Gavan Secures USD8M to Commercialize Cutting-Edge Plant-Based Fat

Start-up is establishing a new European facility for commercial production of its plant-based Fatrix® fat

CAESAREA, Israel, Dec. 10, 2024 — FoodTech start-up Gavan Technologies, Ltd. announces it has raised USD8M in A-round funds. This fresh capital infusion will enable Gavan to break into the European food market with its cutting-edge plant protein-based fat solution, Fatrix®.

The funding round was led by MoreVC, a prominent Israeli venture capital firm, with participation from Lever VC, a global leader in food and agri-tech investment; EIT Food, a European Union-supported platform for sustainable food innovations; and DarkBoot Group, a private equity firm involved in Gavan’s incubation.

The proceeds will be used to establish a new pilot production facility in Europe and expand Gavan’s commercial presence in Europe with focus on the bakery and dairy sectors. The site, planned to commence operations in April, 2025 will feature a state-of-the-art production line for Gavan’s alternative fat solution.

Fatrix is designed to help food manufacturers reach a superior nutriscore for their product by reducing total fat and especially saturated fat content. Using Fatrix as a fat source reduces dependency on animal fats and awards exceptional sensory value as well as cleaning the label from undesired emulsifiers.

Like Butter

Fatrix is a multifunctional plant-based fat developed by the foodTech visionaries at Gavan and can act as a one-to-one replacement for butter in a comprehensive range of bakery products and dairy alternatives. Its all-natural fat formula is composed of three simple ingredients: protein isolate, vegetable oil, and water, formulated into a high-performance gel.

Gavan’s patented technology enables the protein to perform as an optimal binder for the water and oil. This results in a smooth, stable, and flavorless emulsion. It also has a very low content of saturated fats and zero trans fats as it is not hydrogenated. Fatrix is already approved for market, and does not require novel foods regulatory approval.

“This funding round opens the door for Gavan to enter the European food market, where we can quickly make a positive impact. Our new, fully EU-certified facility is planned to go commercial as early as April next year,” declares Itai Cohen, Gavan’s co-founder and CEO.

Fatrix fills the market gap for a clean-label fat substitute that is craveworthy, highly functional, and affordable. “It is neutral in flavor, odorless, and highly versatile, making it possible to create any texture required,” adds Cohen. “It maintains stability and water- and fat-holding capacity even under processing conditions of high heat and physical pressure.”

Fatrix is a scalable and cost efficient fat solution that has demonstrated its capacity for creating indulgent buttery sensations across multiple bakery products like brioche and croissants. It adds functional value to dairy analogs such as whipping creams, cooking creams, cream cheeses, and puddings without the need for added thickeners or stabilizers. It also allows for cleaner, more consumer-friendly labels.

Gavan’s zero-waste platform is compatible with a diverse range of plant-based oils and legumes allowing it to provide tailored solutions to meet specific customer preferences or application requirements.

“Fat plays an essential role in the creation of almost all foods. It gives depth to flavors, elevates textures, and enhances the dining experience in general,” adds Rony Patishi-Chillim, Venture Partner of MoreVC. “The food industry is in need of a plant-based fat that can provide the same indulgent flavor and mouthfeel as butter, while supporting sustainability and personal well-being. Gavan’s unique fat creation platform is market-ready and has the potential to make a truly meaningful contribution to the USD253B fats and oils market.”

“As early investors in the alternative protein space, we’ve evaluated countless fat solutions aiming to replace butter or animal fats,” says James Caffyn, Partner at Lever VC. “Gavan’s platform stands out as the most compelling, offering a unique ability to partner with large corporates while achieving capital-efficient scaling and competitive unit economics. These qualities position Fatrix® as a game-changer in the move towards healthier and cleaner-label foods.”

About Gavan

Founded in 2018, Gavan Technologies, Ltd. specializes in the development of functional ingredients for the food industry. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, Gavan offers plant-based protein extraction technology as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional animal-derived products. Its flagship product is a multi-texture fat analogue, carefully crafted for the bakery, meat, and dairy markets, offering notable sensorial and nutritional benefits that aligns with Gavan’s responsible ingredient development ethos. By prioritizing innovation and environmental responsibility, Gavan actively contributes to shaping the future of the ingredient landscape. The company previously raised USD2.5M in seed funds.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2577536/Gavan_Technologies_USD8M.jpg

SOURCE Gavan Technologies, Ltd.

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WeaveGrid Raises $28M, Including Strategic Investment Led by Woven Capital

The strategic investment led by Toyota’s growth fund, Woven Capital, with participation from existing investors, will deepen collaborations and integrations with automakers, expand product capabilities for electric utilities, and enhance the EV driver experience.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10, 2024WeaveGrid, a software company that enables rapid electric vehicle (EV) adoption on the electric grid, today announced $28 million in funding, led by Toyota’s growth fund, Woven Capital. Existing investors Activate Capital, Collab Fund, Emerson Collective, and Salesforce Ventures participated, with debt provided by HSBC Innovation Banking. This investment underscores WeaveGrid’s position as the preferred platform solution for automakers seeking to securely and seamlessly integrate their EVs with the electric grid while providing an optimized charging experience for EV drivers.

“Toyota is an invaluable collaborator in overcoming one of the most complex challenges of decarbonizing the auto industry: ensuring electric grid reliability by transforming EVs into grid-interactive assets,” said Apoorv Bhargava, CEO of WeaveGrid. “Working together, we are accelerating the adoption of EVs by creating a delightful driver experience and providing utilities with the tools they need to manage the grid. This investment will enable us to further expand our platform, invest in research and development, and forge deeper relationships with automakers and utilities alike.”

“The automotive industry is focused on delivering solutions that find a way to optimize charging for both drivers and the grid,” said Nicole LeBlanc, partner at Woven Capital. “WeaveGrid’s impressive technology improves the experience for all stakeholders, especially automotive OEMs like Toyota, and ultimately creates a more sustainable and efficient mobility ecosystem. We have been particularly impressed not just with WeaveGrid’s automotive capabilities, but their high-caliber deployments with the largest utilities in the US.”

By leveraging WeaveGrid’s technology, automakers are looking to ensure that the data from their software-defined electric vehicles is handled with the utmost security, while also contributing to grid stability. WeaveGrid’s EV Management System (EVMS) enables grid-integrated EV charging and offers a comprehensive suite of solutions for utilities, including vehicle-to-grid capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and a patented approach to electric distribution optimization, in a moment of load growth driven by electrification and AI data centers. At the same time, EV drivers will feel empowered, knowing they are charging their vehicles with clean, reliable, and affordable power.

This strategic investment further solidifies WeaveGrid’s position as the leading platform for EV managed charging, building on previous direct integration collaborations with companies like Toyota, as WeaveGrid supports utilities serving more than 40% of electric vehicles in the United States. As the demand for EVs continues to grow, WeaveGrid is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of electric transportation by driving software innovation at the intersection of energy and mobility. As the only market player with over a dozen official integrations with automotive brands and EV charging suppliers, WeaveGrid is the industry leader in high-quality, cybersecure EV charging management.

About WeaveGrid 

WeaveGrid empowers automakers and electric utilities to intelligently deploy and maximize the value of grid-interactive vehicles, while creating enhanced charging experiences for EV drivers. Utilizing WeaveGrid’s market-leading managed charging platform, automakers and utilities alike can accelerate the rapid adoption of EVs while ensuring grid stability. For more information, please visit www.weavegrid.com.

About Woven Capital

Woven Capital is Toyota’s growth fund dedicated to realizing the promise of mobility — how people, goods, information and energy can move. Our global team of investors connects the world’s most promising innovators with the world’s most trusted automotive brand. Founded in 2021, we are investing nearly $800 million in startups that create new ways to connect cities, advance automation, harness and store energy, further electrification, and make our vehicles smarter. Learn more at woven.vc.

Media Contact : Kendall Cody | [email protected]

SOURCE WeaveGrid

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LambdaTest Closes $38 Million to Revolutionize QA with AI Native QA Agent-as-a-Service

With this funding, LambdaTest plans to advance KaneAI, launching AI Native QA Agent-as-a-Service to transform software QA with AI-driven insights, scalable Test Cloud, and advanced HyperExecute automation.

NOIDA, India and SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10, 2024LambdaTest, the leading cloud-based unified testing platform, has secured a $38 million funding round led by Avataar Ventures, with participation from Qualcomm Ventures, bringing the total funding to $108 million. This pivotal investment will accelerate LambdaTest’s mission to democratize quality engineering through innovation, and redefine industry standards for web and mobile software quality through its groundbreaking innovation, KaneAI – “AI Native QA Agent-as-a-Service” platform.

With 15,000+ customers including Fortune 500 and G2000 companies, LambdaTest has already established itself as a leader in the QA space. Its latest innovations include KaneAI, an AI-driven QA automation Agent-as-a-Service, and AI native HyperExecute platform, which enables companies to test their digital assets with speed, precision, and scalability.

HyperExecute, LambdaTest’s AI Native unified test execution and orchestration cloud, enables teams to run tests upto 70% faster than any cloud grid by running tests intelligently across multiple environments, enabling 2.5x faster test resolution and 60% quicker error detection. The latest platform, KaneAI, can help reduce manual efforts in test script generation, reducing it by 40-70%.

These GenAI-powered innovations address a pressing need for streamlined and efficient QA processes, as software development lifecycles become faster, more rigorous, and increasingly complex.

With a YoY growth of about 105%, LambdaTest has 2.3 million+ developers and testers worldwide, who rely on it to test intelligently, accelerate releases, and ship quality software with confidence and have executed more than 1.2 billion tests till date.

“KaneAI is more than a tool—it’s a transformative approach to QA, empowering teams to test smarter and faster, with less manual effort,” said Asad Khan, CEO and Co-Founder of LambdaTest. “Our foundation in LambdaTest’s cloud-based platform gives us an edge in delivering this solution at scale, and we’re thrilled to have the support of Avataar Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures as we reshape the future of QA.”

“Asad & team are a force of nature to be reckoned with — in a short period of time they have disrupted the entire market. From creating the first AI-native, no-code QA solution (KaneAI) to launching the only truly e2e Enterprise grade, secure test orchestration platform (HyperExecute), they have totally changed the game & pulled the rug out from under existing CBT vendors. In a world where literally every industry & company is going through digital transformation, LambdaTest now becomes a must-have solution that delivers the best customer experience & accelerated time to market while also meaningfully cutting costs.”, said Nishant Rao, Founding Partner at Avataar. “We’ve been inspired to see the high quality of their growth & are super bullish for the future. Avataar’s unique #OperatingVC model will help ensure they have active support at every stage of the journey to translate their first mover advantage into becoming the global market leader (but this time Built in India for the World)!”, he added.

“As AI applications on the cloud and on devices become more prevalent, continuous testing with AI-driven automation is essential for accelerating release cycles and improving CI/CD pipeline efficiency,” said Quinn Li, Senior Vice President, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Global Head of Qualcomm Ventures. “LambdaTest’s comprehensive product suite is transforming software quality assurance with AI-driven autonomous testing systems. We are excited to support their journey.”

This investment by Avataar Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures is a testament to the potential of AI-driven tools in the QA market. As companies continue to adopt cloud solutions to streamline their testing processes, LambdaTest’s comprehensive approach positions it at the forefront of QA innovation, reinforcing its leadership in a massive and evolving market.

Founded in 2017, LambdaTest has raised nearly $70 million from top investors in previous funding rounds, including Premji Invest, Sequoia Capital India, Titanium Ventures, Leo Capital Holdings, and Blume Ventures.

Note to Editors

About LambdaTest

LambdaTest is an intelligent and omnichannel software quality assurance platform that enables businesses to accelerate time to market through AI-powered cloud-based test authoring, orchestration, and execution. Over 15,000+ customers and 2.3 million+ users across 130+ countries rely on LambdaTest for their testing needs.

  • Browser & App Testing Cloud allows users to run both manual and automated tests of web and mobile apps across 5000+ different browsers, real devices, and operating system environments.
  • HyperExecute helps customers run and orchestrate test grids in the cloud for any framework and programming language at blazing-fast speeds to cut down on quality test time, helping developers build software faster.

For more information, please visit, https://lambdatest.com

About Avataar Ventures

Avataar is a growth stage, Operational VC fund partnering actively with brilliant regional Tech-led B2B & SaaS startups to Re-invent, Scale & Transform into successful, enduring global businesses. We believe in the promise of India & South-East Asia transforming into B2B product nations, building for the world! We believe in orchestrating a new Enterpreneur-VC equation for the region, where we roll up our sleeves and operate in the trenches with our founders. Together their passion & ideas, coupled with our experience & networks help accelerate each portfolio company’s scale-up success formula. For more information, please visit: http://avataar.vc/

About Qualcomm Ventures

Qualcomm Ventures, acting through Qualcomm Ventures LLC or its affiliated entities, has been making strategic investments in technology companies that have the potential to dramatically transform our world since 2000. As a global investor, we look to help entrepreneurs build revolutionary businesses that reshape the world around us. For more information, please visit: www.qualcommventures.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2576342/LambdaTest_Leadership.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1721228/Lambda_Test_Logo.jpg

SOURCE LambdaTest

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Anand Chandrasekaran Joins Venture Firm Celesta Capital as Managing Partner

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 9, 2024 — Celesta Capital, a leading global deep tech venture capital firm, today announced that technology investor and product leader Anand Chandrasekaran has joined the firm as Managing Partner. Chandrasekaran has more than 20 years of experience identifying transformative startups, as well as founding and scaling global companies. He previously served as a Partner at General Catalyst, as well as a product leader at Meta, Five9, Bharti Airtel, Snapdeal, and others.

Chandrasekaran most recently has served as President and co-founder at AI-native contact center startup Crescendo AI, which he helped to incubate and spin out of General Catalyst alongside co-founder Andy Lee. Crescendo recently announced $50M in financing and the acquisition of customer experience company PartnerHero. Chandrasekaran will continue at Crescendo as he transitions into his Managing Partner role at Celesta.

Chandrasekaran is also a seed investor in more than 80 companies, of which 7 are valued at over $1 billion. He has been recognized as India’s top seed investor by HURUN India the past three years in a row. During his time as a Partner at General Catalyst, Chandrasekaran led investments in Loop Health, Eeki Foods, Orange Health, FarMart, Magma, Jeh Aerospace and others.

“Company creation and building has been my passion for the past two decades. It was clear from getting to know the Celesta team through their investment in Crescendo that they share this dedication,” said Chandrasekaran. “I look forward to adding to the team’s vision and further strengthening the firm’s muscle as deep tech investors and company builders.”

Chandrasekaran will bring his deep expertise in consumer and enterprise software to complement Celesta’s strong track record in the hardware and semiconductor space, with a particular focus on opportunities within the AI tech stack.

“We are delighted to welcome Anand to Celesta Capital. What truly sets Anand apart is his rare combination of expertise as a technologist, operator, and investor,” said Sriram Viswanathan, Founding Managing Partner at Celesta. “Anand has also been a recognized leader within the Silicon Valley – India tech corridor for decades, and his perspective aligns perfectly with our belief in the opportunity for this ecosystem to deliver the next generation of leading technology companies.”

At Celesta, Chandrasekaran joins a seasoned global team of investment professionals, technologists, and operating executives led by Founding Managing Partners Nic Brathwaite, Michael Marks, and Viswanathan. Chandrasekaran’s addition to Celesta follows the recent appointment of Nobel Laureate Biochemist Dr. Jim Rothman as a Senior Advisor, as well as Celesta Managing Partner Arun Kumar, former CEO of KPMG India and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets in the Obama Administration.

About Celesta Capital

Celesta Capital is a global deep tech venture capital firm. Led by technology industry veterans with decades of investment and operational experience, Celesta has a passion and proven track record for building and scaling global businesses. Founded in 2013, Celesta has a portfolio of more than 100 early-stage technology investments. Learn more at http://celesta.vc.

Media Contact:
Trevor DeWitt
[email protected] 

SOURCE Celesta Capital

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BitRail Selected to Present at the Prestigious New England Venture Summit

WILTON, Conn., Dec. 9, 2024 — BitRail is proud to announce that it has been selected to present at the upcoming New England Venture Summit, taking place on December 10th & 11th, 2024 at the Hilton in Boston Dedham, Massachusetts. Organized by youngStartup Ventures, the summit is the region’s premier event for connecting the most promising startups with the venture capital, corporate venture, and angel investor communities.

The 2024 New England Venture Summit will feature over 150 top innovators across numerous sectors. Each presenting company was carefully chosen by the youngStartup Venture team and advisors, ensuring that the innovations showcased are at the forefront of their respective fields. From revolutionary biotech solutions to cutting-edge AI technologies and sustainable energy advancements, these startups represent the best and brightest talent shaping the future of innovation.

This prestigious gathering offers a rare opportunity for attendees to witness transformative ideas and connect with the visionaries behind them.

With BitRail joining this elite group, this is an exciting opportunity to showcase our groundbreaking PayGenius branded payment platform that offers fast, safe, low cost alternative to expensive credit cards. BitRail will show investors, industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs how we create and manage safe, regulated, branded digital currencies that can save merchants up to 5% on processing fees.  

“We are honored to participate in this highly regarded event and look forward to the chance to connect with visionary investors and leaders,” said Jeff Siegel, CEO. “This platform provides an unparalleled opportunity for startups like ours to gain visibility and accelerate growth.”

About the New England Venture Summit:
Hosted by youngStartup Ventures, the New England Venture Summit is a must-attend gathering for investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. Attendees will engage in meaningful networking, hear from industry leaders, and explore the latest trends shaping the future of innovation.

ABOUT BITRAIL:
BitRail is a fintech and service provider that helps companies create and manage their own branded, regulated digital payments. Our platform includes technology, licensing and compliance to help companies launch safe, branded, regulated, digital currencies and wallets.

For more information please visit www.bitrail.io

SOURCE BitRail

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Kapitaalverhoging Serie B van GDS International opgetrokken tot USD 1,2 miljard met sterke steun van investeerders

SINGAPORE, 9 december 2024 — GDS International (“GDSI”), een toonaangevende pionier op het gebied van datacenters met hoofdkantoor in Singapore, heeft vandaag aangekondigd dat het wijzigingen heeft aangebracht in de definitieve overeenkomsten voor de nieuwe uitgifte van Serie B Converteerbare Preferente Aandelen die aanvankelijk werd aangekondigd op 29 oktober 2024, als gevolg waarvan de nieuwe uitgifte is verhoogd van USD 1,0 miljard naar USD 1,2 miljard tegen dezelfde pre-money waardering van het eigen vermogen.

De schaalvergroting werd voornamelijk gecommitteerd door bekende nieuwe investeerders, waaronder het SoftBank Vision Fund en Kenneth Griffin, CEO van Citadel. Met de opbrengst van de Serie B verwacht GDSI te beschikken over voldoende eigen vermogen om de ontwikkeling van meer dan 1 GW aan totale datacentercapaciteit te kapitaliseren.

Naar verwachting wordt de nieuwe Serie B-uitgifte eind dit jaar afgerond.

Jamie Khoo, CEO van GDS International, licht toe:
“We zijn verheugd over de sterke steun van investeerders voor onze nieuwe uitgifte van Serie B, die ons in staat stelt om onze aandeelhoudersbasis uit te breiden en gerenommeerde nieuwe investeerders toe te voegen. Het succes van deze kapitaalverhoging benadrukt de kracht van de visie en strategie van GDSI. Deze extra financiering zal ons in staat stellen om onze plannen te versnellen om nieuwe datacentermarkten te creëren en state-of-the-art digitale infrastructuuroplossingen te leveren.”

Over GDS International
GDS International (GDSI) is een pionier op het gebied van datacenters. Wij ontwikkelen en beheren digitale infrastructuur van de volgende generatie voor industrieleiders die betrouwbare, snel schaalbare en kosteneffectieve oplossingen wensen. Onze geavanceerde datacenters stellen hyperscalers en grote ondernemingen in staat om te verbinden met hun klanten en hen te ondersteunen om innovatie te stimuleren en de toekomst van hun sectoren vorm te geven in Singapore, Maleisië, Indonesië, Thailand, Hongkong, Japan en daarbuiten. Het managementteam van GDSI, met het hoofdkantoor in Singapore, heeft meer dan 20 jaar ervaring in het opbouwen van de grootste datacenteronderneming in Azië en in het creëren van nieuwe markten om klanten wereldwijd te ondersteunen, waaronder het pionieren in de ontwikkeling van de SIJORI-regio (Singapore, Johor en Riau-eilanden) als wereldwijde hub voor datacenters.  

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GDS International’s Series B Equity Raise Upsized To US$1.2 Billion Amid Strong Investor Support

SINGAPORE, Dec. 9, 2024 — GDS International (“GDSI”), a leading data center pioneer headquartered in Singapore, today announced that it has entered into amendments to the definitive agreements for the Series B Convertible Preferred Shares new issue initially announced on October 29, 2024, as a result of which the new issue has been upsized from US$1.0 billion to US$1.2 billion at the same pre-money equity valuation.

The upsize was mainly committed by renowned new investors, including the SoftBank Vision Fund and Kenneth Griffin, CEO of Citadel. With the addition of the Series B proceeds, GDSI expects to have sufficient equity to capitalize the development of over 1 GW of total data center capacity.

The Series B new issue is expected to close by the end of this year.

Jamie Khoo, CEO of GDS International, commented:
“We are delighted with the strong investor support for our Series B new issue, which enables us to upsize and add renowned new investors to our shareholder base. The success of this equity raise underscores the strength of GDSI’s vision and strategy. This additional funding will enable us to accelerate our plans to create new data center markets and to deliver state-of-the-art digital infrastructure solutions.”

About GDS International
GDS International (GDSI) is a data center pioneer. We develop and operate next-generation digital infrastructure for industry leaders who demand reliable, quickly scalable and cost-effective solutions. Our cutting-edge data centers empower hyperscalers and large enterprises to connect with and support their customers to spur innovation and shape the futures of their industries across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and beyond. Headquartered in Singapore, GDSI’s leadership team has more than 20 years of experience building Asia’s largest data center business, and creating new markets to support global customers, including pioneering the development of the SIJORI (Singapore, Johor and Riau Islands) region as a global hub for data centers.  

SOURCE GDS International

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Startup World Cup 2025 CES Las Vegas – Win $1M Investment Prize!

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 9, 2024 — The Startup World Cup is making its highly anticipated debut at CES 2025 in Las Vegas! Join us on January 9, 2025, at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, NV, for a chance to propel your startup to global recognition.

This global competition is open to the most groundbreaking and innovative startups. This CES Las Vegas Regional will select the Top 15 startup applicants to pitch live at the event, with the winner earning a coveted spot at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in San Francisco on October 17, 2025, to compete for a $1M investment prize.

The Las Vegas Regional Competition brings together influential venture capitalists and global corporations, creating unparalleled networking opportunities with industry leaders, potential partners, and investors. The event will also feature corporate seminars covering key industry topics, including:

  • Investing in the Future of Innovation
  • Leveraging the U.S. Market with Effective Collaboration
  • Key U.S. Business Trends to Watch in 2025

Key Details:

Don’t miss your chance to showcase your startup on a global stage and connect with the world’s leading innovators and investors.

For more details about the CES Las Vegas Regional event, visit: Las Vegas Regional. Register now to attend.

Event Agenda:

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Corporate Seminars – A series of workshops focused on corporate innovation best practices and maximizing returns within the startup ecosystem.

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Startup World Cup Pitch Event – The Top 15 startups will pitch for a chance to advance to the Grand Finale and compete for the $1M investment prize.

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Networking Reception – Connect with other entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

About the Startup World Cup

The Startup World Cup is a global series of startup competitions and conferences, powered by Pegasus Tech Ventures. With over 100 regional events across 60+ countries, the competition culminates in a Grand Finale in Silicon Valley on October 17th, 2025, where the top startups from each region will compete for a $1 million investment prize.

For a complete list of regional events, visit: Startup World Cup.

About Pegasus Tech Ventures

Pegasus Tech Ventures is a leading global venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, with over $2 billion in assets under management. Pegasus supports emerging technology companies worldwide by providing both intellectual and financial capital. They also offer a unique Venture Capital-as-a-Service (VCaaS) model for large corporations looking to partner with cutting-edge startups. Learn more at Pegasus Tech Ventures.

SOURCE Pegasus Tech Ventures

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Prezent Sets New Milestones with Record Revenue in 2024, Unveils AI-Driven Vision for Enterprise Communication, and Secures Backing from New Investors True Global Ventures and Zoom Ventures to Accelerate Hyper-Growth in 2025

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Dec. 9, 2024 — Prezent, the Enterprise Business Storytelling Platform, announced today multiple key milestones achieved in 2024 and unveiled its strategic investments for 2025. From helping organizations streamline communication to launching AI innovations and securing fresh capital, Prezent has cemented its place as a game-changer in business storytelling.

2024: A Year of Exceptional Growth and Real Customer Impact

Prezent’s all-in-one platform has earned widespread adoption in business communication – particularly in the BioPharma and Tech-Telecom industries. Over 100 Fortune 2000 companies across industries have unlocked unprecedented efficiency and impact using Prezent’s AI technology.

We interface with multiple cross-functional teams to effectively communicate complex topics that people within the org are not necessarily familiar with—it’s important that we have a very clear and concise message and story for our audience to follow,” said Alex Bitting, Senior leader at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. “On average, annual cost savings could be anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 per person. Depending on the amount of time spent each day building presentations—it could be even higher.”

Dozens of companies have rolled out Prezent AI and supplementary Overnight Presentation services at the enterprise level and are seeing significant ROI. This impact is reflected in a 70+ NPS, 100%+ increase in users and 200%+ increase in cost savings in 2024.

2025 Investments: Shaping the Future of Business Communication

Prezent is committed to maintaining momentum with transformative initiatives for 2025, including product innovation (including industry-based AI models), geographic and industry expansion and strengthening the leadership team.

Introducing ASTRID and Contextual Intelligence

Prezent proudly announces the launch of ASTRID, the first-of-its-kind contextually intelligent AI for Business Communication designed to simplify and accelerate content and slide creation. ASTRID, a proprietary technology, delivers four levels of contextual intelligence to enhance business storytelling and communication, making it more efficient and effective. It tailors tone, slide design, and communication style based on four key dimensions: industry, company, team, and individual. This personalization ensures that every presentation is crafted to resonate with its intended audience in order to maximize impact.

“ASTRID represents our vision to make business communication seamless, intuitive, and impactful,” said Amod Jain, Chief Product Officer, Prezent. “With contextual intelligence, we’re empowering teams to create content that truly resonates with their audiences—at scale.”

“Our vision extends beyond building AI solutions that work—we’re engineering intelligent and contextual systems that transform the way enterprises communicate,” said Rajat Mishra, CEO. “Leading organizations around the globe are increasingly relying on AI to drive innovation, solve complex challenges, and unlock extraordinary value. We are committed to leading the charge in continuing to build stronger, more accurate and effective AI models to empower business professionals to better communicate.” 

Fresh Capital from Visionary Investors

To drive its ambitious AI roadmap and expand into new geographies and industries, Prezent has raised significant funding from both new and existing investors. The round was led by Greycroft Ventures, with support from existing investors Emergent Capital and WestWave Capital. True Global Ventures (TGV) joined as a new investor, bringing international reach and deep expertise in AI Applications, alongside investors Zoom Ventures and Alumni Ventures. This funding will accelerate the development of Prezent’s enterprise-grade agentic AI, support its innovative roadmap, and fuel market expansion.

“Prezent”s innovative approach to enterprise business communication through AI-driven solutions aligns perfectly with our commitment to investing in fast-growing companies run by exceptional entrepreneurs like Rajat Mishra,” said Frank Desvignes, Founding Partner True Global Ventures. “We believe Prezent is revolutionizing how teams work and communicate, and we are excited to join them on their journey to shape the future of productivity. We are confident that Prezent can become a global leader and category maker in this space.”

The funding will also support a rapid expansion of their suite of Machine Learning models, AI applications and agents for the most time-intensive workflows and industry-specific presentations in BioPharma, Technology, Financial Services, and Manufacturing.

Strengthening the Team

In addition to product and capital investments, Prezent is growing its team to drive innovation and customer success. New hires across key leadership, engineering, and go-to-market roles are bolstering the company’s ability to meet customer needs and scale operations. They recently brought on four new leaders to their Senior Leadership team, including Maeva Riley (VP Global Marketing), Michael Lam (GM US West), Brad Evans (GM US Commercial), and Alex Hann (GM Europe). Each brings decades of experience in helping startups during their critical scale up phase. 

“Our people are at the heart of Prezent’s success,” said Rajat Mishra. “We’re excited to welcome new talent who share our passion for transforming business communication.”

About Prezent
Prezent is the first Enterprise Business Storytelling Platform for business communication, empowering busy professionals with an AI-driven platform to effortlessly create compelling presentations and narratives. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies and high-growth enterprises, Prezent combines cutting-edge technology with human-centered design with industry-specific AI models to revolutionize storytelling in the workplace. For more information, visit www.prezent.ai.

About TGV
True Global Ventures is a global venture capital firm with two actively deploying funds: TGV 4 Plus Fund (early stage) and TGV Opportunity Fund (late stage). The firm focuses on technology-driven businesses like late stage AI applications, with a strong track record in Enterprise AI and blockchain investments, supporting ventures that drive transformative change. For more information, visit www.tgv4plus.com

SOURCE Prezent

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