Portfolio news: Firefly Aerospace, Vivoo, JuneBrain + 22 more

The funding is led by Proterra Investment Partners. This investment aims to fuel retail growth and product innovation for the company. 

Aspire Biopharma, a biopharmaceutical technology company, and PowerUp Acquisition Corp.,a special purpose acquisition company, have announced a definitive merger agreement. The transaction values Aspire at a pre-money equity value of approximately $316 million.

This partnership with a major aerospace and defense technology company expands Firefly's existing launch commitments for its Alpha Rocket from 2027 to 2031. Firefly is ramping up production with facility expansions to meet growing demand for its responsive small-lift services.

This award from the CTIA Wireless Foundation's Catalyst grants program highlights Healthy Hip Hop's innovative approach to education and its potential impact in the edtech market, particularly for underserved communities.

Two astronauts from the Polaris Dawn mission - billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis - conducted the spacewalk 450 miles above Earth. This event, funded by Isaacman, demonstrates SpaceX's expanding capabilities in private space exploration and marks a new frontier in commercial space activities.

A total of $1 million in new funding and awards, include grants from MDIC and NSF, plus an investment from TEDCO. These funds will support quality management system modernization, biotechnology innovation, and accelerate market entry.

This funding will support the development of resilient communication solutions for military use and enhance goTenna's commercial off-the-shelf mesh capabilities. Additionally, goTenna announced an investment from Vanedge Capital in its ongoing Series 1 fundraise.

The company's Tranche 0 satellites successfully established optical communications in orbit, making York the second SDA provider to achieve this and the only one to demonstrate both space-to-ground Link 16 and laser communications links. 

The program, called Retro9000, encourages developers to build on Avalanche ahead of a much-anticipated upgrade known as Avalanche9000.

Janover Engage is a marketplace connecting real estate syndicators with accredited investors, through its subsidiary Groundbreaker. The platform provides access to over 40,000 verified investors who have invested more than $1 billion. This addition expands Groundbreaker's capabilities, aligning with Janover's strategy to become a comprehensive solution provider in the commercial real estate sector.

This grant will play a crucial role in accelerating Vivoo's R&D efforts and driving innovation in AI-based nutrition technologies.
The TÜBİTAK 1501 Grant is a funding program provided by Turkey's Scientific and Technological Research Council aimed at supporting innovative research and development projects.

Emrod has been named a 2024 Ārohia Trailblazer by New Zealand's Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology. This recognition comes with a co-funding grant from Callaghan Innovation, supporting the commercialization of Emrod's power beaming technology.

This integration allows customers to deploy AI models in private clouds and on-premises data centers for the first time. Hive plans to expand its offerings through NVIDIA NIM to include content moderation, logo detection, and other specialized AI services. 

This collaboration between ParaFi, a $1 billion asset manager, and Securitize, which manages $950M in investments, demonstrates Avalanche's growing role in real-world financial applications.

Smart Soda's all-in-one machine offers a range of healthier drink options including still and sparkling water, craft soda, iced tea, cold brew, lemonade, and functional shots. The partnership expands Smart Soda's market reach

This addition enhances Revelator Pro's service offerings. Flou offers features for creating, negotiating, and signing music contracts, including lawyer-approved templates, in-browser editing, electronic signatures, and automated notifications.

AG will implement ALICE's AI-powered construction schedule optimization platform across its projects, potentially improving efficiency and reducing risks. This collaboration expands ALICE's market presence in Latin America and validates its technology in the industrial construction sector.

This strategic move targets the $11 trillion physical retail market, significantly larger than the $3 trillion e-commerce sector. The integration allows customers to use Klarna's flexible payment options via QR code scanning at Adyen terminals.

The nomination for in the Prix Galien Awards, recognizes company's innovative drug delivery platform for CNS treatments. The selection for the Calling2Scale program positions Actipulse Neuroscience for potential growth and investment opportunities, as alumni of the program have collectively raised nearly €5.7 million in investments.

The company has installed its first Caribbean unit in Montego Bay, Jamaica, launched a mobile unit in California, and plans an upcoming installation in Dallas, Texas. This expansion is a clear indication of growing adoption of Koning's Breast CT technology.

Hawaiian Bros, a fast-growing, award-winning restaurant concept, that has expanded to over 40 locations across the mainland United States. The company plans to continue its rapid growth, with contracts for 100 additional locations in development

Scale Up by Endeavor program is a global initiative supporting high-potential entrepreneurs. This opportunity provides access to mentorship, a peer community, and resources to accelerate growth.

GoBe Kids' Snack Spinner was featured on Good Morning America's Lunch Hacks segment, showcasing the product to a national audience.

This expansion includes Kencko's full range of organic drinks, snacks, and instant oats, and significantly expands Kencko's retail presence.