Funding
Prosus, the internet holding company formed by e-commerce and media group Naspers, has led a $60m series B round for Platzi, the US-headquartered operator of an online professional education platform focused on Latin America. Foundation Capital, Y Combinator, 500 Startups, FJ Labs, FundersClub and private investors Hans Tung and Darian Shirazi also took part in the round.
Marketplacer, a US-headquartered developer of software that enables users to set up their own online marketplaces, has secured $38m in funding from investors including Salesforce Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of enterprise software provider Salesforce. It was joined by Acorn Capital, Ellerston Capital, Endeavor Asset Management, Lennox Capital Partners, Mirrabooka Investments, OC Funds SG Hiscock, Fifth Estate, Washington H Soul Patterson and Wunala Capital, and Marketplacer said it has now raised over $85m in total.
Electronics producer Samsung and digital currency exchange Coinbase have taken part in a $36m series A round for web 3.0 infrastructure software provider Mysten Labs through Samsung Next and Coinbase Ventures respectively. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz and included Redpoint Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Electric Capital, Standard Crypto, NFX, Slow Ventures, Scribble Ventures, Lux Capital, Bienville, Hack VC and angel investors including Elad Gil.
Universe, the US-headquartered provider of a mobile website building app, has received $30m in a series B round that included internet and technology group Alphabet’s GV subsidiary. Venture capital firm Addition led the round, which also featured Javelin Venture Partners and Box Group.
True Fit, the US-based creator of a software platform which helps retailers identify the size and fit of clothing, has secured $30m from investors including semiconductor and data technology producer Intel’s corporate VC arm, Intel Capital. The round was led by growth equity firm Georgian and also featured Jump Capital, Signal Peak Ventures and Espresso, which supplied venture debt.
Kasada, the US-headquartered developer of a cybersecurity software product focused on bot attacks, has raised $23m in a series C round backed by Reinventure, the VC firm funded by financial services firm Westpace. It was led by StepStone Group and also featured Ten Eleven Ventures, Main Sequence Ventures, Our Innovation Fund and Turnbull & Partners.
India-based podcast app developer Pocket FM has received $22.4m in series B funding from investors including media group Bennett Coleman & Co. The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and also backed by fellow VC firm Tanglin Venture Partners.
Cyrus Biotechnology, a US-based developer of biologics discovery software that was spun out of University of Washington, has completed an $18m series B round featuring autoimmune disease drug developer Selecta Bioscience, OrbiMed, Trinity Ventures, Agent Capital, Yard Ventures, Washington Research Foundation, iSelect Fund, W Fund and unnamed family offices and individuals. The company has also bought Orthogonal Biologics, a protein research spinout of University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, for an undisclosed amount.
China-headquartered women’s sportswear brand Maia Active has raised almost RMB100m ($15.7m) in series C funding from investors including footwear producer Belle International, DealStreetAsia has reported, citing a company statement. The publication identified Sequoia Capital China, China Growth Capital, Meridian Capital China, Volcanics Venture and Delta Capital as existing investors in Maia.
BitNile, a cryptocurrency-focused subsidiary of diversified holding company Ault Global Holdings, has led a $15m series A round for US-based decentralised finance marketplace Earnity. Private investment vehicle Thorney Investment Group and blockchain-focused VC fund NGC Ventures also contributed to the round.
Holmusk, the US-based developer of a software platform applying real-world evidence to behavioural health, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from investors including dRx Capital, the digital health investment vehicle for pharmaceutical firm Novartis, as well as Northwell Holdings and Optum Ventures, which invested on behalf of care provider Northwell Health and health services firm Optum. They were joined in the round by Health Catalyst Capital and Heritas Capital.
Forum Mobility, a US-based developer of electrification technology for heavy vehicle fleets, has received $7.5m in funding from investors including electric utility Edison International. VC firm Obvious Ventures co-led the round with sustainability-focused investment firm Homecoming Capital, and it also featured Overture VC.
Baked goods producer Grupo Bimbo has led a series A round of undisclosed size for Ecuador-headquartered superfood brand LiveKuna. The round was also backed by VC firms SOSV and Amadeo, and Grupo Bimbo will distribute the company’s products in North America in addition to collaborating on superfood innovation.
AngelHub, the China-based operator of an online investment platform for startups, has secured $3m from investors including blockchain app developer Animoca Brands, Fintechnews has reported. Kharis Capital also contributed to the round and was identified as an existing investor.
BBS Network, the operator of a decentralised online bulletin board, has raised $1.5m in a seed round co-led by cryptocurrency exchange Binance through its Binance Labs subsidiary. The round also featured Digital Currency Group, Node Capital, NFX, DAO Maker and general partners of Polychain Capital, and the startup’s existing investors include cryptocurrency technology developer Bancor.
