News
Rescale named to Y Combinator's top companies list
Rescale, the hybrid HPC cloud platform enabling intelligent computing for digital R&D, was named to Y Combinator's Top Companies list, reaffirming its position as a power player among startups.
Autonomous sweeper from Berlin startup approved for public road use in Singapore
The autonomous compact sweeper "Donner", developed by a consortium led by ENWAY and Bucher Municipal, has passed the Land Transport Authority's approval test for autonomous vehicles for use on public roads.
Biotech startup AltPep raises $23m jumpstarting work on Alzheimer's disease
AltPep Corporation, a privately held biomedical company focused on diagnosing and treating Central Nervous System amyloid disorders, starting with Alzheimer's Disease, announced it closed a $23.150 million Series A investment round.
sennder raises $160 million to accelerate digitization of European trucking
Through its proprietary technology, sennder directly connects enterprise shippers with trucking companies, bringing greater transparency and efficiency to both carriers and shippers.
Fintech startup Bookkeeper360 raises $1m seed round to deliver SaaS business intelligence platform to small businesses
Bookkeeper360, a fintech company focused on accounting and advisory solutions for small businesses, announced $1 million in seed funding to support an increase in investor confidence for small business fintech solutions .
Minna Technologies raises €15.5 million to expand open banking tech to banks globally
Subscription management software tool Minna Technologies has raised €15.5 million in Series B fundraising led by Element Ventures.
Picky Inc secures $1.3 million funding to advance authentic information sharing in the beauty industry
Picky, Inc., a mobile-first content platform providing consumers with authentic information in the global beauty space, has announced the completion of a $1.3 million pre-seed funding.
Chevron invests in carbon capture and utilization startup Blue Planet
Chevron Corporation announced a Series C investment in San Jose-based Blue Planet Systems Corporation (Blue Planet), a startup that manufactures and develops carbonate aggregates and carbon capture technology.
Laurence Innovation launches fund to invest in fourth industrial tech startups
Laurence Innovation, a new pre-seed investment fund with a focus on early-stage tech companies in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) verticals, has announced the close of their Innovation Fund I pilot and opening of their Fund II rolling implementation.
CropIn raises $20 million funding to deepen machine learning application in agriculture
CropIn, a global artificial intelligence and data-led agri-tech organization empowering stakeholders to reimagine agriculture with data, has raised $20 million in a Series C funding.
Tech startup Drata raises $3.2m in seed funding, launches platform to automate SOC 2 Compliance
Drata, a next-gen compliance and security automation company, came out of stealth and announced $3.2 million in seed funding led by Cowboy Ventures and participation from Leaders Fund, and SV Angel.
Oncology healthtech startup OncoLens secures $7.25m Series A funding
OncoLens, a pioneer in tumor board and cancer treatment planning solutions, raised a $7.25 million Series A investment from BIP Capital, Martin Ventures, and SeedToB Capital.
US venture exit value achieved $290 billion in 2020 alongside record years for investment and fundraising activity, report
Though the past year had a lot of uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the US VC industry demonstrated its resilience and long-term mindset, achieving new records in total exit value, deal value and capital raised by VC funds.
Food-tech startup CookUnity secures $15.5m in Series A funding for expansion
CookUnity, the Brooklyn-based food-tech company that introduced the first direct Chef-to-Consumer meal subscription platform, announced the closing of a $15.5 million Series A investment round.
Plug and Play partners with MESS to create a mobility & IoT innovation hub in Istanbul, Turkey
Global innovation platform for startups and corporations from Silicon Valley, Plug and Play, is partnering with Turkish Employers' Association of Metal Industries MESS, in launching its newest location in Istanbul, Turkey.
Capchase raises $60m in new funding, expands opportunity for early-stage SaaS startups to secure non-dilutive capital
Capchase, a Boston-based provider of non-dilutive capital for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies, announced $60 million in additional funding, led by specialty finance firm i80 Group.
[Startup Interview] Tony Botha, Managing Director, carbonTRACK Africa, South Africa
carbonTRACK Africa is a South Africa technology startup that seeks to create a world where energy is consumed sustainably, shared fairly and empowers all people. The ultimate goal is establishing an energy ecosystem that will close the gap between energy supply and demand.
Delivery Hero launches venture capital fund to drive innovation in food delivery
Delivery Hero, the world’s delivery platform, has announced the launch of DX Ventures, an independently managed early-stage venture capital fund with a focus on investing in disruptive founder-led companies.
Ten biggest startup layoffs in 2020 hit 25,500, Uber leads with 30 per cent, report
Data presented by Buy Shares indicates that approximately 25,500 jobs have been lost in the top ten largest startup layoffs amid the pandemic. The layoffs were recorded between March 2020 and January 2021.
Digital mortgage-servicing startup Brace raises $15.7m in Series B funding
Brace, a digital mortgage-servicing platform, announced it raised an additional $15.7 million in Series B funding led by Canvas Ventures.
Novo Seeds' IO Biotech completes oversubscribed €127m Series B financing to accelerate clinical programs in oncology
Novo Seeds announced its portfolio company, IO Biotech, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, immune-modulating anti-cancer therapies, raised €127 million in Series B financing.
Canadian tech startup 3D CityScapes to revolutionize real estate, property development industries
Canadian tech startup 3D CityScapes announced a breakthrough in its cloud streaming technology that allows their interactive visualization app to be available anywhere, on any device with internet connection.
Gut-health nutrition startup Muniq raises $8.2m Series A investment round
Muniq, the innovative consumer health and food-tech brand created by Marc Washington, founder and CEO of Uplifting Results Labs, announced the closing of a $8.2 million Series A investment round.
Egypt’s life science startup Nawah Scientific raises $1m round for market expansion
Egyptian life science startup Nawah Scientific announced the the closing a second pre-series A round of $1 million in mixed equity and debt capital, raising its total funding to $2 million.
Egyptian telemedicine startup Docspert Health secures funding round for geographical expansion
Docspert Health, a telemedicine startup with operations in the UK and Egypt, announced it has successfully closed Six-Figure USD investment in seed funding from Flat6Labs and a group of angel investors in the UK and USA.
Walmart announces creation of new fintech startup
Global retail corporation Walmart has announced the creation of a new fintech startup designed to develop and offer modern, innovative and affordable financial solutions.
Energy Robotics secures €2 million funding to advance mobile AI-based robotics solutions
Energy Robotics, a German-based developer of software solutions for mobile inspection robots, has received two million euros in seed funding.
Orange launches venture capital arm, allocates €350 million
Orange has announced that its venture capital arm, Orange Ventures has become a separate legal entity with an increased allocation of 350 million euros.
UK fintech startup Curve closes $95 million in equity as it plans US launch
Curve, the London-based fintech that combines multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and even smarter app, has secured $95 million from a group of international investors as part of a successful Series C round.
Neuros Medical raises $38.5m in Series BB funding for completion of pivotal clinical study for chronic post-amputation pain
Neuros Medical, a medical device company developing innovative high-frequency nerve block technology for patients with intractable post-amputation pain, announced the closing of Series BB financing totaling $38.5 million.
Genomics startup NuProbe closes $42m fundraising for expansion
NuProbe, a genomics and molecular diagnostics company specialized in ultrasensitive sequencing panels, announced the closing of its oversubscribed $42 million fundraising.
Cybersecurity firm Trend Micro goes global to find entrepreneurs set to unlock the smart connected world
Cybersecurity firm Trend Micro announced it has upped the stakes for its annual tech startup pitch-off competition, the Forward Thinker Award, doubling the first-place cash prize to $20,000.
India's Z3Partners announces first close of Tech & Digital Fund, invests in Cyfirma and DealShare startups
Z3Partners Tech Fund announced its First Close of $14 million and its investments in Cyfirma, a Cyber Threat Intelligence Software startup and DealShare, a Social Commerce-led online grocery startup.
Kenyan AI startup Gro Intelligence raises $85m in Series B funding
Kenyan AI-powered insights startup Gro Intelligence announced the raise of $85 million in Series B funding, co-led by Intel Capital, Africa Internet Ventures and the family offices of Ronald Lauder and Eric Zinterhofer.
Healthcare startup Noctrix Health completes $17m Series B financing
Noctrix Health, a private medical device company, announced it completed a Series B financing of $17 million, co-led by Treo Ventures and OrbiMed, with participation from LivaNova and other insiders.
Interviews.
[Startup Interview] Jon Cooper, CEO, Life.io, USA
Life.io is a US-based startup that helps companies accelerate the development of their end-to-end digital client experience with the Life.io Solution Suite: Grow, Engage and Empower. Jon Cooper the startup’s co-founder and CEO elaborates... read this interview here
[Startup Interview] James Adebisi, Founder, Xpora Academy, Nigeria
Xpora Academy is a Nigeria-based e-learning platform that equips the youth with in-demand digital skills relevant to the present and future of work.
The startup’s framework not only solves the problem of unemployment, as individuals are now adequately equipped for the workplace, but also increases financial independence among citizens, as individuals can remotely exchange their services for income, thereby promoting entrepreneurial excellence. James Adebisi the founder explains... read this interview here
[Startup Interview] Julien Morin, CEO, Wiboot, France
Wiboot is a French-based startup that combines IOT and AI different stacks in a single integrated platform, allowing professionals to create rapidly their application and maximize their return on investment.
The startup combine new standard allowing the seamless communication between all devices (multi OS) with all cloud applications or IOT platforms (multi cloud). The startup’s Julien MorinCo-founder and CEO Julien Morin explains... read this interview here