A Proven Investment Strategy For Institutional Investors, Endowments, and Family Offices With An Estimated 40% IRR Through Diverse-Focused Innovation

SAN MATEO, Calif., Nov. 12, 2024 — Portfolia, the premiere investing fund designed for the world’s most powerful community of women investors, announces the launch of its latest venture capital fund, Rising America III, expanding on its legacy as the highest-performing fund for people of color (POC) in the United States.

Building on the success of Rising America Fund II, which launched last year and had a first close in under 24 hours, Rising America III stands out as one of the most active and successful accredited funds dedicated to backing diverse founders who are reshaping industries. Rising America Fund I is a top-performing fund with an estimated 40% IRR. As one of the most active investors in this space, it has backed 27 companies across all sectors and stages, from pre-seed to pre-IPO. It is the only venture capital fund led by five women of color—three African American and two Latina—with an average of 16.4 years of investment experience, including Karen Kerr, Noramay Cadena, Juliana Garaizar, and Lorine Pendleton.

Rising America III will also mark as the first qualified fund with Portfolia’s unique investment strategy targeting family offices, strategic investors, foundations, and endowments. Its mirrored accredited fund will continue to provide individual investors access to invest in traditionally overlooked markets that are brimming with potential.

“Our third fund represents a crucial opportunity for investors to engage in transformative change at a pivotal moment in our society,” says Juliana Garaizar, Fund Partner at Rising America Fund III. “Today’s African American, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ buying power is projected to be $6.6 trillion combined in 2024. This fund embodies our commitment to driving innovation that reflects the rich diversity of our communities, paving the way for a new era where diverse leadership is not just an aspiration, but a reality that fuels economic growth and societal progress.”

Rising America III represents a breakthrough moment for institutional investors seeking impactful investment opportunities. With over $70 million raised across its previous funds, Portfolia continues to outperform its peers by combining the power of women’s networks with a laser focus on underrepresented founders. Key investments have included minority & female-owned Canela, the leading Hispanic media company and home of streaming platform Canela. TV. Mobility Capital Finance (“MoCaFi”), an early-stage fintech company that offers a mobile-first, full-complement banking platform to the 80 million financially underserved in the US; Maven Clinic, the largest women’s and family telemedicine network in the US, dramatically improving health outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth and Goal Setter, a family saving, financial literacy and smart spending app that makes it easy for the whole family to go cashless and learn how to be money-smart. Goalsetter is Nickelodeon meets Fintech – it combines the best of Fintech companies like Acorns and CashApp with financial education and gaming that appeals to the whole family.

“The Portfolia model redefines venture investing by filling critical gaps and capturing high-potential opportunities traditionally overlooked by uniform VC firms,” says Trish Costello, Founder & CEO of Portfolia. “Through strategic partnerships, Portfolia unites ‘dream team’ investors with access to high-impact sectors—such as women’s health and POC-led companies—where their expertise can drive meaningful change. By handling operational responsibilities, we enable our partners to focus on securing the best deals in these underserved markets. This approach represents innovation in venture capital at the highest performance level—a model distinctly effective and not replicable beyond Portfolia.”

About Portfolia
Portfolia is the world’s most powerful investing community of women. With over 2,000 members in 18 countries and 46 states, Portfolia is directing over $70M AUM across 26 funds/SPVs, which have made over 150 investments in Pre-Seed to Pre-IPO companies. Portfolia venture funds aggregate assets for change, using experience, knowledge, and influence to advance innovations in aging and longevity. To learn more about Portfolia’s investment model or our open funds, visit https://www.portfolia.co or follow us on LinkedIn for updates.

SOURCE Portfolia

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Scalable, innovative GenAI solutions will support the largest AI models at unprecedented per-user performance while driving down energy demands and improving accuracy

SUNNYVALE, Calif. and SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 12, 2024 — Juniper Networks® (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-Native Networking, and Recogni, the Generative AI Inference company, have jointly announced  Juniper’s investment in Recogni and an ongoing collaboration. Juniper has participated in Recogni’s $102 million Series C funding round, which has been co-led by Celesta Capital and GreatPoint Ventures.

The collaboration will focus on AI inference compute and will address the growing demand from hyperscalers, compute service providers and enterprises for a cost-effective, scalable, energy-efficient solution to run increasingly complex AI models across cloud environments and data centers. The innovation will leverage Recogni’s patented AI inference accelerator, based on Pareto math, which is designed from the ground up to optimize energy efficiency and model accuracy.

“The market for multimodal GenAI inference is accelerating rapidly and Recogni is at the forefront of exploring power efficiency without compromising performance or accuracy,” said Rami Rahim, CEO of Juniper Networks. “In this phase of inference innovation, cost-effectiveness and power efficiency—aligned with scalable fabric and network solutions—are extremely important. We were impressed with the team’s expertise and ability to approach complex issues with new ideas, so providing venture funding and collaboration made a great deal of sense.”

“Juniper’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of networking aligns perfectly with Recogni’s mission to make AI more economical and accessible,” said Marc Bolitho, CEO of Recogni. “We are collaborating on a solution that will allow the world’s largest models to run at unprecedented speed, accuracy, and efficiency—drastically lowering total cost of ownership for our customers.”

With new capital and a vision shared with innovative organizations such as Juniper, Recogni will be well-positioned to drive AI innovation forward, empowering hyperscalers, cloud service providers and enterprises to scale AI economically and responsibly.

About Recogni

Recogni is building the highest-performance, most energy-efficient Generative AI inference systems to accelerate the world’s AI ambitions. Headquartered in San Jose, California, with a global presence in North America and Europe, Recogni is leading the AI revolution with a focus on delivering fast, accurate, and cost-effective systems. To learn more, visit www.recogni.com.

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks believes that connectivity is not the same as experiencing a great connection. Juniper’s AI-Native Networking Platform is built from the ground up to leverage AI to deliver exceptional, highly secure and sustainable user experiences from the edge to the data center and cloud. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net), or connect with Juniper on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook. 

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Statement of Product Direction. Juniper Networks may disclose information related to development and plans for future products, features or enhancements, known as a Statement of Product Direction or Plan of Record (“POR”).  These details provided are based on Juniper’s current development efforts and plans. These development efforts and plans are subject to change at Juniper’s sole discretion, without notice.  Except as may be set forth in a definitive agreement, Juniper Networks provides no assurances and assumes no responsibility to introduce products, features or enhancements described in this website, presentation, meeting, or publication, nor is Juniper liable for any loss arising out of reliance on the POR.  Purchasing decisions by third-parties should not be based on this POR, and no purchases are contingent upon Juniper Networks delivering any feature or functionality described in this website, presentation, meeting, or publication.

SOURCE Recogni

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Partnership with NovaWell Expands Fort Health into Texas and Illinois; Funding Round Led by Twelve Below and Vanterra Brings Total Amount Raised to $16M 

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2024 — Fort Health, a leader in integrated behavioral health, today announced that it has raised $5.5 million to expand mental health care into more pediatricians’ offices. The funding round was led by Twelve Below and Vanterra bringing the total amount raised to $16M. Since launching, Fort Health has expanded into NJ, NY and PA, and secured large commercial contracts with payers and provider groups to provide access to evidence-based youth mental health care services. The latest round of funding will enable the expansion into Texas and Illinois through a partnership with NovaWell. 

The United States is experiencing an extreme teenage mental-health crisis. From 2009 to 2021, the share of American high-school students who say they feel “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 44 percent, according to a 2022 CDC study. As such, there is a pressing need to enhance access to mental healthcare where the challenges are exacerbated by alarming statistics. Texas ranks as the worst state for mental healthcare, with the highest youth suicide rates in the nation and a significant shortage of mental health professionals. Shockingly, 75% of Texas youth suffering from depression do not receive necessary services. In Illinois, one in five youth is affected by a mental health condition, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), reflecting national trends. 

“Pediatricians are the most trusted relationship in family healthcare, yet they are overwhelmed by patients with mental health issues and very few have completed a child and adolescent psychiatry rotation or have the training to treat these conditions,” says Natalie Schneider, founding CEO of Fort Health. “We have built our model to ensure that the pediatrician is central to the care team. Importantly, integrating behavioral health with primary care not only streamlines the experience, but also makes sense from a cost perspective. According to Milliman, integrated behavioral healthcare can reduce total medical healthcare expenses per patient by 9% to 17%.”

How it Works

Once the pediatrician makes a referral, the patient is matched with a Fort Health provider based on preference, and the clinical team completes an evaluation and creates a personalized care plan. The pediatrician is kept apprised of clinical progress throughout the care journey, and informed regarding changes to medications. Fort Health also provides training to parents to better equip them to support their children at home. 

Through its partnership with NovaWell, Fort Health will work directly with pediatric provider groups and hospitals in Texas and Illinois to provide evidence-based therapy, psychiatry, and parent coaching – all covered by insurance. 

“We are excited to bring Fort Health into our comprehensive suite of integrated, evidence-based services that help patients thrive,” said Suzanne Kunis, president and CEO, NovaWell.

The funding round was led by Twelve Below and Vanterra bringing the total amount raised to $16M. Redesign Health, Blue Venture Fund, and True Wealth Ventures also participated in this funding round, further boosting confidence in Fort Health’s team and model.

“Investing in Fort Health means supporting a transformative platform that prioritizes accessible, evidence-based care for children and adolescents,” said Ellis Fried, vice president at Vanterra. 

“Many solutions exist for families who can pay out of pocket, but we wanted to help democratize access for those families who cannot afford cash-pay,” said Taylor Greene, partner at Twelve Below. “Fort Health is making this possible.”

About Fort Health

Fort Health is an in-network, virtual, pediatric mental health company that opens more paths to better care for more children and families by integrating primary and behavioral health care. Fort Health was built in partnership with the Child Mind Institute, an independent non-profit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health, mental illness and learning disorders. Fort Health partners with pediatricians, nurses, and school staff to provide evidence-based therapy, psychiatry, and parent coaching – all covered by insurance. Fort Health operates in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania with plans to enter additional states later this year. Visit Fort Health on our website and on LinkedIn.

About NovaWell

NovaWell, an affiliate of Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc., is led by behavioral health industry professionals with deep clinical and administrative expertise. Driven by the fundamental idea that the traditional silos between physical and behavioral health have increased costs and delivered sub-optimal care, NovaWell believes the true path to better health is through an integrated model that connects physical, behavioral, social determinants of health and pharmacy programs to treat a whole person, not just a set of conditions. Powered by advanced analytics and predictive modeling, and utilizing a consumer-friendly digital interface to connect members to care, NovaWell offers health plans and health systems a suite of solutions that drive transformation. NovaWell’s core product offerings have demonstrated significant improvements in access and speed to care, high member engagement and satisfaction, reduced behavioral health symptoms, reduced emergency department and inpatient utilization, and reduced total cost of care. Learn more at www.novawell.com.

About Twelve Below

Twelve Below is a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage technology companies that are poised to disrupt traditional industries. With a portfolio spanning healthcare, fintech, and AI, Twelve Below partners with visionary founders to accelerate growth and drive innovation.

About Vanterra

Vanterra is a venture capital firm that invests in disruptive companies in consumer health across products, services, and technologies. Vanterra focuses on companies with the potential of revolutionizing categories and redefining paradigms in consumer health.

SOURCE Fort Health

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“Founding Divi was deeply personal for me. I wanted to create something that truly made a difference,” said Dani Austin, the company’s founder. “Welcoming Norwest into the Divi family is a huge milestone, and I’m both proud and excited about what’s ahead. Together, we are going to continue our focus on new product innovation while keeping our customer number one.”

Divi has been a cult favorite since its launch in 2021, predominantly due to founder Dani Austin’s deep focus on product innovation, strong mission-driven storytelling, and authentic understanding of the consumer’s desires on the topic of scalp and hair health. Dani Austin and her husband, Jordan Joseph Ramirez, who served as CEO and now holds the role of chairman, both plan to remain actively involved in the next chapter of the Divi story as the brand scales to a household name.

Jordan Joseph Ramirez shares the same sentiment: “Just as we remain focused on the efficacy of our ingredients and product formulations, we are also prioritizing assembling a team of industry veterans,” he said. “Dani and I believe that to execute well on the next chapter of our brand story, we must find people smarter than us in various areas of the business. Creating a dream team is a core focus for us moving into 2025, and Norwest and their industry relationships will be instrumental in helping us in this area.”

Sonya Brown, Norwest general partner and co-head of the firm’s Growth Equity team, will join the Board of Directors. Sonya and the Norwest team bring unique expertise in scaling strong founder-led brands into global powerhouse names, including Kendra Scott, Vuori, and Ritual.

“At Norwest, we are passionate about partnering with founders like Dani Austin, who are solving real problems for consumers,” said Sonya Brown, General Partner at Norwest. “Dani transformed her personal journey with hair loss into a fast-growing, science-based product line focused on the skinification of scalp and hair health. She has also fostered an engaged community where members participate in discussions, provide feedback, share stories, and make authentic connections. We look forward to working with Dani, Jordan, and the Divi team on this next phase of growth.”

Divi debuted with its now-iconic Scalp Serum in 2021, which sold out in two hours and earned the brand almost $40M in revenue in its first year. The first-of-its-kind hair and scalp health brand has expanded over the past three years, and today Divi offers a wide range of breakthrough, scalp-first products, including shampoos and conditioners, a treatment mask, and a record-breaking dry shampoo. Divi launched at Ulta Beauty in late 2022, with immediate consumer praise and 5-star reviews. In July 2024, the brand deepened that relationship, expanding its distribution to include all Ulta Beauty at Target doors. 

About Divi
Divi was founded in 2021 by Mega Influencer Dani Austin after she experienced significant hair loss. Today, Divi offers a range of effective, scalp-first products to promote healthy and happy hair. Divi’s lineup includes its heralded Scalp Serum, new “It” product Dry Shampoo, shampoos & conditioners, and treatments that are backed by science and loved by all. Price points for Divi products range from $20 for the shampoos and conditioners to $136 for the 3-month supply of the best-selling hair serum. Beyond developing innovative products, Divi provides support and fosters community with its members as they navigate their hair health journeys. Divi is always #RootingForYou. The Divi collection is currently available at diviofficial.com, Ulta Beauty, Ulta Beauty at Target and Amazon.com.

About Norwest 
Norwest is a global venture and growth equity investment firm managing more than $15.5 billion in capital. Since its inception, Norwest has invested in more than 700 companies and currently partners with more than 250 companies in its venture and growth equity portfolio. The firm invests in early- to late-stage businesses across key sectors with a focus on enterprise, consumer and healthcare. The Norwest team offers a deep network of connections, extensive operating experience, and a wide range of impactful services to help CEOs and founders scale their businesses. Norwest has offices in Menlo Park and San Francisco, Calif.; Mumbai, India; and Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, please visit www.nvp.com.

About Dani Austin:
Dani Austin is an innovative entrepreneur who has earned a spot on the Forbes Top 50 Creators list three times. With a loyal following of over 3 million across her social platforms, she is a leading voice in the beauty, fashion and lifestyle industry. Dani is the founder of the scalp and hair care brand Divi, which is sold at Ulta Beauty and Ulta Beauty at Target nationwide. Alongside her husband, Jordan Ramirez, she co-hosts the hit podcast “De-Influenced,” which garners 400,000 monthly downloads. They are proud parents to Stella and Stratton and are expecting their third child in 2025.

SOURCE Divi Scalp & Hair Health

• Investment led by Dahlia Equity Partners, with participation from Ironspring Ventures, S3 Ventures, Benson Capital Partners, and others.
• Prokeep to build on its communication solutions for distributors by accelerating investment in proactive demand generation messaging capabilities already driving engagement and sales.
• New partnerships across industry leaders including LG, Paccar, High Bar Brands, JCI, Allied Air, and Schneider Electric.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 12, 2024 — Prokeep, the leading customer communication and engagement platform for distributors, announced today that it has successfully raised $25 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was led by San Francisco-based Dahlia Equity Partners with continued support from Ironspring Ventures, S3 Ventures, Benson Capital Partners, and others. This strategic funding will enable Prokeep to accelerate its growth and expand its demand generation capabilities designed for distributors.

Launched in 2016, Prokeep has quickly transformed the way distributors communicate and help customers get what they need fast. By centralizing inbound and outbound communication and workflow, Prokeep helps distributors build stronger relationships, increase efficiency, and grow sales. Now supporting more than 8,500 distributor locations, the platform has facilitated more than $11 billion in orders across North America by connecting distributors with more than 3.5 million tradespeople, mechanics, service people, and other professionals that businesses and consumers rely on daily.

“Our Series A funding marks a significant milestone for Prokeep,” said Jack Carrere, CEO and Co-Founder of Prokeep. “We are grateful for the confidence our customers and investors have shown in our vision. We have heard loud and clear from our customers that driving demand in a way that builds upon the relationships (in many cases generational relationships) they’ve already built is vital to their future, and we’re energized to use this new capital to accelerate this reality for them with a clear mission — empower proactive communication to build stronger relationships and drive sales. With the support of Dahlia Equity Partners and our existing investors, we are ready to continue delivering the innovation that unlocks more wins for distributors.”

The new funding will support the expansion of Prokeep’s demand-generation capabilities. These capabilities leverage insights from more than 60 million messages sent through the platform to drive the development of smarter, data-informed outreach resulting in an increase in sales of up to 300% for some customers. Building on early success and customer feedback, Prokeep has invested in data enrichment by leveraging AI models to help distributors extract conversation attributes. These insights include brand preferences, customer intent, and sentiment to enable more efficient and powerful sales enablement, marketing, and other proactive outbound activities. With Prokeep, users are armed with powerful tools to improve customer retention, build trust, and increase profits.

John Giannuzzi, Managing Partner at Dahlia Equity Partners, stated, “We are thrilled to lead Prokeep’s Series A funding round. Prokeep has proven itself as a crucial player in the distributor communication space, with a strong track record of delivering value to its customers. Prokeep is purpose-built for how distributors work and communicate with their customers, and we are excited about the opportunity to help distributors drive proactive demand, unlock new sales opportunities, and further enhance customer engagement.”

Trusted by industry leaders including ABC Supply, WinSupply, Johnstone Supply, City Electric Supply, NAPA, and Ferguson, Prokeep is more than a tool — it’s a partner in their journey to serve their communities more efficiently and proactively. With Prokeep, these teams have improved response times by 30%, gained back 9 hours weekly, and equipped themselves to seize every sales opportunity with accuracy and speed. With all of these operational advancements, distributors using Prokeep are able to improve the relationships that are at the core of their business — because relationships should be easy, not on hold. This new round of investment will allow Prokeep to deepen these relationships with new purpose-built solutions that modernize distribution without losing the humanity that sets them apart.

The funding round also reflects confidence in Prokeep’s recent partnerships with top manufacturers across the industry, including LG, Paccar Parts, High Bar Brands, JCI, Allied Air, and Schneider Electric. These partnerships demonstrate Prokeep’s commitment to building strong alliances across the supply chain that expand its platform’s capabilities and reach.

About Prokeep
Founded in 2016, Prokeep is distribution’s leading customer engagement software that centralizes digital inbound communication and unlocks an outbound sales engine — providing distributors with a better customer experience, more sales opportunities, and increased efficiency. Prokeep believes that relationships should be easy, not on hold, because relationships are at the heart of what distributors do; supply communities with what they need to keep going. That’s why Prokeep is dedicated to supplying distributors with what they need — an easier way to engage the fixers, the builders, and the DIYers in their communities so that progress can happen fast.

Prokeep centralizes customer inbound messages across multiple channels into one shared inbox accessible by the whole team while also enabling the ability to proactively text customers with order status updates and marketing promotions. Additionally, Prokeep connects to the tools distributors already use to get work done; unlocking text message automations and data syncing to make it even easier to manage business. Today, Prokeep is used by more than 8,500 distributor locations across North America, enabling more than 20 million conversations and more than $11 billion in revenue.

About Dahlia Equity Partners
Dahlia Equity Partners (“Dahlia”) is a private equity firm that invests in software companies that power core customer workflows. Dahlia partners with existing management teams to drive both growth and profitability through operating best practices, targeted growth initiatives, and accretive acquisitions. Dahlia is based in San Francisco, California.

Media Contact:
Brooks Young
Director of Marketing
225-715-8871
[email protected]

SOURCE Prokeep

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New data from Kruze Consulting Shows Startups’ Evolving Use of AI Tools and Commoditization of Large Language Models – 70% pay for AI, Average Monthly AI Spend Up 230% YoY

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 12, 2024 — The latest report from Kruze Consulting reveals a pivotal shift in how venture-backed startups are adopting artificial intelligence. What began as an AI “gold rush” is now maturing into a phase of strategic adoption, characterized by widespread integration of AI tools and the commoditization of Large Language Models. The data comes from over 1,000 venture-backed startups, with roughly 70% of startups in Kruze’s sample paying for at least one AI tool.

“As AI becomes a major line item for startups, founders are constantly evaluating how AI can optimize their operations—whether to boost developer productivity, reduce hiring costs, or streamline marketing tasks,” said Healy Jones, VP of Kruze Consulting. “Our unique dataset highlights the evolving strategies early adopters are using as they refine their AI investments.”

SaaS Leads AI Adoption
The report highlights notable differences in AI adoption rates by industry. SaaS startups are at the forefront, with 80% already leveraging AI tools to enhance products and streamline operations. In contrast, biotech and healthcare startups show slower adoption due to the highly specialized nature of their work, which limits the applicability of general-purpose AI tools.

The Rise of AI Commoditization 
With the majority of startups already paying for general-purpose LLMs, Kruze’s data signals the next phase of AI adoption: commoditization. As startups increasingly integrate multiple AI tools into workflows, switching between models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and others has become seamless and routine. The report finds price competition is a major driver, with startups rapidly shifting between providers when more affordable options become available.

Key Players in the AI Market: OpenAI Leads, But Faces Competition
The report confirms OpenAI’s stronghold as the top LLM provider, with 65% of startups in Kruze’s sample paying for its services. However, OpenAI’s dominance is being challenged as Anthropic and newcomer Perplexity gain ground, following the launch of competitive models in early 2024. This shift underscores the increasing ease with which startups can transition between providers and highlights the growing competition in the AI space.

AI Spend Continues to Grow
As startups deepen their reliance on AI, Kruze’s data reveals a notable increase in AI spending. The average monthly spend per startup has risen from $2,000 in early 2023 to $5,000–$6,000 in 2024. While affordable subscription models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT remain popular, the number of seats and the use of API-based solutions are driving AI spend upward.

The Future of Innovation in Tech
The commoditization of AI marks a new chapter in the startup ecosystem. With LLMs now more accessible, Kruze anticipates that innovation will increasingly focus on applying these tools to solve real-world problems. For startups, this shift presents new opportunities to create value, while AI providers are challenged to differentiate and innovate beyond basic language processing.

To access the full report and learn more about Kruze Consulting, visit: https://kruzeconsulting.com/blog/how-startups-using-ai/.

About Kruze Consulting
Kruze is a leading provider of accounting, tax, CFO, and finance advice to over 800+ startups across the US and has been named as one of the fastest-growing CPA firms in the country. Kruze’s clients have raised over $15 billion in venture capital and are market-leading Saas, software, eCommerce, biotech, and FinTech startups. Founded in 2012 by Vanessa Kruze, a Big Four alum, startup controller, and CPA, the firm manages accounting, tax, finance, and HR for fast-growing startups. Everything including interim CFO Consulting, financial modeling, startup tax returns, venture debt consulting, 409A valuations, bookkeeping, AR/AP, and early-stage fundraising advice can be seamlessly managed by the professionals at Kruze. Visit https://kruzeconsulting.com/ to learn more.

Contact:
Rick Medeiros
510-556-8517
[email protected]

SOURCE Kruze Consulting

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Startup Aims to Streamline Software Implementation and Delivery by Making Comprehensive Automated Testing Accessible to All

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2024 — HappyPath, an innovative startup that helps companies deliver products faster through comprehensive automated testing, announced today that it has secured $4 million in funding. The company is using the funds to address a critical need for more effective software testing and has officially launched its AI-powered platform to help the technology sector reimagine their approach to testing.

Software testing has become an impediment in product development as applications grow increasingly complex. Traditional testing methods are expensive, time-consuming, and limited in scope — often forcing companies to choose between thorough testing and rapid innovation. The new platform from HappyPath allows companies to do both.

“Our mission is to break down the barriers that have long made efficient and effective software testing a bottleneck in the development and implementation processes,” said William Dulude, CEO of HappyPath. “AI enables us to predict potential issues, generate more comprehensive test scenarios and adapt to complex system changes with unprecedented speed and accuracy. By making automated testing more intuitive and robust, we’re not just improving software quality—we’re unleashing the potential for groundbreaking solutions across all industries.”

HappyPath’s cutting-edge AI-powered solution enables teams to create comprehensive test suites, generate detailed reports and produce testing artifacts with ease. This breakthrough technology enables innovation acceleration and helps companies deliver superior products faster by making robust testing accessible to a broader range of team members, including non-technical personnel.

“HappyPath represents a paradigm shift in software testing,” said HappyPath’s Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Noah Borts. “Our approach has the potential to significantly reduce time-to-market for new products and deployments while simultaneously improving software quality. We’re excited to see our vision of making testing accessible to all come true.”

As HappyPath launches its platform, the company invites implementation consultants, software development teams, product managers and quality assurance professionals to experience the future of testing. For more information, please visit www.happypath.io.

About HappyPath:
HappyPath is revolutionizing software development by enabling anyone to use natural language for automated software testing, report generation, and artifact creation. By automating testing in a reliable, comprehensive, and collaborative manner, HappyPath accelerates innovation and helps companies deliver superior products faster. Founded in 2023, HappyPath is headquartered in New York, NY.

Media Contact: 
Ksenia Kulik 
Interdependence Public Relations
[email protected]
(919)-349-3786   

SOURCE HappyPath

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Led by Tanglin Venture Partners, the funding round strengthens Ennoventure’s position as a leader in AI-powered brand protection and authentication.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 12, 2024 — Ennoventure, Inc., a global leader in AI-powered brand protection and authentication solutions, today announced the successful close of an $8.9 million Series A funding round. Led by Singapore-based venture capital firm Tanglin Venture Partners, the round also included participation from existing investors, including Fenice Investment Group and additional SAFE investors.

Chairman of Ennoventure, Inc., Ahmad Chatila, welcomed the new funding and expressed gratitude for the support of both new and existing investors.

“We are excited to welcome Tanglin Venture Partners at this pivotal stage of our journey. This investment will enhance our product offerings and drive our mission to provide unparalleled brand protection globally.”

“Ennoventure is addressing a critical market need with its unique, process-agnostic brand protection technology,” said Sankalp Gupta, Partner at Tanglin. “We are proud to partner with Ennoventure as they continue to disrupt the market and provide brands with the tools they need to combat counterfeiting and safeguard consumer trust.”

As counterfeit products and intellectual property theft become growing concerns for companies worldwide, Ennoventure’s patented invisible signature technology has become essential for industries such as FMCG, automotive, and industrial spare parts, providing businesses with real-time product authentication and protection. This latest investment will allow the company to scale operations globally, strengthening its footprint in the USA, UAE, India, and beyond.

Ennoventure has built a reputation as a leader in invisible digital packaging solutions, leveraging AI and cryptography to authenticate billions of product units across the globe. The company’s platform seamlessly integrates with existing packaging processes, offering secure and scalable solutions for companies facing increasing threats from counterfeit goods.

“Securing this investment is a significant milestone in our journey to become the go-to partner for brands looking to protect their products and reputations,” said Padmakumar Nair, CEO and Founder of Ennoventure. “With the support of our investors, we are well-positioned to lead the charge in delivering innovative, AI-powered solutions that empower brands to stay ahead of the curve in a fast-evolving market.”

For additional information please visit www.ennoventure.com.

About Ennoventure, Inc.
Ennoventure, Inc. is a global SaaS company leading the digital revolution in brand protection, distinguished by its patented invisible signature powered by AI and cryptography. With innovation and people at our core, we empower brands and consumers by authenticating product packages and transforming them into intelligent, connected packaging. Our solutions seamlessly integrate into product packaging without process changes or capital investment. Trusted by major brands worldwide, billions of product packages carry our invisible signatures across industries, including automotive and industrial spare parts, FMCG, agrochemicals, and more. Ennoventure, Inc. is headquartered in Massachusetts and has offices in Dubai and India. Visit www.ennoventure.com to redefine your brand protection strategy.

About Tanglin Venture Partners
Tanglin Venture Partners is a Singapore-based venture capital firm focused on high-growth companies in Southeast Asia and India. They aspire to be long-term partners to visionary entrepreneurs taking technology-first approach to solve complex problems.

About Fenice Investment Group
Fenice Investment Group, founded in 2017, is a venture capital firm that invests in high-potential companies across the globe. With a portfolio spanning sectors like clean energy and technology, Fenice is committed to supporting the next generation of industry leaders.

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SOURCE Ennoventure, Inc.

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– Sanofi and Existing Investor, Perceptive Advisors’ PXV Fund I, Invested a combined US$20 million as part of the Financing –

– Sanofi to Receive Exclusive Right of First Negotiation –

– Proceeds to Fund Remainder of Phase 2a ‘ZONE’ Trial and Nonclinical Development of a Once-Weekly Version of ZT-01 – 

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2024 – Zucara Therapeutics Inc., (“Zucara” or the “Company”) a diabetes life sciences company developing ZT-01, the first once-daily therapeutic to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) in people with diabetes, today announced that Sanofi has made a strategic investment in Zucara as part of the Company’s US$20 million Series B financing (the “Financing”). As part of the agreement, Sanofi will receive an exclusive right of first negotiation.

The Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund (“PXV Fund I”) has also invested as part of the Financing, which has the potential to increase to up to US$25 million with participation from other investors. Proceeds from the Financing are expected to fund the remainder of Zucara’s ongoing Phase 2a trial of the effect of ZT-01 On Nocturnal hypoglycemia Events in Type 1 diabetes (“T1D”) mellitus (“ZONE”), and the nonclinical activities to support a once-weekly version of ZT-01.

Chris Garabedian, Portfolio Manager, Venture for Perceptive Advisors, commented, “Having led Zucara’s US$21 million Series A financing in early 2020, we are proud to continue to support the Company in advancing the development of ZT-01, especially alongside strategic partner and world-leading healthcare company, Sanofi. By preventing hypoglycemia in people using insulin therapy, ZT-01 represents a promising approach to improving health outcomes of people living with diabetes.”

About Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Funds

The Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Funds are Perceptive Advisors’ investment vehicles focused purely on early-stage, private venture investments in life sciences companies. Primary investments for the venture funds include companies that are seeking a lead investor for Series A financings, which include both companies that are seeded and operationally supported by Xontogeny LLC, an affiliated biotech accelerator, as well as unaffiliated companies that are seeking direct Series A investments. For more information, visit https://perceptivelife.com/.

About ZT-01

ZT-01 is designed to prevent potentially dangerous low blood glucose by restoring the body’s ability to counterregulate hypoglycemia. In people without diabetes, α-cells secrete glucagon that signals the body to release its own glucose stores to prevent or reverse hypoglycemia. However, in people with insulin-dependent diabetes – including those with T1D and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes – evidence suggests that elevated secretion of pancreatic somatostatin (SST) suppresses glucagon release from α-cells. Zucara has demonstrated that, in people with T1D, the glucagon response can be increased with ZT-01, a first-in-class SST receptor 2 antagonist.

About Zucara Therapeutics Inc.

Zucara Therapeutics is developing ZT-01, a first-in-class, once-daily therapeutic to prevent hypoglycemia in people with T1D and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes. ZT-01 is designed to inhibit somatostatin, a pancreatic hormone that impairs the glucagon response to hypoglycemia in people with these conditions. ZT-01 is designed to restore glucagon secretion to prevent hypoglycemia, which could dramatically change diabetes disease management and improve both patient health and quality of life. For more information, visit www.zucara.ca.

SOURCE Zucara Therapeutics Inc.

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