Horizon Quantum and IonQ Enter into Strategic Agreement to Unlock Quantum Potential

^{This photo depicts a current trapped ion system from IonQ. The system to be delivered to Horizon will be IonQ’s next-generation 256-qubit technology}


Horizon Quantum To Acquire IonQ 256-Qubit Trapped-Ion System

SINGAPORE & COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 10 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Horizon Quantum Holdings Ltd. (“Horizon Quantum”), a pioneer of software infrastructure for quantum applications and IonQ — the world’s leading quantum platform company — today announced a strategic agreement. Horizon Quantum will purchase one of IonQ’s first 6th-generation, chip-based 256-qubit trapped-ion systems, in furtherance of Horizon Quantum’s mission to unlock the full potential of quantum computing with its software platform. The acquisition of the 256-qubit system marks a further step in Horizon Quantum’s efforts to enable broad quantum advantage.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409584530/en/ 

IonQ’s 256-qubit system is designed to provide researchers and developers significantly more computing capacity to explore complex problems, with its microwave gate operations and 99.99% gate fidelity, while producing more accurate and reliable solutions using Horizon Quantum’s real-world software infrastructure. The forthcoming IonQ system will be designed so all of its qubits can work together efficiently from its “all-to-all connectivity” and parallel operations enabling a broader range of calculations with greater flexibility.

With this technology, Horizon Quantum plans to expand the capabilities of its quantum hardware testbed beyond the initial superconducting system with a second, technologically distinct hardware modality. Horizon Quantum will be among only a few efforts globally to operate commercial systems of multiple modalities, which will allow Horizon Quantum to make further progress towards its goal of building the most capable, hardware-agnostic environment for quantum software development. Horizon Quantum intends to expand support for trapped-ion systems in Triple Alpha, along with enhancing the real-time runtime capabilities within its execution infrastructure. This is expected to enable advanced functionality, including general control flow, dynamic memory allocation, and concurrent classical/quantum function evaluation, empowering developers to go beyond the limits of static circuit execution and create adaptive, expressive quantum programs. By tightly integrating Triple Alpha with frontier quantum computing systems, Horizon Quantum aims to ensure that its software infrastructure provides developers with the most direct path to broad quantum advantage.

“I could not be more delighted to be working with IonQ to bring trapped ion and world-leading gate fidelities to our testbed,” said Horizon Quantum Founder and CEO Dr Joe Fitzsimons. “Bringing a state-of-the-art system with the capabilities of hundreds of qubits will provide an important and cutting-edge resource to bear in our quest to unlock broad quantum advantage for developers.”

About Horizon Quantum

Horizon Quantum [Nasdaq: HQ] is on a mission is to unlock broad quantum advantage by building software infrastructure that empowers developers to use quantum computing to solve the world’s toughest computational problems. Founded in 2018 by Dr Fitzsimons, a leading researcher and former professor with more than two decades of experience in quantum computing, Horizon Quantum seeks to bridge the gap between today’s quantum hardware and tomorrow’s applications through the creation of advanced software development tools. Its integrated development environment, Triple Alpha, enables developers to write sophisticated, hardware-agnostic quantum programs at multiple levels of abstraction. Learn more at www.horizonquantum.com.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the forthcoming IonQ Tempo, will be the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Toronto, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

Note to Investors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. The expectations, estimates, and projections of the businesses of Horizon Quantum and IonQ may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “potential,” “plan” “enable,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and Horizon Quantum and IonQ therefore caution against placing undue reliance on any of these forward- looking statements. Many of these factors are outside of the control of Horizon Quantum and IonQ and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) statements regarding estimates and forecasts of other financial, performance and operational metrics and projections of market opportunity; (2) references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the strategic relationship with IonQ; (3) the outcome of any efforts to integrate IonQ’s trapped-ion technology with Horizon Quantum’s software infrastructure; (4) Horizon Quantum’s ability to scale and grow its business, and the advantages and expected growth of Horizon Quantum; (5) the cash position of Horizon Quantum; (6) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the recently completed business combination with dMY Squared Technology Group, Inc., which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Horizon Quantum to grow and manage growth profitably and source and retain its key employees; (7) costs related to the strategic relationship with IonQ; (8) changes in applicable laws and regulations or political and economic developments; (9) the possibility that Horizon Quantum may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; (10) Horizon Quantum’s estimates of expenses and profitability; (11) difficulties operating Horizon Quantum’s quantum processors and the possibility that the quantum processors do not provide the advantages that Horizon Quantum expects; (12) the ability of Horizon Quantum to integrate access to its quantum computing test bed, including IonQ’s technology, within its Triple Alpha platform; (13) the ability of Horizon Quantum’s coding languages to provide additional abstraction when compared to other quantum computing solutions; (14) the entry into the Quantum Systems Agreement, dated March 31, 2026 among Horizon Quantum and IonQ, Inc. (the “IonQ Agreement”), and Horizon Quantum’s ability to recognize the benefits of the IonQ Agreement; (15) the ability to maintain the listing of Horizon Quantum’s Class A ordinary shares and warrants on Nasdaq; and (16) other risks and uncertainties included in the “Risk Factors” sections of the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Horizon Quantum in connection with the Business Combination, other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Horizon Quantum, and those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in IonQ’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. New risks emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risks, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Horizon Quantum and IonQ do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Horizon Quantum media contact
Yanina Blaclard
media@horizonquantum.com

Horizon Quantum investor contact
Katherine Bailon
investors@horizonquantum.com

IonQ media contacts
Cheryl Krauss
cheryl.krauss@ionq.co

Tor Constantino
tor.constantino@ionq.co

IonQ investor contact
investors@ionq.co

Source : Horizon Quantum Holdings Ltd.

BOULDER IMAGING SECURES GROWTH INVESTMENT FROM LIME ROCK NEW ENERGY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- Boulder Imaging Inc, a provider of ultra-high-speed machine vision technologies for wind energy and manufacturing applications, has received a growth investment from funds managed by Lime Rock New Energy (LRNE) to accelerate its global expansion and technology development.

The investment will support Boulder Imaging’s efforts to expand its presence in wind energy and manufacturing, drive product innovation and enter new markets. The company’s leadership team, including Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technology Officer Carlos Jorquera, will continue to lead the business, retaining significant ownership.

“Lime Rock New Energy is the ideal partner to support the next chapter of our growth. Their investment and strategic support will help us scale our technology, strengthen our competitive position and meet evolving customer needs globally,” said Jorquera in a statement.

Meanwhile, LRNE Managing Director, Mark Lewis said Boulder Imaging’s technologies are uniquely positioned to address critical challenges in wind energy and manufacturing, with solutions like IdentiFlight enabling both environmental protection and operational efficiency as the global wind energy market continues to expand.

Headquartered in Louisville, Colorado, Boulder Imaging specialises in ultra-high-speed machine vision technologies. Its proprietary Vision Inspector platform integrates artificial intelligence (AI), sensor fusion and advanced algorithms to address complex visual inspection challenges across industries such as wind energy, security printing and manufacturing.

The company’s flagship IdentiFlight system uses long-range optics and AI to detect and identify protected bird species at wind farms, enabling operators to reduce avian fatalities by more than 95 per cent while minimising energy losses. The system is deployed across wind farms on six continents, reinforcing Boulder Imaging’s leadership in AI-driven environmental protection solutions.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Boulder Imaging was advised by Capstone Partners and Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, while LRNE was advised by Goodwin Procter LLP.

-- BERNAMA

Cloudera Advances Hybrid Data Platform with Long-Term Stability, Elastic Scale, and Open Data Interoperability

 

The latest platform advancements eliminate disruptive upgrade cycles, provide flexibility across hybrid environments, and enable AI anywhere while accelerating analytics across the data estate.


SAN JOSE, Calif., April 9 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cloudera, the only company bringing AI to data anywhere, today announced significant advancements to its hybrid data and AI platform. These updates help enterprises modernize seamlessly, lower infrastructure costs, and accelerate analytics and AI across their entire data estate.

Enterprises face mounting pressure to modernize data platforms while managing cost and risk, creating significant operational strain. As AI investment accelerates, projected by Gartner to reach $3.33 trillion by 2027, frequent upgrade cycles, rising infrastructure costs, and growing complexity hinder innovation and divert resources from high-value analytics and AI.

Cloudera addresses these challenges by providing long-term stability and a predictable foundation for enterprise data environments. With extended support until 2032 and a unified platform experience across cloud and data centers, Cloudera enables organizations to reduce operational overhead and focus on advancing AI initiatives.

These advancements reinforce Cloudera’s position as the only platform to offer long-term stability, elastic scale across cloud and data centers, and open interoperability in a single architecture, without requiring data movement or disruptive migrations.

Key features include:

• Guaranteed operational stability: Offers a stable, secure foundation for enterprise data environments, allowing organizations to standardize mission-critical infrastructure, reduce risk, and eliminate costly upgrade cycles while aligning platform strategy with long-term investments.
• Modernize seamlessly: Provides simultaneous updates to on-premises and cloud deployments, ensuring consistency across the entire hybrid data estate. This enables organizations to boost performance and meet changing regulatory requirements without the expense of re-platforming.

The update also introduces new capabilities to enhance performance, flexibility, and data collaboration across modern data architectures. Automated optimization of Apache Iceberg tables, powered by Cloudera Lakehouse Optimizer, accelerates query performance by 38% and reduces storage overhead by up to 36% with minimal manual effort. Organizations can also maximize their on-prem investment while dynamically extending their private data centers into the cloud with Cloudera Cloud Bursting, unlocking on-demand elasticity without data duplication or application rewrites. Expanded data sharing enables secure access to live Iceberg tables across external platforms without copying or duplicating data, reducing silos, preserving data integrity, and maintaining governance.

“Our customers no longer accept trade-offs,” said Leo Brunnick, Chief Product Officer at Cloudera. “They want the flexibility of the cloud, the control of the data center, and the ability to scale without disruption. This update delivers all three on a single, unified platform built for modern data and AI.”

Cloudera is showcasing its latest platform capabilities this week at Iceberg Summit 2026. To learn more, visit cloudera.com or visit Cloudera at booth #G4 at the event.

About Cloudera
Cloudera is the only hybrid data and AI platform company that large organizations trust to bring AI to their data anywhere it lives. Unlike other providers, Cloudera delivers a consistent cloud experience that converges public clouds, on-prem data centers, and the edge, leveraging a proven open-source foundation. As the pioneer in big data, Cloudera empowers businesses to apply AI and assert control over 100% of their data, in all forms, improving security, governance, and real-time and predictive insights. The world’s largest brands across all industries rely on Cloudera to transform decision-making and ultimately boost bottom lines, safeguard against threats, and save lives.

To learn more, visit Cloudera.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. ©2026 Cloudera and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cloudera, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact
Jess Hohn-Cabana
cloudera@v2comms.com 

SOURCE: Cloudera, Inc.

MEIJI PHARMA ASIA BEGINS OPERATIONS IN SINGAPORE TO STRENGTHEN ASEAN PRESENCE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- Meiji Seika Pharma Co Ltd has announced that its subsidiary, Meiji Pharma Asia Pte Ltd, commenced operations in Singapore on April 1, marking a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the ASEAN region.

In a statement, the company said the Singapore-based subsidiary will support the commercialisation, marketing and distribution of pharmaceuticals, including vaccines, across the region.

Meiji Seika Pharma aims to become “a leading company in Asia in the field of infectious diseases” under its “Meiji Group 2026 Vision”, leveraging nearly half a century of experience in manufacturing and marketing pharmaceuticals in Thailand and Indonesia.

Singapore will serve as a regional hub for the company’s business and commercial strategies, aimed at enhancing its influence and accelerating growth across ASEAN markets.

Established on Dec 10, 2025, Meiji Pharma Asia will focus on pharmaceuticals for infectious diseases, haematologic cancers and lifestyle-related diseases, with the aim of ensuring reliable supply and contributing to public health in the region.

-- BERNAMA

Bitget Brings Crypto Into Everyday Spending With APAC Launch of Bitget Card

VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 6 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), in partnership with Visa and DCS, launched the Bitget Card across selected markets in Asia Pacific (APAC), extending crypto out of exchanges into everyday spending and marking another step toward a more unified financial experience where digital assets work quietly in the background of daily life.

The initial rollout makes a virtual Bitget Card available to APAC users, with a physical card set to follow in the coming months. Issued in collaboration with DCS and powered by Visa’s global payments network, Bitget Card enables users to convert crypto into fiat for everyday spending across merchants across APAC. Payments are processed instantly and feel no different from a standard card transaction, removing the friction typically associated with off-ramping or manual conversion. Crypto operates quietly in the background while users transact through familiar payment rails, supporting seamless everyday adoption

“Partnerships across the ecosystem are key to bringing digital assets into everyday payments,” said Joan Han, COO of DCS and DeCard. “By combining Bitget’s ecosystem with DCS’s issuing infrastructure and Visa’s global acceptance network, the Bitget Card enables users to move from crypto holdings to everyday spending through a familiar card experience.”

To accompany the launch, Bitget Card offers one of the most competitive reward structures in the region, with up to 20% cashback on eligible spending, capped at $800. Low foreign exchange fees further position the card for globally mobile users who expect spending tools to work across borders without friction.

“For crypto to become truly mainstream, it can’t ask people to constantly think about it,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “It should operate quietly in the background while people go about living their lives. Bitget Card reflects the shift where crypto becomes infrastructure, not an interruption.”

The launch aligns with Bitget’s Universal Exchange vision, which brings crypto, derivatives, and tokenised traditional assets into a single ecosystem. By extending that framework into payments through partnerships with Visa and DCS, Bitget is narrowing the gap between digital assets and real-world commerce, allowing users to move between markets and everyday spending without switching contexts.

Additional features include enhanced benefits for VIP members, including higher rebates and complimentary physical card issuance once available.

“As digital assets become more widely held, consumers increasingly expect simple and reliable ways to use that value in everyday life,” said Adeline Kim, Country Manager for Singapore & Brunei at Visa. “The Bitget Card reflects how payments are evolving — enabling a seamless move from digital assets to everyday spending through a familiar Visa card experience, at scale and across borders.”

Looking ahead, Bitget plans to expand the Bitget Card with premium physical designs, fee-free ATM withdrawals of up to $100 per month, and access to a global network of airport lounges, reinforcing its positioning as a long-term lifestyle payment tool.

As financial systems continue to converge, the line between crypto and traditional finance is becoming less visible to consumers. With Bitget Card, digital assets integrate seamlessly into everyday payments, allowing users to spend, travel, and move globally through familiar card experiences.

To apply for a Bitget card, please visit here.

Disclaimer: This is for information only, not investment advice or solicitation to trade or use any service. Our services may not be available in certain jurisdictions or for users in certain regions.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry's lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0418876f-89ee-4aa8-af05-e55f92e05b50

SOURCE: Bitget Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

Standing Ovation raises $34.2 million to scale up its breakthrough technology for producing dairy proteins through precision fermentation, offering a sovereign and sustainable response to the surge in global demand for protein

Standing Ovation raises $34.2 million to scale up its breakthrough technology for producing dairy proteins through precision fermentation, offering a sovereign and sustainable response to the surge in global demand for protein 

 

• The company secures a $28.5 million (€25 million) Series B financing round led by the Ecotechnologies 2 fund managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance, and Crédit Mutuel Innovation, alongside its existing shareholders and leading investors, bolstered by an additional $5.7 million (€5 million) in non-dilutive financing
• Danone Ventures joins Bel Group as a shareholder in Standing Ovation
• This funding will primarily be used to accelerate the commercialization of our proteins in North America, prior to expanding into Europe and Asia, supported by the increase in our existing manufacturing capacity
   

Paris, March 31 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standing Ovation, a French precision fermentation pioneer producing next-generation proteins, has announced a $34.2 million (€30 million) Series B financing round, including $28.5 million in equity (€25 million), led jointly by the Ecotechnologies 2 fund—managed on behalf of the French government by Bpifrance as part of the France 2030 initiative— and Crédit Mutuel Innovation, alongside its existing investors—Astanor, Bel Group, Seventure Partners, GoodStartUp, and Big Idea Ventures—joined by Danone Ventures, Angelor, Newtree, and Noshaq. This investment is supplemented by $5.7 million (€5 million) in non-dilutive financing provided by Bpifrance and a leading banking syndicate.

This new funding round, which follows a €16 million Series A, will finance the commercial rollout of Standing Ovation’s proteins in the United States and, starting end of 2027, in Europe and Asia. The investment from French agri-food giants Groupe Bel and Danone serves as a powerful endorsement of Standing Ovation’s sustainable and sovereign model. Standing Ovation is redefining dairy protein production with a patented process that turns whey permeates into high-value caseins—a premium ingredient in critical demand across the global agrifood industry. The ability to repurpose dairy co-products, which are currently of little to no value, is a major milestone that reshapes the future of the ecosystem.

Yvan Chardonnens, CEO, and Romain Chayot, Co-founder and Managing Director of Standing Ovation: “We thank our investors for their trust and commitment. With the support of leaders like Bel and Danone alongside our industrial partners, our patented technology is becoming the focal point for an industry-wide shift toward sustainable, high-performance proteins. Our ambition is to pioneer a new, circular, and sustainable approach to protein production to meet rapidly growing global demand. By combining technological innovation with the dairy industry’s expertise, we are bridging the gap between the agri-food industry and deep tech. Backed by strong technological barriers to entry, we are accelerating our rollout and helping to strengthen European food sovereignty.”

A world-first, patented technology

Co-founded in 2020 by Managing Director Romain Chayot, a trained agricultural engineer, and led by CEO Yvan Chardonnens, a specialist in B2B strategic transformation, Standing Ovation is based in Paris and employs 36 people. A French Tech 2030 laureate, Standing Ovation has shielded its technology with eight patent families. This breakthrough process upcycles agricultural sugars and milk whey—previously diverted to fertilizer or biogas—into high-quality casein, the cornerstone of dairy protein. This disruptive technology addresses several global challenges:

• A market opportunity driven by the rapid global growth in demand for protein and protein-rich products—it is estimated that an additional 250 million metric tons of protein will be needed by 2050. Standing Ovation provides a complementary and sustainable protein source with enhanced functional properties.
• A matter of national sovereignty: Standing Ovation repurposes local circular resources, effectively reducing the industry's dependence on international supply chains. This issue is all the more critical given that France’s self-sufficiency in milk could be at risk in the next years.
• An environmental benefit, as Standing Ovation’s process drastically reduces the strain on global resources (a 74% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and up to three times less water usage compared to animal casein, according to an ISO-certified life cycle assessment).
   

A win-win model for the dairy sector and the food industry

Standing Ovation is building a model where farmers and manufacturers thrive together. Our process turns dairy side-streams into profitable new markets for producers, and offers the food industry a reliable, high-performance solution to the rising global demand for dairy and protein-rich products. Furthermore, this new resource has the advantage of contributing to the necessary decarbonization of their processing operations. All these factors explain the strategic and industrial partnerships with two French agri-food leaders: the Bel Group since 2022, and now Danone.

A Series B round to accelerate commercialization

With this Series B funding round, Standing Ovation will accelerate the commercialization of its casein. The company has made the strategic decision to partner with manufacturers who are experts in fermentation, rather than opening its own facilities. The United States is Standing Ovation’s primary market, with plans to expand into Europe and Asia starting end of 2027.

What is casein?

Milk proteins are in high demand across both the food industry and consumer markets. Casein is the most abundant: one liter of milk contains 28 grams of casein and 3 grams of beta-lactoglobulin, another protein. As a cornerstone of the dairy industry, casein is essential to the production of everything from cheese and yogurt to ice cream and protein shakes—representing a vast global market. Standing Ovation is the first company in the world to produce casein on a large scale.

Edouard Combette, Senior Investment Director, Bpifrance Green Venture: "Standing Ovation is developing a disruptive technology to produce highly functional proteins with a low environmental footprint, establishing itself as a key player in the sustainable transformation of the food industry. By upcycling dairy permeates through a circular economy approach, the company stands out as a strategic partner of choice for major industrial leaders, as demonstrated by the continued confidence of Bel Group and Danone. We are very proud to support Standing Ovation in this new stage of its development."

Laurianne Garcia-Ordonez, Director of Investments at Crédit Mutuel Innovation: “Consumption of dairy products is growing every year in Europe, while global warming and declining livestock populations suggest that milk production will decrease or even stagnate. Through its production of casein via precision fermentation, Standing Ovation perfectly solves this challenge, making a significant contribution to decarbonizing the dairy sector and adding value to key co-products. With this first investment in the agri-food sector, Crédit Mutuel Innovation reaffirms its ambition in the broad life sciences sector.”

Eric Archambeau, Managing Partner at Astanor, says : “Since the initial seed investment in 2021 of Astanor in  Standing Ovation, we have been alongside the founding team in their impressive evolution from a highly technical R&D organization into one of the most advanced industrial players in precision-fermented dairy proteins, positioning itself as a leading supplier of functional and specialty proteins for both alternative and conventional dairy applications.”

Caroline Sorlin, Chief Venture Officer at Bel Group: “Three years after identifying Standing Ovation as a true gem of the FoodTech sector, our renewed strategic partnership and significant participation in this Series B round confirm our long-term commitment. As a pioneer, Bel is proud to continue this win-win collaboration, blending our historic cheese-making expertise with their cutting-edge technology. Together, we are accelerating the concrete application of innovation to transform the food model, ensuring we provide sustainable, high-quality, and accessible products that meet the expectations of tomorrow’s consumers.”

Jakub Kalinowski, Managing Director, Danone Ventures: “Standing Ovation embodies the kind of breakthrough, science-based innovation that Danone Ventures is proud to support. Their approach to producing bioidentical caseins through precision fermentation offers meaningful progress across Danone’s Impact Journey, from advancing nutrition to enabling more sustainable, circular production models. We look forward to partnering with the Standing Ovation team and helping unlock opportunities across Danone to accelerate their impact.”
                                                                     
Press contacts

Maarc
Fatoumata Nhaco / +33 (0)6.48.42.58.89 / fatoumata.nhaco@maarc.fr
Salma Belabes / +33 (0)6.16.83.33.20 / salma.belabes@maarc.fr

About Standing Ovation
Co-founded in 2020 by microbiologist and agronomist Romain Chayot, Standing Ovation is a French company specializing in precision fermentation. As a winner of the French Tech 2030 program, it receives support from the French government and major investors for its industrialization efforts. In 2022, Standing Ovation signed a strategic partnership with the Bel Group. Using its technology, the company has developed its first patented ingredient, a casein produced with precision fermentation called Advanced Casein™, which has very low CO2 emissions and is water- and land-efficient, while offering nutritional, taste, and functional qualities equivalent to those of protein derived from livestock. Standing Ovation plans to launch its flagship protein in the United States as early as 2026 and aims to become a global leader in food and environmental transformation. To learn more, visit Standing Ovation.co.

About Bpifrance and the Ecotechnologies 2 Fund
Bpifrance provides financing to businesses—at every stage of their development—through loans, guarantees, and equity. Bpifrance supports them in their innovation and international expansion initiatives. Bpifrance also supports their export activities through a wide range of products. Consulting, university partnerships, networking, and acceleration programs for startups, SMEs, and mid-market companies are also part of the services offered to entrepreneurs.
Thanks to Bpifrance and its 50 regional offices, entrepreneurs have access to a local, dedicated, and effective point of contact to help them overcome their challenges.
With €300 million in government funding under the France 2030 initiative, the Ecotechnologies 2 fund is managed by Bpifrance Investissement. It invests amounts ranging from €2 million to €10 million, systematically seeking pari passu co-investments with private sector partners as part of a prudent investment strategy. It targets equity and quasi-equity transactions for minority stakes in innovative SMEs. More information at: www.bpifrance.fr - https://presse.bpifrance.fr /

Follow us on X (Former Twitter): @Bpifrance - @BpifrancePresse and Linkedin : Bpifrance

About the France 2030 Investment Plan:

• Reflects a twofold ambition: to bring about lasting transformation in key sectors of our economy (healthcare, energy, automotive, aerospace, and space) through technological innovation, and to position France not merely as a player, but as a leader in the world of tomorrow. From basic research and the emergence of an idea to the production of a new product or service, France 2030 supports the entire innovation lifecycle through to industrialization.
• It is unprecedented in its scale: €54 billion will be invested to ensure that our businesses, universities, and research organizations fully succeed in their transitions within these strategic sectors. The goal is to enable them to respond competitively to the environmental and competitiveness challenges of the coming world, and to foster the future leaders of our sectors of excellence. France 2030 is defined by two cross-cutting objectives: to allocate 50% of its spending to decarbonizing the economy, and 50% to emerging, innovative actors, without any spending that is harmful to the environment (in accordance with the “Do No Significant Harm” principle).
• Is implemented collectively: designed and rolled out in consultation with economic, academic, local, and European stakeholders to determine its strategic direction and key initiatives. Project leaders are invited to submit their proposals through open, rigorous, and selective procedures to receive government support.
• Is overseen by the General Secretariat for Investment on behalf of the Prime Minister and implemented by the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the French National Research Agency (ANR), Bpifrance, and the Banque des Territoires.

More information on: france2030.gouv.fr | @SGPI_avenir

About Crédit Mutuel Innovation
Crédit Mutuel Innovation is the venture capital investment subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Equity (€5 billion in assets under management). It invests equity capital ranging from €1 million to €20 million in innovative companies in the digital, life sciences, and deep tech sectors. Crédit Mutuel Innovation helps entrepreneurs unlock their growth potential by connecting them to companies within its ecosystems. Because it takes more than five years to build a global leader, Crédit Mutuel Innovation makes long-term investments of its own capital and builds lasting relationships with the entrepreneurs it supports.
To learn more: www.creditmutuel-innovation.eu

About Astanor
Astanor is a leading investment platform investing from seed to growth stage, backing entrepreneurs focused on redesigning agrifood systems that improve metabolic health and regenerate natural capital.
We invest in science-driven solutions at the intersection of nutrition and metabolic health to improve human wellbeing while restoring planetary health. Our global portfolio spans regenerative inputs, specialised proteins, functional ingredients, microbiome platforms, and enabling services that reconnect biological value chains into resilient, health-positive systems. www.astanor.com

About Bel Group
Bel Group is a major player in the cheese, fruit, and plant-based portions segment, with a mission to provide healthier and more sustainable food for all. Its portfolio of differentiated, internationally recognized brands includes The Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Babybel®, Boursin®, Pom’Potes® and GoGo squeeZ®, as well as around twenty local brands. Together, these brands enabled the Group to generate sales of €3.83 billion in 2025. Around 11,000 employees across 60 subsidiaries worldwide contribute to the Group’s mission. Bel products are manufactured at 29 production sites and distributed in more than 120 countries.
www.groupe-bel.com   

About Danone Ventures
Danone Ventures, the global corporate venture capital arm of Danone, partners since 2016 with visionary, sciencedriven startups that are shaping the future of food. Through strategic investments and deep industry expertise, the team supports entrepreneurs who share Danone’s commitment to bring health through food to as many people as possible. Danone Ventures strengthens its portfolio by bridging connections across the global startup ecosystem and Danone’s teams worldwide, helping bring innovative solutions to scale through partnerships. Together with the companies in which it is invested, Danone Ventures advances a more nutritious, sustainable, and resilient food system. More information on Danone Ventures.com

About Seventure Partners
Seventure Partners is a long-term capital investor that actively supports innovative companies aiming to generate positive outcomes for people, society, sustainability, and the planet.
With approximately 1 billion euros in net commitments under management as of year-end 2025, Seventure Partners is a leading European venture capital firm that has been investing since 1997 in high-growth innovative companies across two main areas: (i) life sciences (biotechnology, healthcare and digital health, nutrition, foodtech, bioeconomy, blue economy (ocean and water), aquaculture, animal health, agriculture, sports and wellness) with a particular focus on microbiome-related innovations within a One Health framework, across Europe, Asia, and North America; and (ii) digital technologies (fintech, retailtech, cybersecurity, etc.) in Western Europe.
Investment tickets range from 500,000 euros to 10 million euros per round and up to 20 million euros per company, spanning seed, venture capital, growth, IPO, development capital, and LBO stages.
In Life Sciences, Seventure Partners primarily invests in "classic" approaches such as drugs, medical devices, and diagnostics, as well as industrial biotechnology, alongside "beyond the pill" sectors including digital and connected health, prevention, wellness, personalized medicine, nutrition, and food—with a particular interest in MICROBIOME discoveries and Bio-Industry applications. More information on www.seventure.fr
X: @SeventureP LinkedIn 

About Noshaq
Noshaq is a regional investment fund and project developer active in the Province of Liège. With a portfolio of 478 companies, Noshaq supports the creation, growth, and transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Structured around strategic ecosystems, the group aims to sustainably strengthen Liège’s resilience, autonomy, and economic appeal. More information on Noshaq.be.

About Good Startup
Good Startup is a Singapore-based venture capital firm investing in alternative protein companies globally. The firm backs visionary founders building transformative solutions to create a more resilient, sustainable, and humane food system. Its portfolio includes category-defining companies such as Anthology, The EVERY Company, New School Foods and Rebellyous Foods, among others. More information on www.goodstartup.com/

About Angelor
Founded in 2008, Angelor is an independent venture capital company based in Lyon, with a mission to "develop finance that serves the common good". Now recognized for the quality of its shareholders and the companies it finances, Angelor has brought together over 250 shareholders, most of whom are experienced business leaders committed to financing and supporting innovative entrepreneurs in their sector. Angelor has invested nearly €30 million in 76 start-ups, particularly in the healthcare, agri-food, and environmental sectors – helping to create over 700 direct jobs, mainly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. For further information: Angelor.fr

About Newtree Impact
Newtree Impact is a Brussels-based, mission-driven, evergreen listed holding company investing in breakthrough technologies to transform the global food system. Combining scientific precision, sector expertise, and a high-impact network, Newtree Impact builds a portfolio engineered to reduce emissions, protect biodiversity, and eliminate waste while meeting fast-evolving market demands. The holding is redefining impact investing, making it both accessible and performance-driven. Since its launch in 2021, Newtree Impact has raised €30M, made 24 investments, and is indirectly exposed to over 150 promising startups, including CropX Technologies, Heura, Evodia.Bio and Onego Bio. More information on www.newtreeimpact.com/

About BIV
Big Idea Ventures is building the bioeconomy by investing in breakthrough technologies across food, agriculture, and materials. Its mission is to support the world’s best entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers to solve the world’s greatest challenges. With teams in New York, Paris, and Asia, and more than 160 investments across 30 countries, the firm gives partners access to world-leading innovation through fund management, tech scouting, venture building, acceleration, direct investment, and global innovation challenges. Supported by Vevolution, its digital platform that connects thousands of startups with investors and corporates, it delivers continuous deal flow, analysis, and ecosystem mapping, creating low-risk, high-insight opportunities to pilot technologies, form strategic partnerships, and demonstrate leadership in sustainable innovation. More information on Bigideaventures.com 

SOURCE: Standing Ovation

--BERNAMA 

VOCALBEATS.AI, NTU SINGAPORE PARTNER TO LAUNCH AI SCHOLARSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- Vocalbeats.AI, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence (AI)-powered audio company, has partnered with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) to establish the Vocalbeats.AI‑Turing AI Scholarship.

The scholarship aims to recognise and support outstanding undergraduates from NTU’s College of Computing and Data Science (CCDS), in line with the company’s commitment to developing AI talent.

Vocalbeats.AI Chief Executive Officer, Marco Lai Jinnan in a statement said voice AI is reshaping how people connect across languages and cultures.

“This scholarship is our commitment to ensuring we have the world-class talent to advance that frontier, and our experience working with NTU students and graduates has shown us what is possible when the brightest young minds take on real-world challenges,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dean of NTU’s College of Computing and Data Science and Vice President (AI & Digital Economy), Professor Luke Ong said the collaboration underscores the importance of industry-academia partnerships in developing AI talent and providing students with practical exposure.

Recipients will have opportunities to pursue internships, mentorships and potential career pathways within the company as it expands its global operations.

The initiative comes amid growing global demand for AI engineering talent, which continues to outpace supply. In Singapore, the National AI Strategy 2.0 aims to triple the country’s AI practitioner pool, with industry playing a key role alongside universities.

Vocalbeats.AI has also strengthened its engagement with universities through internship programmes, with one of the NTU graduates transitioning into a full-time role and currently contributing to the company’s research capabilities.

-- BERNAMA