Strategic Funding Round, Led by Sound Ventures and Joined by Corporate Investors Samsung Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures, Advances the Company’s AI Security Capabilities and Reach

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 13, 2026 — WitnessAI, the AI security platform trusted by leading enterprises, today announced strategic funding of $58 million. Led by Sound Ventures, an early investor in OpenAI, Anthropic, and SentinelOne, and with participation from Fin Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and Forgepoint Capital Partners, the funding will be used to accelerate WitnessAI’s global go-to-market and product expansion. Today, the company also unveiled expanded agentic AI governance capabilities that bring observability to global enterprises developing and deploying AI agents.

Expanded Agentic AI Security Capabilities

WitnessAI provides the confidence layer for enterprise AI adoption. The leading AI security platform extends to secure agents in two novel ways. The first is securing AI agent activity similarly to LLM activity, monitoring which agents are active, what MCP servers and tools they are accessing, and what data they are sharing. WitnessAI can see what an agent is doing on an employee’s or customer’s behalf. By connecting the human and agentic identities and capturing the evolving decision-making context, including agent state and execution commands at runtime, WitnessAI provides explainability for agent actions. This creates powerful observability across both workforces, human and agentic.

The second is extending AI application protection from AI models to agents, safely blocking attacks and malicious prompts before they reach the agent. These capabilities enable the protection of multi-generational AI apps, built on foundational model APIs, custom LLMs, and AI agents. The platform uniquely provides policy control based on behavioral intent, understanding the meaning and intention of any prompt. This enables smarter, more accurate policy enforcement, effectively blocking advanced threats such as prompt injection or multi-turn attacks.

WitnessAI Agentic Security is available January 2026. You can learn more about these new agentic security features in our technical blog here.

Already Protecting Hundreds of Thousands of Enterprise Employees and Apps

As a leading pure-play AI security and governance vendor, WitnessAI has established the most comprehensive platform purpose-built to secure every AI environment and interaction. In the past 12 months, the company experienced over 500% growth in ARR and scaled employee headcount by 5x. Production customers include the largest publicly-held enterprises in multiple industries such as financial services, utilities, automakers, airlines, retailers, and telcos. This latest funding accelerates the company’s trajectory, providing the resources required to scale and new strategic partners to drive growth into new markets. WitnessAI last raised $27.5 million in a Series A funding round in May 2024, co-led by Google Ventures and Ballistic Ventures.

“The primary barrier to enterprise AI adoption isn’t tech debt; it’s tech doubt,” said Ashton Kutcher, General Partner at Sound Ventures. “WitnessAI has proven it can instill confidence in AI adoption, and has done so for multiple global leaders. We are thrilled to support the team as they use this capital to expand into new markets and solidify their position as the leading standard for safe, secure enterprise AI.”

“The future of AI is hybrid, spanning both cloud and edge. Qualcomm is delivering AI-first experiences across a multitude of devices, where privacy and security are paramount,” said Tushar Gupta, Vice President, Qualcomm Technologies Inc., and Managing Director, Qualcomm Ventures North America. “WitnessAI has developed a platform that governs and protects AI agents, models, applications, and users—wherever they operate. We’re excited to invest in WitnessAI as they build the essential infrastructure for the agentic era.”

“Enterprises are just getting started with mobile AI,” said a Samsung Ventures Vice President. “As models move from the cloud to the device, security organizations will require AI controls that protect devices as well as corporate desktops and servers. WitnessAI has built an architecture that can scale to handle global enterprise AI adoption, and we are happy to be part of that journey.”

“Financial Services often leads the way in new technology adoption, and AI is no exception,” said Logan Allin, Managing Partner at Fin Capital, who is investing from its SMBC Fin Atlas Beyond Fund, a part of SMBC’s corporate venture capital strategy focused on U.S. startups. “We believe that WitnessAI is poised to be the category leader in secure AI adoption for financial services institutions of all sizes across banks, asset and wealth managers, and insurers, all of whom are crossing the chasm and must do so with a robust bridge.”

“AI adoption in financial services requires not only innovation but also the highest standards of security and accountability,” said Keiji Matsunaga, General Manager of the Digital Strategy Department at SMBC. “As one of Japan’s leading financial institutions, SMBC sees great significance in supporting WitnessAI’s growth as it advances responsible AI implementation.”

“AI workflows are maturing and starting to cross corporate and cloud LLMs and agents,” said Rick Caccia, co-founder and CEO at WitnessAI. “We are the only AI security vendor that can secure every AI interaction, everywhere, with a unified solution. The alternative is trying to stitch together secure workflows using network proxies, firewalls, DLP products, and XDR agents. In short, the alternative is a complex mess.”

To learn more about WitnessAI and see its unified AI security and governance platform in action, visit here for a self-guided demo.

About WitnessAI
WitnessAI is the unified AI security and governance platform enterprises trust to govern and protect all AI activity. We provide complete, network-level visibility into every interaction including employees and autonomous agents, even in native apps where legacy tools are blind. Unlike security that relies on outdated keywords, our platform understands intent, enabling intelligent policies that stop novel threats like prompt injection while empowering productivity. Our enterprise-first, single-tenant architecture ensures data sovereignty and compliance. WitnessAI transforms security from a bottleneck into the enabler of your AI strategy as the confidence layer for enterprise AI.

Media Contact 
Jessie Birkhofer
[email protected]

SOURCE WitnessAI

Funding Round Led by Consortium of Strategic SME-Focused Investors Positions 33rd Team at the Forefront of Football Analytics and Technology Innovation

NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2026 — The 33rd Team, an emerging football intelligence and technology company founded by veteran NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum, today announced the closing of its eight-figure Series B funding round fueling its emergence as a leading cutting-edge football data and technology provider.

The latest round features notable investors including Liberty Media, FORTA Advisors, Autumn Road, Dan Senor, Nick Gross, Gary Vaynerchuk, Ryan Moore, Greg Ciongoli, George Pyne, John Low, and Silver Falcon Capital (the family office of Brian France, former NASCAR CEO). The company also expanded its cap table with some of the sharpest football minds in the game, including NFL alumnus Justin Pugh and former head coach Matt Patricia.

“This is a transformational moment for us,” said Mike Tannenbaum, CEO of The 33rd Team. “It’s a powerful validation of our vision and the new direction we’re embarking on as a company. The guidance from our investors – spanning across elite coaching, global media, technology innovation, and more – is an invaluable asset as we build the future of football.”

The round, initiated in early 2024, signaled the company’s strategic pivot away from content and media, toward technology innovation. In fewer than 17 months, The 33rd Team has taken its Zenith platform from concept to market adoption, securing deals with four NFL teams, a promising start that captured over 10% of the league for the inaugural 2025-26 season. These collaborations provide advanced on-field metrics and analytics, while positioning the company to accelerate its technology roadmap and expand its footprint across the league.

“Sports ownership is entering a period of rapid modernization, driven by private investment and aggressive adoption of next-generation technology,” said Ryan Moore, Founder of Revenant VC. “With AI accelerating this shift, it’s clear that organizations must evolve or fall behind. The 33rd Team is at the forefront of this transformation, equipping teams with the intelligence needed to navigate the competitive landscape both on and off the field.”

As part of its expanding technology platform, The 33rd Team has developed a proprietary suite of critical pre-snap data points not currently available on the market – including huddles, motions, substitutions, and formations – unlocking new layers of intelligence for teams. This data is made available to teams on a near-real-time basis following games, and is already being fully integrated into weekly pre-scout preparation and in-game management workflows across the league.

“Our foundation in deep NFL expertise, combined with a commitment to leveraging leading technologies including the new force multiplier of AI, creates an unparalleled value proposition,” said Mark Romagnoli, Chief Operating Officer of The 33rd Team. “This funding enables us to build the engine for a market changing platform, allowing the company to innovate at the intersection of on-field knowledge, advanced data, and technology to enhance team performance, fan engagement, and beyond.”

About The 33rd Team

The 33rd Team is a technology and analytics company redefining football intelligence for the modern era. Built on deep NFL front-office and coaching expertise, the company integrates advanced data engineering, AI-driven models, and proprietary on-field analytics to deliver clearer, faster, and more actionable football intelligence.

Through its expanding technology platform and strategic advisory services, The 33rd Team equips professional and collegiate teams and organizations with the tools, data, and guidance needed to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven sports landscape.

For additional information, please visit www.33rdteam.com. Follow @the33rdteamfb on X/Twitter and @the33rdteam on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

The 33rd Team: [email protected] or [email protected]

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New growth equity investment, led by HLM Investment Partners, will accelerate growth of the PayMedix financing platform nationally

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 13, 2026 — HPS/PayMedix, the leading healthcare financing and payments solutions provider, today announced it has closed $33 million in equity and debt financing to accelerate the growth of its groundbreaking PayMedix healthcare financing and payments solution. HLM Investment Partners, a leading healthcare investment firm, led a $16 million growth equity investment, joined by Escalate Capital Partners and RVM Enterprises, and existing investor SV Health Investors.

The funding comes at a time of notable growth for the company, as demand increases for its   innovative healthcare payments platform to improve affordable access to healthcare nationwide.

“PayMedix is a highly effective platform that streamlines the payment experience for payors, providers, and members,” said Michael Ludwig, Partner at HLM Investment Partners, who will join the HPS/PayMedix board of directors as part of the transaction. “In a time where it is critical to reduce provider abrasion and improve member affordability, we are excited to partner with Tom and the HPS/PayMedix team to accelerate growth.”

The new term debt facility of $17 million was provided by Escalate Capital Partners, a leading private credit and growth equity investment firm that services growing companies within the technology, software, services, and healthcare sectors.

“As employers, providers, and payors look for alternative financing and payment solutions to deal with the affordability crisis in healthcare, demand for PayMedix has skyrocketed in the last year,” said Tom Policelli, HPS/PayMedix CEO. “With years of 100% provider retention, over 93% employer retention, and consumer satisfaction ratings over 91%, we have proven that we have created a solution that provides value across the board. This new investment will directly support expanding our platform so more patients can get the care they need and providers can serve their communities more effectively.”

Tom Flynn, Managing Partner at SV Health Investors, commented, “We are pleased to partner with knowledgeable healthcare investors to capitalize the company for a period of rapid growth.”

About HLM Investment Partners

HLM Investment Partners is a leading healthcare investment firm, providing capital to innovative and category-defining healthcare technology and services companies. HLM works with leading growth-oriented healthcare companies that are improving the quality of healthcare while reducing overall costs. HLM has built an extensive network of talented investment professionals, deep strategic relationships and experienced industry veterans. Since its founding 40 years ago, HLM has invested more than $1 billion, building more than 100 companies.

About HPS/PayMedix

PayMedix is transforming how people access, use, and pay for healthcare by simplifying and consolidating healthcare information and payments for consumers and providers. Through guaranteed payments to providers, the SuperEOB^®, and complete interest-free financing for consumers, PayMedix is the only platform that unifies all stakeholders through a single system. PayMedix has processed over $7 billion in medical payments for hospital systems and physician practices. The acquisition of TempoPay in 2024 expanded the company’s interest-free financing platform to include pharmacy, dental, and vision expenses. For more information, visit www.paymedix.com.

SOURCE HPS/PayMedix

Investors and founders convene in New Orleans March 10–12 as the Gulf South emerges as a serious venture market

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 13, 2026 — As venture capital firms look beyond traditional coastal hubs for capital-efficient growth, The Idea Village’s 3rd Coast Venture Summit will return March 10-12, 2026 for its third year, convening national investors, founders, and ecosystem builders in New Orleans for a focused look at where the next wave of venture-scale companies is being built.

Produced by The Idea Village, the Gulf South’s leading startup accelerator, during New Orleans Entrepreneurship Week, the summit is one of the only venture convenings dedicated specifically to the Gulf South – an increasingly active region spanning future energy, industrial and infrastructure technology, logistics, maritime innovation, and applied AI. Once overlooked by coastal capital, the region is now drawing sustained investor attention. Recent national research from the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center ranks the New Orleans Metro #14 among America’s Top 20 Entrepreneurial Growth MSAs, underscoring the broader shift toward emerging markets with lower burn rates, deeper technical talent, and proximity to real-world customers.

“The Gulf South is no longer a flyover market for venture capital,” said Jon Atkinson, CEO of The Idea Village. “Founders here are building durable, revenue-driven companies in sectors that matter to the economy. The 3rd Coast Venture Summit is where investors come to understand and access that opportunity.”

Over three days, the event will feature robust programming designed to drive meaningful connections and actionable insights, including expert-led panels, curated networking opportunities, and startup showcases. Sessions will focus on where capital is flowing and why, including:

• 2026 outlook for emerging venture capital trends
• Applied and Vertical AI, with an emphasis on data advantage
• Deep-tech intelligence across supply, logistics and other frontier sectors
• Regional density and deal flow, and what investors miss when they stay concentrated on the West and East coasts
• Capital efficiency and scale, examining how companies in frontier and growth markets are building durable businesses with less burn

“Silicon Valley has long been the center of startup activity, but the ‘growth at all costs’ era is coming to an end,” said Andrew Albert, Programs Director for The Idea Village. “Investors are rediscovering the advantages of regional ecosystems where capital, incumbents, and real-world problems intersect, and the Gulf South is a prime example of how geography can strengthen venture outcomes rather than limit them.”

The 3rd Coast Venture Summit positions New Orleans as both a convening ground and a case study, offering investors front-row access to founders operating at the intersection of technology, industry, and the future of the U.S. economy. More details, including registration information, can be found at www.3rdCoastVentureSummit.com.

About The Idea Village
The Idea Village champions innovation and entrepreneurship in New Orleans and throughout the Gulf South. Since its founding in 2000, The Idea Village has supported over 23,700+ entrepreneurs with mentorship, coaching, and access to capital. Alumni companies have generated more than $2 billion in regional economic impact. A 501c3 non-profit, operating exclusively for exempt purposes, The Idea Village provides business accelerator programs that guide startups from the idea stage through venture capital rounds. The Idea Village works every day to cultivate a robust startup community and create an inclusive, vibrant, and future-driven economy. Further information can be found here: www.ideavillage.org.

Media Contact:
Addisyn Bryant
Pace Public Relations
931-801-4901
[email protected]

SOURCE The Idea Village

With celebrity-led brands hitting record valuations worldwide, A.R.I. supports OVO’s global expansion

TORONTO, NEW YORK and TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 13, 2026 — Applied Real Intelligence (“A.R.I.”), a U.S.-based investment firm specializing in growth financing for category-defining, innovative companies, announced a growth capital investment in October’s Very Own (OVO), the globally recognized lifestyle brand founded by Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib.

“There is extraordinary global demand for culturally authentic brands right now and the timing couldn’t be better for OVO,” said Dr. Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA, A.R.I.’s Founder and Managing General Partner. “Recently, Human Made, the streetwear brand partially owned by Pharrell Williams, went public at nearly $500 million and was reportedly 60 times oversubscribed. It’s a clear signal that investors see tremendous value in brands that blend creativity, community, and cultural credibility. OVO is uniquely positioned within that movement, combining global influence across fashion, music, sports, and a cultural and lifestyle presence that sets it apart.”

Celebrating Canadian Creativity on the Global Stage

Founded in Toronto in 2008, October’s Very Own has become one of Canada’s most successful cultural exports. What began as a music collective has evolved into a vertically integrated lifestyle company with flagship retail stores across Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa, Calgary, and British Columbia, along with locations in Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, and London.

Under the leadership of CEO Derek “Drex” Jancar — recipient of Billboard Canada’s 2025 Impact Award — OVO continues to scale its global e-commerce business, expand premier partnerships, and grow its physical retail footprint, building on the creative foundation established by Drake, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib.

“OVO represents the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurship,” said Ellison. “Drake, Oliver, and 40 created something culturally unparalleled, and Drex is now scaling that vision with remarkable discipline and strategic clarity. It’s a rare combination, and one that A.R.I. is proud to support.”

Defining the Celebrity-Led Brand Category

OVO’s growth places it among the most influential celebrity-led brands in the world, a select category that includes SKIMS (Kim Kardashian), Fenty (Rihanna), and Rhode (Hailey Bieber). These companies represent a powerful new generation of consumer brands where cultural credibility, celebrity influence, and disciplined execution converge to produce outsized results.

Recent market activity — including SKIMS’ $5 billion valuation in a Goldman Sachs–led round joined by BDT & MSD Partners, and e.l.f. Beauty’s $1 billion acquisition of Rhode at five times trailing revenue — shows the surging demand for authentic, celebrity-led brands.

“A critical part of A.R.I.’s investment process is evaluating staying power,” Ellison said. “OVO isn’t a moment; it’s a long-term movement. Very few brands have sustained OVO’s level of credibility and consistency across both creative and commercial dimensions. It is extraordinary and it’s exactly the profile we seek in our investments.”

Partnered with the World’s Best and Canada’s Own

OVO’s cultural capital is underscored by an unmatched history of collaborations that bridge fashion, sports, and entertainment – including Nike (Jordan Brand), Timberland, the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, Fanatics, Disney, Warner Bros. (Looney Tunes), and The Simpsons, among others.

In Canada, the brand’s influence runs deep. Its partnership with the Toronto Raptors led to the renaming of the team’s practice facility as the OVO Athletic Centre. Drake, OVO, and the Raptors also joined forces to launch the Welcome Toronto initiative, which donated millions to refurbish community basketball courts across the city and to support Canada Basketball.

OVO’s Canadian collaborations – with the Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian Football League (CFL), Canada Skateboard, Canada Goose, Roots, Wayne Gretzky, William Nylander, and Georges St-Pierre, among others – underscore its homegrown authenticity and national pride while driving international appeal.

Recent partnerships with PlayStation, Chelsea Football Club, Red Bull Racing, Callaway, and Vessel Golf Bags showcase OVO’s continued expansion into sport, lifestyle, and performance categories.

OVO’s Distinct Place in Global Streetwear

Within the broader streetwear landscape, OVO is often compared to brands such as Supreme, KITH, Stüssy, Off-White, Human Made, and BAPE – companies known for combining exclusivity, artistry, and cultural credibility.
“OVO has become a symbol of Canadian creativity and excellence,” said Ellison. “Just as Drake elevated the visibility of Canadian music worldwide, OVO is elevating Canadian culture in global streetwear.”

Ellison added: “Having worked at premier Canadian institutions including Thomson Reuters, Scotiabank, and Sun Life Financial, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the professionalism, creativity, and integrity that define Canadian business culture. I’ve come to feel like an honorary Canadian, and it’s deeply gratifying to support OVO as it brings Canadian excellence to a global audience.”

Information is solely from public sources. Trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used for identification only, without implying endorsement.

About October’s Very Own (OVO)

October’s Very Own (OVO) is a Canadian lifestyle brand led by CEO Drex Jancar and founded by Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Oliver El-Khatib, and Noah “40” Shebib. OVO offers premium apparel and accessories and is known for its distinctive owl logo and black-and-gold aesthetic. The brand has grown into a globally recognized enterprise with 12 flagship stores and a worldwide e-commerce presence.

About Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.)

Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.) is a U.S.-based investment manager providing growth capital to innovation-driven companies in sectors including AI, software, technology, clean energy, consumer brands, sports, media, and entertainment. A.R.I.’s disciplined, safety-first approach helps companies scale efficiently while protecting investor capital. Learn more at www.arivc.com

Dr. Zack Ellison, MBA, MS, CFA, CAIA, Founder & Managing General Partner of A.R.I., has over 20 years of cross-border credit and investment experience at firms such as Thomson Reuters, Scotiabank, Deutsche Bank, and Sun Life Financial. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, an MS in Risk Management from NYU Stern, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Florida.

Media Contact:
Investor and Media Relations
310-881-3893
Applied Real Intelligence (A.R.I.)
[email protected]

SOURCE A.R.I.

$12.8 Million in New Capital Will Accelerate Product Development, Expand Strategic Partnerships and Scale WeatherPromise’s Platform Across Consumer Categories

NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2026 — WeatherPromise, the technology company driving demand for travel, event and recreation companies and redefining how consumers think about weather, today announced the close of its $12.8 million Series A financing, bringing total investment in the company to more than $22 million.

The round was led by Maveron, the consumer-focused venture capital firm co-founded by Starbucks chairman emeritus Howard Schultz and Dan Levitan. 1Sharpe, Lerer Hippeau, Clocktower Ventures, Commerce Ventures, MS Transverse, Start Ventures, 1Flourish and Mark Okerstrom, former CEO of Expedia Group, all participated in the round.

WeatherPromise is the leading provider of weather guarantees, refunding consumers the cost of their trip if the weather is worse than promised. Top travel companies including Marriott, Expedia, JetBlue, Invia and HomeToGo already trust WeatherPromise to drive consumer demand by giving guests the confidence to book year-round. In 2025, WeatherPromise guaranteed the weather for trips to 95 countries on six continents.

WeatherPromise is becoming indispensable for travel and event companies, reshaping the way the world plans, books and experiences travel, concerts, sporting events, golf and other outdoor activities.

Through its proprietary AI engine, WeatherPromise provides customized and personalized offers for each individual event or trip and automatically issues a refund if the weather isn’t what was promised.

“Weather is the most important factor determining when and where we travel. We all remember a vacation, concert or game when rain ruined our plans. That’s why we found a way to remove that anxiety, drive bookings and redefine how we think about our vacations and activities,” remarked Daniel Price, Co-Founder of WeatherPromise.

WeatherPromises’ Series A was more than three times oversubscribed, reflecting the strong investor conviction in the company’s mission, momentum and market opportunity. As part of Maveron’s investment, Dan Levitan, co-founder and general partner of Maveron, will join the company’s board of directors.

“WeatherPromise solves a problem that touches nearly every consumer experience, yet has been fundamentally broken for decades,” Levitan said. “The team has built an elegant, consumer-first solution with massive potential to change how people plan, purchase and protect their most important travel moments. We’re thrilled to partner with WeatherPromise and support their next phase of growth.”

The new capital will be used to accelerate product development, expand strategic partnerships and scale WeatherPromise’s platform to meet growing demand across key consumer categories.

“This Series A positions us for long-term growth. Thanks to our investors’ faith in our vision and our team, we’re now able to offer WeatherPromise to millions more travelers around the world,” said WeatherPromise Co-Founder, David Klemm.

About WeatherPromise
WeatherPromise guarantees the weather for vacations as well as outdoor activities, experiences, and events. The company gives everyone the confidence to travel without worrying about the weather. With a global team and offices in the United States and Germany, WeatherPromise partners with the world’s leading travel and experience companies to open up more destinations, more seasons, and more opportunities for its partners and their guests. For more information, visit www.weatherpromise.com.

About Maveron
Maveron is a consumer-focused venture capital firm investing in technology that entrenches in consumers’ everyday lives. For more than two decades and with more than $1 billion AUM, the firm has applied a deep study of consumer behavior to invest with conviction before consensus. Maveron’s past investments include Lovevery, Pacaso, Allbirds, Rebel, Trupanion, Zulily, and eBay. For more information, visit www.maveron.com.

SOURCE WeatherPromise

Nature and technology fund backed by leading investors aims to redefine how capital advances biodiversity

NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2026 — Superorganism, the first venture capital firm investing in technology-driven solutions for biodiversity, announced the close of its debut fund with $25.9 million in commitments. Investor participation includes AMB Holdings, Builders Vision, Cisco Foundation, Stray, Understorey Ventures, and Wedgetail, as well as mission-aligned individuals like Jeff Jordan, Sven and Kristin Lindblad, and Mark Tercek.

Superorganism’s flagship fund is led by experienced investors and entrepreneurs Kevin Webb and Tom Quigley. Kevin, co-founder and managing director, has over 15 years of venture and angel investing experience, including early investments in unicorn startups Ironclad, Turo, and Verkada. Tom, co-founder and managing director, is a conservation technologist and startup operator who has spent more than a decade working at the intersection of technology and nature, including leadership roles at Real Vision and Conservation X Labs.

Superorganism invests in ambitious early-stage companies pursuing transformative impact across three core global themes that bridge venture capital and nature:

• Extinction Drivers: Accelerating the nature-positive transition for industries with the highest biodiversity impact, such as agriculture and forestry.
• Climate × Biodiversity: Tech-driven approaches that deliver wins for both climate and nature, such as robotics for seagrass restoration.
• Enabling Tech: Next-generation breakthroughs in remote sensing, genomics, AI, and other technologies that supercharge conservationists’ work.

“The idea that nature and economic progress must always conflict is outdated,” said Kevin Webb, co-founder and managing director of Superorganism. “Nature already underpins our global economy, from supply chains, to food systems, to the air we breathe. We’re backing entrepreneurs who understand this, and are reshaping industries to work better for humans and ecosystems alike.”

As other venture sectors become increasingly crowded, biodiversity represents a growing frontier in venture capital. Over $58 trillion (55%) of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on nature, according to a PwC report. These tangible nature-based risks are driving companies worldwide to transform their supply chains, business strategies, and product development, independent of policy mandates. As a result, there is urgent demand for technological solutions that can scale rapidly: biodiversity-focused “nature tech” companies received $2.1 billion in funding in 2024, twice as much as 2019 and growing, according to a report by Nature4Climate.

“When built for the right industries and customers, technology-driven solutions can help slow and reverse biodiversity loss,” said Tom Quigley, co-founder and managing director of Superorganism. “By backing founders at the earliest stages and connecting them with the right expertise, capital, and partnerships, we’re accelerating the emergence of an entirely new category of nature-first companies.”

Superorganism has already deployed into 20 startups which have gone on to raise over $100M in follow-on capital. Portfolio companies include Cecil (nature data), Funga (carbon and forestry), Inversa (invasive species management), and Ulysses (ocean robotics).

Superorganism has pledged 10% of the firm’s profits to future conservation efforts, cementing its commitment to supporting nature beyond its investment activities.

“Builders Vision is proud to invest in Superorganism as they redefine what’s possible in nature-focused innovation,” said James Lindsay, director of investments at Builders Vision. “The opportunity ahead is immense. Technologies that restore ecosystems are rapidly becoming competitive advantages for businesses across sectors. Superorganism is helping entrepreneurs capture this momentum and create solutions that can deliver regenerative outcomes and long-term economic value.”

The fund is supported by an extensive network of mentors spanning conservation and entrepreneurship, providing portfolio founders with on-demand access to expertise in conservation science, product strategy, and corporate sustainability, amongst other fields. The firm seeks to be the most helpful partner on the cap table for founders aiming for transformative impact.

About Superorganism
Superorganism is the first venture capital firm dedicated to biodiversity. The firm backs early-stage startups building technology solutions that benefit both humans and nature, with an investment focus that spans extinction drivers, climate & biodiversity solutions, and technologies that enable conservation. Learn more at www.superorganism.com.

SOURCE Superorganism

The AI drug discovery sector has seen unprecedented momentum since Google’s AlphaFold developers won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry a year ago, with billions in venture capital pouring into the space. In October, Eli Lilly and Nvidia partnered to build the pharmaceutical industry’s most powerful AI supercomputer for drug discovery. Last month, Eli Lilly became the first pharma company to reach a $1 trillion market cap.

Despite the momentum, there’s still a significant gap between AI promise and reality in drug discovery. “The conversation needs to shift from models to AI systems,” said Dov Gertz, CEO and co-founder of Converge Bio. “Unlike ChatGPT, you can’t simply prompt a model and get useful results. There’s a long road from a model that performs well on benchmarks to an AI system a biologist can actually use. It requires high-quality data, the right architectures for the domain, and a tight experimental validation loop. That’s why the vast majority of drug development is still done the old way: through trial and error, taking years and costing hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Converge’s platform combines multiple proprietary models into an end-to-end system that plugs directly into existing drug development workflows. Biologists use the platform to get actionable outputs, like novel drug targets, optimized antibody candidates, or protein sequences optimized for increased yield, without needing to write code or build infrastructure. The company’s models are experimentally validated and trained on Converge’s large scale datasets, obtained from their high throughput screening, acquisition of data at scale and rigorous curation of public data. Customers can also use their own proprietary data to create private, fine-tuned instances of Converge’s models while retaining full ownership.

The approach is already delivering results across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. In the past year, Converge completed over 40 programs with pharmaceutical and biotech companies. These efforts have enabled partners to discover novel antibodies with strong (single-digit nanomolar) binding affinities, consistently improve protein manufacturing yields by 4 to 7x, and identify novel molecular biomarkers to optimize patient response.

“The AI drug discovery revolution is here,” said Gertz. “Our goal is simple: make every biotech and pharma company an AI company. We make it easy for scientists to identify where AI can deliver real results for them today, and provide them with our validated tools to get there.”

“Converge has something rare in this space: real commercial traction and strong scientific results,” said Andrew Hedin, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. “The team has built validated solutions that are already delivering results for paying customers. As one of the most results-driven players in the field, we believe Converge is well positioned to be the de facto generative AI lab for the life sciences industry.”

About Converge Bio
Converge Bio is an AI platform that enables biotech and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate drug discovery and development. Founded in 2024, Converge’s 40-person team has deep expertise in machine learning, computational biology, and drug development; about half hold advanced degrees in related fields. CEO Dov Gertz developed a machine-learning method for discovering novel CRISPR systems, leading to a U.S.-licensed patent and a scientific publication in collaboration with Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna. CSO Iddo Weiner holds a PhD in Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, and has led the development of two drug programs through positive Phase 2 clinical readouts. CTO Oded Kalev previously led cybersecurity AI teams and has advised U.S. government agencies on large-scale generative AI applications.

Media Contact
Lazer Cohen
[email protected]
347-753-8256

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2860529/Converge_Bio_Team.jpg

SOURCE Converge Bio

Financing Round Led by B Capital to Accelerate Development of Demonstrator Prototype To Achieve First Flight in 2027

LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 13, 2026 — JetZero, the U.S.-based start-up airplane maker designing the world’s first commercial all-wing airplane, announces it has raised approximately $175 million in its Series B financing, led by B Capital, a global multi-stage investment firm. United Airlines Ventures, Northrop Grumman, 3M Ventures and RTX Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of RTX, among others, also participated in the round. To date, JetZero has raised and secured commitments of more than $1.0 billion, including government grants, incentives and commercial commitments.

The new capital will accelerate the development of JetZero’s full-size Demonstrator, a prototype designed to achieve at least 30% improved aerodynamics compared to traditional tube and wing aircraft. The Demonstrator is on track for its first flight in 2027.

“The strength and diversity of our investor base reflects the momentum behind JetZero and the industry’s readiness to reshape the future of aviation,” said Tom O’Leary, JetZero co-founder and CEO. “This round brings together key strategic partners across the value chain from demand to supply to implementation, including United Airlines Ventures and RTX Ventures, as well as longtime supporters of JetZero from our Series A financing and a new, lead investor in B Capital, focused on innovative, resilient technology. Together, we are delivering an efficient aircraft that elevates the passenger experience, drives American leadership in advanced manufacturing and exports, and strengthens the aviation supply chain.”

“JetZero is redefining aviation with its all-wing aircraft, setting a new benchmark for efficiency, cost, and the passenger experience,” said Jeff Johnson, General Partner at B Capital. “As aviation faces rising emissions and fuel costs, the need for a step change in efficiency has never been greater. JetZero is positioned to reshape the industry, and we’re proud to partner with the team as they advance this groundbreaking technology.”

About JetZero
JetZero, co-founded in 2020 by start-up veteran Tom O’Leary and aerospace legend Mark Page, is developing the world’s first commercial all-wing airplane. With up to 50% better fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions compared to existing commercial airliners, JetZero’s Z4 will offer the aviation industry a clear path to achieving its 2050 net-zero goals while also elevating the passenger experience. Working alongside the US Air Force, NASA, and the FAA, and backed by decades of investment and research into blended wing technology. JetZero looks to enter commercial service in the early 2030s.

JetZero Press Contact
Jenny Dervin
[email protected]
+1 (347) 419-1185

B Capital
Kate Thompson / Madeline Jones / Kate Kelley
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449

SOURCE JetZero