logo
Astronomer raised nearly $100M from big investors — just months before CEO Andy Byron's Coldplay ‘kiss cam' scandal

Astronomer raised nearly $100M from big investors — just months before CEO Andy Byron's Coldplay ‘kiss cam' scandal

New York Post6 days ago
New York-based software firm Astronomer raised nearly $100 million from major investors in May – just a few months before its CEO Andy Byron was caught on the 'kiss cam' at a Coldplay concert snuggling the firm's head of human resources.
Astronomer – a privately-held software firm that helps clients streamline and organize their data – announced in May that it had 'secured $93 million in Series D funding' from backers that included Bain Capital, Salesforce, Venrock and Meritech.
'While this is just one step in Astronomer's journey to build a durable, lasting software company, we're thrilled to have one of our earliest investors, Bain, leading the round,' Byron said in a statement at the time.
Advertisement
4 Astronomer CEO Andy Byron joined the firm in 2023.
LinkedIn/Andy Byron
'All of our investors are committed to Astronomer's long-term vision because of our recent momentum, the massive market demand for the platform we're building, and the macro tailwinds that support our vision.'
So far, none of those investors have commented on the uproar over the viral video showing Byron and Astronomer's HR chief Kristin Cabot scrambling to get off camera – which prompted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to joke, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.'
Other firms listed as investors on Astronomer's website include JP Morgan Chase, Insight Partners, Sierra Ventures, Sutter Hill Ventures and KS Global.
Advertisement
To date, the company has raised more than $350 million from outside investors since it was founded in 2015, according to data from Crunchbase and other funding trackers.
Astronomer's board of directors includes Byron as well as Venrock's Ethan Batraski, investor John McMahon, Sutter Hill Ventures' Scott Yara, Sierra Ventures' Tim Guleri and Bain Capital Venture's Enrique Salem.
The Post has reached out to the board members for comment on the video but has yet to hear back. Astronomer has also not returned requests for comment.
Advertisement
4 Astronomer moved into an office in Chelsea last year.
Astronomer
4 Astronomer boasted that its new office had a view of the Empire State Building.
Astronomer
Some tech insiders joked that the incident, which has spawned countless memes and jokes on social media, provided Astronomer with a visibility boost.
'Board should give him a raise,' quipped Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson. 'Without this viral moment, I'd never know that Astronomer is used by enterprise clients to manage apache airflow and achieve 70% higher uptime than self-managed airflow.'
Advertisement
Astronomer is a mid-sized firm with 369 employees, according to its profile on Pitchbook.
The company relocated to an office on West 23rd Street in Chelsea in February 2024 after previously being headquartered in Cincinnati, according to blog post.
4 Andy Byron was caught on camera embracing Astronomer's head of HR Kristin Cabot.
Grace Springer via Storyful
Astronomer bragged that the new office space's 'spacious layout helps facilitate collaboration and features a great view of the Empire State Building,' as well as a roof deck for hosting events.
'Cincinnati was an incredible place for us to start our company and we will continue to have a presence in Cincinnati,' Byron said in a statement at the time. 'Now, we're excited to build a bigger presence in the NYC area.'
As The Post reported, one former colleague of Byron's alleged that he was a 'toxic' boss.
'The text groups and chains of former employees are like … everybody's laughing their ass off and enjoying the hell out of what happened and him getting exposed,' said the source, who reported directly to Byron.
Advertisement
Byron joined Astronomer as its CEO in July 2023, according to his now-deleted LinkedIn profile.
Prior to that, he had stints as president of California-based firm Lacework, chief revenue officer at Cybereason and president and COO of Fuze.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Whitecap expects production to come in at high end of forecast range after Veren deal
Whitecap expects production to come in at high end of forecast range after Veren deal

Yahoo

time8 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Whitecap expects production to come in at high end of forecast range after Veren deal

CALGARY — Whitecap Resources Inc. says it's made good progress toward integrating the people and assets it acquired through its combination with Veren Inc. this spring. The deal closed in mid-May and chief executive Grant Fagerheim says there have been "plenty of early wins" on cutting corporate costs and improving Whitecap's credit profile. Whitecap says it expects production this year to come in at the high end of its forecast range of between 295,000 and 300,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Its capital budget for 2025 remains unchanged at $2 billion. The Calgary-based company is beginning its budgeting process for 2026, and Fagerheim says there are a lot of projects to choose from and the spending program can easily be tailored to commodity pricing. The all-stock transaction with Veren resulted in Whitecap becoming the biggest landholder in the Montney and Duvernay shales in Alberta and B.C. and the second-largest oil producer in Saskatchewan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Companies in this story: (TSX:WCP) Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data

Former Ameriprise Advisors Launch RIA, Laurel Oak Wealth Management, Backed by Goldman Sachs
Former Ameriprise Advisors Launch RIA, Laurel Oak Wealth Management, Backed by Goldman Sachs

Yahoo

time8 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Former Ameriprise Advisors Launch RIA, Laurel Oak Wealth Management, Backed by Goldman Sachs

MARLTON, N.J., July 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A team of five New Jersey-based financial advisors who previously managed more than $2.3 billion in client assets has launched Laurel Oak Wealth Management, a new independent registered investment advisory firm. The firm delivers personalized financial planning and investment management to clients across the U.S. Founded by industry veterans Christopher Heiser, Robert Andreacchio, Louis LaSelva, Matthew Fitzgerald, and Keith Radimer, Laurel Oak combines more than 135 years of collective wealth management experience. Previously with Ameriprise Financial, the team has found success serving multigenerational families, professionals, and business owners. They stand out for customized strategies in retirement planning, legacy preservation, and complex financial transitions. "Our goal in launching Laurel Oak was to create a firm where advice is personal, communication is clear, and clients always come first," said Christopher Heiser, a founding partner. "As an independent RIA, we now have the flexibility to tailor strategies without the limitations of a corporate agenda." Going independent also meant adopting a modern tech stack, helping to streamline onboarding, reporting, and communication. This means less paperwork, faster response times, and greater transparency at every step. To support that mission, Laurel Oak chose Goldman Sachs as their custodial partner, entrusting them to securely hold client assets and execute transactions under the firm's direction. With Goldman Sachs' digital-forward platform, the team gains access to institutional-grade tools that elevate both client security and service delivery. The dedicated transition support staff helped ensure a smooth move, resolving any complications quickly and efficiently. "We are pleased to be the custodial platform of choice for Laurel Oak Wealth Management," said Bill Dalton, Head of RIA Custody Sales at Goldman Sachs. "Our digital-forward platform will enable their advisors to access Goldman Sachs' institutional-grade products and services. Our team looks forward to working with Laurel Oak Wealth Management and supporting them as they grow." "Our growth has always been rooted in one principle: showing up for people when it matters most," added Louis LaSelva. "Laurel Oak represents that mindset at scale." Laurel Oak Wealth Management's main office is located at 5 Greentree Center, 525 Route 73 N, Suite 200, Marlton, NJ. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact Jennifer RelovskyMarketing Specialist, Business Development 856-449-8263 擷取數據時發生錯誤 登入存取你的投資組合 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤 擷取數據時發生錯誤

Trump quietly renews Chevron's license in Venezuela, marking shift in U.S. policy
Trump quietly renews Chevron's license in Venezuela, marking shift in U.S. policy

Miami Herald

time10 minutes ago

  • Miami Herald

Trump quietly renews Chevron's license in Venezuela, marking shift in U.S. policy

In a marked shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, the Trump administration has quietly approved a new license allowing oil giant Chevron to restart its operations in the South American nation, according to sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The decision this week represents a departure from earlier hard-line measures and suggests a recalibration aimed at balancing energy interests with ongoing foreign policy challenges involving the Nicolás Maduro regime. The new arrangement, described by sources as a 'specific license' rather than a general one, allows Chevron to resume more regular activity with Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA. Under the framework, Chevron will reportedly pay the Maduro regime in barrels of oil rather than in cash — a shift that may give Caracas some latitude to commercialize its resources amid continued international sanctions. Sources say that one significant distinction between a specific license and a general one is that the former can be issued privately while the latter is granted is such a way that it is there for the public to see. 'They made it a specific license instead of a general license like the last one,' said a person briefed on the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Negotiations were held in Caracas yesterday negotiating some changes to the contract with PDVSA.' Asked about the new license, the State Department said it was only issued for Chevron's maintenance purposes and to create the conditions for the regime to repay the huge debt that it owes the Texas-based oil company, but that it would not aim to provide Maduro any type of financial relief. 'While we cannot speak to any specific licenses, the U.S. government will not allow the Maduro regime to profit from the sale of oil,' the State Department told the Miami Herald in an email. Experts, however, said it was hard to see how the Caracas regime would not benefit financially under the new arrangement. Venezuela's debt to Chevron had been estimated in around $3 billion before the amount was reduced following the Biden administration's decision to grant the Texan oil company a license to operate in the country. That license was revoked by the Trump administration earlier this year in a move that took effect in May and that significantly disrupted the finances of the socialist regime. Chevron was responsible for roughly a quarter of Venezuela's oil output, which earlier this year stood around 900,000 barrels per day. Other international energy companies—Spain's Repsol, Italy's Eni, France's Maurel & Prom, and India's Reliance Industries—were also affected by the U.S. restrictions. Collectively, those firms accounted for another 230,000 barrels per day of production. Chevron and the other companies have played a central role in Venezuela's efforts to recover from the near-collapse of its oil industry, which once produced 3.2 million barrels per day before declining to just 400,000 barrels per day in 2020. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, just ahead of Saudi Arabia. Estimates from industry analysts prior to the license suspensions suggested that foreign companies were providing the Maduro government with an average of $700 million to $800 million per month. While official U.S. policy continues to call for democratic reforms in Venezuela, the quiet reauthorization of Chevron's operations indicates a more pragmatic approach in dealings with Caracas. Sources say U.S. officials have engaged in direct negotiations with high-ranking Venezuelan figures, including National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. Back channel talks reportedly remain active, involving U.S. diplomats based in Bogotá and senior Venezuelan officials. These conversations have included proposals to restore diplomatic presence by reopening embassies in Washington and Caracas, although no official announcements have been made. The policy shift also reflects evolving dynamics within the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time critic of Maduro, is now seen as playing a central role in shaping the administration's Venezuela strategy, while former special envoy Richard Grenell appears to have taken a back seat. 'The State Department or National Security Council is calling the shots now,' said the source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely. While Rubio has historically supported a tough stance against authoritarian governments in the region, his involvement in the Chevron licensing process suggests that broader U.S. strategic interests—particularly energy security—are now taking precedence. Industry observers note that despite efforts to keep the new license quiet, public disclosure may be inevitable as Chevron's oil begins to reenter Gulf Coast refineries. 'You can't keep it under wraps too long,' the source said. 'Eventually, the oil is going to look for passage through the Gulf to refineries in the U.S.' Chevron has operated in Venezuela for nearly a century and was the last major American energy firm to maintain a presence in the country amid sweeping sanctions. Its continued presence has long served as an indicator of U.S. policy direction. While the license renewal may open the door for other companies to explore similar arrangements, it also raises questions among Venezuelan opposition leaders and human rights groups concerned that any form of normalization with Maduro could weaken efforts to restore democratic governance. For now, the resumption of Chevron's operations marks a potentially significant turning point in U.S.-Venezuela relations — one that could reshape diplomatic, economic and political dynamics in the region.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store