China-based autonomous driving technology developer HoloMatic has received an undisclosed amount of funding from Bertelsmann Asia Investments, a corporate venturing subsidiary of media group Bertelsmann, and venture capital group IDG Capital, Technode reported today. The round also featured location data provider NavInfo and smart transportation technology producer Zhixing Technology, according to China Money Network.
Internet company Baidu has led an eight-figure renminbi (RMB10m = $1.5m) angel round for China-based convenience store technology developer YI Tunnel through its Baidu Venture unit, Sohu reported on Monday. The round included investment firm Peak Venures. YI Tunnel is working on technology that will facilitate the creation of local stores that do not need to be staffed by humans, and will spend the capital on improving the technology and putting it into use in brick-and-mortar locations.
US-based real estate information startup Homebot has raised $4.5m in pre-seed and seed funding, $4m of which came from Black Knight Financial Services, a provider of technology and services for the mortgage and real estate industries, Built in Colorado reported on Wednesday. The pre-seed round included media company Axel Springer and investment firm Picus Capital, and HomeBot plans to use the funding to double its nine-strong team and expand its product, which is focused on homeowners, to provide data for renters as well.
Hive-IO, a US-based developer of software-defined infrastructure technology, closed a series B round of undisclosed size on Tuesday that was led by VC firm Rally Ventures and backed by virtualisation software producer Citrix Systems, Osage Venture Partners (OVP) and El Dorado Ventures. The startup, which had not disclosed details of earlier funding, will put the series B capital toward product development and the expansion of its operations, and sales and marketing teams.
Times Bridge, a corporate venturing subsidiary of media company Times Group, has invested an undisclosed amount in US-based home improvement imaging and e-commerce platform Houzz, TechCrunch reported on Tuesday. Houzz had raised $613m from investors including mass media conglomerate Comcast, Wellington Management Company, Sequoia Capital, Zeev Ventures, GGV Capital and Iconiq Capital, as of a $400m round in June this year that valued it at $4bn.
Smart transport system provider Kapsch TrafficCom invested $3m in Traffic Technology Services (TTS), the US-based developer of predictive and georeferencing information systems for connected vehicle applications, on Tuesday. TTS had not previously revealed any funding since it was founded in 2014, but Kapsch said it views the deal as a strategic move towards the connected vehicle sector.
Buc-ee’s, a convenience retail chain “that prides itself on their immaculate restrooms,” led a $3m series A round on Wednesday for Modus Systems, the US-based creator of a smart restroom-traffic management system called Tooshlights. The technology uses an LED light-based system that indicates when toilet stalls are available to be used, and Modus said it will use the funding for product development.
ScribbleChat, the US-based creator of a messaging app that incorporates a user’s handwriting, raised $2.75m on Tuesday from BBG Ventures, the female-focused investment arm of online media platform AOL, as well as Broadway Angels, The Perkins Fund, Halogen Ventures, Golden Seeds Angels and actor Benedict Cumberbatch. The startup, which was launched by digital handwriting technology provider Handwriting.io earlier this year, described the funding as ‘additional’ but did not provide firmer details.
Insurance provider Direct Line has paid £1.3m for a 15% stake in UK-based home rental credentials startup Canopy as part of a £1.6m ($2.1m) funding round, UKTN has reported. Founded in 2016, Canopy provides what it calls a RentPassport, which works in lieu of a sizeable security deposit for tenants, giving proof of their credit history and ability to pay rent on time.
Vlipsy, the US-based creator of an online tool that makes it easier for users to insert short video clips into messages, secured $1.3m on Wednesday in a seed round featuring communications and automotive services group Cox Enterprises, as well as JumpStart, North Coast Angel Fund and Impact Angel Fund. A graduate of Techstars Atlanta, Vlipsy has also formed distribution partnerships with online communication platform Skype and messaging service Viber
Aerospace parts manufacturer Aequs Group has led a round of undisclosed size for India-based vehicle maintenance services startup LetsService, Inc42 reported on Monday. The capital, which follows an undisclosed amount of funding from angel investors Ajay Prabhu and Deepak Vinchhi, will be used by LetsService to grow its team, strengthen its technology and expand into new cities.
Online auction and price comparison service Aucfan has invested an undisclosed amount in Hipflat, the Thailand-based operator of an online property marketplace, Tech in Asia reported yesterday. The round took Hipflat’s total funding to $1.3m, it told TIA, $340,000 of which came from Crystal Horse Investments, 8capita and various angel investors in 2013. Hipflat’s other backers include marketing firm Opt, Reapra, 500 Durians and Xplorer Capital.
Academic publisher Orient BlackSwan has led a Rs 22m ($340,000) round for One Step Up Education Services, the India-based provider of a career counselling service for students, VCCircle reported on Monday. The round comes after Orient BlackSwan invested $460,000 in One Step Up in February 2016, and the company will put the latest funding into hiring, marketing, technology development and content expansion.
Software engineering firm Daffodil Software has invested an undisclosed amount in Dagrowave Agscience, the India-based operator of fresh produce supplier Agrowave, VCCircle reported on Monday. The startup, which was founded in April 2017, uses analytics technology to optimise the supply of farm-sourced fruit and vegetables to food providers, and will use the funding to grow its business and further develop its technology capabilities.