Solaborate, the US-based developer of an audio collaboration system, completed a $10m series A round on Monday featuring Epos, the consumer audio subsidiary of hearing aid producer Demant Group. The company raised more than $1m from undisclosed angel investors in 2013 before securing about $430,000 in a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for its Hello devices that closed in June 2019.
US-based spatial-analysis software developer Worlds spun off from spatial modelling technology startup Hypergiant Sensory Sciences yesterday with $10m in series A funding from investors including Hypergiant Sensory’s parent company, Hypergiant Industries, as well as Chevron Technology Ventures, oil and gas supplier Chevron’s corporate venturing unit. The round was led by private equity firm Align Capital Partners, which contributed to Hypergiant Sensory’s $5m series A in late 2018, and included venture capital firm Piva.
Oye Rickshaw, the India-based owner of a rickshaw ride hailing service, has raised $10m in a series A round featuring consumer electronics producer Xiaomi, Entrackr has reported. The round was led by VC firm Chiratae Ventures and also featured Matrix Partners – identified as an existing backer according to a person familiar with the matter – and angel investor Pawan Munjal.
Petroleum supplier Indian Oil Corporation has invested an undisclosed amount in Israel-based lithium-ion battery developer Phinergy, the Economic Times reported on Tuesday. Phinergy had previously raised $50m in a 2016 round led by a $10m investment from aluminium producer Alcoa that reportedly valued the company at $280m.
India-based online pharmacy 1mg has received Rs 710m ($9.9m) from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Inc42 has reported, citing a regulatory filing. 1mg was valued at $200m as of a $70m round in July 2019 and has now raised at least $116m altogether, from investors including Intel Capital, a subsidiary of chipmaker Intel, as well as Corisol, Redwood Global-Korea Omega Healthcare Fund, Sequoia Capital, Maverick Ventures, HBM Healthcare Investments, Omidyar Network, International Finance Corporation and Kae Capital.
PayU, the online payment subsidiary of e-commerce and media group Naspers, co-led an $8m seed round for India-based retail digitalisation technology startup Dot yesterday with Fosun RZ Capital, the corporate venturing arm of diversified conglomerate Fosun. The round included Info Edge Ventures, the corporate VC vehicle recently launched by online classified listings operator Info Edge, along with unnamed angel investors.
AWL, a Japan-based developer of smart security cameras, raised ¥810m ($7.4m) in debt and series A equity financing on Monday, the ¥460m in equity coming from internet company CyberAgent; printing services firm Toppan; photo processor Asukanet; Kyodo Tsushin Digital, the online data sourcing subsidiary of news agency Kyodo Tsushin; private investor Yoshikazu Azuma; and Mizuho Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, on behalf of Mizuho Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, both of which joined Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ to supply the debt.
China-based genetic testing service Genskey has secured $7.15m in series B-plus funding from investors including Legend Capital, the venture capital firm formed by conglomerate Legend Holdings, DealStreetAsia reported on Monday, citing a company statement. An affiliate of VC firm Fortune Capital led the round, which followed $14m from SB China Capital, Shanghai Lin Chong Investment Management and Juyuan Capital in November 2019 and an undisclosed amount of series A funding from Legend Capital earlier in the year.
H2O, the Japan-based developer of a hospitality management platform, has received $7m in a series B round featuring Samsung Ventures, a corporate VC subsidiary of consumer electronics provider Samsung, TechCrunch reported on Tuesday. Stonebridge Ventures, IMM Investment and Shinhan Capital also took part in the round. Formerly known as WaHome, H2O had raised a total of $9.3m from investors including Samsung Ventures, 500 Startups, Sparklabs Global Ventures, Mashup Angels, Fast Track Asia and angel investors Gabriel Fong and Bae Yong-Joon as of July 2018.
US-based fleet management technology provider Maven Machines raised $7m on Wednesday in a series A round that included Hearst Ventures, the investment arm of media group Hearst. The round was led by VC firm Allos Ventures and backed by Riverfront Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital and unnamed existing private investors. Maven Machines had previously received approximately $3.8m in debt and equity financing between 2015 and January 2019 according to regulatory filings.
Linkem has invested in Italy-based connected car technology developer 2Hire as part of a €5.6m ($6.2m) round led by VC firm P101, StartupItalia reported on Tuesday. LVenture Group and Invitalia Ventures also contributed to the round, having joined Business Angels in a $1.8m round for 2Hire in 2017. It had received $90,000 from Boost Heroes and MobilityUP the same year.
GTriip, the Singapore-based creator of a smart check-in system for hotels, has received an undisclosed amount of series B funding from Kepventure, a corporate venturing vehicle for conglomerate Keppel Corporation, as well as VC firms Accord Ventures and Global Brain, DealStreetAsia reported on Monday. Global Brain’s share was provided through KDDI Open Innovation Fund, the investment vehicle it manages for telecommunications firm KDDI, according to a press release. It had previously raised $1m in series A financing from telecoms company M1 according to DealStreetAsia.
KDDI Open Innovation Fund has also taken part in a ¥600m ($5.5m) series B round for Hosty, the Japan-based creator of an unmanned hotel management system called Mizuka, alongside VC firm World Innovation Lab. Hosty received an undisclosed amount of seed capital in February 2019 from KDDI Open Innovation Fund, which returned for a $3m series A round that included digital advertising agency Septeni Holdings. It said it has now raised approximately $11.8m altogether.
Retina, a US-based e-commerce analysis platform developer backed by mass media group Comcast, secured $5m on Wednesday in a round it said was anchored by VC firm Crosscut Ventures. The company named Crosscut and Comcast Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of Comcast, as existing backers without confirming how much they invested or when.
VC firm Energize Ventures provided an amount reported by Phocuswire as $5m for workplace communication platform developer Beekeeper, adding on to $45m in series B funding it raised in September 2019 and taking its total funding to $76m. The round already included telecoms firm Swisscom, postal service Swiss Post, employee voucher system provider Edenred and Samsung Next, a subsidiary of consumer electronics manufacturer Samsung.
Genially, a Spain-based interactive content development platform backed by telecoms firm Telefónica’s Wayra unit has completed a €4.4m ($4.8m) funding round featuring JME Ventures, GP Bullhound, Market One Capital, Athos Capital Fund, FJ Labs and individual investors including Félix Ruiz, Cordopolis reported on Tuesday. The company has named Wayra, Caixa Capital Risc and Lánzame Capital as existing investors and will put the capital towards international growth.
Brazil-based apartment rental services provider Yuca has received R$20m ($4.7m) in funding from investors including online lending platform Creditas, Brazil Journal has reported. Monashees led the round, which also featured another VC firm, OneVC.
VC firms LocalGlobe and Creandum co-led a $4.7m funding round yesterday for Laka, a UK-based bicycle insurance provider that counts insurer Tune Protect as an investor. The round also featured Yes VC and angel investors Nick Evans and Oren Peleg, and it came after a $1.5m round led by Tune Protect and backed by 500 Startups in mid-2018. Other investors in Laka, which plans to use the cash to expand across Europe, include Eos Venture Partners.
Oil and gas supplier Shell added an undisclosed amount to the $20m UK-based transport ticketing platform developer Masabi raised from Smedvig Capital, MMC Ventures, and unnamed existing investors in April 2019. Masabi secured $2m from m8 Capital in 2010 and $4m from the same investor the following year, before pulling in $2.8m from m8 Capital, MMC Ventures and Fontinalis Partners in 2013, and $12m from public transport operator Keolis, payment services firm Mastercard, MMC Ventures and Lepe Partners in 2015.
Japan-based real estate-assessment tool developer Sumutasu closed its series A round at ¥500m ($4.6m) on Tuesday with a ¥400m investment by corporate-backed VC firm World Innovation Lab. Sumutasu secured an undisclosed amount in a March 2019 pre-series A round featuring Gunosy Capital and SMBC Venture Capital, subsidiaries of online media company Gunosy and financial services firm Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as well as Staut, an unnamed private investor and 500 Startups Japan, which had supplied $450,000 in seed capital for the company five months earlier.
Israel-based vegan yoghurt brand Yofix increased its series A round to $4.5m on Wednesday, adding $2.5m from Müller Ventures, the strategic investment arm of dairy product manufacturer Müller, as well as cheese producer Bel Group and investment banking fund LionTree Partners. The $2m first tranche was led by dairy product supplier Strauss Health in 2017, and the latest cash influx will fund the expansion of the Yofix product range along with the enhancement of its technology platform.
Plannuh, the US-based creator of a budgeting software platform for marketers, disclosed yesterday that it has received $4m in a seed round co-led by Gradient Ventures, the artificial intelligence investment fund operated by internet technology provider Google, and VC firm Glasswing Ventures. It will channel the funding into expanding its support teams and strengthening research and development.
Agree, the Japan-based owner of telemedicine platform Leber, raised ¥430m ($3.9m) on Wednesday from investors including clinical services provider Miraca, printing services firm Toppan, employment agencies Interwoos and En-Japan, IT services firm Sprout, childcare provider Global Kids Company and an undisclosed corporate. The round also featured financial services firm Daishi Bank and its Daishi Enterprise Incubation Support Fund, Tsukuba Bank’s Tsukuba Region Revitalisation Fund, Delight Ventures, NBC Angel Fund II and private investor Shunichirō Itō.
Japan-based housing renovation services portal Wakuwaku secured ¥410m ($3.7m) in debt and equity financing on Tuesday in a round led by Opt Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of marketing firm Opt. The round included home builder Nac and VC firm ISGS Investment Works, and will fund product development and the hiring of marketing and IT staff.
Carmaker Hyundai Motor has led a seed round of undisclosed size for Israel-based voice-interface technology startup Kardome Technology, Calcalist reported on Monday. A person familiar with the matter told Calcalist the round was likely sized in the seven-figure dollar range and also featured investments from VC firm NextGear Ventures and family office Atooro Fund. The capital will be spent on recruitment.
Info Edge subsidiary Info Edge Ventures has agreed to provide Rs 180m ($2.5m) in equity funding for India-based creative content-sharing platform Qyuki Digital Media together with $1m in cumulative participating debentures, in return for a 5.4% stake, VCCircle reported on Tuesday. Networking technology producer Cisco paid $5.4m for a 17% stake in Qyuki in 2012, and unconfirmed reports in 2015 suggested a US-based VC fund was set to invest $10m in the company.
Japan-based sake producer Clear received ¥250m ($2.3m) on Monday in a round featuring mobile game publisher Akatsuki’s Heart Driven Fund, recipe provider OpenSauce, Asahi Media Lab Ventures, Sumitomo Mitsui Insurance Venture Capital and MTG Ventures: subsidiaries of media company Asahi Shimbun, insurer Sumitomo Mitsui and brand developer MTG. The corporates were joined by KLab Venture Partners, which had already invested in a $660,000 round for Clear in October 2018, and unnamed angel investors.
Alcoholic beverage producer Constellation Brands has invested an undisclosed amount in US-based seltzer brand Press Premium Alcohol Seltzer through its Focus on Female Founders scheme. Constellation formed the initiative in late 2018 and intends to allocate $100m in capital to female-led startups through 2028.
Hprobe, a France-based producer of testing equipment for magnetic devices, raised more than €2m ($2.2m) on Tuesday from investors including TEL Venture Capital, the strategic investment arm of semiconductor production equipment maker Tokyo Electron. The round was led by High-Tech Gründerfonds and also featured BNP Paribas Développement, part of financial services firm BNP Paribas, and ITIC, a subsidiary of Industrial Technology Research Institute.
Dentsu Kotsu, the Japan-based taxi dispatch operator also known as CyberTransporters, received ¥220m ($2m) last month from NTT Docomo Ventures and JR West Innovations, which invested on behalf of mobile network operator NTT Docomo and rail operator JR West, in addition to on-demand taxi provider JapanTaxi, data centre operator BroadBand Tower and unnamed private investors. The same investors provided about $1.6m for the company in 2018.
Payment services firm Aurora Payments has provided an undisclosed amount of funding for Harmony Payment System, the US-based developer of a peer-to-peer payment app for use by consumers and merchants. The strategic deal will support the joint development of a payment system designed for the health and beauty sector.
Japan-based, pet-focused online media platform Syrup has secured ¥200m ($1.8m) from investors including digital media company Ceres and Colopl Next, mobile game developer Colopl’s corporate venturing arm. The round also featured Genesia Ventures along with undisclosed corporate backers and private investors including Takahiro ‘Go’ Miura.
Address, the Japan-based operator of a multi-site co-living scheme, has raised an undisclosed amount from home renovation services provider Renoveru, VC firm IT-Farm, Social Innovation and Investment Foundation and debt financing from Japan Finance Corporation. The startup had previously received an undisclosed sum from angel investors in February 2019, and from JR East Start Up, a corporate venturing subsidiary of rail operator JR East, eight months later.
Google’s Gradient Ventures unit led a $1.6m seed round for US-based sales productivity software startup RevOps on Wednesday that included VC firm Caffeinated Capital. The company’s platform combines automation and pricing tools for salespeople.
UK-based ethical advertising agency Good-Loop closed a $1.6m seed round featuring brand technology provider You and Mr Jones last month that valued it at $6.9m. SIS Ventures and Galvanise Capital were also among the investors, and the cash will be used to scale Good-Loop’s sales team as well as strengthening marketing and product development, and entering the US.
Rehab for Japan, a Japan-based operator of physical rehabilitation software, raised ¥160m ($1.5m) on Monday from Capital Medica Ventures, Monex Ventures and SMBC Venture Capital: vehicles for care provider Capital Medica, currency exchange services provider Monex and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. It has now received roughly $2.6m in total, securing ¥100m from Capital Medica Ventures’ Healthcare New Frontier fund and Incubate Fund’s If Lifetime Ventures unit across a February 2018 seed round and July 2018 series A.
Zeppy, the Japan-based operator of an investment-themed YouTube channel, completed a round of undisclosed size last month featuring broadcaster TV Tokyo Communications and MofMof Investor, the operator of a real estate investment advice channel. TV Tokyo formed a strategic partnership agreement with Zeppy in October 2019 and is producing content in collaboration with the company.
Egypt-based online furniture retail marketplace Homzmart has received $1.3m in seed funding from investors including Equitrust, a corporate venturing vehicle for advertising services firm Choueiri Group, Menabytes reported on Monday. MSA Capital, Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups and undisclosed strategic investors also participated in the round.
Chemicals and consumer goods producer Henkel co-led a round of undisclosed size for Fero Labs, a US-based developer of technology that utilises machine learning for industrial processes, on Tuesday through its HenkelX Ventures unit. The round was co-led by alternative asset manager Deutsche Invest Venture Capital and it comes after $1.6m from Bowery Capital and Sinovation Ventures in 2017.
YouTrust, the Japan-based operator of an online career networking platform, has raised ¥110m ($1m) in a pre-series A round backed by digital media company Gree’s Strive fund. The round included W Ventures, Delight Ventures, TLM and angel investors including Yū Akasaka, Kensuke ‘Kensū’ Furukawa and Kentaro Nishio. The company, which identified VC firm TLM as an existing investor, will use the funds to beef up marketing.
Mellia Corporation, the Japan-based owner of sensitive female care brand I’m La Floria, has received an undisclosed amount of funding from VC firm Now. Although it did not reveal the size of the transaction, Mellia said it had raised a total of ¥110m ($1.1m) from that and the investment made by cosmetics producer Pola Orbis Holdings in June 2019 (but disclosed two months later).
Design and consulting firm Ideo has led a $1.05m agreement-for-future-equity round for PoolTogether, the US-based operator of a blockchain-powered no-loss lottery app, through subsidiary Ideo CoLab, CoinDesk reported on Monday. Blockchain software provider ConsenSys and crypto fund DTC Capital also participated in the round, announced as the startup looks to introduce a daily stablecoin-based prize.
E-book distributor Media Do Holdings has provided an undisclosed amount of funding for Japan-based online publisher Galaxy. The funding will support the addition of a division called Writer farm that will seek to collaborate with and promote authors from local communities.
Natee, a Japan-based talent management organisation specialising in performers on digital media platform TikTok, secured an undisclosed amount on Wednesday from investors including Akatsuki’s Heart Driven Fund, VC firm East Ventures and unnamed private investors. It came after an undisclosed amount of series A funding from Akatsuki that in turn followed seed funding from East Ventures and angel investors including Keito Noguchi, Chikako Morimoto and YouTube personalities George and Jiro.
Smile Robotics, a Japan-based developer of robotics technology for the fast food industry, has received ¥45m ($410,000) in funding from telecoms and internet group SoftBank’s artificial intelligence incubator, Deepcore, and VC firm Anri. Smile’s automated robots are designed to clean up dining halls.
Yrjö Närhinen, CEO of healthcare services provider Terveystalo, invested an undisclosed sum in Nightingale Health, a Finland-based blood test developer for which he will become an adviser. Alcoholic beverage provider Kirin Holdings Company and diversified conglomerate Mitsui had supplied an undisclosed amount for Nightingale in December 2019. It had raised a total of about $8.2m as of 2016, when it received approximately $2.2m in series B funding from TJP Consulting and Cor Group.
Additional reporting by Liwen-Edison Fu.
