Transcelestial, a Singapore-headquartered company exploring the possibility of a laser-based high-speed internet system in space, has raised $9.6m in series A funding from investors including Airbus Ventures, the investment arm of aerospace manufacturer Airbus, The Business Times reported today. EDBI and Wavemaker Partners co-led a round that included the Singaporean state-owned Cap Vista, Partech Ventures, Tekton Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Seeds Capital and angel investors Charles Songhurst and Ajay Shah. The company had secured $1.1m from Wavemaker Partners, Seeds Capital, Airtree Ventures, 500 Startups and various individuals in September 2018.
Bluedot, the Australia-based creator of a mobile app that enables users to automatically pay road toll charges, secured $9.1m on Tuesday in a series B round featuring road operator Transurban and IAG Firemark Ventures, the investment arm of insurer Insurance Australia Group. The round was led by venture capital fund Autotech Ventures and included Forefront Ventures and Mighty Capital. It came after a $5.5m series A round led by Transurban in 2018 with participation from Jeff Katz and David Jacques.
Airbus Ventures co-led an €8m ($9m) funding round for E-peas, a Belgium-based developer of ultra-low power semiconductor technology, on Wednesday with technology investment platform Partech. The round also featured KBC Focus Fund, a vehicle for bank-insurer KBC Group, as well as W.IN.G, Noshaq Ventures, LeanSquare, Nivelinvest and Vives. E-peas had already raised $4.2m in a 2017 round led by Partech and backed by Airbus Ventures, Vives, JCDecaux Holding, Semtech and SRIW.
Sun Genomics, the US-based developer of a microbiome testing system, has completed an $8.65m series A round featuring DNA database developer Human Longevity and Danone Manifesto Ventures, the strategic investment arm of nutrition product manufacturer Danone, Crunchbase News reported on Monday. The round was led by VC firm Pangaea Ventures and included SOSV and Nascita Ventures. Sun Genomics had previously secured $3m in January 2019 according to a securities filing.
Belgium-based smart mobility services startup Skipr raised €7m ($8.6m) on Tuesday in a series A round led by financial services firm Belfius and backed by Lab Box, a startup studio of vehicle distributor D’Ieteren. Skipr, which was co-founded by Lab Box, will channel the funding into product development and its entry into new markets.
Emissary, a US-based sales intelligence network backed by internet technology conglomerate Alphabet and media company The New York Times, completed a $6.3m funding round on Monday led by VC firm G20 Ventures. The round included PBJ Capital, Converge and Castor Ventures, and it came after $2m in seed capital from The New York Times, Alphabet subsidiary GV and Nextview Ventures, and a $10m series A round co-led by G20 Ventures and Canaan Partners in 2016.
Temporary staff provider Adecco Group has led a £5m ($6.2m) series A round for UK-based online recruitment platform developer Tempo, EU-Startups reported on Monday. VC firm Hambro Perks led the company’s $1.4m seed round in March 2018 before returning to co-lead a $2.3m round with Michael and Derek Jacobson, participating alongside fellow angel investors Chris Bruce and Michael Whitfield.
Toyota Tsusho, the trading subsidiary of carmaker Toyota, invested an undisclosed amount in Japan-based lithium-ion battery developer APB Corporation on Tuesday. APB had raised $74.4m in March this year from JXTG Innovation Partners, a subsidiary of mining and petroleum group JXTG Holdings, as well as coal chemistry technology developer JFE Chemical, construction firm Obayashi Corporation, textile producer Teijin, industrial technology providers Nagase & Co and Yokogawa Electric, and Keio Innovation Initiative.
Real estate developer Hatten Land has agreed to pay $6m for a 20% stake in Singapore-based digital asset exchange ECXX Global, according to a regulatory filing on Monday. ECXX has not disclosed details of earlier financing but its shareholders include Epsilon Investment, which owns 9.5% of the company, importer-exporter Ariki Asia (8.6%) and IT consultancy ChainUp (5%).
NaHCO3, the investment vehicle for entrepreneur Ashley Merrill, has provided an undisclosed amount of funding for US-based activewear brand Outdoor Voices. The company raised $34m in an early 2018 series C round led by GV, a corporate venturing subsidiary of internet technology group Alphabet, which brought its overall funding to more than $64m. Its earlier backers include General Catalyst, Red Sea Ventures, Collaborative Fund, SWTLF Ventures, Burch Creative Capital, Forerunner Ventures, 14W and Outdoor Voices chairman Millard Drexler.
AgencyKPI, the US-based developer of an analysis software platform for insurance data, completed a $5m series A round on Tuesday that was led by insurance provider EMC Insurance Companies. The round included insurance agency networks Keystone Insurers Group and Combined Agents of America and it comes in the wake of $3m in seed capital from unnamed insurance networks, carriers, agencies and executives disclosed by AgencyKPI when it emerged from stealth in August 2019.
US-based insurance management technology developer Layr received $5m in seed funding from investors including insurance firm Lloyd’s of London on Wednesday. VC firm Sandbox Industries’ Sandbox Insurtech Ventures led the round, which also featured Flyover Capital and Maschmeyer Group Ventures. It came after Lloyd’s invested an undisclosed amount in the startup in May 2019 through its participation in the corporate’s Lloyd’s Lab accelerator.
Pharmaceutical firm Santen invested an undisclosed sum in Singapore-based myopia treatment developer Plano on Tuesday as part of a strategic alliance. Plano received an undisclosed amount of series A funding from Meriton Capital, an investment firm backed by entrepreneur Peter Lim, in June 2019. It will put the Santen funding into improving its big data, artificial intelligence and user engagement expertise in addition to international growth.
ZE Energy, a France-based installer of hybrid solar and energy storage systems, has raised €4m ($4.5m) from investors including Everwatt, an energy efficiency subsidiary of engineering, procurement and construction services provider Evergreen. The round was led by VC and private equity firm Demeter’s D6A fund and also featured Ze Way Invest and High-Tech Gründerfonds.
Chile-based recycled eyewear brand Karün has secured $4m from undisclosed domestic investors, Contxo has reported. Impact investor Blue AB led a $2.8m round for the company in March 2019 that was also backed by law firm Ashurst and family office Luna, following a $300,000 equity crowdfunding campaign on Broota in 2016. Its glasses are made using plastics generated from discarded fishing nets.
Pactum, the US-based creator of a software platform that helps automate the commercial negotiation process, completed a $3m seed round on Monday that was led by VC firm Project A and which included e-signature technology provider DocuSign and undisclosed existing backers. It had previously raised $1.15m in pre-seed funding from angel investors including Jaan Tallinn, Taavet Hinrikus, Ott Kaukver and Sten Tamkivi in September 2019.
US-based consumer intelligence software developer Spiketrap closed a $3m seed round on Wednesday featuring new media holding company WndrCo. The round was led by VC fund Susa Ventures and included 645 Ventures, Pathbreaker Ventures, Oceans Ventures, SV Angel, Anorak Ventures and angel investors including Harry Stebbings. It came after an undisclosed amount secured through a 2018 pre-seed round led by Pathbreaker Ventures.
Veracity Industrial Networks, a US-based provider of industrial software-defined network technology, raised an undisclosed amount of seed capital from automation and control equipment manufacturer Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), industrial computer producer Dynics, construction and automation services provider Interstates and VC fund Option3Ventures (O3V) on Tuesday. Veracity had raised at least $4.5m in total as of 2017, when it secured $1.5m from investors including SEL, semiconductor technology producer Microsemi and Hollencrest Capital Management, and O3V was also described as an existing backer.
GVA Tech, the Japan-based developer of contract-checking software product AI-Con, received approximately ¥300m ($2.8m) in funding on Monday from Salesforce Ventures, the corporate venturing vehicle for enterprise software producer Salesforce, as well as undisclosed angel investors. Financial services firm Seibu Shinkin and the government-owned Development Bank of Japan had provided $1.6m in funding for the company in September 2018 through DBJ Capital and Seibu Shinkin Capital respectively.
Oil and gas supplier Petronas has agreed to invest an undisclosed amount in Braintree Technologies, a Malaysia-based developer of automated agricultural equipment, the New Straits Times has reported. The funding was provided through corporate venturing unit Petronas Ventures and it came after Braintree’s selection for the company’s Petronas FutureTech Accelerator in 2019. The deal is expected to be closed by the end of this month.
Review, the Japan-based creator of business mapping service Macci, secured an undisclosed amount from VC firm Future Venture Capital on Tuesday. Online recruiter CareerIndex had invested an undisclosed amount in Review in April 2019 before digital advertising agency Digital Advertising Consortium, estate agency Open House and human resources firms Precious Time and Career Index added an undisclosed amount of series A funding in August.
US-based customer service software developer Arena has added $2.3m to a seed round featuring digital media technology producer Intango that now totals $3.3m. Redpoint E.ventures led the second tranche, and the round includes Intango subsidiary Intango Ventures – which invested in February this year – as well as Incubate Fund and Plug and Play.
HearstLab, the female-focused investment arm of media group Hearst, made its first UK investment on Monday, providing an undisclosed amount for Akoni, the developer of a cash deposit management system that works with several currencies. Akoni joined accelerator Tech Nation Fintech in September 2018 and its earlier backers include Hambro Perks and Angel Academe.
Japan-based sports wellness apparel provider Tential raised an undisclosed sum on Wednesday from investors including MTG Ventures and Saison Ventures – on behalf of brand development group MTG and payment services firm Credit Saison – as well as mobile game publisher Akatsuki. The corporates were joined by tennis professional Yoshihito Nishioka and the round followed a $1.2m investment by Akatsuki in April 2019.
Japan-based aquaculture technology developer Regional Fish secured ¥199m ($1.9m) on Tuesday in a seed round led by VC firm Beyond Next Ventures that included industrial machinery producer Ebara Corporation and an unnamed additional investor. The startup will use the capital to strengthen its ultra-fast breeding technology, which is based on research from Kyoto University and Kindai University.
Communication services provider TeleMasters has paid an undisclosed amount for a 25% stake in ConexLink, the South Africa-based operator of a carrier-neutral data recovery centre, ITWeb has reported. The corporate said it made the investment in connection with its customer success subsidiary, Catalytic.
Medii, a Japan-based startup seeking to reduce shortages in regional medical staff, revealed on Monday it received an undisclosed amount of funding from corporate services provider Reboost, VC firm Anri and unnamed angel investors in May 2020. Founded in February this year, Medii is developing a staff-sharing service that will help rural medical practices access specialists who are more likely to be based in large cities.
Automotive fastener manufacturer Bulten has paid SEK6m ($640,000) for a 27% stake in TensionCam Systems, a Sweden-based developer of sensors that monitor clamp force in screw joints. The startup said it plans to collaborate with Bulten on integrating its sensor technology into complete screw joints.
Financial services firm SBI led a seed round of undisclosed size for Japan-based genome editing service Setsuro Tech on Wednesday through its SBI Investment unit. The round included Ehime Venture Fund 2013, a joint venture for financial services firm Japan Post Bank, Ehime Bank’s Himegin Lease subsidiary and VC firm Future Venture Capital, in addition to VC firm TechAccel Ventures unnamed angel investors.
Drips, the Japan-based owner of orthodontic product subscription service Hanaravi, secured ¥61m ($570,000) in funding on Tuesday from Nissay Capital, the VC arm of insurance firm Nippon Life. The startup utilises 3D printing to reduce costs, and will use the funding to expand its manufacturing capabilities and strengthen its marketing activities.
Engineering services provider Wong Fong Industries has co-led a seed round of undisclosed size for Singapore-based automated logistics technology developer Botsync, The Business Times reported on Tuesday. The round was co-led with Seeds Capital, AngelHub and Artesian Venture Partners, and the cash will be used to further develop its robotics and automation technology.
Video Matching, the Japan-based creator of a video recruitment platform, closed the first tranche of a seed round featuring internet company CyberAgent and recruitment firm Persol yesterday, increasing its overall funding to ¥60m ($560,000). The corporates participated through subsidiaries CyberAgent Capital and Persol Innovation Fund alongside angel investor Hidetoshi Takano.
Water utility Global Omnium’s corporate venturing subsidiary, GoHub Ventures, has invested €500,000 ($560,000) in Aunoa, the Spain-based creator of an artificial intelligence-equipped customer service platform, El Mercantil Valenciano has reported. The startup launched in October 2019 and finished the year with €110,000 in turnover.
Japan-based women’s fashion magazine publisher Larme raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding on Wednesday from communications technology provider And, investment and consulting firm Intellasset, fashion distributor SMbrand and angel investors Yasuhito Nakae and Toshiaki Nakashima. The funding was disclosed alongside a business partnership with publisher Fujisan Magazine Service.
Additional reporting by Liwen-Edison Fu.
