THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC LAUNCHES NEW ENERGY STAR-CERTIFIED FREEZERS
Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) — with locations in Newington and Portsmouth — has launched a new line of high-performance, ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers for scientists in a laboratory setting.
The TSX Universal Series ULT Freezers features universal V-Drive technology that provides tighter control, faster recovery times, universal voltage, and an expanded setpoint range for use in academic labs and longer-term storage facilities. Such institutions depend on cold storage for their samples that require a specific temperature range to development new therapies as well as storage for preserving blood at freezing temperatures between -40 degrees Celsius to -86 degrees Celsius.
The new TSX Series has obtained ENERGY STAR certification and an ISO Class 5.5 cleanroom designation, and was produced in a zero-waste to landfill certified facility.
ALUMNI VENTURES NAMED A TOP PERFORMING VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM
Manchester-based venture capital firm Alumni Ventures (AV) was recently recognized as one of the top 20 performing North American venture firms in 2024 by CB Insights. Factoring into the recognition was Alumni Ventures’ portfolio strength and deal volume.
AV was among only four firms that invested in 100-plus equity deals in 2023, and was ranked as the most active venture capital firm in the U.S. and third globally for the second year consecutively by Global League Tables of PitchBook.
Since AV was founded in 2014 as a single-fund startup, it has raised over $1.3 billion from more than 10,000 investors and backed over 1,300 unique portfolio companies.
“The CB and PitchBook rankings demonstrate the quantity and quality of our investments,” said AV’s founder and CEO Mike Collins. “We’re honored to be named to those — and among the youngest firms. We owe our record to the professionalism of our investment teams, a rigorous diligence process, and an exceptional network of 625,000 supporters that helps source and vet deals.”
XMA CORP. AWARDED FUNDING FROM CONSORTIUM
XMA Corp. — a Manchester-based manufacturer of passive microwave components — has been awarded funding from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) for its work in high-density integrated RF control and readout electronics for quantum applications.
QED-C initially sought proposals for technologies offering control and readout electronics and advance quantum information science and technology — which cover everything from a reduction of heat load associated with microwave control cabling to enabling tighter integration of passive and active components and quantum devices, all in cryogenic environments.
QED-C’s request was supported by funding and resources from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
“We deal in the telecommunications, aerospace, and cryogenics industries, where control and readout electronics all play a major role,” said XMA general manager Marc Smith. “XMA has been doing extensive work in control and readout electronics, so it is a great opportunity any time we are able to boost our funding and further our research.”
BUSINESS LEADERS EMBRACE PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS
A recent Citizens survey of more than 530 decision-makers at small- and mid-size businesses in the U.S. was conducted earlier this year to determine business leaders’ outlook for economic conditions and key business inputs in the year ahead.
Among the findings was that nearly three quarters (72%) of small- and mid-size businesses in the U.S. view the private equity industry as a source of current or future partnership and funding.
Additionally, 61% of decision-makers expect their companies to add talent in 2024, and 40% anticipate hiring more personnel than they did last year.
Thirty-eight percent of decision-makers are more concerned about the impact of supply chain disruptions in 2024 than they were last year, while 51% are similarly concerned, and just 11% are less concerned.
Despite heightened geopolitical tensions worldwide, fewer than 40% of respondents expect these issues to pose a serious threat to their company’s financial performance in 2024. Nine percent of respondents expect the 2024 U.S. election cycle to have a negative impact on their company’s growth, with 64% expecting the election cycle to have a positive impact on business growth in 2024.
