Good Morning Monday! Let's explore what's new in the startup world. Here are the latest weekly startup stories for you. Have a proactive week ahead.
22nd February, 2021
1. Nanit raises another $25M for its AI-powered baby monitor
Nanit has raised an additional $25 million in a Series C Nanit’s nursery camera pairs computer vision with specially patterned clothing to help answer the question that most new parents ask themselves. Read more
2. Gophr, the UK last-mile delivery company, picks up £4M funding
U.K.-based Gophr, has raised £4 million in funding as it looks to invest in its product off the back of 300% revenue growth during the last 12 months. Read more
3. Snack, where TikTok meets dating, gets $3.5 million in funding
Canada-based video-first dating app Snack,has received $3.5 million in funding. This app that asks users to create a video and post it to a feed. Snack is also working on video editing features similar to that of TikTok to let people get super creative with their profiles.
23rd February, 2021
1. India’s Zomato valued at $5.4 billion in fresh $250 million investment
Indian food delivery startup Zomato, has raised $250 million. The new investment reinforces the strong confidence investors have in Zomato, which struggled to raise money for much of last year. Read more
2. EquityBee raises $20M to help startup employees actually afford their stock options
A stock option marketplace startup EquityBee, has raised $20 million in a Series A round of funding. company’s goal is to help educate startup employees on the meaning of their stock options, as well as provide them with funds to be able to purchase them. Read more
3. Furniture startup Burrow raises $25M
Burrow, a startup that first launched with a modular sofa, eventually aims to sell you furniture for every room in your home. The goal is to match the largest customer needs with the biggest market opportunities. Read more
24th February, 2021
1. Spain’s ten-year plan to put startups in the economic driving seat
Spain is preparing to push forward with pro-startup legislation, having recently unveiled a big and bold transformation plan with the headline goal. The broad-brush goals for the strategy are to increase growth in startup investments; attract and retain talent; promote scalability and inject innovation, read more
2. Former Favor founders raise millions for Sunroom Rentals
Real estate tech startup Sunroom Rentals, which leases units on behalf of property managers and apartment owners, has raised $11 million in a Series A round of funding led by Gigafund. Read more
3. RecargaPay closes a $70 million Series C
Brazil-based fintech RecargaPay, they’ve closed their $70 million Series C. Company approach was to solve problems one-by-one, and now we have a vertically integrated payment platform that offers financial services. Read more
25th February, 2021
1. Canva acquires background removal specialists Kaleido
Vienna-based Kaleido acquired by Canva. Kaleido a quick, simple, free and good-enough background removal tool for images. The acquisition was announced at the same time as another by Canva: product mockup generator Smartmockups. Read more
2. Plant-based food startup Next Gen lands $10M
Next Gen, which will launch its plant-based “chicken” brand, called TiNDLE, has raised $10 million in seed funding. This is the first time the startup has taken external investment, and the funding exceeded its original target of $7 million. Read more
3. Infra.Market becomes India’s newest unicorn with $100 million fundraise
Four-year-old Infra.Market has raised $100 million in a Series C. The newest unicorn in India is a startup that is helping construction and real estate companies in the world’s second-most populated nation procure materials and handle logistics for their projects. Read more
26th February, 2021
1. Newness raises $3.5 million for its ‘Twitch for beauty streamers’
Newness, a startup co-founded by former Twitch employees, has raised $3.5 million in a Sequoia-led seed round for its live-streaming platform aimed at beauty creators and their fan communities. Read more
2. TreeCard raises $5.12 million to drive sustainable spending through reforestation
The world’s first wooden Mastercard™ payment card TreeCard, that reforests every time you spend, announces it’s raised $5.1m seed round, TreeCard links with current bank accounts, making it easy and convenient for users to integrate TreeCard into their usual spending habits. Read more
3. As BNPL startups raise, a look at Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay earnings
U.S.-based BNPL company that had a recent direct listing. startups are racing to help online retailers sell larger items to consumers with so-called “buy-now-pay-later” options. Via BNPL, consumers turn a one-time purchase into a limited string of regular payments. Read more
27th February, 2021
1. With $62.5M in debt financing, Road Runner Media puts digital ads behind commercial vehicles
The startup is placing digital screens on the back of technicians’ vans, delivery vehicles, buses and other commercial vehicles. California-based Road Runner Media succeeds, you’ll start seeing a lot more ads while you’re driving. Read more
28th February, 2021
1. Dubai Startup Hub launches report on Dubai’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
Dubai Startup Hub, an initiative of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), have released the Dubai Startup Report 2021, an informative guide on Dubai’s startup ecosystem for international startups and investors. 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: 15th February 2021 - 21st February 2021
Startup News: 8th February 2021 - 14th February 2021
Startup News: 1st February 2021 - 7th February 2021
Startup News: 25th January 2021 - 31st January 2021
Startup News: 18th January 2021 - 24th January 2021
Startup News: 11th January 2021 - 17th January 2021
Startup News: 4th January 2021 - 10th January 2021
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.
