Sports investment continued its maturation last week with a pair of new launches from Apollo Global Management and Arctos Partners: Apollo with a dedicated financing platform, and Arctos with a high-net-worth placement desk.

Apollo launched Apollo Sports Capital, a permanent capital holding company led by new chief executive Al Tylis, with partners Rob Givone and Lee Solomon as co-portfolio managers and Sam Porter as chief strategy officer.

The mandate will focus on credit and hybrid opportunities across professional franchises and leagues, venues and stadium financing, and media rights and events.

It's not a new strategy, says the firm, but rather an extension and formalization of existing work: Apollo has already deployed more than $17 billion across sports and entertainment.

“We bring patient capital, extensive networks, and a range of solutions that go beyond the typical equity-only strategies. Lee, Rob, Sam, and the Apollo team have extensive experience investing across this ecosystem, and together we’ve set out to build something differentiated and enduring in the world of sports,” said Tylis.

New addition Tylis comes with industry experience and has owned or chaired Mexico’s Club Necaxa, Colombia’s La Equidad, and the Brooklyn Pickleball Team, and serves on the boards of G2 Esports, United Pickleball Association, and Canvas Property Group.

“We’ve known Al for many years. He brings a rare combination of investment and operational success in both sports and real estate,” said John Zito, Apollo Asset Management co-president.

Even before ASC, it's been an active year for the firm.

Apollo has provided loans to several European soccer clubs, including Sporting Lisbon and Nottingham Forest. It's also been in talks to acquire a majority stake in Atlético de Madrid, has explored financing European football transfers, and has discussed a league-level initiative with Mexico’s top division to help sell its television rights.

At Arctos, a firm already focused solely on sports, the latest initiative is a build-out of its distribution capabilities. The Dallas-based firm launched Arctos Capital Markets to identify sports investment opportunities and connect them to high-net-worth individuals.

Arctos says it’s the only private investment firm approved to own equity across all five major North American men’s professional leagues and is the largest institutional owner of North American sports equity globally, with stakes in more than 25 teams.

Its portfolio includes 10 percent stakes in the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers (following last year's opening up of the NFL to institutional investment, with Arctos the first private equity firm to own stakes in multiple teams), as well as investments in the NBA’s Warriors and Kings, MLB’s Giants, Dodgers, and Astros, and the NHL’s Penguins, Devils, and Lightning; the firm also holds an interest in Liverpool.

“Our goal is simple: be the first call,” said Doc O’Connor, co-founder and co-managing partner. “If you are an individual investor seeking direct sports franchise ownership exposure, Arctos Capital Markets offers an efficient path to minority or control ownership.”

• BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners is in advanced talks to acquire Aligned Data Centers, a Plano, Texas-based data center provider backed by Macquarie, for around $40 billion, per Bloomberg.

• Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) agreed to acquire Dallas-based Comerica (NYSE: CMA) for $10.9 billion in an all-stock deal.

• Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) invested $2 billion in prediction market platform Polymarket, valuing the company at around $8 billion.

• CVC Capital Partners agreed to acquire a 20% stake in International Schools Partnership, a global K-12 education platform, which remains majority owned by Partners Group with a minority investment from OMERS, in a deal valuing the company at around $7 billion.

• Qualtrics, backed by Silver Lake and CPP Investments, agreed to acquire Press Ganey Forsta, a healthcare-focused technology company, for $6.75 billion from Ares Management and Leonard Green & Partners.

• Ardian agreed to acquire Energia Group, an Irish utility, for more than €2.5 billion from I Squared Capital.

• Bridgepoint agreed to acquire a significant minority stake in Chime Software, a UK-based field management software provider to the construction industry.

• Platinum Equity agreed to acquire Owens & Minor's (NYSE: OMI) Products & Healthcare Services segment, a vertically-integrated medical supply distribution platform, for $375 million in cash.

• Marlin Equity Partners has hired Evercore to explore a sale of Medius, a Swedish cloud-based accounts payable automation software provider, which could be valued at about $2 billion, with a process potentially launching early next year, per Bloomberg.

• Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is preparing to sell its pipeline assets in the Denver-Julesburg shale basin, which could fetch more than $2 billion, and has hired Bank of America to advise, per Reuters.

• Mari, Ari Emanuel's new company focused on acquiring live events businesses, raised $2 billion from RedBird Capital Partners, Qatar Investment Authority, Apollo, and Ares Management.

• Mountaingate Capital acquired a majority stake in Walker Sands, a Chicago-based integrated B2B growth services agency, from Stone-Goff Partners.

• Brookfield and Powerco acquired Clarus, a New Zealand energy group, from Igneo Infrastructure Partners for NZ$2 billion.

• Advent International and Corvex Private Equity agreed to acquire Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII), a global leadership advisory firm, for approximately $1.3 billion.

• Janus Henderson Group, a 5% shareholder of U-blox, is rejecting Advent International's $1.3 billion takeover offer for the Swiss chipmaker, citing undervaluation.

• TopBuild (NYSE: BLD) acquired Specialty Products and Insulation, a distributor and fabricator of mechanical insulation and spray foam solutions, from Incline Equity Partners for $1 billion.

• Japan Post agreed to acquire a 14.9% stake in Logisteed, a Japanese logistics company, for $949 million from KKR.

• Shawbrook, a specialist lender backed by BC Partners and Pollen Street Capital, is preparing for a London IPO that could raise about £400 million.

• GenNx360 Capital Partners acquired Heartland Business Systems, a Little Chute, Wisconsin-based provider of IT services for commercial and public sector clients, from A&M Capital Opportunities.

• SAIC (NYSE: SAIC) agreed to acquire SilverEdge Government Solutions, a software and technology solutions provider for national security missions, for $205 million in cash from Godspeed Capital Partners.

• Spectrum Equity invested more than $180 million in CyberCube, a cyber risk modeling and analytics provider.

• Paramount Skydance (NYSE: PARA), backed by RedBird Capital Partners, agreed to acquire media startup The Free Press for up to $150 million, and named its founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS.

• Nautic Partners acquired Cenavera Nutrition, a food service provider for K-12 schools, from Harkness Capital Partners.

• Commonwealth Electrical Technologies, backed by majority investor Broad Sky Partners, acquired NuWave Energy Solutions, a Norwell, Massachusetts-based energy-efficiency company.

• Lebronze Alloys, an Astorg portfolio company, acquired Manufacture pour l'Extrusion d'Alliages, a French provider of copper and copper alloy profile extrusion, marking its fourth add-on acquisition in a year.

• Vee Healthtek, backed by TA Associates, acquired Precision Practice Management, a St. Louis-based revenue cycle management company.

• HGGC invested in Sterling Brokers, a Canadian benefits brokerage and third-party administrator, from True Wind Capital.

• Infinity Engineered Products, a Turnspire Capital Partners portfolio company and provider of Goodyear-branded air springs, acquired Meklas Otomotiv, a Turkish air spring manufacturer.

• KPS Capital Partners is vetting advisers to shop Pemco, a Belgian enamel coatings and glass company, per PE Hub.

• Avance Investment Management invested in Barchemy, a Donora, Pennsylvania-based developer and manufacturer of better-for-you chocolate and confectionery ingredients.

• Terramont Infrastructure Partners acquired a majority interest in Bull Moose Capital, Canada's largest provider of natural gas compression solutions, from TriWest Capital Partners.

• Cadogan Tate, backed by TSG Consumer Partners, acquired Trefethen & Co Bader & Olson, a Seattle-based specialist in furniture receiving, warehousing, delivery, and installation services.

• Westland Insurance, a portfolio company of Ontario Teachers, acquired Beneficial Insurance Solutions, a Calgary-based legacy brokerage.

• TA Associates acquired a majority stake in FinQuery, an Atlanta-based provider of AI-powered accounting automation solutions.

• SOFTRAX, a portfolio company of TELEO Capital Management, acquired BluLogix, a provider of subscription billing and revenue management software.

• WSB, a GHK Capital Partners portfolio company, acquired CAS Consulting & Services, an Austin, Texas-based civil engineering firm.

• Davis-Standard, a portfolio company of Gamut Capital Management, agreed to acquire FB Balzanelli, an Italian coiler manufacturer.

• Madison Energy Infrastructure, a portfolio company of EQT Infrastructure, acquired NextEra Energy’s (NYSE: NEE) distributed generation platform.

• Smith System, backed by MidOcean Partners, acquired Utilimarc, a Minneapolis-based fleet analytics and benchmarking solutions provider.

• TZP Group invested in True Lacrosse to launch True Sports Group, a youth sports platform headquartered in Illinois.

• Provident Energy Management, a Northleaf Capital Partners portfolio company, acquired PowerStream Energy Services, a Canadian sub-metering and billing solutions provider, from Alectra Energy Services.

• Confluent (Nasdaq:CFLT), a data streaming software provider, is exploring a sale after attracting acquisition interest from private equity firms and other technology companies, per Reuters.

• Redwood Family Care Network, a portfolio company of Webster Equity Partners, acquired Eagles Wing, a Minnesota-based provider of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Riata Capital Group invested in Government Window, a Kennesaw, Georgia-based integrated payments platform for local and state governments.

• Boyu Capital and NJF Capital are weighing a joint bid for Infront Sports & Media AG, a Swiss sports marketing firm owned by Dalian Wanda Group Co., per Bloomberg.

• MKB Equity Partners led a growth investment in Cascadia Windows & Doors, with participation from Blue Earth Capital and Canada Growth Fund.

• Plusgrade, a portfolio company of General Atlantic and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, acquired Oaky, a provider of hospitality upselling software.

• Harkness Capital Partners invested in Premier Fence, a Canton, Massachusetts-based commercial fencing provider.

• Thetford Corporation, a Monomoy Capital Partners portfolio company, acquired Dave Carter & Associates, an Ocala, Florida-based distributor of electrical, plumbing, and building supplies for the RV and manufactured housing markets.

Tech, Vertical SaaS, & Misc. Enterprise

• EvenUp, an AI platform for personal injury law, raised $150 million in Series E funding at a valuation of more than $2 billion led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from REV, HarbourVest, Lightspeed, and Broadlight Capital.

• Supabase, a Postgres-based development platform, raised $100 million in Series E funding at a $5 billion valuation co-led by Accel and Peak XV, with participation from Figma, YC, Coatue, Felicis, Craft, and Square Peg.

• DualEntry, an AI-native ERP software, raised $90 million in Series A funding co-led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Khosla Ventures, with participation from GV, Contrary, and Vesey Ventures.

• Filigran, a French extended threat management cybersecurity startup, raised $58 million in Series C funding led by Eurazeo, with participation from T.Capital, Accel, and Insight Partners.

• Harvey, a legal AI startup, raised €50 million in Series E extension funding led by EQT Growth.

• Bee Maps, a Solana-based decentralized AI mapping network powered by Hivemapper, raised $32 million in Series A funding co-led by Pantera Capital, LDA Capital, Borderless Capital, and Ajna Capital.

• Moonlake AI, an AI research lab for real-time interactive content creation, raised $28 million in seed funding co-led by AIX Ventures, Threshold Ventures, and NVentures.

• Quilter, a physics-driven AI for autonomous PCB layout, raised $25 million in Series B funding led by Index Ventures.

• Realm.Security, an AI-native Security Data Pipeline Platform, raised $15 million in Series A funding led by Jump Capital, with participation from Glasswing Ventures and Accomplice.

• TransCrypts, a blockchain-based digital identity platform, raised $15 million in seed funding led by Pantera Capital, with participation from Lightspeed Faction, Alpha Edison, Motley Fool Ventures, California Innovation Fund, Techstars, Alumni Ventures, Protocol Labs, Apertu Capital, Informed Ventures, Asymmetry Ventures, and The Atland Fund.

• Katana, a Tallinn, Estonia-based inventory management platform for SMBs, raised €14 million in Series B extension funding led by Cogito Capital Partners, with participation from Northzone, Atomico, 42Cap, and Lightrock.

• The Invigilator, a South African ed-tech startup providing AI anti-cheating software for online assessments, raised $11 million in new funding led by Kaltroco.

• Arcjet, a code-integrated security platform, raised $8.3 million in Series A funding led by Plural, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and Seedcamp.

• Cyberwave, a Milan-based AI robotics infrastructure platform connecting AI agents with machines, raised €7 million in new funding led by United Ventures, with participation from The TechShop, Vento, and Pi Campus.

• HyperSpectral, an AI spectral intelligence company, raised $7 million in Series A-2 funding co-led by RRE Ventures and Kibo Ventures.

Fintech

• Meanwhile, a Bitcoin life insurer, raised $82 million in new funding, co-led by Haun Ventures and Bain Capital Crypto, with participation from Pantera Capital, Apollo, Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures, and Stillmark.

• Feedzai, an AI RiskOps platform for financial crime prevention, raised $75 million in Series E funding, co-led by Lince Capital, Iberis Capital, and Explorer Investments, with participation from Oxy Capital and Buenavista Equity Partners.

• Price.com, an AI savings platform, raised $12 million in seed funding led by Waterbridge Capital, with participation from Founders Fund, Social Capital, TRAC VC, 500 Global, Abstract Ventures, and AIX Ventures.

• Akua, an AI-powered payment infrastructure for Latin America, raised $8.5 million in seed funding, co-led by Flourish Ventures and Cathay Latam, with participation from Atlântico, Honey Island-4UM Investimentos, Krealo, Simma Capital, Propel Venture Partners, and HTwenty.

• Agio Ratings, a London-based digital asset risk insights platform, raised $6 million in post-seed funding, led by AlbionVC, with participation from Portage Ventures, MS&AD, and Gaingels.

Consumer & Media

• Bettani Farms, a plant-based cheesemaker, raised $6.5 million in Series A funding led by S2G Investments, with participation from At One Ventures, Gratitude Railroad, Manta Ray Ventures, and Toba Capital.

• AltStore, a third-party app store, raised $6 million in Series A funding led by Pace Capital.

Healthcare

• Soufflé Therapeutics, an RNA biotech, raised $200 million in Series A funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Polaris Partners and ARCH Venture Partners.

• NanoPhoria Bioscience, a biotech developing heart failure therapy, raised €83.5 million in Series A funding, co-led by XGEN Venture, Sofinnova Partners, and CDP Venture Capital, with participation from Panakès Partners.

• Heidi Health, an AI medical scribe platform, raised $65 million in Series B funding led by Point72 Private Investments, with participation from Goodwater Capital, Headline, Blackbird VC, LG Technology Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Latitude.

• Midi Health, a virtual menopause and perimenopause care company, raised $50 million in Series C funding led by Advance Venture Partners.

• Jupiter Endovascular, a medical technology company developing a new class of endovascular procedures using TFX technology, raised over $40 million in Series B funding led by Sonder Capital, with participation from Senvest Management and LB Investment.

• Affinia Therapeutics, a gene therapy company, raised $40 million in Series C funding led by NEA, with participation from Eli Lilly & Company, Alexandria Venture Investments, Atlas Venture, Avidity Partners, F-Prime, GV, Mass General Brigham Ventures, and Perceptive Advisors.

• Remedy Robotics, a developer of remotely operated endovascular robots for stroke and cardiovascular disease, raised $35 million in new funding from DCVC, Blackbird Ventures, KdT Ventures, and Build Collective.

• Simple Life, a London-based AI weight loss coaching app, raised $35 million in Series B funding co-led by HartBeat Ventures and Liquidity.

• Lumen Bioscience, a clinical-stage biotech developing oral biologics, raised $30 million in Series C extension funding led by WestRiver Group.

• Phagos, a Paris-based biotech developing AI-driven bacteriophage drugs for bacterial diseases, raised €25 million in Series A funding co-led by CapAgro, Hoxton Ventures, CapHorn, and Demeter, with participation from Acurio Ventures, Citizen Capital, Entrepreneur First, Founders Capital, and Station F.

• Oath Surgical, an AI-powered surgical care company, raised $24 million in Series A funding led by FPV Ventures, with participation from McKesson Ventures, Oxford Science Enterprises, Black Opal Ventures, Tau Ventures, and Rogue VC.

• AeroRx Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech developing nebulized therapies for chronic respiratory diseases, raised $21 million in Series A funding led by Avalon BioVentures, with participation from Correlation Ventures and Alexandria Venture Investments.

• Attuned Intelligence, a healthcare AI company, raised $13 million in seed funding co-led by Radical Ventures and Threshold Ventures.

• Peer AI, an AI platform for life sciences regulatory documentation, raised $12.1 million in pre-seed and seed funding co-led by Flare Capital Partners and SignalFire.

Industrials, Greentech, & Other

• SwarmFarm Robotics, an agricultural robotics company, raised $30 million in Series B funding led by Edaphon, with participation from Clean Energy Finance Corporation, QIC, Emmertech, Tenacious Ventures, and Artesian.

• OpenSolar, a solar software platform, raised $20 million in new funding from Titanium Ventures, Google, and 2150 Sustainability Fund.

• Energy Robotics, an AI platform for autonomous robot and drone inspection, raised $13.5 million in Series A funding co-led by Blue Bear Capital and Climate Investment, with participation from Futury Capital and Hessen Capital.

• Kiutra, a magnetic cooling company for quantum technologies, raised €13 million in Series A funding co-led by NovaCapital and 55 North, with participation from High-Tech Gründerfonds.

• Tycho AI, a developer of resilient navigation and AI systems for unmanned vehicles, raised $10 million in Series A funding led by FirstMark, with participation from Pillar VC.

• TiHive, a Grenoble, France-based company developing Terahertz-AI quality control solutions, raised €8 million in Series A funding co-led by Karista, Wind, and the EIC Fund.

• Brookfield raised $20 billion for its second global energy transition fund.

• Bain Capital raised $14 billion for its fourteenth flagship private equity fund, exceeding its original $10 billion target.

• Blackstone has raised $10 billion for its third Asia buyout fund and is continuing towards its $12.9 billion hard cap.

• Manulife Investment Management raised $5.5 billion for its third flagship infrastructure fund focused on high-quality core-plus assets.

• Ares Management raised $5.3 billion for its infrastructure secondaries strategy.

• Meridiam raised $1.8 billion for its fourth North American infrastructure fund, exceeding its $1.7 billion target.

• Energy Impact Partners raised $1.36 billion for its third flagship fund targeting growth and middle market opportunities in the energy tech industry.

• TCG Crossover raised $1.3 billion for its third fund.

• Radical Ventures raised $650 million for its early-stage AI fund.

• August Equity raised £350 million for its sixth lower middle market buyout fund.

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