SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 2025 — Ballistic Ventures, the venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to funding and incubating entrepreneurs and innovations in cybersecurity, today announced that several members of its team will speak at the 2025 RSA Conference (RSAC), taking place in San Francisco from April 28-30. RSAC is one of the world’s largest and most influential cybersecurity events, drawing global leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and investors.

Ballistic invites RSAC attendees to join and engage during the following featured sessions:

Monday, April 28 from 2:20 – 3:10 PM
The Future of Tech Policy: Balancing Innovation, Security, and Regulation
Ballistic General Partner Ted Schlein will moderate a discussion with Gen. Paul Nakasone (ret.), Strategic Advisor to Ballistic, OpenAI Board Member, and the former Director of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, and Chris Krebs, the nation’s first Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The talk will explore how public policy can keep pace with emerging technologies while safeguarding national security and encouraging innovation.

Tuesday, April 29 from 1:15 – 2:05 PM
The State of Venture Capital and Private Equity in Cybersecurity
Ballistic General Partner Barmak Meftah will join fellow cybersecurity investors Greg Clark of Crosspoint Capital, Jason Risch of Greylock Partners, and Chenxi Wang of Rain Capital for a candid conversation on where capital is flowing, the changing macro environment, and what makes a cyber startup fundable in today’s climate.

Tuesday, April 29 from 3:30 – 4:20 PM
RSAC Launch Pad
Meftah will return to the stage alongside Sarah Guo of Conviction Partners and Enrique Salem of Bain Capital to evaluate live pitches from early-stage cybersecurity startups. The panel will offer real-time feedback and funding advice for the next generation of cyber entrepreneurs.

Wednesday, April 30 from 9:40 – 10:30 AM
RSAC Keynote – Cybersecurity Year-in-Review and the Future Ahead
Ballistic General Partner Kevin Mandia will take the RSA keynote stage alongside Ballistic Venture Partner Nicole Perlroth, bestselling author and former New York Times lead cybersecurity reporter. Together, they’ll break down the past year’s most significant cyber intrusions, threat actor evolutions, and the trends shaping the global security landscape.

“In a year defined by nation-state threats, emerging risks around AI, and growing cyber-regulatory scrutiny, RSAC 2025 provides a critical forum for cross-sector dialogue,” said Meftah. “We’re proud to help lead the conversation alongside our peers, public sector partners, and founders building the future of cybersecurity.”

This announcement follows Ballistic news on Friday that Phil Venables, one of the cybersecurity industry’s most respected leaders and the former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Google Cloud, has joined the firm as a Venture Partner. Venables brings decades of experience shaping security programs at some of the world’s most influential organizations, including Google Cloud, Goldman Sachs, and Deutsche Bank. His addition underscores Ballistic’s deep commitment to advancing innovation and resilience in cybersecurity.

About Ballistic Ventures
Ballistic Ventures is a venture capital firm solely dedicated to early-stage cybersecurity and cyber-related companies. The partners have spent their entire careers defending against every cyber threat conceivable. Members of the firm have founded, operated, and funded over 100 successful cybersecurity firms – including Abnormal Security, AlienVault, ArcSight, Fortify, Mandiant, and Shape Security – led over 10,000 security professionals globally, and have 40+ years of experience in venture capital. The Ballistic portfolio includes Aembit, Alethea, ArmorCode, AuthMind, Codezero, Concentric AI, GetReal, Gomboc AI, Mimic, Noma, Nudge Security, Oligo, Pangea, Perygee, Reach, SpecterOps, Talon (PANW), Veza, and WitnessAI. Our experience provides entrepreneurs impactful support from people focused on the same mission. Our networks and relationships open doors for our founders. Learn more at ballisticventures.com.

SOURCE Ballistic Ventures

NEW YORK, April 28, 2025 — Northwind Group, a Manhattan-based real estate private equity firm and debt fund manager, announced the origination of a $45 million senior first-mortgage loan for the acquisition and predevelopment of 300 East 42nd Street, an 18-story office building located in Midtown East submarket of Manhattan. The loan will bridge the property’s conversion into a mixed-use asset with 135 multifamily rental units in addition to a long-term leased office component.

The loan was originated by Northwind Debt Fund III, the firm’s latest closed-ended vehicle focused on real estate credit investments in major gateway urban markets. Northwind structured a competitive and quick financing solution. Since the beginning of the year, Northwind Group has originated approximately $400 million in new loans, building on the platform’s strong performance in 2024, when it closed more than $1.1 billion across its credit platform.

The acquisition and conversion of 300 East 42nd Street are being led by a group of seasoned New York City-based developers, with whom Northwind has a longstanding lending relationship.

Located at the corner of 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue, the property spans a full blockfront just steps from Grand Central Station and the United Nations. The conversion plan takes advantage of the building’s as-of-right zoning and efficient floor plates that support residential layouts without requiring additional light and air shafts. The mid-section of the building, which is already vacant and not subject to tenant buyouts, will be converted to residential use. The upper and lower floors, currently occupied by a roster of diplomatic tenants, will remain as office space. The asset will feature dedicated lobbies and elevator banks for the residential and office components, enabling a clean separation of uses. The project is expected to benefit from the 467-m tax abatement program, which incentivizes residential conversions and supports mixed-income housing.

Ran Eliasaf, Founder and Managing Partner of Northwind Group, commented, “We identified an opportunity to originate this loan at a favorable basis, representing a 75% discount to the prior ownership’s cost basis for a project that is zoned as-of-right, with no need to relocate tenants, and a clean path to conversion capitalizing on the experience we gained lending on similar assets in NYC. The building’s layout is naturally suited for residential use with three sides of light-and-air as the asset spans the full Second Avenue block from 42nd to 41st Street. At the same time, the remaining office component continues to generate consistent long-term cash flow leased to diplomatic tenants. Given its proximity to Grand Central and other transit hubs, employment centers, schools, hospitals, and the UN, the property is wellpositioned to meet residential demand in a supply-constrained market. Northwind is proud to be at the forefront of financing office to residential conversion projects in NYC unlocking much-needed new rental supply”.

The financing was arranged by Morris Betesh at Arrow Real Estate Advisors.

About Northwind Group
Founded in 2008 by Ran Eliasaf, Northwind Group is a Manhattan-based real estate private equity firm specializing in debt investments through discretionary, closed-ended funds. The firm has successfully executed over $5.6 billion in real estate transactions across more than 320 properties. For further information, go to www.northwind-group.com.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Northwind Group

AUSTIN, Texas, April 28, 2025 — Escalate Capital Partners, a leading private credit and growth equity investment firm with $1.3 billion of invested capital, today announced the successful closing of its fifth fund, Escalate Capital V, LP (Fund V), bringing in $350 million of committed capital. Limited partners in Fund V include J.P. Morgan Investment Management, TD Bank, Cadence Bank, Regions Bank, and Truist Community Capital, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Truist Bank.

Austin-based Escalate Capital has completed its first two investments from Fund V, representing $35 million of committed capital. Consistent with Escalate Capital’s investment focus, Fund V invests in rapidly growing later-stage companies in the technology, software, services, and healthcare sectors across the United States. It builds on the company’s 20-year record of supporting more than 140 venture capital and growth equity-backed companies across those sectors.

“We are pleased to close Fund V with capital commitments from existing and new limited partners,” said Chris Julich, general partner of Escalate Capital. “This fund positions us to continue to support transformative companies in critical growth industries with flexible capital solutions and a collaborative, long-term approach.”

Tony Schell, co-founder and general partner of Escalate Capital, added, “As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2025, we’re excited to work with innovative late-stage companies and provide them with the financing solutions they need to scale. Fund V is key to meeting this objective.”

Escalate Capital also announced the promotions of Travis Wood to partner and Larry Bradshaw to chief operating officer and chief financial officer.  Wood joined Escalate Capital in 2019 and is responsible for sourcing and managing investments. Bradshaw joined the firm in 2005 and oversees compliance and back-office operations.

About Escalate Capital Partners

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Escalate Capital Partners is a leading private credit and growth equity firm targeting rapidly growing later-stage companies in technology, software, services, and healthcare. With more than $1.3 billion of invested capital, Escalate Capital delivers tailored financing solutions to support entrepreneurial management teams in achieving their growth objectives. For more information, visit www.escalatecapital.com.

Media Contact:
Margaret Kirch Cohen
Newton Park PR, LLC
847-507-2229
[email protected]

SOURCE Escalate Capital

SPOKANE, Wash., April 28, 2025 — Gestalt, a leading innovator in AI-powered digital pathology solutions, announced the completion of a $7.5 million Series A financing. The round was led by Cowles Ventures, TVF Funds, Inland Imaging Investments, KickStart Funds, and prominent angel investors from the Pacific Northwest.

Gestalt’s PathFlow® platform is used by leading healthcare, academic medical centers, and research organizations. Customers implement PathFlow as their preferred solution because it integrates seamlessly into their existing laboratory information systems, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses and improving access to expert consultation, education, and research—regardless of location.

“PathFlow is transforming pathology by leveraging robust digital workflows and AI algorithms to support scoring of key biomarkers. This enables organizations to accurately match patients to known therapies and generate rich datasets for research and new drug development,” said Dan Roark, CEO, Gestalt. “Our technology is designed to improve patient outcomes by enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses and broadening access to clinical expertise.”

This new funding will facilitate broader market adoption and increased profitability. The capital will be used to expand the company’s customer base, enhance AI capabilities, and pursue FDA clearance. This comes at a critical moment, with rising cancer rates and a declining number of practicing pathologists intensifying the need for scalable, digital-first diagnostic solutions.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our investors,” Roark added. “This funding allows us to expand on the solid foundation we’ve built. We’ve already streamlined how pathologists navigate fragmented systems by creating PathFlow, a unified platform for viewing pathology cases digitally and collaborating with leading experts in real-time without the need to ship specimens.  Now, we’ll accelerate innovation and scale our reach to meet the growing demands of modern pathology.”

Gestalt is at the forefront of a critical shift in diagnostic medicine, helping transform pathology from a manual, microscope-based process to a scalable digital solution leveraging artificial intelligence tools — like the digital transitions already seen in radiology and cardiology.

The company’s platform not only improves diagnostic speed and precision which is critical for cancer patients who can wait for days to weeks or more for a diagnosis, but also unlocks AI-powered insights that enable:

• Biomarker scoring to support the optimization of patient-therapy matching,
• Image and data analysis for disease progression studies,
• And the interoperability that enables pathologists access to valuable aides and insights that streamline their workflows, highlight areas of positivity and reduce missed diagnoses.

With this Series A funding, Gestalt remains committed to expanding its impact through the deployment of its’ PathFlow software in healthcare, making high-quality, scalable pathology solutions more accessible to clinicians and researchers worldwide.

About Gestalt 
Gestalt Diagnostics is a Spokane-based company dedicated to revolutionizing pathology through digital solutions. Founded in 2017, Gestalt provides advanced technology, proven digital expertise, and artificial intelligence to enable pathologists to diagnose diseases faster and more efficiently. The company’s PathFlow platform is at the forefront of digital pathology innovation, offering significant improvements in diagnostic accuracy and workflow efficiency.

To learn more, visit www.gestaltdiagnostics.com and follow @Gestalt on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Gestalt Diagnostics

SINGAPORE, 28 april 2025 — Thunes, de Smart Superhighway voor geldoverdracht over de hele wereld, kondigt trots de succesvolle afronding van haar Serie D-financiering van $150 miljoen aan, de grootste in zijn geschiedenis, met een aanzienlijke waardestijging ten opzichte van de vorige financieringsronde. In weerwil van het feit dat de omstandigheden op de kapitaalmarkten tot de meest uitdagende van de afgelopen tijd worden gerekend, werd deze mijlpaal in recordtijd bereikt.

Thunes verwelkomt trots Apis Partners en Vitruvian Partners, twee toonaangevende participatiemaatschappijen die allebei wereldwijd erkenning genieten om hun diepgaande expertise in financiële dienstverlening en opkomende markten.

Thunes is nu winstgevend en behoudt een sterke groeidynamiek. Het bedrijf wil dit kapitaal gebruiken om haar expansie in de Verenigde Staten te versnellen, ondersteund door de recente verwerving van licenties in 50 Amerikaanse staten, onder voorbehoud van goedkeuring door de regelgevende instanties.

Deze fondsen zullen het Direct Global Network van Thunes verder versterken, dat momenteel meer dan 130 landen, meer dan 80 valuta en meer dan 550 directe integraties omvat en betalingen in realtime in complexe en exotische markten mogelijk maakt.  Nu grensoverschrijdende betalingen aanzwellen tot een markt van $ 150 biljoen, bevindt Thunes zich in een goede positie om verder een groeiend aandeel te veroveren.

Door middel van geavanceerde technologie, toonaangevende compliancenormen en een naadloze klantervaring, blijft Thunes diverse betaalsystemen, waaronder traditionele, digitale en opkomende valuta, interoperabel maken. Binnen een visie om de “volgende miljard eindgebruikers” in opkomende markten te omvatten, beoogt Thunes de go-to oplossing te zijn voor snelle, veilige en kosteneffectieve grensoverschrijdende betalingen, door miljarden wallets en duizenden partners wereldwijd met elkaar te verbinden.

Floris de Kort, CEO van Thunes, verklaart: “De laatste financieringsronde van Thunes is een duidelijke bevestiging van onze strategie en ons streven naar duurzame groei. Onze prestaties, gekenmerkt door een omzet van $150 miljoen en een positieve EBITDA, tonen aan dat we in staat zijn om een evenwicht te vinden tussen snelle expansie en financiële voorzichtigheid, zelfs in een tumultueuze markt. Met dit nieuwe kapitaal kunnen we ons Direct Global Network uitbreiden, ook in de Verenigde Staten, technologische innovatie stimuleren, van artificiële intelligentie tot de interoperabiliteit van ecosystemen voor digitale activa, en voortreffelijke waarde leveren aan de leden van ons eigen netwerk. In een uitdagende financieringsomgeving zetten onze vorderingen en veerkracht een nieuwe standaard voor de sector.”

Matteo Stefanel, Managing Partner & medeoprichter van Apis Partners, gaf volgend commentaar: “Thunes heeft een revolutie teweeggebracht in wereldwijde grensoverschrijdende betalingen door robuuste technologie naadloos te integreren met een gedisciplineerde financiële strategie die vertrouwen inboezemt. De indrukwekkende groei van het bedrijf en de positieve EBITDA-prestaties, zelfs in deze ongekende tijden, bevestigen duidelijk het vertrouwen van de leden en hun vermogen om effectief schaalvergroting te verwezenlijken. We hebben het opmerkelijke traject van Thunes nauwlettend gevolgd en zijn voortdurend onder de indruk van de innovatieve aanpak, operationele striktheid en strategische toekomstgerichtheid van het team. Thunes’ streven naar uitmuntendheid herdefinieert sectorreferenties en legt de lat hoog voor betrouwbaarheid en prestaties in wereldwijde betalingen. Tot slot zijn we bijzonder trots op het werk dat Thunes verricht om de toegang tot betaalbare financiële diensten voor de volgende miljard gebruikers in opkomende markten te versnellen, maar ook dat Apis in de verderzetting van dit traject een kleine rol mag spelen.”

Tassilo Arnhold, Partner bij Vitruvian Partners, verklaart: “We zijn trots met het visionaire team van Thunes samen te werken bij het uitbouwen van een transformatief platform dat op effectieve wijze traditioneel bankieren, mobiele wallets en digitale activa overkoepelt in een eengemaakt oplossing. Bij Vitruvian Partners hechten we veel waarde aan strategische visie, veerkracht en inzet voor innovatie. In elk aspect van haar activiteiten is Thunes hiervan een voorbeeld bij uitstek. Ze geven op consistente wijze blijk dat ze in staat zijn complexe marktomstandigheden te beheersen en tegelijkertijd nieuwe standaarden qua efficiëntie en transparantie te stellen. We zijn enthousiast Thunes te kunnen steunen in hun missie om voortdurend de sectorreferenties te bepalen en te overtreffen, om zo de toekomst van wereldwijde grensoverschrijdende betalingen opnieuw te definiëren.”

De serie D-fondsenwerving van Thunes benadrukt haar financiële kracht en operationele uitmuntendheid. Het bedrijf zit nu klaar in de startblokken om de standaarden voor wereldwijde grensoverschrijdende betalingen te herdefiniëren, door nieuwe wegen te banen voor groei en innovatie in een snel evoluerend fintech-landschap.

Bij deze transactie trad Proton Partners op als financieel adviseur.

SINGAPORE, April 28, 2025 — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, is proud to announce the successful raise of its $150 million Series D, the largest in its history, at a substantial valuation increase over its last round. Amid one of the most challenging capital markets environments of recent times, this milestone was achieved in record time.

Thunes proudly welcomes Apis Partners and Vitruvian Partners, two leading private equity firms, both globally recognized for their deep expertise in financial services and emerging markets.

Now profitable and maintaining strong growth momentum, Thunes plans to leverage this capital to supercharge its expansion in the United States, supported by the recent acquisition of licenses across 50 U.S. States, subject to regulatory approval.

These funds will further strengthen Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which today spans 130+ countries, 80+ currencies and 550+ direct integrations, enabling real-time payments across complex and exotic markets.  As cross-border payments swell towards a $150 trillion market opportunity, Thunes stands well positioned to continue to capture a growing share.

Through cutting-edge technology, industry-leading compliance standards, and a seamless customer experience, Thunes continues to make diverse payment systems, including traditional, digital, and emerging currencies, interoperable. With a vision to include the “next billion end users” in emerging markets, Thunes aims to be the go-to solution for fast, secure, and cost-effective cross-border payments, connecting billions of wallets and thousands of partners worldwide.

Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, stated, “Thunes’ latest funding round is a clear validation of our strategy and our commitment to sustainable growth. Our performance, marked by a Revenue run-rate of $150 million and positive EBITDA, demonstrates our ability to balance rapid expansion with financial prudence, even in a tumultuous market. This new capital enables us to extend our Direct Global Network, including in the United States, drive technological innovation, from Artificial Intelligence to digital asset ecosystem interoperability, and deliver superior value to the Members of our proprietary Network. In a challenging funding environment, our progress and resilience set a new industry standard.”

Matteo Stefanel, Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Apis Partners, commented, “Thunes has revolutionized global cross-border payments by seamlessly integrating robust technology with a disciplined financial strategy that inspires confidence. The company’s impressive growth record and positive EBITDA performance, even in these unprecedented times, clearly underpin the trust of its Members and their ability to scale effectively. We have been closely monitoring Thunes’ remarkable journey and are consistently impressed by the team’s innovative approach, operational rigor, and strategic foresight. Thunes’ pursuit of excellence redefines industry standards and sets a high bar for reliability and performance in global payments. Lastly, we are especially proud of the work Thunes is doing in accelerating access to affordable financial services across the next billion users in emerging markets, and for Apis to play a small part in continuing this journey.”

Tassilo Arnhold, Partner at Vitruvian Partners, said: “We are proud to partner with the visionary team at Thunes as they build a transformative platform that effectively bridges traditional banking, mobile wallets, and digital assets into one unified solution. At Vitruvian Partners, we value strategic vision, resilience, and commitment to innovation, all of which Thunes exemplifies in every aspect of its operations. They consistently demonstrate the ability to navigate complex market conditions while setting new standards for efficiency and transparency. We are delighted to support Thunes in their mission to continuously set and exceed industry benchmarks, thereby redefining the future of global cross-border payments.”

Thunes’ series D fundraising underscores its financial strength and operational excellence. The company is now set to redefine the standards of global cross-border payments, forging new pathways for growth and innovation in a rapidly evolving fintech landscape.

Proton Partners served as financial advisors on this transaction.

SOURCE Thunes

• $135M Capital Raise, Comprised of Private Placement and In-Kind Contributions, Aims at Increasing iMENA’s Shareholding in Existing Businesses
• Company completes restructuring into a Saudi company, iMENA Holding
• Transformation part of evolution into regional digital powerhouse.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 27, 2025 — iMENA Group (“iMENA”), a regional leader in digital platforms in the MENA region, has raised $135 million from Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), FJ Labs, a global venture capital firm known for backing category-leading marketplace and network-effect platforms, and Saygin Yalcin, the founder and CEO of SellAnyCar, and a number of other leading Saudi investors.

The capital raise is compromised of a private placement and in-kind contributions and is the first tranche of a pre-IPO funding round. The new funding round will be used to increase iMENA’s shareholding in its three high-performing businesses: OpenSooq, SellAnyCar, and Jeeny; to drive vertical and geographic expansion; and to improve synergies across its platforms.

iMENA confirmed that it has now restructured into a Saudi Closed Joint Stock Company (CJSC) under the name of iMENA Holding. This transformation marks a major milestone in the company’s evolution into a regional digital powerhouse, ahead of a potential public listing. Furthermore Saygin Yalcin will also join iMENA’s Board of Directors and management committee to help drive strategic direction for the company.

Nasir Alsharif, Chairman of iMENA Holding said: “This transaction marks an important inflection point for iMENA in its journey to IPO-readiness by taking advantage of the great opportunities provided by the Kingdom’s Vision (2030) and in cooperation with the largest investment entities. We are shaping the future of the region’s digital economy as a platform of internet marketplaces driving innovation at pace and at scale. The high growth and profitability of our businesses, in sectors and markets within which we have high conviction, provides material value creation opportunities and an exciting pathway for us to accelerate forward.“ 

A spokesperson at Sanabil Investments added: “We are excited to invest in iMENA Holding, a digital platform with proven scalability and profitability. Leveraging our own experience in internet marketplaces, we understand their unique strategy and are committed to bringing our expertise to support their growth and future IPO aspirations on the Saudi Exchange.“

Acting as financial advisor to iMENA Holding on the private placement, Hossam AlBasrawi, CEO of Al Rajhi Capital commented “Al Rajhi Capital is proud to support iMENA’s transformation and potential IPO journey. The group’s integrated model and strategic vision make it a standout in the region’s digital landscape“.

Closing of the capital raise remains subject to standard closing conditions and the approval of the authorities in Saudi Arabia.

iMENA Holding’s new Board of Directors will comprise the following regional leaders and sector veterans:

• Nasir Alsharif, Chairman of iMENA, Board Member at AWJ Holding Company and Executive Chairman of Sackville Capital
• Khaldoon Tabaza, Co-founder & Managing Director of iMENA
• Adey Salamin, Co-founder of iMENA and CEO of OpenSooq
• Saygin Yalcin, Founder & CEO of SellAnyCar
• Mazin AlDawood, CEO of Osool & Bakheet Investment
• Usman Sikandar, Head of Investment Banking at Al Rajhi Capital
• Marco Somalvico, Vice President M&A of E&

Sanabil Investments will also appoint a member to the Board of Directors of iMENA Holding in due course.

iMENA’s businesses, OpenSooq, SellAnyCar, and Jeeny, are regional leaders in horizontal and vertical marketplaces across the largest sectors in the region, including real estate, automotive, and mobility, with operations in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, and the broader Middle East region. iMENA’s businesses are profitable and growing rapidly, with an average annual growth rate exceeding 55%. Almost 40% of the aggregate revenues of iMENA’s businesses come from Saudi Arabia, with another 40% from the UAE, making them iMENA’s two core strategic markets. iMENA’s businesses aim to serve as a compelling proxy for the digital economy in the Middle East and North Africa region, giving investors direct exposure to the region’s fastest-growing online sectors.

About iMENA Holding:

iMENA was founded in 2012, and has evolved into a regional internet champion, building and scaling high-growth internet businesses across the Middle East and North Africa region. The company was co-founded by Nasir Alsharif, Khaldoon Tabaza, and Adey Salamin,  joined as part of this restructuring by Saygin Yalcin, plan to leverage their expertise in technology and investment to continue building and operating digital marketplaces. Over the years, iMENA has launched, acquired, scaled, and successfully exited from a number of successful regional platforms, thereby becoming a strategic consolidator in the digital economy.

• Nasir Alsharif, iMENA’s Chairman, is an experienced investor and builder of investment businesses across venture capital, technology and broader private markets, with current roles including Board Member at AWJ Holding Company and Executive Chairman of Sackville Capital.
• Khaldoon Tabaza, Managing Director of iMENA Holding and Chairman of Opensooq, is a pioneer in the region’s technology and venture capital ecosystem with more than 30 years of experience in building and investing in digital ventures across MENA, including founding the first venture-backed online business in the MENA region more than 25 years ago.
• Adey Salamin is a marketplace expert and the CEO of OpenSooq, known for scaling the platform into one of the region’s most visited websites and mobile applications. Adey has over 20 years of experience as a founder, operator, investor, and advisor of growth businesses.
• Saygin Yalcin is a serial entrepreneur and Founder & CEO of SellAnyCar, one of the most prominent digital automotive brands in the Middle East. Previously, he was Founder and CEO of Sukar.com and Vice President of Souq.com following a merger forming the Middle East’s largest E-commerce group that was later acquired by Amazon.

For more information on OpenSooq, please visit: www.opensooq.com

For more information on SellAnyCar, please visit: www.sellanycar.com

For more information on Jeeny, please visit: www.jeeny.me

Contact:

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2673526/iMENA_Holding_Logo.jpg

SOURCE iMENA Holding

TAMPA, Fla., April 24, 2025 — EC-Council, a global leader in cybersecurity education and training, and the creators of world-renowned Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)  credential, is taking a transformative step to reshape the future of digital security. EC-Council has announced the launch of a $100 million investment to drive the development of next-gen technologies aimed to accelerate cybersecurity breakthroughs and strengthen global digital defense.

The investment coupled with EC-Council’s platform support, will boost the next generation of cybersecurity innovation which will redefine the cybersecurity paradigm worldwide. Strategic deployment of the investment will prioritize companies with high growth potential, and which demonstrate exceptional technical innovation, problem-solving capabilities, and tangible impact in strengthening Cybersecurity Defense.

Companies led by EC-Council certified cybersecurity professionals or those that employ EC-Council certified cybersecurity professionals in key technical and leadership roles will be given priority, aligning with EC-Council’s commitment to expertise-driven cybersecurity innovation.

“Our industry stands at a pivotal moment, requiring visionary leadership to counteract an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape,” said Jay Bavisi, Group President, EC-Council. “This initiative is designed to provide not just financial backing but also mentorship, strategic guidance, and global exposure to help these companies create effective security solutions. As a globally trusted cybersecurity brand, we are investing in the future by equipping those who are committed to driving impactful change.”

This initiative builds on EC-Council’s two-decade legacy of shaping the global cybersecurity workforce through education, training, and innovation. Its industry-relevant programs; such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) , Certified Network Defender (CND), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) have become gold standards in the field. Supporting this commitment to continuous learning is EC-Council Learning , the World’s Largest Online Cybersecurity Course Library, which offers professionals and institutions access to thousands of curated resources that evolve with the threat landscape.

Further product innovations include CEH powered with AI capabilities,  CPENT AI  an advanced offensive security program featuring real-time AI-driven test environments and The Hackerverse CTF, EC-Council’s immersive cyber range platform that simulates real-world attack scenarios to prepare professionals for live threats.

The goal of EC-Council’s $100 million investment is to ensure that companies in the cybersecurity space with strong technical capabilities and market potential can access capital and resources to accelerate their growth. Companies from any region are encouraged to apply, as EC-Council is committed to creating a global ecosystem of cybersecurity innovation.

With cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, businesses, governments, and individuals face growing risks. EC-Council’s investment initiative is designed to ensure the companies with best-in-class products, service offerings and capabilities have the resources and platform to reach the users and enterprises who could benefit the most from their solutions.

Bavisi further highlighted the importance of empowering emerging companies, stating: “Innovation is not limited to large global corporations or major tech hubs. With the power of today’s technology, infrastructure and AI, some of the most disruptive cybersecurity solutions are emerging in recent times by highly specialized companies, with the potential to transform the sector and lead to new business models. Our goal is to ensure these companies have the support they need to thrive, regardless of their size or location.”

For more information on how to apply, visit EC-Council’s official website:
https://www.eccouncil.org/supporting-cybersecurity-initiatives/

About EC-Council: 

EC-Council is the creator of the world-renowned Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program and a leader in cybersecurity education. Founded in 2001, EC-Council’s mission is to provide high-quality training and certifications for cybersecurity professionals to keep organizations safe from cyber threats. EC-Council offers over 200 certifications and degrees in various cybersecurity domains, including forensics, security analysis, threat intelligence, and information security.    

An ISO/IEC 17024 accredited organization, EC-Council has certified over 350,000 professionals worldwide, with clients ranging from government agencies to Fortune 100 companies. EC-Council is the gold standard in cybersecurity certification, trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and leading global corporations.    

For more information, visit: www.eccouncil.org 

SOURCE EC-Council

SINGAPORE, April 24, 2025 — MagicBlock, a real-time engine for decentralised games and applications on Solana, has raised a $7.5 million Seed round. The round was led by Lightspeed Faction, with participation from Maven11, Delphi Digital, Robot Ventures, Mechanism Capital, Equilibrium, Pivot Global, and notable angels including Anatoly Yakovenko, Mert Mumtaz, and Tristan Yver. This investment fuels MagicBlock’s mission to power real-time, fully onchain games and applications built natively on Solana, ensuring that developers can build decentralized experiences with ultra-low latency and full composability – without the tradeoffs of an L2.

Following a $3 million investment led by a16z CSX in September 2024, this latest raise further accelerates MagicBlock’s momentum as it blurs the boundaries between blockchain and traditional servers. While traditional appchains force developers to choose between fragmented liquidity and app-specific customizations, MagicBlock delivers ultra-low latency and elastic throughput while maintaining full access to Solana‘s liquidity and composable ecosystem. With MagicBlock’s Ephemeral Rollups, developers can build natively on Solana and access app-specific extensions, or plugins, like real-time pricing feeds, custom sequencing, or institutional-grade permissioned environment..

MagicBlock’s ephemeral rollup technology, pioneered by co-founders Andrea Fortugno and Gabriele Picco, is a breakthrough in real-time blockchain execution. Unlike traditional L2s and rollups that require bridging, this innovation enhances Solana‘s performance without sacrificing native composability. MagicBlock ensures that developers can harness high-speed infrastructure with seamless interoperability across DeFi, gaming, and high-performance dApps.

As part of this growth phase, MagicBlock has partnered with Flash Trade, Supersize, Pyth, Jito, and dTelecom, leading projects in the Solana ecosystem that share its vision for fully onchain, high-performance applications.

• Flash Trade, a decentralized derivative exchange, leverages MagicBlock’s ephemeral rollups to execute real-time, gas-efficient trades with minimal latency.
• Supersize, a real-time multiplayer game built fully onchain for maximum composability and verifiability
• dTelecom, a decentralized real-time communication network running ephemeral rollup technology to deliver a low latency experience with ultra-cheap fees.
• Pyth Lazer, for a 1ms price stream running in Ephemeral Rollups
• Jito, a leader in Solana‘s validator ecosystem, collaborates with MagicBlock to enhance security with restaking and reducing execution time

These partnerships reinforce MagicBlock’s commitment to providing the fastest, most scalable infrastructure for developers building high-frequency trading platforms, real-time gaming, and next-generation onchain applications.

“Every application developer wants to build on the fastest chain with the deepest liquidity — that’s Solana. But they also want the customizability and real-time performance of a Web2 server. With MagicBlock, they don’t have to choose. [MagicBlock Co-Founder Andrea Fortugno].

With this funding, MagicBlock will expand its engineering team, scale its developer ecosystem, and continue optimizing its ephemeral rollup technology. As demand for real-time onchain applications grows, MagicBlock is positioning itself as the go-to execution layer for Web3 builders looking to harness Solana‘s speed and composability.

About MagicBlock

MagicBlock is a real-time engine seamlessly integrated with Solana. It provides ultra-low latency, on-demand runtimes, and elastic scalability for fully onchain applications. Built for developers, MagicBlock delivers an unmatched combination of speed, composability, and scalability, ensuring that decentralized applications can achieve Web2-level performance without sacrificing the benefits of Web3. With cutting-edge ephemeral rollup technology, MagicBlock enables congestion-free, high-throughput transactions, empowering builders to create the next generation of onchain experiences across gaming, DeFi, and beyond.

Developers interested in leveraging MagicBlock’s technology can explore our documentation and start building today.

For more information, visit https://www.magicblock.xyz/ or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
[email protected]

SOURCE MagicBlock