Portfolio news: Axiom Space, Skybound, Kraken and 19 more

Axiom Space has secured up to $5.5 million from the Texas Space Commission to advance development of its Orbital Data Center (ODC) architecture, with two initial free-flyer nodes in low-Earth orbit scheduled to launch by year-end. This funding accelerates deployment of scalable in-space computing infrastructure for national security, commercial, and civil applications.

One of the most liquid onshore regulated brokers and exchanges for crypto derivatives in Europe, Kraken Derivatives offers institutional-grade infrastructure, strong local fiat support and flexible collateral options.

Under this $237 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, York Space Systems provides small satellites for national security missions. This contract enables faster, more flexible spacecraft procurement and builds on York's Space Systems Services offering.

This collaboration combines Visa's global trust with Plaid's UK connectivity to enable mainstream pay-by-bank experiences, starting in the UK and expanding across Europe. The solution addresses the UK's outdated Direct Debit infrastructure by offering real-time authentication, instant settlement, and Visa's trusted protections for recurring payments.

32 Biosciences has raised $6 million to advance its gut microbiome diagnostic and therapeutic programs, with a Series A round planned. The funding supports clinical validation and regulatory milestones for its AI-powered diagnostic platform and non-antibiotic antimicrobial therapy, both targeting FDA submissions. The company is on track to submit its Pre-Submission Package by the end of Q2, with commercial readiness expected by late 2026.

Ratio just launched online sales of a new generation of its flagship automatic drip coffee maker, the Ratio Eight Series 2. The company is transitioning all manufacturing to China. This shift allows Ratio to align costs and output with its more scalable Four and Six models, while expanding retail distribution to national brick-and-mortar stores this fall.

BTS Group is one of the biggest players in global telecom infrastructure. The partnership will combine BTS's mobile network operator relationships with ZIM's eSIM technology platform to provide white-label eSIM solutions. This move targets the projected growth of the global eSIM market from $4.8 billion in 2023 to $34.6 billion by 2033, with smartphone eSIM adoption potentially reaching 76% by 2030.

Valla has raised £2 million in seed funding led by Ada Ventures to expand its platform that makes legal recourse more accessible to employees. The company has helped over 12,000 workers successfully bring complaints against employers and negotiate settlements since its 2022 launch.

Threshold AI Oracles is a protocol that embeds AI-powered reasoning directly on-chain for the first time. This innovation moves beyond traditional oracles' price feeds to provide multi-agent AI committees that can deliberate complex questions and deliver cryptographically verifiable insights to smart contracts. Supra continues to be at the forefront of intelligent blockchain applications, potentially creating new market opportunities in the intersection of AI and DeFi.

Dollaride is a Brooklyn-based mobility-tech startup advancing transit equity in underserved communities. By partnering with government agencies and private companies, Dollaride delivers clean transportation projects. This loan will help Dollaride cover down payments for up to 102 electric vans and EV charging stations, supporting transit solutions for underserved neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.

OnBuy has acquired Comet, and will relaunch the brand in Q4 2025 as part of its long term growth strategy. The acquisition is expected to shake up the UK’s consumer electronics sector as OnBuy taps into the £25bn market by injecting over £10m into the Comet brand, resurrecting it as a marketplace at the apex of e-commerce.

The company's products will be launching aboard Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station. This certification creates a new "space-validated skincare" category in the beauty industry. Ready Set Jet has secured distribution contracts in the U.S., U.K., and Middle East, plus two additional international space contracts. The microgravity mission will enable further testing of their biotech-enhanced, waterless formulations.

Smart Soda has expanded its beverage portfolio, now available through Sysco distribution. The expanded lineup includes juices, sodas, flavored sparkling waters, lemonade, iced tea, cold brew coffee, sports drinks, and functional beverages for energy, immunity, and relaxation.

The Klarna Card, powered by Visa Flexible Credential and issued by WebBank, allows consumers to pay immediately or access pay-later options at over 150 million Visa-accepting merchants worldwide. With over 5 million consumers already on the waitlist, the Klarna Card is the boldest step yet toward Klarna becoming an everyday spending solution in the U.S.

This recognition acknowledges their innovative approach to 3D-printing homes from recycled plastics, addressing both housing affordability and environmental sustainability. They were also named a SXSW Innovation Award winner for Urban Experience earlier in 2025, further highlighting their work in this area. 

Hawaiian Bros signed new development agreements that will bring over 100 new restaurants to five key U.S. markets: Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Houston, and Atlanta. Additional development includes five new Oklahoma City locations and strategic Portland market entry through ghost kitchens.

Wrisk has been selected by Stellantis Financial Services UK to power its direct-to-customer insurance offering across 12 automotive brands, including Vauxhall, Peugeot, and Jeep. The multi-year agreement leverages Wrisk’s flexible, subscription-based insurance model. This partnership significantly expands Wrisk’s market presence and validates its platform through alignment with one of the world’s largest automakers, positioning the company for meaningful revenue growth.

This brings institutional-grade ETF price data directly on-chain across 100+ blockchains, covering U.S. equities, global indices, sector strategies, real estate, fixed income, and dividend-focused investments. This development positions Pyth as the universal price layer bridging traditional finance and DeFi.

The Fast 500 has previously featured global pioneers like Google, eBay, and Tesla, positioning MishiPay alongside proven innovators.

Utila has integrated with XDC Network, an enterprise-grade Layer-1 blockchain, enabling banks and financial institutions to custody XDC assets through Utila's secure digital asset operations platform. This integration allows institutions to use Utila's non-custodial, MPC-based wallets for secure asset custody, implement role-based access controls, automate treasury workflows, and connect to XDC Network via customizable EVM RPC. The partnership strengthens Utila's multi-chain strategy and expands its institutional reach.