Happy Monday Morning. It's time for the weekly round up. Before we begin the new week, let’s take a look at the startup world related news for the last week.
24th August, Monday
- Smartsheet will pay $155M to buy Brandfolder, its fourth and largest acquisition yet
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/smartsheet-will-pay-155m-buy-brandfolder-fourth-largest-acquisition-yet/
- Blackstone to acquire Ancestry.com for $4.7 billion
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ancestry-m-a-blackstonegroup-idUSKBN25K0R4
- Yac gets backed by Slack to bring the intimacy of voice back when remote co-workers interact
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/24/yac-gets-backed-by-slack-to-bring-the-intimacy-of-voice-back-when-remote-co-workers-interact/
- 18 Chinese tech stocks soar 200% as a major market relaxes its IPO rules
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/24/investing/china-tech-stocks-chinext-intl-hnk/
- Al Gore’s Firm Sells Twilio, Salesforce, and Schwab Stock.
https://www.barrons.com/articles/al-gores-firm-sells-twilio-salesforce-and-schwab-stock-it-bought-palo-alto-stock-51598266855
25th August, Tuesday
- JPMorgan to pay $1 billion for full ownership of China mutual fund JV
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-fund-jpmorgan-idUSKBN25L1HA
- Level Home introduces Level Touch, a sleek smart lock that doesn’t advertise its intelligence
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/25/level-home-introduces-level-touch-a-sleek-smart-lock-that-doesnt-advertise-its-intelligence/
- MIT CSAIL grad launches machine learning platform with $10M Series A
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/25/mit-csail-grad-launches-machine-learning-platform-with-10m-series-a/
- Microsoft brings transcriptions to Word
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/25/microsoft-brings-transcriptions-to-word/
- Kymeta raises $85.2 million led by Bill Gates to speed growth of its
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/25/kymeta-raises-85-2-million-led-by-bill-gates-to-speed-growth-of-its-satellite-cellular-antenna-tech/
26th August, Wednesday
- Data analytics company, Palantir Will Go Public Via Direct Listing, Lost $US589 ($821) Million Last Year
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/08/palantir-will-go-public-via-direct-listing-lost-us589-821-million-last-year/
- Edtech Startup Virohan Raises $2.8 Mn to Ramp Up Access to Vocational Training in Healthcare Jobs
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/355342
- UK savings fintech Chip is raising a Series A round that will value it at more than $130 million
https://www.businessinsider.com/series-a-value-uk-savings-fintech-chip-over-130-million-2020-8
- Linkedin chairman Jeff Weiner backed fintech startup Esusu, which aims to help marginalized communities build better credit scores
https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-chairman-jeff-weiner-backs-fintech-startup-esusu-2020-8
- Howard County cancer survivor launches nonprofit to deliver support kits to those going through treatment
https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-kits-to-heart-20200826-u24uktvasbdcdb4ihigjdthvvy-story.html
27th August, Thursday
- Narrative, data streaming platform raises $8.5M as it launches a new data marketplace
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/27/narrative-series-a
- Warby Parker, optical e-commerce giant, valued at $3 billion, raises $245 million in funding
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/27/warby-parker-valued-at-3-billion-raises-245-million-in-funding/
- Google Assistant app now uses your searches to make personalized recommendations
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/27/google-assistant-app-now-uses-your-searches-to-make-personalized-recommendations/
- Reliable Robotics Raises $25 Million for Pilotless Planes
https://skift.com/2020/08/28/reliable-robotics-raises-25-million-for-pilotless-planes-travel-startup-funding-this-week/
- Delivery Hero buys InstaShop for €305 million, a record sum for a Greek startup
https://www.ekathimerini.com/256318/article/ekathimerini/business/delivery-hero-buys-instashop-for-305-million-a-record-sum-for-a-greek-startup
28th August, Friday
- Chinese automaker Xpeng seeks US$1.5b on NYSE
https://archive.shine.cn/business/auto/Chinese-automaker-Xpeng-seeks-US15b-on-NYSE/shdaily.shtml
- Alibaba pauses investment in Indian startups
https://asiatimes.com/2020/08/alibaba-pauses-investment-in-indian-startups/
- Undermyfork scores $400K seed for its diabetes tracking app and US launch
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/28/undermyfork/
- Amazon buys 1,800 electric vehicles from Mercedes-Benz for delivery fleet in Europe
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/amazon-buy-1800-electric-vehicles-mercedes-benz-delivery-fleet-europe/
- KitoTech raises $3M as demand soars for its at-home no-stitch wound closure kit
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/kitotech-raises-3m-demand-soars-home-no-stitch-wound-closure-kit/
- IBM has built a new drug-making lab entirely in the cloud
https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/08/28/1007737/ibm-ai-robot-drug-making-lab-in-the-cloud/
29th August, Saturday
- Elon Musk Demonstrates Neuralink Brain Chip in Living Pig
https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/08/elon-musk-brain-chip-pig/
- Pilot test drives 'flying car' in Japan
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2020/08/29/Pilot-test-drives-Japan-flying-car-
- Chan Zuckerberg Fund backs Eruditus; valuation doubles
https://wrapup.in/chan-zuckerberg-fund-backs-eruditus-valuation-doubles-ettech/
- Village Capital Helps Fledgling Accelerators, Incubators In Africa Up Their Game
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2020/08/29/village-capital-helps-fledgling-accelerators-incubators-in-africa-up-their-game/#3ceb04ed3fc2
- Cocktail startup Swizzle is bringing home real bar experience during lockdown
https://yourstory.com/2020/08/cocktail-kit-startup-swizzle-log9-materials
30th August, Sunday
- Paytm Mall suffers data breach, ransom demanded by hackers: Report
https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/paytm-mall-suffers-data-breach-ransom-demanded-by-hackers-cyble-report-11598793039641.html
- Sunu Band – The Smart Wearable Helping Blind People Maintain Social Distance
https://www.forbes.com/sites/gusalexiou/2020/08/30/sunu-band--the-smart-wearable-helping-blind-people-maintain-social-distance/#11dc6e0073be
- Co-working companies adjust to running shared workspaces in a pandemic
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-co-working-companies-adjust-to-running-shared-workspaces-in-a-pandemic/
- Tampa startup Minimise receives $400M line of credit from UK bank
https://www.newsbreak.com/florida/tampa/news/2050666850814/tampa-startup-minimise-receives-400m-line-of-credit-from-uk-bank
We, at OpenGrowth, are constantly looking for latest news in the startup ecosystem. If you want to share any important news from last week, then do let us know in the comment section below.
News Curated by: Priya Nath
Priya is an enthusiastic person who believes in gender equity and social impact. She has a keen interest in startups. Her passion includes owning innovative gadgets, networking and psychology.