For deal sourcers, staying current on private company activity is critical to spotting active buyers, tracking market trends, and uncovering emerging investment opportunities ahead of competitors.
In January alone, we added more than 1,900 new private company transactions, bringing the total to over 17,300 searchable deals across sectors, industries, and transaction types in Dakota Marketplace.
Inside Dakota Marketplace, you’ll find the transactions tab that provides structured, filterable data on deal types, values, and dates, while our editorial team curates daily updates through the dakota transactions newsletter, helping you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most.
To ensure the most comprehensive coverage of private market activity, Dakota monitors over 10,000 websites including company websites, newswires, and numerous third-party news providers to capture and verify transaction data as it happens.
Below are the top 10 communication service transactions.
- Transaction Date: 1/22/2026
- Industry: Diversified Telecommunication Services
- Type: Acquisition / Merger
- Transaction Value: $3.9B
Telenor agreed to sell its entire 30.3% stake in True Corporation to Arise Digital Technology in a transaction valued at approximately NOK 39 billion, marking its exit from Thailand after 25 years. The deal includes an initial sale of 24.95% at THB 11.70 per share and a put/call option for the remaining 5.35% in two years, supporting Telenor’s strategy to simplify its portfolio and redeploy capital toward core markets.
- Transaction Date: 1/8/2026
- Industry: Entertainment
- Type: Growth Equity
- Transaction Value: $1B
26North, led by Josh Harris, and private equity firm TJC led a $1 billion capital raise for Bruin Capital to support investments in middle-market sports businesses globally. The funding backs Bruin’s platform-based investment model and reinforces its position as a dedicated sports-focused investor with more than $2 billion raised to date.
- Transaction Date: 1/24/2026
- Industry: Interactive Media & Services
- Type: Buyout / Private Equity
- Transaction Value: $400M
GTCR acquired LiveBarn for approximately $400 million, adding a leading youth sports streaming platform with coverage across more than 1,900 facilities in the U.S. and Canada. The deal advances GTCR’s strategy to invest in the fragmented youth sports ecosystem through its newly formed Ascent Sports Group.
- Transaction Date: 1/2/2026
- Industry: Media
- Type: Buyout / Private Equity
- Transaction Value: $344M
Bain Capital agreed to acquire a controlling stake in South Korean activewear company Echo Marketing, purchasing 43.66% for about $150 million and launching a tender offer for the remaining shares. The transaction values Echo Marketing at approximately $344 million and gives Bain control of Andar, one of Korea’s leading activewear brands.
- Transaction Date: 1/21/2026
- Industry: Media
- Type: Venture
- Transaction Value: $200M
Upscale AI raised an oversubscribed $200 million Series A led by Tiger Global, Premji Invest, and Xora Innovation, bringing total funding to over $300 million and valuing the company at unicorn status within months of its seed round. The funding will support commercial deployment of Upscale’s open, full-stack AI networking platform, purpose-built to address networking bottlenecks in large-scale AI infrastructure.
- Transaction Date: 1/5/2026
- Industry: Media
- Type: Acquisition / Merger
- Transaction Value: $120M
Life360 completed its acquisition of adtech company Nativo for approximately $120 million, paid in a mix of cash and stock, to expand its advertising platform. The deal enables Life360 to pair its large first-party family data network with Nativo’s native advertising technology to deliver context-driven campaigns across mobile, connected TV, and premium digital channels.
- Transaction Date: 1/28/2026
- Industry: Interactive Media & Services
- Type: Credit
- Transaction Value: $110M
Snout secured more than $110 million in total capital, including $100 million in financing from Clear Haven Capital Management and a $10 million Series A led by Footwork, to expand access to affordable preventive pet care. The funding will support growth of Snout’s veterinary clinic network and scale its credit-free, subscription-based wellness plans nationwide.
- Transaction Date: 1/22/2026
- Industry: Media
- Type: Acquisition / Merger
- Transaction Value: $53.9M
Future acquired SheerLuxe, a fast-growing UK digital media brand with a strong social-first and creator-led model, to expand its reach across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle audiences. The deal strengthens Future’s Women and Luxury vertical by adding a highly engaged, Gen Z–skewed audience and accelerating content monetization through Future’s global platform and technology stack.
- Transaction Date: 1/27/2026
- Industry: Interactive Media & Services
- Type: Venture
- Transaction Value: $35M
Phia raised a $35 million Series A at a $185 million valuation, led by Notable Capital with participation from Khosla Ventures and Kleiner Perkins, to build an AI-powered alignment layer between brands and consumers. The funding follows rapid traction, with Phia surpassing 1 million users in under a year and partnering with more than 6,200 brands, positioning the company as a fast-emerging player in AI-driven commerce and shopping agents.
- Transaction Date: 1/14/2026
- Industry: Entertainment
- Type: Credit
- Transaction Value: $30M
Atlantic Screen Group raised up to $30 million in funding from Corrum Capital to support its ongoing acquisition of film and television scores and expand its music publishing catalogue. The investment builds on ASG’s recent momentum, including the acquisition of score rights across more than 25 feature films in 2025, strengthening its position as a leading independent owner of screen music assets.
At Dakota, we understand how important it is to stay current on deal activity as it happens. That’s why our editorial team continuously monitors the news for real-time updates on platform investments, add-ons, divestitures, and more to deliver daily highlights straight to your inbox through our transactions newsletter.
Inside Dakota Marketplace, the transactions tab provides structured, filterable data with deal dates, types, sectors, and financials, allowing you to build a customized feed that aligns with your focus areas.
Whether you're evaluating a new investment opportunity or tracking trends within a target sector, Dakota Marketplace helps you cut through the noise and focus on what matters most.
For more information on these transactions and a deeper dive into their industries and sub-industries, book a demo of Dakota Marketplace.
