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CapMan Real Estate signs major office lease agreement in Oslo

Capman

CapMan Nordic Real Estate III fund has signed a landmark 17,600 sqm lease agreement with a 15-year maturity with Visma, securing the entire office premises at Sørkedalsveien 6 in Oslo. The asset will undergo a full-scale renovation with a strong focus on sustainability, with completion expected in late 2027.

CapMan acquired the 18-storey landmark office building, originally built in 2001, in late 2022, anticipating the departure of the previous tenant. Over the past 18 months, the project has undergone a comprehensive design phase to reposition the iconic building as a high-quality, full-service, and sustainable* office destination. Once completed, the property will serve as Visma’s new global headquarters.

Visma is a leading provider of mission-critical business software, including solutions for accounting, payroll, invoicing and tax. As of 2024, Visma reported revenues of €2.8 billion with over 16,000 employees globally.

The renovation work will be guided by an ambitious sustainability strategy, aiming to transform the property into a benchmark for sustainable* office refurbishments. Key upgrades include the expansion of the ground floor to create a more welcoming and accessible environment for tenants and visitors, a new facade, upgraded technical systems, and unique tenant spaces. The building’s energy classification will be significantly improved—from EPC E to EPC A—and the project is targeting a BREEAM-NOR Excellent certification. Construction is already underway, with Insenti serving as the project management advisor.

“We are truly honoured to partner with Visma on this landmark project. Securing the lease agreement ahead of construction start for the entire building marks a significant milestone. It reflects both the strength of our project vision and the enduring appeal of Majorstuen as a premier office location,” says Andreas Wang, Investment Director at CapMan Real Estate.

“This lease agreement is a testament to the flight to quality and the continued demand for sustainable, modern office space in prime locations,” said Magnus Berglund, Head of Sweden & Norway at CapMan Real Estate.

*The project aligns with the EU Taxonomy’s technical screening criteria for substantial contribution to climate change mitigation through the renovation of existing buildings (7.2). Upon completion, it will also meet the criteria for substantial contribution to climate change mitigation through the acquisition and ownership of buildings (7.7).

For more information, please contact:

Magnus Berglund, Head of Sweden and Norway, CapMan Real Estate, magnus.berglund@capman.com

About CapMan

CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation and €6.4 billion in assets under management. As one of the private equity pioneers in the Nordics we have developed hundreds of companies and assets creating significant value for over three decades. Our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors by enabling change across our portfolio companies. An example of this is greenhouse gas reduction targets that we have set under the Science Based Targets initiative in line with the 1.5°C scenario and our commitment to net-zero GHG emissions by 2040. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover real estate and infrastructure assets, natural capital and minority and majority investments in portfolio companies. We also provide wealth management solutions. Altogether, CapMan employs around 200 professionals in Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, London and Luxembourg. We are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001. www.capman.com

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Almaviva Signs Agreement to Acquire TIVIT from the Apax Funds to Accelerate Its Digital Expansion in Latin America

Apax
  • The transaction between Almaviva and the Apax Funds will unite two technology leaders in the digital transformation of major companies in Brazil and worldwide.

Almaviva, a leading Italian provider of digital solutions and technological transformation, has taken another bold step in its global trajectory by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire TIVIT, one of Brazil’s largest technology companies with a strong presence across Latin America, from funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (“Apax”).

This union, will create a powerhouse with the ability to accelerate innovation, expand the reach of digital solutions, and drive the growth of companies across multiple sectors in one of the world’s most promising regions. Together, Almaviva and TIVIT will combine complementary technologies and offerings to continue supporting the success of their clients.

TIVIT was acquired by the Apax Funds in 2010. Since then, with the strategy of expanding its presence in new markets, the company carried out several acquisitions, including Synapsis, a leading IT services firm in Latin America, and XMS, a cloud implementation specialist across Latin America. In 2016 and 2022, as part of its strategy to focus on digital solutions, TIVIT spun out two businesses units, Neobpo and Takoda. Following this repositioning, the company strengthened its board and attracted strategic talent in the areas of digital transformation, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and SAP.

“TIVIT has a solid track record and serves the largest companies in the country. It is recognized for its technical expertise and deep knowledge of local markets. By integrating TIVIT into our ecosystem, we take a significant step forward in consolidating Almaviva as a global leader in digital transformation, with revenue exceeding 12 billion reais.” said Marco Tripi, shareholder and CEO of Almaviva.

Operating in 10 Latin American countries, TIVIT is distinguished by its robust portfolio of cloud solutions, cybersecurity management, digital platforms, and managed services. With Almaviva’s strategic support, the company is now poised to further scale its operations and expand the global impact of its solutions.

“We are entering a new chapter. Almaviva’s arrival opens the door to even greater opportunities for growth and innovation. We are truly excited about what we will build together.” said Paulo Freitas, CEO of TIVIT.

Sectors such as financial services, transportation, manufacturing, utilities, healthcare, and government will directly benefit from the complementarity of the two companies’ portfolios and their new joint delivery capabilities — combining local and international expertise with global scale.

“We are very proud to have been part of TIVIT’s journey, supporting its mission to empower the largest companies in Latin America through technology. Over this period, the Apax Funds have been an active and strategic owner, partnering with management in the spin-off of divisions and in the acquisitions of key businesses to drive growth. It has been a privilege to work with Luiz Mattar, the founder of TIVIT, Paulo Freitas and other members of the leadership team to help TIVIT scale and evolve in this dynamic sector. We expect this new chapter with Almaviva will create a range of opportunities for continued growth.” said Jason Wright, Partner at Apax.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Once completed, it will mark the beginning of a new phase of joint growth between Almaviva and TIVIT, bringing direct benefits to their clients, partners, and teams.

J.P. Morgan acted as the financial advisor to Apax, and Mattos Filho and Skadden acted as legal advisors to Apax and TIVIT in the transaction. Benetti & Giammarino Advogados and L.O. Baptista Advogados acted as the legal advisors to Almaviva.

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Foundation Software Acquires Vendrix, Inc.

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Thomabravo

Strongsville, OH—Foundation Software, LLC, the nation’s leading provider of construction software and services, today announced its acquisition of Vendrix, Inc, a construction financial management platform offering corporate cards, expense management, AP automation and bill pay solutions.

Since its founding in 1985, Foundation Software has curated a product portfolio designed to ease the daily administrative tasks of commercial contractors across the United States. Beginning with their flagship accounting program, FOUNDATION®, the list of in-suite solutions has grown to include payroll, takeoff & estimating, field time tracking, safety management, project management, HR management and labor & resource allocation.

With the addition of Vendrix’s expense management and AP capabilities, Foundation Software now offers digital tools that cover nearly every stage of a construction project — giving contractors complete control throughout the project’s lifecycle.

“We’re constantly looking for technology to make our clients’ lives easier — whether through in-house software development or acquisitions —so when we started conversations with Vendrix and saw how well their business values and software operations fit into our platform, it just made sense,” said Mike Ode, CEO of Foundation Software. “Vendrix is construction-focused like us, and they handle an important part of the financial process that our users have been asking for. It has been our goal to build a comprehensive digital solution to cover the full lifecycle of a construction project and this acquisition helps us achieve just that. I can’t wait to see all the ways our clients benefit from this addition.”

The co-founders of Vendrix, David Stewart and Joe Turner, are also looking forward to the impact this acquisition will have on the industry: “We founded Vendrix with the vision of transforming back-office financial workflows for construction teams — bringing simplicity and efficiency to a historically complex and tedious process. Joining forces with Foundation Software is a natural next step. Their deep roots in construction, strong client relationships and comprehensive suite of tools make them an ideal partner to help advance our vision.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Reed Smith served as legal advisors to Vendrix and Massumi + Consoli LLP served as legal advisor to Foundation Software.

Foundation Software, LLC

Foundation Software delivers job cost accounting, estimating and takeoff, project management, mobile applications, and payroll services, to help contractors run the business side of construction. For information, call (800) 246-0800 visit www.foundationsoft.com or email info@foundationsoft.com.

Read the release on the Foundation Software website here.

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Equistone fully realises investment in KWC Group with the sale of KWC Professional to DELABIE

Equistone

Equistone Partners Europe (“Equistone”), one of Europe’s most established mid-market private equity investors, today announces the full realisation of its investment in KWC Group (“KWC”) through the sale of KWC Professional to France-headquartered DELABIE Group, a fourth-generation family-owned European leader in tapware and sanitary equipment for public and commercial buildings. The transaction creates a leading pan-European industrial group with a significant additional footprint in the Middle East.

Headquartered in Unterkulm, Switzerland, KWC Professional serves (semi-)public institutions such as airports, shopping centres, schools, sports and leisure facilities, hospitals and security facilities. The company operates across multiple countries and regions, including Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the UK, Finland and the Middle East, and currently employs around 400 people.

Equistone Partners Europe acquired a majority stake in KWC Group (then Franke Group’s Water Systems division) in April 2021, in a carve-out transaction that brought together its Home, Professional and Medical business units, as well as Nokite, a well-established Chinese original equipment/design manufacturer (OEM) of stainless-steel faucets. Since then, Equistone has worked closely with the management team to execute a strategic realignment focused on fostering the strengths of each business division. As part of this strategy, in 2024, the company successfully sold its medical division to the Swedish Alumbra Group, its home division to Paini and its OEM division back to former owner, Franke Group. The sale of KWC Professional to DELABIE Group now marks the full realisation of Equistone’s investment in KWC.

Following the carve-out from the Franke Group, Equistone supported the rebranding of Franke Water Systems to KWC Group, with its business units renamed KWC Home, KWC Professional and KWC Medical. Nokite retained its original name, having always operated as an independently branded unit within the group. During the investment period, Equistone supported the acquisition of UK-based Newcastle Joinery Ltd, strengthening KWC Professional’s position in the specialised market for sanitary solutions in security and custodial facilities. The firm also drove a wide-ranging value creation program and operational improvements, including implementing a state-of-the-art public cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution, which reduced costs, enhanced global process consistency and laid the foundation for future innovations.

David Zahnd, Partner at Equistone, said: “We are proud to have supported KWC Group over the past four years. In that time, the business has undergone an important strategic realignment, which leaves it in an exceptionally strong position. In DELABIE, KWC Professional has found the right long-term partner, and we wish the team continued success going forward.”

Roman E. Hegglin, Partner at Equistone, added: “When we invested in KWC Group in 2021, we recognised the significant potential within the business. Through strategic divestments and a clear focus on expanding the professional division, we’ve unlocked this potential, and the business is now primed for sustained future growth.”

The agreed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

The Equistone deal team consists of Stefan Maser, David Zahnd and Roman E. Hegglin. Equistone was advised on this transaction by Enqcor (M&A), Bär & Karrer (Legal & Tax) and Deloitte (Financial Due Diligence).

DELABIE Group was advised on this transaction by Natixis Partners (M&A & Financing), McDermott Will & Emery (Legal), 8Advisory (Financial & Operational Due Diligence), Arsène Taxand (Tax) and ERM (Environment).

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Proxima Fusion raises €130M Series A to build world’s first stellarator-based fusion power plant in the 2030s

Balderton

Europe’s fastest-growing fusion company unlocks funding to advance commercial fusion technology and secure energy resilience for the continent.

Proxima Fusion, Europe’s fastest-growing fusion energy company, today announced the close of its €130 million ($150 million) Series A financing — the largest private fusion investment round in Europe. The Series A financing was co-led by Cherry Ventures and Balderton Capital, with participation from several other strategic investors.

This brings Proxima Fusion’s total funding to more than €185 million ($200 million) in private and public capital, accelerating its mission to build the world’s first commercial fusion power plant based on a stellarator design.

Fusion has become a real, strategic opportunity to shift global energy dependence from natural resources to technological leadership. Proxima is perfectly positioned to harness that momentum by uniting a spectacular engineering and manufacturing team with world-leading research institutions, accelerating the path toward bringing the first European fusion power plant online in the next decade.

Francesco SciortinoCEO and co-founder, Proxima Fusion

Proxima was founded in April 2023 as a spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), with which it continues to work closely in a public-private partnership to lead Europe into a new era of clean energy. The EU, as well as national governments including Germany, UK, France and Italy, increasingly recognise fusion as a generational technology essential for energy sovereignty, industrial competitiveness, and carbon-neutral economic growth.

By building on Europe’s long-standing public fusion investment and industrial supply chains, Proxima Fusion is laying the groundwork for a new high-tech energy industry—one that transforms the continent from a leader in fusion research to a global powerhouse in fusion deployment.

Proxima is taking a simulation-driven approach to engineering that leverages advanced computing and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) technology to build on the groundbreaking results of the IPP’s Wendelstein 7-X stellarator experiment.

Just earlier this year, together with the IPP, KIT and other partners, Proxima unveiled Stellaris. As the first peer-reviewed stellarator concept to integrate physics, engineering, and maintenance considerations from the outset, Stellaris has been widely recognized as a major breakthrough for the fusion industry, advancing the case for quasi-isodynamic (QI) stellarators as the most promising pathway to a commercial fusion power plant.

Stellarators aren’t just the most technologically viable approach to fusion energy—they’re the power plants of the future, capable of leading Europe into a new era of clean energy. Proxima has firmly secured its position as the leading European contender in the global race to commercial fusion. We are thrilled to partner with Proxima’s game-changing team of engineers, alongside Europe’s top manufacturers, to build a company that will be transformational for Europe.

Daniel WaterhousePartner, Balderton

With this new funding, the company will complete its Stellarator Model Coil (SMC) in 2027, a major hardware demonstration that will de-risk high-temperature superconductor (HTS) technology for stellarators and stimulate European HTS innovation. Proxima will also finalize a site for Alpha, its demonstration stellarator, for which it is in talks with several European governments already. Alpha is scheduled to begin operations in 2031, and is the key step to demonstrating Q>1 (net energy gain) and moving towards a first-of-a-kind fusion power plant. The company will continue to grow its 80+-strong team across three offices: at the headquarters in Munich, at the Paul Scherrer Institute near Zurich (Switzerland), and at the Culham fusion campus near Oxford (UK).

Fusion energy is entering a new era—moving from lab-based science to industrial-scale engineering. This investment validates our approach and gives us the resources to deliver hardware that is essential to make clean fusion power a reality.

Dr Francesco SciortinoCEO & co-founder, Proxima Fusion

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PlayMetrics and Stack Sports Combine to Create Leader in Sports Software

Merger unites two industry innovators to meet customers’ evolving preferences and ushers in a new era for sports technology

RALEIGH, N.C., & DALLAS, JUNE 11, 2025—PlayMetrics, a leading provider of operations management software for youth sports organizations, and Stack Sports, a global technology leader for the sports industry, today announced their merger, creating a best-in-class platform in the sports management technology ecosystem. This strategic combination unites two highly complementary and trusted brands, augmenting PlayMetrics’ modern technology platform with the scale, reach, and capabilities of Stack Sports to better serve the evolving needs of sports organizations worldwide. Michael Doernberg, CEO of PlayMetrics, will lead the combined organization as CEO, and Jeff Young, CEO of Stack Sports, will transition to a strategic role as advisor to the board of directors.

Genstar Capital, a leading private equity firm, supported the combination and will be the majority owner of the combined company. As part of the transaction, Genstar acquired PlayMetrics from Blue Star Innovation Partners (“BSIP”), which had been the company’s lead investor since 2023.

PlayMetrics helps customers streamline and modernize every facet of their operations, serving over 2,700 youth sports organizations across a variety of sports. Following a successful expansion beyond its flagship club operating system into governing bodies, leagues, and tournaments – including the acquisition of Crossbar in 2023 – PlayMetrics has experienced unprecedented levels of growth and customer retention over the last few years. Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry.

“Sports organizations are increasingly seeking a single, cohesive platform to manage their daily operations and complex business needs,” said Mr. Doernberg. “PlayMetrics has been transformational in delivering a one-stop solution for members, coaches, directors, and administrators. By joining forces with Stack Sports, we further enhance our ability to serve our customers with innovative, reliable, and intuitive software.”

“This merger marks an exciting new chapter for the sports technology industry,” said Mr. Young. “We have long admired the PlayMetrics brand, and by combining our strengths, we will accelerate the speed at which new products are released, customer service is delivered, and industry relationships are forged.”

“The combination of PlayMetrics and Stack Sports creates one of the largest sports technology platforms delivering comprehensive, market-leading solutions to clubs, leagues, tournaments, state associations, and governing bodies,” said Eli Weiss, Managing Partner of Genstar. “We are thrilled to support this transformative combination.”

“We are incredibly proud of what the PlayMetrics team has accomplished under Mike’s visionary leadership,” said Dan Wechsler, CEO of BSIP. “Together, we transformed PlayMetrics from a promising software platform into a market leader in sports management technology, delivering significant value for our investors and customers. Mike and his team’s dedication to innovation and customer success were key drivers, and we wish them all the best as they embark on their next chapter.”

Ropes & Gray acted as legal counsel and Lazard acted as financial advisor to Genstar. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal counsel and William Blair acted as financial advisor to BSIP.

About PlayMetrics

PlayMetrics, the most user-friendly and intuitive Operating System in youth sports, is purpose-built to simplify the unique complexities of running a club, league, tournament, or governing body. Trusted by forward-thinking leaders across a variety of sports, PlayMetrics empowers directors, coaches, administrators, and player families to modernize their daily operations with unified financial, operational, coaching, and communication tools. Learn more at https://home.playmetrics.com/.

About Stack Sports

Stack Sports provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations, including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars, rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations.

Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars — Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit https://stacksports.com/.

About Genstar Capital

Genstar Capital (www.gencap.com) is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high-quality companies for over 30 years. Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry-leading businesses. Genstar currently has approximately $50 billion of assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, software, healthcare, and industrials industries.

About Blue Star Innovation Partners

Blue Star Innovation Partners is a Dallas, Texas based growth equity firm built by founders, for founders. Our team brings decades of experience scaling software, payments, and fintech businesses, giving us a unique advantage on the challenges and opportunities that founders face. We’re currently investing out of our third fund, leveraging our proven track record to help management teams accelerate growth and build category leaders. Learn more at https://www.bsipgp.com/.

Contacts

For Genstar, PlayMetrics, or Stack Sports:
FGS Global
GenstarCapital@fgsglobal.com

For Blue Star Innovation Partners:
Info@bluestarinnovationpartners.com

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ABN AMRO announces EUR 10m commitment to Keen Venture Partners’ European Defence and Security Tech Fund

Keen
  • This investment is ABN AMRO’s first investment in a dedicated European defence fund
  • The Fund targets early-stage companies across the EU, focusing on information superiority, cyber defence, space, autonomy and robotics among others
  • This investment aligns with the ABN AMRO’s strategy to strengthen European security and defence amid geopolitical challenges

In light of increased international tension and conflicts, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and recent pressure on the Atlantic alliance, Europe has been forced to reassess its military defence strategy and expenditure. ABN AMRO has stepped up its support to the security and defence industry in 2025, widening the scope of defence and security projects eligible for banking products, while closely keeping track of emerging defence technologies.
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Keen’s European Defence and Security Tech Fund, with a focus on early-stage companies within the defence and security technology sector, aims to support companies that are provide ‘dual use’ solutions in areas such as information superiority, cyber defence, robotics, AI, autonomous systems and space technologies such as securing satellite communications, satellite image analysis, and defence of space assets. The fund’s investments will be pan-European, with exposure to the United Kingdom, Turkey and Norway.

Dan Dorner, ABN AMRO’s Chief Commercial Officer Corporate Banking said: “ABN AMRO today announces a pioneering effort to enhance the availability of capital for defence-focused ventures in Europe, with a €10 million commitment to Keen’s European Defence and Security Tech Fund. Our commitment aligns with ABN AMRO’s Corporate Banking support to the European defence industry.”

Alexander Ribbink and Giuseppe Lacerenza, Partners at Keen Venture Partners: ‘The team at Keen has a long commitment to and investments in defence and defence technology. The opportunity to add the power of tech entrepreneurs with the full support of venture capital to the European defence ecosystem is huge. A stronger and safer Europe needs the resourcefulness and grit that only entrepreneurs can bring. We are proud to be at the forefront of this trend, and to be supported by ABN AMRO’.

More information:

Keen Venture Partners is a radically human venture capital firm based in Amsterdam and London. Keen backs exceptional teams and fast-growing European tech companies from seed to Series B. Keen has built strong expertise in defence and deep tech, supported by an advisory board of European military leaders, industry veterans, and policymakers. The firm invests through a thesis-driven approach, formulating investment ideas based on fundamental trends in specific areas of technology. When getting to know founders, Keen shares its network of operators, experience, and capabilities even before investing. The portfolio consists of 30+ startups and scaleups across Europe. You can find more information at: www.keenventurepartners.com.

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ABN AMRO Corporate Investments offers ABN AMRO clients an opportunity to help accelerate the transition to a resilient and sustainable society through a comprehensive array of capital products. These include amongst others fund investments & co-investments, direct investments through the Sustainable Impact Fund (one of the largest private impact funds in the Netherlands), hybrid debt and sub-ordinated debt.

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EQT Life Sciences Co-Leads USD 135 Million Series B Financing in SpliceBio

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Neuron Signal Transfer original 1172027

  • inancing was co-led by EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from Roche Venture Fund, as well as all existing investors
  • Proceeds will support the Phase 1/2 clinical development of lead program SB-007 in Stargardt disease, a genetic eye disorder that causes progressive vision loss and blindness
  • Funding will also advance a broader pipeline of genetic medicines targeting indications in ophthalmology, neurology, and other therapeutic areas

EQT Life Sciences is pleased to announce that the LSP 7 fund has invested in SpliceBio. The Spanish biotech company is developing novel therapies for genetic diseases – including ophthalmology, neurology, and other therapeutic areas – by leveraging an innovative intein platform. The platform allows large genes to be split into smaller pieces, delivered separately, and then reassembled to create full-length proteins needed to treat diseases.

The USD 135 million Series B financing round will help fund the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SpliceBio’s lead gene therapy candidate, SB-007, which is being developed to treat Stargardt disease. The round was co-led by EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from new investor Roche Venture Fund, as well as all existing investors: New Enterprise Associates, UCB Ventures, Ysios Capital, Gilde Healthcare, Novartis Venture Fund, and Asabys Partners.

Stargardt disease, which leads to progressive vision loss and blindness, is the most commonly inherited condition causing degeneration in the macula, affecting 1 in 8,000-10,000 people. Currently, there are no approved treatments available for Stargardt disease. The disease is caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene, which result in a dysfunctional ABCA4 protein. SpliceBio’s SB-007 uses an innovative Protein Splicing technology, based on a family of proprietary engineered proteins called inteins, originally developed at Princeton University. The approach overcomes the challenge of the ABCA4 gene that is too big for traditional gene therapy delivery methods, thereby enabling the production of a healthy ABCA4 protein directly in the retina. 

This approach has the potential to benefit the entire addressable patient pool, regardless of which of the more than 1,200 known mutations responsible for causing Stargardt disease patients carry. Crucially, the difficulty of delivering large genes is also a common barrier in treating many other genetic disorders, highlighting the broad potential and versatility of SpliceBio’s technology beyond Stargardt disease.

“This financing marks a pivotal milestone for SpliceBio as we advance the clinical development of SB-007 for Stargardt disease and continue to expand our pipeline across ophthalmology, neurology, and beyond,” said Miquel Vila-Perelló, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SpliceBio. “The support from such high-quality investors underscores the strength of our programs and our unique Protein Splicing platform and its potential to unlock gene therapies for diseases that remain untreatable today. We are building a company positioned to lead the next wave of genetic medicines.”

Daniela Begolo, Managing Director at EQT Life Sciences who will join the SpliceBio Board of Directors, commented: “We are proud to support SpliceBio, a pioneer among the next generation of genetic medicine companies. Its Protein Splicing platform offers a novel solution to deliver large genes, one of the field’s most pressing challenges, and exemplifies our commitment to backing science that transforms patients’ lives.”

Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

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About EQT Life Sciences
EQT Life Sciences was formed in 2022 following an integration of LSP, a leading European life sciences and healthcare venture capital firm, into the EQT platform. As LSP, the firm raised over EUR 3.0 billion (USD 3.5 billion) and supported the growth of more than 150 companies since it started to invest over 30 years ago. With a dedicated team of highly experienced investment professionals, coming from backgrounds in medicine, science, business, and finance, EQT Life Sciences backs the smartest inventors who have ideas that could truly make a difference for patients.

More information: https://eqtgroup.com/private-capital/eqt-life-sciences

About SpliceBio 
SpliceBio is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering Protein Splicing to address diseases caused by mutations in large genes. The Company’s lead program, SB-007, targets the root cause of Stargardt disease, a genetic eye disease that causes blindness in children and adults. SpliceBio’s pipeline comprises additional gene therapy programs across therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology and neurology. SpliceBio’s platform is based on technology developed in the Muir Lab at Princeton University after more than 20 years of pioneering intein, Protein Splicing, and protein engineering research. For additional information, please visit www.splice.bio

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XRobotics’ raises $2.5M as countertop robots cooks up 25,000 pizzas a month

SOSV

In the fast-paced world of food service, speed and consistency can make or break a business. That’s why XRobotics believes it’s cracked the code on how to bring robotics into everyday restaurants – starting with pizza. And they’ve just announced a $2.5 million seed round led by FinSight Ventures with participation from SOSV, MANA Ventures, and Republic Capital.

The San Francisco-based company has built a compact countertop robot called the xPizza Cube. About the size of a stackable washing machine, the device uses ML to apply sauce, cheese, and pepperoni to pizza dough with speed and precision. It can crank out up to 100 pizzas per hour and adapt to a variety of styles, including Chicago deep dish and Detroit square.

The economics are compelling: the machine leases for $1,300/month over three years and retrofits into existing kitchens, making it accessible to national chains as well as mom and pop shop owners.

“This saves almost 70, sometimes 80% of the time for the staff,” says co-founder and CEO Denis Rodionov. “It is just repeatable work. If you have a pepperoni pizza, you need to place 50 slices of pepperoni one by one.” The robot does that for you, perfectly, every time.

Kira Colburn

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Gilde Healthcare company SpliceBio secures $135 Million financing to advance SB-007 in Stargardt disease and expand pipeline

GIlde Healthcare
  • Financing co-led by new investors EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from Roche Venture Fund, as well as Gilde Healthcare and other existing investors 
  • Proceeds will support clinical development of lead program SB-007 in Stargardt disease  
  • Funding will also advance a broader pipeline of genetic medicines targeting indications in ophthalmology, neurology, and other undisclosed therapeutic areas  

 

SpliceBio, a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering Protein Splicing to address diseases caused by mutations in large genes, today announced the close of a $135 million Series B financing co-led by new investors EQT Life Sciences and Sanofi Ventures, with participation from Roche Venture Fund, as well as all existing investors: New Enterprise Associates, UCB Ventures, Ysios Capital, Gilde Healthcare, Novartis Venture Fund, and Asabys Partners.

The funding will be used to advance the clinical development of SpliceBio’s lead gene therapy candidate, SB-007 for Stargardt disease, including the ongoing interventional Phase 1/2 ASTRA study and the observational POLARIS study. SB-007 is the first dual adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enter clinical development for Stargardt disease. SB-007 has also received regulatory clearance for clinical development from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Stargardt disease is an inherited retinal disorder caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene that leads to progressive vision loss and blindness, with no approved treatments available. SB-007 is designed to address the underlying genetic cause of the disease by producing a functional copy of the full-length ABCA4 protein with the potential to treat all patients, regardless of their specific ABCA4 mutation. The proceeds will also be used to accelerate SpliceBio’s pipeline of AAV gene therapy programs in ophthalmology, neurology, and other undisclosed indications that utilise the company’s proprietary Protein Splicing platform.

“This financing marks a pivotal milestone for SpliceBio as we advance the clinical development of SB-007 for Stargardt disease and continue to expand our pipeline across ophthalmology, neurology and beyond,” said Miquel Vila-Perelló, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SpliceBio. “The support from such high-quality investors underscores the strength of our programs and our unique Protein Splicing platform and its potential to unlock gene therapies for diseases that remain untreatable today. We are building a company positioned to lead the next wave of genetic medicines.”

SpliceBio is redefining and expanding the scope of diseases that can be tackled with gene therapies by addressing a fundamental limitation of AAV vectors in their inability to deliver genes that exceed their limited packaging capacity of 4.7 kilobases. Many genetic disorders remain untreatable because the necessary gene is too large to fit into the AAV vectors. SpliceBio’s unique Protein Splicing platform leverages the use of a family of proprietary, engineered proteins called inteins, originally developed at Princeton University. The company’s technology enables the splitting of the gene into two (or more) transgenes that are then delivered using dual AAV vectors. Once inside the cell, the DNA of each transgene is transcribed into messenger RNA and translated into protein. SpliceBio’s engineered inteins are designed to then assemble the full-length protein that is needed to treat the disease.

About SpliceBio 
SpliceBio is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company pioneering Protein Splicing to address diseases caused by mutations in large genes. The Company’s lead program, SB-007, targets the root cause of Stargardt disease, a genetic eye disease that causes blindness in children and adults. SpliceBio’s pipeline comprises additional gene therapy programs across therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology and neurology. SpliceBio’s platform is based on technology developed in the Muir Lab at Princeton University after more than 20 years of pioneering intein, Protein Splicing, and protein engineering research. For additional information, please visit www.splice.bio.

About SB-007 
SB-007 is an investigational Protein Splicing dual AAV gene therapy in development for the treatment of Stargardt disease. It is designed to restore expression of the native full-length ABCA4 protein in the retina. SB-007 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA in the US and the European Commission in Europe. In December 2024, SB-007 received FDA IND clearance, marking the first-ever clearance for a dual AAV gene therapy in Stargardt disease. Alongside initiation of the Phase 1/2 ASTRA study, with the announcement of the first patient dosed in March 2025, SpliceBio continues to advance POLARIS, a natural history study of the disease. Both studies are actively recruiting. For more information or to enquire about participation in the studies, please visit www.splice.bio/clinical.

About Gilde Healthcare 
Gilde Healthcare is a transatlantic specialist investment firm managing over €2.6 billion across two fund strategies: Venture&Growth and Private Equity. The Venture&Growth fund of Gilde Healthcare invests in fast growing companies active in therapeutics, medtech and digital health, based in Europe and North America. The Private Equity fund of Gilde Healthcare participates in profitable lower mid-market healthcare companies based in North-Western Europe. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.gildehealthcare.com.

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