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Botguard raises €45 million Series B led by Dawn Capital; rebrands to Blackwall

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Blackwall, deployed across 2.3M+ websites and applications, is an AI-enabled security and web infrastructure company dedicated to safeguarding web ecosystems from automated threats.Previously known as Botguard, Blackwall has secured a €45 million Series B funding round led by Dawn Capital, with participation from existing investors MMC. Having already launched into the US and APAC, the company will use its new capital to double headcount as it expands further in these key markets, and invest in intense product development.

LONDON, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Blackwall, the global AI-enabled security and web infrastructure company founded in 2019 by Nikita Rozenberg (CEO) and Denis Prochko (CTO), today announced that it has raised a €45 million Series B round led by Dawn Capital, Europe’s leading B2B investor.

Already deployed across more than 2.3 million websites and applications, Blackwall defends web ecosystems from malicious automated threats.

Around 50% of all global web traffic stems from bots, 66% of which is malicious. Traditional solutions are priced and designed for enterprises, leaving SMBs – subject to 43% of all cyber attacks – vulnerable.

Blackwall partners with Hosting Services Providers (HSPs), Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and eCommerce Platforms, which typically host thousands to hundreds of thousands of websites. This in turn protects the SMB customers that use Blackwall via their service and hosting providers.

Unwanted bot traffic throttles networks, and AI is driving the volume and sophistication of attacks HSPs and MSPs have to manage. This increases their costs while slowing down end customers’ sites. While big providers can afford to spend millions on in-house product development, many HSPs and MSPs need external support to deal with the problem.

Blackwall’s flagship product, GateKeeper, is an advanced reverse proxy fortified with next-generation bot and attack detection mechanisms. It proxies requests to hide servers from bots and hacker attacks, allowing HSPs and MSPs to reduce operational costs by up to 25% as they maximise server farm user density, and helps maximise revenue for these providers which underpin operations for millions of SMBs worldwide. Blackwall helps HSPs/MSPs increase margins by growing revenue through scalable, high-value security services that attract new customers and open additional, recurring income streams.

“Blackwall has only scratched the surface of the US and APAC opportunity” – Norman Fiore, General Partner, Dawn Capital

Led by Dawn Capital, with participation from existing investors MMC, Blackwall’s Series B funding will be used to double headcount and accelerate growth as the company expands further into the U.S. and APAC, and strengthens global channel partnerships.

Nikita Rozenberg, Co-Founder & CEO, commented: “With Blackwall, we are taking our mission to the next level—delivering gold-standard infrastructure protection to SMBs that have traditionally been overlooked. This funding enables us to scale globally and continue innovating for the businesses that need it most.”

Norman Fiore, General Partner, Dawn Capital commented: “It is rare to see a business targeting SMBs which has such a broad offer, of which each component is best of breed. Blackwall’s innovative technology provides exactly that.”

“Nik and Denis have devised a winning, channel-first strategy for their excellent product, and relentlessly executed on their bold vision. Blackwall has only scratched the surface of the expansive opportunity in North America and APAC, and we are confident that the company is uniquely positioned to transform how SMBs access advanced security solutions. We’re thrilled to be supporting the team as they further scale and pioneer a new approach to infrastructure protection.”

Mina Samaan, General Partner, MMC Ventures, said: “We have been impressed by Nik and Denis’s vision and execution from the start and we’re excited to back them again in this latest funding round. Blackwall’s approach—tackling malicious and useless traffic at the infrastructure layer—addresses a critical gap in the market, providing much-needed protection to hosting providers and smaller businesses. With the rise of AI-driven threats, Blackwall’s products have never been more essential, and we believe it will become a leading force protecting against bots and other digital threats.”

Blackwall also welcomes Norman Fiore, Co-Founder & GP at Dawn Capital, to its board, as well as Shamillah Bankiya, Principal at Dawn Capital. Roi Carthy, Co-Founder & CEO at Hudson Rock, will also join as Executive Chairman.

For further media enquiries please contact Jack Tunmore at jack@dawncapital.com

About Blackwall

Blackwall (formerly BotGuard), is an AI-enabled security and web infrastructure company dedicated to safeguarding web ecosystems from automated threats. Deployed across 2.3M+ websites and applications, GateKeeper, the company’s flagship product, is trusted by 100+ service & hosting partners globally to enhance performance, reduce operational costs, and maximize revenue by protecting SMB customers worldwide against emerging threats with simplicity, affordability, and scalability. Learn more at www.blackwall.com.

About Dawn Capital 

Dawn is Europe’s leading specialist B2B software investor, with assets under management of over $2bn. Dawn is primarily an early-stage investor, backing companies from Series A and B, and continuing to fund the top-performing through growth rounds to exit.  Its roster of investments includes Mimecast (formerly NASDAQ-listed, taken private by Permira in a $5.8bn transaction), iZettle (sold to PayPal for $2.2bn cash), Tink (purchased by Visa for $2.0bn), LeanIX (acquired by SAP), as well as current market leaders, Collibra, Dataiku, Quantexa, Soldo, and Copper, amongst others.

Dawn is currently investing from Dawn Capital V, the firm’s $620m fifth flagship fund, and Dawn Opportunities Fund, a $80m fund to enable Dawn to double down on its best performing companies to exit.

About MMC Ventures

MMC is a leading European venture capital firm with a research-driven approach. It invests in early-stage transformative technology companies that utilise AI and data science across sectors including enterprise AI, fintech, data-driven health and cloud & data infrastructure. Examples of companies MMC has backed include: Synthesia, Copper, Signal AI, Interactive Investor, Current Health, YuLife and Cloudsmith.

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SOURCE Dawn Capital

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Manufacturo Partners with Mach Industries to Power the Next Generation of Defense Manufacturing

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BREA, Calif., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scaling five defense platforms from development into production requires a manufacturing operation that can grow just as quickly. Mach Industries, a defense manufacturer building advanced unmanned systems for modern defense, uses the manufacturing management platform from Manufacturo, a manufacturing software company, to manage traceable, compliance-ready workflows as production expands.

Mach Industries, headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, is dedicated to advancing national security interests and supporting U.S. and allied readiness amid global competition. The company has taken five products from concept to flight since the inception of the partnership, most recently delivering an autonomous strike aircraft from concept to first flight in 71 days. Sustaining that pace at production scale requires a digital backbone that can enforce structured, traceable processes without becoming a bottleneck.

“For a defense startup moving as fast as we are, the manufacturing system must move just as fast. We needed a platform that could scale with us, from first builds through full production,” said Tyler Pancake, VP of Manufacturing, Mach Industries. “It has to deliver the traceability and controls that defense programs require. Manufacturo gives us that foundation without forcing us to choose between speed and rigor.”

With Manufacturo, Mach centralizes digital work instructions, monitors real-time shopfloor activity, and maintains quality and traceability across every build. The platform enables rapid iteration for engineers and production teams, supporting the kind of agile development cycle that defense hardware at this scale demands.

The transition from manual to scan-driven and work-order-controlled WIP tracking resulted in end-to-end WIP visibility and eliminated “lost in factory” scenarios. With real-time consumption introduced into the system, inventory accuracy improved by 20% to 40% (depending on the area). Last but not least, thanks to the MRP + MES closed loop, overproduction in manufacturing was reduced almost completely—to circa 1%.

“Mach is building an entirely new category of defense capability, and that requires a production system that can evolve alongside the technology. Our platform gives their teams the structure to execute with precision while preserving the flexibility to move fast. We’re proud to support their path from prototype to program of record,” said Kenzo Takai, COO, Manufacturo.

About Mach Industries 
Mach Industries is a defense manufacturing company headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, that develops advanced unmanned systems and the industrial capacity required to produce them at scale. Through a deeply vertically integrated, hardware-first approach, the company rapidly designs, builds, tests, and fields defense systems while advancing manufacturing, testing, and supply chain capabilities that support both its own programs and the broader defense industrial base. Through Mach Propulsion and Mach Energetics, the company develops and produces jet engines, solid rocket motors and energetic systems, and serves external customers as a component and subsystem provider for booster, sustainer, and unmanned aerial platforms. Mach Industries delivers the speed, adaptability, and resilience needed to preserve the allied edge in an increasingly contested world. For more information, please visit machindustries.com and follow on LinkedIn and X. Media contact: press@machindustries.com

About Manufacturo 
Manufacturo provides a unified manufacturing management platform for high-complexity, high-change manufacturing, bringing production, supply chain, and quality together in one system. Built by a team with decades of hands-on experience in complex manufacturing, including SpaceX, it supports companies shaping the future of new space, aerospace, defense, and new energy, such as Relativity Space, Sierra Space, ICEYE, SES, Boom Supersonic, Hermeus, Antora, and more. Manufacturo has offices in Brea (CA), USA; Kraków, Poland; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information and an interactive demo, please visit manufacturo.com and follow on LinkedIn and X. Media contact: info@manufacturo.com

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SOURCE Manufacturo, Inc.

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Sandler Partners Announces 2026 Channel Manager and Executive of the Year Award Recipients

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Top Independent Technology Distributor Sandler Partners’ 2026 National Summit Concludes with Awards Recognizing Top Industry Professionals and Organizations at its Closing Gala & Dinner.

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Provider Channel Managers and a Channel Executive received recognition at the 2026 Sandler Partners National Summit in San Diego, California. This year’s event brought together more than 1,100 members of the Sandler Partners community for a mix of educational panels, a keynote, and sessions across the Technology, Sales, and Growth tracks. Attendees also connected with 65+ leading technology Providers in the Exhibit Hall, making it a week of both recognition and opportunity.

Sandler Partners congratulates the following award winners:

Channel Executive of the Year Award Recipient: 

Chad Townes, AT&T

National Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Kevin Bednarz, GraniteStevie Heap, Comcast Business Patrick Cupp, CallTowerJennifer Rutherford, ZayoSarah Manley, AT&TBrett Harman, AT&TNikki Beck, FrontMatt Winterburn, Lumen

East Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

New England | Kyle Michaels, VonageNew York/New Jersey | Tom Mezzapella, Comcast Business Mid-Atlantic | Connor Cook, Comcast BusinessGeorgia & The Carolinas | Kristina Pagano, Five9Florida | Henry Cruz, Telesystem

Midwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Great Lakes | Sarah Macdonald, Five9Central | Peter Gasparro, ZultysMidwest | Kirsten Bonnesen, AT&TMountain | Mark Merritt III, SpectrumMountain | Nicole Brungardt, Comcast BusinessPacific Northwest | Chris Risse, Comcast Business

Southwest Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

Southwest | Kelsey Laycock, TierPointSouthwest | Kaycee Mikeska , NHC

West Region Channel Manager of the Year Award Recipients:

SoCal | Yvette Bratt, BroadvoiceNorCal | Brad Pepper, GTTAZ/NV/UT | Max Howell, NHC

“Channel Managers are often the first point of contact for our Partners,” says Managing Partner Alan Sandler. “What sets them apart is how much they care about the outcomes they help create. You see it in the extra effort, the collaboration, and the drive to find the right solution for every customer. This year’s winners work side by side with our Partners to build trust, solve problems, and make the experience better from start to finish. That’s what the Sandler Partners community is all about.”

This year’s National Summit also featured The Surfrider Foundation as Sandler Partners’ designated charity partner, with an on-site exhibit sharing their mission to protect the world’s oceans and coastlines—and ways for attendees to get involved through personal action and support.

About Sandler Partners
Sandler Partners helps empower its network of leading independent Sales Partners to deliver a comprehensive range of technology solutions to organizations worldwide, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Connectivity, Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and Continuity. Its community-focused approach enables Partners to identify the right solutions for customers quickly and objectively from a diverse portfolio of 220+ Providers. Partner sales agents, VARs, and MSPs gain access to an innovative suite of sales tools within the Sandler Portal—including SCOUT, Solutions Finder, Scout for Solutions, and the Marketing Center—several of which are AI-powered, all backed by a robust support network, dedicated Sales Engineering expertise, and rich marketing resources. Together, these tools and resources empower Partners to focus on what they do best: delivering quality, value, performance, innovative solutions, unmatched expertise, and exceptional service to their clients. Members of the Sandler Partners community also benefit from the industry’s strongest negotiated agreements and a dedicated team committed to ensuring commissions are accurately identified, tracked, and paid. For more information, visit www.sandlerpartners.com.

Sandler Partners – Media Contact

Tina S. Dyksterhouse

tina@sandlerpartners.com

310-861-2295

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SOURCE Sandler Partners

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Rockford Fosgate to Debut TMA Adaptive Amplifiers, The Rockford Fosgate App and New RV Speaker Category at 2026 SEMA Show

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New TMA Power Amplifiers, Rockford Fosgate App and Adventure Series RV speakers headline a wide-ranging slate of automotive, off-road and marine launches.

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rockford Fosgate will bring a major slate of new audio products to the 2026 SEMA Show, led by its TMA Adaptive Power Series Amplifiers, the Rockford Fosgate app and the brand’s entry into purpose-built RV speakers with its new Adventure Series Speakers. The launches bring together powerful performance, simplified tuning and rugged, installation-focused design for life on the road, trail and water.

Rockford Fosgate to Debut TMA Adaptive Amplifiers, Rockford Fosgate App and New RV Speaker Category

Power Redefined: TMA Adaptive Amplifiers
Leading the 2026 product introductions is the all-new TMA Adaptive Amplifier Series, engineered to redefine how power, performance, and control come together. Designed to adapt across automotive, marine, powersports, and other custom audio applications, TMA delivers unmatched versatility with the highest power-to-size density in Rockford Fosgate history. The lineup includes four models: the 600-watt TMA-600X4, 750-watt TMA-750X6, 1,000-watt TMA-1000X1, and 1,200-watt TMA-1200X5. Each combines powerful output with advanced adaptive technology, patented Constant Power 2.0™, and rugged IPX7-rated Element Ready™ construction to deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of installations and environments.

More than just amplification, TMA serves as the foundation of the Rockford Fosgate connected audio ecosystem. With integrated digital signal processing, Bluetooth® connectivity, and RF Link 2.0 technology, TMA amplifiers are designed to work together as one intelligent, expandable system. From a single-amplifier installation to a complex multi-amplifier setup, RF Link 2.0 allows users to connect up to four TMA amplifiers within a network of up to 16 compatible devices, simplifying system integration while providing the flexibility to expand as audio needs evolve.

At the center of the experience is the Rockford Fosgate app, putting advanced system tuning and control directly in the user’s hands. Through an intuitive smartphone interface, users can configure and optimize their system with precise control over gain, crossovers, time alignment, 32-band parametric EQ, and Punch EQ+. Guided C.L.E.A.N. 2.0 calibration and available vehicle-specific Load + Go Tunes further simplify setup, while connected diagnostics, saved presets, and firmware updates provide ongoing control and customization. Together, TMA, RF Link 2.0, and the Rockford Fosgate app introduce a new level of adaptability, scalability, and intelligent performance to the Rockford Fosgate audio experience.

Connected Sound: Rockford Fosgate App and RF Link 2.0
The app brings compatible Rockford Fosgate devices together in one interface for setup, personalization and ongoing system management. Users can access Load + Go vehicle-specific tunes on supported kits, save and recall presets, protect settings with a four-digit PIN, review supported system diagnostics and install compatible firmware updates. Available for iOS and Android, the app can manage an RF Link 2.0 network through a single Bluetooth Low Energy connection, without requiring an account for initial setup or tuning.

Powering that experience is RF Link 2.0, Rockford Fosgate’s new connected-audio network. It supports up to 16 compatible devices, including as many as four TMA amplifiers, and lets connected products communicate as one system. New bidirectional RF Link cables streamline installation by carrying data, power, ground and turn-on signals in a single connection. The DRLC-10 Digital Remote Level Controller expands physical control with a 40-step rotary interface, customizable RGB illumination and multiple mounting options.

Adventure Series Opens a New RV Speaker Category
Rockford Fosgate is also expanding into dedicated RV audio with its 6.5-inch Adventure Series speakers, purpose-built for the demands of recreational vehicles. Rather than adapting a conventional car speaker, the new design accounts for RV wall construction, exposed locations and the need for an integrated look inside and outside the coach.

Available in black or white, the speakers fit both 5.25-inch and 6.5-inch openings, with a shallow 1.25-inch mounting depth that minimizes installation challenges. A compression-style rear gasket helps seal against flat or corrugated surfaces, while the UV-stable frame and grille, Santoprene surround and Element Ready™ construction are engineered to handle moisture, dust, UV exposure and vibration. Each speaker pairs a 6.5-inch driver with a grille-integrated 1-inch tweeter and concealed crossover, delivering 50 watts RMS power handling and a clean, OEM-style appearance.

Additional SEMA Launches Span Off-Road, Marine and Automotive
New vehicle-specific Stage-6 systems bring TMA power and app-based tuning to select side-by-sides. The new Can-Am Maverick R Stage-6 system for select 2024-and-newer models is a 1,200-watt, eight-speaker package with dual 10-inch subwoofers, Color Optix™ lighting and Rockford Fosgate’s first aftermarket side-by-side front-door speaker pods. For select 2020-and-newer Polaris RZR PRO models with Ride Command, the RZR20PRORC-STG6 delivers a 1,200-watt, seven-speaker system with a 10-inch subwoofer and vehicle-specific integration.

For marine audio, the PMX-6BB hide-away digital media receiver provides independent dual-zone control and NMEA 2000 connectivity for compatible multifunction displays. The PMX-HTML MFD Controller adds an Ethernet-based interface for compatible HTML5 multifunction displays, bringing source selection, volume, playback, album artwork and audio settings to the vessel’s screen when paired with supported PMX source units.

Rounding out the introductions are updated Prime coaxial and Prime component speaker families. With 50-watt RMS power handling and installation-friendly designs, the lineups offer straightforward ways to upgrade everyday vehicle audio, including vehicle-friendly coaxial mounting and flexible placement of separate component tweeters.

“We’re not just launching new products. We’re building a connected Rockford Fosgate ecosystem that redefines how customers experience audio,” said Zach Luke, President, Rockford Fosgate. “By bringing together powerful technology, intuitive app-based control, and expansion into exciting new categories like RV audio, we’re creating more ways for people to experience Rockford Fosgate performance. This is about pushing beyond traditional boundaries, and delivering an experience that grows with our customers, wherever their adventure takes them”

For more information visit: rockfordfosgate.com or visit an authorized dealer.

About Rockford Fosgate
Setting the standard for excellence in the audio industry, Rockford Corporation markets high-performance audio systems under the brand Rockford Fosgate® for the mobile, marine, motorsport, and motorcycle audio aftermarket and OEM market. Headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., Rockford Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK).

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SOURCE Rockford Fosgate

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