Funding Co-Led by Inovia Capital & Tola Capital Brings AI-Driven Software to the Biopharma Industry With First Product Reliant Tabular

MONTREAL and BERLIN, Aug. 20, 2024 — Reliant AI, a provider of gen AI-powered data analytics software, announced today its launch out of stealth with $11.3 million in seed funding. The new capital was co-led by Tola Capital and Inovia Capital, with participation from angel investor Mike Volpi.

Reliant AI was created by leading Natural Language Processing and Reinforcement Learning  scientists and researchers Karl Moritz Hermann, Marc Bellemare and Richard Schlegel who led teams at DeepMind, Google Brain and EY Parthenon. They’re passionate about how generative AI can solve information challenges to reduce repetitive mental labor and accelerate decision making for enterprises. The company is initially targeting the biopharma industry and will use the new funding to hire engineering talent to expand its technology investment and footprints in Europe and North America.

“Information and data are a critically overlooked part of making the life sciences progress to bring about a better world. The sheer amount of menial labor involved in data-intensive industries today means that many highly skilled professionals are focused on wrangling data, rather than solving complex issues. We created an AI system that understands the life sciences to radically grow its capacity to perform research at scale,” said Karl Moritz Hermann, CEO and Co-Founder of Reliant AI.

Reliant AI’s first product, Reliant Tabular, is an AI workbench that is attracting significant interest across key business segments in the biopharma industry. The product helps life science analysts find scientific evidence for their decisions through automated systematic reviews, asset scans, comprehensive analyses, and a customizable data platform – with Reliant AI, anything can be queried.

Features of Reliant Tabular include:

• Proprietary ML models optimized to be experts in biopharma topics
• Comprehensive approach to fact-finding – maximizing recall so that nothing gets missed
• User interface that makes it quick and easy to reconcile generated results with ground truth evidence
• Answers in a report-ready format so that teams can collaborate on analyses

“The biopharma industry has a massive and underserved information need. Reliant AI blends cutting-edge research with domain expertise to create software that makes it possible for a day’s worth of data wrangling to be done in 30 seconds. Marc, Karl Moritz and their technical team bring together decades of AI expertise from the world’s best research groups, such as DeepMind, Google Brain, and Meta, giving Reliant the ability to really move the needle on the application of generative AI to hard data problems,” said Aaron Fleishman, Partner at Tola Capital.

“We see a significant market opportunity in the pharmaceutical sector, as companies strive to build and partner with new entrants to develop innovative solutions like those offered by Reliant AI,” said Steve Woods, Partner at Inovia Capital. “This notable demand in a large and growing market underscores the potential of AI to drive impactful advancements in the biopharma industry.”

“Reliant AI has significantly increased my efficiency by rapidly parsing relevant data, allowing me to focus on deeper analysis and faster turnaround times. This technology promises to revolutionize how early commercial assessments are conducted,” said Miguel Silva, Strategy Director at OMass Therapeutics.

To learn more or obtain a demo, visit https://www.reliant.ai/

About Reliant AI

Reliant AI is a provider of genAI-powered data analytics software that accelerates secondary research in biopharma. With Reliant AI, anything can be queried. The company was created by Karl Moritz Hermann, Marc Bellemare and Richard Schlegel, renowned scientists and researchers who previously led teams at DeepMind, Google Brain and EY Parthenon. Reliant AI has offices in Berlin, Germany and Montreal, Canada and has raised USD $13.5M in total funding from investors including Tola Capital, Inovia Capital, Mike Volpi, Amit Agarwal, and AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio.

About Tola Capital

Tola Capital is a venture capital firm that believes in the power of software, data, and AI to transform the way the world works. Founded in 2010 by experienced software operators at the forefront of cloud computing’s rise, the firm backs entrepreneurs who have enterprise technology experience and are building disruptive, industry transforming solutions with diverse teams. Tola Capital has successfully exited numerous startups, and continues to evolve as it supports founders into the era of AI. Visit www.tolacapital.com for more information.

About Inovia Capital

Inovia Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with founders to build impactful and enduring global companies. The team leverages an operator-led mindset to provide founders with multi-stage support, mentorship, and access to a worldwide network. Inovia manages over US$2.2B with operations in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Bay Area, and London. For more information, visit inovia.vc.

Media Contact: Nicole Brunet, 408-761-1803, [email protected]

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Finanzierung durch Inovia Capital & Tola Capital bringt mit dem ersten Produkt Reliant Tabular KI-gesteuerte Software in die Biopharma-Industrie

MONTREAL und BERLIN, 20. August 2024 — Reliant AI,, ein Anbieter von KI-gestützter Datenanalysesoftware, gab heute den Start aus dem Stealth-Modus mit einer Seed-Finanzierung von 11,3 Millionen US-Dollar bekannt. Das neue Kapital wurde gemeinsam von Tola Capital und Inovia Capital geleitet, mit Beteiligung des Angel-Investors Mike Volpi.

Reliant AI wurde von führenden Wissenschaftlern und Forschern der Bereiche Natural Language Processing und Reinforcement Learning  Karl Moritz Hermann, Marc Bellemare und Richard Schlegel entwickelt, die Teams bei DeepMind, Google Brain und EY Parthenon geleitet haben. Sie sind begeistert davon, wie generative KI Informationsprobleme lösen kann, um repetitive Denkarbeit zu reduzieren und die Entscheidungsfindung für Unternehmen zu beschleunigen. Das Unternehmen zielt zunächst auf die biopharmazeutische Industrie ab und wird die neue Finanzierung nutzen, um technische Fachkräfte einzustellen und seine Technologieinvestitionen und Präsenz in Europa und Nordamerika zu erweitern.

„Informationen und Daten sind ein übersehener Teil des Fortschritts in den Biowissenschaften, um eine bessere Welt zu schaffen. Die schiere Menge an Arbeit, die heute in datenintensiven Branchen anfällt, bedeutet, dass sich viele hochqualifizierte Fachkräfte auf die Verwaltung von Daten konzentrieren, anstatt komplexe Probleme zu lösen. Wir haben ein KI-System entwickelt, das die Biowissenschaften versteht, um seine Kapazität zur Durchführung von Forschung in großem Maßstab radikal zu steigern”, sagt Karl Moritz Hermann, Geschäftsführer und Mitbegründer von Reliant AI.

Das erste Produkt von Reliant AI, Reliant Tabular, ist eine KI-Workbench, die in wichtigen Geschäftsbereichen der Biopharma-Industrie auf großes Interesse stößt. Das Produkt unterstützt Life-Science-Analysten bei der Suche nach wissenschaftlichen Belegen für ihre Entscheidungen durch automatische systematische Überprüfungen, Asset-Scans, umfassende Analysen und eine anpassbare Datenplattform – mit Reliant AI kann alles abgefragt werden.

Die Funktionen von Reliant Tabular umfassen:

• Proprietäre ML-Modelle, die als Experten für Biopharma-Themen optimiert sind
• Umfassender Ansatz zur Tatsachenermittlung – Maximierung des Erinnerungsvermögens, damit nichts übersehen wird
• Benutzeroberfläche, die einen schnellen und einfachen Abgleich der generierten Ergebnisse mit den tatsächlichen Gegebenheiten ermöglicht
• Antworten in einem berichtsfähigen Format, sodass die Teams bei der Analyse zusammenarbeiten können

„Die Biopharmabranche hat einen enormen und nicht gedeckten Informationsbedarf. Reliant AI verbindet Spitzenforschung mit Fachwissen, um eine Software zu entwickeln, die es ermöglicht, die Datenverarbeitung eines ganzen Tages in 30 Sekunden zu erledigen. Marc, Karl Moritz und ihr technisches Team bringen jahrzehntelange KI-Expertise aus den weltbesten Forschungsgruppen wie DeepMind, Google Brain und Meta mit, was Reliant in die Lage versetzt, die Anwendung generativer KI auf schwierige Datenprobleme wirklich voranzutreiben”, sagte Aaron Fleishman, Partner bei Tola Capital.

„Wir sehen eine bedeutende Marktchance im pharmazeutischen Sektor, da sich Unternehmen bemühen, neue Marktteilnehmer aufzubauen und mit ihnen zusammenzuarbeiten, um innovative Lösungen wie die von Reliant AI zu entwickeln”, sagte Steve Woods, Partner bei Inovia Capital. „Diese beachtliche Nachfrage in einem großen und wachsenden Markt unterstreicht das Potenzial von KI, die Biopharma-Industrie entscheidend voranzubringen.”

„Reliant AI hat meine Effizienz durch die schnelle Analyse relevanter Daten erheblich gesteigert, sodass ich mich auf tiefergehende Analysen und schnellere Bearbeitungszeiten konzentrieren kann. Diese Technologie kann die Art und Weise, wie frühe kommerzielle Bewertungen durchgeführt werden, revolutionieren”, sagte Miguel Silva, Strategieleter bei OMass Therapeutics.

Um mehr zu erfahren oder eine Demo zu erhalten, besuchen Sie https://www.reliant.ai/

Informationen zu Reliant AI

Reliant AI ist ein Anbieter von genAI-gestützter Datenanalysesoftware, die die Sekundärforschung in der Biopharmazie beschleunigt. Mit Reliant AI kann alles abgefragt werden. Das Unternehmen wurde von Karl Moritz Hermann, Marc Bellemare und Richard Schlegel gegründet, renommierten Wissenschaftlern und Forschern, die zuvor Teams bei DeepMind, Google Brain und EY Parthenon leiteten. Reliant AI hat Büros in Berlin und Montreal, Kanada, und hat insgesamt 13,5 Mio. USD von Investoren wie Tola Capital, Inovia Capital, Mike Volpi, Amit Agarwal und dem KI-Pionier Yoshua Bengio erhalten.

Informationen zu Tola Capital

Tola Capital ist eine Risikokapitalgesellschaft, die an die Kraft von Software, Daten und KI glaubt, um die Welt zu verändern. Das Unternehmen wurde 2010 von erfahrenen Softwareanbietern gegründet, die an der Spitze des Aufstiegs des Cloud Computing standen, und unterstützt Unternehmer, die über Erfahrungen in der Unternehmenstechnologie verfügen und mit verschiedenen Teams bahnbrechende, branchenverändernde Lösungen entwickeln. Tola Capital hat zahlreiche Startups erfolgreich verlassen und entwickelt sich weiter, um Gründer in der Ära der KI zu unterstützen. Besuchen Sie www.tolacapital.com für weitere Informationen.

Informationen zu Inovia Capital

Inovia Capital ist eine Risikokapitalgesellschaft, die mit Gründern zusammenarbeitet, um wirkungsvolle und dauerhafte globale Unternehmen aufzubauen. Das Team nutzt eine betreiberorientierte Denkweise, um Gründern Unterstützung in mehreren Phasen, Mentoring und Zugang zu einem weltweiten Netzwerk zu bieten. Inovia verwaltet mehr als 2,2 Mrd. US-Dollar mit Niederlassungen in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Bay Area und London. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter inovia.vc.

Medienkontakt: Nicole Brunet, 408-761-1803, [email protected]

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KUOPIO, Finland, Aug. 20, 2024 — Bone Index Finland Ltd, a pioneering company in medical technology, proudly announces the completion of its latest financing round and a strategic partnership with Lynx Financial (HK) Limited. This partnership aims to enhance Bone Index’s distribution and service capabilities in North America and Asia Pacific.

The newly secured funds will bolster Bone Index’s infrastructure and operations, meeting the growing demand for its innovative bone health diagnostics solutions in these key markets. The financing round, led by Lynx Financial, participated by other European financial investors and existing shareholders, highlights Bone Index’s commitment to further product offerings and services. Bone Index core technology enables quick and accurate measurements of bone health, in both early screening and hospital settings. The company’s product has achieved early commercialization and adoption in Europe and the US. The partnership with Lynx Financial is a major strategic decision for Bone Index as the company to expand its product line and market outreach.

Statements from Leadership

Janne Karjalainen, CEO of Bone Index, expressed his enthusiasm for the strategic partnership and financing round: “This investment and partnership with Lynx Financial are pivotal steps in our growth journey. The funds will significantly enhance our distribution and service capabilities in North America and Asia Pacific, allowing us to bring our state-of-the-art bone health diagnostics to a larger audience. We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration brings and are committed to delivering impactful health solutions globally.”

Tero Silvola, Chairman of the Board of Bone Index, added: “We are thrilled to have Lynx Financial join us as a partner. Their extensive experience in business development, particularly in the healthcare sector, will be invaluable as we expand our operations. Lynx’s expertise and strategic insights will significantly accelerate our growth and help us achieve our vision.

Donald Xu, Managing Director of Lynx Financial, commented: “We are excited about the potential of Bone Index’s innovative diagnostics technology. Bone Index’s solution is accurate and accessible and can democratize the way osteoporosis is detected and diagnosed for consumers and patients. We believe Bone Index is poised for significant growth and market penetration. We are committed to supporting Bone Index to achieve its visions, in Asia Pacific and globally.

About Bone Index

Bone Index Finland Oy is at the forefront of medical technology innovation, dedicated to developing and commercializing advanced bone health diagnostic solutions. The company’s flagship product, the Bindex^® system, is a revolutionary point-of-care device that provides accurate and rapid osteoporosis diagnostics. Bindex^® measures the cortical bone thickness of the tibia, allowing for quick and reliable estimation of bone mineral density at the hip. This portable, pocket-sized device has a 90% accuracy rate, making it comparable to traditional DXA scans and enabling early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. In addition, the technology has applications in various orthopedics treatment settings.  The device’s ease of use and immediate results significantly enhance patient care and reduce healthcare costs.

About Lynx Financial

Lynx Financial is a boutique investment and investment banking firm that specializes in Life Sciences and Medical Technology sectors. With a global outreach and on-the-ground presence, Lynx Financial fully leverages its expertise in deal structuring and investments to help emerging innovative companies from around the world gain access to funding and strategic resources in Asia Pacific regions.

For more information:

Bone Index:
Janne Karjalainen, CEO
[email protected]
+358 45 896 2650

Lynx Financial:
Rio Hong, Associate
[email protected]

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SOURCE BONE INDEX FINLAND

Amulet’s newly female-majority board positions the company for stronger performance and more robust health outcomes

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 19, 2024 — Amulet, the company shining a light on invisible threats in our food system, today announced the addition of two distinguished members to its Board of Directors: Darcey Nett, Principal at HealthX Ventures, and Lisa Strovink, Managing Partner at AllerFund. These appointments reflect Amulet’s resolve that everyone – from individuals needing better tools to manage their food allergies and intolerances to businesses seeking ways to improve the safety of their food supply chains – benefits from women leaders’ contributions to healthcare technology development.

The company’s board appointments and recent funding round are significant:

• Amulet is one of 14 active, Wisconsin-based, female-founded companies that have raised more than $1M in venture capital.
• Historically, only 20 female-founded companies in Wisconsin have raised more than $1M in venture capital.
• Three out of five of Amulet’s board members are now women, making it a rare female-majority board, particularly in Wisconsin, where women represent just one-quarter of board seats.

“Women’s perspectives are an undervalued asset across tech, business, and health leadership,” said Abi Barnes, Founder and CEO of Amulet. “Female-majority boards aren’t the norm, and we are proud to be participating in a shift of that paradigm – especially with proven investors and visionaries as sharp, dedicated, and accomplished as Darcey and Lisa.”

Experienced health tech leaders 
Darcey Nett is a Principal at HealthX Ventures and is a seasoned start-up executive and entrepreneur. She began her career in enterprise sales at Pfizer before successfully founding, operating, and selling an in-home care business. Transitioning to venture-backed companies, Darcey served as CEO of both ImageMover and Huddle Up (formerly DotCom Therapy), where she boosted revenue and secured $18M in funding, including Bain Capital’s first Wisconsin investment. She also forged partnerships with industry leaders like McKesson, IBM, Philips, and Intuitive. With deep operating experience in revenue-generating roles at a wide range of early-stage health tech companies, Darcey combines a wealth of industry knowledge with hands-on expertise.

“Driving impact has always been my North Star, and throughout my career, I’ve seen how empowering individuals with technology that uncovers hidden insights can improve health outcomes,” said Darcey Nett. “I look forward to working with such a talented team and am confident that with our combined expertise, business acumen, and lived experiences, we can maximize the impact of Amulet’s promising technology.”

Lisa Strovink, Managing Partner at AllerFund, the first venture capital firm investing solely in innovation in food allergy, has spent her career working to bring new therapies to market, focusing on early-stage healthcare technology. Before AllerFund, she was the Chief Strategy Officer at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute (NYSCF), where she oversaw partnerships, grew strategic operations, and launched and ran cell therapy programs.  

Prior to NYSCF, Lisa evaluated therapeutic investment opportunities at Ascent Biomedical Partners as Principal, led strategic and operational teams at Johnson & Johnson as the Director of Strategic Planning for the Medical Devices and Diagnostics group, was the Director of U.S. Marketing for Cordis Endovascular, as well as the Director of the Carotid Stent Program, and advised early-stage medical technology companies at McKinsey & Company.

“Amulet was one of AllerFund’s first investments. We saw the massive potential the technology holds for community impact,” said Lisa Strovink. “Abi and her team are well-positioned to improve the quality of life for so many people with food allergies and intolerances around the world.”

For more information about Amulet and its growing team, please visit https://www.amulet-inc.com/.

About Amulet 
Amulet equips individuals and businesses with portable sensor technology that uses rapid, on-site molecular detection to quickly identify allergens and environmental contaminants in food.

Amulet is the company behind Allergy Amulet™, a brand with a signature wearable that enables people to test for food allergens on the go, and Amulet Scientific™, a commercial brand with a detection platform that empowers restaurants, suppliers, manufacturers, and other food industry businesses to identity a range of molecular targets like food toxins and environmental contaminants.

About Allergy Amulet
Allergy Amulet™ helps take the worry off your plate with the Amulet, a wearable miniaturized consumer food sensor that tests for common allergenic ingredients in seconds. Whether on a keychain, a necklace, a wristband, a backpack, or in a pocket, the Amulet’s sleek and portable design allows users to savor life’s important moments safely and simply. Learn more at www.allergyamulet.com.

About Amulet Scientific
Amulet Scientific™ is committed to improving the safety and transparency of the food supply chain by offering streamlined detection capabilities for the food, beverage, and agriculture industries. Their debut product is a thumb-sized, battery-powered potentiostat. It features a small display, internal memory, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Amulet unlocks new in-field electrochemical opportunities for developing affordable diagnostics, sensors, and wearable devices. Learn more at www.amuletscientific.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Tess Pawlisch
608-333-9788
[email protected] 

SOURCE Amulet

SEATTLE, Aug. 19, 2024 — Mudstack, the leading provider of file versioning and asset management tools for the game industry, today announced the successful closing of a $4 million financing round. This latest round of funding will be instrumental in accelerating Mudstack’s mission to streamline production workflows and enhance collaboration within game development teams.

In conjunction with the financing, Mudstack is also excited to welcome James Gwertzman as its new Chief Executive Officer. James, the former co-founder and CEO of PlayFab, brings a wealth of experience in the gaming industry and a strong track record of building innovative tools and infrastructure for games.

“I am incredibly excited to join Mudstack at such a pivotal time in its growth,” said James. “It’s crazy to me that our industry is so mature, yet basic tools for managing content and production pipelines are still lacking. I’ve wanted to build an ‘operating system for game studios’ for a long time, and am thrilled to be working with this talented team to deliver on that vision.”

“We couldn’t be happier to have James join us,” said Jordan Stevens, co-founder of Mudstack, and former CEO. “He is truly the dream partner to lead Mudstack into the future vision we both share, freeing me to focus entirely on delighting customers as the new Head of Product.”

The financing round was led by Anthos Capital, with participation from Khosla Ventures, A16Z GAMES, Pioneer Square Labs, and Hyperplane.

“We are thrilled to invest in Mudstack because we see a massive opportunity here,” said Zack Zaharis, Partner at Anthos Capital. “The game development process is becoming increasingly complex, and Mudstack is perfectly positioned to become the go-to solution for teams needing robust, intuitive tools to streamline that process. With James Gwertzman at the helm, we are confident that Mudstack is poised to become an indispensable tool for game developers worldwide.”

In addition, Mudstack has recently signed its first two large enterprise customers, Metacore and Paradox Studios, marking a significant milestone in its growth.

“Mudstack has saved us a significant amount of time spent managing our game assets,” said Petter Lundh, Managing Art Director at Paradox Studios. “It’s also simple enough for artists to use without training, which will make it easy for us to roll it out across more of our internal studios.”

Mudstack will use the newly secured funds to further develop its platform, grow its team, and expand its customer base to meet the ever-evolving demands of the game industry.

To learn more about Mudstack, and experience a free trial, visit www.mudstack.com.

About Mudstack
Mudstack is building the next generation asset management and collaboration platform for artists, developers, and producers. It shortens development times by improving communication and collaboration across all members of the team, encourages risk-taking and creativity by ensuring no work is ever lost, and fosters the creation of community by opening up the development process to a global audience. The future of creative collaboration will be powered by continuous integration, automation, and AI. Mudstack aims to be at the forefront of this transformation.

For more information, visit mudstack.com.

SOURCE Mudstack, Inc.

Emily Paxhia Joins Board of Managers

Capital Investment  to Support High Growth Throughout Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 19, 2024 — Sunburn Cannabis (“Sunburn” or the “Company”), a Florida-based and vertically integrated cannabis operator, announced today their most recent capital investment from Poseidon, a leading venture capital fund focused on the cannabis industry. Sunburn also announced the appointment of Poseidon co-founder Emily Paxhia to the Company’s Board of Managers. Poseidon is an early investor in Sunburn having made their initial investment in 2022.

Sunburn is a fast-growing, privately held single-state operator that owns and operates fourteen (14) retail locations in key markets throughout the state of Florida. Florida is currently the largest medicinal market in the U.S. with over $2 billion in revenue generated and should voters approve recreational use in November, the state is anticipated to become the largest legal Cannabis market in the U.S. with market size projected from $4-6 billion. The Company’s growth & development is largely thanks to a loyal and robust customer following and the brand’s authentic roots nurtured in Florida’s rich cannabis history.

“I am thrilled to welcome Emily Paxhia to our Board of Managers,” said Brady Cobb, Founder & CEO of Sunburn. “Poseidon is a leading investor in the cannabis industry and their significant insight and experience will be a tremendous asset as we strategically expand throughout the state of Florida.”

“Since our initial investment, Sunburn has become one of the leading players in the Florida cannabis market, continually ranked at or near the top of the state’s sales rankings per store for most mg of THC sold as compiled by the Office of Medical Marijuana Use,” said Emily Paxhia, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Poseidon. “Cannabis isn’t easy, and Florida is no exception, especially as established operators compete on pricing strategies. Sunburn has leveraged its authentic story, experienced team, fantastic retail locations, and commitment to high-quality products to catapult themselves into the Florida market and we are excited to further support their growth.”

About Poseidon
Poseidon is a leading investor in the legal cannabis and hemp industries with over $100 million in assets under management. Poseidon and its affiliates have been active cannabis investors since 2013, deploying capital into nearly 200 businesses across various stages and verticals globally. The company has been actively involved in state and federal initiatives to drive reform in cannabis laws, including a recent judicial challenge to the Raich vs. Gonzalez SCOTUS case in partnership with Boies, Schiller, Flexner LLP. For more information, visit www.poseidon.partners

About Sunburn Cannabis
Sunburn Cannabis is the brand created by Florida-based Sunburn Holdings, LLC, which was created to build the authentic ultra-premium southern cannabis brand that celebrates America’s rebellious, rock n roll, free spirit as well as cannabis culture. The Sunburn Cannabis brand is based on the true story of CEO and Founder, Brady Cobb, and his late father, Clyde Walton “Bill” Cobb, who was one of the largest cannabis smugglers in the 1970s and 1980s until the DEA task force dubbed “Operation Sunburn” put him in jail. Sunburn incorporates the culture and traditions passed down from its founders, employing a team that is passionate about the plant and cultivating only the highest quality product. Sunburn currently has 14 retail locations across Florida. For more information, visit www.sunburncannabis.com.

SOURCE Sunburn Cannabis

Led by VC 414 out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the round raised $1.2M, with additional contributions from Supes’ Fund, White Rose Ventures, 1855 VC, and Product 10X. The funding will be instrumental in accelerating TEAMology’s growth, both in TEAMtalk product marketing development and talent expansion within the K-8 Edtech space and the team’s ability to execute its vision. “Our team loved TEAMology’s student-first approach and focus on social, emotional, and mental health outcomes. Feedback from current customers has us excited that this platform is a winning solution for teachers, counselors, students, and their families alike. We’re backing an incredibly smart team that is deeply versed in holistic student well-being as well as EdTech sales,” said Jennifer Abele, managing partner at VC 414.

The importance of including a partner with market expertise was key for TEAMology in this round. The Supes’ Fund is made up of retired superintendents and education-focused experts who offer a critical perspective for TEAMology. “One of the most pressing concerns we consistently hear from superintendents since the pandemic is that they lack sufficient resources to address the rising student mental health concerns. We are invested in TEAMology because we believe that Linsey and her team have come up with a key solution to this challenge, and we want them to have the opportunity to engage with more district leaders across the country,” said Doug Roberts, Managing Partner, Supes’ Fund.

“We are ecstatic about this new chapter and the confidence and support we’ve received from our investors,” said Linsey Covert, Founder and CEO of TEAMology. “This investment not only validates our business model but also empowers us to advance our mission of providing access to quality social, emotional, and mental health support for our K-8 students. We are committed to leveraging these funds to drive innovation and deliver unparalleled value to our users. The education world needs the unwavering support of trusted partners to support all students and staff at a time where mental health and wellness should be a priority for effective learning.”

About TEAMology

Established in 2016, TEAMology launched as one of the first companies to emerge from Penn State University’s Invent Penn State commercialization ecosystem. Since 2016, TEAMology has focused on better understanding how to develop a personalized solution to meet students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs. This research and development led to creating what is now known as TEAMtalk – an AI + human technology that provides kids with an opportunity to directly connect and be supported by the six TEAMology characters that grow with them. Partnerships such as Penn State and the public media company WQED, home of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” are helping to expand the important work of TEAMology.

TEAMtalk offers a scalable machine learning + human approach to engage directly with children. Our student-facing solution creates a safe, non-threatening, non-judgmental space for children to express themselves and their concerns. The whole-system solution baselines, coaches, and produces actionable outcomes to strengthen a child’s mental well-being while also triaging issues through a proprietary triage approach based on a Multi-Tiered System of Supports model. Through daily check-ins, conversational evidence-based assessments, and personalized coaching, TEAMtalk will deliver information to educators about each student’s strengths and growth opportunities as well as the ways an educator can help increase the child’s social and emotional abilities. TEAMtalk identifies the need for triage and can operate as an extension of the in-school support team to mitigate challenges before they escalate and become bigger issues. TEAMtalk provides insights for individual students and classrooms, and it can be beneficial school-wide in helping educators identify the greatest challenges students are discussing and trends over time.

Connect with TEAMology
X: @teamology4kids
LinkedIn: @teamology4kids
Facebook: @teamology4kids
Website:https://www.teamology.team/

Media Contact

Lindsay Fairman, TEAMology, 1 4403419653, [email protected],
https://www.teamology.team/

SOURCE TEAMology

CHICAGO, Aug. 16, 2024 — Angeles Investors is thrilled to announce the awardees for the prestigious 2024 Estrellas Awards, a recognition of the top funders and venture capital firms that have made significant investments in Hispanic and Latino startups. These visionary investors are not only fueling innovation but also empowering the fastest-growing entrepreneurial segment in the U.S. economy.

The Angeles Investors Estrellas Awards celebrate those who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to supporting Hispanic and Latino founders. These investors have played a crucial role in helping these startups thrive, creating jobs, and driving economic growth in their communities.

“The Estrellas Award awardees are more than just investors—they are catalysts for change, champions of diversity, and true believers in the power of Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurship,” said David Olivencia, Co-Founder and CEO at Angeles Investors. “Their commitment to fostering innovation and supporting underrepresented founders is what drives the continued growth and success of our community.”

Angeles Investors is thrilled to announce that the winners of the 2024 Estrellas Awards will be revealed at a special ceremony during the Q3 Summit and Awards Event on August 16, 2024. Held at the iconic Chicago Wintrust building, this prestigious event will honor the exceptional contributions of the awardees to the startup ecosystem. The gathering will unite influential leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to celebrate these remarkable achievements and explore new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

About Angeles Investors
Angeles Investors is a premier network of investors focused on finding, funding, and growing the most promising Hispanic and Latino ventures. Since its inception, Angeles Investors has been one of the fastest-growing angel groups dedicated to creating opportunities that enable startups to scale, innovate, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Become an Angeles Member! Unlock unique investment opportunities within the Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurial ecosystem as a member of Angeles Investors. Whether you’re an accredited investor eager to discover high-potential startups or a new investor aiming to enhance your skills and network, Angeles Investors is your gateway to success.

Membership includes access to our exclusive quarterly Summits, potential board seats, executive roles in emerging companies, and a vibrant community dedicated to growing Hispanic and Latino ventures. View our membership options.

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SOURCE Angeles Investors

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 16, 2024 — Falfurrias Management Partners (Falfurrias), a private equity firm focused on growth-oriented, middle-market businesses, today announced its investment in Snak King, a leading manufacturer of private label and co-manufactured products including tortilla chips, rolled tortilla chips, potato chips, popcorn, extruded and co-extruded snacks, nut clusters, and more.

Founded in 1978, Snak King has become one of the largest producers of co-manufactured and private-label salty snacks in the United States. Snak King CEO Barry Levin joined the company in 1979 as its third employee – at the time, Snak King was a small co-manufacturer of pork rinds, operating out of a 1,200-square-foot factory in Los Angeles. Since then, the company has grown substantially, currently employing over 780 team members across state-of-the-art facilities in the greater Los Angeles and Chicago areas. For over four decades, Snak King has remained at the forefront of snack innovation, serving as a valued partner to its customers to help develop and produce unique, differentiated products. In addition to its co-manufactured and private label business, Snak King goes to market through brands including El Sabroso, The Whole Earth, Granny Goose, and Jensen’s Orchard.

Falfurrias’ investment will bring additional food expertise and industry-leading perspectives to Snak King’s operation. Joining Snak King CEO Barry Levin on the Board will be Ken Walker and Chip Johnson from Falfurrias Management Partners, Dave Katz, President and COO of Coca-Cola Consolidated, Bill Lovette, CEO of Sauer Brands, and Bill Ladd, former senior executive and Vice President of Supply Chain Transformation at PepsiCo.

“Snak King’s dedicated team and our steadfast customer-first mentality have enabled us to transform over the past forty-six years from a small-scale pork rind business to an operation that delivers a broad range of innovative snacking options to food brands, retailers, and customers around the country,” said Barry Levin. “Falfurrias’ experience will be enormously beneficial as we partner to achieve Snak King’s next phase of growth.”

“Falfurrias identified private-label salty snacks as a major category of interest based on our ongoing Industry First research,” said Chip Johnson, Partner at Falfurrias. “Snak King’s differentiated products and capabilities, industry leadership, and team-oriented culture stood out to us, and we’re excited to partner with Barry and the rest of the Snak King team to continue growing their business.”

“Barry’s decades of consistent leadership have primed Snak King to become a dominant industry player,” said Falfurrias’ Ken Walker. “The team’s unwavering commitment to quality and customer service is inspiring. While other snack manufacturers offer limited and traditional product assortments, Snak King’s commitment to innovation and ability to meet a wide range of ever-changing consumer preferences have made them trusted partners to some of the nation’s leading food companies and retailers. As consumer demand continues to increase, we’re eager to work with Barry and the Snak King team to further the company’s position as a leader in the snack industry.”

Equity for this investment comes from Falfurrias Capital Partners IV and Falfurrias Capital Partners V, both operationally focused lower middle market buyout funds, and builds on the firm’s experience investing in food-focused manufacturing and technology companies, including Sauer Brands, Local Hive, Carolina Foods, EDGE Industrial, and E Technologies Group. With these investments, Falfurrias has developed growing industry expertise that will enable the team to help Snak King drive growth, expand capacity, and continue delivering high-quality, innovative products to its valued customers. 

William Blair advised Falfurrias on this investment, and K&L Gates LLP served as legal advisors. Intrepid Investment Bankers and Sheppard Mullin LLP served as Snak King’s financial and legal advisors, respectively.

About Falfurrias
Falfurrias Capital Partners is an operationally focused middle market private equity fund focused on investing in high-growth companies in the food manufacturing, industrial technology, and business services sectors. The team is comprised of investors and proven operators, as well as in-house resources across strategy & market insights, finance & integration, human capital, and technology. The fund is managed by Falfurrias Management Partners, a Charlotte-based private equity firm founded in 2006 by Hugh McColl Jr., former chairman and CEO of Bank of America; Marc Oken, former CFO of Bank of America; and Managing Partner Ed McMahan. The firm has raised $2.2 billion across six funds and invests in growing, middle-market businesses in sectors where the firm’s operational resources, relationships, and sector expertise can be employed to complement portfolio company executive teams in support of growth objectives. For more information, visit www.falfurrias.com.

About Snak King
Founded in 1978, Snak King is one of the largest snack food manufacturers in the United States, known for its commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Headquartered in City of Industry, California, Snak King offers a diverse portfolio of snack products for a variety of private label and co-manufacturing customers as well as for in-house brands, including El Sabroso, The Whole Earth, Granny Goose, and Jensen’s Orchard. With state-of-the-art facilities and a longstanding focus on excellence, Snak King consistently delivers delicious and high-quality snacks that cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Whether it’s traditional favorites or new and exciting flavors, Snak King is dedicated to bringing joy to every snack occasion.

SOURCE Falfurrias Management Partners