US steel leader Herrick backs Tectonus Sydney will become Anthropic’s fourth office in Asia-Pacific HEALWELL AI Announces Multi-Million Dollar U.S. Health Information Exchange Contract and AI-Driven Pipeline Momentum
Mint Innovation collaborates with HP to produce industry-first closed-loop recycled copper
TrackGrip’s Rock-Solid Growth Across North America
Whip Around Announces Majority Investment from Accel KKR to Accelerate Growth and Innovation
Freedom Boat Club Expands Its New Zealand Presence With The Launch Of Queenstown Location
Capture The Bug strengthens advisory board as it expands into the US
From protein-packed snacks to gut-health breakthroughs, the future of food was on full display at Natural Products Expo West 2026 in Anaheim When we launched Free AF in the US, there was one retailer at the top of our list. Today, we're finally on their shelves and it's exciting AF! T#FreeAF #WholeFoods #GetDrunkOnLife #WomenInBusiness #WomensHistoryMonth #IWD2026 Congratulations to the team at Harker Herbals for officially kicking off the United States retail expansion, starting with PCC Community Markets
FileInvite has completed first close on a $2M bridge round ahead of our Series B as we scale our work in US complex lending.
Autex Acoustics North America has announced a landmark partnership with Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, the largest supplier of textiles and wallcoverings in the U.S., marking the first time Momentum has partnered with a New Zealand-grown company. Two million Americans are about to see Auckland like never before A US TV show featuring a US star learning about Matariki is about to go live in the US and worldwide. We supported the production, in the hopes that it will capitalise on the tourism growth from the US recently and attract even more visitors!
The show is called Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi and reaches 2 million viewers per episode. Mickela spent time in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland last year learning about Māori culture through haka, poi and waiata.
Two New Zealand episodes, Māori in Aotearoa (aired on 22 Dec) and Matariki in Aotearoa (aired on 29 Dec), highlight both traditional and contemporary Māori cultural practices in Tāmaki Makaurau. The episodes are anchored by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei with Dane Tumahai as their kaitiaki.
Crash Champions has completed a full-scale deployment of Orderly™ by PartsTrader across its network of 650+ repair center in 38 states and Washington DC. This collaborative integration solidifies Crash Champions as the first MSO to pioneer Orderly™, which is already delivering smarter, faster, and more accurate parts procurement at scale and redefining how technology empowers repairers.
WASHINGTON — Today, the United States Trade Representative initiated investigations of 60 economies under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974. The investigations will determine whether acts, policies, and practices of each of these economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. The list of economies subject to these investigations—60 of the largest trading partners of the United States—is below. “Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets. For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labor,” said Ambassador Greer. “These investigations will determine whether foreign governments have taken sufficient steps to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor and how the failure to eradicate these abhorrent practices impacts U.S. workers and businesses.” Background Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting U.S. commerce. Section 301 may be used to respond to unjustifiable, unreasonable, or discriminatory foreign government practices that burden or restrict U.S. commerce. Under Section 302(b) of the Trade Act, the United States Trade Representative may self-initiate an investigation under Section 301. An investigation under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act examines whether the acts, policies, or practices of a foreign country are unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict U.S. commerce. After considering the advice of the inter-agency Section 301 Committee, and consulting with appropriate advisory committees, the United States Trade Representative has initiated these investigations. Upon initiation of an investigation, the United States Trade Representative must seek consultations with the economies whose acts, policies, or practices are under investigation. USTR has requested consultations with the governments of these economies in connection with these investigations. USTR will hold hearings in connection with these investigations on April 28, 2026. To be assured of consideration, interested persons should submit written comments, requests to appear at the hearing, along with a summary of the testimony, by April 15, 2026. A pre-publication version of the Federal Register Notice is available here. A docket for comments regarding the investigation will be available here. A docket for requests to appear at the public hearing to be held in connection with this investigation will be available here. Economies subject to these investigations: 1. Algeria 2. Angola 3. Argentina 4. Australia 5. The Bahamas 6. Bahrain 7. Bangladesh 8. Brazil 9. Cambodia 10. Canada 11. Chile 12. China, People’s Republic of 13. Colombia 14. Costa Rica 15. Dominican Republic 16. Ecuador 17. Egypt 18. El Salvador 19. European Union 20. Guatemala 21. Guyana 22. Honduras 23. Hong Kong, China 24. India 25. Indonesia 26. Iraq 27. Israel 28. Japan 29. Jordan 30. Kazakhstan 31. Kuwait 32. Libya 33. Malaysia 34. Mexico 35. Morocco 36. New Zealand 37. Nicaragua 38. Nigeria 39. Norway 40. Oman 41. Pakistan 42. Peru 43. Philippines 44. Qatar 45. Russia 46. Saudi Arabia 47. Singapore 48. South Africa 49. South Korea 50. Sri Lanka 51. Switzerland 52. Taiwan 53. Thailand 54. Trinidad and Tobago 55. Türkiye 56. United Arab Emirates 57. United Kingdom 58. Uruguay 59. Venezuela 60. Vietnam Source: https://ustr.gov/
After the Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on February 20, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ordered the government to take immediate action to issue refunds.
To that end, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in recent days has shared with CIT its plans for an expedited and simplified tariff refund system over the past week. The U.S. Chamber welcomed the initial CBP proposal, and the agency indicated it will be able to launch the system within 45 days (by April 20).
Big Numbers: More than 300,000 companies paid a total of approximately $166 billion in IEEPA duties that must be refunded. The system proposed by CBP will refund these duties to importers through CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system. CBP told the CIT on March 6 that it “is confident that it can develop and implement new ACE functionality that will streamline and consolidate refunds and interest payments on an importer basis, rather than issuing 53,173,939 separate entry-specific refunds with multiple payments going to the same importer.”
CAPE of Good Hope: In a declaration filed with CIT on March 12, CBP explained that it is developing the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system to refund duties imposed under IEEPA. This new ACE functionality will have four integrated components:
Interest Where Due: U.S. law requires payment of interest, which is accrued from the date the importer of record deposits estimated duties until the date of liquidation or reliquidation, for the invalidated tariffs. The interest rate is 6% at present. CIT has noted that “interest is accumulating every day, with approximately $650 million accruing per month,” a fact that hopefully will incentivize expeditious refunds.
Source: www.uschamber.com
New Zealand-founded seismic technology company Tectonus, has secured a minority investment from California-based The Herrick Corporation - one of the United States’ most established structural steel fabricators. The partnership signals growing confidence in Tectonus’ high-performance damping systems for critical infrastructure and commercial buildings in seismic regions. Originally spun out of the University of Auckland, after the Christchurch earthquakes, Tectonus develops structural solutions for high-importance buildings that reduce total construction cost - while improving seismic resilience. Tectonus has delivered projects across New Zealand, Canada, the USA and Japan - spanning new builds and complex retrofits. In the United States, its technology has secured HCAI (formerly OSHPD) approval following extensive full-scale testing - positioning it for use in California hospital projects. Collaborative and non-exclusive partnership In announcing the partnership, The Herrick Corporation has taken a minority equity stake in Tectonus, forming a collaborative and non-exclusive partnership that should see both parties grow market share. “Herrick Corporation has an iconic project portfolio spanning over 100 years that includes buildings such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Walt Disney Concert Hall,” says Tectonus CEO Carl Beck. “In New Zealand, through a joint venture with Culham Engineering, Herrick has contributed to major projects such as Commercial Bay and the New Zealand International Convention Centre.” Steel-braced frames remain one of the most common lateral systems in seismic regions of the United States. Tectonus offers a cost-competitive alternative that delivers improved damping, lower overstrength, and enhanced post-earthquake performance. According to Carl Beck, Tectonus’ long-term US growth strategy has included securing a strategic partner with deep customer relationships, regulatory influence, and manufacturing expertise. Herrick’s investment directly supports that ambition. Strong industry signal “When someone like Herrick invests time and money in a company like Tectonus, it says to the entire industry this is real, and it’s time to take notice”, he says. “Ten years ago, Tectonus set out to change the way the world earthquake-proofs buildings, and this is another step on that journey.” The Herrick Corporation is equally inspired to be part of the Tectonus’ story. “Herrick has been innovating for over 100 years’, says Bob Hazleton, Herrick CEO. “Supporting Tectonus is no different. We’re both motivated to see project teams and clients get the best out of this technology and change the way the world views seismic proofing.” The investment represents a significant milestone for New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing and engineering export sector, reinforcing the country’s capability to develop globally competitive construction technologies. Source: https://www.tectonus.com/
Anthropic is expanding to Australia and New Zealand. In the coming weeks, we will open an office in Sydney—our fourth office in Asia-Pacific, alongside Tokyo, Bengaluru, and Seoul. The expansion reflects strong demand from businesses in Australia and New Zealand and will help us better serve the countries’ unique AI ecosystems.
In addition to hiring a team in Sydney, we plan to deepen our engagement with Australian institutions, as well as collaborate on projects that advance Australia’s national interests and priority sectors. Our executive team will visit Australia at the end of March to formalize some of these partnerships and meet with customers and policymakers.
“We’re excited by the ways organizations in Australia and New Zealand are applying AI to areas of national importance—financial services, agricultural technology, clean energy innovation, healthcare delivery, cutting-edge deep tech and scientific research, along with AI transformation in the enterprise,” said Chris Ciauri, Managing Director of International, Anthropic. “Establishing a local presence will help us to develop strong partnerships in ANZ and ensure Claude is built with respect for the unique goals, opportunities, and challenges of the region.”
Our initial focus will be supporting our enterprise, startup, and research customers. Anthropic already works with some of Australia and New Zealand's most innovative organizations—from enterprises like Canva, Quantium, and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, to startups pioneering new AI applications across diverse fields such as AgTech, physical AI, climate tech and more.
Australia and New Zealand rank 4th and 8th globally in Claude.ai usage, relative to population, according to our latest Economic Index. Both countries show strong use of Claude for computer and coding tasks, along with educational instruction and research, and we’ve already begun building out a local team and partnerships aligned with these trends.
We're also exploring opportunities to expand our compute capacity in Australia—a natural fit given our longstanding belief that democracies should lead in AI development, and one that aligns with the Australian government's own ambitions to become a trusted destination for sustainable AI infrastructure. We're exploring adding local capacity through our third-party partners in Australia, using infrastructure already in place. This is among the most consistent requests we hear from Australian enterprises and government agencies, particularly those with data residency requirements. Beyond that, we're in early conversations about longer-term infrastructure in the region, and we'll share more as those plans take shape.
For information about career opportunities at our new Sydney office, visit anthropic.com/careers.
Thank you Chairman Ricketts, Ranking Member Coons, and distinguished Members of this Committee for the opportunity to appear before you today. It is an honor to be nominated as United States Ambassador to New Zealand, the Independent State of Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Niue. What may be lost on many of us in the private sector is the level of dedication that can be witnessed by those in government. During the lead up to this hearing, I have been exposed to a number of wonderful, bright, and dedicated people in the State Department, and I can honestly tell you that I have been incredibly impressed by the almost selfless determination that I have witnessed. I wish to express my admiration for all of those who have helped me by thanking them for their service. So too must I express my admiration for all of the Members of this Committee for your service as well. If confirmed, I hope to, at least, match the dedication to the American people manifested by each of you Members of this committee. Thank you for your service and I look forward to serving our country with a similar zeal that I have witnessed. If confirmed as Ambassador, I will work tirelessly to advance President Trump’s and Secretary Rubio’s foreign policies. In advancing the President’s agenda, we have few better partners than New Zealand. The government of New Zealand consistently supports our goals in the region and beyond. If confirmed, I will do everything in my power to take our relationship to new heights. Specifically, I intend to focus on three priorities:
1. partnering with New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands, and Niue to promote a free and open Pacific; 2. expanding our defense partnership with New Zealand; and 3. promoting opportunities for U.S. business entities. Few countries understand the darkening security environment in the Pacific better than New Zealand. Last February, China conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. I was in the region at the time, and it was very concerning. The exercises led to flight diversions and represented an example of alarming, even destabilizing behavior in the Pacific. If confirmed, I would prioritize expanding our defense partnership with New Zealand. I know the critical role our Embassies and Consulates play in ensuring a fair playing field for U.S. entities. Whether it be through tearing down trade barriers or opening new markets, all U.S. businesses will have a friend in the Ambassador’s office if I am confirmed. In Samoa in recent years, the government in Apia has adopted a prudent approach to managing relations with the West and China, taking on foreign debt with caution. If confirmed, I would encourage the government in Samoa to continue this approach and ensure it is never pressured into a deal that would compromise its sovereignty. In the Cook Islands, establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 2023 enabled us to take our longstanding relationship to the next level. If confirmed, I would expand our collaboration with local authorities to promote the responsible development of seabed mineral resources. The Cook Islands' EEZ contains possibly the largest cobalt deposit in the world – a key component in batteries and high-strength alloys. A strong partnership with the Cook Islands means a strong supply chain of critical minerals. This is good for all parties. In Niue, I would likewise focus on strengthening our bilateral relationship. We have, and under my watch will continue to, closely engage with Niue on economic, cultural, and other programs. I hope to continue to grow this relationship.
Thank you for considering my nomination. I look forward to your questions.
Source: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/
TORONTO, ON, March 5, 2026— HEALWELL AI Inc. (“HEALWELL” or the “Company“) (TSX: AIDX) (OTCQX: HWAIF), a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused on preventative care, today provides a strategic update on its Software Business Unit, reflecting continued infrastructure expansion, renewal momentum and advancing AI integration across its global platform.
Expansion and U.S. HIE Contract
HEALWELL’s software division has signed a multi-million dollar U.S.-based Health Information Exchange (HIE) software contract following a competitive procurement process, expanding the Company’s enterprise data interoperability footprint in the world’s largest healthcare market. The contract will support the secure aggregation and exchange of healthcare data for millions of patient lives, connecting multiple hospital systems, clinics, laboratories, public health agencies and community providers across a U.S. state. By aggregating and normalizing clinical data from disparate systems, the platform delivers timely admission, discharge, and transfer alerts, lab results, care summaries, and other critical records directly into provider workflows. This will improve care coordination, reduce duplication, support population health and public health reporting, and ensure clinicians have a more complete view of a patient’s health history at the point of care.
This contract win followed a coordinated bid effort across the Company’s Orion Health and VeroSource businesses, with HEALWELL selected based on its proven ability to deliver large-scale HIE infrastructure, manage complex and fragmented healthcare data environments, and execute successfully at state- and nation-wide scale, with integrated AI capabilities that could further strengthen the platform over time. This award reinforces HEALWELL’s position as a provider of critical digital health infrastructure supporting secure, large-scale data aggregation and exchange.
In parallel, HEALWELL’s software division continues to gain momentum across all stages of the software pipeline, including existing customer extensions and bidding on new opportunities, across Canada, the Middle East, Europe and other core jurisdictions, supporting recurring revenue visibility and long-term customer relationships.
Dr. Alexander Dobranowski, President of HEALWELL AI, commented, “The progress in our software division is exciting to see. We recently updated the market on the benefits the Orion distribution network is having on our AI and data science sales pipeline, so it is very pleasing to see how that positive momentum is also driving demand in our software division. As we advance renewals and expand coordinated bid activity, we are building a strong foundation for long-term growth across the United States, Canada, the Middle East and other key markets.
I Integration Across the Orion Amadeus Platform
HEALWELL has integrated its SMART Identify, SMART Search and SMART Summary capabilities into the Amadeus AI platform, creating a unified infrastructure-and-AI offering. These AI modules are clear differentiators and are driving the pipeline growth across both existing and new healthcare environments in the United States, Canada and the Middle East, enabling improved patient identification, intelligent data retrieval and clinical summarization within live interoperability networks.
This builds on recent deployments and success stories, including HEALWELL’s first AI contract with a major governmental health system in the Middle East; active deployments of SMART Identify in the United States, and deployment of SMART Search and SMART Summary in a provincial healthcare system in Canada.
The integration of clinically validated AI directly into the Orion platform strengthens the Company’s competitive positioning, enhances data liquidity across HEALWELL’s distribution network and creates scalable pathways for enterprise AI commercialization.
Integrated Bid Strategy and Enterprise-Scale Opportunities
HEALWELL continues to pursue larger and more strategic procurement opportunities through coordinated bids that leverage capabilities across its software portfolio. Orion Health’s global footprint is enabling the Company to compete for enterprise-scale programs that combine interoperability, analytics and AI-enabled workflows.
The Company reports growing participation in multi-capability bids across North America and international markets, reflecting increasing demand for integrated infrastructure and AI solutions within healthcare systems.
Brad Porter, Chief Commercial Officer of HEALWELL AI, commented, “Our strategy was to build two key levers of growth for our company. The Company’s recent progress is validating that HEALWELL can both drive expansion of our AI solutions through the Orion distribution network and expand our distribution network through a differentiated product set. We are demonstrating the power of integrating durable interoperability infrastructure with clinically validated AI. We believe the practical application of AI has the most potential impact on Healthcare IT, and that HEALWELL is demonstrating that rather than being a headwind for our sector, it is a clear tailwind.”
James Lee Chief Executive OfficerHEALWELL AI Inc.
About HEALWELL AI
HEALWELL is a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused on preventative care. Its mission is to improve healthcare and save lives through early identification and detection of disease. Using its own proprietary technology, the Company is developing and commercializing advanced clinical decision support systems that can help healthcare providers detect rare and chronic diseases, improve efficiency of their practice and ultimately help improve patient health outcomes. HEALWELL is executing a strategy centered around developing and acquiring technology and clinical sciences capabilities that complement the Company’s road map. HEALWELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AIDX” and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol “HWAIF”. To learn more about HEALWELL, please visit https://healwell.ai/.
WASHINGTON, D.C. —The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) filed an amicus brief today in a suit brought by small businesses seeking tariff refunds in the Court of International Trade.
The brief argues that an efficient, orderly process to deliver refunds is in the best interest of all parties – the Administration, the courts, and American businesses.
“As a matter of law, it is now settled that IEEPA tariffs were collected unlawfully,” said Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of businesses, especially small businesses, that are now owed refunds, the Chamber and CTA are asking the court to establish an efficient, orderly process to deliver refunds en masse.
“We are particularly concerned that third parties will become involved in this process for their own interests,” Bradley continued. “The last thing our system needs is for the trial bar to be profiting off refunds owed to small businesses.”
The organizations previously filed a joint amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to find the tariffs exceed congressionally delegated authority.
“American innovation needs certainty to thrive, and the U.S. government could boost our economy by delivering on the commitment to full refunds for the thousands of businesses who paid these tariffs,” said Ed Brzytwa, Vice President, International Affairs, CTA. “The refund process should be as swift and easy as possible. While this matters for every American company, refunds are existential for the many smaller businesses and startups who shouldered the tariff burden.”
The case is V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump (CIT).
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations.
They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy.
About the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®
As North America’s largest technology trade association, CTA is the tech sector. Our members are the world’s leading innovators – from startups to global brands – helping support more than 18 million American jobs. CTA owns and produces CES® – the most powerful tech event in the world. Find us at CTA.tech. Follow us @CTAtech.
Source: https://www.uschamber.com/
Certification validates Mint’s world-first metal recovery technology capable of returning traceable, certified copper from electronic waste for reuse in new products.
Read more about the news as covered by Fast Company, Resource Recycling and NBR, or see the full press release below.
Mint Innovation, an e-waste technology company, today announced it has successfully produced the industry’s first batch of certified closed loop recycled copper through an industry-first collaboration with HP Inc. The milestone demonstrates Mint’s proprietary biosorption technology, which recovers high-purity copper from HP’s end-of-life printed circuit boards (PCBs) for reuse in HP PC manufacturing starting with the HP EliteBook X G2 Series laptops and HP EliteBoard G1a Next Gen AI PC.
The announcement comes as the world grapples with a mounting e-waste crisis. According to the United Nations, humanity generates a record 62 million tonnes of e-waste annually, a figure on track to rise to 82 million tonnes by 2030, with less than a quarter formally recycled. Most current recycling methods involve smelting, which is extremely energy intensive and burns off valuable components.
By contrast, Mint Innovation’s metal recovery process uses chemistry and patented biosorption technology to recover and refine metals locally. During the initial validation phase at Mint’s Sydney facility, HP PCBs are processed to produce high-purity copper sheets; the recovered material received third-party certification from TÜV Rheinland.
"We are the only company in the world capable of tracing individual batches of metal from the waste pile back to the new product at commercial scale, a level of transparency that traditional smelting simply cannot provide," said Matt Bedingfield, President of Mint Innovation. “This collaboration with HP is more than just recycling; it is a blueprint for the future of supply chain security. We have proven that critical metals can be recovered, certified, and reused locally, eliminating the need to ship waste halfway across the world.”
The certification addresses a critical gap in the global electronics market: the lack of traceable, recycled-content verification. An independent audit by TÜV Rheinland confirmed that Mint’s recovered copper meets rigorous quality and chain-of-custody requirements across ISO 14021, EN 15343, and ISO 22095 standards.
This batch-processing capability also allows Mint to offer "Recycled Metal as a Service" (RMaaS), giving manufacturers the ability to retain ownership of their strategic resources.
As part of the validation process, HP provided representative electronic waste materials and worked across its supply chain to support traceability and testing requirements. The learnings from this process help inform how recycled materials could be evaluated and integrated more consistently across future manufacturing programs, supporting broader efforts to scale circular manufacturing.
“We’re focused on finding practical ways to increase the use of recycled materials in our products, and that starts with the ability to verify where materials come from and how they perform,” said Stacy Wolff, Senior Vice President of Design & Sustainability, HP Inc. “Independent certification like Mint’s innovative process helps validate what’s possible and builds confidence as circular manufacturing continues to scale.”
Following the success of its commercial scale prototype in Sydney, Mint Innovation is accelerating its global expansion. The company is currently constructing its first U.S. commercial facility in Longview, Texas, scheduled to launch in 2027. The new site will serve as a hub for North American customers, strengthening domestic access to critical materials.
Founded in 2016, Mint Innovation is an e-waste technology company pioneering the recovery of critical and precious metals from complex waste streams, including electronic waste and lithium-ion batteries. Mint’s low-carbon biosorption process recovers metals in city-scale facilities, offering a sustainable, domestic alternative to traditional smelting. The company was recognized as a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer in 2022, won the 2023 InnovationAus Awards for Advanced Manufacturing, and was a runner-up in Mission Innovation's Net-Zero Awards at COP28.
Source: https://www.mint.bio/
San Diego, CA & Menlo Park, CA — Tue March 3, 2026 — Whip Around, a leading fleet maintenance and compliance software provider, today announced that it has received a majority investment from Accel‑KKR, a global technology‑focused private equity firm. The partnership marks a major milestone in Whip Around’s growth journey and positions the company to accelerate innovation, scale its platform, and expand its market reach through both organic initiatives and strategic acquisitions. “We’re entering one of the most exciting chapters in Whip Around’s history,” said Noah Hickey, CEO of Whip Around. “Accel‑KKR stood out for their deep software experience, growth orientation, and strong cultural alignment. Their investment gives us the ability to double down on our product roadmap, expand our team, and pursue strategic M&A opportunities that enhance our value to customers.” Strategic Partnership to Fuel Innovation, Expansion, and Future M&A With Accel‑KKR’s backing, Whip Around will increase investment in its platform capabilities and continue scaling its go-to-market functions. Importantly, the partnership is expected to enhance Whip Around’s ability to evaluate and pursue potential strategic acquisition opportunities. Accel-KKR has experience supporting mergers and acquisitions across its portfolio companies and is expected to provide Whip Around with strategic guidance and operational resources as the company assesses acquisitions that it believes may complement its offerings and support its growth strategy. “We are thrilled to partner with Whip Around at this stage of their evolution,” said Park Durrett, Managing Director at Accel‑KKR. “The team has built an exceptional product, and we see opportunity to help accelerate their growth—both organically and through strategic acquisitions. Whip Around has the vision, discipline, and commitment to customer value that we look for in a long‑term partner, and we’re excited to support them as they scale.” “This partnership gives us the flexibility to invest in our roadmap and explore acquisitions that help us scale even faster,” added Hickey. “As fleet technology needs evolve, we see opportunities to bring together complementary capabilities and talent—accelerating our impact for customers and strengthening our competitive position.” Raymond James served as financial advisor to Whip Around. About Whip Around Whip Around is a cloud-based inspection and maintenance platform that digitizes workflows for vehicles, equipment, and job sites. By connecting drivers, mechanics, and managers in real time, it replaces paper-heavy processes with a streamlined digital ecosystem. The platform is highly customizable for any industry— from construction to logistics—utilizing real-time mobile reporting, automated scheduling, and AI-driven insights to improve safety and reduce downtime. By leveraging AI to identify patterns and predict maintenance needs, Whip Around ensures daily operations stay compliant and efficient, allowing businesses to focus on their core goals. For more information, visit whiparound.com. About Accel‑KKR Accel-KKR is a technology-focused investment firm with over $23 billion in cumulative capital commitments. The firm focuses on software and tech-enabled businesses, well-positioned for topline and bottom-line growth. At the core of Accel-KKR’s investment strategy is a commitment to developing strong partnerships with the management teams of its portfolio companies and a focus on building value alongside management by leveraging the significant resources available through the Accel-KKR network. Accel-KKR focuses on middle-market companies and provides a broad range of capital solutions, including buyout capital, minority-growth investments, and credit alternatives. Accel-KKR also invests across various transaction types, including private company recapitalizations, divisional carve-outs, and going-private transactions. Accel-KKR’s headquarters is in Menlo Park, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and London. Visit accel-kkr.com to learn more. Source: https://www.accel-kkr.com/
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