TechCrunch Startup News
3,808 episodes — Page 28 of 77
Savvy, a platform to secure SaaS apps, launches out of stealth with $30M
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) apps are an essential part of how many companies do business. But when the number of apps grows beyond a certain threshold, it can be difficult to secure them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Raft closes $30M Series B led by Eight Roads VC
During the pandemic, the digitisation of the freight industry took off like a rocket, and stayed that way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pylon wants to make it easier to manage B2B conversations in Slack
As email has becomes an increasingly clogged communication mechanism, businesses looking for more direct ways to communicate with their customers in a B2B context have been turning to Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord and other channels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SpeedyBrand uses generative AI to create SEO-optimized content
While working at Vetan, a startup helping small- and medium-sized (SMBs) businesses manage employee payroll, Jatin Mehta realized that SMBs often lack the tools to thrive online with organic sales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google’s Gradient Ventures backs Weflow to bring greater hygiene to Salesforce data
Google’s venture capital arm Gradient Ventures has made another foray into Europe, investing as part of a $3.2 million seed round in two-year-old German startup Weflow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
CADDi raises $89M Series C to scale its B2B supply chain marketplace for manufacturing parts
The pandemic has damaged the entire manufacturing supply chain, which is not likely to return to normal until at least 2024 due to a few challenges, including the ongoing U.S.-China tech battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Brinc launches new program for climate tech startups
Brinc, the Hong Kong-based accelerator backed by investors like Animoca Brands, is launching a new program for fledgling climate tech startups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
DigitalOcean acquires cloud computing startup Paperspace for $111M in cash
DigitalOcean, the cloud hosting business, today announced that it’s agreed to acquire Paperspace, a New York-based cloud computing and AI development startup, for $111 million in cash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Thrive Capital doubles down on Clair, a fintech helping frontline workers get paid instantly
New offerings include an on-demand pay solution where users can withdraw funds immediately for the money they've earned, but not yet received, and a lending program for employers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After bootstrapping for 8 years, accounting startup Dougs raises $27 million
Dougs, a French accounting startup, has been around since 2015. It already generates $16.4 million (€15 million) in annual recurring revenue. And it’s a bootstrapped company, meaning that it hasn’t opened its capital and raised any funding from VC firms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
PharmEasy seeks funding via rights issue at 90% valuation cut, report says
Indian online pharmacy startup PharmEasy has informed its existing investors that it plans to raise a new round of funding via rights issue at a 90% markdown from the previous valuation, Indian newspaper Economic Times reported. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google’s Gradient backs YC alum Infisical to solve secret sprawl
Secret sprawl, where companies store authentication credentials and similar sensitive data across multiple locations, is a real and growing problem for any company wanting to avert a security breach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Level wants to back your fund — and your portfolio companies too
In 2023, funds of funds (FoFs) are on track to raise the smallest amount of money this year in more than a decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
After aperitif ambitions sour, Haus is back on virtual shelves via The Naked Market
The Naked Market is relaunching Haus favorites, including Citrus Flower, Pomegranate Rosemary and Grapefruit Jalapeño. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
B Garage raises $20M for its warehouse inventory drones
B Garage, a San Jose-based startup building autonomous drones along with software to track warehouse inventory, said that it has picked up $20 million in a Series A round of funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
India startup funding slides 68% after Tiger and SoftBank make virtually no deals
Indian startups experienced a significant contraction in funding in the first half of 2023, revealing the knock-on effect of broader public market instability on young ventures in emerging regions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Workflow automation startup Parabola raises $24M
Parabola, a San Francisco-based startup that uses AI to help expedite back-office processes, particularly in the logistics and ecommerce sectors, today announced that it raised $24 million in a Series B funding round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Astrix Security, which uses ML to secure app integrations, raises $25M
Astrix Security, a platform that helps companies manage and secure third-party app integrations, today announced that it closed a $25 million Series A funding round led by CRV with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners and F2 Venture Capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
AWS launches $100M program to fund generative AI initiatives
Amazon, keen to avoid being left behind in the hyper-competitive AI race, is launching a new program to invest in startups and organizations focused on generative AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
BentoML scores $9M funding to expedite AI app development
The success of large language models like GPT has sparked a frenzy of developers eager to make AI-powered applications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ThoughtSpot acquires Mode Analytics, a BI platform, for $200M in cash and stock
ThoughtSpot, an AI-powered analytics platform last valued at $4.5 billion, today announced that it’s entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Mode Analytics, a business intelligence startup, for $200 million in cash and stock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
French VC firm Frst reaches $80 million first close for its new seed fund
Frst, the Paris-based VC firm with no vowel in its name, is in the process of raising its second fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Plastic upcycling startup Kubik closes $3.34M seed to scale production in Ethiopia
The amount of plastic waste produced globally is on track to triple to over 1,000 million tonnes by 2060. The OECD report predicts that developed countries will continue to produce the most plastic waste per person, although emerging regions like Africa and Asia are expected to experience the fastest growth owing to rapid population growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Supercritical, a carbon removal marketplace aimed at tech firms, raises $13M Series A led by Lightspeed
Supercritical, the carbon removal marketplace aimed (at the moment) mainly at tech companies that want to hit ‘net zero’, has raised a $13 million Series A funding round, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners. The round includes funding from RTP Global, Greencode Ventures, MMC Ventures and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Notarize launches Proof to ensure safe online transactions
Notarize, the world’s largest online notary network, is launching Proof, a new company and platform for digital identity verifications. Beginning in August, Notarize’s business tools will be rebranded to Proof, and it is also changing its company name to Proof. Notarize will continue serving its online notary network, which is used by companies like Adobe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
BetterBrand’s new dough raises company’s valuation to over $170M
In late 2022, BetterBrand found success on Whole Foods Market shelves, driving over $1 million in gross sales in the first five months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Seedstars, Fondation Botnar launch new fund to back African startups focused on youth wellbeing
Seedstars Capital and Swiss philanthropic foundation Fondation Botnar have launched Seedstars Youth Wellbeing Ventures, a $20 million investment mandate targeting early-stage startups in Africa that are focused on improving the wellbeing of people below 30 years in low-and-middle-income countries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Gladia turns any audio into text in near real time
Meet Gladia, a French AI startup that wants to change how companies interact with audio data. The company develops an audio transcription application programming interface (API) that you can integrate with other products and is supposed to work much better than what’s available out there. And this tech foundation unlocks new use cases around audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Luminoah’s quest to reinvent tube feeding attracts new funding
Luminoah has reinvented a tube feeding device that’s more portable, discreet, and easy to use, and it has raised $6 million dollars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Glystn enables creators to mass reply to multiple followers across social media platforms
Glystn is a tool for content creators that allows them to engage with followers and read/answer comments from multiple social media platforms all in one place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wargraphs, a gaming startup with only one employee and no outside funding, sells for $54M
Competition appears to be alive and well in another (smaller) area of gaming: modding and analytics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
European startups still have a long way to go to achieve gender parity
According to a new study from Sista and the Boston Consulting Group, women are still underrepresented in the European tech ecosystem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
ChrysCapital invests $100 million in India’s Lenskart
ChrysCapital has invested $100 million in Lenskart, the two said Thursday, pushing the Asian eyewear startup’s raise to $850 million in the past year. The Indian venture firm is buying shares worth $100 million into the Bengaluru-headquartered startup through both primary and secondary transactions, the two said. The new investment follows Abu Dhabi Investment AuthoritY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Deepchecks snags $14M seed to continuously validate ML models
As companies increasingly rely on machine learning models, it’s imperative that they continuously check the models to make sure they are working as intended and that the data is valid, unbiased and not corrupted in any way. Deepchecks, an Israeli startup has come up with a solution to continuously test models from development through production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Finfra lets Indonesian businesses add embedded finance to their platforms
Finfra, an Indonesian startup that provides the tech infrastructure for online businesses that want to offer embedded finance products, has raised $1 million in new funding. The round included participation from DSX Ventures, Seedstars International Ventures, Cento Ventures, Fintech Nation, FirstPick, BADideas Fund and Hustle Fund. The startup’s new funding will be used on product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Kaya Founders backs Philippines startups from “Day 0”
The Philippines’ startup ecosystem is poised for strong growth, thanks to the country’s rising GDP, fast adoption of online services and a new generation of founders. Launched by tech and investment veterans, Kaya Founders wants to back the most promising startups from the very beginning. The venture firm announced today that it has closed $12. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oova grabs another $10.3M, unveils membership model for at-home fertility testing
Oova's new membership offering is priced at $99 and includes The Oova Kit, personalized support from healthcare professionals and access to a community of peers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nordic VC Voima Ventures launches €90M fund for deep tech startups
Nordic VC firm Voima Ventures today announced its third fund with an initial closing of €90 million fund and a final target of €120 million, focusing on early-stage “deep tech” startups from across the science realm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Navan takes a swipe at expense management startups with new Mastercard and Visa partnerships
Want more fintech news in your inbox? Sign up here. In recent years, a number of startups have made a business out of providing corporate credit cards to companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
HSBC rebrands, expands its SVB UK buy as HSBC Innovation Banking
Acquired by HSBC in an emergency sale for just £1 in March as SVB was melting down, SVB UK is now getting a rebrand and expansion under its new owner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Cultured meat startup Higher Steaks nabs $30M and rebrands as Uncommon
U.K.-based cultivated meat startup Higher Steaks has raised $30 million in a Series A round of funding and revealed that it’s changing its name to Uncommon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Green Coffee Co. percolates on $25M to expand in Colombia, launch alcoholic beverages
Green Coffee is a consolidated arabica coffee farming company, headquartered in the U.S., with operations in Colombia that span 9,000 acres across 14 farms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Insify raises another $10.7 million for its business insurance startup
Amsterdam-based insurtech startup Insify has completed its Series A funding round with another €10 million ($10.7 million at today’s exchange rate). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Contextual AI launches from stealth to build enterprise-focused language models
Large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT-4 are powerful, paradigm-shifting tools that promise to upend industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Positive Ventures’ new impact fund will be triple its flagship fund
With the new fund, Positive Ventures intends to invest in between 20 and 25 companies at the pre-seed and seed levels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
BOND brings inspirational-driven approach to livestream shopping, raises $2M
BOND's founders say their approach to livestream shopping is creator and content first so that the “creator in the driver's seat and at the forefront of the experience.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
OurX adds tech spin to Black hair care regimen
OurX has seven products currently for tightly textured hair, and the average regimen of products offered is between $115 and $130. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Escape dynamically scans APIs to find security flaws
French startup Escape has raised a $3.9 million (€3.6 million) funding round shortly after ending Y Combinator’s winter 2023 cohort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Ariga is helping developers define database schema as code
As companies look to update their databases, especially in a cloud native context, with so many different databases out there, it’s a huge challenge for developers when migrating from one environment to another. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NestAway, once valued at over $225 million, sells for $11 million
PropTech firm Aurum is acquiring NestAway, a once high-flying Indian startup operating in the same space, for up to $10.9 million, in a deal that marks a near complete erosion in value for the startup’s investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices