Duke Capital Partners

🚀 Carpe, a Duke-founded Startup, Acquired by Topspin Consumer Partners! 🏆 Duke Capital Partners (DCP) is proud to announce the successful acquisition of Carpe, a disruptive, digitally-native sweat control brand, by private equity firm Topspin Consumer Partners. This transaction marks a significant milestone for Carpe and highlights the strength and impact of the Duke community. Carpe was founded in 2015 by Kasper Kubica (Duke University ’17) and David Spratte (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ’17) in their dorm rooms. They met through the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program and discovered they both had hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating – which impacted their daily lives. Determined to find a solution, they embarked on a mission to create an effective antiperspirant hand lotion. Their dedication and innovative approach led to the launch of Carpe, a company with multiple sweat solutions that has helped individuals manage their sweat and regain confidence. The company has grown exponentially, thanks in no small part to unwavering support from Duke alumni and the broader Duke community. Duke Capital Partners led every round of Carpe’s fundraising, with DCP members and Duke alumni Joseph Saldutti, Jay Mebane, Ben Feldman, and Chris Ng Cashin serving on Carpe’s Board. Additionally, Duke Alumni Association President Vikas Patel provided invaluable advisory support and DCP member and investment banker Thomas Mazzucco guided Carpe throughout its acquisition. Collectively, the individuals who constitute Carpe’s board, board observers, and advisors have earned 11 degrees from Duke University, Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University School of Medicine, and Duke University Pratt School of Engineering. Kubica, a Melissa & Doug Entrepreneur, and Spratte received early support from the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, which played an important role in the company’s earliest days. The collective efforts of these individuals have been instrumental in Carpe’s success. “This past decade has been the most incredible journey I could imagine, and none of it would be possible without Duke,” Kubica said. “The brilliant, supportive members of the Duke community are the reason Carpe has grown to this massive milestone. We are incredibly excited to partner with Topspin and leverage their retail expertise to bring Carpe to every sweaty person in the United States.” Carpe truly is a Duke success story: founded in the Duke dorms, funded by Duke alumni, supported by Duke board members, and ultimately acquired with the support of a Duke investment banker. True to its roots, Carpe continues to be based in downtown Durham, creating local jobs and an enduring impact on the local economy. Carpe’s journey is a testament to the power of the global Duke community. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eUXg3u5r #VentureCapital #DukeCapitalPartners #Acquisition #DukeNetwork #Entrepreneurship #Innovation

🌟 Celebrating Innovation in Retail with AiFi Inc.'s João Diogo Falcão! 🌟 We’d like to congratulate João Diogo Falcão, CTO at our portfolio company AiFi, for being recognized as a 2024 Progressive Grocer GenNext Award winner! This award highlights JD’s visionary work in autonomous shopping and his pivotal role in transforming the grocery industry. With over 15 years of technical leadership, a Master’s in Robotics from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in cyber-physical systems, JD brings an exceptional depth of knowledge to AiFi’s mission of revolutionizing the retail experience. His pioneering research in autonomous checkout systems has positioned AiFi as a leader in frictionless brick-and-mortar commerce. Join us for an upcoming conversation with JD as he dives into the future of retail and the groundbreaking potential of spatial intelligence. Learn more about the event here: https://hubs.li/Q02Y5xCd0 #DukeCapitalPartners #AiFi #Innovation #RetailTech #AutonomousShopping #SpatialIntelligence #TechLeaders #PortfolioSpotlight

🌐 AI’s Next Big Challenges: Energy Costs & Human Control! Liquid AI’s CEO, Ramin Hasani, and Deloitte’s Jim Rowan break down two urgent issues facing AI in their recent conversation with The Wall Street Journal CIO Journal. Hasani puts it simply: “One is the energy cost. Another is making sure we humans stay in control.” ⚡🤖 At Duke Capital Partners, we’re inspired by innovators tackling these pressing topics and advancing responsible AI. Join us in exploring how leaders are paving the way for a sustainable, human-centered tech future. 🔗 Full story here: https://lnkd.in/e5YUrAKp #AI #FutureOfTech #HumanCenteredAI #Innovation #DukeCapitalPartners #EnergyEfficiency #TechLeadership #SustainableAI #AITrends #WSJ

🌟 Congratulations to AiFi Inc. on Being Named to the CB Insights Fintech 100 List! 🌟 We’re thrilled to see our portfolio company, AiFi Inc., recognized on CB Insights’ prestigious Fintech 100 list for its leadership in payment acceptance. This acknowledgment highlights AiFi’s groundbreaking contributions to autonomous shopping and frictionless commerce, further solidifying its position as a leader in the retail technology space. At Duke Capital Partners, we’re proud to support innovators like AiFi Inc., who are not only transforming industries but also setting new standards for what’s possible in retail and fintech. Here’s to AiFi’s continued success as they redefine the future of payments and spatial intelligence! #DukeCapitalPartners #AiFi #CBInsights #Fintech100 #RetailTech #Innovation #PortfolioSpotlight

📈 RetailReady Makes Waves in the Startup World! 📈 Co-founder Elle Smyth or RetailReady - one of our portfolio companies - recently shared her insights from the past 10 months, detailing the journey of building a company from the ground up. Her reflections on navigating challenges, driving growth, and embracing the founder's mindset resonate deeply within the venture community. At Duke Capital Partners, we're proud to support pioneering companies like RetailReady, which are making a real impact. Stay tuned as we continue to partner with forward-thinking founders shaping the future of their industries. https://lnkd.in/gq2vRTpB #NewsUpdate #DukeCapitalPartners #RetailReady #StartupSuccess #VentureCapital #FounderJourney

Proud to highlight restor3d, one of our portfolio companies, driving innovation in personalized medicine. Their iTotal Identity knee replacement system features a uniquely designed implant based on CT scans to replicate each patient’s unique anatomy. Now with its new Cruciate Sacrificing insert, this system brings even greater stability and support, marking the first-ever patient-specific constrained insert in total joint replacement. Innovations like these are setting new standards in personalized medicine and advancing care options for patients worldwide. 🏆 #KneeReplacement #Orthopedics #PatientCare #Innovation #PersonalizedMedicine #MedTech #restor3d #VentureCapital #DukeCapitalPartners

We’re thrilled to spotlight Deep Blue Medical Advances, Inc., a Duke University spinout at the forefront of hernia repair innovation! 🚀 Deep Blue was founded by Duke University Surgeon and CMO Howie Levinson, M.D. and Duke Professor Ken Gall, and is led by CEO Bill Perry, Deep Blue. The company is advancing surgical solutions to enhance patient care. Their latest breakthrough, the T-Line Mesh for periumbilical hernia repair, was recently featured in a new study, highlighting its positive impact on patient outcomes. The full article text is accessible online: https://lnkd.in/gMCQXu6a Duke Capital Partners is proud to support Deep Blue’s journey. Our members Dr. Ken Gall and Brent Duncan, Ph.D. have provided pivotal guidance on the company’s Board of Directors since its early days. Their collaboration dates back to Brent’s Ph.D. work in Ken’s lab at Duke University Pratt School of Engineering Together with Duke's Office for Translation & Commercialization they’ve helped Deep Blue Medical Advances, Inc. grow from an idea into a company making a real difference. #DukeCapitalPartners #DeepBlueMedicalAdvances #InnovationInHealthcare #HerniaRepair #DukeUniversity #VentureCapital #DukeCommunity #MedicalTechnology

🚀 Momentum is Building at Embrace! Congratulations to Duke University alum and Embrace co-founder & CEO, Eric Futoran, on leading the team through their strongest financial quarter in two years – with Q4 poised to be even better! 📈 Embrace is setting a new standard in observability with: - Embrace Distribution for OpenTelemetry 🔭, bringing SRE, DevOps, and mobile teams together around true user-centric SLOs - A major partnership with one of the world’s largest grocers, focused on creating a seamless customer journey from search to delivery - Collaboration with Grafana Labs, amplifying the role of mobile engineers in modern observability and delivering greater value at lower costs This is what visionary leadership looks like. Congrats to Eric and the Embrace team on redefining mobile observability! 👏 #DukeCapitalPartners #EmbraceGrowth #OpenTelemetry #MobileObservability #TechInnovation #VCInsights #DukeAlumni #Grafana #CustomerExperience #ScalingSuccess

🌟 Welcome to Our New Associates! 🌟 Duke Capital Partners is thrilled to welcome our newest cohort to the Student Associate Program and kick off another exciting year. Over the past six years, we’ve grown tenfold, expanding to a program that now teaches over 40 talented students annually from Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University School of Law, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, and Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment. This two-year, hands-on venture capital experience uniquely positions Duke as a leader in experiential learning within higher education. Our program provides students with unparalleled exposure to live venture capital investing, allowing them to augment their classroom learnings with practical experience that is rarely available at other institutions. This invaluable experience has propelled graduates into top roles in venture capital, private equity, and entrepreneurship, solidifying Duke University’s reputation as an incubator for future leaders in these fields. This year, we’re also strengthening our community with more in-person interactions—from monthly associate meetings to social drinks at Hi-Wire local Durham Brewery. Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and impact! 🚀 Congratulations and welcome to Tiago Bonchristiano, Ryan Bird, Nishan Zhong, Ryan Sidawi, Kuangyu Luo, Oliver Overheu, Kaylin Raby, Mario Espinosa de los Reyes, Nicholas Allen, Lauren Lederer, Lauren Onweller, David Kim, Christopher Kaminski, Migon Choi, Hengji Chen, Hemasai Suhas K., Lucas M., A'nna Kelly #DukeCapital #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship

✨ Recap from an Inspiring Night of Entrepreneurship at Duke University ✨ An inspiring event with Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business brought together some of the brightest minds in entrepreneurship, featuring insights from our portfolio founder, Aaron Schumm, CEO of Vestwell. Hearing Aaron share the journey of building a fintech powerhouse managing $30 billion in assets for small businesses nationwide was nothing short of inspiring. The event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with visionary leaders, share ideas, and celebrate the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship community’s legacy of innovation. Thank you to everyone who joined us in exploring the past, present, and future of entrepreneurship at Duke. 📸 Check out highlights from the night! #DukeCapitalPartners #Vestwell #DukeInnovation #Entrepreneurship #Fintech #DukeFuqua #DukeCommunity