Led by Ocean Azul Partners and marketing & advertising industry executives to redefine how AI agents and human marketers collaborate

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2025 — MarkeTeam.ai, (“MarkeTeam”) developer of advanced artificial intelligence technology for the marketing industry, today announced the completion of a $3 million seed funding round. Having recently launched its next-generation autonomous marketing agents, the company already operates a team of virtual experts across core marketing disciplines, including brand marketing, strategic planning, paid media, social media management, content marketing, and SEO.

MarkeTeam’s AI agents are trained for multi-human / multi-agent collaboration and on real marketing operations & campaign data, enabling them to integrate seamlessly into organizational platforms and collaborate naturally with human teams. Unlike traditional AI tools that assist with isolated tasks as “co-pilots”, each of MarkeTeam’s agents functions as full-fledged team member, capable of undertaking comprehensive marketing “work units” spanning research & ideation, planning, creation, publishing & optimization in a collaborative manner. This AI-native approach allows organizations to redirect budgets from operational costs to growth initiatives & working media, improving overall performance and ROI.

Ocean Azul Partners led the funding round with participation from marketing and advertising industry veterans including Clive Sirkin (former CMO of Kellogg’s and Kimberly-Clark), Dion Joannou (former CEO of Accedian), Mitch Mayers (Founder and Partner at Zipatoni, later acquired by IPG), Tony Weisman (former CMO of Dunkin’ Brands) and additional industry leaders. To date, the company has raised $5 million.

“MarkeTeam represents a fundamental shift in how we imagine the future of work,” said Alex Tellez, Managing Director at Ocean Azul Partners. “MarkeTeam leverages decades of marketing experience to train, validate, and deploy one of the most innovative solutions we’ve seen in this space. MarkeTeam is creating a new paradigm where AI agents and human talent collaborate smoothly, driving efficiency and innovation across the entire business function.”

As companies increase their marketing KPIs and goals, budgets are under pressure. A recent Gartner survey reveals that the average marketing budgets have fallen by 15% over the past year, forcing CMOs and marketing leaders to ‘do more with less’.

“Marketing teams are under constant pressure to deliver exceptional results despite shrinking budgets and resources,” said Naama Manova-Twito, Co-Founder & CEO. “At MarkeTeam, we’re challenging the status quo by introducing AI agents that are not ‘tools’ but true ‘team members’. We are building the technology that will enable you to move from using Generative AI on a “fractional task” basis to having the ability to export entire “work units” to virtual employees. With the support of Ocean Azul, our visionary investors, and our incredible team, we’re redefining the future of marketing and the workplace itself.”

These AI team members operate autonomously across the entire marketing spectrum. They learn brand voice and strategy, track market dynamics, conduct independent research, proactively plan, execute in real-time, and continuously optimize performance. This collaboration transforms teams’ operations, delivering measurable results while significantly cutting costs.

The funding will accelerate MarkeTeam’s expansion in the U.S. market while driving the development of new AI models, marketing agents and capabilities across multiple channels.

“Unlike most LLMs trained with standard instructional tuning, our models are designed for collaboration and optimized for marketing-specific metrics,” said Sahar Millis, Co-Founder & CTO of MarkeTeam. “This enables us to build Agents as Virtual Workers, already designed for the next evolutionary step in the workspace – hybrid teams.”

About MarkeTeam.ai

MarkeTeam.ai is transforming the marketing industry with its proprietary autonomous AI agents and models for marketing. MarkeTeam.ai empowers businesses to exceed their KPIs without increasing budgets or headcount. The company’s AI-native approach allows organizations to allocate more of their budget towards substantial growth initiatives rather than operational overhead, effectively addressing the common challenge of achieving growing objectives with limited resources.

For more information, visit: MarkeTeam.ai

Contact: Sivan Ron, [email protected] 

SOURCE MarkeTeam.ai

Semi-Autonomous Venture Capital Fund Identifies and Supports Innovation in AI Tools that Execute Complex Business Tasks, a Multi-Trillion Dollar Opportunity in 2025

SEATTLE, Jan. 27, 2025 — Agent Fund, a semi-autonomous venture capital fund investing in AI autonomous agent startups, launched today on AngelList led by Yohei Nakajima (GP at Untapped Capital and creator of BabyAGI), Adam Silverman, and Alex Reibman (co-founders of Agen.cy AI and creators of AgentOps.ai,). Agent Fund focuses on identifying and supporting innovative startups within the burgeoning autonomous agent ecosystem, and will operate semi-autonomously itself by leveraging AI for deal sourcing, due diligence, portfolio management and community-building.

Autonomous agents represent the next evolution of AI tools, transcending simple prompts and API calls to dynamically decide what to do based on objectives, and utilizing tools, memory, and reasoning to execute complex tasks. 

Nakajima created Baby AGI in April 2022, a fully autonomous task manager that can create, track, prioritize and execute a company’s projects using artificial intelligence. Since then, hundreds of founders have reached out to him for funding, inspiring a separate investment strategy. He teamed up with Silvernam and Reibman who help businesses build AI agents and were also seeking an investment strategy.

“Agent Fund is the perfect playground for startups who are pushing the boundaries of what we can automate with AI,” said Nakajima. “Our goal is to build a large, collaborative community of autonomous agent startups and for the Fund to be semi-autonomous itself. We will still have people making key decisions, but leverage AI across all aspects of the business from sourcing deals to selecting the people to invest in and managing the portfolio.”

AI agents are a multi-trillion dollar opportunity¹ and Agent Fund is well positioned to fuel innovation in this space with its extensive network, bolstered by the global recognition of BabyAGI. Agent Fund supports startups at scale, covering diverse use cases from infrastructure to AI employees, enterprise tools, and no-code solutions, making it a preferred partner for top-tier startups.

Agent Fund is structured as a rolling fund on AngelList, with individual investments ranging from $50,000 – $200,000 each. For additional information or to become an investor, visit https://venture.angellist.com/v/back/agent-fund.

About the Agent Fund Team
Yohei Nakajima is a GP at Untapped Capital, which will serve as operator of the fund. He has experience investing in autonomous agent startups, including Cognosys, E2B, Azara, Open Souls, and Wokelo. Agen.cy AI co-founders Alex Reibman (CEO) and Adam Silverman (COO) built AI agents for data entry automation and developed one of the top ChatGPT plugins before starting Agen.cy. Alex has led machine learning engineering teams at Ernst & Young and developed ML solutions for Goldman Sachs, American Express, and Westpac. Adam is known in the “agent” world for his weekly recap threads and running one of the largest communities of agent developers.

PR Contact:
Karen Blondell for Untapped Capital
424-263-7371
[email protected]

¹ https://yhoo.it/3EbuuMk 

SOURCE Untapped Capital

HUNTINGTON, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2025 — A newly published paper in the Global Journal of Addiction & Rehabilitation Medicine further expands on the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory, linking frequent alcohol consumption and hangovers to chronic systemic inflammation and heightened cancer risk. Fortunately, Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical’s innovative therapeutic, SJP-001, is specifically designed to target this inflammatory pathway, offering a groundbreaking solution to mitigate alcohol-induced health risks.

“The Surgeon General’s advisory highlights inflammation as a mechanism linking alcohol consumption to cancer formation, a connection aligned with our research,” said Jacqueline Iversen, RPh, MS, Founder and CCO of Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical. “Our therapeutic under development, SJP-001, is designed to intervene in this inflammatory process, reducing both immediate effects like hangovers and long-term health risks. This would be a significant step forward in reducing disease burden to the millions of people who enjoy consuming alcohol.“

The paper, published on the heels of the Surgeon General’s advisory, underscores that frequent hangovers can lead to chronic systemic inflammation, a major risk factor for developing cancers and other diseases. SJP-001 directly targets this inflammatory cascade, providing dual-action benefits: immediate relief from hangover symptoms and potential long-term reduction of systemic chronic inflammation.

“Sen-Jam’s research represents a major advancement in understanding and potentially mitigating alcohol-related risks,” said Joris Verster, PhD, Sen-Jam Scientific Advisor and lead author of the newly published paper. “Our findings support the development of innovative therapies like SJP-001, which not only address the immediate symptoms of alcohol hangover but also target the root causes of chronic inflammation.”

Early clinical data from testing SJP-001, a novel combination of two pharmaceutical agents, revealed significant reductions in hangover severity. A larger double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is currently underway with Novotech, a global full-service clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO). Beyond immediate symptom relief, the therapeutic potential to address chronic inflammation positions it as a breakthrough in mitigating long-term health risks associated with alcohol consumption.

The market potential for SJP-001 is substantial. The global hangover remedy market was valued at $2.34 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to over $6 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.9%. According to Destum Partners’ – Market Analysis & Valuation, SJP-001’s current projected valuation of $107 million in the U.S. and Europe is anticipated to surge to $688 million by 2027, fueled by the successful completion of clinical trials and securing commercial approval. These projections underscore the economic and societal value of bringing the first FDA-approved, scientifically validated hangover remedy to market.

“Our mission is to develop safe, effective solutions for the millions impacted by alcohol-induced inflammation,” said Jim Iversen, CEO of Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical. “The Surgeon General’s advisory reinforces the importance of innovations like SJP-001 to address both immediate and long-term health risks.”

To learn more about Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical and SJP-001, visit www.sen-jam.com.

About Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical is a pioneering biotech company transforming the treatment landscape for inflammation and metabolic disorders. Through its proprietary “Pleiotropic Anti-Inflammatory Remedies” (PAIR) technology, Sen-Jam delivers precision therapies that work in harmony with the body’s immune system to mitigate systemic risks associated with chronic inflammation while supporting long-term health and vitality. To learn more visit wefunder.com/senjam. 

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical
Christine Leonard
[email protected]
781-913-1902

SOURCE Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical

New Women’s Heart Health-Focused Service Aims to Solve Physician Access Crisis with Innovative Group Virtual Care Solution

BOSTON, Jan. 27, 2025 — Systole Health, a tech-enabled group virtual care solution for women’s heart health, today announced $2M in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Benchstrength, with participation from January Ventures, J Ventures, and Tom X. Lee, founder of One Medical.

Systole Health delivers comprehensive care for women’s heart health through innovative group virtual visits. Women at risk for heart disease meet with a doctor and health coach to receive personalized coaching, medical care, and a supportive community in hour-long appointments. This program is a proven, yet underused, group care model that offers women the opportunity to ask questions and get expert care and support. By comparison, the current average doctor-patient visit is 18 minutes, primarily focused on medication management, an issue compounded by physician shortages and accessibility challenges as patient volumes continue to increase. Systole Health is available directly to consumers and will become available through partnering health systems as the program expands.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, with 90% of women having at least one heart disease risk factor and 45% already carrying diagnoses of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite these alarming statistics, women are underdiagnosed and undertreated for heart disease risk factors.

“When we look at investments, we prioritize new companies that address an unmet need with a novel approach, brought to us by founders who have both vision and a distinct ability to execute,” said Ken Chenault Jr., Managing Partner at Benchstrength. “Systole Health meets all these criteria with its innovative group virtual care model, which leverages technology to provide scalable and sustainable solutions for women’s heart health. Their patient-first approach, designed specifically to address systemic gaps in cardiovascular care for women, is transformative, and we’re excited to support their mission to deliver meaningful outcomes and expand access to quality care.”

Dr. Simin Lee, CEO and founder of Systole Health notes, “Our mission is to bend the curve of heart disease in women by introducing a new care model that prioritizes outcomes and connection. As a cardiologist, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles women face in managing their heart health. Our solution is built for women by women, addressing the unique challenges we experience and expanding access to the kind of care we want for our mothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters.”

Lauren McConnell, COO and founder of Systole Health adds, “We know there’s a lot of women looking for help with their heart health, without the option to get into their existing providers as much as they need to. I’m excited to build a supportive, community-driven space for those women, extending their lives and by extension – improving the health of their families.”

Systole Health plans to utilize the funding to expand into key markets throughout the United States and build its early clinical team. The company is also focused on forming strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and payers to further integrate its services into the broader healthcare ecosystem. Currently, the program is being piloted and serving patients in Massachusetts and Florida.

“At Systole Health, we’ve seen how this model can do more with less and unlock the power of community for our patients,” says Dr. Lee. “This is exactly the kind of solution needed to truly move the needle for women’s heart health.”

About Systole Health

Based in Boston, Systole Health is a pre-seed start-up revolutionizing women’s heart health through its innovative, tech-enabled group virtual care model. Focused on addressing systemic gaps in cardiovascular care, Systole Health delivers scalable, community-driven solutions that prioritize access, outcomes, and patient connection. Led by Dr. Simin Gharib Lee, a Harvard-trained cardiologist, and Lauren McConnell, a digital health innovator, the company is backed by Benchstrength, January Ventures, J Ventures, and Tom X. Lee. For more information, visit www.systolehealth.com.

Media Contact: 

Vikki Herrera
Oak Street Communications for Systole Health
[email protected]

SOURCE Systole Health

PHOENIX, Jan. 27, 2025 — Trinity Capital Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIN) (“Trinity Capital”), a leading alternative asset manager, today announced the commitment of $30 million in growth capital to Elucent Medical (“Elucent”), a pioneering medical technology company transforming the field of guided surgical technologies.

Elucent amplifies the field of surgical guidance, transforming standard instruments into smart tools with In-Body Spatial Intelligence™, giving physicians true 3D surgical awareness for unmatched precision.  Based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Elucent developed the EnVisio^® System, which uses a spatial field generator measuring continuous data points across multiple planes, to display exact 3D positioning of the SmartClip^® marker and SmartSensor™ used to guide soft-tissue surgical excision. EnVisio’s adaptive design and seamless integration redefine surgical precision, enabling an intuitive, uninterrupted experience that enhances precision and accuracy for better outcomes.   

“Elucent is disrupting the field of surgical guidance with its cutting-edge technology,” said Lauren Cosentino, Managing Director, Life Sciences at Trinity Capital. “We are thrilled to be a part of Elucent’s journey as they continue to innovate and improve surgical outcomes.”

“Our EnVisio® System gives surgeons confidence before, during, and after their surgical procedures so they know they have delivered unparalleled accuracy and precision for their patients. We are in scale mode and are excited to partner with Trinity Capital,” said Jason Pesterfield, CEO at Elucent. Trinity Capital’s investment will be key to our continued acceleration of our innovation and commercialization efforts.”

Earlier in 2024, Elucent raised $44.0 million in its Series C funding round. This additional growth capital will be used to scale operations.

About Trinity Capital Inc.

Trinity Capital Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIN) is an international alternative asset manager, aiming to provide investors with stable and consistent returns through access to the private credit market. We source, vet, and invest in dynamic privately funded growth-oriented companies, giving our investors access to a strong and diversified portfolio. With distinct business verticals, Trinity Capital stands as a trusted partner for innovative companies seeking tailored growth capital solutions. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the firm has an international footprint, supported by a dedicated team of strategically located investment professionals. For more information, visit the company’s website at trinitycapital.com and stay connected by following us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

About Elucent Medical:

Elucent Medical is a leading innovator in the field of guided surgical technologies, dedicated to improving patient outcomes through precision and accuracy. The company’s flagship technologies, EnVisio^® and SmartClip^®, offer groundbreaking solutions for soft-tissue surgical guidance with In-Body Spatial Intelligence™ (iSi). With a commitment to innovation and collaboration, Elucent Medical is driving advancements in surgical oncologic care, making a positive impact on the lives of patients and the medical professionals who treat them.

For more information about Elucent Medical and its innovative solutions, please visit www.elucent.com.

SOURCE Trinity Capital Inc.

SHANGHAI, Jan. 27, 2025 — On January 27th, 2025, Beijing Time, Qiming Venture Partners’ portfolio company HyperStrong, a leading provider of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in China, successfully debuted on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Science and Technology Innovation Board (the “STAR Market”).

HyperStrong (SHSE:688411) was issued at RMB 19.38 per share and closed at RMB 63.80, representing an increase of 229.21% from the issue price, with a market capitalization of RMB 11.339 billion.

Qiming Venture Partners has been an early investor in HyperStrong since 2015 and has continued to support the company’s growth through subsequent funding rounds. HyperStrong’s successful IPO marks Qiming’s first IPO milestone of 2025.

Founded in 2011, HyperStrong has established itself as a trusted partner in the global transition to renewable energy. The company provides a wide range of energy storage solutions including liquid-cooling energy storage systems, outdoor cabinets, all-in-one charging and storage systems for utility-scale, commercial and industrial uses.

With the increasing global demand for renewable energy, utility-scale energy storage systems have become essential for ensuring grid stability and safety. HyperStrong has positioned itself as a top-tier BESS provider, leveraging its strengths in battery digital modeling, energy and thermal management, big data platform, system integration, and rigorous testing capabilities. These technologies enable HyperStrong to meet the diverse and evolving needs of its customers.

According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, HyperStrong ranked among the top three BESS integrators in terms of global capacity installed in 2023.

Dr. Jianhui Zhang, Chairman and CEO of HyperStrong, expressed his vision for the company: “HyperStrong remains committed to unlocking the full lifecycle value of energy storage systems. We aim to deepen our presence across the energy storage value chain, enhance our integration capabilities, and foster a collaborative innovation ecosystem. By advancing digital applications, hardware-software synergies, and comprehensive solutions, we will drive rapid product innovation to meet the ever-changing needs of the global market.”

Alex Zhou, Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners, said, “Over the past decade, we have supported HyperStrong as an investor, shareholder, and board member, steadfastly accompanying the company throughout its remarkable growth. We have witnessed HyperStrong leverage its cutting-edge R&D, strategic market insights, and relentless spirit of innovation to become a leader in the competitive energy storage industry. Today’s successful IPO is not only a major milestone in its journey but also the start of an exciting new chapter full of potential. As the global energy sector undergoes a transformative shift, energy storage has become a critical pillar of this change. We expect HyperStrong to continue leading the way in technological innovation, solidifying its position as a key player in the global energy storage market.”

About Qiming Venture Partners

Qiming Venture Partners was founded in 2006. Currently, Qiming Venture Partners manages eleven US Dollar funds and seven RMB funds with $9.5 billion in capital raised. Since our establishment, we have invested in outstanding companies in the Technology and Consumer (T&C) and Healthcare industries at the early and growth stages.

Since our debut, we have backed over 580 fast-growing and innovative companies. Over 210 of our portfolio companies have achieved exits through IPOs at the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, Shanghai Stock Exchange, or Shenzhen Stock Exchange, or through M&A or other means. There are also over 80 portfolio companies that have achieved unicorn or super unicorn status.

Many of our portfolio companies are today’s most influential firms in their respective sectors, including Xiaomi, Meituan, Bilibili, Zhihu, Roborock, UBTech, WeRide, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Tigermed, Zai Lab, CanSino Biologics, Schrödinger, APT Medical, New Horizon Health, Sanyou Medical, AmoyDx, Berry Genomics, SinocellTech, Yuanxin Technology, Caidya, Belief BioMed, among many others.

SOURCE Qiming Venture Partners

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2025 — Recycle Track Systems, Inc. (RTS), a pioneer in transforming waste and recycling management, proudly announces the closing of financing, raising over $40 million to drive innovation and reshape the future of waste management. This funding milestone will accelerate RTS’s mission to deliver smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable solutions through groundbreaking AI-powered technology like the revolutionary Pello sensor.

The round was led by current investor Edison Partners, with participation from Volition Capital, StepStone Capital Partners, and other major stockholders, underscoring strong market confidence and enabling the company to expand its footprint across the United States and Canada.

Greg Lettieri, Co-Founder and CEO of RTS, said:
“This round further strengthens RTS’s position as a pioneer in AI-powered waste management. The continued support from our investors reflects the market’s trust in our innovative approach to sustainability. This capital will accelerate our investments in AI, automation, and expand the deployment of Pello sensors across our customer base, enabling us to collect real-time waste data that sets a new standard for the industry. With this data, we’ll continue to drive innovation and advance how waste management is approached, unlocking new efficiencies and insights that will shape the future of the industry.”

Larry Cheng, Managing Partner at Volition Capital, said:
“We’ve seen RTS grow from a promising startup to an industry leader driving real change in waste management. This funding further accelerates RTS’s momentum, pushing the boundaries of AI and automation while expanding their impact across North America, solidifying their position as the industry’s most innovative and impactful player.”

Chris Sudgen, Managing Partner at Edison Partners, said:
“Edison is thrilled to lead this additional investment and continue our partnership with the company and other existing investors. RTS’ innovative technology and best-in-class execution in the waste and recycling management category continues to generate significant value for customers, resulting in the company capturing incremental market share each year. RTS is at an incredibly exciting inflection point and we couldn’t be more excited to support the company on the next leg of its remarkable journey.”

Shazi Visram, Board Member at RTS and Founder of Happy Baby Organics and HealthyBaby Verified Safe Diapers, said:
“RTS is uniquely positioned to help businesses and municipalities create healthier, more sustainable communities where our waste is better managed for our next generations. With a strong and passionate leadership team and solid foundation, I have full confidence in RTS’s ability to lead the transformation of this industry towards a better way. I’m beyond proud to be on this transformative journey from the early days to a brighter future that benefits us all.”

Deploying Pello AI Technology: Redefining Waste Management
At the heart of RTS’s innovation is Pello, a cutting-edge AI-powered sensor designed to transform waste and recycling operations. Pello provides real-time insights into container contents, fill levels, contamination, bin location, and temperature. Its intuitive dashboard enables businesses to optimize hauling, automate pickups, and accurately track ESG commitments, all while driving waste diversion and sustainability efforts.

Shaping Urban Waste Management Through Commercial Waste Zones (CWZ)
RTS has further solidified its leadership in the industry by securing a ten-year contract in New York City. As the youngest company selected through a highly competitive government RFP process, RTS stands out as one of five awardees for city-wide containerized services and as a zone awardee for three commercial waste zones. By integrating cutting-edge technology with municipal systems, RTS enhances customer service, optimizes collection tracking, and drives waste diversion efforts. In partnership with trusted, locally established haulers—Winters Bros., City Waste Services of New York, and Regency Recycling—RTS is advancing sustainability initiatives across all five boroughs.

This initiative is part of RTS’s broader strategy to grow its footprint across the United States and Canada, bringing AI-powered solutions to more cities and municipalities. The company’s technology-driven approach ensures greater efficiency and improved waste diversion, aligning with environmental goals and sustainability commitments nationwide.

Looking Ahead: A Sustainable Future
This new funding will fuel RTS’s next wave of innovation, expanding its AI-driven solutions and empowering businesses and municipalities across North America to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

About Recycle Track Systems
Recycle Track Systems, Inc. (RTS) is an industry leader in waste management, harnessing cutting-edge technology to transform how businesses and municipalities handle waste. RTS leverages AI, automation, and data analytics to optimize waste collection, diversion, and recycling programs, making sustainability easier, more efficient, and cost-effective. Key offerings such as the Pello sensor, the Cycle reverse vending rewards program, and full-service waste and recycling solutions empower clients to improve operational efficiency and reduce their environmental impact. With a focus on innovation and operational excellence, RTS is committed to creating a cleaner, more sustainable future. For more information, visit rts.com or follow RTS on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

PRESS CONTACT
NAN HU
[email protected]

SOURCE Recycle Track Systems

The investment will enable national expansion in 2025 – across markets that represent 75% of all home transactions in the US.

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2025 — Indigo, the first AI-powered platform for home negotiations, announces today it has secured $8 million to deliver offer insights, collaboration and transparency to real estate teams, buyers and sellers nationally. In the three months following launch, Indigo has experienced viral growth, exceeding 20% market share of home offers in its initial markets.

The seed round was led by Pete Flint at NFX, Clelia Warburg Peters at Era Ventures, and Paul Irving at GTM Fund. They were joined by 1Sharpe Ventures and Jake Seid.

While innovation has taken place in how people search for homes, very little has changed in how people navigate the home offer and negotiation process. The negotiation process is the centerpiece of any successful home transaction, essential in winning or losing a home. How to craft, negotiate and manage offers continues to be a top reason, for buyers and sellers, in choosing their real estate agent.

Yet, the $2 trillion home offer market is a manual and disjointed process surrounding complex legal documents and limited information sources, costing enormous amounts of time, frustration and heartbreak.

Indigo unifies the negotiation experience with real-time offer insights, bringing unparalleled speed and competitiveness to real estate agents, buyers, and sellers. Indigo unlocks insights from real estate contracts, to infuse data into every step of the home negotiation – from introduction to close – enabling all parties with the information they deserve to make life’s most important purchase.

“Homebuyers, home sellers, and agents face mounting challenges today with affordability, limited housing inventory, complex negotiations, and navigating new commission structures,” Shaival Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Indigo said.

“By delivering a collaborative and streamlined experience, we empower all members of the transaction with the tools and context to balance what’s winning in the market, the means of the buyer, and the needs of the seller. We provide transparency into the transaction and help agents show their negotiating value. We are thrilled to partner with our investors to power the future of home negotiations together”.

Indigo’s Home Checkout is a collaborative experience with insights built directly into the workflows to design, submit, receive, and negotiate offers in one place. By helping agents and consumers automate tedious administrative overhead, Indigo saves time and brings visibility, clarity and simplicity to the process.

“We were drawn to Indigo’s vision that the market is shifting from a search-centric to transaction-centric model. Indigo is on the bleeding edge of that transformation, leveraging proprietary AI to create a magical home transaction experience for everyone. We are thrilled to back the Indigo team and their deep domain expertise,” said Pete Flint, General Partner at NFX.

Indigo creates a win-win outcome for buyers, sellers, and agents by providing tangible data and suggestions that can increase offer accept and closing rates – while saving countless hours of transaction management. Indigo’s team has increased offer accept rates by 35% and improved on-time closings by 40%. 

“On the heels of major industry changes, greater transparency around the home transaction has become vital. The home offer process is the fulcrum of home buying, yet it remains opaque and inefficient.” said Clelia Warburg Peters, Managing Partner at Era Ventures.” said Clelia Warburg Peters, Managing Partner at Era Ventures.

“I am confident that Indigo will pave the way for a smarter, more transparent future. This kind of innovation empowers every member of the home transaction experience and has the power to transform markets.”

Indigo was co-founded by Shaival Shah, Wei Gan, Paul Kim, and Frances Bryant. The founding team previously established Ribbon, the market’s first all-cash offers platform that facilitated over $20 billion in offers annually. Together, the team is leveraging their experience in designing home offers to help real estate professionals and consumers with the technology and tools to bring transparency and ease to the real estate market.

About Indigo:

Indigo is the first AI-powered platform for home negotiations. Indigo unifies the buying and selling experience with real-time offer intelligence, bringing unparalleled speed and competitiveness to real estate agents, buyers, and sellers. Indigo seamlessly manages communications, bidding, and negotiations – from introduction to close – into one collaborative experience. With Indigo’s Contracts AI, agents and real estate teams can seamlessly adapt and connect core contracts, workflows, and processes to generate insights and deliver a beautiful transaction to their buyers and sellers.

SOURCE Indigo

Led by Index Ventures with participation from GV (Google Ventures), this funding round underscores milestone growth, cross-country expansion, and new Chief Medical Officer

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2025 — Allara Health, the virtual care platform bridging the care divide for women battling chronic hormonal conditions, announced today its $26 million Series B funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to $38.5 million. Index Ventures led the round and partner Martin Mignot will join Allara’s board. Existing investor GV (Google Ventures) also participated in the round. This Series B investment will allow Allara to bring specialized care to women nationwide struggling with hormonal conditions.  

Today, 1 in 3 women will battle a chronic hormonal condition in their lifetimes, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and hypothyroidism – all of which can cause health challenges like infertility, high-risk pregnancies, obesity, and diabetes. For those struggling, receiving a diagnosis and finding high-quality, supportive care can be difficult: close to 70 percent of PCOS cases are undiagnosed, and it can take an average of ten years to receive an endometriosis diagnosis. Moreover, a study from KFF of women ages 18-64 found that close to 30 percent felt that their doctor had dismissed their concerns, leaving women to manage symptoms and long-term side effects on their own.

“Allara was built for the tens of millions of women living with complex hormonal and gynecologic conditions across the U.S., myself included,” said founder and CEO Rachel Blank. “After receiving a PCOS diagnosis without sufficient medical support, I realized firsthand the inequities that exist for many of us throughout the healthcare system. At Allara, we ensure women struggling with hormonal conditions can access affordable care that answers questions, minimizes symptoms, and helps them live fulfilling lives – and we are incredibly grateful for the support from our investors as we deliver on this mission.”

Allara’s team of experts, including OB-GYNs, endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, and Registered Dietitians, takes a whole-body approach to patient care, virtually delivering evidence-based solutions to help patients feel better faster. For its thousands of patients nationwide, Allara offers expert-led care plans that combine medical expertise, lifestyle management, and community support – creating treatment programs personalized to individuals and their unique needs. Within a few weeks of treatment from Allara, over 75% of patients report feeling more in control of their health, empowered about their care, and hopeful about their outcomes.

2024 was a landmark year for Allara. The company grew by 4x, officially launched its care model across all 50 U.S. states, and forged new insurance partnerships with health plans including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, and United Healthcare. Allara also invested in its clinical leadership, welcoming new Chief Medical Officer Dr. Heather Huddleston, a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and director of the UCSF PCOS Clinic and research program. Dr. Huddleston will deepen Allara’s established clinical expertise and lead forays into new areas of care in the coming years.

“The challenges that women face in healthcare have been overlooked and underappreciated for too long,” said Martin Mingot, Partner at Index Ventures. “Allara has created a new way for women to engage with specialty care: personalized treatment delivered at scale by a team of experts who care deeply about their patients. As the healthcare market makes the jump from offline to online – similar to what we saw with consumer internet 20 years ago – there’s a significant opportunity to provide better access to care for patients and better quality of life for providers.” 

For more information about Allara, please visit allarahealth.com.

About Allara Health

Allara is a specialty care platform built for the tens of millions of women living with complex hormonal and gynecologic conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. Allara makes expert healthcare accessible online by connecting patients with expert medical practitioners and Registered Dietitians who have a deep understanding of hormonal and metabolic care. Allara provides ongoing medical, lifestyle, and emotional support for chronic conditions, helping patients see improved health outcomes and achieve their individualized goals. To learn more about Allara, visit www.allarahealth.com.

SOURCE Allara Health