JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 13, 2025 — Exero Medical, a US and Israel based company focused on early detection of post-operative complications using tissue healing data, has secured up to  $12.7M in funding to complete its FDA pivotal trial and launch its breakthrough-designated xBar system in the United States. The round includes $10M in upfront funding and additional milestone-based warrants, as well as $2.7M in non-dilutive grants.

This financing includes investments from new investors Longevity Venture Partners, Tech Council Ventures, and Edge Medical Ventures, alongside participation from existing investors.

Mortality rates in patients with severe complications after gastrointestinal surgery can be up to 20% due to challenges in identifying these complications early. The xBar system uses sensors placed at the surgical site to collect data that can assist clinicians in early detection of major, life threatening complications after gastrointestinal surgery. 

Raissa Hacohen, Managing Partner at Longevity Venture Partners, comments, “We were thrilled to lead Exero’s latest round as we believe in the potential of innovative medical technology to unlock new health data. We support Exero’s vision of creating efficiency within the healthcare system and improving patient outcomes by adding dimensions of new health data into the existing workflow.”

Mark Kolb, Partner at Tech Council Ventures, adds, “Exero Medical’s breakthrough xBar system has the potential to revolutionize post-operative care by providing critical real-time data to detect complications early—ultimately saving lives and reducing healthcare costs. Tech Council Ventures is proud to support Exero’s growth and expansion into the U.S. market.”

Shai Policker, General Partner at Edge Medical Ventures and Chairman of Exero, shares:

“We are excited to welcome new investors in support of Exero’s clinical program, regulatory clearance, and launch of the xBar system. Additionally, Exero’s new US headquarters in Scitech Scity at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ, will serve as a vital hub for these important initiatives.”

About Exero Medical

Exero Medical’s mission is to empower health care providers with high-quality, actionable post-operative tissue healing data that can save lives, improve prognosis, and reduce cost of care. The company’s flagship product, the xBar system, has been granted Breakthrough Device Designation by the FDA. Exero Medical was founded in 2018 by MEDX Xelerator, and is backed by the Israeli Innovation Authority, Tech Council Ventures, Longevity Venture Partners, Edge Medical Ventures, Consensus Business Group (CBG), Unorthodox Ventures, and Clalit Health Services – the largest HMO in Israel.

The xBar system is not approved for sale in the United States and is limited to investigational use.

Media contact:
Eileen Ke
Vice President, Business Development
(+1) 267-342-0576
[email protected]

SOURCE Exero Medical

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 — Eudia, a groundbreaking Augmented Intelligence platform for Fortune 500 legal teams, today announced the close of its Series A funding round for up to $105 million, led by General Catalyst with participation from Floodgate, Sierra Ventures, Hakluyt Capital, Defy, Everywhere Ventures, B3 Capital, Backbone, Firsthand, as well as prolific angel investors Gokul Rajaram, Chris Re, Andrew Sieja, Mike Gamson, and Scott Belsky.

In tandem, Eudia unveiled its name, mission, and platform to the public after operating in stealth for the past 18 months. As an Augmented Intelligence platform tailored to the unique needs of in-house legal departments, Eudia is reimagining how legal teams operate—providing agentic capabilities that augment human expertise, optimize risk, and unlock significant business value.

A Vision for the Future of Legal Leadership
The legal industry faces a unique challenge: balancing the growing demand to support businesses at unprecedented speeds while maintaining an uncompromising approach to risk management. In-house legal teams are overwhelmed, relying on expensive outside counsel tied to outdated billable-hour models, while current AI tools risk accuracy, privacy, IP, and security.

Eudia believes in a future where legal leaders transcend these limitations. The company’s Augmented Intelligence Platform empowers legal departments to own their institutional knowledge, harness it through AI, and supercharge their in-house lawyers. By blending AI with human expertise, Eudia enables Chief Legal Officers (CLOs) to go beyond problem solving—proactively driving company strategy, strengthening risk management, and capturing untapped value for their business.

“Visionary CLOs see AI’s potential but understand they cannot compromise on trust, accuracy, or a deep understanding of their organization’s unique context,” said Omar Haroun, Co-Founder and CEO of Eudia. “Eudia combines a proprietary Augmented Intelligence platform with human expertise to supercharge legal professionals, helping organizations scale efficiently, mitigate risk effectively, and unlock billions in unrealized business value.”

Rapid Adoption by Industry Leaders
Already trusted by leading organizations, Eudia’s solutions are being used by the CLOs of some of the world’s most prominent Fortune 500 companies, including Cargill, DHL, Duracell, and Coherent.

“Eudia is not a software provider, it is the future of our department. Eudia is headcount I don’t have to hire, it’s enterprise risk reduction in that it helps us understand the legal data we already have. It’s a major part of our transformation story. The team has earned my trust over the past 18 months, delivered significant ROI, and enabled my legal team to act as a real strategic partner to the business, by building an AI brain that delivers information and insights that were previously inaccessible or cost-prohibitive,” said Rob Beard, Chief Legal Officer of Coherent.

Similarly, Mark Smolik, Chief Legal Officer of DHL Supply Chain Americas, shared: “As a team we spend a great deal of time evaluating and implementing new and creative ways to drive innovation in our department. Of the many tools we’ve evaluated, Eudia stands out as highly differentiated, by building AI agents that are designed for the real needs of corporate legal departments. The team have earned my trust with every interaction, and I’m thrilled to have access to Eudia’s Augmented Intelligence platform.”

Proven Leaders Positioned to Define the Industry
Eudia’s leadership team combines expertise in the legal, AI, and operational domains with decades of experience transforming industries:

• Omar Haroun, CEO: A serial entrepreneur with over a decade in Fortune 500 legal technology, previously leading AI strategy at Relativity, and founding Text IQ.
• Ashish Agrawal, CTO: A pioneering AI expert who has held builder and leadership roles at Amazon, Apple, Google, and startups, including Cresta.
• David Van Reyk , COO: Former Private Equity investor at CVC Capital Partners, with experience executing large scale transformations and M&A.

Together, the team is building a first-of-its-kind platform that prioritizes trust and long-term impact for legal departments.

Accelerating Growth with General Catalyst
By partnering with General Catalyst in this investment round, Eudia is accelerating its rapid growth trajectory. With access to General Catalyst’s expertise and network, Eudia aims to enhance its product offerings, expand its customer base, and unlock new opportunities in how legal teams operate.

“Eudia represents the next generation of legal —one that leverages AI responsibly and effectively to address the nuanced needs of in-house legal teams,” said Hemant Tenja, CEO and Managing Director of General Catalyst. “We’re excited to support Eudia as they redefine what is possible for Chief Legal Officers and their organizations using applied AI.”

As part of this partnership, Eudia is committed to continuing its track record of delivering unparalleled value to corporate legal departments by helping them streamline operations, execute world-class risk management, and unlock their full potential.

“We see Eudia as taking a unique approach to AI in legal—unlocking not just software budgets, but also the far larger legal services market where inefficiencies run deep. By automating workflows, Eudia enables customers to save on external legal spend and drive efficiency gains internally, for example up to 98% in compliance reviews,” said Marc Bhargava, managing director at General Catalyst. “This isn’t only software improvement —it’s work transformation, automating both software and basic services tasks to ultimately free up teammates to deliver better client outcomes by focusing on higher-value work.”

About Eudia
Eudia is transforming the role of legal departments in Fortune 500 companies with its Augmented Intelligence Platform. By combining the power of a best-in-class AI platform with expert humans-in-the-loop, Eudia eliminates routine work, illuminates previously unseen insights, and empowers legal teams to deliver measurable business value. Eudia’s approach helps Chief Legal Officers efficiently scale operations, mitigate risk, optimize external counsel spend, and free their teams from the ‘toil’ of menial legal tasks.  Eudia enables legal departments to become strategic partners to the businesses they support. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Eudia is backed by General Catalyst and trusted by some of the world’s largest organizations. To learn more, visit www.eudia.com.

SOURCE Eudia

Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures join existing key investors to close an $18M funding round.

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 — Oobli, the first company in the world to successfully build a sweet protein platform, today announced its partnership with Ingredion, a leading global ingredient solutions provider. Together, Oobli and Ingredion will accelerate industry access to great-tasting, affordable and healthier sweetener systems by bringing natural sweetener solutions like stevia alongside Oobli proteins – proteins that sweeten.

“Sweet proteins are a long-overdue addition to the toolkit of better-for-you sweeteners,” said Ali Wing, CEO at Oobli. “Working with Ingredion’s best-in-class teams to pair natural sweeteners with our novel sweet proteins will deliver game-changing solutions in this important, growing and timely category.”

Sweet proteins are a great-tasting, healthier sweetener that can be a foundational part of any combination of sweetener ingredients in food and beverages, including sodas, baked goods, yogurts, candies and more. Sweet proteins can also be used to cost effectively complement other natural sweeteners, helping food companies achieve ideal levels of sweetness, meet nutrition objectives and manage costs.

“We’ve long been at the forefront of innovation in sugar reduction solutions, and our work with sweet proteins is an exciting new chapter in that journey,” said Nate Yates, VP and GM Sugar Reduction and Fiber Fortification, CEO Pure Circle at Ingredion. “Whether we’re enhancing existing sweetener systems with sweet proteins or using our established sweeteners to unlock new possibilities, we see incredible synergies across these platforms.”

Oobli and Ingredion recently tested several co-developed products to better understand the opportunities for sweet proteins and stevia. Both companies shared enthusiasm about the consumer feedback collected, which ultimately led to the partnership. Next month, the two companies will unveil some of these novel sweet treats at Future Food Tech in San Francisco on March 13-14, 2025. 

This partnership news follows recent announcements by Oobli that it had received FDA GRAS “no questions” letters for two sweet proteins (monellin and brazzein), confirming that these novel sweet proteins are safe to be used as a sweetener in food and beverage products.

In addition to their latest regulatory and partnership announcements, Oobli has also recently completed $18M in Series B1 funding, adding new strategic food and ag investors including Ingredion Ventures, Lever VC, and Sucden Ventures. These new investors join existing Oobli investors Khosla Ventures, Piva Capital, B37 Ventures and other leading investors.

This round supports Oobli’s expansion across food and beverages with sweet proteins, both as a standalone solution, as well as in combination with other natural sweeteners, such as stevia, developed in partnership with Ingredion.

About Oobli
Oobli is a sweet protein technology platform company focused on replacing sugar in food and beverages. Sweet proteins have no glycemic impact or effect on the gut microbiome. Produced via fermentation, Oobli sweet proteins are both cost-effective as a sweetener replacement and climate friendly, saving massive amounts of land, water and carbon compared to farmed sugarcane. Oobli is the first and only company in the world regulated to sell sweet proteins as a sweetener, with two FDA “no questions” letters, four proteins with self-affirmed FDA GRAS status and one protein with FDA FEMA GRAS status. In addition to selling its own protein-sweetened chocolates, Oobli partners with companies to help deliver great-tasting, affordable and healthier products. For more information, visit oobli.com.

About Ingredion
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR) headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in more than 120 countries. With 2024 annual net sales of approximately $7.4 billion, the company turns grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing and industrial markets. With Ingredion‘s Idea Labs^® innovation centers around the world and more than 11,000 employees, the company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better. Visit ingredion.com for more information and the latest company news.

Media Contact
[email protected]

SOURCE Oobli

Founded by 16-year old CEO Harper Moss and successful tech entrepreneur Gregory Ray as CTO, CarbonZero.Eco has already pre-sold $7M of biochar and inked a deal with California farmers to locate its first Biochar production site

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025 — CarbonZero.Eco, a Silicon Valley-based venture-backed startup tackling regenerative agriculture and CO2 removal through Biochar, today emerged from stealth and announced a $3.5M seed round that includes investments from managers and executives at Google, Meta, Amazon and the CEOs of several late stage start-ups. The company also announced it has inked deals worth seven million dollars ($7M) with more than 300 almond farms in Colusa County and Yolo County, California to mitigate up to 1.5M tons of CO2 emissions from waste breakdown. The new capital will fuel the company’s mission to help American farmers enhance soil quality, increase crop yields, and generate additional revenues while also removing CO2 from the atmosphere by revolutionizing Biochar production at scale.

“Harper’s passion, persistence and drive led her to start an amazing company tackling regenerative farming and carbon emissions at a critical time for both, and I am so excited to see how far she takes it along with Greg and the impressive team they have put together,” said angel investor Rich Miner, co-founder of Android and former founding partner at Google Ventures.

New Construction and Preliminary Assessment with Puro.earth

CarbonZero.eco’s first Biochar production site–located in Colusa County, CA where almonds are processed–is slated to open in late April 2025. Puro.earth, the world’s leading carbon crediting platform, has vetted the planned facility which has passed Puro.earth’s preliminary assessment, registering CarbonZero.eco as a biochar CO2 Removal Certificate supplier. The company will begin generating certificates in summer 2025 for the CO2 removal.

“Harper pitched our ownership group and convinced us that she would build a business model that we would all benefit from,” said Dan Pronsolino, General manager, Cortina Hulling and Shelling LLC. “We look forward to working with her and Greg to increase crop yields, improve soil health and create additional revenue for the more than 300 local growers we serve. We are excited to be the first location for CarbonZero.Eco and hope that others learn from what we are doing here.”

Biochar Production at Scale Benefits Both Farmers and the Environment

Every year, at least 1,300 million tons of agricultural waste is produced, and the amount is likely to expand further in a world with a growing population to feed. The current approach to handling this waste through landfills and incineration has contributed to approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and also created various toxic pollutants. 

Biochar is a process that stabilizes carbon within the biomass, locking it away for thousands of years, effectively preventing its release during decomposition and contributing to carbon removal. This carbon removal generates valuable carbon removal certificates that are highly sought after in the market. Supported by over 6,000 studies, Biochar has also been proven to significantly enhance soil quality and crop yields for future generations. CarbonZero.eco has teamed up with California almond farmers to convert up to 1.5M tons of almond shells–which would normally decompose in 24 months and release their carbon as CO2–into Biochar.

Founding Story: Harper Moss and Gregory Ray Team Up to Fuel Biochar Production in the U.S. 

CarbonZero.Eco CEO Harper Moss and CTO Gregory Ray are on a mission to introduce Biochar to roughly 525M acres of farmland in the US, which could benefit from its regenerative properties, requiring over 2.6 billion tons annually. To achieve this goal, CarbonZero.Eco is addressing two main challenges: farmer enablement and the substantial Biochar shortage in the US. One of the key unlocks for the company was building their plant in a location where hundreds of farms already aggregated their biomass, so that the company’s plant required no additional transportation so the carbon impact is extremely net-positive.

Harper was just 15 years old when she first conceived the vision for CarbonZero.Eco driven by her passion to make a positive impact on the planet in a way that would also benefit the farmers who feed our nation. Realizing the remarkable potential of biochar in revitalizing farmlands and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — a practice largely overlooked across the 8.5 million acres of California farmland – Harper embarked on a mission to introduce the transformative benefits of biochar to farmers. 

“Farmers are the beating heart of our country, yet haven’t been a big enough part of the carbon conversation before. Regenerative farming and carbon sequestration go hand in hand thanks to Biochar, and I am humbled that hundreds of farms trust us enough to partner with us on this journey,” said CEO Harper Moss. 

About CarbonZero

CarbonZero.eco, a Silicon Valley-based VC-backed startup, is tackling regenerative agriculture and climate change through Biochar, aiming to mainstream its use in farming and address the impending Biochar shortage. With kilns capable of producing 30,000 tons of Biochar per year, five times more than current technology, they are revolutionizing Biochar production at scale. CarbonZero.eco’s process benefits farmlands and stabilizes carbon for up to a millennium. The company’s first project in Colusa County, CA will mitigate 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions from waste breakdown.

Media Contact:
408-761-4285
[email protected]

SOURCE CarbonZero.ECO, Inc.

–  Enhanced Games Land Multi-Million-Dollar Series B, Co-Led by 1789 Capital. 
–  Massive Investment Fuels the Enhanced Games’ Mission to Enhance Humanity Through Progressing Science and Sport.

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2025 — Omeed Malik, Chris Buskirk, and Donald Trump Jr.’s 1789 Capital has co-led a multi-million-dollar Series B round for the Enhanced Games, alongside significant contributions from Karatage, Christian Angermayer’s Apeiron Investment Group, and other blue chip investors. This new investment will drive the Enhanced Games towards hosting its upcoming inaugural record-breaking event.

The Enhanced Games are challenging traditional sports paradigms by embracing science, innovation, and fairness, to create the Third Olympiad – a new era of athletic excellence. This landmark funding injection underscores the momentum and global belief in the Enhanced Games’ vision. The new investors will join seed investors Peter Thiel, Balaji Srinivasan, and Christian Angermayer.

Dr Aron D’Souza, President of the Enhanced Games, expressed his enthusiasm for the support: “With these powerhouse investors, we’re building something revolutionary – sports without hypocrisy, where the best can actually be the best. Our investors see the future, and they’re backing it with conviction.“

Omeed Malik, Founder of 1789 Capital, shared his excitement: “The Enhanced Games aren’t just another sports league – they’re a declaration of freedom. For too long, we’ve let bureaucrats and corrupt institutions decide what’s ‘allowed’ in sports and what’s not. That era is over. We’re giving power back to the athletes and the fans, and I can’t wait to see history being made.“

Chris Buskirk, 1789 Capital’s Founder and CIO, commented: “The Enhanced Games represent the kind of bold, forward-thinking innovation that drives real progress. I’ve always backed ventures that challenge the status quo and push mankind forward. Just as we’ve seen breakthroughs in finance, defense tech, and media, we’re now seeing sports evolve to embrace science, technology, and human potential. This is an investment in the future – not just of athletics, but of a freer, more competitive world.”

Donald Trump Jr., Partner at 1789 Capital, added: “For over 100 years, elites in charge of global sports have stifled innovation, crushed individual greatness, and refused to let athletes push the limits of what’s possible. That ends now. The Enhanced Games represent the future – real competition, real freedom, and real records being smashed. This is about excellence, innovation, and American dominance on the world stage – something the MAGA movement is all about. The Enhanced Games are going to be huge, and I couldn’t be prouder to support this movement that is changing sports forever.“

The Enhanced Games are poised to redefine the boundaries of human achievement, creating a platform where the limits of performance are tested, broken, and celebrated.

The countdown to the world’s first Enhanced Games is underway. Sign up at www.enhanced.com to get regular updates like the upcoming announcement of the host city and the date of the event.

About the Enhanced Games:

The Enhanced Games are on a mission to enhance humanity, redefining the future of sports by merging scientific progress with elite athletic performance. Founded in 2023 by Australian entrepreneur Aron D’Souza, the Games challenge conventional sporting norms, embracing medicine and science to push human potential while prioritizing safety, transparency, and innovation.

Science and technology are recognized as fair advantages, allowing athletes to choose natural or enhanced competition. Setting the new gold standard in athlete health and safety, Enhanced mandates state-of-the-art medical profiling to monitor key health markers. And unlike traditional events, all athletes are paid, with world record-breakers earning million-dollar prizes.

Privately funded by leading investors, the Enhanced Games operate independently of taxpayer money, ensuring financial sustainability and innovation. This is the future of sport – where science, athleticism, and progress inspire superhuman achievement.

About 1789 Capital:

Founded in 2022 by Omeed Malik, Chris Buskirk, and Donald Trump Jr., 1789 Capital is an investment firm that focuses on providing financing to companies in the budding Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Growth (“EIG”) economy, which is driving the next era of American prosperity. The firm is based in Palm Beach, Florida.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2619353/Enhanced_Games.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2619352/Enhanced_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Enhanced Games

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2025 — As cities grapple with congestion, parking and access challenges, the demand for tech-enabled, sustainable solutions has never been greater. Circuit’s last-mile shuttle systems address these issues with efficient and cost-effective microtransit services for cities and properties. The company announced the investment by MKB, with participation from existing investors Tribeca Venture Partners, Impact Engine, and others.

The new funding, part of Circuit’s Series B round, will support the company’s expansion, further enhance its proprietary tech platform, and strengthen partnerships with cities, properties, and businesses. This proven approach has already led to some of the most efficient microtransit systems in the industry. By leveraging this capital, Circuit aims to reach more riders with shorter wait times, engaging new features, and an elevated overall experience—while also creating new opportunities for advertising partners. With operations in over 40 cities, Circuit has demonstrated its ability to deliver scalable, impactful solutions tailored to the unique needs of urban communities.

“With a proven track record in scaling sustainable transit solutions, Circuit stands out as a leader in cost-efficient and rider-focused urban mobility,” said Antonio Occhionero, Managing Partner at MKB. “We are proud to support Circuit as it continues to lead the way in redefining short-range, electric mobility for cities, businesses and commuters alike.”

Since its Series A in 2022, Circuit has grown rapidly. Over the past year, the company has moved over 1.9 million passengers using 100% electric vehicles and avoiding more than 1,050 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 2024 saw expansion to new markets like Orlando, Avalon, Boca Raton, and Long Beach while strengthening and growing existing programs in areas such as San Diego, New York, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Huntington Beach. These achievements highlight Circuit’s commitment to delivering valuable solutions for last-mile transit, while scaling its impact and becoming the default short-trip solution for downtown ecosystems.

“This Series B round marks an important step forward as we execute on our vision to electrify downtown transit systems,” said Alex Esposito, CEO of Circuit. “We’re delivering the right solutions at the right time, as cities look for ways to efficiently address congestion and emissions while improving access and mobility. This capital enables us to expand our partnerships, enhance our technology, and continue scaling sustainable, cost-effective transit solutions.”

As cities, businesses, and communities embrace the shift toward on-demand, electric transportation, Circuit’s scalable public-private model positions it as a leader in short-range, tech-enabled mobility.

Ready to bring sustainable, on-demand transit to your community, boost brand awareness, or catch a ride? Contact Circuit to explore partnership opportunities, or download the Circuit App to experience eco-friendly mobility today.

About Circuit
Circuit is redefining urban transportation with short-trip, electric shuttle solutions that bridge last-mile transit gaps and connect communities in a sustainable, accessible way. Operating in NY, NJ, FL, CA, MA, and TX, Circuit has delivered over 9 million eco-friendly rides using 100% electric vehicles. By partnering with municipalities, developers, and advertisers, Circuit reduces congestion, creates local jobs, and provides turnkey solutions for urban mobility challenges. Discover how Circuit is transforming short-distance travel at www.ridecircuit.com.

About MKB
MKB is a North American private investment firm that specializes in providing growth equity to companies driving innovation in the energy, mobility, the built environment, and related industrial sectors. MKB takes significant minority positions in its portfolio companies and proactively assists management teams in reaching their full potential. To learn more about MKB, visit www.mkbandco.com.

SOURCE Circuit

Participants to Enjoy Access to 24^th Annual Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, Running Concurrently April 2-4

BOSTON, Feb. 13, 2025 — Cambridge Healthtech Institute, which produces the annual Bio-IT World Conference & Expo (Bio-IT World 2025), today announced that this global event, which highlights innovative collaborations between biotech and IT leaders, will also feature an exclusive investor conference.

The second annual Bio-IT World Venture, Innovation & Partnering Conference, taking place April 3 in Boston, will bring together 200+ venture capitalists, private equity professionals, bankers, government partners, and entrepreneurs who are advancing the growth of the TechBio, biotech, drug discovery and healthcare sectors.

Content will focus on all stages and types of investments and partnerships, including incubation, venture capital, private equity, and bank investments, with insights from 5AM Ventures, Bain Capital, Flagship Pioneering, F-Prime Capital, HSBC, Norwest Venture Partners, Sanofi Ventures, Third Rock Ventures, and more.

“With the recent upswing in biotech venture funding, this second annual event is particularly timely. This year, we will help investors to capitalize on the breakthroughs ahead by sharing how AI, quantum computing and other advanced platforms are reshaping drug discovery. Leaders from such companies as Google, Psivant Therapeutics, Novo Nordisk, and Qubit Pharmaceuticals will share important perspectives,” said Eileen Murphy, Conference Producer.

Additional highlights will include:

• A featured presentation by Steve Pagliuca, Chairman, CEO, and Founder, PagsGroup, on Boston’s Pioneering Investments in Technology and Drug Discovery
• A fireside chat with Derek Lowe, Ph.D., Director, Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, Novartis BioMedical Research, on Investing Beyond the Molecule: The Future of Drug Discovery. John J. Keilty, Venture Partner, Third Rock Ventures, will interview him.
• Insights from leading women in the vanguard of biotech and investments, such as Joanne L. Viney, Ph.D., Co-founder, President, and CEO, Seismic Therapeutic and Kimberly Nearing, M.S., Venture Partner, Investment Team, BVCF Management Ltd.
• Bio-IT World Venture, Innovation & Partnering registration information is available here

Media and analysts can request passes here. 

About Cambridge VIP
Cambridge VIP – Venture, Innovation & Partnering conferences unite senior-level investors, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and startup leaders from diverse sectors. These exclusive gatherings feature engaging industry panels and fireside chats, fostering meaningful networking and interactions. Join us at these innovative conferences to gain strategic insights, candid perspectives, and valuable business recommendations in your area of interest. Discover who’s investing, track funding activities, and witness the commercialization of emerging technologies solving real-world challenges. 

About Bio-IT World Conference & Expo
For over 20 years, Bio-IT World Conference & Expo has been the premier global event showcasing technologies and analytic approaches that solve problems, accelerate science, and drive the future of precision medicine. By uniting a community of experts in life sciences, pharmaceuticals, clinical research, healthcare, informatics, and technology, the event pushes the boundaries of biomedical research, drug discovery and development, and patient outcomes. The program features inspiring plenary keynotes, 200+ educational and technical presentations, interactive panels, hands-on symposia, technical workshops, unparalleled networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions. Attendees are invited to engage in transformative conversations on the latest advancements in digital and data transformations; AI; generative AI; machine learning (ML); real-world data strategies; pilot programs; new product results; and biotech investment trends.

SOURCE Bio-IT World Conference & Expo

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 13, 2025 — Vitalchat, an innovator of AI-powered ambient solutions for in-patient virtual nursing and procedural telehealth, today announced the successful closing of its $6 million Series A funding round, led by Green Harvest Capital Industries (GHC Industries). This investment will accelerate Vitalchat’s mission to transform inpatient telehealth and virtual nursing by expanding its scalable, cost-effective solutions that reduce administrative burdens placed on nurses and doctors, enhance patient and clinician safety, and help address the ongoing shortage of skilled care teams.

“Doctors and nurses enter the profession to heal, comfort, and care—not to be overwhelmed by paperwork or stretched thin due to staffing shortages,” said Michael Raymer, CEO of Vitalchat. “This funding enables us to scale our in-patient virtual care platform, allowing more health systems to give their care teams the time and focus to do what they love—connecting with patients and making a real difference in their lives. We’re grateful for the support of GHC Industries as we continue to innovate and expand our impact.”

The demand for virtual nursing and telehealth solutions has surged, driven by workforce shortages, rising patient acuity, and regulatory shifts supporting digital care adoption. In the U.S., the total addressable market for inpatient virtual care and AI-powered telehealth is estimated at $2 billion, yet fewer than 5% of hospital beds currently have video-enabled monitoring solutions.

Vitalchat is uniquely positioned to bridge this gap. Since its commercial launch in 2021, the company has rapidly gained traction for its ability to leverage existing hospital infrastructure to provide AI-powered virtual sitters for real-time patient safety monitoring, remote procedural support to enhance care team collaboration, and automated AI-driven workflows to reduce administrative burdens and optimize nursing efficiency. As a cloud-native SaaS platform, Vitalchat eliminates the need for additional hardware, making telehealth adoption more accessible and cost-effective for hospitals and health systems. Vitalchat is available in over 35 hospitals across medical-surgical units, ICUs, operating rooms, and post-acute care facilities.

The $6 million Series A investment will accelerate product innovation, market expansion, and deeper AI integration into clinical workflows. Ankit Patel, Chief Executive Officer of GHC Industries will join the Vitalchat board. GHC Industries Co-founder and Principal Saagar Parikh will also be taking a Board Observer role. This marks GHC Industries’ third significant investment in healthcare after acquiring Re-sources and Medical Equipment Source and is GHC’s launchpad into AI-powered virtual care.

“Healthcare systems are under immense pressure from staffing shortages and clinician burnout, making it more critical than ever to find scalable solutions that enhance efficiency without compromising quality of care,” said Ankit Patel, CEO at GHC Industries. “Vitalchat not only helps hospitals optimize resources and support care teams, but it also strengthens the human interaction between patients, providers, and families. By enabling seamless virtual engagement, Vitalchat ensures that loved ones can remain present during inpatient stays while giving clinicians the tools they need to focus on delivering exceptional care.”

Vitalchat will be showcasing its platform in the AI pavilion at the annual ViVE Conference (Grant Thornton Booth #883) on February 16-19, 2025.

About Vitalchat

Vitalchat delivers an AI-powered ambient virtual care solution designed to transform healthcare delivery by addressing critical challenges like nursing shortages, procedural telehealth and care coordination with clinical teams, patients and their family members. Our technology utilizes AI to perform continuous real-time analysis of video, audio, and sensory data collected in the care setting to identify trends, predict risks, and flag anomalies that are then turned into meaningful alerts and automated actions that support the clinical teams in delivering efficient, safe and coordinated care. For more information about Vitalchat, visit www.vitalchat.com

About Green Harvest Capital | GHC Industries

Green Harvest Capital (GHC) is a minority-owned private equity firm specializing in value and growth oriented investments across the multifamily, hospitality, and industrial sectors. With over $350 million in assets under ownership, GHC focuses on providing a better product and/or experience to the customer, revitalizing communities where assets are located, and fostering a workplace for team members to learn and excel.

The GHC Industries division is committed to revitalizing Midwest manufacturing and service industries, acquiring, nurturing and transforming legacy businesses into leaders in new technology. With an initial focus on the evolution in healthcare rapidly occurring throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond, GHC’s unique investment approach combines strategic insight with hands-on management to achieve the full potential of promising assets.

GHC Industries is led by co-founders: Ankit Patel, Bhavin Patel, Matt Soble, Michael Smith, and Saagar Parikh. They can be reached at [email protected]. For more information about GHC, visit www.ghc-lp.com

SOURCE Vitalchat

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 13, 2025 — Porter Capital, a trusted leader in specialty financing solutions, has provided a $15 million credit facility for a newly established entity in the transportation and freight services industry, headquartered in Georgia. The client, with nearly a century of operational history and a strong presence in the Midwest, required innovative financing to support its transition after forming a new LLC to acquire a division of a publicly traded Fortune 500 company.

The transaction underscores Porter Capital’s ability to deliver tailored financing solutions quickly, even in complex situations. The client, operating under a newly established LLC with no historical financials, turned to Porter Capital after being referred by a broker who recognized Porter’s expertise in addressing unconventional financing needs.

“This deal was unique in that it involved an entity with no historical financials or field exam to review, basically a startup,” said Andy Dillard, Senior Vice President and Business Development Officer at Porter Capital. “We competed with several other lenders, but our ability to make quick decisions and provide a tailored solution on a tight timeline set us apart. It’s a testament to our commitment to serving the unique needs of businesses in the transportation sector.”

Porter Capital worked closely with the client to structure the $15 million facility, enabling the newly formed company to effectively manage operations and pursue its growth strategy. “This transaction highlights our flexibility and speed in addressing complex financing challenges,” said Marc Porter, CEO of Porter Capital. “Our ability to move quickly and originate a large credit facility for a startup with no historical financials demonstrates why Porter Capital continues to be a trusted partner for businesses nationwide. We’re proud to play a role in helping this company achieve its operational goals and maintain its legacy in the transportation industry.”

The client’s acquisition of a division from a publicly traded company required immediate funding to maintain operational continuity. Porter Capital’s expertise in acquisition financing and corporate transitions made them the ideal partner. By providing the necessary funding in record time, Porter Capital ensured seamless operations and enabled the client to capitalize on new opportunities.

About Porter Capital

Porter Capital Corporation was founded in 1991 by brothers Marc and Donald Porter in Birmingham, AL. The company provides working capital solutions to businesses nationwide across various industries. As a direct lender and factoring company, Porter Capital has funded billions since its inception. It offers Invoice Factoring and Asset-Based Credit Lines of up to $25 million. Over the years, Porter Capital has expanded its services to include a specialized transportation division known as Porter Freight Funding. The Porter businesses continue to grow by delivering working capital solutions with a focus on personalized, dedicated customer service, while maintaining speed and efficiency. To learn more about Porter Capital Corporation and how it can support your business, call 1-888-865-7678, email [email protected], or visit www.portercap.com.

CONTACT: Michelle Milhoan, [email protected]

SOURCE Porter Capital