A lot of things are happening around the startup world globally. So, before we get into the hustle of the new week, let’s begin our week with a weekly round up. Happy Monday Morning and Happy Reading!
17th August, Monday
- Robinhood, the free trading app benefiting from millennials betting on stocks, is now worth more than $11 billion
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/17/investing/robinhood-trading-app-valuation/
- Lightspeed India raises $275 mn to focus on emerging segments, such as health and wellness, direct-to-customer brands and fintech, besides other consumer internet segments
https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/lightspeed-india-raises-275-mn-11597722352586.html
- Waterloo startup develops waterproof face masks — and sells first 10,000 to Metrolinx
https://www.therecord.com/business/2020/08/17/waterloo-startup-develops-waterproof-face-masks-and-sells-first-10000-to-metrolinx.html
- Short-video app Mitron raises $5 million in Series A funding
https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/short-video-app-mitron-raises-5-million-in-series-a-funding-11597679201866.html
- Alphabet-Backed Startup, Cavnue, to build a first-of-its-kind 40-mile connected corridor in Michigan with dedicated lanes for autonomous vehicles
https://www.benzinga.com/news/20/08/17121761/alphabet-backed-startup-to-build-self-driving-road-of-the-future
18th August, Tuesday
- Oracle joins race for TikTok, reportedly in talks to acquire U.S. operations
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/oracle-joins-race-tiktok-reportedly-talks-acquire-u-s-operations/
- Walmart’s U.S. ecommerce sales top $10B as retail giant prepares to challenge Amazon Prime
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/walmarts-quarterly-u-s-ecommerce-sales-top-10b-retail-giant-prepares-challenge-amazon-prime/
- Seattle startup vets raise $1.3M for no-code workflow automation startup Reflective
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/seattle-startup-vets-raise-1-3m-no-code-workflow-automation-startup-reflective/
- Apple launches Apple Music Radio with a rebranded Beats 1, plus two more stations
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/18/apple-launches-apple-music-radio-with-a-rebranded-beats-1-plus-two-more-stations/
- Attabotics raises a $50M Series C for its warehouse fulfillment robots
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/18/attabotics-raises-a-50m-series-c-for-its-warehouse-fulfillment-robots/
19th August, Wednesday
- Eyedropper startup Nanodropper lands new $500k Air Force contract as it begins shipping device
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/eyedropper-startup-nanodropper-lands-new-500k-air-force-contract-begins-shipping-device/
- Weed vending machines debut in Colorado
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/19/business/cannabis-vending-machines-trnd
- Alibaba’s archrival, JD.com’s 1-year-old health unicorn to get $830M from Hillhouse
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/18/jd-coms-1-year-old-health-unicorn-to-get-830m-from-hillhouse/
- India’s first Earth-imaging satellite startup raises $5 million; first launch planned for later this year
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/19/indias-first-earth-imaging-satellite-startup-raises-5-million-first-launch-planned-for-later-this-year/
- Hangar raises $15 million for its venture studio for government technology startups
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/19/hangar-raises-15-million-for-its-venture-studio-for-government-technology-startups/
20th August, Thursday
- Japanese Startup Raises $28 Million to Help Fund Moon Mission
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/japanese-startup-raises-28-million-to-help-fund-moon-mission
- iFarm Raises $4 million to automate urban farming with AI and drones
https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/20/ifarm-raises-4-million-to-automate-urban-farming-with-ai-and-drones/
- Microsoft released TypeScript 4.0, the latest iteration of the programming language for building large JavaScript web applications
https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-typescript-4-0-programming-language-arrives-its-a-big-milestone/
- Patient engagement startup raises $15 million from Google’s Gradient Ventures
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/20/patient-engagement-startup-raises-15-million-from-googles-gradient-ventures/
- Yalochat, a fast-growing conversational commerce startup, lands $15 million led by B Capital
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/20/yalochat-a-fast-growing-conversational-commerce-startup-lands-15-million-led-by-b-capital/
21st August, Friday
- In Another Edtech Funding, Lead School Raises $28 million in Series C Round
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/355116
- Tech Startup Set to Bring Back the BlackBerry
https://www.complex.com/life/2020/08/tech-startup-bring-back-the-blackberry
- ExcelLand Raises $14 Million for Hotel Robots: Travel Startup Funding This Week
https://skift.com/2020/08/21/excelland-raises-14-million-for-hotel-robots-travel-startup-funding-this-week/
- Southeast Asian tech startup investments fall 13% in first half
https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/southeast-asian-tech-startup-investments-fall-13-in-first-half-100147055.html
https://www.dw.com/en/the-face-mask-that-talks/av-54645753
22nd August, Saturday
- DoorDash enters city’s crowded grocery delivery race with one-hour pledge
https://www.newsbreak.com/new-york/brooklyn/news/2045355828336/doordash-enters-citys-crowded-grocery-delivery-race-with-one-hour-pledge
- Launched with $17 million by two former Norwest investors, Tau Ventures is ready for its closeup
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/22/launched-with-17-million-by-two-former-norwest-investors-tau-ventures-is-ready-for-its-closeup/
- Bletchley Park, birth-place of the computer, faces uncertain future after pandemic hits income
https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/22/bletchley-park-birth-place-of-the-computer-faces-uncertain-future-after-pandemic-hits-income/
23rd August, Sunday
- Indian startup launches e-store for COVID-19 essentials
https://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/indian-health-tech-startup-launches-estore-for-selling-covid19-essentials-masks-gloves-ppe-kits/story/413745.html
- WorkPay Raises $2.1 Million Seed Capital
https://kenyanwallstreet.com/workpay-raises-2-1-million-seed-capital/
- Medical imaging startup Nanox raises $615 million on Nasdaq
https://www.timesofisrael.com/medical-imaging-startup-nanox-raises-615-million-on-nasdaq/
- Europe’s Software Startups Face A 6.3% Decline In Tech Spend
https://usanewssite.com/news/europes-software-startups-face-a-6-3-decline-in-tech-spend-in-a-worst-case-pandemic-economy-in-2020-one-vc-predicts-a-fourth-quarter-blood-bath/
- Face mask with a gold and silver filters instantly destroys germs
https://www.yankodesign.com/2020/08/23/face-mask-with-a-gold-and-silver-filters-instantly-destroys-germs-to-give-you-99-clean-healthy-air/
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.