• Tech Week Singapore returns this October with Guest of Honour, Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information
• Registration is now open for Asia’s most transformative tech event, bringing together government officials and senior executives from Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Coca-Cola, AI Singapore and more
• DMEXCO Asia makes its Asia debut, bringing together leading decision makers in the region from the digital marketing and advertising world

SINGAPORE, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CloserStill Media, a global producer of market-leading events, has announced the return of Tech Week Singapore 2025, taking place at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 8–9 October 2025. This year’s edition, themed “Connected Futures, Boundless Impact”, will welcome Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, as the Guest of Honour (GOH).

Building on its reputation as Asia’s most transformative tech event, Tech Week Singapore’s 2024 edition recently clinched Best International Show – Asia-Pacific at the AEO Excellence Awards 2025 and Large Trade Show of the Year at the Singapore MICE Awards 2025. The 2025 event will continue to highlight groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation that are reshaping the future of Asia’s business and society, connecting the region’s government officials and industry decision makers to drive meaningful collaboration across industries.

With AI set to innovate and shape industries, Tech Week Singapore 2025 aims to spotlight the boundless potential of Asia’s digital economy. This year’s headliners include senior executives from AI Singapore, The World Bank Group, Google, OpenAI and more, as well as representatives from the governments of Japan and Canada.

In addition to the return of its flagship co-located shows, including Cloud & AI Infrastructure, DevOps Live, Cyber Security World, Data Centre World, Big Data & AI World and eCommerce Expo Asia, Tech Week Singapore 2025 marks the debut of DMEXCO Asia, bringing DMEXCO – Europe’s leading digital marketing and tech event to Asia. Launched in partnership with Koelnmesse and BVDW, the co-branded eCommerce Expo | DMEXCO Asia event cements Singapore’s position as a dynamic hub for digital business and marketing innovation.

This year’s edition will host over 600 regional and international speakers with special conference theatres to drive conversations between industry professionals. Senior IT leaders are expected to be present, providing attendees with high-impact networking opportunities.

Technology professionals and business leaders are encouraged to register and receive complimentary access to all six co-located shows, contributing to the insightful sessions and dialogues that will steer the future of Asia’s digital future.

The Main Stage line-up includes:

• Michael Conley, CIO & Executive VP, Cleveland Cavaliers, who will speak on Sports Technology
• Sam Cannicott, Director, AI Opportunities, DSIT, UK Government, who will speak on the UK’s government’s AI Action Plan
• Amy Jean Doherty, CIO and VP Information and Technology Solutions, The World Bank Group, who will speak on Navigating the AI-Driven Transformation and Its Challenges
• Laurence Liew, AI Innovation Director, AI Singapore, who will speak on Leveraging AI and Ecosystem Synergy for Sustainable Growth
• Alvaro Garrido, COO, Technology and Operations & CIO, Information Security and Data Standard Chartered, who will participate in a fireside chat on Mastering Cyber Complexity in the Age of Emerging Tech
• Jean-Paul Lalonde, Chief Information and Data Officer, Impact Assessment Agency, Government of Canada, who will speak on Human-centred AI Adoption
• Chikako Masuda, Head of Intelligence Research of Digital Agency, Government of Japan; Head of Principal Researcher of Institute for Administrative Information Systems, who will speak on the Japanese Government’s Organisational Transformation through Community Management and Collaboration
• Dr Ott Velsberg, Government Chief Data Officer, Estonia who will share how Estonia pioneered e-Government and built a trusted, citizen-centric digital society

In addition to the Tech Week Singapore main stage, each of the six co-located shows will also feature its own keynotes and theatres. 

The Headline Speaker line-up across the six shows includes:

• Vikram Bahl, Principal Architect, AI Infra & HPC, Google Cloud, who will present a session titled on AI Infrastructure: Must-Do’s You Can’t Afford to Miss
• Varun Srivastava, Head of Cyber Security Operations APAC, UBS, who will speak on Creating Trustworthy and Resilient Cybersecurity Strategies in the Age of AI
• Dr. Lorraine Salazar, Senior Knowledge Expert, McKinsey & Company, who will speak on Data, Diversity, and Power: Women Shaping Infrastructure in Asia-Pacific
• Edmas Neo, VP, Group Transformation Office, Mandai Wildlife Group, who will speak on Driving Operational Excellence and Guest Experience through AI and Open Innovation
• Adam Au, General Counsel, Toys”R”Us Asia, who will speak on Securing Data in a Borderless World: Legal Strategies to Protect Your Business and Customers
• Julien Dahmoun, Head of Digital Marketing, StarHub, who will speak on Cross-Channel Synergy: Creating a Seamless Customer Journey

Attendees can participate in activities across all Tech Week Singapore 2025 shows, including workshops by Google Cloud at Big Data & AI World, lectures by ISACA and collecting CPD points at Cyber Security World. Participants can also look forward to Asia’s leading data show– Data Centre World – the world’s largest data centre event that returns bigger and better this year with a 75% increase in space and an expanded line-up of exhibitors. Key highlights from all the co-located events include:

Cloud & AI Infrastructure Asia

• Network with key industry leaders in cloud and AI infrastructure to explore emerging trends and shape the future of enterprise technology.
• Hear from key speakers in leading industries such as Google Cloud and Oracle

DevOps Live

• Learn more about the dynamic DevOps landscape from DevOps & Cloud-native innovators, specialists and decision makers.
• Gain insights from DevOps leaders at Microsoft, Morgan Stanley and AIA Singapore at the DevOps & Platform Engineering Theatre.

Cyber Security World Asia

• Join industry leaders as they discuss emerging cybersecurity trends, strategic digital protection and the technologies shaping the future of Asia Pacific.
• Hear about cybersecurity and AI from organisations such as Visa Worldwide, Shopee and Changi Airport Group

Data Centre World Asia

• Engage with the full data centre ecosystem at Data Centre World Asia, where four dynamic theatres will spotlight the industry’s most critical developments, bringing together thought leaders, innovators and decision-makers from across Asia.
• The Live Data Centre will also feature guided tours and expert demonstrations, giving attendees a rare look into real-time operations and the latest infrastructure innovations.

Big Data & AI World Asia

• Real-world case studies from industry experts will shed light on practical applications, challenges and successes in leveraging AI technologies to drive business impact.
• Learn from key speakers representing diverse sectors, including UOB, Mandai Wildlife Group and GovTech Singapore.

eCommerce Expo Asia

• DMEXCO Asia will gather the most influential voices that are driving digital marketing and marketing innovation across APAC.
• Explore the latest strategies in e-commerce, with insights from leading online retailers and solution providers evolving digital trade in Asia.
• Hear from key speakers from organisations such as Toys”R”Us Asia and Starhub

CloserStill Media’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Andy Kiwanuka, said: “Tech Week Singapore continues to serve as a platform to catalyse collaboration across industries, bringing together technology, business, and public sector leaders to accelerate digital growth. With an expanded lineup of industry stakeholders coming on board, we have expanded the conversation to include AI and technology’s role in sectors such as digital marketing and eCommerce, creating even more opportunities for connection and impact.”

Registration is now open. For all technology professionals, secure your complimentary pass at:  https://bit.ly/Registration_MediaAlert

PR Newswire is the official news distribution partner of the Tech Week Singapore 2025.

About CloserStill Media

CloserStill Media specialises in producing high-value, content-driven events that foster professional communities across Business Technologies, Healthcare, and Future Transport and Infrastructure sectors. CloserStill Media’s portfolio includes the acclaimed Tech Week Singapore, featuring popular events such as Cloud & AI Infrastructure and Data Centre World Asia.

Headquartered in London with 10 global offices, CloserStill Media operates with a robust team of 800 professionals across Singapore, the U.K., USA, Germany, and Spain. The company is recognised for its industry leadership, having won more exhibition awards than any other including accolades such as Best Exhibition, Best Event Launch, and Best Brand Expansion. For more information, visit www.closerstillmedia.com.

SOURCE CloserStill Media

VOW, a New York–based AI-powered operating system for the live experience economy, has closed the first tranche of its Seed round. 

Investors 

The round was led by KB Partners, with participation from Capitalize VC, Jim Kaplan of Chasella Capital & Two Kap Ventures, Elizabeth Brooks as lead for Better Angels Ventures, and Alumni Ventures Sports Fund. Prior pre-seed investors include Techstars Sports, Everywhere Ventures / The Fund XX, Chloe Capital, and Blue Falcon. 

KB Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in SportsTech investments. Based in the Chicago area, the firm provides first institutional capital to startups leveraging technology to transform the sports industry. 

VOW Use of Funds 

The company will use the funds to accelerate its mission to unify event planning, operations, and guest experience into a single AI-driven platform, while expanding its client base across the entertainment, corporate, and sports sectors. 

About VOW 

Founded by Jennifer Brisman, VOW is an all-in-one, AI-supported operating system that unifies event and guest management, ticketing, and communications for premium live experiences. The platform integrates guest lists, RSVPs, communications, real-time collaboration, automated workflows, and high-touch assistance. Headquartered in New York, NY, VOW’s clients include NBC’s Saturday Night Live, PFL-MMA, and the GLAAD Media Awards. 

Funding Details 

Company: VOW 

Raised: Undisclosed 

Round: Seed 

Funding Date: August 2025 

Lead Investor: KB Partners 

Additional Investors: Capitalize VC, Jim Kaplan, Elizabeth Brooks, Alumni Ventures Sports Fund 

Company Website: https://www.vow.app/  

Software Category: AI-powered event and guest management OS / Live Experience SaaS 

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vow-closes-seed-round-led-by-kb-partners-to-revolutionize-live-events-and-premium-experiences-with-ai-302523891.html 

A Strategic Leap in Sports Tech

Garmin Ltd., the Swiss-based technology giant known for its GPS devices and wearables, has made a bold move into the heart of competitive sports by acquiring Mylaps, a Dutch leader in race timing and performance analysis. Announced on July 29, 2025, this acquisition integrates Mylaps’ sophisticated timing systems—used in everything from marathons to motorsports—into Garmin’s ecosystem of fitness trackers and smartwatches. For industry insiders, this isn’t just a merger; it’s a potential game-changer in how athletes track and analyze performance data in real time.

Mylaps, founded in 1982, pioneered automated sports timing with transponder-based systems that deliver split-second accuracy. Garmin’s purchase, whose financial terms remain undisclosed, brings over 200 employees and a global footprint spanning North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia into the fold. As reported in a PR Newswire release, the deal aims to enhance the “ultimate sports experience” for millions of athletes and spectators.

Enhancing Accuracy and Integration

The immediate impact on race timing technology could be profound. Athletes using Garmin devices like the Forerunner series or Edge cycling computers may soon see seamless integration with Mylaps’ live tracking and performance tools. Imagine a runner’s watch automatically syncing with race bib transponders to provide instant split times, eliminating the discrepancies between personal GPS data and official results that have long plagued events.

This synchronization addresses a key pain point: GPS inaccuracies due to urban canyons or tree cover, which can skew personal records by seconds or even minutes. According to insights from Lifehacker, the acquisition promises “perfectly synchronized race data,” allowing athletes to reconcile their wearable metrics with official timings effortlessly. For event organizers, this means more reliable data streams, potentially reducing disputes and enhancing spectator engagement through real-time apps.

Broader Implications for Fitness and Pro Sports

Looking deeper, Garmin’s fitness division, which reported a 41% revenue jump to $605 million in Q2 2025, stands to benefit immensely. The acquisition aligns with surging demand for advanced analytics in running, cycling, and triathlons. Publications like Bicycle Retailer and Industry News highlight how Mylaps’ tools could boost Garmin’s offerings in motorsports, where precise lap times are critical.

Industry experts speculate on future innovations, such as AI-driven performance insights that combine Garmin’s heart rate data with Mylaps’ timing precision. This could extend to virtual racing platforms, where remote athletes compete with verified metrics. However, challenges remain, including data privacy concerns and the need for backward compatibility with existing Mylaps systems used by major events like the Boston Marathon.

Market Dynamics and Competitive Edge

Garmin’s stock (NYSE: GRMN) saw a modest uptick following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in its expansion strategy. As detailed in Investing.com, this move bolsters Garmin’s portfolio amid 18.1% revenue growth over the past year, positioning it against rivals like Apple and Fitbit in the wearable tech space.

For pro sports, the acquisition could standardize timing across disciplines, fostering global consistency. Sites like Triathlon Today note its relevance to multisport events, where integrated tracking could revolutionize training regimens. Ultimately, this deal underscores Garmin’s ambition to dominate not just personal fitness but the entire spectrum of competitive athletics, promising a future where technology bridges the gap between effort and achievement.

New Balance’s chief marketing officer Chris Davis (left)
Imaage: Cooper Flagg

New Balance was successful, officially announcing Flagg as an ambassador in August, yet such a rigorous chase for superstar talent was a bit out of character for the 119-year-old brand. In fact, the company once ran a campaign with the tagline ‘Endorsed By No One’ during the 1990s. “They prided themselves that athletes were choosing to wear their products because it was a good or great product, not because they were getting paid,” notes BCE Consulting’s Matt Powell, who previously spent more than 20 years as a sports retail analyst.

Now, as the sneaker landscape has changed, so has that mentality. In a bid to redefine its place in the sports hierarchy and reach the next generation of consumers, New Balance has spent the past 15 years reshaping its marketing strategy, and athlete ambassadors have played a core role. The brand now boasts a formidable roster of sports stars, with two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff in tennis, three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani in baseball, NBA stars Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray and Tyrese Maxey and women’s basketball standout Cameron Brink.

In doing so, New Balance has created a new identity for itself beyond the ‘Dad Shoe’, a historically popular product that Saturday Night Live once parodied with the tagline, “Shoes made for running, but worn by chubby white guys in their late 30s to early 40s.” That evolution has also fuelled growth for New Balance’s topline, which last year more than quadrupled from the $1.8 billion it posted in 2010.

With athletes like three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani (top) on its roster, New Balance has demonstrated its prowess at signing champions.
Image: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

More recently, from 2022 to 2024, the brand grew global revenue 27 percent collectively across its baseball, basketball, football and tennis categories. That rise coincides with Gauff winning her first major at the US Open, signing Ohtani (who won a World Series last year), Brink and Maxey, and Murray winning the NBA title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. The growth also plays a larger role in driving consumers to the brand’s lifestyle sneakers and apparel, an area where the industry makes the bulk of its money. Overall, Forbes estimates New Balance’s sports footwear segment, which includes performance, lifestyle and outdoor offerings, grew 50 percent to $6.6 billion from $4.4 billion worldwide during that period.

“We knew that we could be so much more than we were, and we knew that the story, the values and the potential of our brand was under-realised,” says Davis, the son of New Balance’s billionaire chairman Jim Davis. “And partnerships in athletics, entertainment, streetwear and luxury fashion have all played a significant role in communicating our brand ambition to new consumers.”

Also read: Why Adidas is betting big on Indian cricket

Despite its cheeky ad campaign in the 1990s, it’s not as if New Balance had never worked with athletes before. In the early 1980s, the brand added NBA journeyman ML Carr as its first basketball ambassador and, a few years later, signed future Hall of Famer James Worthy to the first-ever million-dollar shoe deal in the sport’s history. But by 2010, the New Balance roster had scaled back to runners and, as a “beta test to get into team sports”, Davis says, New Balance reinvented its baseball division with the addition of Boston Red Sox star Dustin Pedroia.

Five years later, the brand set its sights on a demographic of 400 million consumers between the ages of 13 and 34 who were interested in the intersection of sports and culture. To reach them, New Balance flipped its media buying strategy—going from spending 70 percent of its marketing dollars on transaction-based tactics, such as Google AdWords and paid social posts, to allocating that same percentage toward showcasing its star athletes, as in its recent ‘We Got Now’ campaign, and collaborating with entertainers, influencers and luxury fashion brands.

Still, shedding years of public perception is a daunting task for a sports apparel company and New Balance remains a relatively small player in a massive industry. Research firm Euromonitor estimates the retail sports footwear market in the US was worth $50 billion in 2024, with Nike claiming nearly a third of the share. (Comparatively, New Balance controlled 5.6 percent last year.) And, with “the vast majority of the best athletes in the world” going to its two largest competitors, Davis explains, New Balance has adopted a highly selective approach in who it targets as an ambassador. In many cases, that’s led the brand to skew young, like in 2018, when it signed up Gauff at just 14 years old.

“It just felt right,” Gauff told Forbes in an email, a few weeks after winning her second major at Roland Garros. “They took a chance on me before anyone else, so I’m so grateful for our seven-year relationship and how much we’ve grown together since then. They’ve always supported my values, voice and vision.”

That same year, New Balance also made a loud return to basketball. First, it signed NBA prospect Darius Bazley to his infamous “$1 million internship” as he passed up college and the G-League to train for the NBA Draft. A month later, New Balance landed superstar Kawhi Leonard, a deal Davis remembers vividly because he was finalising the details of the contract while awaiting the birth of his first daughter.

“They took a chance on me before anyone else,” Coco Gauff tells Forbes of her New Balance relationship
Image: Tennis Photo Network/New Balance

Considering that Leonard reportedly turned down a four-year, $22 million deal to remain with Nike’s Jordan Brand, speculation ensued that New Balance had exceeded that mark with its own offer. It’s common, of course, for top NBA stars to earn well over seven figures annually from their sneaker deals. Yet BCE’s Powell questions whether these endorsements produce a valid return on investment, given the market for performance basketball sneakers is “not that big anymore”, and “there will never be another [Michael] Jordan in terms of merchandise sales ever”.

Davis, whom Forbes recently named the No 2 most influential chief marketing officer in the world, sees the opportunities more holistically.“We don’t only judge the effectiveness of our entry into basketball by how many basketball shoes we sell,” he says. “We judge our effectiveness by connecting with basketball culture and basketball consumers across all categories within our organisation. So if basketball consumers are buying more lifestyle product and more apparel, that’s a win. If they’re buying more running product, that’s a win.”

Whether it’s measured in direct sales or in cultural appeal, New Balance still needs its athletes to keep performing at a high level to remain relevant. With Gauff, Ohtani, Murray, Brink and Leonard, the brand has already demonstrated its prowess at signing champions. And if Flagg lives up to his hype in the NBA, presumably there will soon be hardware in his future.

In the meantime, New Balance has its sights on crossing $10 billion in annual revenue, a goal it expects to reach in the next few years. And while its athletes have become an essential piece of that future, the brand has no plans to abandon the product that fuelled its growth for so many years.

“The ‘Dad Shoe’ is what got us here to be able to play in the realm of Cooper, Kawhi, Cameron, Ohtani and Coco,” New Balance’s Lokesh says. “I would never say we’d want to erase it or make it disappear. We can be many things to many people.”

Delray Beach, FL, Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The report “Wearable Technology Market by Product (Smart Watch, Fitness Tracker, AR/VR, Smart Clothing & Footwear, Earwear, Exoskeleton, Smart Glasses, Smart Ring, Smart Helmet), Operation (AI-Based, Conventional), Type (Active, Passive) – Global Forecast to 2029″ The global wearable technology  market is expected to be valued at USD 70.30 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 152.82 billion by 2029; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.8% from 2024 to 2029.

Demand for wearables that integrate all computing requirements in one compact device will fuel the market growth. Adoption of wearables in multiple applications. Data-driven performance optimization in sports through real-time monitoring of athlete metrics is pushing the adoption of wearable technology. Growing integration of AR/VR and affordable designs is providing opportunities for wearable technology market growth.

Download PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=983

Major Key Players in the Wearable Technology Industry:

• Apple Inc. (US),
• Garmin Ltd. (US),
• SAMSUMG (South Korea),
• Sony Group Corporation (Japan),
• Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China),
• LG Electronics. (South Korea),
• Alphabet Inc. (US),
• Microsoft (US),
• Lenovo (Hong Kong), among others.

Wearable Technology Market Segmentation:

Consumer electronics application to hold the highest market share during the forecast period.

Consumer wearables include wearable devices for different applications, ranging from entertainment and multimedia to garments and fashion. The reason behind the growth of the market is accelerated by growing consumer interest in tracking fitness-related activities. Moreover, tremendous growth of low-cost consumer wearable devices, due to downsized multifunctional ICs and sensor technology, is driving its adoption. Because the sensors are small in size and have advanced integration technologies, they can be fitted in a variety of accessories such as wristbands, wristwatches, eyeglasses, clothing, caps, socks, shoes, headphones, and smartphones.

By Operation, AI-based segment is projected to grow at a high CAGR of wearable technology market during the forecast period.

AI-based wearable operations are likely to maintain the highest CAGR in the wearable technology market, because these technologies bring advanced and revolutionary capabilities to offer personal experiences. Using AI, devices will not only enable the user for real-time insights into health, but also predictiveness, respond to the patient’s behaviour patterns, biometric monitoring capabilities that become more accurate and sophisticated personal assistance, or automated health anomalies identification. Integration of AI into devices also increases the efficiency of the device, prolongs battery life, and enables natural language processing to make better user interactions.

Asia Pacific will account for the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Wearable technology market in the Asia Pacific region continues to grow strongly with several factors. Higher smartphone penetration and greater internet access enable higher adoption of wearables. Health awareness and an ageing population drive up demand for fitness trackers and health-monitoring wearables. Further, miniaturization of devices and enhancements in battery life make it more user-friendly and appealing. The tech-friendly young population is adopting smartwatches and other wearables just as an accessory for fashion. The government focus on smart cities and digital health is also creating a supportive environment to permit growth in the market. A substantial percentage of manufacturing bases are present in countries like China and South Korea to produce cost-effective products and create innovative designs in wearable technology.

Ask for Sample Report:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=983

Attractive Opportunities in the Wearable Technology Market

• The growth of this market can be attributed to the increasing growth prospects of next-generation displays in wearable devices.
• Product launches are expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for market players in the next five years.
• The wearable technology market for AI-powered segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
• The market growth in North America can be attributed to significant developments, particularly in consumer electronics and healthcare applications.

AI/Gen AI Impact on Wearable Technology Market

There is improved application accuracy, speed, and efficiency in wearable technology by incorporating various Al algorithms, including deep learning, neural networks, and machine learning. Some crucial machine learning approaches include artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), deep neural networks (DNN), and genetic algorithms (GA), all of which need to be used to treat the complex challenges identified in treating wearable devices. Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report claimed that 68% of breaches happened through non-malicious human errors, while 62% of financially motivated breaches involved ransomware or extortion, with an average loss of USD 46,000 per incident.

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And as AI has become the axis on which all technology turns, it makes sense AI would make its way into factories of all kinds—but startups focused on AI in industrial applications are still rarer than you may think, said Devin Bhushan, founder and CEO of Squint. 

“For whatever reason, it can still feel like a forgotten industry by a lot of the tech world,” said Bhushan. “Even today, it can be hard to, say, get together for an industrial founders dinner. There’s not a group I can meet up with. There’s not that many people [in Silicon Valley] serving it. When we look at our competitors, our biggest competition is binders—physical binders.”

Bhushan’s Squint uses AI and augmented reality (AR) technology to capture and document the expert knowledge of experienced factory operators. The idea is this: to use AI to turn everyday workers into experts and to make the invisible backbone of the economy smarter, safer, and more efficient. 

“We’ve basically built a manufacturing intelligence platform… that uses AI to extract that knowledge from operators who have been in the environment for 30 years. They have all this stuff up here,” said Bhushan, gesturing to his head. “We extract it by watching them do the work. Then AI auto-documents it and creates procedures. From there, we can enable anyone to be an expert on pretty much any task.” 

Squint has raised a $40 million Series B at a valuation of $265 million, Fortune has exclusively learned. The Westly Group and TCV led the round, with participation from existing investors Sequoia Capital and Menlo Ventures. Bhushan founded the company in 2021, and the company’s current customers include PepsiCo, Michelin, and Ford, tens of thousands of operators at hundreds of factories. The round comes at a time when “every industrial company in the world is searching for ways to keep their workforce… ahead of the curve,” said Steve Westly, founder and managing partner at The Westly Group, via email. This is, of course, both because of Trump-fueled geopolitical tensions rising around manufacturing and the rise of AI. 

“In our factories, there’s more desire to insource,” said Sequoia partner Jess Lee. “There’s more pressure and incentive to move manufacturing back here. For geopolitical reasons too, there are folks in some of the essential critical industries to manufacture here… In order to make that possible, factory productivity really matters.” 

To Lee—who met Bhushan when both were at Yahoo, he as an engineer and she in the aftermath of the company’s acquisition of her startup Polyvore—the realm of physical work is vast and filled with untapped potential. 

“The world of tech is so white collar-focused, so much about digital work,” Lee told Fortune. “But the world of physical work is enormous, and it supplies us with all the things that power even the digital industry. I think tech has barely scratched the surface of modernizing that, and I think that’s where some of the next biggest tech companies are going to be created.”

Bhushan once built features for Yahoo’s fantasy sports platform, where he also met Tim Tully, partner at Menlo Ventures, who led Squint’s pre-seed on the idea that “there was a thirst for richer experiences in manufacturing,” a thesis that he says via email has “rung true.”

Though he’s moved on from building the platform millions play fantasy sports on, Bhushan keeps sports metaphors close. 

“We have this saying inside the company—it’s our number one value: ‘Dunk the three,’” he said. “Do the thing no one has ever done. No one’s ever dunked a three in an NBA game, right? But when someone dunks a three, it’ll become a stat. Then, more people will dunk threes. That’s how it works.”

But no one can dunk a three, I point out.

“Well, Michael Jordan did in Space Jam,” Bhushan laughed. “He extended his hand, and dunked the three. That’s what we’re trying to do with our tech.”

See you tomorrow,

Allie Garfinkle
X: @agarfinks
Email: alexandra.garfinkle@fortune.com
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Venture Deals

– Strand Therapeutics, a Boston, Mass.-based mRNA-based therapeutics company, raised $153 million in Series B funding. Kinnevik led the round and was joined by Regeneron Ventures, ICONIQ, Amgen Ventures, Alderline Group, JIC-VGI, LG Technology Ventures, and Gradiant Corporation, and existing investors.

– Confido, a New York-based AI financial operating system for consumer brands, raised $15 million in Series A funding. Footwork led the round, with participation from Watchfire Ventures, Barrel Ventures, Liquid 2, Boulder Food Groups, and Y Combinator.

– Life Safety Inspection Vault, a Pocatello, Idaho-based compliance platform for fire departments, raised $28.7 million in funding from Mainsail Partners. 

– Coverd.us, a New York City-based fintech platform designed to gamify financial wellness, raised $7.8 million in seed funding. Yolo Investments led the round and was joined by a16z speedrun, Volt Capital, WndrCo, Arbitrum Gaming Catalyst, Tusk Ventures, and others.

– Studio Atelico, a San Francisco- and London-based developer of an AI engine for video games, raised $5 million in seed funding from Air Street Capital and angel investors.

– Cuttable, a Melbourne, Australia-based AI creative agency, raised AU$4.5 million ($2.9 million) in seed funding. Square Peg led the round and was joined by Rampersand and Brand Fund.

– Riva, a London-based global payments firm, raised $3 million in funding from Project A and others.

Private Equity

– Altus Fire & Life Safety, backed by Apax Partners, acquired Star Fire Protection, a New York City-based fire alarm company. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

– Mutares agreed to acquire the crane business unit of Hyva, an Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based provider of innovative and highly efficient transport solutions for the commercial vehicle and environmental service industries. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Exits

– EIG agreed to acquire a 49.87% stake in Transportadora de Gas del Peru S.A., a Lima, Peru-based manager of natural gas and natural gas liquids pipelines. Financial terms were not disclosed.

IPOs

– Bullish, a Cayman Islands-based crypto exchange, now plans to raise up to $990 million in an offering of 30 million shares priced between $32 and $33. The company posted $167 million in revenue for the year ending March 31, 2025. Pu Luo Chung VC, Alexander See, Bullish Global, Galaxy Digital Ventures, Camomille Global Opportunities Fund, and EFM Global Growth Master Fund back the company.

Funds + Funds of Funds

– JMI Equity, a Baltimore, Md.-based growth equity fund, raised $3.1 billion for its 12th fund focused on software companies.

People

– Arctos, a Dallas, Texas-based private equity firm, promoted Alastair Seaman and Brian Lafemina as partners.