BLNG AI Raises $3M in Seed Funding – AI Jewelry Design Platform

BLNG AI, a Southern California generative AI platform transforming luxury jewelry by turning sketches into photorealistic designs and animated renderings, has secured $3 million in seed funding. The investment round was led by Speedinvest, with participation from Cove Fund, eSeed, and Focal. The round will support BLNG’s commercialization phase as the company scales its team in Europe and the US and expands capacity to meet growing demand from luxury brands and independent jewelers. In parallel, BLNG is launching its subscription-based app to the broader jewelry industry.

In a highly competitive jewelry landscape - with diamond prices falling dramatically since 2020 - jewelry brands are seeking innovative ways to distinguish offerings and accelerate time-to-market. This coincides with a major industry shift toward AI adoption, with 78% of large luxury houses positioning AI among their top 10 strategic priorities for the next three years. BLNG’ AI-powered suite of tools addresses this need by transforming sketches into refined designs in seconds instead of weeks, reducing marketing content production costs by 50% while increasing speed 100-fold.

Valérie Leblond, Co-founder and CEO, BLNG: ''Gone are the days of endless revisions and painstaking rendering processes. We've reshaped the design process for jewelry professionals by bringing sketches to life through advanced AI tools. Our technology enables creative teams to instantly visualize their concepts with exceptional precision, giving them more time to design, experiment, and collaborate instead of waiting for manual iterations. Our vision with both our funding and app launch is to broaden the access to these powerful tools for jewelry creators at every level, from major luxury houses to independent designers.''

BLNG offers three integrated AI-powered solutions: BLNG DESIGN for instant design visualization, BLNG STUDIO for generating high-fidelity marketing content without expensive photoshoots, and BLNG RETAIL for personalized customer experiences with real-time customization that drives conversion rates through interactive visualization.

Maximilian Wilhelm, Investor, Speedinvest: ''We fell in love with BLNG when they showcased their solution with infectious passion combined with a pipeline of the Top Tier Luxury Brands. Operating in the luxury and jewellery industry requires highest quality, innovation and trust - three components the founders executed extremely well on. What sets them apart is their sophisticated and technical understanding of specialized materials like metals and gemstones, 3-D visualization and reflections, combined with an exceptionally intuitive platform that achieves a level of precision and realism that generic AI tools simply cannot match - their decade of experience at Disney Animatronics really comes to life here. The timing couldn't be better—the jewelry market is at an inflection point, and BLNG is ideally positioned to lead this technological evolution."

The company has already established significant industry credibility, with top-tier global luxury houses actively implementing the technology through structured pilots. BLNG was recently honored with the LVMH Innovation Award for the most promising Data and Artificial Intelligence solution at Viva Tech, France's premier tech summit, and was named among Vogue Business's "100 Innovators" for 2024. BLNG is headquartered in Los Angeles, with a residence at Station F in Paris as part of the LVMH accelerator program, which gives them access to LVMH’s network of 75+ luxury houses.

With over 4,000 brands, designers, and corporations already on the waitlist for early access, BLNG is strategically positioned for accelerated growth in a global jewelry market projected to reach $482 billion by 2030.

www.blng.ai

Occuspace Raises $6 Million for Next-Generation Space Utilization Technology

Series A Investment Accelerates Service to Massive Real Estate Sector, Brings Total Funding to $14 Million

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Occuspace, the leading occupancy intelligence platform for the built environment, has secured a $6 million Series A investment led by Lewis & Clark Ventures with continued support from Shadow Ventures, Okapi Ventures, Cove Fund, and Hamilton Ventures. The investment accelerates Occuspace’s growing service to higher education, corporate and government facilities, with YoY growth of more than 100% since 2021. This latest funding brings the total investment in Occuspace to $14 million.

"Raising Series A financing will accelerate our growth across one of the largest asset classes in the world."

Share

“Simple and elegant in design and function, Occuspace is the only space utilization technology that is truly scalable for the massive real estate sector,” said Nic Halverson, Co-founder and CEO at Occuspace. “I’m so proud of the work our team has done to get us here. Raising Series A financing will accelerate our growth across one of the largest asset classes in the world. Our vision is to make space utilization data the source of truth for understanding and managing the built environment.”

“Occuspace is transforming the way real estate decision makers access and utilize key data about how physical space is being used,” said Michael Rockhold, Principal at Lewis & Clark Ventures. “Their growth is a testament to increasing demand for information as organizations globally strive to make the most efficient use of their real estate footprints. We're thrilled to partner with Occuspace as they scale and disrupt the market.”

“Occuspace has developed the most accurate and frictionless occupancy sensing technology available, solving a critical challenge for real estate stakeholders. Their ability to deliver real-time, high-fidelity data without costly installations—while maintaining a privacy-first approach—truly sets them apart in the market,” said Matt Ohlman, General Partner at Shadow Ventures. “We’re excited to continue our support of Occuspace as they define the future of space utilization, providing the insights businesses, universities, and governments need to navigate one of the most profound shifts in real estate dynamics in modern history.”

Occuspace’s technology gives real estate decision-makers a powerful tool to understand how space is used. Designed to be simple and affordable, Occuspace’s WiFi and Bluetooth sensors are plugged into wall outlets, preventing the need for costly installation. Using proprietary software, facility managers start getting accurate, actionable data on space usage within minutes, leading to insights that can save thousands, if not millions of dollars. Occuspace also provides the only workplace measurement technology that guarantees occupant privacy.

Real estate is the largest and oldest asset class in the world, and one too often, that is being managed without data. The inefficiency is enormous, with an estimated 1 Billion square feet of wasted space in the U.S. alone. By providing data on how property is used, Occuspace helps clients create smarter buildings that increase efficiency, reduce environmental footprints and improve user experience.

“Understanding space at scale is the future of the built environment. We’re proud to have designed a 100% anonymous technology that instantly deploys across a single office or an entire portfolio—delivering real-time, AI-driven intelligence without costly infrastructure changes,” said Linus Grasel, Co-Founder and Chief Information Officer at Occuspace.

Based on growing demand, Occuspace is expanding its service to colleges and universities, corporate real estate and government agencies. Among the largest holders of real estate in the world, these sectors represent an enormous market and significant opportunity for Occuspace’s continued growth:

“In public and private sectors, facility managers are managing buildings without really knowing much about how they are being used. It’s a challenge of enormous scale, and one that we can solve with smart data and analytics,” said Nick Rau, Chief Technology Officer at Occuspace.

Since launching from a university technology competition in 2017, Occuspace has grown into the number one occupancy intelligence platform for the built environment. The company now works with dozens of Fortune 500 companies and more than 100 colleges and universities.

About Occuspace

Occuspace is the leading occupancy intelligence platform for the built environment. Designed to help organizations optimize space utilization, this AI-empowered technology improves efficiency, drives decision-making, and enhances the workplace experience. With a strong focus on innovation and customer success, Occuspace serves a diverse range of real estate sectors, including higher education, commercial real estate, and government in North America and Europe. For more information, please visit: https://web.occuspace.io/

Contacts

For more information:
Loren Brown
Chief Marketing Officer
loren.brown@occuspace.io

Visiac Announces Partnership With Indoor Football League Network

The Indoor Football League (IFL), the premier indoor football league based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Visaic, an AI-enabled fan engagement platform for sports and entertainment to unveil the newly designed IFL Network. Available now, this multi-year collaboration brings fans closer to the action for the IFL’s 17th season, set to kick off on March 21, 2025, with cutting-edge streaming technology and enhanced viewing experiences, on web, mobile web, and mobile apps on iOS and Android devices.

The IFL Network, powered by Visaic’s innovative Video Interactive Platform (VIP), offers fans unparalleled access to all regular season games—live and on-demand. This partnership reflects the IFL’s commitment to expanding its reach, engaging its passionate fanbase, and delivering high-quality sports entertainment directly to viewers across multiple platforms.

“We’re excited to team up with Visaic and Dolby to launch the IFL Network, a game-changer for our league and our fans,” said IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon. “As we continue to up our standard in production and broadcast, this partnership allows us to bring every heart-pounding moment of our 17th season to a broader audience while providing a premium, interactive experience that sets us apart in the world of indoor football.”

Subscription Details

The IFL Network offers flexible subscription options to suit every fan’s needs:

  • Season Pass: $29.99 – Full access to the 2025 regular season - with a 30-day free trial.

  • Monthly Pass: $9.99 – Monthly access with a 30-day free trial.

Subscriptions include:

  • All Games Live and On Demand: Every regular season matchup, available anytime, anywhere, on any screen

  • Additional Features:

    • Live DVR: Pause, rewind, and replay the action as it unfolds.

    • Live Chat: View and post in real-time discussions with fellow fans.

    • Clip, Share & download Highlights: Create and share your favorite moments across your social media sites

A New Era for IFL Fans

The IFL Network leverages Visaic’s advanced AI technology to deliver seamless streaming, personalized fan engagement, and innovative tools that elevate the viewing experience. Available on web, mobile web and mobile apps for iOS and Android, fans can register now at IFLNETWORK.COM to unlock access and dive into the excitement of the 2025 IFL season from their preferred platform.

“Visaic is proud to partner with the Indoor Football League to bring the intensity and power of indoor football to passionate fans all over the world,” said Jesse Beaudin, Chief Commercial Officer at Visaic. “With the IFL Network, we can realize our shared vision of creating a customized experience that connects fans with the sport they love, enabling them to watch high-quality games on any screen, anytime they choose while providing unique engagement features that enhance the fan experience.“

XILO Raises $7.2m in its Latest Series A Funding Round

San Diego-based XILO, an InsurTech company providing quoting software for independent insurance agencies, has raised $7.2m in its latest Series A funding round.

The investment round was backed by Altos Ventures, Cove Fund, Navigate Ventures LLC, New Stack Ventures, and Splash Capital. This latest financing brings XILO’s total funding to $13.2m, according to InsurTech Insights.

Founded in 2017, XILO specialises in digital intake forms that integrate seamlessly with Agency Management Systems (AMS) and raters. Its platform automates data entry, enabling insurance agencies to enhance efficiency and boost conversion rates.

With the fresh capital, XILO plans to further develop its technology, expand its market reach, and continue refining workflows for independent insurance agencies.

The company aims to streamline the quoting process and enhance its digital solutions to better serve the industry.