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Startup ProFuse Launches Pioneering Drug Discovery Platform for the Prevention of Muscle Loss

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YOKNEAM ILLIT, Israel, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Israeli startup ProFuse Technology, which specializes in the cultivation of muscle tissue in laboratory conditions, has launched a new technology and program for discovering drugs that prevent muscle mass loss caused by the growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss injections, aging, and cancer.

ProFuse’s technology is based on developing methods to generate highly mature muscle tissues that accurately reflect the structure and function of natural human muscle. The company is now applying this technology to discover new drug candidates and to predict with high accuracy which molecules have the potential to gain regulatory approval as new therapies for preventing and restoring muscle mass.

The process utilizes advanced automation to efficiently screen potential drug candidates. This represents a breakthrough compared to existing technologies, which rely on conventional models with limited predictive power—necessitating extensive animal testing. ProFuse’s technology enables precise testing of a large number of molecules, thereby streamlining the research process and significantly reducing time, resources, and costs.

The demand for muscle-preserving therapies is rapidly increasing. GLP-1 weight-loss treatments are expected to grow significantly by 2030, but unintended muscle loss associated with these drugs poses a significant health concern.

Another key area for muscle preservation drugs is sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, which affects approximately 10% to 16% of individuals over 50—equating to around 13 million to 20 million Americans. Sarcopenia contributes to increased frailty and is linked to significant healthcare costs. Additionally, a major indication for such therapies is cancer cachexia, a condition affecting a growing number of advanced-stage cancer patients. Cancer cachexia leads to severe muscle wasting, physical decline, and reduced treatment success.

ProFuse was founded in 2021 by Professor Eldad Tzahor and Dr. Tamar Eigler-Hirsh from the Weizmann Institute of Science (CTO), along with Guy Nevo-Michrowski, who serves as the company’s CEO. Dr. Eigler-Hirsh and Prof. Tzahor, in collaboration with Dr. Ori Avinoam, identified the natural process responsible for muscle regeneration and repair. This discovery paved the way for the development of an innovative technology that enables the efficient cultivation of highly mature muscle fibers under laboratory conditions.

Over four years, this technology positioned ProFuse as a leading company in the global cultivated meat industry. Two years ago, ProFuse began leveraging its muscle cultivation technology for additional applications, and it has recently expanded into drug discovery

ProFuse also announces today the appointment of Anat Naschitz to its Board of Directors. Naschitz is a prominent investor and entrepreneur in the life sciences field, with nearly 30 years of experience in founding, managing, and investing in companies and venture capital funds. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with leading industry players, from major pharmaceutical companies to cutting-edge biotech firms. Notably, Naschitz co-founded and co-led OrbiMed Israel, part of the global healthcare investment firm managing approximately $20 billion.

Anat Naschitz: “I am grateful to ProFuse for the opportunity to be part of the journey in discovering and developing drugs that prevent muscle mass loss —an important clinical need requiring a solution. I was impressed by the company’s and management’s ability to demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges requiring adaptation and change. This adaptability was evident both at the industry level—strategically pivoting toward new directions—and at the operational level, where the company exhibited remarkable flexibility, strategic decision-making, and an unwavering positive spirit.”

“ProFuse’s timing for entering the market is excellent,” said Guy Nevo-Michrowski, CEO and co-founder of the company. “Weight-loss drugs lead to muscle mass loss, prompting pharmaceutical companies to invest significant resources in developing innovative treatments that combine GLP-1 weight-loss drugs with muscle mass preservation therapies. As a result, several major deals in the muscle preservation drug sector have been signed in recent years, with transaction values reaching several billion dollars. This trend signals a significant window of opportunity for new technologies in this field, including ours.”

ProFuse was established under the Fresh Start incubator and has raised approximately $8 million to date, including $3 million in grants from the European Union and the Israel Innovation Authority, as well as $5 million from Israeli and U.S. funds (OurCrowd and Green Circle Capital), alongside investments from Tnuva, Tempo, and private investors.

Images can be downloaded here.

For more information about ProFuse: https://profuse-tech.com

Media contact:
Amir Ben Artzi
Meirovitch PR
amir@meirovitch.com

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/startup-profuse-launches-pioneering-drug-discovery-platform-for-the-prevention-of-muscle-loss-302419779.html

SOURCE ProFuse Technology

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Linker Vision Announces ESG Agent to Help Cities Plan More Sustainable Urban Environments

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October 19, 2026

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BERLIN, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Linker Vision announced a new ESG AI agent designed to help urban planners evaluate sustainability initiatives and make more informed decisions. By combining environmental predictions with AI reasoning, the agent assesses urban heat and shade coverage to guide tree planting and greenery management, supporting cities’ climate adaptation goals. 

Turning sustainability goals into practical decisions

Linker Vision is working with MVRDV, the Dutch architecture and urban design firm, to explore how AI can help cities assess potential interventions before making changes in the real world. MVRDV contributed scientific data, shaped the evaluation criteria the agent uses to assess planning options, and tested the ESG agent during development.

An initial application focuses on urban forests. Linker Vision is collaborating with MVRDV on a digital twin that supports predictions of urban heat island effects and shade coverage. In the pilot, the agent identifies heat hotspots, selects suitable tree species and simulates the results, projecting that shade coverage could rise from 15.7% to more than 50% within 15 years.

Building on this pilot, the approach allows a shared digital twin to support multiple planning needs, including climate adaptation and disaster resilience. Urban forest planning is available today, and going forward, the city digital twin is designed to serve as a common foundation that government agencies can build on for additional applications, such as analyzing pedestrian flows and preparing venues for major sporting events.

How it works

The workflow combines a digital twin built using 3D Gaussian Splatting with NVIDIA accelerated computing and AI technologies. NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and OpenUSD have been implemented to unify city, tree and environmental data into a single scene, while NVIDIA Nemotron reasoning models let users run planting scenarios and optimize shade through natural language. NVIDIA Metropolis Blueprint for video search and summarization (VSS) and Cosmos open world foundation model help interpret video and understand real-world conditions.

In practice, a planner asks the agent where new trees would best reduce street-level heat. The agent tests planting options and simulates shade and temperature over a 15-year timespan in minutes, and planners review the recommended plan before an urban heat hotspot project moves forward.

Designing for future generations

“Every decision about a city shapes how future generations will live,” said Paul Shieh, founder and CEO of Linker Vision. “By connecting real-world understanding with simulation and AI reasoning, we want to help cities explore what is possible and make better choices for people and the planet.”

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/linker-vision-announces-esg-agent-to-help-cities-plan-more-sustainable-urban-environments-302911111.html

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Global Startup EXPO and Nippon Startup Awards 2026: METI Showcases Japan’s Deep-tech Results

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47 minutes ago

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October 19, 2026

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– GSE2026 Connects Global Venture Capitalists with Japanese Startups; Nippon Startup Awards 2026 Honors Startups Turning Innovation into Industry –

TOKYO, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From September to October 2026, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (hereinafter “METI”) held the Global Startup EXPO 2026 (hereinafter “GSE2026”) and the Nippon Startup Awards 2026, highlighting the strength and growth of Japan’s startup ecosystem. GSE2026 brought together top-tier investors, visionary startups, corporations, and key ecosystem participants from Japan and around the globe. Separately, the Nippon Startup Awards 2026 recognized remarkable innovations demonstrating Japan’s growing capacity to transform breakthrough deep-tech into real-world industrial solutions.

Expo and Awards Logos:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109206/202610137787/_prw_PI1fl_JPI1sgRq.png 

Global Startup EXPO 2026 Recap

In Session: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109206/202610137787/_prw_PI2fl_AyG90Gzn.png 

Held in Osaka from October 5 to 7, GSE2026 welcomed more than 10,000 visitors and featured over 50 conference sessions. The event served as a premier global hub, generating vital business matchmaking sessions and creating unparalleled opportunities for global investors and Japanese startups to explore strategic investments and collaborations. A major highlight of the event was the participation of prominent industry figures, including Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), and Andy Rubin, co-founder of Android. Their presence underscored the increasing global interest in Japan’s dynamic tech ecosystem. Building upon this remarkable success, METI is pleased to announce that the Global Startup EXPO is planned to be held again next year.

Nippon Startup Awards 2026 Overview

Group Photo: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M109206/202610137787/_prw_PI3fl_MNvb1svB.jpg 

In a separate initiative, the 2026 Nippon Startup Awards celebrated exceptional entrepreneurial achievements, recognizing 10 outstanding companies for their innovation and impact. This press release proudly highlights two exceptional winners whose pioneering technologies are actively addressing major industrial and societal challenges both in Japan and internationally.

– Mujin (Prime Minister’s Award): Mujin was recognized for becoming the first company to globally commercialize complex motion-planning technology, an ambitious feat considered practically impossible for 50 years. By successfully developing its proprietary MujinMI technology, the company enables the automation of complex logistics and manufacturing operations. This advancement offers a highly effective solution to pressing global labor shortages.

– Regional Fish (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award): Regional Fish was recognized for its pioneering use of genome-editing technology in aquaculture. Through its innovative approach, the company has shortened aquatic breeding cycles from approximately 30 years to just two or three years. This advancement contributes significantly to sustainable solutions for global food challenges and the revitalization of regional fisheries.

Further Information

To explore comprehensive insights from the recent global summit, please access the following link:
https://global-startup-expo.com/en/?utm_source=prwire&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=20260914&utm_content=en_url＿

For the full list of recognized companies, please visit: https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2026/09/20260925002.html 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-startup-expo-and-nippon-startup-awards-2026-meti-showcases-japans-deep-tech-results-302912264.html

SOURCE Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

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PingPong continues international growth, expands into Iberia through strategic partnership with Getnet

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47 minutes ago

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October 19, 2026

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LONDON and MADRID, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PingPong , the intelligent payments infrastructure for global growth, today announces a strategic partnership with Getnet, the leading AI-payments company, part of Santander Group, to expand access to its financial infrastructure across Iberia.

The collaboration brings together two established payments businesses to deliver a stronger payment capability in the region and a simple, streamlined solution for global businesses looking to expand operations in Iberia.

Aaron Xu, General Manager, Europe and Americas at PingPong , said: “Iberia is one of Europe’s most valuable commerce markets, and the 750,000+ businesses in our network want to operate there on payment infrastructure they already trust. Our move into Iberia is the latest step in an ongoing global expansion, driven by rising customer demand and sustained investment in our international growth.”

Fabrice Mendez, Global Head of Partnerships at Getnet , said: “This partnership represents another important milestone in Getnet’s strategy to expand our open-market business across Europe while strengthening the connections between Iberia and one of the world’s fastest-growing commerce ecosystems. By combining PingPong’s strong presence across Asia with Getnet’s leadership in Europe and Latin America, we are creating new opportunities for international merchants to grow with a seamless and trusted payment experience.”

About PingPong

Founded in 2015, PingPong is a global cross-border B2B payments platform supporting over 750,000 businesses across more than 200 countries. The company annually processes over $300bn and holds 80+ financial licences worldwide. PingPong operates from 44 offices across 18 countries.

For more information, visit www.pingpongx.com.

About Santander Getnet

In 2025, Getnet processed over €238 billion across 10.5 billion transactions, serving 1.2 million clients. The company ranks as the largest acquirer in Latin America by purchase volume, and among the top 10 globally. Getnet operates across Brazil (as an e-commerce leader), Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, and Portugal.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pingpong-continues-international-growth-expands-into-iberia-through-strategic-partnership-with-getnet-302911506.html

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