Morning Monday! Here are the latest weekly startup stories for you. Before starting the new week, let's grab the latest updates from the startup world.
18th January, Monday
Picture Courtesy: Businessinsider
1. A Poshmark seller nabbed over $12,000 by buying stock in the company's successful IPO
Tiffany Wood, 30, has been a Poshmark seller since December, 2015. Poshmark set 150 as the maximum amount of shares available to top users. Read more.
2. MFine raises $16 million led by Heritas Capital
A digital health startup MFine, has raised $16 million in a new funding round. MFine will use the funds for development of its investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI), mobile engineering and device integration, expanding its hospital network across the country, Read more.
19th January, Tuesday
Picture Courtesy: Rivian
1. Rivian pick up $2.65B as it pushes toward production of its electric pickup
Rivian has raised $2.65 billion as it set to start production this year of its all-electric pickup truck. Rivian also plans to produce the delivery vans for Amazon at the factory. The first van deliveries will be made to Amazon in late 2021. Read more.
2. Fintech startup Vise brings on Andrew Fong (formerly Dropbox) as CTO
A fintech firm Vise bringing on Andrew Fong as its Chief Technology Officer who is formerly in Dropbox as VP of Infrastructure Engineering. Fintech firm Vise brought on Fong to scale up its technical team following its most recent fundraise, a $45 million in Series B.
3. Microsoft invests in Cruise in new $2 billion round
Cruise's partnership with Microsoft aims to provide benefits for both companies.It has uplift $2 billion in a new equity round that has moved its valuation up to $30 billion and delivered Microsoft as an investor and partner. The partnership extends to GM as well. Read more.
4. Google backs India’s Dunzo in $40 million funding round
India based delivery startup Dunzo, Five-year-old Dunzo said Google, Lightbox, Evolvence, Hana Financial Investment, LGT Lightstone Aspada and Alteria among others participated in its Series E financing round, which brings its to-date raise to $121 million. Dunzo operates an eponymous hyper-local delivery service in nearly a dozen cities in India. Read more.
20th January, Wednesday
Picture Courtesy: californianewstimes
1. Fintech startups and unicorns had a stellar Q4 2020
Fintech’s 2020 is a good perspective to view both the year and its happening final quarter. As America itself resets, let’s take a moment to understand last year just a little bit better as we get into this new one. Startup setting new record, new benchmark and total venture capital funding amplified.
2. HiPeople raised $3M seed to automate reference checks
Berlin-based HR technology startup HiPeople, has raised $ 3 million in seed funding, it about to start to automate the reference checking process. The idea behind the software-as-a-service is that HiPeople’s approach creates a hassle-free user experience for the recruiter. Investment will be used to support growth and will allow more recruiters to hire remotely using automated referral checking. Read more.
3. Podchaser raises $4M to build a comprehensive podcast database
Podchaser, a startup building what it calls “IMDB for podcasts,” recently it has raised $4 million in a funding. Although consumer site is free, the startup recently launched a paid product called Podchaser Pro, which provides reach and demographic data across 1.8 million podcasts. Read more.
4. Drone-focused construction startup TraceAir raises $3.5M
Construction startup TraceAir raised $3.5 million funding in Series A, adding all company’s total funding up to $7 million. TraceAir announced a new drone management tool, a method for using drones to spot construction errors before they become too expense. Raised funds will be used in sales and marketing, as well as product development. Read more.
21st January, Thursday
Picture Courtesy: bodyguard
1. Bodyguard is a mobile app that hides noxious content on social platforms
French startup Bodyguard, recently launched its app and service in English so that it can hide toxic content from your social media platform, and company has attracted 50,000 users so far. By downloading and connecting the app with your social networks, you can choose the level of moderation. There are categories from you can list your priority to handle toxic content on your social network sites. Read more.
2. AI-powered transcription service Otter.ai can now record from Google Meet
A.I.-powered voice transcription service provider Otter.ai, already integrates with Zoom for recording virtual meetings and webinars, is allset to start its service to Google Meet’s users. It helps businesses cut down on miscommunication, particularly for non-native English speakers who face trouble understanding the spoken word.
3. Aerobotics raises $17M to scale its AI-for-agriculture platform
A South African startup Aerobotics, provides AI tools to the world’s agriculture industry, and company has raised $17 million. The company has improved its technology and offers to farmers independent and reliable yield estimations and harvest schedules. It will ennhance farmers quality of production, as technology help them to predict demand, yield and way to produce quality products. Read more.
4. African edtech startup uLesson lands a $7.5 million Series A
Nigeria based an edtech startup ULesson, has raised $7.5 million in Series A funding. Startup offers digital curriculum to students through SD cards. Funding will allow them to function flawlessely. Read more.
5. Embryonics AI can better spot a healthy embryo - and improve IVF success
AI is stepping to standardized levels of diagnostic accuracy in medicine. Israel startup Embryonics says its AI can improve the odds of successfully implanting a healthy embryo during in vitro fertilization. Read more.
22nd January, Friday
Picture Courtesy: Blobr
1. The 'no-code' company Blobr, turning APIs into products, augment €1.2M pre-seed
Paris-based startup Blobr, has raised €1.2 million in pre-seed funding. Startup functioning in the no-code space with tech to make it trouble-free for companies to expose and monetise their existing APIs. Apart from this , it is easy to deliver different API output depending on customer segmentation and API usage can be linked to usage-based business models. Read more.
2. MotoRefi raises $10M to keep pedal on auto refinancing growth
North America, auto fintech startup MotoRefi, recentl packed with nearly $9 million in venture capital and it was preparing to initiate its refinancing platform to many. The company said its portfolio rose by multiple folds and it has refinanced more than $250 million of auto loans in 2020. Read more.
3. Seattle entrepreneur Todd Hooper raises cash for mysterious new startup Aardvark Labs
Seattle tech entrepreneur Todd Hooper has raised $3.5 million investment for a new startup Aardvark Labs. Read more.
23rd January, Saturday
Picture Courtesy: Brightly
1. JustKitchen is using cloud kitchens to create the next-gen of restaurant franchising
JustKitchen is incorporated in Canada, but launched in Taiwan first because of its population density and food delivery’s popularity. JustKitchen differentiates is by focusing on operations and content in addition to kitchen infrastructure. JustKitchen currently offers 14 brands in Taiwan, including Smith & Wollensky and TGI Fridays. Read more.
2. Brightly raises $1M for eco-friendly e-commerce and content platform
Seattle startup Brightly, startup that just lift up in $1 million to fuel its function and development. Laura Alexander Wittig and Liza Moiseeva have turned a simple podcast about sustainable platform for content, community, and online shopping. Read more.
24th January, Sunday
1. Kerala entrepreneur converts Rolls Royce into luxury cab
Kerala entrepreneur Boby Chemmanur who brought football legend Diego Marodana to Kerala is again in the news for converting his Rolls Royce Phantom car into a tourist taxi. Read more.
2. When SPACs Attack! A New Force Is Invading Wall Street
‘Blank check’ firms known as SPACs are in pursuit of America’s hottest startups. SPACs - which stands for special-purpose acquisition companies - are essentially big pools of cash listed on an exchange. Read more.
If you missed out the previous week or entire month updates of startup world news, follow the link to read it now and stay updated with every passing update with us.
Startup News: 11th January 2021 - 17th January 2021
Startup News: 4th January 2021 - 10th January 2021
Startup News: 28th December 2020 - 3rd January 2021
Startup News: 21st December 2020 - 27th December 2020
Startup News: 14th December 2020 - 20th December 2020
Startup News: 7th December 2020 - 13th December 2020
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.
