Moonbounce Launches AI Control Engine with $12 Million Funding
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy STEP?
Source: Newsfilter
- Funding Announcement: Moonbounce has launched today with $12 million in funding, led by Amplify Partners and StepStone Group, aimed at accelerating the market introduction and technological development of its AI control engine.
- Technological Innovation: The patented control engine of Moonbounce converts content policies into consistent and predictable AI behavior, addressing the challenges posed by traditional content moderation methods that cannot keep pace with rapid decision-making, thereby reducing operational and compliance risks.
- Market Applications: The platform is already utilized by various industry clients, including dating platforms and generative content sites, processing over 50 million pieces of content daily and serving a customer base of over 250 million monthly active users, significantly enhancing content moderation efficiency.
- Team Background: The founding team of Moonbounce includes Brett Levenson, former head of Meta's Trust and Safety unit, and Ash Bhardwaj, a former engineering leader at Apple, leveraging their extensive experience in large-scale cloud and AI infrastructure to ensure effective implementation and market adaptability.
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Analyst Views on STEP
Wall Street analysts forecast STEP stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 46.990
Low
66.00
Averages
77.33
High
83.00
Current: 46.990
Low
66.00
Averages
77.33
High
83.00
About STEP
StepStone Group Inc. is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to its clients. The Company partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes. These portfolios utilize several types of synergistic investment strategies with third-party fund managers, including commitments to funds (primaries), acquiring stakes in existing funds on the secondary market (secondaries) and investing directly into companies (co-investments). It provides its clients with tailored reporting packages, including customized performance benchmarks as well as compliance, administration and tax capabilities. The Company, through its subsidiaries, acts as the investment advisor and general partner or managing member to separately managed accounts and focused commingled funds.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Moonbounce Launches AI Control Engine with $12 Million Funding
- Funding Announcement: Moonbounce has launched today with $12 million in funding, led by Amplify Partners and StepStone Group, aimed at accelerating the market introduction and technological development of its AI control engine.
- Technological Innovation: The patented control engine of Moonbounce converts content policies into consistent and predictable AI behavior, addressing the challenges posed by traditional content moderation methods that cannot keep pace with rapid decision-making, thereby reducing operational and compliance risks.
- Market Applications: The platform is already utilized by various industry clients, including dating platforms and generative content sites, processing over 50 million pieces of content daily and serving a customer base of over 250 million monthly active users, significantly enhancing content moderation efficiency.
- Team Background: The founding team of Moonbounce includes Brett Levenson, former head of Meta's Trust and Safety unit, and Ash Bhardwaj, a former engineering leader at Apple, leveraging their extensive experience in large-scale cloud and AI infrastructure to ensure effective implementation and market adaptability.
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S&P 500 Futures Hold Steady in Pre-Market Session; Vertex Pharmaceuticals and UFP Industries Take the Lead
- Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Performance: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) saw a 6.2% increase in pre-market trading.
- UFP Industries Performance: UFP Industries Inc. (UFPI) experienced a 5.0% rise in pre-market trading.
- Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains indicate positive sentiment among investors for these companies.
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StepStone Group Authorizes $100 Million Stock Buyback Program
- Buyback Program Initiated: StepStone Group's board has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $100 million, aimed at enhancing shareholder value through open market purchases and private transactions, which is expected to improve stock liquidity and market confidence.
- Flexible Repurchase Strategy: The company will determine the timing and amount of repurchases based on business, economic, and market conditions, as well as capital availability, ensuring financial stability in an uncertain market environment.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, StepStone's stock price rose 1.92% in after-hours trading to $46.16, indicating a favorable investor response to the buyback plan, which may further drive stock price appreciation.
- Strategic Implications: This buyback program not only reflects the company's confidence in its intrinsic value but also supports future capital allocation and investment decisions, aiding StepStone's continued growth in the asset management sector.
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Barclays Downgrades Blue Owl, Upgrades StepStone Amid AI Concerns
- Rating Changes: Barclays downgraded Blue Owl Capital (OWL) to Equalweight from Overweight while upgrading StepStone Group (STEP) to Overweight from Equalweight, reflecting concerns about the impact of AI fears on the private credit market, particularly on business development companies.
- Slowing Inflows: Blue Owl's largest fund, OCIC, saw inflows decrease from approximately $600 million per month in November to $208 million in February, indicating a growing dependency on non-traded BDCs, which may lead to increased outflows in the future.
- Redemption Pressure: Blue Owl experienced quarterly redemptions exceeding 5% of net asset value in Q4, translating to over $1 billion in outflows, with analysts suggesting that this trend could worsen due to software and AI-related concerns.
- Market Opportunity for StepStone: StepStone has outperformed expectations in the wealth channel and is significantly less exposed to non-traded BDCs compared to peers, leading analysts to view this as an attractive entry point, with expectations for stable inflows into its wealth products.
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Liberty All-Star Growth Fund January 2026 Monthly Update
- Investment Strategy Overview: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund employs an all-cap growth investment style, combining three investment managers with distinct capitalization focuses—small, mid, and large-cap—to ensure portfolio diversity and risk management.
- Monthly Performance Data: As of the end of January, the fund's net asset value (NAV) stood at $5.77, with a market price of $5.25, reflecting a 9.0% discount; however, the monthly performance rebounded by 0.71%, indicating the impact of market fluctuations.
- Portfolio Changes: New holdings include companies like Arista Networks and Expedia, while positions in AMD and Bank of America were liquidated, demonstrating the fund's strategy of dynamically adjusting its portfolio to adapt to market changes.
- Sector Distribution Analysis: The fund's portfolio shows a significant concentration in high-growth sectors, with Information Technology and Industrials comprising 26.7% and 25.4% respectively, indicating a strategic focus on capturing future growth opportunities in these industries.
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StepStone Partners with Utmost to Expand Private Market Access
- Strategic Partnership: StepStone Group announces a partnership with Utmost to provide UK clients access to a comprehensive suite of private market investment strategies, including Private Equity, Venture Capital, Private Credit, and Infrastructure, aimed at enhancing client portfolio diversification and long-term financial outcomes.
- Growing Market Demand: StepStone has tripled its assets under management (AUM) in the past 15 months, reflecting a sustained global demand for evergreen funds and new investment solutions, thereby solidifying its strong momentum in the private wealth business.
- Client-Centric Approach: Utmost's Global Head of Sales and Marketing stated that as clients increasingly focus on private markets, this partnership will provide high-quality investment opportunities that support their wealth management goals, aligning with the flexibility and diversification needs of modern portfolios.
- Policy Support: This collaboration not only addresses client needs but also supports broader government initiatives designed to encourage investment in unlisted equities and private markets, further promoting healthy market development.
See More
Moonbounce Launches AI Control Engine with $12 Million Funding
- Funding Announcement: Moonbounce has launched today with $12 million in funding, led by Amplify Partners and StepStone Group, aimed at accelerating the market introduction and technological development of its AI control engine.
- Technological Innovation: The patented control engine of Moonbounce converts content policies into consistent and predictable AI behavior, addressing the challenges posed by traditional content moderation methods that cannot keep pace with rapid decision-making, thereby reducing operational and compliance risks.
- Market Applications: The platform is already utilized by various industry clients, including dating platforms and generative content sites, processing over 50 million pieces of content daily and serving a customer base of over 250 million monthly active users, significantly enhancing content moderation efficiency.
- Team Background: The founding team of Moonbounce includes Brett Levenson, former head of Meta's Trust and Safety unit, and Ash Bhardwaj, a former engineering leader at Apple, leveraging their extensive experience in large-scale cloud and AI infrastructure to ensure effective implementation and market adaptability.
See More
S&P 500 Futures Hold Steady in Pre-Market Session; Vertex Pharmaceuticals and UFP Industries Take the Lead
- Market Opening: U.S. stock markets are set to open in two hours.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Performance: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) saw a 6.2% increase in pre-market trading.
- UFP Industries Performance: UFP Industries Inc. (UFPI) experienced a 5.0% rise in pre-market trading.
- Overall Market Sentiment: The pre-market gains indicate positive sentiment among investors for these companies.
See More
StepStone Group Authorizes $100 Million Stock Buyback Program
- Buyback Program Initiated: StepStone Group's board has authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $100 million, aimed at enhancing shareholder value through open market purchases and private transactions, which is expected to improve stock liquidity and market confidence.
- Flexible Repurchase Strategy: The company will determine the timing and amount of repurchases based on business, economic, and market conditions, as well as capital availability, ensuring financial stability in an uncertain market environment.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, StepStone's stock price rose 1.92% in after-hours trading to $46.16, indicating a favorable investor response to the buyback plan, which may further drive stock price appreciation.
- Strategic Implications: This buyback program not only reflects the company's confidence in its intrinsic value but also supports future capital allocation and investment decisions, aiding StepStone's continued growth in the asset management sector.
See More
Barclays Downgrades Blue Owl, Upgrades StepStone Amid AI Concerns
- Rating Changes: Barclays downgraded Blue Owl Capital (OWL) to Equalweight from Overweight while upgrading StepStone Group (STEP) to Overweight from Equalweight, reflecting concerns about the impact of AI fears on the private credit market, particularly on business development companies.
- Slowing Inflows: Blue Owl's largest fund, OCIC, saw inflows decrease from approximately $600 million per month in November to $208 million in February, indicating a growing dependency on non-traded BDCs, which may lead to increased outflows in the future.
- Redemption Pressure: Blue Owl experienced quarterly redemptions exceeding 5% of net asset value in Q4, translating to over $1 billion in outflows, with analysts suggesting that this trend could worsen due to software and AI-related concerns.
- Market Opportunity for StepStone: StepStone has outperformed expectations in the wealth channel and is significantly less exposed to non-traded BDCs compared to peers, leading analysts to view this as an attractive entry point, with expectations for stable inflows into its wealth products.
See More
Liberty All-Star Growth Fund January 2026 Monthly Update
- Investment Strategy Overview: The Liberty All-Star Growth Fund employs an all-cap growth investment style, combining three investment managers with distinct capitalization focuses—small, mid, and large-cap—to ensure portfolio diversity and risk management.
- Monthly Performance Data: As of the end of January, the fund's net asset value (NAV) stood at $5.77, with a market price of $5.25, reflecting a 9.0% discount; however, the monthly performance rebounded by 0.71%, indicating the impact of market fluctuations.
- Portfolio Changes: New holdings include companies like Arista Networks and Expedia, while positions in AMD and Bank of America were liquidated, demonstrating the fund's strategy of dynamically adjusting its portfolio to adapt to market changes.
- Sector Distribution Analysis: The fund's portfolio shows a significant concentration in high-growth sectors, with Information Technology and Industrials comprising 26.7% and 25.4% respectively, indicating a strategic focus on capturing future growth opportunities in these industries.
See More
StepStone Partners with Utmost to Expand Private Market Access
- Strategic Partnership: StepStone Group announces a partnership with Utmost to provide UK clients access to a comprehensive suite of private market investment strategies, including Private Equity, Venture Capital, Private Credit, and Infrastructure, aimed at enhancing client portfolio diversification and long-term financial outcomes.
- Growing Market Demand: StepStone has tripled its assets under management (AUM) in the past 15 months, reflecting a sustained global demand for evergreen funds and new investment solutions, thereby solidifying its strong momentum in the private wealth business.
- Client-Centric Approach: Utmost's Global Head of Sales and Marketing stated that as clients increasingly focus on private markets, this partnership will provide high-quality investment opportunities that support their wealth management goals, aligning with the flexibility and diversification needs of modern portfolios.
- Policy Support: This collaboration not only addresses client needs but also supports broader government initiatives designed to encourage investment in unlisted equities and private markets, further promoting healthy market development.
See More
