TOKYO, April 16, 2025 — EF Polymer, a deep-tech startup developing 100% organic super absorbent polymers, announced that it has raised JPY 1 billion (approx. USD 6.6 million) in the first close of its Series B round.

Founded with a mission to solve global water challenges and improve farmers’ livelihoods, EF Polymer has created a bio-based alternative to petroleum-derived absorbents, helping reduce water and fertilizer use in agriculture while improving yields. Its materials are also expanding into non-agricultural applications such as cosmetics and personal care.

Business Progress and Key Area of Focus

Accelerating Global Growth

Since launching sales in India in 2020, EF Polymer has delivered products to farmers across Japan, the U.S., and France, achieving over 400 tons in cumulative sales by 2025. Amid rising concerns over drought and fertilizer costs driven by climate change, global demand continues to rise, with commercial trials now underway in over 20 countries. To meet this demand, the company plans to strengthen operations in key markets while expanding into new sectors such as horticulture, landscaping, and urban greening.

Driving Green Transformation in New Industries

EF Polymer is also scaling its presence in non-agricultural markets. Recent projects include a biodegradable ice pack, co-developed with Iwatani Corporation, and absorbent sheets in partnership with Soken Chemical. Its polymer solutions offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based ingredients commonly used across industries, contributing to the green transformation.

R&D Focus Areas

EF Polymer will prioritize R&D efforts across the following areas:

• Raw material innovation: Diversifying sources beyond orange and banana peel
• Circular manufacturing: Building a closed-loop, sustainable production model
• Scaling production: Pilot and implementation of multi-site manufacturing
• New product development: Expanding polymer applications outside agriculture

Funding Overview

The funds raised will be used to accelerate R&D, expand business development activities, and establish a new overseas manufacturing facility.

Investors participating in the first close include Universal Materials Incubator (UMI) and MTG Ventures, Bank of the Ryukyus, Future Food Fund, and Shinryo Fund. EF Polymer plans to complete a second close this summer for the full Series B round.

Narayan Gurjar, Founder and CEO of EF Polymer said: “EF Polymer exists to solve water-related challenges and improve the lives of farmers. We believe our technology can create sustainable impact across many industries. This Series B funding marks a major step forward in scaling our solutions globally and building a truly circular, sustainable business. We’re excited to work with partners who share our vision and to continue creating long-term value for both society and the planet.”

About us

EF Polymer is a pioneering deep-tech startup focused on creating 100% organic super absorbent polymers (SAP) made from orange peels. Our product is designed to significantly benefit farmers and reduce production costs, particularly in water and fertilizer usage, while boosting crop yields. Beyond agriculture, we are expanding across industries to integrate our organic SAPs into a range of products, including ice packs and cosmetics. https://efpolymer.com/

SOURCE EF Polymer K.K.

BENTONVILLE, Ark., April 15, 2025 — NewRoad Capital Partners, an operator-led investment firm focused on high-growth supply chain and logistics, retail, and marketing technology companies, is pleased to announce that Vincent Love has joined the firm as Partner. In his new role, Vincent will be responsible for setting the investment strategy and driving all aspects of the investment process for NewRoad’s Consumer industry investments.

With more than 25 years of experience in the Consumer industry, Vincent brings a wealth of expertise in venture capital and private equity investing, investment banking, and operating businesses. His extensive background includes co-founding and serving as Managing Partner at Sunrise Strategic Partners, a growth equity investment firm specializing in emerging food and beverage brands within the healthy, active, and sustainable living space. The Sunrise portfolio included industry-leading companies such as PACT Organic, Kodiak Cakes, Maple Hill Creamery, Vital Farms, and Coolhaus.

Before co-founding Sunrise Strategic Partners, Vincent spent more than a decade at Citigroup, where he focused on the Consumer and Retail sectors, advising on over $40 billion in liquidity events. Vincent is also a successful Planet Fitness franchisee, owning five clubs in Colorado and Wyoming.

“We are thrilled to welcome Vincent to NewRoad,” said Chris Ladd, Partner at NewRoad Capital Partners. “Vincent’s deep experience in Consumer investing, particularly in the Food and Beverage sector, as well as his proven track record of building successful businesses, makes him an invaluable addition to our team. His entrepreneurial spirit and hands-on approach to growing companies align perfectly with the values and mission of NewRoad.”

NewRoad’s Consumer investments focus on partnering with companies that have substantial proof of concepts and are looking for an equity partner with deep operating experience and industry connections to accelerate growth. The firm targets investments in sectors such as Food and Beverage, Personal Care, and Multi-Unit Franchising.

NewRoad Capital Partner’s unique operating expertise, combined with its geographical location in Northwest Arkansas, gives it significant advantages in the Consumer sector. This includes deep relationships with Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. This access enables NewRoad to provide portfolio companies with key insights, executive talent, and unparalleled industry connections.

“NewRoad’s strong track record of growth and focus on value creation aligns perfectly with my passion for building businesses and helping founders achieve their visions,” said Vincent Love. “I’m excited to join this exceptional team and contribute to the continued success of NewRoad.”

NewRoad Capital Partners, which manages over $650 million across four funds, has a proven track record of success in consumer investments, including recent investments in Quinn and Kevin’s Natural Foods.

NewRoad Capital Partners, LLC (“NewRoad”) invests in high-growth supply chain and logistics, retail, and marketing technology companies. As experienced entrepreneurs and operators, the NewRoad team prides itself on the high level of collaboration it brings to each of its investments. NewRoad’s team of investment professionals, operating partners and strategic advisors have deep relevant investing and operating expertise, including significant experience leading large divisions of enterprise companies and building businesses of scale from concept to realization. For more information visit: https://newroadcp.com/.

SOURCE NewRoad Capital Partners

NEW YORK, April 15, 2025 — Zolve, the cross-border neobank simplifying banking for global citizens, has appointed former Kraken Exec John Trohan as its new Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO). In this role, John will lead Zolve’s global financial strategy and administrative operations as the company enters its next phase of growth.

Zolve offers a wide range of financial products designed to simplify banking for global citizens — including a bank account that can be opened from anywhere in the world in under five minutes, a high-limit credit card to help build a strong credit score, and tailored solutions for newcomers such as low-cost international money transfers, insurance offerings, auto and education loans, $50K student scholarships and more.

John brings over 30 years of global financial services leadership to Zolve. Most recently, he served as Global Treasurer and Credit Risk Officer at Kraken, one of the world’s most secure and established cryptocurrency platforms. His prior experience includes senior roles at MUFG, Americas as Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer of MUFG Union Bank, Barclays Group as Americas Treasurer, and Citigroup Inc., where he held several key finance leadership positions including International Client Group Global Treasurer and CFO for Nikko Citigroup Limited.

Raghu G, Founder and CEO of Zolve, said “John’s global retail and institutional banking experience across finance, risk management and investments is a strong addition to the team and I look forward to partnering with him as we grow Zolve into a preeminent cross border banking solution provider. As we build and lead the next phase of growth for the company, we will continue hiring exceptional talent across teams“.

“Zolve is transforming and scaling rapidly,” said Trohan. “There is a great opportunity to provide access to credit and financial services for those stymied by legacy financial infrastructure and I am excited to help Zolve drive this forward.”

Zolve has raised USD $251 million in a Series B round to scale its mission of serving global citizens working and studying abroad. The round was led by Creaegis, with participation from HSBC, SBI Investment, GMO Venture Partners, DG Daiwa Ventures, and existing investors Accel, Lightspeed, Sparta Group, and DST Global. The fundraise also includes a warehouse line from Community Investment Management to fuel its expanding credit portfolio globally.

SOURCE Zolve

Growth Equity and Late-stage Venture Capital Firm is Dedicated to Improving Patient Outcomes Through Partnerships with Best-in-Class Teams and Medical Technologies

CHICAGO, April 15, 2025 — SPRIG Equity, a growth equity and late-stage venture capital firm focused on advancing patient care through investment in transformative medical technologies, today announced the final close of its inaugural fund, SPRIG Equity Fund I, with $50M in assets under management (AUM). With offices in the Chicago area and Orange County, CA, SPRIG Equity invests in breakthrough innovations across the medical technology sector, including medical devices, diagnostics, and tech-enabled services.

“We are incredibly proud to have successfully closed our inaugural fund, especially in a year when first-time funds accounted for just 6% of total fund closures,” said Evan Norton, Managing Partner and Co-Founder. “This achievement reflects the strength of our investment strategy, proprietary deal sourcing, and our team’s expertise in identifying and building great companies that can transform patient care while delivering exceptional returns.”

SPRIG Equity is led by Managing Partner Evan Norton, whose proven investing track record includes leading Abbott’s corporate venture group for almost a decade. He co-founded the fund alongside Rebecca Raabe, an experienced MedTech investor and operator, and Katie Arnold, the CEO and founder of SPRIG Consulting, a leading medical technology strategy and commercialization consulting firm. The team is further supported by an accomplished advisory board of industry entrepreneurs, senior executives, and thought leaders. A key differentiator for SPRIG Equity is its off-market deal flow from its exclusive relationship with SPRIG Consulting.

SPRIG Equity has already demonstrated strong momentum with four portfolio investments to date:

• SetPoint Medical: medical device company with a first-of-its-kind neuromodulation therapy for patients living with chronic autoimmune conditions
• Conformal Medical: clinical-stage company developing next-generation left atrial appendage occlusion technology for stroke prevention
• Pi-Cardia: commercial-stage company focused on leaflet modification technologies in the structural heart market
• Cytovale: commercial-stage company offering rapid sepsis diagnostic technology for hospital emergency departments

About SPRIG Equity
SPRIG Equity is a growth equity and late-stage venture capital firm dedicated to improving patient outcomes by partnering with best-in-class teams and medical technologies. Launched in 2023, SPRIG Equity actively invests in late-stage opportunities across the medical technology sector. The team has a history of successfully backing market-shaping companies, including Affera, NeuroPace, Vertos, Endosense, Tendyne, and more. For more information, visit https://sprigequity.com.

SOURCE SPRIG Equity

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 15, 2025 — Well, a leading innovator in AI-driven health engagement, has secured $30 million in additional funding. This investment propels Well’s total funding to over $150 million, to help fuel the expansion of Well’s AI platform, enhance operational capabilities, and further enable the company to proactively predict and address emerging health risks within employee populations. The funding round was supported by new strategic partners and existing lead investors from previous rounds of funding. 

“Well’s phenomenal engagement metrics—averaging 300 interactions per member annually, with a striking 25% of our users engaging daily—clearly demonstrate the platform’s power and intuitive design. But the real story is in the results. We’re seeing 90 Net Promoter Score (NPS) and tangible 5%+ improvement in critical Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures across diverse Fortune 500 populations, proving that our personalized approach isn’t just user-friendly, it’s life-changing impact for many of our members,” said David Werry, Co-Founder & President of Well.

The investment will be used to enhance several key areas:

• Expansion of AI Capabilities: Further development of Well’s AI algorithms to analyze real-time health data, deliver precise and highly targeted daily interventions and incentives to anticipate and address individual health needs.
• Improved Concierge Support & Rapid Innovation: Enhance its whole-person, concierge services provided by Well Guides (nurses, pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, and billing experts) and expand its Intervention Design Lab, facilitating rapid testing and deployment of new engagement strategies, keeping pace with shifting employee needs and business priorities.
• Enhanced Risk Prediction: Strengthening advanced analytics to detect emerging risk patterns, allowing employers to proactively address rising health costs and long-term medical trends before they escalate.

This significant investment underscores the growing recognition of Well’s potential to revolutionize employee health and well-being. Unlike traditional approaches, Well focuses on the “N of 1,” tailoring interventions, incentives, and existing benefits to each employee’s unique needs.

“Well translates the complexity of each individual into clear, personalized daily actions, delivered through a sophisticated engagement platform that works relentlessly to empower employees to take control of their health and helping employers create healthier, more productive workforces,” said Gary Loveman, Co-Founder & CEO of Well.

Learn more about how Well can transform your employee wellness program by visiting https://www.well.co/.

About Well

Well is a dynamic health engagement system on a mission to be the world’s most effective partner in advancing individualized health. The company tackles one of the biggest challenges in healthcare: helping people take the actions proven to improve their health, ultimately reducing costs and driving better outcomes.

By serving as a daily health partner, Well proactively engages members in their highest-priority health opportunities while boosting benefits utilization, optimizing spend, and positioning HR as a strategic driver of workforce health and performance.

Headquartered in Chapel Hill, N.C., Well also has offices in Newton, Mass., Minneapolis, and New York City.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Well

Led by Noro-Moseley Partners, the round accelerates product development, infrastructure scale, and go-to-market expansion

NEW YORK, April 15, 2025 — Liminal, the real-time intelligence platform for complex markets and regulated industries, today announced that it has raised $8.5 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Noro-Moseley Partners, with continued participation from early backers and strategic customers who have supported the company’s vision from the outset.

Founded in 2022, Liminal provides real-time, actionable intelligence to enterprise leaders navigating high-stakes decisions in cybersecurity, financial crime, fraud prevention, and trust & safety. The company is best known for its flagship platform, Link, and its most recent product launch, Sales Hub, which directly integrates market and competitive intelligence into go-to-market teams’ workflows.

“We started Liminal with the belief that the future of intelligence wouldn’t be found in static PDFs or siloed dashboards—it would be dynamic, real-time, and embedded into every critical decision,” said Travis Jarae, Founder and CEO of Liminal. “This funding allows us to accelerate that vision and scale the platform our customers are already relying on to confidently navigate complexity.”

The funding will be used to:

• Scale Liminal’s data infrastructure to support high-volume, high-velocity information pipelines
• Accelerate product innovation, including deeper intelligence delivery across sales, strategy, and product teams
• Expand go-to-market capabilities and continue building a world-class engineering, product, and advisory team

“Liminal is building what every modern enterprise needs: a way to make better decisions in less time, with more context,” said Elizabeth Stephens, Principal at Noro-Moseley Partners. “They’re not just capturing data—they’re translating market signals into action. We’re excited to support them as they grow the platform and team.”

Liminal’s platform is already trusted by enterprise clients across financial services, cybersecurity, digital identity, and private equity. The company is headquartered in New York City with a distributed team of researchers, product builders, and technologists.

About Liminal

Liminal is the intelligence platform for complex markets and regulated industries. Combining deep domain expertise with real-time data infrastructure, Liminal enables decision-makers to navigate change, mitigate risk, and uncover opportunities. For more information, visit www.liminal.co.

About Noro-Moseley Partners

Noro-Moseley Partners is a growth equity fund backing rapidly scaling technology and healthcare companies across the US and Canada. With over $1 billion in committed capital across nine funds, NMP is one of the Southeast’s longest-standing institutional investors. Learn more at www.noromoseley.com.

Contact:
Yura Nunes
Liminal
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Liminal Strategy, Inc.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 15, 2025 — Ideem, a company rethinking how users complete payments online, today announced a $2.4MM Seed funding round, backed by Sovereigns Capital, Quona Ventures, Everywhere Ventures, Hustle Fund, Oread Angels, Network KS, and a group of strategic angel investors. The funding will accelerate Ideem’s mission to remove the friction, fraud and costs in today’s mobile payment flows to deliver fast, secure one-click experiences.

“Ideem is tackling a massive and urgent opportunity at the intersection of security and digital commerce,” said Jake Thomsen, Managing Partner at Sovereign’s Capital. “As more platforms look for ways to reduce friction without compromising trust, Ideem’s approach delivers a rare combination of technical depth and real-world business impact. We’re excited to back this exceptional team as they redefine how authentication should work in modern commerce.”

For platforms driving commerce in high-growth markets, checkout remains a major challenge. Redirects confuse users and interrupt the buying flow. One time passcodes are unreliable, slow, and expensive to deliver, and even tokenized auto-pay systems leave platforms blind to account takeovers and unable to alert users when things go wrong. These gaps not only increase friction and fraud, but also drive up abandonment rates at the most critical moment of conversion.

“In the markets where Quona invests, mobile-first commerce is growing rapidly, but authentication and checkout friction remain stubborn barriers to scale,” said Monica Brand Engel, Managing Partner at Quona Capital. “Ideem’s solution is purpose-built for these environments, replacing outdated methods with a fast, seamless, and secure experience that helps platforms convert more users and build trust at scale. We believe Ideem is positioned to become a critical part of the payments infrastructure in these ecosystems.”

Ideem addresses these pain points by keeping users inside the merchant app, eliminating cumbersome authentication steps while securing every transaction. Its Zero-Trust Secure Module (ZSM) cryptographically binds to the device to protect against account takeovers while giving payment services full visibility and control over user communication in case of errors, all while making the checkout experience feel instant and effortless.

“Seamless payments isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s essential for growth,” said Toby Rush, CEO of Ideem. “We’re helping our partners win at the moment that matters most, when trust and speed decide whether a customer completes a purchase or walks away.”

With its new funding, Ideem plans to scale its partnerships across rapidly digitizing markets, helping commerce platforms turn friction-filled flows into one-click experiences that drive growth and build user trust.

About Ideem

Ideem – 2FA made easy and invisible, for uses and payments
Manual 2FA (SMS/WhatsApp One Time Passcodes, Authenticator Apps and Soft Tokens) are plagued with friction, fraud, and costs. Ideem cryptographically binds to the device to create secure one-click approvals. Ideem’s drop in SDK works across all browsers and native apps. No user interaction is required – no effort, no permissions, no exceptions. Just an easy and invisible 2FA that reduces friction, fraud and costs.

For more information, visit www.useideem.com.

Media Contact:
Maranda Manning
[email protected]
(816) 280-4456
Ideem

SOURCE Ideem

Investment will accelerate clinical trials and commercialization of Phantom X, with Ottobock joining Phantom Neuro’s Board of Directors

AUSTIN, Texas, April 15, 2025 — Phantom Neuro, the neurotech company advancing human-machine interfaces, today announced an oversubscribed $19 million Series A funding round led by Ottobock, a global leader in the fields of prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton technology. The round includes participation from existing investors, including Breakout Ventures, Draper Associates, LionBird Ventures, Time BioVentures, and Risk and Return, as well as new investors Actual VC, METIS Innovative, e1 Ventures, Jumpspace, MainSheet Ventures, and Brown Advisory.

This investment brings Phantom Neuro’s total funding to $28 million and represents a milestone in the company’s mission to bring its Phantom X robotic control platform to patients. Funding will support preclinical testing, completion of first-in-human trials, regulatory submissions, and expanded research and development for broader control applications beyond prosthetic limbs.

“Ottobock’s backing underscores the growing convergence of neurotechnology, prosthetics, and robotics,” said Dr. Connor Glass, Founder and CEO of Phantom Neuro. “For decades, Ottobock has been at the forefront of restoring mobility for millions of people. By partnering with them, we’re accelerating Phantom X’s path to market and laying the groundwork for the future we all desire where assistive devices truly function as natural extensions of the human body.”

As part of the investment, Ottobock will join Phantom Neuro’s Board of Directors, bringing expertise in global prosthetics and exoskeleton markets to support Phantom’s commercialization efforts.

“Phantom Neuro is transforming the way people interact with assistive devices, and their minimally invasive neural interface technology represents an exciting step forward for the field,” said Ottobock CEO, Oliver Jakobi. “Our investment reflects our ambition as a MedTech champion to lead the prosthetics market, ensuring that patients have access to the most effective solutions possible. We look forward to working with Phantom Neuro to expand access to this groundbreaking technology.”

This funding follows Phantom Neuro’s recent Breakthrough Device Designation and TAP (Targeted Acceleration Pathway) Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Phantom X. These designations validate the platform’s potential to improve patient outcomes by providing lifelike control of prosthetic limbs and assistive devices and help expedite regulatory approvals.

Additionally, Phantom Neuro’s ASCENT study demonstrated that Phantom X achieved 94% accuracy in decoding real-time gestures across 11 essential hand and wrist movements, further supporting its potential to restore function and independence for individuals with mobility impairments.

About Phantom Neuro
Phantom Neuro is a neurotechnology company developing a minimally invasive interface that enables intuitive control of prosthetic limbs and robotic exoskeletons. Its core platform, Phantom X, is designed to restore natural movement and functionality for amputees and individuals with mobility impairments, allowing robotic devices to function as seamless extensions of the human body. Originally developed at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Phantom Neuro has received funding support from investors including Blackrock Neurotech, Breakout Ventures, Draper Associates, LionBird Ventures, and Time BioVentures. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Phantom Neuro is backed by a globally recognized advisory board of experts from CTRL-Labs, D.A.R.P.A., Johns Hopkins University, and Precision Neuro. Learn more at www.phantomneuro.com.

About Ottobock
For more than 100 years, Ottobock has been developing innovative fitting solutions for people with reduced mobility. As a Human Empowerment Company, Ottobock promotes freedom of movement, quality of life, and independence. This is supported by more than 10,000 employees worldwide. With expertise in prosthetics, orthotics, neuromobility, and patient care, Ottobock enables people in 135 countries to live life on their terms. As a market leader in wearable human bionics, Ottobock continues to set new industry standards and drive digitalization. Since 2018, the company has applied its biomechanics expertise to exoskeletons for ergonomic workplaces. Headquartered in Duderstadt, Germany, Ottobock has been an official partner of the Paralympic Games since 1988. For more information, visit Ottobock.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Press Contact
John Kuch | Phantom Neuro
[email protected]
415.823.0480

SOURCE Phantom Neuro Inc.

QWERKY AI, Led by a Seasoned Team of Tech Entrepreneurs, Secures $2 Million Seed Funding to Drive AI Innovation

COLUMBIA, S.C., April 15, 2025 — QWERKY AI, a new venture founded by tech entrepreneurs Andrew Strauss, Austin Riley, Chris Thibault, Evan Owen, and Kaitlin McKnight, has secured $2 million in seed funding from private investors in Columbia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma City.

The founding team has a decade-long track record of building and scaling impactful companies — including Sky Bison, Canary, 52inc and Merkle Root — across both tech and traditional industries, from blockchain, web and mobile application development to real estate and craft beer manufacturing. This diverse background equips them with a unique, multi-industry perspective, enabling the development of advanced AI solutions designed to address challenges consumers and businesses face.

QWERKY AI is currently in stealth mode, with plans to launch its first product later this year. The team is focused on building an AI platform to showcase its novel inference engine, which enhances AI’s creative capabilities — starting with use cases in knowledge work and creative tools. The company plans to use the capital to grow its team and expand research and development efforts with a dedicated lab focused on AI prototyping and experimentation.

“By giving every AI model the opportunity to feel genuinely human, we’re not merely improving tools — we’re challenging the industry to rethink what intelligence really means,” says Chris Thibault, co-founder and CEO.

Key highlights:

• $2 million raised in seed funding from strategic angel investors in South Carolina and Oklahoma
• Founders with a proven track record across four impactful companies spanning consumer tech, software platforms and traditional industries
• Focus on creating innovative AI tools designed to empower users across industries and drive breakthroughs in AI research
• Headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with a growing distributed team

Evan Owen, co-founder and CTO, says, “We’re excited to dive into research areas frequently neglected or ignored by larger AI enterprises and to add our quirky spin to the future of artificial intelligence.”

Andrew Strauss, co-founder and CRO, adds, “Having worked alongside my co-founders on other ventures, I have seen firsthand the tangible impact of their work across a wide range of clients, businesses and industries. Our team’s diverse expertise puts us in the game and gives us the ability to help shape the direction of the industry.”

Users can visit qwerky.ai to learn more about QWERKY AI and try out the alpha version of the QWERKY AI chat app.

For inquiries about partnership opportunities, email [email protected].

About QWERKY AI

QWERKY AI is a human-centered artificial intelligence company focused on building practical and approachable AI tools for real-world use. Headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with a distributed team across the U.S., QWERKY is led by a founding team of tech entrepreneurs with over a decade of experience. The company is dedicated to creating AI that enhances — rather than replaces — human intelligence. QWERKY AI is currently developing an AI platform to empower knowledge workers, creatives and small businesses.

Follow along on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok.

QWERKY Public Relations

[email protected]

+1 803-200-2127

SOURCE Qwerky AI Inc