France-based fintech developer Fluo has secured €2m ($2.1m) in funding from financial services firm Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, according to Le Figaro. The money will go towards accelerated development of Fluo’s product, a platform that provides an overview over insurance covers. Fluo previously obtained nearly €1m from Evolem and founding team.
US-based distributed cloud storage provider Storj Labs has obtained $3m in seed capital from Qualcomm Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of chip maker Qualcomm, software developer Cockroach Labs, cybersecurity company Ionic Security and fraud prevention firm Pindrop Security as well as Techstars. The oversubscribed round will support further development of the Storj platform.
US-based ad recovery platform Uponit has received $2.3m in funding from KDC Media Fund, a joint venture of media companies Dick Clark Productions and Keshet. The round was led by Jerusalem Venture Partners. Uponit’s technology allows advertisers to recover ad impressions and will use the investment to expand its sales and marketing teams as well as product development.
Conglomerate Gunung Sewu Kencana has taken part in a $1.4n funding round for Printerous, an Indonesia-based marketplace for printing services, according to TechCrunch. The round was led by Golden Gate Ventures, while Sovereign’s Capital also put in money. The company is currently only active in Jakarta and will use the cash to increase its network of printers and acquire more customers in the capital.
NeoStencil India, an India-based education technology startup, has secured $1m in a funding round co-led by Brand Capital, the investment arm of media company Times Group, and Paragon Trust, according to VCCircle. 91Springboard and angel investors Hirokazu Mashita and Praveen Sinha also took part. NeoStencil, which helps users study to become civil servants, previously obtained $60,000 in 2015 from Paragon Trust and Piyush Dhanuka.
IgrenEnergi, a US-based solar energy, has obtained an undisclosed sum from data centre operator BroadBand Tower and investment fund GiTV, according to the Economic Times. Angel investor Sunil Mehta previously injected an undisclosed amount in February 2016.
US-based remix music distribution platform Dubset has closed a $4m series A round led by VC firm Cue Ball Capital. Music data and rights company MediaNet, Neoteny 3, Resolute Venture Partners and Redwood Venture Partners also joined the round, which follows a 2014 round led by Rhapsody International.
Aerospace company Airbus’ investment unit Airbus Ventures, research institute SRI International and VC firm Horizons Ventures have supplied $4m to LeoLabs, a US-based company that uses data to track space debris and prevent collisions with low Earth orbit objects. The funding will support accelerated product development, including an expansion of LeoLabs’ ground-based radar infrastructure, and engagement with commercial and government clients.
Workfit, a US-based developer of an enterprise voice assistant called Eva, has raised $5.5m in a seed round that featured Salesforce Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of cloud computing company Salesforce, and VC firms Battery Ventures and Greycroft Partners. The money will drive recruitment as Workfit prepares for its first product launches in spring.
Filament, a US-based developer of sensor network technology for internet of things applications, has raised approximately $9.5m, Coindesk has reported citing a regulatory filing made late last year. The capital infusion follows a $5m series A round in 2015 led by Bullpen Capital and backed by Verizon Ventures and Samsung Ventures, respective corporate venturing units of telecoms firm Verizon and electronics producer Samsung. There series A also featured Crosslink Capital, Digital Currency Group, Haystack, Working Lab Capital, Techstars and undisclosed existing investors.
Fazland, an Italy-based services platform that enables users to find relevant professionals, has secured €4.5m in funding, according to FinSMEs, from mass media company Mediaset, through corporate venturing division Ad4Ventures, and RedSeed Ventures, which led the round. Other, unnamed investors also participated in the round which will go towards an expansion and puts Fazland’s total equity at €6m to date.
France-based online automotive and trade-in pricing platform Autobiz has raised an undisclosed sum from carmaker PSA Group, according to FinSMEs. Autobiz promises car-owners to help sell their vehicles within an hour and operates across 30 countries. The company is currently also working on a consultancy offering for industry.
MyTaxiIndia, an India-based inter-city taxi rental platform, has received an undisclosed amount from investment firm and incubator ZGC Global, VCCircle has reported. MyTaxiIndia previously raised $1m in funding from taxi company Nihon Kotsu in July 2016. Nihon Kotsu also supplied $500,000 in pre-series A funding in 2015, adding to $100,000 from GHV Accelerator two months before.
Digital payment services provider ItzCash has put an undisclosed amount into India-based fintech company Finly.io, the Economic Times wrote on Monday. Finly.io has developed an expenses management tool for enterprise users. ItzCash’s investment forms part of a strategic partnership agreement, though the companies did not provide details.
Alarmbox, a Japan-based credit management service, has attracted capital from Mizhuo Capital, the investment arm of financial services firm Mizhuo Bank, KLab Venture Partners and Digital Hollywood, according to Tech in Asia. Alarmbox has now raised approximately $900,000 in total, having previously closed a funding round in October 2016 from Office Busters credit risk company Credit Exchange Agency.
Mamorio, a Japan-based developer of a small tracking device that uses Bluetooth to help users find misplaced items such as keys, has closed a series A round that featured conglomerate Melco Holdings. Although the size was not disclosed, TechCrunch Japan has estimated the deal at more than $2m.
A10Lab, best known for its motivational app Minchalle that groups users in teams of five to help them achieve their goals, has closed a $590,000 seed round backed by entertainment company Sony, Future Venture Capital, financial services firm Dai-ichi Kangyo Credit Cooperative and Globe Advisors, according to Tech in Asia. Minchalle was developed by Sony through its Seed Acceleration Program, with A10Lab spinning out last month.
H2L, a Japan-based developer of an armband to control virtual reality objects, has obtained $1.8m from entertainment company Sony’s investment arm Sony Innovation Fund and VC firm Energy & Environment Investment, Tech in Asia has reported.
Sita, an air transport communications and IT provider, has backed a $3.5m series A round for LocusLabs, a US-based company that offers indoor mapping to the travel industry, with a particular aim at airports. Acorn Pacific Ventures also contributed to the round.
US-based cybersecurity technology developer Fortscale Security has raised $7m in a funding round co-led by Evolution Equity Partners and Valor Capital Group, with the backing of Intel Capital and CME Ventures, investment vehicles for chip maker Intel and derivatives marketplace operator CME Group respectively. IT services provider UST Global also contributed, as did Blumberg Capital and Swarth. Fortscale has now secured a total of $23m, according the latest press release, most recently obtaining an undisclosed sum from CME Ventures and UST in 2015.
Commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, which launched its corporate venturing arm Scania Growth Capital last month, has made its first investment in Sweden-based Enersize OY, a data acquisition and analysis software provider focused on industrial compressed air systems. The size of Scania Growth Capital’s investment has not been revealed.
301, the corporate venturing division of food producer General Mills, has contributed to a funding round of undisclosed size for US-based low sugar plant-based food manufacturer D’s Naturals, according to FinSMEs. The round was led by 2x Consumer Products Growth Partners. The funding will enable D’s Naturals to further grow its business.
Ant Financial, the financial services affiliate of internet company Alibaba, and IDG Capital, the local VC affiliate of media company International Data Group, have invested in a series A round of undisclosed size for China-based bike-sharing service Youno Bike, according to China Money Network. Shenzhen Capital Group also supplied cash. Youno says it manages more than 800,000 bicycles across 210 cities in China.
Indonesia-based e-sports platform RevivalTV has raised an undisclosed amount from DNC, a $10m fund set up by games developer Zhexin IT, according to Tech in Asia. RevivalTV currently makes money through live events, but will use the cash to build out the quality of its livestreams and web content.
Nightley, a Japan-based geo-analytics technology developer, has secured $1.2m in series A capital from investors including Nissay Capital, the investment arm of insurance provider Nippon Life Insurance, and SMBC Venture Capital, the investment unit of financial services firm Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Legend Partners also supplied cash to the round, which follows a seed round provided in 2011 by software provider NetAge and credit risk management firm Experian Japan.
Advertising agency Langoor has made its first investment in a startup, putting money into India-based e-commerce software provider Kreate Konnect, according to VCCircle. The size was not revealed. The money will go towards product development and recruitment of additional sales staff.
Pickit, a Sweden-based operator of a platform that offers curated free to use content and corporate assets for use in Microsoft Office, has raised money from Microsoft Ventures, the software company’s corporate venturing subsidiary. Microsoft’s commitment means Pickit has closed its $4.6m series A round.
UK-based interactive entertainment technology producer PlayFusion has received series A funding provided by video games developer Nexon, Venturebeat reported on Wednesday. PlayFusion uses augmented reality and internet of things technology to connect physical toys with virtual games. Nexon’s investment is part of a strategic partnership, though details about the collaboration have not yet been revealed.
GV, the early-stage investment vehicle of conglomerate Alphabet, has participated in a $9m series A round for Nimble, a US-based customer relationship management platform for social sales and marketing. The round was led by Imagen Capital Partners and also included Radical Investments, Indicator Ventures and assorted angel investors. The company previously secured $3.5m in a seed round. The series A money will support accelerated product development, strategic partnerships and customer adoption.
Zenrez, a US-based developer of management software for fitness studios, has raised $6m in a series A round led by Artis Ventures with participation from Summit Action Fund, the investment arm of event promoter Summit Series, Precursor Ventures, Nucleus Adventure Capital, C2 Ventures and Transmedia Capital. Zenrez has now secured $10m in funding, most recently collecting $2m from Summit Action Fund, Artis and Precursor in July 2016.
BASF Venture Capital, the corporate venturing arm of chemicals producer BASF, has co-led a $9.55m funding round for US-based renewable chemistry firm P2 Science with a $2.5m commitment. The round is co-led by Xeraya Capital. P2 will use the cash to build and manage its first commercial plant. The company’s specialty chemicals are expected to be used in flavour and fragrance, cosmetics and related markets.
Netherlands-based fintech developer Dimebox has attracted €5m in series A capital from payment processing firm BillPro Group, according to FinSMEs. Dimebox has developed a platform aimed at financial services providers to manage payments, increase automation and lower costs. The white-label tool also includes fraud protection through artificial intelligence capabilities, chargeback automation and the ability to settle bills, among other features. The money will support further platform development.