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Clean energy FinTech CapeZero secures $2.6m to transform project financing
CapeZero, a software platform aimed at simplifying financial workflows for clean energy developers, has secured $2.6m in a seed funding round.
The investment was led by Powerhouse Ventures, with participation from Climactic, Avesta Fund, Virta Ventures, and Stepchange.
The funding will enable CapeZero to accelerate the development and expansion of its platform, which aims to streamline and standardise the complex processes involved in securing tax equity and project financing.
CapeZero provides clean energy developers with an innovative solution that reduces the time spent on financial modelling from months to minutes. The platform offers real-time scenario analysis and standardised analytics, allowing project finance teams to operate 50-75% faster.
With the new investment, the company plans to enhance its core platform features and expand its market presence.
CapeZero was founded in 2023 by a team of experts with extensive experience in renewable energy finance and technology. CEO Manish Hebbar brings 15 years of experience in renewable energy and tax credit finance, having closed over 60 clean energy deals amounting to 11 gigawatts of capacity. CTO Sumit Chachra adds significant product and technology leadership experience, having previously served as a global CTO and successful entrepreneur. The team has collectively structured and advised on over $16bn in renewable energy capital deployment.
Speaking about the funding, CapeZero CEO and co-founder Manish Hebbar said, “The renewable energy industry is at a pivotal moment with unprecedented growth opportunities and challenges, and the complexity of tax equity and project financing remains a significant barrier to scaling clean energy deployment. Customers on our platform turn that complexity into a competitive advantage when seeking project finance investment.
“With this funding, we’re building the technology infrastructure they need to streamline these critical financial processes. Our platform enables companies to spend less time troubleshooting spreadsheets and more time focusing on the projects that drive us closer to achieving net-zero emissions.”
Powerhouse Ventures managing partner Emily Kirsch highlighted the importance of CapeZero’s solution, stating, “As we enter the Terawatt Era of renewable energy deployment, the industry urgently needs solutions that can scale with its growth.
“CapeZero’s platform represents a critical step forward in democratizing access to tax equity financing, making it more efficient and accessible for companies of all sizes. With investments in renewable generation and storage expected to grow from $60B to $150B annually by 2030, CapeZero’s solution has the potential to significantly accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects across the United States and beyond.”
WiseAlpha launches UK’s first high-yield corporate bond ISA for retail investors
WiseAlpha has introduced the UK’s first-ever dedicated High-Yield Corporate Bond Innovative Finance ISA (IF ISA), providing retail investors with unprecedented access to corporate bonds.
This move allows individuals to invest in high-yield corporate bonds within a tax-efficient ISA framework, a market previously exclusive to institutional investors.
The corporate bond market has historically been inaccessible to retail investors due to minimum trade sizes of £100,000. WiseAlpha’s launch removes this barrier, enabling investors to build diversified corporate bond portfolios without the hefty entry cost. This innovation marks a significant milestone in the UK investment landscape.
Sterling corporate bonds offer coupons ranging from 5% to 12%, presenting an attractive alternative to traditional savings accounts and government bonds. WiseAlpha’s High-Yield Corporate Bond ISA allows retail investors to enjoy these returns tax-free, exempting them from capital gains and income tax.
WiseAlpha CEO Rezaah Ahmad said, “This is a watershed moment for the UK investment market. For the first time, investors can access an entire asset class that was previously reserved for institutions. Our High-Yield Corporate Bond ISA represents a leap forward in our mission to democratize finance.”
The new product offers an alternative for equity investors concerned about market valuations. For instance, those holding Ocado equities can diversify by investing in Ocado’s 10.5% bonds via the WiseAlpha ISA. Similarly, investors in peer-to-peer SME lending platforms can shift to corporate bonds issued by larger FTSE-sized companies, offering higher credit quality and competitive yields.
UK investors can allocate up to £20,000 for the 2024/25 tax year across Cash ISAs, Stocks & Shares ISAs, and Innovative Finance ISAs. WiseAlpha also facilitates ISA transfers, providing flexibility for existing holders. Investments within an ISA enjoy full tax exemption, allowing for maximum returns. A 10.5% bond yield within an ISA remains untouched by taxes, compared to a potential 45% tax rate outside the ISA for higher earners.
Rezaah Ahmad added, “With the launch of our High-Yield Corporate Bond ISA, we’re empowering everyday investors to achieve higher tax-free income. This new product aligns with our vision of opening up the financial world to smaller investors and giving them the tools they need to succeed.”
Netradyne Raises $90 Million in Series D Funding Led by Point72 Private Investments
Netradyne, an industry-leading SaaS provider of artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing, announced the close of a $90 million Series D round led by Point72 Private Investments with participation from Qualcomm Ventures and Pavilion Capital. The capital infusion will accelerate the company’s growth trajectory through strategic investment in R&D, enhanced go-to-market investments, and aggressive global expansion, solidifying Netradyne as a global industry leader in commercial fleet technology.
The traditional approach to driver performance and fleet safety is obsolete. Netradyne is pioneering a new era of driver-focused technology backed by over 18 billion vision-analyzed driving miles. Netradyne’s Driver•i is the only solution that can positively recognize good driving behavior. By reinforcing good driving behavior with revolutionary technology, fleets experience reduced accidents, improved driver retention, lower insurance costs, improved tracking and productivity, and better fleet performance.
“The successful completion of our Series D funding round is a significant milestone for Netradyne and a testament to the confidence our investors have in our vision and innovative approach to AI-powered fleet safety solutions,” said Avneesh Agrawal, CEO and Co-Founder at Netradyne. “This funding provides us with the resources to accelerate growth, expand our technology capabilities, and deliver even greater value to our customers worldwide. With this support, we are poised to scale our innovations globally, deepen our impact, and continue advancing safety and efficiency across the transportation industry, redefining what’s possible for fleets and communities alike.”
“Investing in Netradyne is about believing in safer roads and supporting professional drivers,” said Sri Chandrasekar, Managing Partner at Point72 Private Investments. “Since our initial investment in 2018, we’ve witnessed Netradyne’s impressive growth and believe their technology is well-positioned not only to empower fleet managers but also to foster a culture of safe driving. We are excited to continue our partnership with Avneesh and the Netradyne team as they advance their mission to transform the global transportation industry.”
Netradyne’s solutions offer a comprehensive and accurate driver performance assessment by analyzing 100% of drive-time data. Powered by advanced AI, Driver•i delivers unparalleled accuracy in identifying both positive and negative driving behaviors, fostering trust and enabling effective in-cab coaching. In addition to promoting safer driving, these capabilities help fleets shield drivers from false claims, minimize collisions and insurance costs, optimize productivity, and simplify compliance management.
This funding comes on the heels of exciting growth. Since its founding in 2015, Netradyne now reaches over 3,000 customers and over 450,000 active subscribers, serving customers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and India, with planned expansion throughout Europe and Japan. Netradyne’s customers include some of the biggest names in global online retail, food and beverage, oil and gas, transportation, utilities, field services, passenger transit, and construction.
Archive Intel raises $1.5m to expand AI-driven compliance solutions
Archive Intel, a leader in AI-powered compliance archiving solutions, has secured an additional $1.5m in funding to accelerate its growth.
The funding round was led by Garuda Ventures, a San Francisco-based investment firm focused on early-stage companies, with participation from existing investor Social Leverage.
Archive Intel offers a cutting-edge compliance platform designed to help financial advisors and institutions meet regulatory requirements effortlessly. The platform uses AI to simplify workflows, reduce false positives, and support a wide array of communication channels, including email, chat platforms, social media, and messaging apps.
The company plans to use the funding to expand integrations, scale its infrastructure, and drive further innovation across its platform.
Archive Intel has experienced rapid growth, surpassing 220 clients and 2,000 users within just six months of launching in 2024.
Rishi Taparia, co-founder and general partner at Garuda Ventures, said, “Archive Intel’s innovative platform and leadership team are well-positioned to shape the future of communication compliance. We are excited to partner with Archive Intel as they redefine how financial institutions meet regulatory requirements.”
Howard Lindzon, founder and managing partner of Social Leverage, added, “Archive Intel has proven its ability to address critical industry pain points with scalable, cutting-edge solutions. We’re proud to continue supporting their growth.”
Archive Intel CEO Larry Shumbres expressed his enthusiasm for the funding, stating, “Our mission has always been to make compliance seamless, efficient, and future-ready. This additional funding validates our approach and enables us to continue delivering innovative solutions that empower our clients to stay ahead of regulatory challenges.”
Brex secures $235m credit facility to fuel growth of corporate card solutions
Brex, a leading corporate card and spend management platform, has closed a $235m revolving credit facility to bolster its product growth and scale its card solutions.
The two-year credit facility was led by Citi as the senior lender, with TPG Angelo Gordon participating as a supporting lender.
This latest funding initiative is expected to further accelerate Brex’s growth trajectory. The company plans to utilise the credit facility alongside its existing warehouse facilities and master securitisation trust. To date, Brex has completed three securitisation issuances.
Commenting on the announcement, Ben Gammell, chief financial officer at Brex, said, “This transaction highlights the continued momentum of Brex’s card offering and our entire product suite.
“Our capital position remains exceptionally strong, and this credit facility, which follows our largest and most robust securitization to date, allows us to further scale our card solution and empower our customers in making every dollar count.”
Aaron Ong, head of private asset-based credit at TPG Angelo Gordon, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, adding, “We are thrilled to provide capital support to Brex in its pursuit to offer modern spend management solutions for businesses of all sizes. xThis partnership demonstrates how TPG Angelo Gordon customizes capital solutions to meet the needs of our borrowers, and we are pleased to be part of Brex’s incredible story.”
Founded in 2017, Brex has established itself as a comprehensive financial platform that integrates corporate cards, expense management, banking, bill pay, and travel solutions.
The platform is used by over 30,000 companies, including major names such as DoorDash, Flexport, and Compass. Handling tens of billions of dollars in transactions annually across 120 countries, Brex continues to innovate to help businesses optimise their financial operations.
Spring Financial launches Bloom: Canada’s first AI-driven financial concierge app
This marks a significant milestone as Bloom becomes the first app in Canada to integrate artificial intelligence to provide users with a holistic view of their financial landscape. Designed for everyday Canadians, the app simplifies banking, spending, and budgeting by offering real-time financial insights at users’ fingertips.
Bloom’s core feature is Oscar AI, an intelligent financial assistant capable of answering a range of user-specific queries. For example, users can inquire about their spending on Uber last month or track subscription expenses across platforms. This personalised approach enables users to make informed financial decisions.
Tyler Thielmann, president and CEO of Spring Financial, said, “The last few years have been a challenging financial environment for so many Canadians. Finances are becoming more complicated and there has been very little innovation helping Canadians see their full financial picture in one place. That is why we developed Bloom.
“Bloom uses industry-leading technology to offer users customized financial insights across all of their accounts, right at their fingertips. And with OscarAI, users can have their financial questions answered in seconds.”
The app integrates with all major financial institutions, consolidating various accounts, including bank accounts, credit cards, and savings, into a single, user-friendly hub. Its real-time insights empower users to set specific spending limits, track subscriptions, and categorise transactions automatically, providing a clear picture of their financial habits.
Bloom is particularly advantageous for Canadian renters, offering rent reporting to credit bureaus. This feature helps users build credit histories and unlock better financial opportunities.
Other standout features of Bloom include advanced budgeting tools, subscription and recurring payment tracking, and smart suggestions for financial planning. Available for free download on the App Store and Google Play, the app also offers a premium subscription at $11.99/month for enhanced features.
SC Ventures targets APAC small businesses with new fintech platform
SC Ventures, Standard Chartered’s innovation arm, has today launched a digital platform to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the Asia Pacific region.
The new venture, called Labamu, offers digital invoicing and billing services alongside integrated banking features. It launches first in Indonesia, but expansion is planned across APAC, tapping into the region’s $2.5 trillion SME market.
The platform aims to help SMEs boost sales through both physical and digital marketplaces. Users can receive payments directly into their bank accounts through embedded banking services, with working capital financing planned for future rollout.
Digital billing, inventory management, and customer relationship tools are also designed to enhance operational efficiency.
“Every small business contributes to shared economic prosperity and we want to empower them,” said Emmanuel Van De Geer, CEO of Labamu. He emphasised the platform’s integration of financial services as a key differentiator in the market.
Southeast Asia’s SME sector accounts for 90% of companies and 80% of employment across six major markets in the region.
Labamu has placed particular focus on female entrepreneurship through its “Wanita Tumbuh Bersama” campaign, which has provided business management training to more than 7,500 SME owners.
In its incubation phase, Labamu attracted over 80,000 SME owners.
Lower integrates Neat Labs technology to set new standards in mortgage efficiency
Lower, a leading digital mortgage lender, has announced its acquisition of Neat Labs, renowned for its end-to-end mortgage origination software.
Lower will integrate Neat Labs’ proprietary software into LowerOS, a comprehensive, cloud-based mortgage platform designed to enhance the borrower experience and streamline loan production costs.
Founded in 2015, Neat Labs has been pivotal in optimising the mortgage process from pricing to loan approval and closing. Neat Labs has notably facilitated over $1bn in loans, enabling borrowers to progress from application to funding in as little as 10 days.
The rollout of LowerOS signifies a pivotal advancement in mortgage technology, offering unprecedented collaboration between borrowers and loan officers. The platform equips borrowers with self-service access to Neat Labs’ sophisticated underwriting engine, allowing them to choose optimal loan products and payment plans. Furthermore, LowerOS automates many labor-intensive tasks within the mortgage process, thereby reducing the time and cost for borrowers to secure loans, while empowering Lower’s extensive network of loan officers to devote more attention to client guidance.
“We’re thrilled to bring Neat Labs into the Lower family. Their technology is the foundation of our next chapter,” Lower CEO and Co-Founder Dan Snyder commented. “Since our inception, we’ve merged state-of-the-art technology with superior customer service. With LowerOS, we are once again revolutionising the mortgage industry, delivering unparalleled operational efficiency and a seamless experience for both borrowers and loan officers.”
Steve Herschleb, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Neat Labs, will transition to Lower as the new CTO. With a robust background in scalable mortgage technology and a former role as Chief Product Officer at Maxwell, Herschleb will be instrumental in the ongoing development of LowerOS.
“LowerOS will change the way consumers think about getting a mortgage whether they are buying a new home, refinancing to reduce their monthly payments or tapping into home equity for major expenses,” Herschleb elaborated. “With LowerOS, borrowers can get approved significantly faster than they can today. It’ll make getting a mortgage feel more like obtaining a car loan or a credit card.”
With the acquisition and the launch of LowerOS, Lower continues to redefine the mortgage experience, blending cutting-edge technology with a commitment to delivering exceptional value and efficiency.
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