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Insurtech startup QuoteWell comes out of stealth, raises $15m Series A funding round
QuoteWell has announced the launch of its brokerage operations.
E-commerce tech platform MarketLeap secures €2.6m to expand brands’ global reach and revenue
MarketLeap has secured €1.5m funding.
Canadian e-Commerce inventory platform Centro launches with $2m pre-seed funding round
e-Commerce inventory platform Centro, announced a $2m in pre-seed funding.
French startup Kamino Retail raises €1.25m pre-seed round to accelerate growth
Kamino Retail announced a pre-seed funding of €1.25m from business angels.
Nigerian mobility startup Mecho Autotech raises $2.4m, ventures into wholesale spare parts distribution
Nigerian mobility startup Mecho Autotech, has closed $2.4m pre-Series A investment.
Harmonya raises $20m Series A to transform CPG and retail with AI-powered product data
Harmonya announced a $20m Series A, bringing total funding to $25 million.
Kids footwear brand jbrds closes $500k seed round, establishes $5m valuation
jbrds has subscribed a modest seed round of $500k, establishing a $5,000,000 valuation.
Swedish fintech Klarna records growth in key European markets
Klarna, the global payments network and shopping assistant, announced strong growth across Europe.
B2B marketplace startup Ghost raises $30m to help brands and retailers move surplus inventory
B2B marketplace startup Ghost has raised $30m Series B funding.
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk acquires KwikBasket, expands into fresh produce market
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk, is expanding into the African fresh produce market.
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu raises pre-seed funding to fuel growth of its marketplace
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu has raised $1m pre-seed funding.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo.
How payment technology is changing the rulebook on South African retail
The past few years have seen the proliferation of new methods of transacting.
Dental marketplace Wellplaece launches with $5.5m seed round
Dental marketplace Wellplaece announced the company's Private Beta launch.
Genetica raises $500k seed round to make cannabis shopping smarter with AI
Genetica, an AI cannabis retail platform, announced the close of its seed round.
Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory scores million-dollar investment to accelerate growth
Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory has scored another million-dollar investment.
Singapore-based tech-enabled coffee chain Flash Coffee extends Series B round to $50m
Singapore-based tech-enabled coffee chain Flash Coffee has announced the successful completion of its Series B financing round led by White Star Capital, raising a total of $50 million following its latest closing.
Kenya's B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko expands to Zambia
Wasoko has revealed plans to invest over $1 million in Zambia. The B2B retail and e-Commerce made this announcement while announcing its official entry into the Southern African country.
Africa’s mezzanine debt fund manager Vantage Capital exits Dynamic Bedding
Vantage Capital, Africa’s mezzanine debt fund manager, announced it has fully exited its investment in Dynamic Bedding, a South African specialist bed manufacturer and retailer.
GCPL to invest $12m in early-stage Indian consumer startups
Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), announced that it will be investing INR 100 Crore ($12 million) in Early Spring, a new INR 300 Crore early-stage consumer fund being set up by Spring Marketing Capital (Spring).
Forces shaping the retail landscape in 2023, ESW
Brands and merchants are constantly adapting to the ever-changing forces that shape the retail landscape
California furniture startup Woodsy announces pre-seed funding round, launches Kickstarter
Woodsy, a California furniture startup manufacturing affordable solid wood furniture, announced its first product on Kickstarter, surpassing its funding goal in 6 hours.
3 key trends in retail and brand innovation, Plug and Play
Brands and the retail industry are undergoing a rapid transformation. As technology and customer expectations continue to evolve, businesses must innovate to stay competitive and provide a better consumer and user experience.
Vue.ai announces new AI powered models to generate inclusive ad creatives through Meta's Creative Shop
Vue.ai, the retail vertical of AI startup Mad Street Den, announced its partnership with Meta to generate automated and inclusive ad creatives using AI-powered models for brands using Meta's creative services.
Indian SaaS startup Mintoak raises $20m Series A funding round to grow its product portfolio
Mintoak, an India-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform focused on merchant services, has raised $20 million in Series A funding round led by PayPal Ventures.
Berlin's EatFirst acquires London-based foodtech startup Feedr to accelerate growth
Berlin-based corporate food ordering platform EatFirst, has acquired Feedr, a London-based enterprise food technology platform that gives corporate customers software to support healthier daily eating in workplaces.
Bangladeshi B2B commerce platform ShopUp secures $30m debt financing to fuel expansion, strengthen supply chain operations
ShopUp, a full-stack B2B commerce platform in Bangladesh, announced it has secured $30 million in debt financing, to drive expansion efforts and strengthen the company's supply chain operations.
Food Foundry accelerator announces fifth cohort of early-stage foodservice startups
Food Foundry, an accelerator program built by Relish Works and Gordon Food Service for early-stage startups disrupting the food and foodservice industry, announced the five startups that will join the fifth cohort starting in January 2023.
Boulder-based startup Hickey Hack develops first ever concealer for hickeys
Hickey Hack, a startup based in Boulder, Colorado, has developed a concealer designed to eliminate hickeys. This is the first time a product like this has ever been created and is a major breakthrough in the cosmetic industry.
Nigerian online furniture store Taeillo raises $2.5m for expansion
Nigerian online store Taeillo, announced a $2.5 million funding round from Aruwa Capital, a growth equity and early-stage investor.
Senegalese startup Kwely launches made in Africa online store
Kwely, a Senegalese-based startup has launched a B2B e-marketplace to provide African producers and manufacturers with a global window to sell their products at scale.
Netail closes $5m seed funding to advance retail-focused AI development
Netail, a technology that enables retailers to auto-identify competitors across the internet and track their assortments, availability and optimize prices in real time, announced the closing of $5 million in seed funding.
Nigerian foodtech Orda raises $3.4m seed round to digitize African restaurants
Nigerian foodtech platform Orda announced has raised a $3.4 million seed round to further digitize food businesses across the continent.
Berlin-based AI-powered startup Faircado raises €500K to transform E-commerce into Re-commerce
Faircado, a Berlin-based startup that provides the first AI-powered second-hand shopping assistance, announced it has raised €500,000 in a pre-seed round led by BackBone Ventures.
Tanzanian CPG startup Ramani raises $32m to digitize supply chains
Ramani, a Tanzanian startup focused on consumer-packaged goods (CPG) supply chains, has raised $32 million in Series A debt-equity funding to introduce new financial services as it expands its operations.
Beverage startup Hangobi raises capital on StartEngine to accelerate growth
Beverage startup Hangobi announced it is raising capital on SearchEngine to expand its footprint beyond NYC, bringing its healthy drinks to the masses.
Kenyan supply chain and logistics startup Leta secures $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Leta, the supply chain and logistics startup driving distribution optimization, announced the close of $3 million Pre-Seed equity round.
Kenyan agritech startup Stable Foods raises $600k funding to grow its climate smart smallholder platform
Stable Foods, a Kenyan agritech startup offering a host of solutions to small-scale farmers, has raised $600k funding round, to build out its climate smart smallholder food production platform.
Demand for seamless, convenient way of shopping increase growth of e-Commerce in Africa
The electronic commerce (e-Commerce) transaction of goods and services between business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), consumer-to-consumer, and consumer-to-business, has become rampant in this digital age.
Ultra-convenient healthy meals startup Proper Good closes seed funding to bring absurdly delicious products
PROPER GOOD, an ultra-convenient home-delivered food service company that offers nutritious prepared meals made with simple and high quality ingredients, announced the closing of $3.5 million in seed funding.
Vue Storefront wins best e-Commerce and retail startup at The Europas Tech Startup Awards 2022
Vue Storefront, a technology company that develops software for businesses to create fast, modern and high-performing online storefronts, was crowned a winner at The Europas Tech Startup Awards 2022.
New York startup Scent Lab personalizes the fragrance industry with immersive digital experiences and AI-tech
Scent Lab announced the launch of its online platform that’s changing the way consumers shop for fragrance. Scent Lab is the first digital destination that leverages immersive video experiences and AI tech.
London-based Sidekick raises £3.33m pre-seed to build a modern investment manager for today’s changing world
Sidekick, a digital active investment manager built for today’s rapidly changing world, announced a £3.33 million pre-seed equity round led by Octopus Ventures.
GS1 Hong Kong unlocks the next generation of trade finance service for SMEs in China
GS1 Hong Kong (GS1 HK) announced it has welcomed the launch of Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda announces agency banking entry in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda announced plans for agency banking entry in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania to accelerate growth within the East African markets.
Nigerian social commerce startup Bumpa raises $4m seed funding to build the future of commerce for African sellers
Nigerian social commerce startup Bumpa announced it has raised $4 million seed round led by Base10 Partners, the largest black-led fund in the world, with participation from Plug & Play Ventures.
Fintech startup Banyan raises $43m Series A to scale world's largest SKU data network
Banyan, the network for SKU data, announced it has raised $43 million Series A round led by Fin Capital and M13. The investment will accelerate Banyan's technology and infrastructure growth.
Kenyan home furniture startup MoKo raises $6m to accelerate growth
Kenyan home furniture startup MoKo announced it raised $6.5 million in a Series B funding round, which is a combination of debt and equity.
Climate infrastructure startup EcoCart raises $14.5m Series A to accelerate sustainable e-Commerce
EcoCart, a software company building the infrastructure for e-Commerce companies to operate sustainably at scale, has raised a $14.5 million Series A round.
Kenyan startup Kyosk Digital expands to Uganda
Kyosk Digital Services aims to address some of the challenges that vendors of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) go through in sourcing products and restocking their outlets.
Vendease secures $30m to transform procurement and business operations for restaurants across Africa
Vendease, a Y Combinator-backed digital platform that allows restaurants in Africa to buy supplies, access financial services and power their business operations, has raised $30 million funding round.
Crypto tax reporting app Binocs nets $4m funding round as it adds institutional investors to retail base
Crypto tax reporting app Binocs has announced a $4 million fundraise to cater to institutional crypto investors and enter geographies like the US, UK, Australia etc.
Healthtech startup Remedial Health secures $4.4m to provide access to credit for pharmacies in Nigeria
Remedial Health, a healthtech startup that develops solutions to make Africa’s pharmaceutical value chain more efficient, has raised $4.4 million in seed funding to accelerate its expansion across Nigeria.
India's fruits and vegetables platform Sahyadri Farms raises €40m growth capital to support smallholder farmers
India's integrated platform for fruits and vegetables Sahyadri Farms has raised €40 million growth capital from a group of impact-focused investors; Incofin, Korys, FMO and Proparco.
[Startup Interview] Tesh Mbaabu, CEO, MarketForce, Kenya
Tesh Mbaabu is a serial entrepreneur who lives to blend commerce and technology. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa today, MarketForce.
Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory raises €2.2m in second round funding to back e-Commerce brands
Austrian startup Shopstory is raising a million-dollar investment from tecnet equity, Startup300 and business angels Patrick Pöschl (Co-Founder Scalable Capital) and Hansi Hansmann in its second round of financing.
Kenyan B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko opens innovation hub in Zanzibar
Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch), an African B2B e-Commerce startup that leverages technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, announced the official launch of the “Wasoko Innovation Hub” in partnership with the Zanzibar government.
Nigerian B2B e-Commerce startup Omnibiz raises $15m for expansion
Nigerian B2B e-Commerce startup Omnibiz has raised $15 million pre-Series A round ($5 million equity and $10 million debt) led by Timon Capital, Ventures Platform, Lofty Inc, Chapel Hill Denham, Chandaria Capital and Musha Ventures.
Budmail announces partnership with Canadian AI startup Lil Durk
Lil Durk (LilDurk.com), a Canadian news & technology company enhanced by AI-driven neural networks, has announced a strategic partnership agreement with Budmail, a retail-focused cannabis company.
South African agritech disruptor AgriKool drives down food costs for consumers, increases profits for farmers
AgriKool, a South African e-trading platform, is connecting agricultural producers to buyers to facilitate the sale of products between retailers and farmers.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia unveils manufacturing unit for sugar and rice production
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has unveiled a new manufacturing unit to enhance its output of affordable sugar and rice to the Kenyan market.
Product search engine startup Vetted raises $15m to vet trustworthy product data for consumers
Vetted (formerly Lustre) announced the launch of its AI-powered product search engine, alongside a $14 million Series A investment round led by global software investor Insight Partners.
Autonomous robotics delivery startup Ottonomy closes $3.3m seed financing round
Ottonomy.IO, the autonomous robotics delivery startup, announced the close of its seed funding round of $3.3 million bringing its total funding to date to $4.9 million, supporting the scale of Ottobots for fully autonomous airport, retail and restaurant deliveries.
VMG Catalyst closes $400m Fund II to scale commerce venture capital space
Venture capital firm VMG Catalyst announced the closing of Fund II at its target of $400 million, bringing the total capital raised to $650 million across both funds.
London-based startup Geomiq raises $8.5m to digitize manufacturing and deliver industry leading service levels
London-based startup Geomiq announced it has raised $8.5 million funding to digitize global manufacturing and deliver industry leading service levels for Engineers and Procurement teams.
Bodybuilding.com partners with Retail Ecommerce Ventures to accelerate growth
Bodybuilding.com, the online fitness store, has struck a deal to partner with Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a global leader in e-Commerce with a rapidly growing roster of well-known brands, to accelerate growth.
Indian no-code mobile startup Plobal raises $8.5m to expand presence in North America
Plobal Apps, a no-code mobile app platform for e-commerce stores, raised $8.5 million, led by Elevation Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners.
B2B e-Commerce and fintech startup Bazaar raises $70m to revamp the retail industry in Pakistan
Bazaar, Pakistan’s B2B e-Commerce and fintech platform has raised $70 million in a Series B financing led by Dragoneer Investment Group and Tiger Global Management.
Utrecht-based same day and next day delivery startup Trunkrs raises €15 million in growth capital
Trunkrs, specialist in same day & next day delivery for the e-Commerce sector, has successfully raised €15 million in a series B investment round. The financing round was led by Korys, the Belgian investment company of the Colruyt family.
Amsterdam-based Instant Commerce secures €2m pre-seed funding to boost its headless storefront builder
Amsterdam-based Instant Commerce announced it has secured €2 million pre-seed funding to boost its headless storefront builder.
Oregon-based Dutch Bros raises $2.3m to help end ALS
Dutch Bros, a drive-through coffee chain headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon, announced that together with its customers, raised a record breaking $2.3 million during its 16th annual Drink One for Dane day.
Text messaging startup Prokeep raises $9m to modernize distributor communications and commerce
Prokeep, the communications and commerce platform built exclusively for distributors, announced the closing of $9 million seed round.
Indonesian social commerce startup Super completes $70m oversubscribed Series C round
Super, an Indonesian social commerce platform serving tier-2 and tier-3 cities and Indonesian rural areas, announced it completed a $70 million oversubscribed Series C round led by NEA with additional investment from Insignia Ventures Partners.
Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay brings Web3 P2P payment gateway to eligible Shopify merchants
Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay, announced its official integration into omnichannel commerce platform Shopify, allowing for the very first integration of a wallet-to-wallet (P2P) payment solution for eligible Shopify merchants.
e-Commerce logistics startup Kubbo begins international expansion, starts Italy operations
e-Commerce logistics startup Kubbo, announced its first international move to expand its model of digitising logistics for brands and ecommerce companies. The operator has launched its activity in Italy.
Dough Ecommerce Capital partners with Byrne Capital to scale DTC businesses online
Dough Ecommerce Capital and Byrne Capital Ventures announced a strategic partnership to invest in and acquire direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce businesses.
Foodtech startup Haofood partners Lawson to accelerate presence in China
Haofood, a food science and technology startup announced a new partnership with Chinese convenience store Lawson where customers will gain greater access to its products.
e-Commerce startup byrd raises $56m Series C to become Europe-wide standard for next-day delivery
e-Commerce fulfillment technology startup byrd has raised a Series C round of $56 million, bringing the funding raised within the last 10 months to $75 million.
Nigerian retail tech startup TradeDepot appoints Chidi Akubuiro as Managing Director for West Africa
TradeDepot, a B2B e-Commerce and embedded finance platform in Africa, has appointed former Coca Cola HBC and Hayat Kimya Nigeria Executive, Chidi Akubuiro as its Managing Director for West Africa.
Food tech startup Tomorrow Farms raises $8.5m seed round to fuel sustainable food revolution
Tomorrow Farms, a food technology company on a mission to fuel the sustainable food revolution with irresistible food and beverage brands, announced a $8.5 million seed round led by Lowercarbon Capital and additional key investors.
The Home Depot announces $150m venture capital fund to fuel innovation in retail and home improvement
The Home Depot announced Home Depot Ventures, a $150 million venture capital fund created to identify, fund and partner with early-stage companies to accelerate emerging technologies.
Glovo announces winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has announced the winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya.
African B2B marketplace Kwely nabs $1m seed round to accelerate growth
African B2B marketplace Kwely finalized a $1 million seed funding round with a $700,000 injection of fresh capital led by WIC Capital with participation from Loftyinc Capital, Afropreneur Angels, Haskè Ventures and other angel investors.
Estonian e-Store startup Upty acquires Finnish peer Rekki, opens up seed round
Estonian startup Upty, the resale e-Store in the Baltic region, announced the acquisition of its Finnish peer, Rekki. In addition, Upty is planning to kick-start the fundraising in the coming months in order to pursue the Company's accelerated expansion across Europe.
Plant-based meat startup Nowadays closes $7m seed round to accelerate health-focused chicken
Health-focused plant-based meat company Nowadays closed its oversubscribed Seed round, raising just shy of $10 million to-date to support commercialization of new plant-based chicken innovation.
SAP.iO launches Resilient Supply Chain startup program in collaboration with Accenture
SAP SE announced the launch of a virtual startup program focused on building a resilient supply chain at the SAP.iO Foundries Munich and Tel Aviv.
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia appoints former Amazon Executive to its Board
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has announced the appointment of former Amazon executive Jason Murray to its Board.
Luxury clean CBD brand Lure Life closes $750K seed funding round for expansion
Lure Life, (Lure), a luxury, joy producing CBD brand has raised $750,000 in a Seed round of funding supported by a diverse group of investors in the beauty, finance and the consumer-packaged goods sectors.
Colombian-based consumer and fintech startup Leal secures $10m Series A round to scale growth
Colombian-based consumer and fintech company Leal has raised a $10 million Series A round co-led by global internet services leader Rakuten Group – through its investment arm Rakuten Capital – and IDC Ventures global fintech investment firm.
Kenyan social commerce startup Tushop raises $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Tushop, a Kenyan social-commerce platform that enables group-buying of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), announced it has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding, led by 4DX Ventures.
French insect farming startup Ÿnsect acquires Nebraska-based Jord Producers to open first mealworm farm in the US
Jord Producers, based in Nebraska, has been incorporated into Ÿnsect’s production portfolio, signifying the global leader’s entry into North American mealworm production.
Plug and Play Japan kicks off 3rd Smart Cities accelerator program in Osaka and Tokyo
Plug and Play Japan has selected 25 startups from Japan and overseas for their accelerator program that promotes open innovation in Smart Cities theme. From the Batch 3 program, it will expand and operate at two locations, Tokyo and Osaka.
Israeli data integration startup Triple Whale raises $27.7m to develop default e-Commerce operating system for Shopify brands
Triple Whale, the all-in-one operating system for Shopify brands, announced it has raised $27.7 million in an extended Series A, the company's first announced funding round since its foundation in May 2021.
Kenyan e-Commerce startup Sokowatch raises $125m, rebrands to Wasoko
Kenyan based B2B e-Commerce startup Sokowatch has raised a $125 million Series B equity round, the largest venture financing round ever raised for a non-fintech startup in Africa.
Product photo performance startup Bloom raises $1.1m seed round funding to bring generative AI to e-Commerce
Product photo performance engine Bloom announced it has raised $1.1 million at the close of its seed funding round.
Canadian tech startup Calico secures $2.1m to revolutionize modern supply chains
Calico, the developer of the first AI-powered smart supply chain management platform, announced it has raised $2 million in seed funding. The growth financing is led by Serena Ventures following 300% growth since January 2022.
e-Commerce startup The Host Co. raises $1.85m to revolutionize short-term rental industry
The Host Co., the first-of-its-kind digital commerce marketplace for short-term rentals, announced an oversubscribed $1.85 million seed funding round, led by HearstLab with participation from The Artemis Fund and Untapped Capital.
South African fintechs Payflex and Merchant Capital launch cash advance solution for small retailers
Two South African fintechs, alternative lender Merchant Capital and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) specialist Payflex, have launched a cash advance solution for small and mid-sized retail sector.
Food startup Next Gen Foods debuts TiNDLE in the U.S., announces $100m Series A funding round
Food startup Next Gen Foods announced its first product TiNDLE, now available in a range of iconic restaurants across the East and West Coasts in some of the country's leading "foodie" cities.
Retailtech startup Cortina raises $6m seed round to accelerate growth
Cortina, a revolutionary software solution that gives any retailer, from big box to mom-and-pop, the power to become a player in the fast-evolving marketplace revolution, announced it has closed $6 million in seed money.
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune starts commercial operations in Nairobi
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune has officially launched commercial operations with four meal hubs located in strategic locations in Nairobi.
Cross-border fintech startup Dowsure raises $20m to fuel growth of e-Commerce sellers in China
Shenzhen-based fintech startup Dowsure Technologies, has attracted the attention of global strategic investors, fueling the growth of millions of e-Commerce sellers from China on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Shopee and more.
Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $40m Series A to scale up super app for Africa’s informal merchants
MarketForce, the Nairobi-headquartered B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the closing of a $40 million Series A round.
African fintech Flutterwave rebrands, introduces new products and services
African fintech startup Flutterwave has unveiled a significant re-brand and identity during the Flutterwave 3.0, virtual event held on Friday, 18th February 2022.
[African Startup Review] Pie Kamau: Nigerian fintech Flutterwave is now Africa's highest valued Unicorn
As the African fintech industry continues to bloom, so does the funding. Flutterwave has now become Africa's highest valued startup after closing $250 million Series D funding, bringing the company’s valuation to over $3 billion.
German startup Cansativa closes $15m Series B to become the ‘Amazon’ of cannabis for Europe
Cansativa Group announced it has closed a $15 million Series B investment led by Casa Verde with participation by Argonautic Ventures and Munich-based family office Alluti.
Raydiant startup raises $30m Series B to reimagine in-store experiences for brick and mortars
Raydiant, the in-location experience management platform for brick-and-mortar enterprises, announced it has raised a $30 million Series B funding round led by 8VC and Atomic Ventures.
MENA's c-Commerce startup Zbooni launches in Egypt
Zbooni, MENA's c-Commerce (connected commerce) platform, has announced its official launch in Egypt. The rapidly scaling startup, which is backed by regional and global investors, will support the backbone of the Egyptian economy.
Fraugster partners with Dutch-based fintech startup Payaut to provide fraud prevention services to e-Commerce marketplaces
Fraugster, a German-Israeli payment intelligence company, has partnered with marketplace payout specialist Payaut, an Amsterdam-based fintech startup, to provide fraud prevention services to marketplaces.
[African Startup Review] Pie Kamau: Capital funding for tech startups gain momentum in 2022
The startup ecosystem in Africa is taking shape. A lot of technological innovations especially in the areas of fintech, e-mobility, e-commerce, healthtech, foodtech and cleantech have seen accelerated growth towards Africa’s digital transformation and innovation.
SaaS startup Aramid Technologies raises $2m seed round to redefine quality certification management in global supply chains
SaaS startup Aramid Technologies announced it has raised $2 million in seed funding to expand its flagship product, SmartCert.
Vietnam-focused retail investing app Infina closes $6m seed funding to accelerate growth
Vietnam-focused retail investing app Infina, announced the closing of $6 million in seed funding from Sequoia Capital India’s Surge, Y Combinator, Saison Capital, Starling Ventures, Alpha JWC, and AppWorks.
Amsterdam-based Polestar Capital opens €100m circular economy fund, largest of its kind in Europe
Amsterdam-based Polestar Capital Polestar Capital announced the launch of the biggest circular economy fund in Europe. The fund, called the Polestar Capital Circular Debt Fund (PCDF), has opened at €100 million
Fintech startups hub Abaca crosses $2b in compliant cannabis commerce
Cannabis banking fintech company Abaca surpassed compliantly processing more than two billion dollars in commerce for the cannabis industry.
B2B marketplace startup Retailo raises $36m Series A funding to empower community commerce in the MENA region
Retailo, the B2B marketplace startup for retailers in Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP), has raised $36 million in its Series A investment round which was a mix of equity and venture debt.
Cloud-based-AI startup Inspectorio raises $50m to reinvent production chain with AI-powered platform
Inspectorio, the cloud-based AI-powered SaaS solution, announced the company has raised $50 million in a Series B Round led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm, Insight Partners.
Grocery logistics startup EasyBins raises $2m late stage seed round for expansion
EasyBins, a company solving the grocery logistics problem for suburban markets in North America, announced $2 million late stage seed round funding to expand its geographic footprint and invest in technology and staff.
Morocco fintech startup Chari closes a bridge round to pilot BNPL services with grocery stores in Francophone Africa
Aiming to take a serious step towards the Fintech space, Chari has announced the closing of a bridge round led by the Saudi-based venture capital fund Khwarizmi Ventures (KV).
Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia raises $50m to ramp up African expansion
Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform Copia Global raised $50 million in a Series C equity round led by Goodwell Investments.
Kenyan fintech startup Zanifu closes $1m seed financing round to accelerate growth
Kenyan fintech startup Zanifu announced it has successfully closed a $ 1 million seed financing round to scale its business and improve on its platform.
Israeli foodtech startup Plantish unveils whole-cut plant-based salmon fillets
Israeli foodtech startup Plantish is giving consumers a first look at its flagship product, a 100% plant-based whole-cut salmon fillet, which mimics cooked salmon in texture, taste, appearance and structure.
Ivorian e-Commerce startup Afrikrea raises $6.2m pre-Series A funding, rebrands to 'ANKA'
Afrikrea, an Ivorian e-Commerce startup has raised $6.2 million pre-Series A funding round led by Investisseurs & Partenaires. The startup has also rebranded to 'ANKA'.
Ampla secures $40 Million in Series A Funding to accelerate hiring and recruitment efforts
This announcement brings the Company’s total funding to $380 million in equity and debt financing, which will enable Ampla to impact even more small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) in the consumer brands space.
Kenyan fintech startup Tanda inks deal with Twiga Foods to enable vendors vend its digital financial services
Kenya’s fintech startup Tanda announced a new partnership with Twiga Foods that will see Twiga vendors become a one-stop-shop for a variety of digital and financial services offered by Tanda.
REEF acquires foodtech Startup 2ndKitchen
REEF and 2ndKitchen’s existing businesses will be combined under the REEF brand, and will operate under REEF’s Hospitality division.
Kenyan-based Penda Health partners with femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha to ease contraceptive access for consumers
Healthcare solution provider Penda Health announced a partnership with Rwandan femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha, to enable increase access to contraceptive products via the Kasha digital platform.
Nigerian B2B e-Commerce startup TradeDepot raises $110m to extend ‘Buy-Now-Pay-Later’ services to African retailers
TradeDepot, the B2B e-Commerce and embedded finance platform in Africa, has raised $110 million in an equity and debt funding round to support the delivery of Buy-Now-Pay-Later services to SME retailers.
[Startup Interview] Sophie Tarif, Nina van Boxtel, Founders, BOETIEK, Netherlands
BOETIEK, a Dutch startup, works with local boutiques and brands to increase audiences and increase online sales. The platform offers a wide range of products and services from latest fashion trends to new online boutiques and concept stores.
Estonian startup Gelatex raises €1.2m seed round for affordable and scalable manufactured cell-cultured meat
Estonian startup Gelatex announced it raised €1.2m seed round for affordable and scalable manufactured cell-cultured meat, making it cheaper than ever.
Brazilian fintech startup TruePay raises $32m Series A funding for team and product development
TruePay, a Brazilian startup whose innovative payment solution helps small and medium sized retailers have free and secure access to credit, has raised $32 million in Series A funding led by Addition.
Fintech startup and shareholder loyalty pioneer TiiCKER launches Android app
TiiCKER hit the trifecta with the addition of an Android app to its web and iOS portals, giving America's estimated 130 million retail investors instant access to loyalty rewards.
London-based healthcare startup Gravitiq raises $55m seed round to expand portfolio of e-Commerce healthcare brands
Gravitiq, the doctor-founded and led healthcare brand aggregator, announced the close of its seed funding round, raising a total of $55 million.
Indonesia's Hypefast emerges from stealth mode as the largest house of e-Commerce native brands in Southeast Asia
Hypefast, Southeast Asia's (SEA) largest house of e-Commerce native brands, announced it has grown its portfolio to more than 25 brands and has been achieving full profitability.
Indian full-stack agritech startup DeHaat raises $115m Series D round
DeHaat, the technology-based platform offering end-to-end agricultural services to farmers in India, announced it has raised $115 million in Series D funding, led by Belgium based investment firm Sofina and Lightrock India.
Four Ghanaian startups join the Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce accelerator
Four startups from Ghana have joined The Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator, a programme that supports innovators building digital commerce solutions.
Indian e-Commerce startup LoveLocal raises $18m Pre-Series B investment round to accelerate growth
LoveLocal, India's hyper-local e-Commerce platform empowering local retailers, has raised $18 million in a Pre-Series B investment round.
Female-founded winery startup BOXT raises $9.35m to expand luxury brand of fine wine offerings
BOXT, the female-founded, direct-to-consumer winery, announced it has raised $9.35 million in equity and debt funding to drive the continued expansion of its luxury brand of fine wine offerings.
Nigerian e-Commerce startup Sendbox raises $1.8m to digitize deliveries for African SMEs
Nigerian e-Commerce fulfillment startup Sendbox announced the completion of $1.8 million seed round from investors including 4DX Ventures, Enza Capital, FJLabs and Golden Palm Investments.
Unilever invites startups to partner through Positive Beauty Growth Platform
Unilever announced the launch of the Positive Beauty Growth Platform, a new initiative which aims to partner with scaleups and startups to drive innovation and brand growth.
Industrial automation startup Agtonomy launches out of stealth to address farm labor crisis with $4m seed round
Agtonomy, a hybrid autonomy and tele-assist service platform, launched out of stealth and announced a $4 million seed round from Grit Ventures, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and Village Global.
Canadian supplier enablement startup Convictional raises $6.7m Series A funding
Convictional, the first supplier enablement platform for retailers and distributors to power drop ship, marketplace and wholesale business models in one solution, announced it has secured $6.7 million in Series A funding.
Healthtech startup bttn. adds PlastCareUSA to burgeoning supplier ecosystem
bttn., a Healthtech startup providing a B2B e-Commerce platform for purchasing medical supplies, announced an expansion to its product catalog with the addition of 93 PlastCare USA products for dental practitioners.
Organic food startup Teatis closes seed funding round to advance production and marketing in the U.S.
Teatis, makers of superfood powders for diabetic consumers, announces the close of its seed funding round. The science-backed brand that specializes in sugar-blocking teas accrued $700,000 from various high-power angel investors.
Workwear startup BRUNT raises $8.4m Series A funding to accelerate growth
BRUNT Workwear, a modern work boot and apparel brand designed for today's construction workers and tradespeople, closed an $8.4 million Series A round to accelerate its growth and meet demand as the company disrupts a $12 billion-dollar category in the US.
Lectra joins Plug and Play open innovation ecosystem
Major global player in the 4.0 Industry for the fashion, automotive, and furniture market, Lectra is joining the Brand & Retail program of the Plug and Play network, the world's leading innovation platform connecting startups, investors, and pioneering companies.
Canadian plant-based food innovation startup TMRW Foods raises $2.6m in seed round funding
TMRW Foods, the growing Canadian plant-based food innovation company, announced a seed round investment of $2.6 million.
Foodtech startup GrubMarket acquires Bartolotta, further expands in Eastern US and Canada
Food technology startup GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Bartolotta, a full-service provider of fresh fruits and vegetables to customers in New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Canada.
[Startup Interview] Nicolas d'Audiffret, Co-Founder, Ankorstore
Ankorstore is an online B2B marketplace connecting brand and retailers, all around Europe.
Wine & spirits e-Commerce startup Speakeasy Co. raises $2m seed round to accelerate growth
Speakeasy Co., a technology company and e-commerce platform for the wine & spirits industry, announced a $2 million seed round led by Trog Hawley Capital LLC with participation from other notable investors.
Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $100,000 funding from Harambeans Prosperity Fund
The Harambeans Prosperity Fund, a donor advised investment vehicle formed through the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance’s network of prominent families and corporations co-invested $100,000 in Y Combinator Harambean venture MarketForce.
Egyptian B2B e-commerce startup MaxAB acquires distribution platform WaystoCap
MaxAB, Egyptian B2B e-commerce platform that serves food and grocery retailers, has acquired WaystoCap, the Morocco-based B2B e-commerce and distribution platform that connects retailers with suppliers across Africa.
End-to-end e-Commerce startup Cart.com raises $98m Series B to deliver integrated solutions for e-Commerce brands
Cart.com, the end-to-end e-Commerce services provider, announced the close of a $98 million Series B round, bringing the company's total funding since its launch eight months ago to more than $140 million.
Ghanaian startup Plendify launches B2B e-Commerce marketplace
Ghanaian startup Plendify has launched a B2B e-Commerce marketplace to connect customers with small and large African wholesalers, manufacturers, exporters, and importers.
Latin American startup Wonder Brands closes $20m seed round for expansion
Wonder Brands, the company building Latin America's best portfolio of digital brands, closed $20 million in seed financing, led by ALLVP and Mountain Nazca with CoVenture and Victory Park Capital joining to close the round.
Full-stack delivery scale-up Merqueo raises $50m Series C to expand its grocery delivery service across Latin America
Merqueo, a full-stack delivery scale-up, landed a $50 million series C round led by IDC Ventures, Digital Bridge and IDB Invest. The company is the first and largest full-stack grocery delivery player in Latin America.
Fintech startup Rapyd raises $300m Series E to further enhance its service offering
Rapyd, a global Fintech as a Service company, announced a $300 million Series E funding round led by Target Global.
B2B sales productivity startup Nektar.ai closes $8.1m to accelerate product development, launch in the US market
B2B sales productivity startup, Nektar.ai has raised an additional $ 6 million seed round of funding led by B Capital Group, 3one4 Capital and Nexus Venture Partners.
Nigerian healthtech startup Field Intelligence expands into eleven new cities across East and West Africa
Nigerian healthtech startup Field Intelligence announced its expansion into Rivers, Edo, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, Delta and Kwara States in Nigeria, and Eldoret, Mombasa, Kisumu and Naivasha in Kenya.
[Startup Interview] Dimitri Kalamoudacos,Co-founder, Entrepreneur Suite, South Africa
Entrepreneur Suite is a South African startup targeting micro retailers with an application that records valuable sales information that is then served back to the business owner as demand forecasting suggestions which are designed to provide profiting opportunities.
Egyptian social e-Commerce startup Taager raises $6.4m seed round
Taager, an Egyptian social e-Commerce startup raised a $6.4 million seed funding round to help it scale its platform and expand across the Middle East.
Dragonboat closes $3m seed round to bring product portfolio management to outcome focused teams
Dragonboat, the Product Portfolio Management platform, announced a $3 million seed round by Act One Ventures, Roble Ventures and GingerBread Capital.
unybrands startup raises $300m in growth capital to acquire and scale e-Commerce businesses
unybrands, an integrated platform for e-Commerce businesses looking to scale their operations on and off Amazon, announced the closing of up to $300 million in growth capital with Crayhill Capital Management.
Kenyan startup Marketforce appoints Ore Omolaja as Country Manager, Head of Business for Nigeria
Marketforce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the appointment of Ore Omolaja as the Nigeria Country Manager and Head of Business, effective 15th July 2021.
Kenyan startup MarketForce raises $2m pre-Series A to scale B2B retail marketplace, RejaReja
MarketForce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced a $2 million pre-Series A round, bringing total funding to-date to $2.5 million.
FDJ announces partnership with Plug and Play Brand & Retail France
FDJ announced the beginning of a partnership with Plug and Play, world's open innovation platform.
Alchemy Home Products startup launches The AutoSpout prevent basement flooding after heavy rains
Alchemy Home Products, a Salt Lake City startup, has created a new product that will help prevent basement flooding after heavy rains, The AutoSpout.
Female-founded wellness startup House of Wise raises $2m, launches full line of organic CBD products
New female-founded CBD brand House of Wise announced a $2 million seed funding round to improve the lives of women everywhere through community, content, and trustworthy CBD products.
Seattle based healthtech startup bttn. raises $1.5m to automate the future of medical supply
Healthtech startup bttn. closed a $1.5 million seed round from a group of technology and supply chain leaders.
Cannabis marketplace and purchasing platform MainStem named Microsoft Partner for Startups
MainStem, the cannabis industry's only marketplace and combined integrated purchasing platform, announced it has been selected as a Microsoft Partner for Startups.
Predictive Kids' e-Commerce startup Ten Little raises $5m to disrupt children's marketplace with personalized guidance
Ten Little, the predictive e-Commerce platform helping parents navigate the cluttered kids product space, announced the close of its $5 million seed round led by Kindred Ventures.
MarketForce acquires Digiduka startup to consolidate distribution of consumer goods with digital financial services in Africa
MarketForce, the end-to-end retail distribution platform for consumer brands in Africa, announced the strategic acquisition of Digiduka, a startup on a mission to bring informal retailers in Africa into the digital economy.
Women's wellness startup Kindra raises $4.5m seed round to drive continued growth and expansion
Kindra, a modern wellness brand for menopause essentials, announced it closed a $4.5 million seed funding round. The new capital will be used to drive the continued growth and expansion of Kindra.
Brazilian logtech startup Uello concludes $4m Series A investment deal led by the Btomorrow Ventures
Uello, a Brazilian logtech startup that uses technology and a collaborative network to provide express freight services with superior experience, concluded its Series A investment deal with an investment injection of $4 million.
Sustainability-focused pet care startup Petaluma launches plant-based diet for dogs
Petaluma, Inc., a pet care startup focused on sustainability, launched the world's first baked and plant-based formula for adult dogs of all breeds. The company's mission is to offer environmentally responsible diets that meet 100% of a dog's nutritional requirements.
SaaS startup Synder raises $2m in late seed round to revolutionize accounting for e-Commerce
TMT investments venture fund invested $2 million as a lead investor in a late seed round into Synder, an easy accounting solution for e-Commerce businesses.
Floral tech startup Something Borrowed Blooms raises $1.5m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Something Borrowed Blooms, the pioneer of the silk wedding flower revolution, announced a $1.5 million Series A funding round led by Callais Capital. This investment brings the total raise by the company to just over $2 million since 2015.
Food startup OZO expands plant-based proteins to international retail starting in Canada
Planterra Foods, an innovative plant-based protein startup based in Colorado, announced a supply agreement with UNFI Canada, a subsidiary of UNFI, the largest publicly traded grocery distributor in North America.
Plug and Play Japan selects 91 Startups for its Summer/Fall 2021 Batch
Global Innovation Platform, Plug and Play Japan has selected 91 Japanese and international startups into its Summer/Fall 2021 Batch, which will be carried out from June to September 2021.
Plug and Play Canada selects 12 startups to participate in Toronto Supply Chain and Logistics Program
Plug and Play Canada announced the selection of 12 startups into the first batch of the Toronto Supply Chain & Logistics Program.
Consumer warranty startup Upsie secures $18.2m Series A round to accelerate growth
Upsie, a consumer-centric platform for purchasing product warranties, announced it has raised a $18.2 million fundraising round led by True Ventures.
On-demand delivery management startup Cartwheel raises $1m seed round to accelerate growth
Cartwheel, an on-demand delivery management platform for restaurants and retailers, announced it has raised a $1 million seed round led by TenOneTen Ventures with participation from Act One Ventures and Portillo's Hot Dogs,
Foodtech startup GrubMarket acquires Vaccaro & Sons to expand to St. Louis, Missouri
San Francisco-based food technology startup GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Vaccaro & Sons in St. Louis, Missouri.
Hashflow raises $3.2m seed round to bring professional market makers to DeFi
Hashflow, a decentralized exchange connecting DeFi traders with top crypto market makers, closed a seed funding round of $3.2 million from leading venture capital firms and angel investors.
CVS Health launches $100m venture fund
CVS Health announced the launch of CVS Health Ventures, a dedicated corporate venture capital fund that will invest in and partner with high-potential, early-stage companies focused on making health care more accessible, affordable, and simpler.
Fintech startup Trust Payment expands into Ireland
Trust Payment has expanded into Ireland. The payments technology group will open an office in Dublin city centre as it seeks to benefit from local talent and rapid growth in the country's Fintech sector.
i2020 Accelerator announces new investments in cancer, inflammation and neurology-focused therapeutics
i2020, an accelerator program backed by the San Diego-based venture company Torrey Pines Investment, announced multiple startup and follow-on investment rounds together with OrbiMed.
Biotech startup ResBiotic raises $3m seed round, announces leadership team
University of Alabama at Birmingham's biotech startup ResBiotic, announced a $3 million seed round to support the development and commercialization of groundbreaking probiotic formulations for lung health.
South Korean Government attracts global startups with its acceleration program K-Startup Grand Challenge 2021
Startups from around the world are now able to apply to K-Startup Grand Challenge 2021, South Korea's government-backed global acceleration program.
UN targets startups transforming food systems in new competition
The UN Food Systems Summit has announced a competition to identify the best small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across the world who are transforming food systems for a better tomorrow.
[Startup Interview] Paul Foley, CEO, CTEX Markets, UK
Some of the services it offers include trade routing, price aggregation, AI based market analysis and reporting solutions.
Lacuna Fund announces second round of funding to projects supporting Natural Language Processing technologies Across Africa
The partner organisations behind Lacuna Fund implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, announced the second cohort of supported projects.
Fintech startup Splitwise raises $20m Series A funding to accelerate global customer growth
Splitwise Inc, an interpersonal finance app for sharing expenses with friends and family, announced the raise of $20 million in Series A funding led by global venture capital and private equity firm, Insight Partners.
Logistics startup Logixboard raises $13m Series A funding to power the future of modern freight forwarding
Logixboard, the modern customer experience platform for freight forwarders, closed a $13 million investment led by Redpoint Ventures, with continued participation from Social Leverage, F-Prime Capital, Founders Co-op, Techstars Ventures, and others.
Insurtech startup Branch Insurance expands home and auto coverage to Colorado and Oklahoma States
Branch Insurance, the startup that pioneered bundling home and auto insurance online, announced its expansion to Colorado and Oklahoma States.
Israeli customer intelligence startup Affogata raises $5.5m seed funding to bring consumer's voice to customer-obsessed brands
Affogata, the customer intelligence platform enabling brands to harness data to guarantee their consumers a perfect experience, announced a $5.5 million financing round of seed funding co-led by Mangrove Capital Partners.
Danish biotech startup Adcendo raises €51m to advance novel antibody-drug conjugates for cancers treatment
Adcendo, a biotech company developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancers, announced the successful closing of €51 million Series A financing to advance novel antibody-drug conjugates for treatment of cancers.
Israeli enterprise AI startup BeyondMinds joins NVIDIA Inception
BeyondMinds, the enterprise AI startup that has built the first universally applicable and easily adaptable AI platform providing production-grade AI solutions at rapid speed, announced it has joined NVIDIA Inception.
Suntory America, Runway partner to scout, engage and invest in startups
Runway Innovation Hub, a Silicon Valley innovation consulting company, announced its partnership with Suntory America, one of the world's consumer products companies.
IoT startup Hologram hires Mike Georgoff as Chief Product Officer
Hologram, a global cellular platform for IoT, announced it hired Mike Georgoff this month as its first Chief Product Officer as the organization continues its growth.
UCM Digital Health startup raises $5.5m Series A funding
UCM Digital Health, a provider of emergency telemedicine and virtual care solutions, announced it has completed a $5.5 million series A funding round led by Armory Square Ventures (ASV).
Digital fertility startup Legacy partners with Carrot Fertility to expand access to male fertility care
Legacy, the premier digital fertility clinic for men, announced a new partnership with the global fertility benefits provider for employers, Carrot Fertility.
Accenture invests in Nigerian fintech startup Okra
Accenture announced an investment, through Accenture Ventures, in Nigeria-based fintech company Okra, an open finance data infrastructure startup serving the rapidly expanding African financial services market.
Dating app startup So Syncd raises $1m seed round to grow its user base in the US
So Syncd, the dating app that matches compatible personality types, raised a seed round of $1 million to grow its user base in the US.
EventHub startup closes pre-seed round to revolutionize event sponsorship
EventHub officially closed its pre-seed round as the company prepares to scale up customer adoption of its sponsorship platform. The round was led by Pasadena Angels and Emerging Ventures from the LA area as well as Seattle-based Accellius Capital.
Detroit-based fintech startup Signal Advisors raises $16m to build end-to-end platform for independent financial advisors
Signal Advisors, a tech-enabled distributor of annuities and life insurance, announced a $10 million Series A led by General Catalyst, which closed in December 2020.
Data transformation startup Veryfi raises Series A to unlock unstructured data power
Veryfi, an AI-based data transformation platform for enterprise and technology corporations, announced a $12 million Series A financing round led by NewView Capital.
Plug and Play Korea launches in Seoul
Global innovation platform, Plug and Play, announced the launch of its new office in Seoul, Korea, to primarily focus on corporate innovation in the areas of Financial Services and Smart Cities and expects to expand to other industries in the future.
Insurtech startup Brella raises $15m Series A for national expansion of supplemental health insurance solution
Brella Insurance announced it has raised a $15 million Series A funding round led by Brewer Lane Ventures to bring Brella's modern supplemental health solution to employers nationwide.
Homebuilding startup Higharc raises $21m Series A to aid in recruiting, building out engineering functions
Higharc, the all-in-one homebuilding platform for design, sales, and construction, announced it raised $21 million in Series A funding, led by Spark Capital.
Telehealth startup PursueCare raises over $11m in Series A1, A2 financing
PursueCare, a telehealth addiction treatment startup, announced an oversubscribed $7 million Series A2 capital raise, bringing its total Series A round to north of $11 million.
Bechtel partners with climatetech startup incubator Greentown Labs to drive energy transition in Houston
Bechtel announced partnership with Greentown Labs in Houston, the city's first-ever climatetech startup incubator, to drive energy transition in Houston.
U.S.-based food tech startup Yo-Kai Express expands partnerships with Japan
While restaurants and small businesses everywhere have struggled to survive the pandemic, U.S.-based foodtech startup Yo-Kai Express (YKE) has leveraged its technology and ideas to evolve and transform its business models to broader platforms.
Kenyan e-mobility startup Ecobodaa secures funding from Persistent Energy Capital
Persistent Energy Capital announced a strategic venture building investment and partnership with Ecobodaa, a pioneer e-mobility startup, leading the revolution of the electric motorbike taxi (bodaboda) in Kenya.
Insurtech startup OKO raises $1.2m to bring innovative insurance to smallholder farmers across Africa
OKO, an insurtech startup that provides inclusive agricultural insurance to secure farmers’ income across Africa, closed a seed investment round of $1.2 million, led by Newfund and ResiliAnce.
UK-based startup Cquestr8 raises $300k seed capital to develop safe & permanent carbon sequestration solution
Cquestr8, 2020 winners of the Climate-KIC's ClimateLaunchpad "Next Big Thing" prize, has secured funding to develop their unique carbon sequestration solution, leveraging natural processes to safely lock away CO2 as stable ocean bicarbonate.
Autonomous air cargo startup MightyFly raises $5.1 million seed funding to revolutionize logistics
MightyFly, an autonomous air cargo carrier, announced it has closed $5.1 million in seed funding, including investments from 500 Startups, At One Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Graph Ventures, and Halogen Ventures.
Plug and Play launches maritime innovation platform in Antwerp, Belgium
Global innovation platform, Plug and Play, together with Founding Partners City of Antwerp, CMB, DXC Technology, Euronav, and Port of Antwerp, announced the launch of their first maritime program in Antwerp, Belgium.
Medical device startup Nanodropper completes $1.4m seed funding round
Nanodropper, a medical device company offering a first-of-its-kind eyedrop bottle adaptor that reduces eyedrop size, completed a $1.4 million seed round.
Meeting Automation startup Chili Piper gets spicy with $33m from Tiger Global
Chili Piper, the advanced routing and scheduling solution for revenue teams, announced it has raised a $33 million "Series Spicy" led by Tiger Global with participation from existing investors Base10 Partners and Gradient Ventures.
Fact.MR redefines the way startups access market research
The number one reason for startup failure isn't lack of funding or stiff competition. The main reason is 'misreading market demand'. Therefore, it becomes important for startups to thoroughly research the market.
Atlanta-based startups GROUNDFLOOR and PadSplit team up to create affordable housing
GROUNDFLOOR, a wealthtech platform that allows everyone to build wealth through real estate, and PadSplit, a mission-driven marketplace that helps solve the affordable housing crisis, are teaming up to create hundreds of new affordable housing units.
Subscription Management startup Chargebee raises $125m Series G funding to accelerate global shift to subscriptions
Chargebee, the subscription billing and revenue management platform, announced a fresh round of $125 million in series G funding, co-led by new investor Sapphire Ventures and existing investors Tiger Global and Insight Venture Partners.
Nigerian last-mile delivery startup Kwik Delivery releases Prestashop plugin
After the release of its plugins for Shopify and Magento, Kwik Delivery has released its plugin for Prestashop.
Twenty-two startups join second cohort of UNICEF StartUp Lab in Ghana
UNICEF announced the launch of the 2021 cohort of the UNICEF StartUp Lab, a co-creation space and accelerator, that engages young startups in the development of innovative, open-source, market-driven products and solutions.
New York-based startup Andela announces global engineering talent expansion
New York-based startup Andela, the global talent network that helps companies build remote engineering teams, announced the global expansion of its engineering talent.
Kenyan logistics startup Amitruck and Sky.Garden announce last mile goods pick-up and deliveries partnership
Logistics platform Amitruck and e-Commerce platform Sky.Garden have partnered to form an end-to-end digital chain for goods pick-up and deliveries to the last mile.
Grindstone accelerator programme opens applications for South African startups
Applications for this year’s Grindstone’s accelerator programme are now open. Grindstone is an equity-free structured entrepreneurship development programme that assists high-growth innovation-driven SMEs in South Africa.
InnovoEdge joins Microsoft for Startups program
InnovoEdge, an AI-powered multi-cloud and edge application orchestration company, announced it has joined the Microsoft for Startups program, which is designed to help business to business (B2B) startups scale with access to technology.
Climatetech startup Persefoni raises $9.7m in Series A funding round
Persefoni, an intelligent carbon accounting and management platform for enterprises and investors, announced it has raised $9.7 million in its Series A financing round. Rice Investment Group led the round, with participation from NGP ETP and Sallyport Investments.
Ideal Semiconductor startup announces investment from Applied Ventures
Ideal Semiconductor, a startup company that has successfully demonstrated a fundamentally new technology for energy conversion in electronic systems, announced it has received funding from Applied Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials.
Chicago-based medtech startup Neopenda announces new round of convertible note financing
Neopenda, a Chicago-based public benefit corporation, announced a new round of funding supported by Assiduity Capital and Sorenson Impact Foundation, and the CE Mark approval of its neoGuard device.
Wynden Stark acquires NYC venture-backed tech startup untapt
Wynden Stark has acquired NYC venture-backed tech startup untapt, bringing in-house a world-class team of Data Scientists and Software Engineers.
SWARM Engineering startup raises $2.7m in seed funding led by S2G Ventures and Serra Ventures
SWARM Engineering, the next generation of cognitive software for the food supply chain, announced it closed funding for a $2.7 million seed round.
Healthtech startup DignifiHealth raises $7m seed round, scaling it nationally for improved community health outcomes
DignifiHealth, a company that has integrated leading digital health technologies with its proprietary big-data intelligence platform, raised $7 million in seed funding to scale delivery of its revolutionary suite of healthcare products on a national scale.
South African digital health startup Quro Medical secures $1.1m seed funding to accelerate growth
Quro Medical, a South African digital health startup, emerged from stealth mode to announce the closure of its seed funding round to accelerate growth for Africa’s first technology-driven Hospital at Home offering.
Virtual health startup OpenLoop closes oversubscribed $3m seed round
OpenLoop, a virtual health company based in Des Moines, Iowa, announced its oversubscribed seed round financing of $3 million.
Phantom Space Corporation startup raises $5m seed funding to revolutionize space transportation
Phantom Space Corporation, a space transportation technology development and manufacturing company, announced the raise of $5 million in seed investment funding to make space commerce commonplace and to lower the barriers to space access.
Legacy startup raises $10m Series A to make male fertility services accessible to all
Legacy, the premier digital fertility clinic for men, announced $10 million in Series A fundraising led by FirstMark Capital.
Silicon Valley startup Chef Avenue crosses 1000% of its funding goal in 8 days
Chef Avenue, an inspiring startup at the forefront of the design of modernized, high-performance cookware, is currently riding the wave of a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign for its first product, Omnipan.
Finnish biotech startup Carbo Culture sets to remove 1billion tons of carbon from atmosphere by 2030
Carbo Culture, a biotech startup commercialising large-scale carbon removal, has a north star vision to remove 1 billion tons (1Gt) of carbon from the atmosphere by 2030.
Colorado-based startup Trūman Rx launches to expand access to testosterone therapy
In an effort to increase access to testosterone replacement therapy for men, Colorado-based startup Trūman Rx (Trūman) is launching an online, innovative telehealth service for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
EdCraft startup raises $1m pre-seed round to expand its edtech platform in the U.S.
EdCraft, an early education platform launched by former McKinsey executives, raised $1 million from a group of Silicon Valley based angels. The startup aims to equip its students, aged 6-13, with essential 21st-century skills.
Fintech startup Wage secures $5m to scale credential-less payroll data API
Wage, an infrastructure software solution that lets people seamlessly and securely share their payroll data with third parties, announced the close of $5 million in funding to scale customer acquisition and support additional payroll data partnerships.
Grow-NY startup business competition kicks off year 3
The application window for the 2021 Grow-NY million-dollar top prize business competition is now open for submissions. Grow-NY, a unique initiative which connects innovators and investors in the food, beverage and agriculture.
Plug and Play Cleveland selects six startups into the Spring 2021 Health Program
Plug and Play Cleveland has announced the selection of 6 new startups into the Spring 2021 Health Program. These startups were selected with input from Plug and Play's corporate partners.
Cincinnati startups Abre and Pay Theory partner to transform education
Abre.io (Abre), and Pay Theory announced their partnership to help them better achieve their shared mission of breaking down socioeconomic and technical barriers to education.
Chicago-based venture capital firm Starting Line closes $30m second fund to continue funding consumer startups
Starting Line, the Chicago-based venture capital firm, announced that it has closed $30 million for its second fund, dedicated to expanding access to technologies, products, and experiences for the 99 percent of Americans.
HawkEye 360 secures $55m Series C funding round to support expansion of satellite startup's infrastructure
HawkEye 360, the global commercial provider of space-based radio frequency (RF) data and analytics, announced it has secured $55 million in additional funding, bringing its total raised to over $155 million.
Energy Transition Ventures launches first venture capital fund in Texas dedicated to energy transition
Energy Transition Ventures (ETV) has launched as the first venture fund in Texas exclusively dedicated to investing in energy transition technologies.
Indian fintech startup Avanti raises $26m in Series A funding round to further invest in its digital tech platform
Indian fintech company Avanti Finance (Avanti) secured $26 million in debt and equity from Oikocredit, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nomura and the family office of Pratul Shroff.
Berkeley-based incubator Batchery announces new cohort of startups, "Batch 12"
Eleven early-stage startups have joined the Batchery's three-month Deep Dive program for entrepreneurs. The program focuses on helping startups get over their first set of growth hurdles.
Lithium-ion battery recycling and manufacturing startup Battery Resourcers raises $20m Series B funding
Battery Resourcers, a vertically integrated lithium-ion battery recycling and manufacturing company, completed a $20 million Series B equity round.
Pan-African fintech platform Appzone secures $10m Series A funding
Appzone, the Pan-African fintech software provider building proprietary solutions for the continent’s banking and payments industries, announced the close of its $10 million Series A round.
Kigali-based electric mobility startup Ampersand raises $3.5m from EIF
Kigali based electric motorcycle startup Ampersand has raised $3.5 million in funding from the Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) to rapidly scale its electric motorcycle and swap station network in Rwanda.
Solar home systems startup Baobab+ raises €4m to expand in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal
Solar home systems social enterprise startup Baobab+ has raised €4 million in financing for the expansion of its activities in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal.
[Startup Interview] PJF Schmidt, Lucas Brosi, Marcus Luer, Urs Meier, Founders, Heroes AG, Switzerland
Heroes AG is a Swiss startup that has tapped into the underdeveloped fan merchandising sector through distribution of modern and trendy lifestyle products.
Virtual hospitality startup Vin Social announces launch of equity crowdfunding campaign
Virtual hospitality startup Vin Social announced its first-ever equity crowdfunding campaign in partnership with Wefunder and the Arora Project.
LineVision startup secures $12.5m in Series B financing to scale grid enhancing technology
LineVision, the provider of non-contact overhead power line sensor solutions to monitor, optimize, and protect critical energy delivery infrastructure, announced the closing of its Series B financing round, raising $12.5 million to accelerate growth.
Empathy startup raises $13m seed round to help minimize burdens after losing a loved one
Empathy, a platform helping families navigate the journey they face after losing a loved one, announced the launch of its application on iOS and Android for users across the United States.
Cyber security startup Calamu raises $2.4m seed to pioneer auto-healing data protection
Calamu, a data protection and resiliency trailblazer, announced it has emerged from stealth after closing $2.4 million in an oversubscribed seed round.
dClimate raises $3.5m seed round to create first decentralized network for climate data
dClimate, the first decentralized network for climate data, announced the closing of an oversubscribed $3.5 Million seed financing round led by CoinFund, with participation from Multicoin Capital and Republic Labs.
Fintech startup Marquee Equity helps Qolo.io close its seed round
Marquee Equity, a fintech platform, has helped a Florida-based B2B Payments company, Qolo.io, close its seed round.
MicroAcquire's acquisition of Exitround sets new founder-friendly model for getting acquired
Entrepreneurs face thousands of obstacles in their careers. Seed money, growth, staffing - the list is endless. Some prioritize funding, leaving them bound to venture capitalists whose goals clash with theirs.
Martech startup Ziflow raises $6m in expansion funding to meet growing demand for creative collaboration
Ziflow, industry's player in creative review and approval solution for agencies and brands, announced the raise of $6 million expansion round, led by Companyon Ventures.
AI startup Oxia Palus enables first hidden masterpiece on canvas, long lost behind a Pablo Picasso
Oxia Palus, a new-age company dedicated to using artificial intelligence to resurrect the world's most important lost artwork, announced it has recreated on canvas, the first masterpiece of another era, one lost for nearly 120 years.
Omaha-based startup Workshop raises $3.5m to simplify employee communications
Workshop, a delightful platform for sharing and finding important internal information, has raised a $3.5 million seed round.
AI video game wagering startup PLLAY secures additional $1m in funding
PLLAY, a skill-based video game wagering platform, has raised an additional $1 million in funding, bringing its total to $4 million in an oversubscribed seed round.
Fintech startup ROSHI to disrupt billion dollar home loan industry in Singapore
Touted as a disrupter in financial comparison, ROSHI plans to provide Singapore with a first to market home loan marketplace, which connects customers.
Scottish hospitality software startup Stampede launches Prep Starts Now campaign to reopen, digitise and grow hospitality businesses
Stampede, the Scottish hospitality software startup announced the launch of its Prep Starts Now campaign, with support from Visit Scotland and more than ten hospitality / tech organisations.
Cannabis ERP technology platform BLAZE raises $8m in Series A funding for market expansion
BLAZE, the industry player enterprise resource planning and point of sale platform for legal cannabis, recently closed its Series A funding round at $8 million.
Grata expands seed funding round to $9.5m to accelerate growth of SMB search engine
Grata, the search engine for discovering small to middle market private companies, announced it expanded its seed round to $9.5 million.
Japanese startup Paidy raises $120m in Series D round
Paidy Inc., Japan's "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) service provider, announced it completed the Series D round of funding, raising a total of $120 million.
Innovative startup Glo brightens product line with Sesame Street characters
What began as a college senior project has led to an innovative startup company working with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, to light up lives through creativity and technology.
Spirits and technology startup Endless West secures $21m in Series B funding
Spirits and technology startup Endless West, announced it has raised $21 million in Series B funding, for a total of $33.7 million in investments to-date.
iFoodDS closes $15m in growth funding led by scaleup investor Insight Partners
iFoodDS, provider of food safety, traceability, and quality management solutions for the fresh food supply chain, announced the close of a $15 million Series A funding round led by Insight Partners.
Snap acquires tech startup Fit Analytics
Snapchat's parent company Snap has acquired Fit Analytics, a technology startup that has built technology to help shoppers pick the right-sized clothing and footwear when they shop online.
Canadian fintech startup FIX4 set to transform car repair loan market
Canadian retail finance startup FIX4 Capital has joined the "Buy Now Pay Later" boom by offering instant online loan approvals so customers can enjoy flexible payment solutions for any car repair and maintenance estimates.
Kenyan startup Ajua, MTN Nigeria launch Customer Management mobile app for SMEs
Kenyan based startup Ajua has partnered with MTN Nigeria to launch EnGauge, a digital e-Commerce customer engagement management mobile app to support SMEs.
Boost Ghana and KudiGo selected for Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce accelerator
The Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator announced the first cohort of digital commerce companies to be scaled, with the goal of improving the livelihoods of informal MSEs in Ghana.
Nigerian startup Kwik Delivery officially launches its just-in-time delivery service in Abuja
Nigerian startup Kwik Delivery announced it officially made available its breakthrough, just-in time delivery service to businesses, government agencies and merchants in Abuja.
Ghana’s healthcare startup mPharma to launch Haltons Pharmacies in Ethiopia
Ghanaian health tech startup mPharma, signed a franchise agreement with Belayab Pharmaceuticals to open Haltons Pharmacies in Ethiopia.
VERSO Capital successfully closes series seed in NITRO Beverage
VERSO Capital, the Luxembourg-based boutique merchant banking and financial services firm, announced the successful closing of a series seed in Nitro Beverage Inc.
Dog food startup KetoNatural Pet Foods raises $2m in seed financing transaction
KetoNatural Pet Foods, a pet food startup founded by companion animal nutrition author and activist Daniel Schulof, announced the closing of a $2 million seed financing transaction led by Chicago-based fund Corazon Capital.
REFASHIOND Ventures announces New Rolling fund on AngelList
REFASHIOND Ventures, an NYC-based, early-stage supply chain technology venture firm that invests in startups refashioning global supply chains, announced the launch of a $10 million early stage Rolling Fund on AngelList.
Plug and Play announces 98 startups for its Spring 2021 Batches
Plug and Play has accepted 98 startups into its Spring 2021 Batches. Startups have been selected for one of the following programs that run through May: Brand & Retail, Food & Beverage, Media & Advertising, New Materials & Packaging, Supply Chain, or Sustainability.
Text message marketing startup Postscript raises $35m to fuel the future of customer communication via SMS
Postscript, the text message marketing platform for Shopify stores, announced a new round of Series B funding of $35 million led by Greylock, with participation from YC Continuity Fund, OpenView, and others
Interlace Ventures adds new venture partners to expand strategic investments in tech-enabled commerce
Interlace Ventures announced it has expanded its team with two commerce technology luminaries. Vibhu Norby and Sydney Werber will join as venture partners while retaining their respective roles at b8ta and Avise.
Interviews.
[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo. Caroline joined Glovo in December 2022 from Swvl Kenya where she also served as the General Manager from December 2021. In this interview...read more here
[Interview] Renate Swanepoel, COO, INC. Networking
Renate Swanepoel is an entrepreneur, global networker and inspirational speaker that has helped thousands of people around the world to find their purpose. She has gained significant networking and communication...read more here
[Interview] Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Investment Officer, FSD Africa
Anne-Marie Chidzero is the Chief Investment Officer at the Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) Investments. In this interview, she talks about the risks and opportunities in backing Africa’s early-stage startups...read more here
[Interview] James Kilpatrick, Chair, Gravitilab, UK
Gravitilab is a "Space as a Service" business providing research, testing and qualification facilities to space agencies, government, academia and commercial enterprises. The company’s Chair and Chief Finance Officer...read more here
[Interview] Ramanjeet Singh, CEO, Woosper, USA
Woosper is a US-based digital advertising and marketing agency focused on creating experiences that help clients discover their place in the digital world. The CEO Ramanjeet Singh...read more here