Community-funded round backed by North Dakotans and Minnesotans, along with rancher-users across the country marks a defining chapter for the only technology ecosystem built exclusively for the beef cattle industry.

FARGO, N.D., June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 701x, the Fargo, North Dakota-based agricultural technology company bringing connected intelligence to the beef cattle industry, today announced the close of an oversubscribed $10M Series B funding round. Marking six years in business with strong adoption across the United States, the company simultaneously announced it has hit profitability, added world-class talent, and is accelerating a major global expansion.

Unlike typical venture-backed technology companies, 701x’s Series B was raised entirely from individuals who believe in the company’s mission: local North Dakotans and Minnesotans extending to the greater Minneapolis area, and rancher-users from across the country who have experienced the 701x platform firsthand. No venture capital or institutional money was involved.

The Only Ecosystem Built for Beef Cattle

In six years, 701x has built what no other company has: a true, connected ecosystem of the most important technology tools focused exclusively on beef cattle. The 701x platform spans on-ranch software, breed association software, smart wearables, DNA solutions, and a growing accessory product line — all designed to work together and give producers the complete picture of their herd. View their product line at 701x.com.

At the heart of the wearables category is the xTpro — a GPS smart ear tag that utilizes direct-to-satellite connectivity to deliver real-time data and alerts straight to a rancher’s phone, no matter where the herd is located. Equipped with a suite of onboard sensors, the xTpro enables 701x to provide producers with instant alerts for out-of-fence events, animal health changes, estrus detection, calving activity, and bull-not-mounting notifications — putting critical herd intelligence in the palm of a rancher’s hand around the clock.

Profitability Fueled by Heavy R&D Investment

701x has achieved its first profitable month — a significant milestone for a company that continues to direct the majority of its labor budget toward research and development. Current R&D priorities include completing a comprehensive overhaul of an acquired registry software platform and advancing innovation toward a full feedlot management system, both of which represent major near-term milestones for the company and its customers.

75% Reduction in Assembly Costs for the xTpro Tag

Through the integration of robotics and automation throughout its production line, 701x has reduced assembly costs for its signature xTpro smart ear tag by 75%. This manufacturing transformation is no accident: 701x Founder and CEO, Kevin Biffert, built Fargo Automation from the ground up as its sole owner, developing high-speed automation machinery for some of the largest pharmaceutical companies across the globe before selling the company to Körber Medipak in 2017. That deep expertise in precision manufacturing is now being applied directly to 701x’s production operations, allowing the company to achieve significant efficiencies of scale and deliver high-quality, low-cost products to the market at scale — an advantage that grows as production volumes increase.

World-Class Talent Joins for Global Expansion

To support its global ambitions, 701x has brought on world-class talent across key functions. The company is already live in Canada and is on track to launch in the following markets before the end of the year:

AustraliaNew ZealandMexicoUnited KingdomBrazil

This expansion positions 701x as a truly global platform for the beef cattle industry, bringing precision livestock technology to producers across four continents.

“701x was founded because the beef industry deserves better technology — not outdated or single function piecemeal tools, but a connected ecosystem designed specifically for cattle producers. 701x provides tools with the greatest ROI by targeting ranchers true pain points – fertility and health metrics for their cattle. Closing an oversubscribed round funded by our neighbors, our community, and our own customers is the kind of validation that means the most to us. This is just the beginning.”
— Kevin Biffert, CEO, 701x

About 701x

Founded in Fargo, North Dakota, 701x is building a complete technology ecosystem exclusively for the beef cattle industry. The 701x platform brings together on-ranch management software, breed association tools, smart wearables, DNA solutions, and accessory products into a single connected system for cattle producers. With strong adoption across the United States and active operations in Canada, 701x is expanding globally to bring precision livestock technology to beef producers worldwide. Learn more at www.701x.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/701x-closes-oversubscribed-series-b-and-launches-global-expansion-302792092.html

SOURCE 701x, Inc.

POTOMAC, Md., June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Cha-Mei Tang is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member Inner Circle of Excellence for her contributions to Pioneering Cancer Diagnostics and Cancer Screening by a blood test based on a type of revolutionary tumor associated cell. This laboratory procedure is performed primarily by the Creatv Bio Division of Creatv MicroTech.

Dr. Cha-Mei Tang, a well-known innovator in cancer diagnostics and cancer screening, has dedicated the past 15 years toward advancing technologies and clinical data that transform the landscape of cancer care. Dr. Tang has spearheaded groundbreaking research, including the development of a revolutionary LifeTracDx® blood test for cancer diagnostics. As a microfabrication company in 2010, the company developed a microfilter with the goal to capture circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from the blood of cancer patients. From the first patient sample, the microfilter captured a lot of giant cells that were previously ignored by cancer researchers, Dr. Tang and her colleague, Daniel L. Adams, now the Chief Scientific Officer, lead the systematical analysis of those cells and found that they are macrophages that engulf tumor cells. Dr. Tang’s team called them cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs).

Creatv showed that CAMLs are the most useful biomarkers available for cancer screening and cancer diagnostics. CAMLs are found in all types of cancer and in all stages, but not in healthy individuals. The number and biological features of the CAMLs can provide valuable information (https://creatvbio.com).

Dr. Tang’s current focus is on cancer diagnostics. LifeTracDx® blood test is applicable to all types of cancer. The clinical data suggests that LifeTracDx® can (1) provide real time prognosis at any time, (2) predict treatment response in ~30 days after first dose of treatment, (3) provide companion diagnostics – not requiring tissue, (4) monitor biomarker expression or change of biomarker – example: change of PD-L1 expression on the tumor. PD-L1 expression predicts treatment response of immunotherapy, (5) detect cancer recurrence and minimal residual disease (MRD), and (6) deliver high quality tumor DNA for sequencing. LifeTracDx® blood tests provide physicians and patients with critical insights into cancer diagnostics, saving and improving lives.

Dr. Tang’s academic achievements stem from her earning multiple degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including a Doctor of Science, Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science, all in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. After graduation, she performed research on relativistic electron beams and free electron lasers as Head of the Radiation and Accelerator Physics Section at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). She also took a sabbatical at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) before founding Creatv MicroTech. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges physics, engineering, microfabrication and biological science, driving the cutting-edge innovations that define her career.

Recognized for her many contributions, Dr. Tang has received numerous prestigious awards. These include being named a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1990, receiving the WISE Award for Science for the Most Outstanding Woman Scientist in the Federal Government in 1992, and being honored as a Senior Member of the IEEE in 1995. Her innovative work also earned the R&D 100 Award from R&D Magazine in 2006, and her company, Creatv MicroTech, was named Bioscience Company of the Year in Montgomery County Maryland in 2013. Dr. Tang was inducted into Marquis Who’s Who in 2024.

Dr. Tang is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Physical Society (APS), and IEEE. She and her colleagues at Creatv regularly present their research at conferences and publish findings that advance the field of cancer diagnostics and cancer screening.

Creatv recently obtained CLIA approval, enabling the performance of some of the LifeTracDx® blood tests at its CLIA-certified laboratory at Monmouth Junction, NJ. The initial focus is on collaboration with cancer drug companies to help them understand the performance of their drugs. Creatv is also starting to apply for FDA approvals for various cancer diagnostics applications. Her dedication to innovation and saving lives underscores her vision of a future where cancer is detected earlier, when it matters most, and can be treated more effectively.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, editorialteam@continentalwhoswho.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inner-circle-acknowledges-cha-mei-tang-as-a-pinnacle-professional-member-inner-circle-of-excellence-302791986.html

SOURCE The Inner Circle

Leadership Appointment Expands Nicholas Mirisis’ Role in Supporting Peer Development, Forum Excellence, and Executive Leadership Within the Young Presidents’ Organization

LITTLETON, Colo., June 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fulcrum Venture Group announced that Nicholas Mirisis, Operating Advisor to the firm, has been elected Assistant Forum Officer for the 2026–2027 term of the Southern Sands Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). The appointment places Mirisis in a key chapter leadership position responsible for supporting forum operations, member engagement, leadership development, and forum health throughout the chapter.

The election reflects the confidence of chapter members in Mirisis’ leadership experience and his commitment to fostering the confidential peer-learning environment that serves as the foundation of the YPO experience. As Assistant Forum Officer, Mirisis will work closely with the Chapter Forum Officer and forum moderators to help ensure that members continue to benefit from high-quality forum experiences built on trust, confidentiality, and experiential sharing.

YPO is a global leadership community that connects chief executives and business leaders through peer learning, personal growth, and professional development opportunities. Within each chapter, forums serve as the organization’s core engagement platform, bringing together small groups of leaders who meet regularly to discuss business challenges, personal development, family dynamics, leadership decisions, and other significant life experiences in a confidential setting.

Supporting Forum Excellence Across the Southern Sands Chapter

The Assistant Forum Officer role is a critical leadership position within the chapter structure. The position supports the Chapter Forum Officer in maintaining the effectiveness, health, and continuity of forums while helping members maximize the value of their participation.

As part of his responsibilities, Nick Mirisis will assist with member placement and onboarding initiatives, helping ensure that new members receive appropriate training on forum protocols and are placed into forums that align with their needs and experiences. Effective onboarding plays an important role in preserving forum culture and helping members quickly integrate into the YPO community.

The position also includes responsibilities related to forum retreat planning and coordination. Annual retreats provide forum participants with opportunities for deeper engagement, reflection, and relationship building. As Assistant Forum Officer, Mirisis will support logistical planning, resource coordination, scheduling activities, and event-related administration to help facilitate successful retreat experiences for chapter members.

In addition, the role involves supporting forum moderators and leadership teams in maintaining forum health and addressing challenges when they arise. This includes assisting with conflict resolution efforts, helping address confidentiality concerns, and supporting best practices that preserve trust among members.

The Assistant Forum Officer position is often viewed as a leadership development role within YPO’s chapter governance structure. Individuals serving in the position frequently gain experience that prepares them to assume the Chapter Forum Officer role in future terms, providing continuity in leadership and preserving institutional knowledge across the chapter.

For organizations such as YPO, strong forum leadership is essential because forums represent the primary environment where members engage in meaningful peer-to-peer learning and personal development.

The Role of Forums Within the Young Presidents’ Organization

YPO forums are widely recognized as one of the organization’s defining features. Structured as confidential peer groups, forums typically consist of eight to ten members who meet regularly to share experiences, discuss challenges, and gain perspective from fellow business leaders.

Unlike traditional networking groups, YPO forums are designed around experiential sharing rather than advice-giving. Members are encouraged to share personal experiences and outcomes from comparable situations instead of directing others toward specific decisions. This approach enables leaders to explore complex issues while maintaining ownership of their choices and decision-making processes.

Forum discussions often extend beyond business matters and include topics related to family relationships, personal growth, leadership development, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions, organizational challenges, and major life transitions. The broad scope of discussion creates opportunities for members to receive support and perspective across multiple dimensions of leadership and life.

Confidentiality remains a cornerstone of the forum experience. Members commit to strict confidentiality standards that help create an environment where candid conversations can occur without fear of external disclosure. This principle allows participants to openly discuss sensitive business matters, personal challenges, and leadership decisions with confidence.

Each forum is guided by a trained moderator who facilitates meetings, supports structured exercises, and helps maintain trust and engagement within the group. Forum officers and chapter leadership teams work alongside moderators to ensure forums remain healthy, productive, and aligned with YPO’s established standards.

The Southern Sands Chapter, like YPO chapters around the world, relies on dedicated volunteer leaders to maintain these standards and support members throughout their YPO journeys. The election of chapter officers represents an important component of that ongoing leadership framework.

Leadership Experience Supports Expanded Service Role

Nick Mirisis brings more than two decades of leadership and operational experience to the position. In addition to his role within YPO, he currently serves as Operating Advisor at Fulcrum Venture Group, where he supports technology and SaaS companies pursuing operational improvement, growth execution, and organizational transformation initiatives.

Fulcrum Venture Group deploys experienced operating executives across selected portfolio companies to support scale readiness, performance optimization, and growth initiatives. In his advisory role, Mirisis contributes expertise in operational effectiveness, revenue execution, organizational design, leadership alignment, and business performance improvement.

Throughout his career, Nicholas Mirisis has held senior leadership positions within multiple technology and software organizations, including Hometown, SamCart, GoCanvas, and Dude Solutions. His experience spans operational scaling, international expansion initiatives, and enterprise growth efforts across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.

His professional background includes participation in organizations that have undergone significant growth initiatives, strategic transactions, acquisitions, and corporate exits. This experience has provided exposure to a broad range of leadership challenges and organizational environments that align closely with the types of discussions commonly explored within YPO forums.

The election to Assistant Forum Officer reflects not only Mirisis’ professional leadership experience but also his commitment to the peer-learning principles that define the YPO experience. Through the position, he will contribute to efforts that support member engagement, strengthen forum operations, and help maintain the chapter’s commitment to confidentiality, trust, and experiential learning.

As YPO continues to connect business leaders through meaningful peer relationships and leadership development opportunities, chapter leadership positions such as Assistant Forum Officer play an important role in ensuring that forums remain effective environments for growth, learning, and support.

The 2026–2027 leadership term will provide opportunities for Mirisis to collaborate with chapter officers, moderators, and members to advance the Southern Sands Chapter’s forum initiatives while helping preserve the values and practices that have made forums central to the YPO experience worldwide.

Contact

Nicholas Mirisis
Operating Advisor, Fulcrum Venture Group
Littleton, Colorado

Email: info@fulcrumvg.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasmirisis/

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2995291/Fulcrum_Venture_Group.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fulcrum-venture-group-operating-advisor-nicholas-mirisis-elected-assistant-forum-officer-of-ypo-southern-sands-chapter-for-20262027-302792096.html