Lon Chow

⚖️ ILS has closed $3 million in fresh seed funding led by Chicago Ventures. It will be used to scale its unified workflow platform for funds teams everywhere. Long-term, ILS wants to become the go-to data layer for private funds’ legal teams, building network effects as more firms and funds plug into its structured obligations database. More details 👉 https://lnkd.in/gTJhi3vu Fergus Plant Jack McCarthy Thomas Marshall Nathaniel Hombo #legaltech #funding #innovation #investment #vcfunding #startups #uktech #artificialintelligence

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Dirac , a NYC-based leader in assembly automation software, has raised $10.7M in funding to accelerate the launch of BuildOS, a dynamic platform for model-based work instructions. The round included investments from Founders Fund and Coatue Management, and the company, led by CEO and founder Filip Aronshtein, is actively partnering with Siemens to support global manufacturers in digital transformation. FinSMEs https://lnkd.in/dfjwRtKZ #Venture #VentureCapital #VC

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"CES 2026: the future of tech is now physical, industrial, and operational" CES 2026 confirmed that the next platform shift is physical/industrial. That's according to this piece by our contributor Madelyn Rutter of TechNexus Venture Collaborative in Chicago who braved the Nevada desert to see what's happening in consumer technology and beyond. In her telling, this new paradigm is "a match made in Midwest heaven for founders & investors." Read the article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gsE-8utQ

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I spoke with Christien Louviere of BDE Capital about his journey from a $330mm exit to becoming an independent sponsor. Christien shared excellent insights for folks looking to partner with business owners, rather than buy sellers out completely. Below are a few of the topics we covered: - Why he moved from “zero-to-one” startups to a buy-then-build strategy - How Christien's background shaped a focus on growth vs. cost-cutting - Why 20–40% rolled equity is central to his deal structures—and how it builds trust with sellers - Using scenario analysis with AI tools to evaluate management teams and uncover hidden key-person risks - How to identify when a $3–5M EBITDA company truly has a middle management layer—or is still founder-reliant For anyone investing in or buying small businesses, Christien’s approach provides a fresh lens on growth, alignment, and deal structuring. 🎥 Watch the full interview here → https://lnkd.in/ekfkaiej 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/e86Agx6V

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Arbiter, a New York City–based digital health company, has emerged from stealth with $52M in seed financing led by TriEdge Investments and MFO Ventures, with additional participation from leading private equity firm WindRose Health Investors. Arbiter has built an AI-powered care orchestration platform designed to unify the people and systems that drive every care decision. By bringing patients, providers, and payers onto a single intelligent infrastructure, Arbiter eliminates fragmentation and ensures individuals receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. The platform streamlines coordination across the entire care journey, enabling seamless movement from detection to resolution. Arbiter’s leadership team includes Michelle Carnahan (CEO), Anjali Jameson (CPO), Hannah Heider (Chief of Staff), Julian Nagler (Head of Strategy and Operations), Peter Schaefer (Chief Architect), and Tyler Halpern Crane (Head of Commercial Partnerships). Board members include Simcha Hyman (TriEdge Investments), Eric Moskow (MFO Ventures), and Robert Wachter (WindRose Health Investors). Stay ahead of the curve in life science investments—subscribe now for the latest updates and insights: https://lnkd.in/e77bfv_e #DigitalHealth #HealthcareIT #HealthTech #AIDriven #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthcareInnovation #Seed

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Layer is tackling one of the most overlooked pain points for SMBs: accounting. They’re gaining real traction doing so. Emergence is leading their seed round to bring embedded, AI-powered accounting to the SMB software stack. Kevin Spain highlights what makes this team and product so compelling. 

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AI isn’t just a computing story. It’s becoming an energy story. This piece looks at the proposed ~9 GW gas power project in Ohio tied to AI data center demand. The scale is staggering. Projects like this highlight how quickly electricity demand from AI could reshape power infrastructure planning and economics. One point that stands out: the cost of reliable, large-scale power for AI may be far higher than many expect. As hyperscalers push for dedicated generation and firm capacity, the traditional model of grid expansion and cost sharing starts to break down. It raises a bigger question for the energy transition: Who ultimately pays for the massive power buildout required to support AI? Worth the read. https://lnkd.in/e36NsBd5

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More big news from Cleo! Today, at the #TrimbleInsight2025 event in #NewOrleans, Cleo is announcing another major leap forward in supply chain orchestration — Intelligent Error Resolution, an AI-powered capability that redefines how businesses handle integration issues across their supply chains. As today’s business leaders know, even minor technical errors can disrupt operations and jeopardize customer commitments. Cleo’s new solution empowers teams—regardless of technical skill—to resolve issues in minutes, not days, with AI-generated root-cause analysis and guided resolution paths. Intelligent Error Resolution from Cleo is about more than just enabling agility, resilience, and operational continuity at scale. We’re turning exception management into a strategic advantage, unlocking entirely new levels of supply chain intelligence and performance. Plus, when you consider Cleo's Intelligent Error Resolution and our broader Ecosystem Relationship Management capabilities, we are delivering even more meaningful, industry-leading efficiencies across supply chain and customer success operations—helping organizations optimize staffing, consistently meet contractual SLAs, and ultimately do more with less while strengthening every ecosystem relationship they depend on. Without questions, Cleo is setting the pace for what supply chain orchestration can do. See today’s news announcement to learn how Intelligent Error Resolution fits into your digital transformation strategy. https://lnkd.in/ghzqP95K #AI #SupplyChainOrchestration #Innovation

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