New Week. New Possibilities. New Gains. But, before we dive in to this new week, let’s take a weekly round up for the last week. 

Happy Monday Morning and Happy Reading!

 

31st August, Monday

 

• Google launches Google Kids Space, a ‘kids mode’ feature for Android, initially on Lenovo tablets

https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/31/google-launches-google-kids-space-a-kids-mode-feature-for-android-initially-on-lenovo-tablets/

• RealPage acquires real estate IoT startup Stratis

https://www.inventiva.co.in/trends/anukriti/realpage-acquires-real-estate-iot-startup-stratis/

• Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery fleet gains FAA approval for trial commercial flights

https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/31/amazons-prime-air-drone-delivery-fleet-gains-faa-approval-for-trial-commercial-flights/

• Capchase raises $4.6M to deliver fast cash to SaaS companies

https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/31/capchase-raises-4-6m-to-deliver-fast-cash-to-saas-companies/

• Semalytix picks up €4.3M to build the world’s largest patient experience data set

https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/31/semalytix/

 

1st September, Tuesday

 

• Apple launches COVID-19 ‘Exposure Notification Express’ with iOS 13.7 — Android to follow later this month

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/01/apple-launches-system-level-covid-19-exposure-notification-express-with-ios-13-7-google-to-follow-later-this-month/

• Toss Lab raises $13 million Series B for its collaboration platform JANDI, the ‘Slack of Asia’

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/01/toss-lab-raises-13-million-series-b-for-its-collaboration-platform-jandi-the-slack-of-asia/

• Google’s AI-powered flood alerts now cover all of India and parts of Bangladesh

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/01/googles-ai-powered-flood-alerts-now-cover-all-of-india-and-parts-of-bangladesh/

• Lunchclub, a 15-person start-up that makes professional introductions, tops $100 million valuation as usage spikes in quarantine

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/01/lunchclub-tops-100-million-valuation-amid-quarantine-usage-spike.html

• Grabango launches cashierless checkout in a Giant Eagle supermarket in Pittsburgh

https://venturebeat.com/2020/09/01/grabango-launches-cashierless-checkout-in-a-giant-eagle-supermarket-in-pittsburgh/

 

2nd September, Wednesday

 

• India’s online learning platform Unacademy raises $150 million at $1.45 billion valuation

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/02/indias-online-learning-platform-unacademy-raises-150-million-at-1-45-billion-valuation/

• India bans PUBG and over 100 additional Chinese apps

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/02/india-bans-pubg-and-over-100-additional-chinese-apps/

• Zomato closes $62 million funding from Temasek

https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/zomato-closes-62-million-funding-from-temasek-11599043753647.html

• Xanadu launches quantum cloud platform, plans to double qubits every 6 months

https://venturebeat.com/2020/09/02/xanadu-photonics-quantum-cloud-platform/

• 3one4 Capital launches $100M fund to back early-stage startups in India

https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/3one4-capital-is-back-with-a-100-million-fund-for-early-stage-startups/articleshow/77887173.cms

 

3rd September, Thursday

 

• Apple alum’s jobs app bags $8m in series A money from Sequoia, Lightspeed, others

https://www.techinasia.com/apple-alums-jobs-app-bags-8m-series-money-sequoia-lightspeed

• Health start-up Biofourmis raises US$100 million from SoftBank, other investors

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/health-start-up-biofourmis-raises-us100-million-from-softbank-other

• TVS Motor Company invests ₹30 cr in electric vehicle start-up

https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/tvs-motor-company-invests-rs-30-cr-in-electric-vehicle-start-up-11599130617050.html

• Xiaomi backs Dyson’s Chinese challenger Dreame in $15 million round

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/03/dyson-challenger-dreame-raises-15-million/

• France to spend $8.4 billion on digital as part of stimulus plan

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/03/france-to-spend-8-4-billion-on-digital-as-part-of-stimulus-plan/

 

4th September, Friday

 

• Indian audio streaming startup Gaana raises $50m in Tencent-led round

https://www.techinasia.com/indian-audio-streaming-startup-gaana-raises-50m-tencentled

• G7CR Technologies Launches $5 Mn Fund For Startups and SMBs

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/355776

• African startups raise $75k from Enygma Ventures at Startup Circles demo day

https://disrupt-africa.com/2020/09/african-startups-raise-75k-from-enygma-ventures-at-startup-circles-demo-day/

• Qualcomm-powered Chinese XR startup Nreal raises $40 million

https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/04/nreal-raises-40-million/

• Legal-tech startup Lawyered to raise Rs.7 crore in pre-series funding

https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/legal-tech-startup-lawyered-to-raise-rs-7-crore-in-pre-series-funding-11599237918870.html

 

5th September, Saturday

 

• Agri-tech Startup Aibono Raises $2M From Investors

http://bwdisrupt.businessworld.in/article/Agri-tech-Startup-Aibono-Raises-2M-From-Investors-/05-09-2020-316677/

• San Francisco Foundation invests $5 million in affordable housing fund

http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/san-francisco-foundation-invests-5-million-in-affordable-housing-fund

• Goldman Sachs joins Alibaba-backed Ant's IPO offering of up to $30 billion

https://www.businesstoday.in/current/corporate/goldman-sachs-joins-alibaba-backed-ant-ipo-offering-of-up-to-30-billion/story/415218.html

• Winzo Raises $18M in Series B Funding Led by Makers Fund and Courtside Ventures

http://bwdisrupt.businessworld.in/article/Winzo-Raises-18M-in-Series-B-Funding-Led-by-Makers-Fund-and-Courtside-Ventures-/04-09-2020-316553/

• Happiest Minds raises Rs 316 crore through anchor investors ahead of IPO

https://www.cnbctv18.com/market/stocks/happiest-minds-raises-rs-316-crore-through-anchor-investors-ahead-of-ipo-6834181.htm

 

6th September, Sunday

 

• Palmerston North-created delivery app Run4U taking aim at Delivereasy and Uber Eats

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/300097037/palmerston-northcreated-delivery-app-run4u-taking-aim-at-delivereasy-and-uber-eats

• Lakshmi Vilas Bank to raise ₹1,500 cr to fund biz growth, increase foreign shareholding

https://www.livemint.com/industry/banking/lakshmi-vilas-bank-to-raise-1-500-cr-to-fund-biz-growth-increase-foreign-shareholding-11599400076262.html

• Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, 13 others adopt self-regulation code: IAMAI

https://yourstory.com/2020/09/netflix-amazon-prime-video-self-regulation-code-iamai

 

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.