LONDON, Aug. 22, 2024 — 

• archie selects SME champion wamo, and climate-focussed ekko, as it invests intellectual capital in high potential fintechs.
• archie was co-founded by heavyweights Paul Pester and Anthony Thomson.

archie, the fintech acceleration partner which co-founders include Paul Pester and Anthony Thomson, has announced its first two portfolio companies: wamo, and ekko.

Shortening the odds of success
In a market where only one in four VC-backed fintechs succeed, archie is on a mission to change the game. By investing its deep intellectual capital, it aims to turn high-potential fintech disruptors into standout winners. Because too many good fintechs fail.

Following a rigorous selection process that evaluated over 200 fintechs, archie has chosen wamo and ekko as its inaugural investments. Both companies demonstrate significant growth potential and are well-positioned to succeed with archie’s expert guidance:

• wamo: specialising in powering SME growth across Europe, wamo makeit easy to access business accounts with human-led support. Headquartered in London and Malta, wamo is focused on cross-border payments for SMEs. wamo has recently raised $5m and obtained an EMI licence.
• ekko: The UK-based scale-up offers seamless sustainability integrations with financial service providers, offering tools such as carbon tracking and compensation. ekko is ramping up its team across sales and tech to capitalise on the rapidly growing sustainability market.

archie co-founder, Paul Pester, said: “archie exists to solve a very particular problem: helping high-potential firms reach growth. While capital is crucial, what’s often missing is intellectual capital, investing our time and expertise, offering the hands-on support.

“With the backing of archie, both wamo and ekko are well-positioned to thrive in their respective fields, primed for growth and the opportunity to be real category leaders.”

Investing intellectual capital to supercharge growth
The archie team will work side-by-side with businesses, deploying its team of scaling experts to supercharge growth, and maximising chances of success with senior, on-the-ground operational support. archie provides the levers needed to propel businesses into hyper-growth.

archie operates an equity model, exchanging its support, networks, expertise and proven playbooks as services for equity. Its ethos is that “venture capital alone is not enough”, with it instead investing its “intellectual capital” for equity, ensuring skin in the game and aligned interests with founders and investors alike. archie’s co-founders Paul Pester and Anthony Thomson have joined the boards of wamo and ekko respectively, helping to guide the scale-ups through their next phases of growth.

archie was co-founded by financial services veteran Paul Pester (Chair of Tandem Bank, former CEO of TSB and Virgin Money globally, and founder of Loop) and one of fintech’s best-known serial entrepreneurs, Anthony Thomson (co-founder and former chair of UK banks Metro and atom, and Australian digital bank 86 400). Global tech leader Steve Brennen (Uber, PayPal, eBay & Zip), takes the reins as CEO.

About archie

archie speeds up scale-ups.

Inspired by Archimedes (or Archie, as we would call him today): “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.“

archie was founded on the principle that when great ideas succeed, the world moves forward. Unfortunately, most companies fail to achieve their mainstream potential – and that’s where we come in.

It’s our belief that fintech founders need much more than financial backing to turn their ambitions into reality. We provide early-stage fintech businesses with the levers needed – the experience, expertise and toolkits – to get them across “the chasm” and into hyper-growth.

Find out more at www.archiegrowth.com 

Media contacts
For further information or interview requests, please contact:
Andrew Pyle, Director, 56° North
T: +44 (0) 7771 359 482
E: [email protected]

SOURCE archie

The crypto-backed loan provider, backed by Galaxy Ventures, Morgan Creek Digital, Castle Island Ventures, BitGo Ventures and more, is founded on the principles of asset security, concierge client service, and product excellence.

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2024 — Arch Lending, the most trusted crypto-backed loan provider, today announced $75M in funds raised, including an oversubscribed $5M equity seed round and a $70M loan financing facility. The equity round was co-led by Morgan Creek Digital and Castle Island Ventures with participation from Galaxy Ventures, BitGo Ventures, and more. Arch serves both individuals and institutions, and is known for its concierge customer service, premier product experience, and industry defining security and trust.

The loan financing facility, expected to grow with increased individual and institutional demand, was provided by Galaxy to fund crypto-backed loans originated on Arch’s platform, backed by Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana as collateral. Arch does not rehypothecate any collateral. The structure is designed to grow in size with additional capital providers over time and could eventually be securitized.

“We’ve witnessed first-hand the rise in demand for borrowing against crypto collateral as the asset class has matured. Individual and institutional investors alike seek a trustworthy platform to provide this valuable service, the first step in Arch’s offerings,” said Dhruv Patel, Arch Co-Founder and CEO.

The firm’s founding team brings experience from the best of consumer tech and finance including Bridgewater Associates, Snapchat, Brex, Google, Tinder, and more. The Arch Lending product was designed for investors to experience the cutting edge of consumer tech UX, with a proven lending product.

“Strong lending firms are the backbone of the global financial system and are necessary for the development of the digital asset ecosystem. The creation and development of digital asset lending organizations is essential for the continued growth and maturity of the industry, empowering both institutional and individual participants to harness the full potential of digital assets. Morgan Creek is proud to partner with the outstanding team at Arch Lending to build one of the foundational lenders for the digital asset ecosystem,” said Mark Yusko, Founder of Morgan Creek Digital, and Arch Investor and Board Member.

“We have taken important learnings from prior crypto lenders to build a secure, regulated, trustworthy, and durable business that is here for the long run,” said Himanshu Sahay, Arch Co-Founder and CTO. “Our team will set new standards that will drive growth in this category.”

The Arch team will communicate additional updates as applicable. To learn more about Arch’s lending capabilities, please visit: https://www.archlending.com/.

About Arch Lending
Arch Lending is the most trusted provider of crypto-backed loans, combining security, concierge customer service, and automation to serve individuals and institutions. Its flagship product is over-collateralized crypto-backed loans, stored in qualified custody, and without rehypothecation of collateral. The automated platform provides instant funding in US dollars or stablecoins. Additionally, Arch Lending offers qualified crypto custody to individuals as a standalone offering through a partnership with BitGo, featuring bank-grade security and insurance, and allows trading and staking from cold custody.

Based in New York City and operating under US state lending licenses, Arch Lending was founded in February 2022 and has raised $7.75M in aggregate equity funding across two rounds and $70M in a loan financing facility. For more details, visit archlending.com.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Arch Lending

The fastest-growing pickleball franchise, The Picklr, uses Harmonyze to increase team bandwidth by over 10%, allowing team to focus on strategic growth initiatives.

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2024 — Harmonyze, formerly known as Legal Hat, an AI-first platform designed to increase franchisor’s profit margins, announced today the successful close of more than $2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Bowery Capital, with meaningful participation from Focal.VC, as well as individual investors that include CXOs at franchisors, AI companies, and private equity firms. This funding milestone is recognition of both the significant value Harmonyze’s AI technology can create for franchisors, and the company’s strong commercial growth.

Franchises are an essential part of the global economy. By 2028, the franchise market is forecasted to reach approximately $5 trillion, representing a 10.41% CAGR from 2023 to 2028. Harmonyze is specifically built to support this important sector by boosting overall profit margins through operational cost reductions and improved same store sales.

Harmonyze uses AI agents to centralize and automate operational and legal compliance, monitoring and reporting, and rapid two-way experimentation across scaled franchise networks. By reducing a franchisor’s team’s manual compliance-focused tasks, Harmonyze increases their bandwidth for high-value, strategic work, such as investing in closer relationships with franchisees, building the overall brand, and developing new intellectual property.

“Operations leaders running franchise networks at scale are charged with coordinating thousands of tasks across countless locations, often at the expense of important strategic work that elevates the brand,” said Gary Liskovich, CEO and Co-founder of Harmonyze. “By developing AI agents purpose-built for franchisors, we’ve been able to significantly streamline and simplify this complexity. I’m thrilled to continue developing cutting-edge solutions for franchisors that make them more profitable, unlock strategic bandwidth, and boost store sales.”

In its first year, Harmonyze has already seen impressive commercial interest. The Picklr, the fastest-growing indoor pickleball franchise in the world, is one such customer that relies on Harmonyze to refocus its team on more strategic growth initiatives that contribute to revenue growth across its network. Harmonyze’s AI understands all of The Picklr’s franchisees’ contractual obligations and tracks for completedness, fully automating more than 200 compliance and legal tasks and increasing team bandwidth by over 10%.

Jonathan Fornaci, President and Chief Operating Officer at The Picklr, said, “Harmonyze helps my team be more efficient and focus on strategic work. It has enabled us to get ahead of countless risks, and will save us millions in the next few years.”

Harmonyze is led by Gary Liskovich, CEO and Co-founder, and Jonny Greenspan, CTO and Co-founder. Childhood friends who grew up in Brooklyn, Gary and Jonny have spent the last 10 years building AI products and leading teams at enterprise companies, including Deloitte and Salesforce, as well as at high-growth startups, including SmartAsset, EvolutionIQ, QuickFrame (acquired by MNTN), and Eskalera. The founders are active advisors to the Titus Center for Franchising, members of the International Franchise Association, and trusted partners of the Franchise Supplier Network.

With this new injection of capital, the Harmonyze founders will accelerate the development and deployment of its AI-first solution, further expand its market reach, and hire several key roles across the engineering and commercial teams.

About Harmonyze
Harmonyze makes it easier for franchisors to run exceptional and profitable businesses. Using AI agents, Harmonyze centralizes and automates operational compliance, monitoring and reporting, and rapid two-way experimentation across scaled franchise networks. This innovative approach not only drives down costs but also frees up teams to focus on strategic, revenue-generating activities, ultimately improving margins. For instance, The Picklr, the fastest growing indoor pickleball franchise in the world, uses Harmonyze to fully automate over 200 compliance and legal tasks, boosting team productivity by more than 10%. Harmonyze is backed by leading investors, including Bowery Capital, Focal.VC, and individual CXOs at franchisors, AI companies, and private equity firms.

To learn more about Harmonyze, visit harmonyze.com

Media Contact
[email protected]

SOURCE Harmonyze

• WestCap leads Series B round to support rapid product expansion amidst private credit boom
• Mark Schultis appointed President of Siepe, bringing two decades of experience in the credit and CLO ecosystem

DALLAS, Aug. 22, 2024 — Siepe LLC, a trusted provider of software and technology-enabled services for private credit and CLO managers, has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by WestCap, a strategic operating and investing firm with $6 billion in assets under management (AUM). The investment will drive a multi-product roadmap, including the expansion of its AI and Machine Learning capabilities, and strengthen strategic partnerships. These initiatives will help support the accelerated capital flows, and eliminate inconsistent data and processes seen across the Collateralized Loan Obligation (CLO) and private credit ecosystem.

Since its founding in 2012, Siepe has designed solutions and services that enable strategic business and investment decisions for the front, middle and back office teams of private credit asset managers and CLOs. Their solution suite brings entire investment lifecycles into perspective, providing customers with a single source of truth and full transparency into real-time, accurate data to increase oversight and streamline workflows. By leveraging AI technology, Siepe solutions also eliminate manual processes that can be used to drive bottom-line growth for its clients’ customers and optimize investments.

As private credit continues to be one of the fastest growing asset classes within the alternatives market, the firm is committed to enhancing the efficiency, data integrity, compliance support and scalability of CLO and private credit managers. As a result, Siepe has seen significant growth across technology and service business lines in H1 2024 with private credit managers. This includes adding nineteen CLO and private credit deals with eight top-tier US CLO managers, which accounts for over $7.7BN in new assets under administration (AUA). The Company also onboarded two new front-office software clients, one with $80BN AUM in private credit assets and the other with $6BN in total AUM and launched a new private credit fund.

“The new capital will help us continue our momentum in deploying integrated solutions and best-in-class service for fund managers in the private credit and broadly syndicated bank debt sector,” said Michael Pusateri, CEO and Founder of Siepe. “Our mission is to help credit managers better leverage their data to reduce operational risk and increase alpha.”

The Siepe team will leverage WestCap’s experience – as founders, operators and managers – in the private markets ecosystem, specifically around financial technology and data management workflows. The firm is also an early and material investor in private market-leading innovators iCapital and Addepar. WestCap’s support of Siepe will be led by:

• The firm’s founder, Laurence A. Tosi, former CFO of both Airbnb and Blackstone, and COO of Merill Lynch Investment Banking and Trading. As a founder and investor, he created several industry-changing platforms to solve some of the most pressing challenges in private markets, including Ipreo, TMC Bonds and iLevel.
• WestCap Partner, Co-COO and Head of Strategic Operators, Kevin Marcus, who will join the Siepe board and bring his experience as the Co-Founder and former President of iPreo (acquired by IHS Markit), a provider of market intelligence, data, and workflow solutions for global capital markets.
• Ryan Benevides, Principal at WestCap, who will also join the Siepe board, and previously held roles within Blackstone Credit.

“The growth of private credit markets has outpaced investment in technology and innovation, causing inefficiency, lack of insight and control over private assets,” said Laurence A. Tosi, Managing Partner and Founder of WestCap. “These are the challenges that Siepe is addressing with a trusted solution that brings the entire investment lifecycle into perspective.”

In conjunction with the new funding, Siepe has appointed Mark Schultis as President. Schultis joined Siepe as an Advisor in October 2023, bringing nearly two decades worth of experience focused directly in the credit and CLO world. Previously, he was CEO at SE2 LLC, and a Partner and Senior Vice President at IHS Markit running the Wall Street Office (WSO) business.

“I’m thrilled to join Siepe at this pivotal moment in their journey. Michael and team have always taken a technology first approach to building products and services for their customers, which is a key differentiator in the market today,” said Mark Schultis. “This new funding will accelerate our ability to scale our business, better support our customers and drive innovation in the industry, particularly around connectivity, quality and data transparency.”

The new executive and board membership line-up complements Siepe’s deep bench of senior leadership and extensive industry experience. Prior to founding Siepe, Michael Pusateri served as Chief Technology Officer at Carlson Capital and Highland Capital Management. The Company’s board members also include Robert Tomicic, a former Founder of Virtus Partners, and Ann Kono, former Chief Information and Risk Officer for Ares Management Corporation.

Learn more about the company and its offerings at Siepe.com.

About Siepe
Siepe is a leading provider of cutting-edge technology and service solutions tailored to high-yield, private credit and alternative investment managers. Through its cloud-based platform, Siepe offers flexible front, middle and back-office solutions to streamline workflows, scale processes, and transform data into an asset to gain perspective. Siepe’s seasoned specialists provide extensive industry knowledge and support every step of the way. Siepe has a proven track record of supporting top-tier CLO managers, BDCs, private credit funds, structured product investors, and more. The platform leverages technology to reduce risk, gain scalability, and provide a seamless experience for portfolio managers, traders, analysts, and operations to access their data in a centralized format. For more information, visit siepe.com.

About WestCap
WestCap is a strategic operating and investing firm that partners with visionary leaders to build generational businesses. Our team is comprised of seasoned industry leaders and entrepreneurs who guide companies through the most pivotal stages of growth. Some of our notable investments include Airbnb, StubHub, Ipreo, Addepar, Hopper, iCapital, SIMON, and GoodLeap. The firm has offices in New York, San Francisco, New Hampshire and London. For more information, please visit www.westcap.com.

SOURCE Siepe

Led by Industry Titans, New Coaching and Capital Company to Revolutionize the Path to Real Estate Success with Unique Business Model

SEATTLE, Aug. 22, 2024 — Highspire, the premiere learning experience for construction company owners complemented by a powerful venture capital division, today announced its launch to help construction owners leverage their business to become real estate developers. Highspire’s innovative business model and unique approach features two key components, a coaching arm and a capital arm, that enable clients to move beyond making a living to building a lasting legacy.

From mastering construction business management and learning real estate development to leveling up to capital investments and unlocking wealth potential, Highspire provides construction businesses with a comprehensive approach for sustained growth and long-term success.

Highspire’s capital arm offers a chance for clients to elevate their business by learning to raise capital, leveraging retained earnings, and propelling towards substantial wealth creation and investment expertise. Additionally, Highspire Capital offers investment opportunities in real estate projects and will co-invest in select development projects with qualified members.

“Our coaching, coupled with the capital component, gives us an edge in truly supporting our clients’ success,” said Paul Atherton, CEO and Co-Founder of Highspire. “We set out to revolutionize the construction and real estate development industries and are proud to provide a transformative offering through access to expert support, peer-collaborative learning, an adaptable online platform, and exclusive access to our fund.”

Highspire’s coaching program unfolds in two stages. The Business Optimization stage is intentionally designed to transform existing construction companies into self-managing entities, while the Strategic Growth through Diversification & Real Estate Investment stage accelerates growth and diversifies offerings. This enables businesses to transform into vertically integrated real estate investment, development, and construction groups safeguarded against market fluctuations.

Highspire was founded by industry veterans Paul Atherton (CEO), Barrett Johnston, Jordan Milne, and Dave Stephens. Atherton is a long-time advisor across the construction industry. Johnston is the Founder and Principal of Cadence Real Estate, a private vertically-integrated real estate investment firm in Seattle with 50+ multifamily assets. Milne, President and CEO of the GMC Group and Vice Chair of Urban Development Institute, BC, is a highly accomplished real estate investor and developer. Stephens, President and Principal of the LIDA Group, a construction and development company, was named “Builder of the Year” in 2023.

The leadership team also includes accomplished women such as Vanessa Wong, Director of Capital Investments, who raised $45M in equity for a company with over $200M in assets, and Darsh Sidhu-Jawant, Director of Coaching and Development, who led expansions into commercial real estate, corporate acquisitions, and large land development and parceling, managing projects over $23M in the US and Canada.

“We help construction business owners transform from skilled tradespeople into successful business owners, then into developers, and finally into developers capable of raising capital. That’s what’s truly life-changing,” said Darsh Sidhu-Jawant, Director of Coaching and Development of Highspire.

To learn more about Highspire, visit: highspire.com.

About Highspire:
Highspire is a premier learning experience designed for construction company owners aiming to transform their businesses and achieve lasting success. Founded by industry veterans, Highspire combines a unique business model with two core components: a coaching arm and a capital arm. The coaching program focuses on making construction companies self-managed and highly profitable, while the capital arm offers investment opportunities in real estate projects, co-investing with qualified members. With access to seasoned industry experts, peer-collaborative learning, an adaptable online platform, and exclusive access to its fund, Highspire is dedicated to empowering business owners to move beyond making a living and start building a legacy. To learn more, go to: https://www.highspire.com/.

Media Contact:
Alexandra Pony
[email protected]
250.858.0656

SOURCE Highspire

TOKYO, Aug. 22, 2024 — NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC., made an investment on Tuesday, August 20, in Gatik AI Inc. (hereinafter “Gatik”), a company developing self-driving technology for commercial vehicles and autonomous vehicle-based logistics services in North America, via the NX Global Innovation Fund.

Gatik Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202408205135-O3-j1d7H638 

NX Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202408205135-O1-W5Zm73Ks 

Profile of Gatik
Gatik, a startup company founded in the United States in 2017, provides logistics services using autonomous trucks. The company has expertise not only in autonomous software development but also in the overall design, testing and evaluation of autonomous vehicles, and successfully completed the world’s first commercial deliveries using unmanned autonomous vehicles on public roads in 2021. It specializes in short- and medium-haul business-to-business (B-to-B) logistics, and provides logistics services using self-driving vehicles for “middle-mile” deliveries between shippers’ intermediate warehouses and between warehouses and stores. The company has been expanding its business in North America with major U.S. retailers such as Walmart and Kroger as well as food and beverage manufacturers and other shippers that handle daily commodities and food products.

Image: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202408205135/_prw_PI4fl_81008g53.jpg 

Investment background and objectives
Autonomous driving technology is attracting a great deal of attention as a solution to social issues such as the aging of drivers, human resource shortages, soaring labor costs, traffic accidents caused by human error, and an increase in mobility-impaired people due to the aging of societies. Japan’s government has announced a policy aiming for the year-round operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads in all prefectures by FY2025, and efforts toward full-scale operations are accelerating. Increased operational efficiency is also expected to improve fuel efficiency vis-a-vis manned operations, helping to satisfy rising social demand for decarbonization.

The NX Group supports the logistics needs of customers in various industries and provides many of them with “middle-mile” logistics services, especially for delivering raw materials to factories or shipping finished products. By establishing capital ties with Gatik, whose efforts are compatible with such a business model, the Group is seeking to deepen its knowledge of the cutting-edge autonomous trucking business. The Group is also looking to work with Gatik in the U.S. and elsewhere globally.

The NX Group will continue resolving social issues by co-creating businesses with startup companies in Japan and overseas, and contributing to the realization of sustainable societies where all people can lead productive and fulfilling lives.

Profile of investee
Company name: Gatik AI Inc.
Head office location: 161 E Evelyn Ave, Mountain View, CA 94041 USA
Year established: 2017
Representative: Gautam Narang
Description of business: Development of autonomous driving systems, peripheral functions and tools, and provision of autonomous logistics services
Website: https://gatik.ai/ 

About the NX Group: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202408205135-O1-P1Z2dzZa.pdf 

NX Group official website: https://www.nipponexpress.com/
NX Group’s official LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ 

Educational program in partnership with Tokyo Metropolitan Government and JETRO is designed for VCs in Japan to become better investors

TOKYO, Aug. 21, 2024 — Silicon Valley venture capital firm 500 Global today announced the second cohort of a bespoke educational program for Japanese venture capitalists with the goal of supporting the vision of positioning Tokyo as a central hub for venture capital, in partnership with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Venture Capital Unlocked: Tokyo leverages 500 Global’s experience as a multi-stage venture capital firm and venture education leader. 500 Global’s Venture Capital Unlocked has conducted over 40 programs in 10 countries and has trained over 1,200 investors to hone their investment skills at a global scale through various VC Unlocked Programs.

The education program consists of 4 days of in-person workshops taking place in Tokyo on October 15 – 18 and two virtual sessions led by US-based VCs. Through experiential learning and curated lessons from 500’s experts, participants will have the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of venture capital frameworks and build their network. The curriculum includes courses that cover topics such as: Early Stage Investing Frameworks, GP:LP Relationships, Fund Modelling & Portfolio Construction, Valuations, Cap Tables & Ownership, and Term Sheet Negotiations & Scaling Startups.

The first cohort of the program, delivered in March 2024, had 33 participants from various Japanese venture capital firms and received strong feedback with an NPS of 97.

“We are excited to bring VC Unlocked: Tokyo back after the positive reception to our first program in March 2024. We remain dedicated to contributing to the growth of Japan’s venture ecosystem through sharing investment perspectives and practices” said Bedy Yang, 500 Global Managing Partner. “VC Unlocked: Tokyo offers a tailored approach that blends Silicon Valley’s innovation with Japan’s unique market dynamics, giving participants a platform to explore and engage with the latest investment trends both locally and globally.”

To learn more about the upcoming program, please visit: Venture Capital Unlocked Tokyo 

500 Global
500 Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm with $2.4B in assets under management that invests in founders building fast-growing technology companies. We focus on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth. We work closely with key stakeholders and advise governments on how best to support entrepreneurial ecosystems so startups can thrive. 500 Global has backed over 5,000 founders representing more than 2,900 companies operating in 80+ countries. We have invested in 35+ companies valued at over $1 billion and 160+ companies valued at over $100 million (including private, public, and exited companies). Our 200+ team members are located in over 30 countries and bring experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from some of the world’s leading technology companies.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government formulated its startup strategy, “Global Innovation with STARTUPS,” in November 2022, with a “10x10x10 Innovation Vision to Open the Future,” aiming for 10 times the number of unicorns, 10 times the number of startups, and 10 times the number of collaborative projects between the government and startups. In FY2023, Tokyo established the Startup and International Financial City Strategy Office to strategically develop policies to create a virtuous cycle of solving social issues and economic growth by maximizing the power of startups and finance, and to strengthen the city’s ability to win in the global competitive landscape. The city developed the Tokyo Innovation Base, which serves as a node for innovation around the world, and recently hosted the global innovation conference, SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024.

JETRO
JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. Originally established in 1958 to promote Japanese exports abroad, JETRO’s core focus in the 21st century has shifted toward promoting foreign direct investment into Japan and helping small to medium size Japanese firms maximize their global export potential.

ENQUIRES ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Japan Programs at 500 Global
[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT
Communications at 500 Global
[email protected]

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 GLOBAL, TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT AND JETRO ARE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTIES.

WHILE PARTIES HAVE TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS. NO REPRESENTATIONS ARE MADE AS TO SPECIFIC OUTCOMES FROM RELYING ON THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND ANY THIRD- PARTY LINKS.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT ADVICE. NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION IN THIS PRESS RELEASE SHOULD BE CONSTRUED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES OF OR ADVISED BY ANY PARTIES HEREIN. ALL VIEWS AND OPINIONS PRESENTED ARE THE RELEVANT PERSONS’ OWN.

SOURCE 500 Global

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 20, 2024 — Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI), with over 10 years as a longevity focused technology company, today announced the completion of an oversubscribed $39.8M Series B round led by TVM Capital Healthcare with participation from new and existing investors, including Panacea Venture and Emerging Technology Partners.  The funding will be used to invest in HLI’s artificial intelligence health risk and recommendation platform, new longevity focused technologies and services, and new expansion sites globally.

Founded in 2013, with a group of pioneers in the precision medicine field, HLI has made significant research and development progress in the longevity field.  In 2020, the company published groundbreaking research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrating the integration of whole-genome sequencing, comprehensive metabolomics, and advanced imaging to identify significant health risk.  As result of our research, we have created a 100+ Longevity care membership program to identify early stages of the major age-related health diseases, with the goal to increase healthspan and extend lifespan through the company’s clinical care team and data platform. 

The 100+ Longevity Care program leverages precision medicine health data, clinical care, targeted interventions and the program also focuses on reducing biological age.  Key components include whole genome sequencing, whole-body and brain MRI, comprehensive cardiac evaluation, body composition analysis, advanced blood biomarkers, and wearables.  Accurate and proven personalized health data will be the primary driver for science backed precision medicine.

Early detection of health risks is a cornerstone of proactive healthcare and will not only save millions of lives but will also significantly reduce healthcare costs in the future.  By identifying potential issues at their inception, individuals can take timely steps to prevent or manage serious conditions.  HLI’s clinical care team has successfully diagnosed early-stage conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic diseases.  Guided by these findings, personalized programs are created for our members to optimize health and mitigate chronic disease risks.

Year around membership in HLI’s 100+ Longevity Care program is the foundational platform for the practice of empowering individuals to achieve peak living and extend their longevity.  With advanced health assessment centers in San Francisco and San Diego, and future planned locations, including in Europe, Asia, Saudi Arabia and the surrounding GCC countries, HLI is poised to lead the industry in longevity care. 

Human Longevity, Inc.
Built by the pioneers of the human genome sequencing effort since 2013, Human Longevity is the global leader in advancing the Human Longevity Care movement, on a mission to discover and harness the technological and biological interventions that amplify span of life, health, & high-performance.  Human Longevity, Inc. is committed to accelerating living to 100+ by revolutionizing the landscape of the current system of “sickcare” to true “healthcare”. By continually adding and analyzing our client’s health data, we are transforming treatment from a reactive practice to one that is proactive, preventative, and personalized.
Human Longevity, Inc. https://humanlongevity.com

SOURCE Human Longevity, Inc.

FORT COLLINS, Colo., Aug. 21, 2024 — PhotonPharma, a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical company based in Fort Collins, Colorado, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a $2.5 million seed financing round. This vital funding will support the Phase I clinical trial of Innocell™, an innovative therapy for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/ovary.html) ovarian cancer will impact 19,680 women in the US with 12,740 deaths in 2024 alone. The average five-year relative survival rate is 50.4% (2014-2020).

In February 2024, PhotonPharma received FDA clearance to initiate clinical development of Innocell™. The Phase I trial, expected to enroll its first patient in Q4 2024, will be a crucial step in evaluating the safety and efficacy of this promising new treatment.

“This funding is a significant milestone for PhotonPharma and marks a pivotal moment in our mission to advance breakthrough therapies for cancer therapies,” said Dr. Terry Opgenorth, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PhotonPharma. “We are excited to move forward with our clinical trials and are grateful for the support of our investors, whose confidence will help drive the development of our technology platform forward.”

PhotonPharma’s presentation at the upcoming Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor and Partnering Conference will provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s progress and development plans. The conference will be an opportunity for investors and partners to learn more about PhotonPharma’s advancements and the potential impact of Innocell™ on the treatment of ovarian cancer.

Founded in 2018, PhotonPharma is dedicated to pioneering novel drug delivery systems and targeted treatments aimed at improving cancer care. The company’s innovative approach and commitment to scientific excellence position it at the forefront of cancer therapeutics.

“We invite investors and industry partners to attend our presentation at the Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor and Partnering Conference in September,” added Dr. Alan Rudolph, CEO of PhotonPharma. “It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about the development of our cutting-edge technology and the development plans for the company and its technology platform.”

About PhotonPharma

PhotonPharma is dedicated to developing innovative cancer therapies that leverage the body’s immune system to fight disease. With a focus on personalized medicine, the company’s lead product, Innocell™, aims to provide a first in class treatment for a wide range of solid organ tumors.

For more information, please visit www.photonpharmaceuticals.com  or contact:

Alan Rudolph, PhD
CEO
PhotonPharma, Inc.
[email protected]
301-520-8982

Media Contact:

Ms. Anjelica Doriety
PhotonPharma, Inc.
[email protected]
954-851-4023

SOURCE PhotonPharma Inc.