Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Venture Capital
• Rogo, an NYC-based AI platform for finance, raised a $160m Series D. Kleiner Perkins led, joined by Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Khosla Ventures, JPMorgan Growth Equity Partners, BoxGroup, Mantis VC, Jack Altman, Evantic, and Positive Sum. Go deeper
• Hightouch, an SF-based marketing platform, raised a $150m Series D at a $2.75b post-money valuation. Goldman Sachs and Bain Capital Ventures led, joined by Iconiq Capital, Sapphire Ventures, Amplify Partners, YC, and TD7. Go deeper
💊 Axoft, a Cambridge, Mass.-based neurotechnology company, raised a $55m Series A led by C.P. Group Innovation, with participation from Alumni Ventures, the Stanford President's Venture Fund, Hillhouse Investment and Gaorong Ventures. Go deeper
💊 Vivacta Bio, a Shanghai-based in vivo CAR-T cell therapy biotech, raised a USD$50m Series A and A+ led by Loyal Valley Capital and Decheng Capital, respectively. OrbiMed, Hankang Capital, Eisai Innovation Inc., and C&D Emerging Industry Equity Investment also joined. Go deeper
• Definity, a Chicago-based agentic data engineering platform, raised a $12m Series A. GreatPoint Ventures led, joined by Dynatrace, StageOne Ventures and Hyde Park Venture Partners. Go deeper
💊 Lighthouse Pharmaceuticals, a Bay Area neurodegenerative and inflammatory disease treatment developer, raised a $12m Series A led by Double Point Ventures. Go deeper
💊 Tacalyx, a German cancer biotech, raised €11 million in a first closing of a seed extension round. Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, Kurma Partners, High-Tech Gründerfonds, Eurazeo, Creathor Ventures and Thuja Capital participated. Go deeper
• Certifyde, an NYC-based AI adoption platform developer, raised a $2m seed from K5 Global, Flamingo Capital and individual investors. Go deeper
Private Equity
• Catchment Capital acquired Phoenix-based industrial systems integrator Vertech Industries. Go deeper
• Engineering Resource Group, a portfolio company of Godspeed Capital Management, acquired Haltom Engineering, a Memphis-based MEP engineering consultancy. Go deeper
• Falfurrias Management Partners invested in meat processor Young American Food Brands (fka Miami Beef). Go deeper
⚡️ Hamilton Lane and GCM Grosvenor agreed to buy a 49.9% stake in the Illinois-based Big Sky Wind facility. Go deeper
• Persona Triangle, a portfolio company of Exeter Street Capital Partners, acquired Sheer Service and EVO Door & Window Service, two West Palm Beach, Fla.-based windows and doors services groups. Go deeper
• Urban Armor Gear, a portfolio company of HKW, acquired Nomad, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based mobile accessories company. Go deeper
Liquidity
🚑 Infinite Epigenetics, a Lexington, Ky.-based epigenetic diagnostics company, acquired Tally Health, an NYC-based consumer-focused longevity company that raised $10m from Forerunner Ventures, L Catterton, G9 Ventures and Second Sight Ventures. Go deeper
M&A
💊 Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire Chicago-based Tourette syndrome biotech Emalex Biosciences for up to $900m. Go deeper
• Estée Lauder is considering offering between €18 to €19 per share for Puig's Class B shares, as takeover talks continue, per Reuters. Go deeper
Funds
• BMW i Ventures launched a new $300m fund. Go deeper
It's Personnel
💊 Andrew Davis, former chief business officer at Dynavax Therapeutics, was named chief business and strategy officer at Convergent Therapeutics. Go deeper
• Ares Management promoted Peter Ogilvie to COO and head of strategy. Go deeper
• Daniel M. Annese, former global brand president at the Estée Lauder Companies, was named CEO of Stila Cosmetics. Go deeper
• Katy Nelson, former partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joined Helena Capital as general partner. Go deeper
• Scott Auslund, former COO at loop.com, was named CEO of Harbor Logistics. Go deeper
⚡️ Zabrina Johal was named CEO of Zap Energy. Co-founder Benj Conway will transition to president. Go deeper
Odds & Ends
💊 AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) agreed to pay up to $1.45b for the exclusive option to acquire Watertown, Mass.-based cancer biotech Kestrel Therapeutics. Go deeper
💊 Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) agreed to pay up to $2.25b to Emeryville, Calif.-based Profluent to develop and commercialize AI-designed recombinases for undisclosed diseases. Go deeper
