announced the close of $80 million in Series A funding. The company is developing an easy-to-use nighttime nasal spray to treat obstructive sleep apnea that will help restore the body’s natural airway control. The financing was led by Pivotal bioVenture Partners and EQT Life Sciences, along with Forbion, Broadview Ventures and Norwest as co-lead investors. Returning investors included founding investor Forty51 Ventures, as well as Supermoon Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF).

OSA is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder, affecting an estimated 1 billion people globally. Left untreated, OSA is linked to serious health risks including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, depression and excessive daytime sleepiness – contributing to workplace and car accidents. Despite OSA’s prevalence, treatment has largely focused on mechanical solutions that are often uncomfortable and disruptive.

Mosanna is pioneering a pharmaceutical solution for sleep apnea patients with MOS118, a nasal spray administered at bedtime that helps restore the body’s natural airway reflex. MOS118 targets the upper airway muscles that are responsible for maintaining airway patency. Research has shown that, for reasons yet unknown, the natural airway reflex in OSA patients exhibits decreased activity during sleep resulting in loss of airway patency and apnea. The new funding will support the advancement of MOS118 through Phase 2 development while also supporting expansion of Mosanna’s pipeline.

Mosanna also appointed veteran biotech leader David Weber, Ph.D., as President and Chief Executive Officer to guide Mosanna’s next stage of growth. With more than 30 years of experience spanning drug development, capital formation and corporate strategy, Dr. Weber has led teams across both public and private life sciences companies. Dr. Weber was also appointed to Mosanna’s Board of Directors.

“What sets Mosanna apart is its fundamentally different approach to sleep apnea, treating it as a neurological and muscular dysfunction rather than a purely mechanical issue,” said Daniela Begolo, Ph.D., Managing Director with EQT Life Sciences. “MOS118 is the first therapy with the potential to restore the body’s natural airway reflex with the simplicity of a nasal spray. MOS118 has the potential to dramatically improve adherence and outcomes in a patient population that has long been underserved.”

“With his deep expertise in biotech innovation and patient-centric therapies, Dr. Weber was the ideal choice to lead Mosanna into the next chapter,” said Jeni Lee, Ph.D., Partner with Pivotal bioVenture Partners. “We look forward to partnering with him and the Mosanna team to deliver on the promise of this life-changing sleep apnea treatment.”

“Mosanna is taking a truly transformational approach to sleep apnea treatment – offering a non-invasive, non-mechanical solution designed to seamlessly fit into daily life,” said Dr. Weber. “No one has sleep apnea while awake, because our bodies instinctively keep the airway open. Mosanna simply helps to restore this natural reflex during sleep – delivering a nasal spray alternative to invasive mechanical workarounds. With this funding, we’re accelerating development to bring this groundbreaking treatment to patients who desperately need better options.”

With this funding, Drs. Begolo and Lee joined the Board of Directors alongside Dmitrij Hristodorov, Ph.D., General Partner at Forbion; Hewmun Lau, M.B.A., Principal at Broadview Ventures; and Tiba Aynechi, Ph.D., General Partner at Norwest. They join existing board directors Sascha Oliver Bucher, M.B.A., CEFA, co-founder and Partner at Forty51 Ventures; and veteran biotech CEO Ben Machielse, who also serves as board chair.

About Mosanna Therapeutics
Mosanna Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering a novel pharmaceutical approach to treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with an easily administered nasal spray. Designed to help restore the body’s natural airway control during sleep, Mosanna’s lead therapy, MOS118, offers a drug-based alternative to traditional mechanical treatments and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial. Founded in 2022, the company has raised more than $80 million from investors including Pivotal bioVenture Partners, EQT Life Sciences, Forbion, Norwest, Broadview Ventures, Forty51 Ventures, Supermoon Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF). Mosanna has offices in Redwood City, California and Basel, Switzerland. For more information, visit mosanna.com.

SOURCE Mosanna Therapeutics

The Innovative Ventures in Early-Stage Technologies Program Provides Damon Runyon Alumni Scientists with Their First Seed Check to Help Fill the Growing Funding Gap in Biotech

NEW YORK, June 9, 2025 — The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation today announced the launch of the Innovative Ventures in Early-Stage Technologies (InVEST) Program. This unique initiative will automatically provide the first seed check to biotech startups founded by Damon Runyon alumni scientists. The goal of the program is to catalyze billions of dollars in commercial funding for scientific discovery while generating long-term, sustainable support for future cancer research breakthroughs.

The InVEST Program will deploy $1 million annually to help Damon Runyon alumni scientists secure their first round of startup funding, often the most difficult capital to raise. These early investments will serve as a launchpad, enabling companies to attract substantial follow-on funding from top-tier venture firms.

“At a time when federal funding for biomedical research is increasingly constrained, scientists are turning to commercial partners to bring their discoveries to life,” said Yung S. Lie, PhD, President and CEO of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. “InVEST ensures our alumni can clear a critical hurdle—getting their first check—and accelerate their innovations toward impact.”

Damon Runyon alumni scientists currently found 10 to 20 startups annually. Many have created transformative companies, including Arbor Biotechnologies, Beam Therapeutics, Juno Therapeutics, Moderna Therapeutics and Scorpion Therapeutics. While Damon Runyon grants represent only 0.3% of total cancer research funding in the U.S., the scientists they support have contributed to the vast majority of the field’s most significant breakthroughs.

For scientists-turned-founders, early capital can be the make-or-break moment.

“Getting that first check is everything,” said Dr. Liron Bar-Peled, PhD, former Damon Runyon Fellow and co-founder of Scorpion Therapeutics. “Plenty of brilliant ideas are stuck in labs because no one wants to be the first to fund them. A program like InVEST tells the market: this is a founder worth backing.”

“Early funding can provide critical validation that provides momentum to turn a great idea into a viable company,” said Dr. Marcela Maus, a former Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator in the earliest stages of founding a biotech startup.

The program was conceived by Damon Runyon Board Chair Andy Rachleff, co-founder of Benchmark Capital, one of Silicon Valley’s most successful venture firms. Rachleff was inspired by a program he helped lead at Stanford Graduate School of Business, which allowed the school to invest in startups from the portfolios of five elite VC firms. Those small early investments generated hundreds of millions in returns for Stanford. Damon Runyon’s model follows the same logic. By backing scientists who have already passed the organization’s rigorous selection process, they are investing in some of the most promising minds in science.

“InVEST leverages what Damon Runyon does best, identifying scientific brilliance early, and giving those researchers the resources to translate their discoveries into real-world impact,” said Rachleff. “When we provide that crucial first check, we’re not just backing companies, we’re ensuring bold science continues to thrive.”

All returns from InVEST will be reinvested directly into Damon Runyon’s core mission: funding early-career cancer researchers. The program creates a powerful flywheel, catalyzing new scientific ventures while sustainably funding the next generation of research. In a time of uncertainty for science funding, InVEST represents a bold new path forward that brings together philanthropy, venture capital, and scientific discovery to drive life-saving innovation.

About the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation identifies and enables young scientists with the highest potential to make breakthroughs in cancer research, revolutionizing how we prevent, diagnose, and treat all forms of cancer. Since 1946, Damon Runyon has invested over $430 million and funded over 4,000 scientists. Thirteen Damon Runyon scientists have received the Nobel Prize, and many have gone on to lead field-defining discoveries, from identifying the first cancer-causing gene to developing immunotherapies and advancing technologies like CRISPR and single-cell analysis. Learn more at damonrunyon.org.

Media Contact:
Kate Wauck
[email protected]

SOURCE Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Funds from new and existing investors bring Beewise’s total financing to nearly $170M, further fueling Beewise’s AI and robotics-powered BeeHome™

SAN RAMON, Calif., June 9, 2025 — Beewise, Inc., the climate tech company behind the AI-powered BeeHome™, today announced the closing of a $50 million Series D growth investment, with participation from Fortissimo Capital, Insight Partners, APG Asset Management, lool Ventures, Badiya Capital, Marav Mazon Group, and Austin Hearst (Tom Horne). The new capital brings the company’s total raised to nearly $170 million and will accelerate Beewise’s technological innovation, market expansion, and research—all in service of its mission to save bees in order to secure the global food supply.

Three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and about one-third of food crops, including many nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, and nuts, depend on bee pollination. However, bees have been dying at rates that jeopardize our global food security: 62%+ of colonies in the US died last year alone. Climate change’s extreme weather, as well as monoculture-related health threats such as pesticides and pathogens, are devastating our pollinators. Furthermore, commercial beekeepers are not well positioned to help their colonies face these challenges: apiary locations can be hundreds of miles apart, skilled labor is scarce, and a given hive only receives a visit every few weeks.

In response to these global challenges, Beewise developed the BeeHome™, which uses AI and precision robotics, powered with solar energy, to offer bees “active” real-time autonomous treatment, rather than the passive monitoring that previous generations of hive sensor technology offer. All of the 1,240 BeeHomes currently in operation use machine learning to continuously monitor and assess hive health, supported by skilled beekeepers. For beekeepers and growers who still want to make decisions for their hive, the BeeHome’s proprietary software conveniently enables them to take remote action from a desk or mobile device, protecting bees from threats and optimizing hive strength. The end result is healthier colonies, improved crop yields, and enhanced biodiversity.

Beewise CEO and Co-Founder Saar Safra explains, “We are very pleased with the results of our fundraising efforts. This financing round is a testament to our business momentum and validates our position as a global leader using AI to tackle one of humanity’s most pressing issues: declined pollination due to the global collapse of bee colonies.”

Yoav Hineman, Partner at Fortissimo Capital and Beewise board member, explains, “Beewise captured our attention early on with a bold vision and the technology to support it. Since then, the company has made exceptional progress, evolving from product innovation to achieving market leadership. Their continued success has only strengthened our confidence in both the leadership team and the long-term potential of the company. We are proud to participate in this latest round and support Beewise as they continue to scale their impact worldwide.”

Daniel Aronovitz, Managing Director at Insight Partners and another Beewise board member, added: “Since participating in Beewise’s Series C round, we have had a front-row seat to their healthy growth and progress towards their urgent mission of saving bees at scale. What Saar and the Beewise team are building has global implications for the environment, food chain, and so much more, and Insight is proud to continue our partnership with them in this next chapter.”

Beewise has achieved key milestones since its 2022 Series C financing, including:

• Developing into the leading provider of pollination services globally, supported by thousands of AI-powered robotic beehives in the field and pollinating 300K+ acres annually for hundreds of growers, including Nuveen Natural Capital (part of TIAA Investments), Agriland, Olam Food Ingredients, and more.
• Implementing AI agents using novel models to mitigate climate risk in the agriculture market.
• Proving out a real-world use case of an adaptive, autonomous robot.
• Building out a world-class AI team delivering the first-of-its-kind autonomous beekeeper model, deploying RNNs, machine learning, and reinforcement learning methods.
• Launching the fourth generation of BeeHome™, known as the BeeHome™ 4, which includes the Beewise Heat Chamber Technology, a device that eliminates 99% of lethal Varroa mites, all without exposing bees to harmful chemicals.

About Beewise

Beewise is the leading global solution provider for pollination services, on a mission to save bees in order to secure the global food supply. Bees pollinate 75% of the crops we eat, yet bees are dying at a rate that jeopardizes our food security: more than 62% of US bee colonies died in 2024. We have created the BeeHome™, an AI-powered robotic beehive, as a climate adaptation solution to protect bees. The device’s AI, precision robotics, and software, enable growers and beekeepers to remotely treat their bees in real-time, resulting in healthier colonies, improved crop yields, and enhanced biodiversity. Learn More About Beewise

Media Contact:
Tai Nicolopoulos
[email protected]
1 (844) 352-2337

SOURCE Beewise, Inc.

Backed by EVP, the investment fuels Modii’s expansion in the digital transformation of parking and mobility infrastructure.

DENVER, June 9, 2025 — Modii Inc., a U.S. based smart mobility software company, today announced the successful close of its seed round, led by Australia-based venture firm EVP. The raise comes amid rapid adoption of Modii’s SaaS-based cloud platform by major cities, universities and parking operators, guiding the digitization and optimization of their transportation infrastructure.

About Modii’s Platform
Modii provides a centralized platform for the analysis and optimization of parking and mobility infrastructure. The cloud-based platform aggregates real-time data on the utilization and revenue of existing parking assets and leverages AI-driven analytics to predict future demand, enabling operators to improve user experience, asset efficiency, and operational decision-making.

In the US, the company now manages over a million parking spaces for customers including multiple 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities and several of the most visited cities in the US. University clients include half of the ten largest universities by daily attendance in the US. Modii’s live environments can be explored at https://www.modii.co/spaces.

Use of Funds
With this investment, Modii plans to expand operations, enhance its engineering and product capabilities, and grow customer delivery and success teams in key U.S. markets.

“This capital raise validates both our vision and our execution,” said Mark Frumar, CEO of Modii. “We’re now positioned to scale innovation that directly improves daily mobility experiences and infrastructure for communities across the U.S.”

With the investment, EVP Principal, Mark Velik will join the Board of Modii.

“Modii has built a world-class product with clear customer demand,” said Mark Velik, Principal at EVP. “We’re excited to support their continued innovation in this long overlooked but essential sector.”

About Modii
Modii is guiding the shift towards smart parking and mobility solutions to help create smarter, greener, and safer cities, universities, and communities around the world. Modii provides customers with real data on the usage of their parking infrastructure to enable data-led decision-making. The foundation data helps communities achieve increased accessibility and connectivity, the reduction of congestion, emissions, and improved asset management.

Modii recently completed a 2-year research study in partnership with the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington to test the impact and effectiveness of Modii’s platform and parking guidance solution. Grant-funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the study found Modii’s Platform provides the following improvements to parking operations:

• Increased revenue by an average of 8.5% in monitored parking zones.
• Reduced parking violations by up to 60%, improved driver behavior and promoted self-regulation by drivers.
• Lowered enforcement costs through the analysis of parking trends aiding focused patrols.
• Guided strategic refinements to parking policy, parking operations and enforcement with the help of measured evidence.

Website: Modii.co
Press contact: [email protected]

About EVP
EVP is an early stage venture capital firm focused on B2B software companies. EVP currently has over $250m under management across a portfolio of over 40 software companies. Based in Sydney, Australia, EVP invests entirely in B2B SaaS and marketplace companies across a broad range of industries. Companies include the likes of Ignition, Deputy, Shippit, Lumary, Hnry and Mutinex.

Website: evp.com.au

SOURCE Modii Inc.