Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios
Venture Capital
⚡️ Slate Auto, a Troy, Mich.-based developer of affordable electric pickup trucks, raised $650m led by TWG Global. Other backers include Jeff Bezos, General Catalyst, and Slauson & Co. Go deeper
⚡️ Critical Loop, an LA-based on-site power provider for industry, raised $26m in Series A funding. Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Hanover led, joined by Better Ventures, Climate Capital, Adapt Nation Capital, and Cyrus Ventures. Go deeper
• Citra Space, a Colorado Springs-based startup that identifies orbiting objects, raised a $15m Series A. Washington Harbour Partners led, joined by Industrious Ventures, Reliable Properties, Scout VC, Squadra Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Flex Capital. Go deeper
🌎 Scentian Bio, a New Zealand developer of smell- and taste-sensors modeled on insects, raised NZ$7m. Icehouse Ventures led, joined by Cultivate Ventures and NZGCP. Go deeper
⚡️ PH7 Technologies, a Canadian startup that extracts metals from recycled and mining materials, raised US$6.4m in Series B extension funding (round total $32m) from new investors Asahi Kasei and the Circular Innovation Fund. Go deeper
🌎 Fieldwork Robotics, a U.K. developer of berry-picking robots, raised £3m led by Elbow Beach Capital. Go deeper
🌎 Fermtech, a U.K. sustainable cocoa developer, raised £2.5m in seed funding led by Elbow Beach Capital, joined by Carbon13 and Empirical Ventures. Go deeper
• Replenit, a Polish AI decision engine for retail, raised $2.5m in pre-seed funding led by Movens Capital and Vastpoint. Go deeper
Private Equity
• Blackstone and I Squared Capital may partner on a bid for the core advertising unit of Germany's Ströer, per Bloomberg. Go deeper
• Fortreum, a cybersecurity assessment and advisory backed by Gryphon Investors, acquired compliance startup Kovr.AI, backed by Battery Ventures, Bull City Venture Partners, IronGate Capital Advisors, OODA Ventures, Hack Factory, Virginia Venture Partners, Dev Capital, and Xfund. Go deeper
🚑 MKH Capital Partners acquired Haven Health Management, a provider of mental health and substance use treatment facilities in nine states and Puerto Rico. Go deeper
Liquidity
• Hillman Solutions (Nasdaq: HLMN) acquired Delaney Hardware, a Sugar Hill, Ga.-based supplier of door hardware, from OpenGate Capital portfolio company S&G. Go deeper
• Mark Anthony Group of Cos, which owns White Claw, acquired Finnish Long Drink, an Indiana-based RTD cocktail brand, for $325m. It had raised around $65m from Pentas Ventures, MarcyPen Capital Partners, Neuberger Berman, Quench Ventures, and Miles Teller. Go deeper
M&A
• Nvidia has been negotiating to acquire a "large company," per a report from SemiAccurate, sending shares of Dell and HP rising. Go deeper
Fundraising
• Dominus Capital raised $640m for its fourth fund. Go deeper
It's Personnel
• Suzanne Bell and William Bibby joined law firm Orrick as London-based partners focused on ABS. They previously were with Cadwalader. Go deeper
⚡️Diane Bitzel joined Calisen Group, a U.K.-based smart meter provider, as CTO. Bitzel was chief digital and information officer at Vodafone Business. Go deeper
⚡️Maryam Brown was named president and COO of Indiana Michigan Power. She previously president and CEO of Southern California Gas and succeeds Steve Baker. Go deeper
• Grant Mueller joined Maple Park Capital as a VP. He previously was with Franchise Equity Partners. Go deeper
⚡️Anand Narayanan and Jeremy Rand were promoted to SVPs at Arevon Energy, a Scottsdale, Ari.-based solar and storage developer. Go deeper
⚡️Ralph Robinett was named SVP and COO of Ballard Power Systems, a Canadian fuel cell products supplier. He previously was COO of GAF Energy and succeeds Lee Sweetland. Go deeper
• Triton Partners named Fergus Wheeler as head of communications. He previously served in the role on an interim basis, before which he was with FTI Consulting. Go deeper
