Pilgrim Secures $3.25 Million Funding From Thiel Capital Cantos And Refactor

Pilgrim, a biotech startup founded by Thiel Fellow Jake Adler, is pioneering nanotechnology, bioelectronics, and AI-driven solutions to enhance military resilience and anti-threat biosurveillance. The company recently secured $3.25 million in funding from Thiel Capital, Cantos, and Refactor to advance its "Voyager" biotech platform, which includes nanoparticle-enabled vaccines and bio-hybrid wound-healing adhesives. Pilgrim aims to rapidly deploy innovative biotech for defense applications, with potential dual-use in civilian medicine, leveraging fast-track DoD-FDA approval pathways to accelerate development. FOUNDER: Thiel Fellow Jake Adler INVESTORS: Thiel Capital, Cantos, Refactor, Joshua Browder & Cory Levy AMOUNT: $3,250,000 HQ: #RedwoodCity #California #VentureCapital #Pilgrim #ThielCapital #Cantos #Refactor #ThielFellowJakeAdler #JoshuaBrowder #CoryLevy #TradedVC

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Aikido Security Acquires AI Startup Root For $100 Million Expanding Application Security CapabilitiesBelgian cybersecurity unicorn Aikido Security has acquired Israeli AI security startup Root for an estimated $70 million to $100 million, expanding its AI-powered application security platform and establishing a new development center in Israel that will retain Root’s team. The acquisition follows Aikido’s recent $60 million Series B funding round, which valued the company at $1 billion and brought its total funding to approximately $85 million. Aikido co-founder and CEO Willem Delbare said Root’s technology enables organizations to automatically patch open-source software without disruptive upgrades, strengthening the company’s software supply chain security capabilities. PRICE: $100,000,00 HQ: Ghent, Belgium #VentureCapital #AikidoSecurity #Root #TradedVC

Animal Capital Acquires Best Celebrations To Support Social Media Brand GrowthBest Celebrations has been acquired by Animal Capital, marking a new chapter for the social media brand after 13 years of growth from a sports content page into a platform with nearly 3 million followers and collaborations with major brands including Nike, the NFL, MLS, and the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. The announcement did not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition or identify the company's founder by name, but the founder said Animal Capital is well-positioned to continue Best Celebrations' mission and thanked Animal Capital's Marshall Sandman, along with team members Nima Mohebbi and Evie Whiting, for helping complete the transaction. HQ: Seattle, Washington #VentureCapital #BestCelebrations #AnimanCapital #TradedVC

1001 Raises $30 Million In Series A Funding Led By Lux Capital With Multiple Investors1001, a GCC- and London-based developer of sovereign AI operating systems for critical infrastructure, has raised $30 million in a Series A funding round led by Lux Capital, with participation from PIF-owned Sanabil Investments, 9Yards, Hanabi, General Catalyst, CIV and Stanford AI researcher Chris Ré, alongside several angel investors. Founded in 2025 by CEO Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh, the company develops locally built and governed AI systems that help operators across sectors such as aviation, ports, energy and manufacturing make real-time operational decisions, with the new funding set to expand its engineering team and strengthen its commercial presence across key GCC markets. FOUNDER: Bilal Abu-Ghazaleh INVESTORS: Lux Capital, Sanabil Investments, 9Yards, Hanabi, General Catalyst, CIV & Chris Ré ROUND: Series A AMOUNT: $30,000,000 HQ: London #VentureCapital #1001 #BilalAbuGhazaleh #TradedVC