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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.
Chinese Venture Capital firm CCV signs UNPRI, makes commitment to responsible, sustainable living
The United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) has admitted CCV, an Asian-based early-stage VC firm as a signatory, making CCV one of the first Asian investment-focused signatories.
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.
Renewable energy startup PAM Africa launches first ever net zero villages in Nigeria
PAM Africa, a Nigerian renewable energy startup has launched Net-Zero Villages (NZVs) consisting of a community that is designed with a whole system thinking approach to offset more greenhouse gases (GHG) than it produces.
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.
Swiss startup Taurus raises $65m to further develop its digital asset platform, fuel international expansion
Taurus, the digital asset infrastructure provider for financial institutions in Europe, announced a $65 million Series B capital raise from strategic investors.
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.
Raven Indigenous Capital Partners closes $100m venture capital fund to support native American entrepreneurs
Raven Indigenous Capital Partners announced the final closing of a $100 million Indigenous venture capital fund that provides patient capital and a culturally grounded community of support.
[Startup Interview] Don Okoth, General Manager, Sendy, Kenya
Don Okoth is General Manager for Kenyan Fulfillment and Logistics startup Sendy. In this interview, he talks about the current state of logistics in Kenya and beyond, including Sendy's role in shaping the industry.
Hatchfi launches out of beta, raises $1.2m pre-seed to enable fintech apps bridge the gap to Web3
Hatchfi, a crypto integration platform that allows users to seamlessly connect crypto accounts to any app like they would a bank account, launched out of beta on the heels of a $1.2 million pre-seed raise.
Adenia Partners announces $300m first close for fund V
Adenia Partners , a private markets investment firm committed to responsible investing and a sustainable Africa, has announced the first close of its fifth flagship fund, Adenia Capital (V) L.P. with $300 million commitments from investors.
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health raises funding to expand across Africa
Kenyan healthtech startup Zuri Health announced it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Moroccan VC UM6P Ventures. The funds will be used to support Zuri’s growth and expansion across Africa.
Fulcrum Venture announces fifth cohort of its accelerator program
After reviewing hundreds of startups, Fulcrum Venture Accelerator, the startup accelerator for mission-driven entrepreneurs, announced its fifth cohort of promising young companies set to graduate in March 2023.
Startup Genome partners with Endeavor to research the Detroit region's entrepreneurial ecosystem
Startup Genome and Endeavor are working together to study and support the Detroit region's entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem development.
Climate finance trading platform Senken raises $7.5m to streamline and expand carbon markets offerings
Senken, the climate finance trading platform of on-chain carbon credits, announced it has raised $7.5 million in new funding, the most significant capital raise in its industry, led by Obvious Ventures.
Swedish AI startup Viking Analytics raises more than €3m Series A funding for global expansion
Viking Analytics, a Swedish startup developing AI-based machine health monitoring technology, announced the closing of its Series A round, co-led by Belgium-based Finindus and Sweden-based Industrifonden.
Free From Market raises $2.1m seed round for its food is medicine platform to treat chronic health conditions
Free From Market (FFM), the patient-driven digital platform, announced it has closed a $2.1 million seed investment.
Las Vegas startup Roots Homes raises $2.2m to make homeownership easy for Millennials and Gen Z
Roots Homes, the Las Vegas-based startup pioneering fractional homeownership, announced a $2.2 million funding round led by Other Ventures, with participation from Behind Genius Ventures.
European digital asset platform Bitpanda launches SaaS product for banks, fintechs
Bitpanda, a European digital asset platform, announced the launch of Bitpanda Technology Solutions, the most scalable Investing-as a-service infrastructure available in Europe and globally.
Nordics-focused LP firm Monterro announces final close of small-cap fund at €150m hard cap
Monterro, the Nordic B2B software investor, announced the final close of Monterro G1 at its €150m hard cap, including a 24% GP commitment.
Mobility startup BasiGo and AVA to assemble 1,000 electric buses in Kenya
BasiGo, the Kenyan-based electric manufacturer has partnered with the Associated Vehicle Assemblers (AVA), to assemble its buses in the country.
Pegasus Tech Ventures launches $100m fund with Japanese chemicals and life science company Denka
Pegasus Tech Ventures (Pegasus), a global venture capital firm that is headquartered in the Silicon Valley, has established a $100 million corporate venture capital fund with Denka.
Battery recycling startup Redivivus receives funding from ENEOS Innovation Partners to accelerate growth
Redivivus, a lithium-ion battery recycling startup, announced an investment from ENEOS Innovation Partners, a corporate venture capital firm committed to delivering new energy, materials, and services.
Catalyst Fund invests $2m in 10 startups to improve resilience to climate change in Africa
Pre-seed venture capital (VC) fund and accelerator Catalyst Fund, announced a $2 million investment in 10 startups developing solutions to improve the resilience of communities most vulnerable to climate change in Africa.
Sustainable mobility startup eWAKA receives 500K CHF loan to accelerate growth
eWAKA, one of Africa’s most promising sustainable mobility startups, has received strategic support from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Start-up Fund of the Swiss Confederation.
Irish agritech startup Proveye secures €1m seed funding to accelerate growth
Irish agritech startup Proveye, a pioneer in remote sensing image analysis for agriculture, announced the closing of €1 million seed funding round to advance the company’s growth strategy.
Top 10 digital health startups in 2023 according to Plug and Play
New trends don’t materialize at the start of the year, but it is still a great time to reflect on the past year and see what topics will fill newsfeeds and dominate conversations in the digital health space in 2023.
Michigan State University biotech startup Iaso Therapeutics closes $1.25m equity series seed preferred financing
Iaso Therapeutics closed the first tranche of the company's $1.25 million series seed preferred round of financing.
HLTH Foundation launches coalition to help integrate health equity standards into healthcare tech and data practices
HLTH Foundation announced the formation of the Techquity for Health Coalition, with a mission to assimilate health equity considerations into healthcare technology innovation and data practices.
Memfault raises $24m Series B funding to supercharge its IoT reliability platform
Memfault, the IoT reliability platform, announced a $24 million Series B funding round, led by Stripes with additional participation from existing investors Partech Partners and Uncork Capital as well as the 5G Open Innovation Lab.
Belgian SMEs management software Odoo opens local office in Australia
Belgian company Odoo, an all-in-one integrated business solution for Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), announced it is setting up shop in Australia.
African tech ecosystem raised $6.5 billion in 2022, report
Partech Africa, the VC fund dedicated to technology startups in Africa, has issued its annual report on Africa Tech Venture Capital, which reveals that despite the global VC downturn, the African tech ecosystem grew faster than all other markets globally.
Sofia-based EV charging platform AMPECO raises $13m Series A funding to expand in the US
AMPECO, a Sofia-based white-label EV charging management software platform, closed a Series A funding round of $13 million led by BMW i Ventures.
RIMAC Seguros joins Plug and Play's health platform in Silicon Valley
RIMAC Seguros, an insurance company in Peru with 3 million customers, has entered into a strategic partnership with Plug and Play Tech Center, the world's corporate innovation platform based in Silicon Valley.
Video AI startup ShortTok appoints Jayan Eledath as CTO to accelerate innovation, drive growth
ShortTok, an early-stage software company developing automated visual storytelling technologies, announced the appointment of Jayan Eledath as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to accelerate innovation and drive growth.
Japan headquartered drone and Urban Air Mobility startup Terra Drone raises $14m funding to accelerate growth
Terra Drone, a drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology provider, has raised $14 million in funding from Wa'ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of the biggest oil producer in the world, Aramco.
Madrid-based VC firm Mundi Ventures appoints Delfin Rueda as General Partner and CFO
Mundi Ventures, a global venture capital firm investing in early and growth stage technology ventures, announced the addition of Delfin Rueda to the team as General Partner and CFO.
11 African startups selected for Cohort 3 of ASIP Accelerator Program
Eleven African startups have been selected to join the third cohort of the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP). The accelerator program is powered by Startupbootcamp AfriTech together with its founding partner and leading telecom giant, Telecel Group.
Terminal49 secures $6.5m Series A to power ocean freight visibility and automation
Terminal49, the ocean freight visibility platform, announced it has secured $6.5 million in Series A funding led by Stage 2 Capital and co-lead by Grand Venture Partners, with follow-on participation from seed stage investors.
Next-gen employee payments startup Grazzy raises $4.25m to power hospitality's future of digital tips
Grazzy, a next-gen employee payments platform, announced a $4.25 million seed funding from Next Coast Ventures and Tuesday Capital to fuel expansion and growth of its digital tipping.
Business-focused insurtech Coverdash announces launch after oversubscribed seed round
Coverdash, a fully-digital business insurance startup providing simplified insurance solutions to businesses of all shapes and sizes, announced the company's official launch and the closing of an oversubscribed seed funding round.
Oklahoma universities, Tulsa Innovation Labs partner to launch Canopy HealthTech
The University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University, and Tulsa Innovation Labs, announced the launch of Canopy HealthTech, a new multi-year initiative to accelerate the commercialization of virtual health innovations.
Highland Europe closes €1 billion fund to back growth-stage tech startups
Highland Europe announced it has closed its fifth fund, raising €1 billion to double down on its strategy of backing the Continent’s most outstanding founder-led teams in software and internet businesses.
Bangkok-based healthcare marketplace HD raises $6m funding, launches HDcare service for elective surgeries
Bangkok-based healthcare marketplace HD, announced a $6 million funding to improve accessibility and affordability of healthcare services and elective surgeries in emerging Southeast Asia.
5 key insurance industry trends in EMEA region according to Plug and Play
Insurance industry trends over the past year have been significant, especially across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.
New startup PinHearts launches in Atlanta, GA
An Atlanta, Georgia-based startup that prints dynamically-generated custom maps commemorating life's special moments announced the official launch of their brand and real-time mapping platform, PinHearts.
Plug and Play China launches call for global startup applications
Global innovation platform Plug and Play has announced a strategic partnership with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and launched a call for entries for the Elevator Pitching Competition 2023 (EPiC 2023).
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.
Web3 payments startup SphereOne raises $2.5m to build crypto for grandmas
SphereOne, a crypto payment platform that allows users to make purchases with any cryptocurrency, across any blockchain, announced the closing of a $2.5 million seed round.
German AI-powered road infrastructure SaaS startup vialytics nabs $10m Series A funding to accelerate global expansion
European market AI-powered road infrastructure SaaS startup vialytics has secured a $10 million Series A investment led by venture capital investor Scania Growth Capital.
[Column] Mikhail Marchenko: Major fintech trends that will affect online businesses in 2023
Digitalization and technological achievements, which have been observed in the African region for the past decade, have sped up the inevitable processes in fintech, changing its landscape completely.
African mobile game publisher Carry1st raises $27m funding round to accelerate growth
African mobile game publisher Carry1st, has raised $27 million in a funding round led by BITKRAFT Ventures, featuring participation from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), TTV Capital, Alumni Ventures, Lateral Capital, Kepple Ventures, and Konvoy.
African startups land deals at European tech events
Seven African tech companies wooed investors, networked and showcased their products at two of the world’s biggest tech gatherings in Europe.
Former CEO of BMW Manufacturing Knudt Flor joins South Carolina startup Delta Bravo
Retired BMW Manufacturing CEO Knudt Flor has been appointed to the newly created advisory board at predictive analytics company Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence (Delta Bravo AI).
Matchstick Ventures-backed startup Bean emerges from stealth to democratize the market for accounting services
Bean, a Matchstick Ventures-backed digital accounting startup, announced it emerged from stealth to democratize the market for accounting services.
Toronto-based startup Credential Sentry automates occupational license verification to combat negligent hiring and retention
Toronto-based startup Credential Sentry, has developed an advanced data analytics algorithm to streamline the credential verification process for businesses operating in licensed industries.
Swedish solar power startup SunRoof raises €13.5m growth round to expand across Europe and the US
Swedish solar power startup SunRoof announced it has raised €13.5 million growth round extension to bring its pioneering solar roof system to more homeowners worldwide.
Deal Box launches venture arm to invest $125m in foundational Web 3 technologies
Deal Box, a capital markets advisory and secure token offering packaging platform, announced the launch of Deal Box Ventures, a venture arm that will invest $125 million in startups that leverage foundational Web 3 technologies.
YouBiz research reveals key trends and challenges facing Southeast Asian SMEs in 2023
YouBiz, the SME spend management platform by YouTrip, launched its first whitepaper studying emerging business spending trends and key business priorities for SME in 2023.
Innovation scale-up Wazoku launches Mindpool SME to help small businesses capture employee insights
Innovation scale-up Wazoku announced it has launched Mindpool SME, an employee insights dashboard that makes it simpler & faster for SMEs to listen to, understand, and act on employee insights.
Future-of-work platform gigaroo launches out of stealth to transform the service industry employment market
gigaroo, the future-of-work platform that matches service industry employers with relevant Gen-Z job-seekers, announced it has raised multi-million dollar pre-seed round of investment from ATX Venture Partners.
Agritech startup EarthOptics secures $27.6m Series B funding to advance data-driven agriculture through actionable soil insights
EarthOptics, a pioneer in soil measurement and insights, announced a $27.6 million round of funding led by Conti Ventures.
Metaverse development startup Virtualtech Frontier secures seed funding to further develop its Mitoworld platform
Virtualtech Frontier (VTF), a metaverse development company, has secured seed round funding from Blockchain Founders Fund (BFF), joining forces with seed investor 500 Global.
Trackunit acquires German construction tech startup Flexcavo to accelerate growth
Global IoT services provider Trackunit, announced it has closed a deal for Germany's construction tech startup Flexcavo, enabling the telematics specialist to extend its reach in the contractor market.
Tax and accounting solution provider TaxBit acquires digital asset accounting startup Tactic
TaxBit, the tax and accounting provider for the digital asset economy, announced the acquisition of Tactic, a digital asset financial accounting platform that offers a streamlined accounting subledger.
Finance software startup Quartr partners with Lightyear to bring free and easy-to-access company information for investors across Europe
Finance software startup Quartr, signed an API deal with Lightyear, an online broker based in London, serving customers in 20 countries across Europe.
Infant nutrition startup NAMUH partners with Ginkgo Bioworks to produce multiple infant nutrition products
Infant nutrition startup NAMUH and Ginkgo Bioworks, announced a collaboration to develop functional oligosaccharides that are structurally identical to those found in human breast milk.
London-based hospitality tech startup HotelRunner snaps $6.5m investment to accelerate global growth
HotelRunner, the global hospitality and travel technology provider, announced the closing of $6.5 million Series A round to accelerate global growth.
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara raises $3m seed extension
Kenyan fintech startup Kwara has raised a $3 million seed extension. The new investment was led by existing backers DOB Equity, Globivest and the founder of Kobalt Music.
Wallet-as-a-service startup MSafe raises $5m seed round to develop multi-signature solutions
MSafe (Momentum Safe), a trailblazer in developing the first multi-signature wallet solution on the Aptos / Move ecosystem, announced the completion of a $5 million seed round.
Herself healthtech startup raises $7m funding, opens first clinic to transform advanced primary care for women
Herself Health, a healthcare technology company designed to deliver advanced primary care to women over 65, received $7million seed round funding led by founding partner Juxtapose.
Italian biotech startup Diamante closes €595K seed round to accelerate growth
Diamante, a female-led Italian biotechnology company focused on the use of plants for producing high value-added molecules, closes €595K as a second seed round led by Arieli Capital.
Latvia-based startup Aerones raises $30m to scale its robot-enabled services globally
Aerones, the Latvia-based robot-enabled wind turbine maintenance and inspection startup, announced it has secured $30 million in growth capital to scale its business globally.
Nigerian fintech firm TeamApt reaches annualized payments volume of $170 billion, rebrands to Moniepoint
TeamApt Incorporated, the business banking platform in Nigeria, has adopted the name of its flagship product - Moniepoint, a testament to its success as the all-in-one digital banking solution for businesses.
AI-powered sales assistant Attention raises $3.1m funding
Attention, the AI-powered sales assistant helping teams overcome inefficiencies at every stage of the sales cycle, announced its $3.1 million funding round led by Eniac Ventures.
Beijing-based Astro-E closes seed round financing to accelerate growth
Astro-Energy Technology (Astro-E), a Chinese provider of household new energy products and systems, raised an undisclosed amount in Seed funding led by CAS Venture Capital, followed by Asia Green Fund (AGF) and Ningbo Angel Capital Guiding Fund.
Terramera creates enrichAg to commercialize transformative soil analysis platform with $6m from At One Ventures
Terramera announced the formation of its new majority-owned subsidiary, enrichAg, which will focus on commercializing its soil enrichment platform. The seed round is led with a $6 million investment from AOV.
Contextual marketing startup Digiphy connects brands directly to customers one scan at a time
Digiphy, a contextual marketing startup is disrupting the status quo by empowering brands to connect directly with customers from every product and physical touchpoint.
French pharma Amolyt raises $138m Series C funding to advance its pipeline of therapeutics
Amolyt Pharma, a global company specialized in developing therapeutic peptides for rare endocrine and related diseases, announced the closing of €130 million Series C equity financing.
Scotland-based healthtech startup PneumoWave raises £7.5m Series A funding to accelerate clinical validation
Scotland-based remote monitoring device startup PneumoWave announced the closing of £7.5 million Series A financing which will enable clinical validation.
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.
Honely partners with NeoZips startup to bring digital U.S. real estate investing tool to the Korean markets
Honely has announced the start of a new partnership with NeoZips, an Irvine startup that provides Korea-based clientele an end-to-end service for investing in American real estate.
Fintech startup PayUp partners with property management software provider ResMan
PayUp, a Rex company, announced it has partnered with ResMan, a property management system that drives profitability and efficiency for nearly a thousand property management companies across the U.S.
Security technology startup receives over $4m for humanitarian support
Secured, a service-disabled veteran owned small business security technology firm, is revolutionizing the field of drone surveillance with the first commercially-available automated AI Object Recognition & Change Detection software.
US-based ServiceNow player Thirdera acquires SilverStorm to expand its business in Europe
Thirdera, the global pure-play provider of workflow-enabled ServiceNow services and solutions, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SilverStorm Solutions.
Finance software startup Quartr signs deal with Swedish online broker Avanza
Finance software startup Quartr, announced it has passed a significant milestone on its mission to bring the financial community closer together by signing a breakthrough API deal with Sweden's online broker Avanza.
Proptech startup zavvie raises $3.65m funding as consumer change will drive company growth through 2023
Zavvie, a software technology company providing real estate brokerages customized marketplaces for buying and selling solutions, announced the completion of a $3.65 million funding round.
Insurance provider Vouch acquires lending startup Level to scale tech-driven underwriting systems
Vouch, an insurance provider re-thinking business insurance for the technology industry, announced it has acquired lending startup Level and its team of engineers.
Virtualitics named best Los Angeles startup to work for in 2023
Virtualitics, an artificial intelligence and data exploration company, announced it has been named one of the best Los Angeles startups to work for on Built In's 2023 Best Places to Work List.
Healthcare venture capital fundraising and investment remained strong in 2022, SVB reports
SVB released its 12th annual Healthcare Investments and Exits Report which shows venture capital fundraising and investment persisted in 2022.
Dutch healthtech startup Lapsi Health raises $3.7m seed round to accelerate growth
Dutch healthtech startup Lapsi Health announced an oversubscribed $3.7 million seed round to continue its technology development, acquire FDA certification and begin commercialization activities in the USA.
John Deere announces 2023 startup collaborators
Deere & Company has released the names of eight companies chosen for its 2023 Startup Collaborator program.
Techstars Impact Powered by Cox Enterprises announces 2023 class
Techstars Impact Powered by Cox Enterprises announced its 2023 class. The three-month program provides hands-on mentoring, funding, and global connections to 10 for-profit, mission-driven companies.
Philly-based insurtech startup Propeller Bonds raises $6.4m seed funding to accelerate growth
Philly-based insurtech Propeller, announced it has raised $6.4 million in seed funding led by a consortium of industry partners.
Nigerian agritech startup Releaf secures $3.3m pre-Series A funding, unveils new technologies to drive profitability for consumer goods manufacturers
Releaf, a Nigerian agritech startup, has raised $3.3 million in an oversubscribed pre-Series A funding round.
Plesion Capital invests $500,000 funding in Ugandan fintech platform Xeno
Plesion Capital announced its formation as a social impact venture capital firm focused on partnering with mission-based entrepreneurs and companies to combat poverty around the world.
Italian edtech startup Wyblo acquires college communication platform Clay to scale social learning
Wyblo, an Italian edtech startup creating tech to support the training industry, has acquired Clay, a Berlin-based startup that created a digital tool that helps instructors create a social classroom.
Halodi Robotics leverages Ansys simulation to develop humanoid robots to safely work among people
Halodi Robotics is using Ansys simulation software through the Ansys Startup Program to develop its humanoid robots designed to work among humans in everyday environments.
Embedded connectivity startup Blues Wireless raises $32m to accelerate enterprise adoption of cellular IoT
Embedded connectivity startup Blues Wireless (Blues), announced a $32 million Series A1 funding round led by Positive Sum, including new investors Four Rivers, Northgate, and Qualcomm.
Mendoza Ventures closes $100m early growth fintech fund anchored by Bank of America
Mendoza Ventures, a Latinx-founded Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity Venture Capital firm, has achieved a first close on its third fund.
Parisian medical device startup Ganymed Robotics banks additional €15m through Series B extension
Ganymed Robotics, the developer of computer vision software and robotics technologies for orthopedic surgeons, announced it has extended its Series B with an additional close of €15 million.
Opsys Tech closes Series C financing round to accelerate production ramp of its automotive-grade true solid-state LiDAR sensors
Opsys Tech, the developer of patented True Solid-State Scanning LiDAR technology, announced the final closing of its Series C financing round.
Taiwanese startup Profet AI closes $5.6m Series A funding round to fuel regional expansion, product development
Profet AI, a Taiwan-based developer of auto machine learning solutions, has raised $5.6 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate its overseas expansion into Japan, Southeast Asia and China.
Wendel invests €15m in Tadaweb to accelerate growth in Europe
Wendel, through its investment arm Wendel Growth, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a minority interest of Tadaweb. Wendel will make an equity investment of €15 million to support Tadaweb’s growth.
Aerospace startup Space Kidz India launches satellite with support from Lumina Datamatics
Lumina Datamatics has partnered with Space Kidz India to launch a satellite into outer space. Launched in 2012, Space Kidz India is an aerospace startup designing, developing, and manufacturing small satellites to provide economical and sustainable access.
For women entrepreneurs, the West is the new promised land, report
America's original Westward Expansion was led by entrepreneurs of the day noticing great economic opportunities out of the West. A study by MerchantMaverick.com shows that a new slew of opportunities are appearing in Western states for women entrepreneurs.
New York-based skincare startup Glowbar closes $10m growth capital
Glowbar, the skincare brand whose custom 30-min, $65, clinical-grade facial has made it a breakout success in New York, announced it has received a $10 million growth investment led by Peterson Partners
The Carbon Blockchain expands footprint in Africa with acquisition of Minerva Green
The Carbon Blockchain (TCB), a carbon finance and technology services company that produces high-integrity carbon credits has announced the acquisition of Minerva Green.
Regent Bank names Peter Mullen as Director of Venture and Tech Banking
Regent Bank has named Peter Mullen Director of Venture and Tech Banking, as the migration of talent from traditional innovation hubs like the Bay Area and NYC continues to Midwestern cities.
Indian startup Agaamin launches Web3 in Mauritius
The internet (Web 2.0) as we know is about to be disrupted by the “New Internet”, Web3.0 - also known as the dWeb (Decentralized Web). One of the fundamental building blocks of the internet is its “namespace”.
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.
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.
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.
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