A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – DATA AS A SERVICE

• Synthio, the provider of B2B contact database solutions, secures $10.5M in Series B. Link
• HAT Data Exchange, a personal data store and multi-sided marketplace for attribute exchange, secures funding from Amadeus Capital Partners. Link
• Satellogic, a satellite based real time earth imagery provider, raises $27 million in a Series B. Link
• Centogene, the biochemical and genetic tests provider for mutations and rare diseases, raises €25M in Series A. Link
• Accern, an intelligence detection platform for institutional investors, raises $1.25M in Seed funding. Link
• Reveal Mobile, an insight provider on the mobile audience, raises $0.6M in private offering. Link
• Kompany, a provider of official international business register information, raises an undisclosed amount of funding. Link
• Orbital Insight, provider of global trends through image processing and deep learning, raises $50M in Series C. Link
• Traverse Data, a provider of deterministic match data, raises $1M in funding. Link
• Oddup, the platform with a data-driven approach to assess the investability of startups, raises $6M in Series A.Link
• Equifax, the consumer credit reporting agency, acquires ID Watchdog, theft protection company for $63.3M. Link
• Stagwell Media, acquires mobile research assets from Nielsen. Link
• LexisNexis, an enterprise legal management solution provider, Ravel Law for an undisclosed amount. Link
• Placed, the location analytics and targeting platform was acquired for $200M by Snap.Link
• Callcredit, the provider of consumer credit data solutions software and analytics, Confirma Group of companies comprising Confirma Sistemas and Soluciones Confirma for an undisclosed amount. Link
• CoreLogic, a provider of real-estate sales software, to acquire Mercury Network. Link
• Bregal Sagemount acquires Lux Research, a research and advisory firm on emerging technologies. Link
• Bureau van Dijk, a provider of company information & business intelligence, was acquired by Moody’s Corporation for €3B. Link
• Thermo Fisher Scientific, the provider of suite of products (reagents, kits) and instruments for life science, acquires Patheon for $7.2B. Link
• Seaham’s BE Group acquires AI business Synoptica. Link

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SOCIAL PLATFORMS

• Pinterest, the social bookmarking platform, raises $150M at a $12.3B valuation from its existing investors. Link
• Dajie, the professional networking platform, raises $14.5M in series D round led by Northern Light Venture Capital and Winshare PE. Link
• Shapr, an interest based professional networking platform, raises $9.5M in series B round from Franck Riboud and the Bouygues and Afflelou families. Link
• Audioburst, an audio content platform, raises $7M in series A round led by Advanced Media. Link
• MyHealthTeams, a networking platform for patients with chronic ailments, raises $7M in series C round led by Qiming U.S. Healthcare fund. Link
• Jodel, a social platform for students, raises $7M in series A round led by Adam D’Angelo and the Floodgate fund. Link
• Hosco, a professional networking platform for the hospitality industry, raises $4M in series A round. Link
• MeWe, a social networking platform, raises $3M in series A round. Link
• Xitu, a community platform for developers, raises $3M in series A round led by Prima venture capital, Shangdian capital and Ming potential discover fund. Link
• ClipApp, a social video sharing platform, raises $1M in seed funding from India Quotient and Shunwei Capital. Link
• VoxWeb, an Indian social networking platform, raises $1M seed round. Link
• Mugo, a social music app, raises $1M seed round. Link
• Zenly, a social mapping app was acquired by Snapchat, the photo messaging platform. Link
• Pulse, a social platform for students, was acquired by Hike, the mobile messaging platform. Link
• InterNations, an online network for expats was acquired by Xing, the European equivalent of Linkedin. Link
• Twitch, the social gaming platform, rolls out its premium membership in 200+ countries. Link
• Instagram, the photo sharing platform, launches a new feature enabling replies to Instagram stories by photos and videos. Link
• Facebook, the social networking platform, launches Ads for messengers globally. Link
• Wattpad, the storytelling platform, launches innovation lab to develop breakthroughs in storytelling. Link
• Meitu, the photo editing and facial recognition platform, launches AR feature on its MakeupPlus app. Link
• Twitter, the microblogging platform, partners with BBC for live video streaming service. Link
• Nextdoor, the social network for neighborhoods, launches real estate listing service on the platform. Link

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – INVESTMENT TECH

• Futu5, a Hong Kong-based online trading services platform for investments in securities, raises $146M in Series C round from Tencent, Sequoia Capital, and Matrix Partners China. Link
• Addepar, a portfolio tracker for investors and advisors, raises $140M in Series D round from Valor Equity Partners, 8VC, and QuantRes. Link
• Cadre, a real estate investment platform, raises $65M in Series C round from Andreessen Horowitz, Ford Foundation, General Catalyst Partners, Goldman Sachs, Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Jim Breyer. Link
• Broadway Technology, a provider of high-performance financial trading solutions, raises $42M in PE round led by Long Ridge Equity Partners. Link
• Additiv, a Zurich-based digital solution provider for FIs and banks, raises $21.3M in Series B round from BZ Bank, and Patinex. Link
• Euronext, a European stock exchange, acquires 90% stake in FastMatch, an electronic communication network for foreign exchange trading providers, for $153M. Link
• SEI, a wealth management solutions for institutional investors, acquires Archway, a provider of portfolio management solution, for an undisclosed amount. Link
• Addepar, a portfolio tracker for investors and advisors, acquires AltX, a data analytics and monitoring platform for hedge fund investments, for an undisclosed amount. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Yedup (Seed, Belfast, 2016) – Yedup offers a social media analytics based platform which analyses social media posts, extracting investor and consumer views about financial services, companies, and industries.
AlgoHybrid (null, Singapore, 2017) – AlgoHybrid is a technology provider as well as an advanced hedge fund that develops neural technologies to recognize patterns in trading conditions, recognize which trading strategies are most profitable in these conditions and self-learn from past experience.

LEADER BOARD – INVESTMENT TECH

Securities Trading – Trading Platforms
Futu5 (2010, HongKong, $215.5M) – Online stock trading platform. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, and Tencent.
Robinhood (2012, Palo Alto, $176M) – Zero commission stock trading app. Backed by  Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Index Ventures, Thrive Capital, GV, DST Global, Rothenberg Ventures, Ribbit Capital, Greenoaks, Machine Shop, Susa Ventures, Slow Ventures, Draper Associates, QueensBridge Venture Partners, Social Leverage, LocalGlobe, IT Ventures, NeoTribe Ventures.
Oanda (1995, SF, $117M) – Internet-based forex trading and currency information services. Backed by Index Ventures, Next Generation Finance Invest, Cascade Investment Group, Legg Mason Group, New Enterprise Associates, Armada Investment and T. Rowe Price Associates.

Securities Trading – Thematic Investing
Motif Investing (2010, San Mateo, $126M) – Online flat-fee brokerage offering theme-based investing. Backed by Renren, JPMorgan Chase, Foundation Capital, Norwest Venture Partners, Goldman Sachs, Ignition Partners and Balderton Capital.
Spaceship (2016, Sydney, $19.5M) – Tech-based Super Fund. Backed by Sequoia Capital, NEA, Horizons Ventures and Peter Thiel

Securities Trading – Social Trading
eToro (2007, Tel Aviv, $73M) – Social trading and investment marketplace. Backed by Spark Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, Social Leverage, SBT Venture Capital, Venture 51, BRM Capital, Anthemis Group, iAngels, Social Leverage, Ping An Ventures, and Commerz Ventures.
Ayondo (2008, London, $19.8M) – Social trading platform. Backed by Next Generation Finance Invest, German Startups Group, SevenVentures, Luminor Capital.

Mid and Back Office Solutions – Practice Management
InvestCloud (2010, Beverly Hills, $78.7M) – Cloud-based investment management solutions provider. Backed by Altos Ventures, Kern Whelan Capital, FTV Capital, Polaris Capital.
Advisor Engine (2014, New York, $29.3M) – Wealth management platform for financial advisors. Backed by WisdomTree.

Mid and Back Office Solutions – Portfolio Management
Addepar (2009, Mountain View, $205.8M) – Portfolio tracker for investors and advisors. Backed by Thrive Capital, ff Venture Capital, Western Technology Investment, Blumberg Capital, Formation 8, SGVC, Signature Capital, Accelerate IT Advisors, Burch Creative Capital, Exit13, Valor Equity Partners, Pejman Mar Ventures, Accelerate-IT Ventures, Zarco Investment Group, Streamlined Ventures, ASBC, Cota Capital, 8VC, Sway Ventures, and Peter Thiel.
PerTrac (1996, New York, $63M) – Portfolio Analytics and reporting software. Backed by Insight Venture Partners. Acquired by eVestment in Nov 2012.

Mid and Back Office Solutions – Trade Management
Celoxica (1996, London, $67.8M) – Trading and market data analytics solutions provider. Backed by Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Intel Capital, Advent Venture Partners, Beringea, Invesco, Herald Investment Management, Albion Ventures, Oxford Capital, Xilinx, Legal & General, Quest Capital, HU Investments, Cazenove, Spark Venture Management.
Vela Trading Technologies (2007, NYC, $53M) – High-frequency trading technology and market data provider. Backed by Insight Venture Partners.

Mid and Back Office Solutions – Risk and Compliance
MetricStream (1999, Palo Alto, $150M) – Business governance and compliance software provider. Backed by Goldman Sachs, KPCB, Integral Capital Partners, Gold Hill Capital, Sageview Capital, Saints Capital, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Blade Ventures, Montage Capital and The Camelot Group.
OpenGamma (2009, London, $40.3M) – SaaS-based solutions for derivatives risk analytics. Backed by Accel Partners, FirstMark Capital, Euclid Opportunities, ICAP, Japan Exchange Group, Illuminate Financial.

Private Market Investing – Investment Platforms
Cadre (2014, NYC, $133.3M) – Real estate investment platform. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund, General Catalyst Partners, Khosla Ventures, Ford Foundation, S L Realty, Goldman Sachs and Thrive Capital.
OurCrowd (2012, Jerusalem, $112.5M) – Equity crowdfunding platform for Israeli startups. Backed by United Overseas Bank.
Fantex (2012, SF, $110M) – Platform to buy and sell investments tied to the cash flows of professional athletes. Backed by Benchmark Capital and Kita Capital.

Financial Data & Research – Securities & Trading Data
Bloomberg (1981, NYC) – Privately held financial software, data and media company. Offers a terminal to its clients to perform various analytical queries.
FactSet (1978, Norwalk, Public) – Financial information and analytical applications provider to global buy-side and sell-side professionals. Aggregates content from various third-party content providers. Went public in 2014.
Thomson Reuters (1851, NYC, Public) – A multinational media, information (financial, legal etc.) and analytical solutions provider. Went Public in 2008.

Financial Data & Research – Research Platforms
Dataminr (2009, NYC, $175.4M) – Financial research platform, employing AI to analyze social media. Backed by Fidelity Investments, WorldQuant, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Institutional Venture Partners, Venrock, GSV Capital, Glynn Capital, Expansion Venture Capital, Deep Fork Capital, Adorable Foxie, Conversion Capital, Wellington Management, Wharton Equity, BoxGroup.
Kensho (2010, Cambridge, $108M) – An AI-based news analysis and market research platform which combines cloud computing with graphical user interfaces and natural language querying capabilities. Backed by Accel Partners, NEA, Goldman Sachs, General Catalyst Partners, Google Ventures, Promus Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Breyer Capital, Work-Bench, Xfund, Social Leverage, F-Prime Capital Partners.

Financial Data & Research – Private Companies Data
CrunchBase (2007, San Francisco, $20M) – Startups database service. Backed by Salesforce, SV Angel, Mayfield, Emergence Capital, Felicis Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, Austin Ventures, 8VC 
Pitchbook (2008, Seattle, $14M) – M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions database. Acquired by Morningstar for $225M in Dec, 2016.
CB Insights (2009, NYC, $10M) – Data-as-a-service firm offering market intelligence on private companies. Backed by National Science Foundation, Rosemont Seneca Partners, FinTech Innovation Lab.
Tracxn (2013, Bangalore, $3.7M) – Market intelligence platform for Private Market Investing. Backed by Accel Partners, SAIF Partners, Beenext, Venture Highway and various Angel Investors.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally 

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ENTERPRISE SECURITY

• AI-based endpoint security provider, Cybereason raised $100M in the Series D round led by Softbank. Link
• Cloud-based security & log analytics company, SumoLogic raised $75M in the Series F round led by Sapphire Ventures. Link
• Machine-learning based insider threat detection company, Darktrace raised $75M in the Series D round led by Insight Venture Partners. Link
• Managed cloud security provider, Alert Logic received a syndicated credit facility of $70M from the Square 1 Bank. Link
• Digital risk monitoring company, ZeroFOX raised $40M in the Series C round co-led by Redline Capital and Silver Lake Waterman. Link
• Cloud security company, HyTrust raised $36M in the Series F round led by Advance Venture Partners. Link
• Machine learning-based e-commerce fraud prevention provider, Riskified raised $33M in the Series C round led by Pitango Growth. Link
• SparkCognition, a predictive cyber security & operational anomaly analytics company received $32.5M in the Series B round led by Verizon Ventures. Link
• Deep learning-based endpoint & mobile device security company, DeepInstinct raised $32M in the Series B round led by CNTP. Link
• Security analytics company, Awake Networks came out of stealth mode announcing its total funding of $31.2M from Greylock and Bain Capital Ventures. Link
• Cloud-based IAM solution provider, Auth0 raised $30M in the Series C round led by Meritech Capital Partners. Link
• Traffic analytics & sandboxing based network security provider, Lastline raised $28.5M in the Series C round led by Thomvest Ventures. Link
• FlashPoint, a dark net monitoring based threat intelligence provider raised $28M in the Series C round led by Georgian Partners. Link
• Cybersecurity technology & patent licensing & advisory company, Finjan raised $15.3M in a Series A-1 preferred stock financing led by Soryn HLDR. Link
• Container security startup, Stackrox raised $14M in the Series A round led by Sequoia Capital. Link
• Cyber incident response platform provider, Jask emerged from stealth mode along with Series A funding of $12M round led by Dell Technologies Capital. Link
• Email security provider, Votiro received a funding of $11.2M in the Series B round from Divergent Group and Redfield Asset Management. Link
• Corelight, a network intrusion prevention company raised $9.2M in the Series A round led by Accel Partners. Link
• Online digital authentication provider, Nok Nok Labs raised $8M in the Series D round led by Motorola Solutions Venture Capital. Link
• Anti-phishing intelligence provider, GreatHorn, raised $6.3M in the Series A round co-led by Techstars Venture Capital Fund and .406 Ventures. Link
• Mobile carrier anti-fraud company, Blockfraud raised $5M in the Series A funding round led by Palisades Venture Capital. Link
• RiskLens, a cyber risk & vulnerability assessment company raised $5M in the Series A round led by Osage Venture Partners. Link
• AimBrain, a behavioral biometrics based IAM provider raised $5.1M in the Series A round led by BGF Ventures. Link
• Secura Group acquired 20% stake by investing $4.5M in Custodio Technologies which is the IAI’s R&D center in Singapore. Link
• CloudPost Networks, an IoT security & risk management company raised $4M in the Series A round led by Wing VC. Link
• Security orchestration & analytics platform, Cyber Observer raised $3M in the Series A round led by Talis Capital. Link
• Quantum encryption based data security provider, QuintessenceLabs received a grant of $2.4M from the Australian Department of Defence. Link
• Elevate Security, a phishing awareness platform raised $2M in the Seed round co-led by Costanoa Ventures and Webb Investment Network. Link
• Upstream Security, a provider of cybersecurity platform for the connected car raised $2M in the Seed round led by Glilot Capital Partners. Link
• KiwSec, a mobile app management company raised $1.5M in the Seed funding round led by CBC Capital. Link
• Datiphy, a database security company received $1.5M in the debt financing from an undisclosed entity. Link
• Multi-factor authentication based IAM provider, SecureAuth received  $1M in financing from an undisclosed investor. Link
• Beauceron Security, an anti-phishing solution raised $500k in the Seed round co- led by East Valley Ventures and Mariner Partners. Link
• Website security platform, Chaitin raised an undisclosed funding in the Series A round led by Qiming Venture Capital. Link
• Mobile anti-malware solution provider, Inpedio raised an undisclosed funding from Israel Aerospace Industries. Link
• Sonatype acquired Vor Security for the open-source security vulnerability scanner against its indexed database in an undisclosed deal. Link
• Vision Solutions acquired Enforcive Systems, an IT security & compliance provider for IBM mainframe & iSeries platforms in an undisclosed deal. Link
• Symantec announced a definitive agreement to acquire the threat isolation based endpoint security provider Fireglass in an undisclosed deal. Link
• Symantec announced a definitive agreement to Skycure, a predictive & cloud-based mobile defense solution company in an undisclosed deal. Link
• Cisco announced its intent to acquire network monitoring & forensics company, Observable Net under undisclosed terms of the deal. Link
• Mastercard announced its intent to acquire Brighterion, a machine learning-based cross-channel fraud prevention, and data breach detection company. Link
• Cloud data security, visibility & classification provider, DataGravity acquired by the cloud infrastructure security company, HyTrust. Link
• Rapid7 acquired Komand, a security automation & orchestration provider in an undisclosed deal. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Topo AI (2017, Fort Myers) – Stealth mode AI-based spatial intelligence platform for cyber security.
IoTSploit (2017, Singapore) – Cloud-based vulnerability assessment platform for IoT applications.
BlockFraud (2017, Santa Monica) – Machine learning based anti-carrier billing fraud solution.

LEADER BOARD – ENTERPRISE SECURITY

Suite
Symantec (1982, Mountain View, IPO) – Enterprise security solution suite for enterprise & personal users. Went IPO in 1989.
Kaspersky (1997, Moscow, $200M) – Security solution suite for businesses and consumers, Backed by General Atlantic.
FireEye (2004, Milpitas, IPO) – Enterprise security solution for network, endpoint, mobile devices, email, and threat intelligence. Went IPO in 2013.

Network Security
Palo Alto Networks (2005, Santa Clara, IPO) – Advanced firewalls designed to provide network security, visibility and granular control of network activity. Went IPO in 2012.
Barracuda Networks (2002, Campbell, IPO) – Appliance based network threat detection solutions. Went IPO in 2013.
Zscaler (2008, San Jose, $148M) – Network traffic analysis for application profiling and cloud security. Backed by LSVP, Google Capital, TPG, EMC.

BYOD Security
Blackberry (1984, Waterloo, IPO) – Enterprise Mobility Management suite company. Went IPO in 1999.
Good Technology (1996, Sunnyvale, $522M, Acq.) – Enterprise mobility & security solution. Acquired by Blackberry in 2015.
Lookout (2007, SF, $284M) – Mobile security against zero-day threats. Backed by Accel, A16Z, Greylock.
Airwatch (2003, Atlanta, $225M, Acq.) – Enterprise mobility management & security for BYOD. Acquired by Vmware in 2014.

Endpoint Security
Tanium (2007, Berkeley, $401.5M) – Helps manage and secure enterprise endpoints. Backed by A16Z, TPG, IVP, Franklin Templeton.
Crowdstrike (2011, Irvine, $256M) – Cloud and machine-learning based endpoint security platform. Backed by Accel Partners, Rackspace, Telstra, CaiptalG.
AVG (1991, Amsterdam, Acq.) – Anti-virus solution on endpoint devices for online security. Acquired by Avast in 2016.

Cloud Security
Illumio (2013, Sunnyvale, $267M) – Visibility and control over workloads running in any data center. Backed by Accel, A16Z.
Netskope (2012, Los Altos, $231M) – Cloud access security broker solution for the enterprise. Backed by LSVP, Accel, Social+Capital Partnership, Iconic Capital.
Armor Defense (2009, Richardson, $149M) – Cloud infrastructure security & secure cloud hosting service. Backed by The Stephens Group, Performance Edge Partners, Arizona Tech Investors.

Application Security
Veracode (2006, Burlington, $114.5M, Acq.) – Automated static, dynamic and mobile application security testing service. Acquired by CA Technologies in 2017.
Checkmarx (2006, NYC, $98.5M) – Static code analysis tools to identify security vulnerabilities in uncompiled code. Backed by Insight Partners, Salesforce.
HackerOne (2012, SF, $74M) – Vulnerability Disclosure & internet security bug bounty programs. Backed by NEA, Benchmark Capital, Dragoneer Investment Group.

Identity & Access Management
Okta (2008, SF, IPO) – Secure identity management and single sign on. Went IPO in 2017.
Ping Identity (2002, Denver, $137M, Acq.) – Identity management solution for federated access to applications. Backed by DFJ, KKR. Acquired by Vista Equity Partners in 2016.
Centrify (2004, Sunnyvale, $94M) – Unified identity management solutions for both privileged and end-users. Backed by Samsung Ventures, Docomo Capital, Accel, Mayfield.

Security Analytics
Tenable Networks (2002, Columbia, $310M) – Continuous network monitoring & vulnerability management solution. Backed by Accel & Insight Partners.
Sumo Logic (2010, Redwood City, $235.5M) – Cloud-based network log management and analytics. Backed by DFJ Growth, IVP, Sequoia, Accel, Greylock.
Darktrace (2013, Cambridge, $180.5M) – Machine learning based adaptive threat detection. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Summit Partners, SoftBank, KKR, Hoxton Ventures.

Threat Intelligence
ZeroFox (2013, Baltimore, $88M) – External threat management and intelligence platform. Backed by Backed by NEA, Highland Capital Partners, Silicon Valley Bank, Silver Lake, Redline Capital.
LookingGlass Cyber (2006, Arlington, $77M) – Threat intelligence-based security & dynamic threat defense. Backed by New Spring Capital, Alsop Louie Partners, Vital Financial.
Prevalent (2004, Warren, $72M) – Partner cyber-risk management solution. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Spring Mountain Capital, Fulcrum Equity Partners.

Data Security
SafeNet (1983, Belcamp, $139M, Acq.) – Encryption & Key Management based data security. Acquired by Gemalto in 2014.
Digital Guardian (2003, Waltham, $125M) – Endpoint data loss prevention solution. Backed by Fairhaven Capital, Mass Mutual, Siemens Finance.
Ionic Security (2011, Atlanta, $122M) – Centralized policy, encryption and control based data security. Backed by KPCB, Google Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Tech Operators, JAFCO, FF VC, Meritech Capital Partners.

Website Security
CloudFlare (2009, SF, $182M) – Security and performance solutions for websites using a collective intelligence of its network community. Backed by USV, NEA, Qualcomm Venture, MS Ventures, GV.
StackPath (2015, Dallas, $180M) – Cloud-based WAF, secure CDN & VPN service. Backed by ABRY Partners.
Shape Security (2011, Mountain View, $131M) – Website security by making subtle transmutation of underlying HTML page code of web pages, deceiving attackers. Backed by KPCB, GV, NVP.

Email Security
MimeCast (2003, London, IPO) – Saas based email security by re-routing and analyzing emails. Went IPO in 2015.
Proofpoint (2002, Sunnyvale, IPO) – Email security based on secure email gateways. Went IPO in 2012.

Anti-Fraud
Lifelock (2005, Tempe, $178M, Acq.) – Identity theft protection & payment fraud prevention. Acquired by Symantec in 2017.
Pindrop Security (2011, Atlanta, $122M) – Machine learning and multi-factor analysis based phone fraud detection and prevention. Backed by Google Capital, A16Z, IVP, Felicis.
Signifyd (2011, Palo Alto, $106M) – Cloud-based digital fraud & chargeback prevention solution. Backed by a16z, American Express, IA Ventures, Menlo Ventures.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest update, visit Enterprise Security feed

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally 

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – AgriTech

• Plenty, a company producing leafy vegetables and fruits using indoor soil-less farms, raised $200M in series B round of funding led by Softbank Vision Fund with a participation from affiliates of Louis M. Bacon, the founder of Moore Capital Management and existing investors including Innovation Endeavors, Bezos Expeditions, DCM, Data Collective and Finistere Ventures. Link
• Swift Navigation, a provider of real time kinematics GPS receivers, raised $34M in series B round of funding led by Forest Baskett and Greg Papadopoulus of NEA, with a participation from First Round Capital and Eclipse VC. Link
• DFS168 (Shenzhen City Grain Network Technology Co. Ltd.), a marketplace for farming supplies raised $29M in series B round of funding from Orchid Asia Group, China Growth Capital and Matrix Partners China. Link
• NewLeaf Symbiotics, a developer of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) for faster plant growth raised $24M in series C round of funding led by Monsanto Growth Ventures and Otter Capital with a participation from Lewis & Clark Ventures, Rockport Capital, Pangaea Ventures, Open Prairie Ventures, and other investors. Link
• Conservis, a software developer for solo and multi owner operated farms, raised $9.5M of the planned $12M debt financing. Link
• Agricool, a developer of containerized vertical growing system for urban farming raised $9.1M in series B round of funding from Jacques-Antoine Granjon, Thibault Elziere as well as existing investors Henri Seydoux and Daphni. Link
• Jumbotail, a B2B marketplace for fresh produce raised $8.5M in series A round of funding from Kalaari and Nexus Venture Partners. Link
• BHSL, a poultry litter waste management machine manufacturer raised $7.9M in series B round of funding. Link
• Phytelligence, an agri biotech company for low cost culture technology and sequencing services raised $7M in series B round of funding from Washington Research Foundation and Cowles Company. Link
• Bowery Farming, developer of autonomous aeroponic cultivation systems raised $6.3M in series B round of funding led by First Round Capital with a participation from BoxGroup, Lerer Hippeau Ventures and Tom Colicchio. Link
• Pine Biotech, a tech platform for biotech companies to integrate the omics data types and data analysis to provide insights raised $1M in seed round of funding. Link
• Growers, a provider of farm data collection and analysis services raised $1M in seed round of funding. Link
• Hargol FoodTech, a commercial farmer of edible insects raised $600k in seed round of funding from Sirius Venture Capital. Link
• Stellapps, a farm optimization and monitoring support solution provider raised undisclosed amount in series A round of funding from Blume Ventures, Venture Highway and Binny Bansal, co-founder of Flipkart. Link
• ArborGen, a breeding technology provider for forest crops was acquired by New Zealand based Rubicon for $29M. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Pheronym (2017, SF): Develops nematode pheromones for increasing their effectiveness against crop-attacking insects.
Boost Biomes (2017, Emeryville): Develops naturally occurring multi-microbe products for crop protection.

LEADER BOARD – AgriTech

Precision Ag
Farm Data and Analytics – Integrated Platforms
The Climate Corporation (2006, SF, $109M, Acq.) – Hardware and software solutions provider for hyper-local weather and farm data with predictive analysis for insurance products. Sold off its insurance business to AmTrust North America in July 2015. Acquired by Monsanto in 2013.
Farmers Edge (2005, Winnipeg, $44M) – Hardware and software solution provider for continuous monitoring of farm fields and predictive analysis for management decision support.

Farm Data and Analytics – Software Platforms
Farmers Business Network (2014, Davenport, $88M) – Precision agriculture solutions through big data analysis of data gathered from farmers and agriculture machinery. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, DBL Partners, and GV.

Field Operations
AutoAgronom (1988, Yokneam Illit, $180M) – Sensor based measurement of physical and chemical changes in root zone supplemented with computerized analysis and fuzzy control algorithms to automatically activate irrigation and fertilization.
Novariant (1994, Fremont, $60.5M) – Sensor based auto steering hardware solutions for GPS-based navigation through tablets. Backed by Sierra Ventures, Ridgewood Capital, Clearstone.
Blue River Tech (2011, Sunnyvale, $30M) – Develops automated technology solutions which use computer vision for identification and selective killing of unwanted weed. Backed by Khosla Ventures, DCVC, Innovation Endeavors, Pontifax Agtech.
Harvest Automation (2007, Billerica, $28M) – Developer of robotic machinery for farming operations. Backed by Founder Collective, Entree Capital, Cultivian, MassVentures.
Feedlogic (2002, Wilmar, $2M) – Automated feeding machines along with data recording platform for livestock farmers in the USA. Backed by unknown private investors.

BioTech
Farm Inputs – Seeds
Monsanto (1901, St. Louis, IPO) – Developer of genetically modified (GM) seedlings to mitigate risks associated with biotic and abiotic stresses in crops. Went public in 2000. Acquired by Bayer in 2016.
Syngenta (2000, Basel) – Developer of genetically modified crops and biological agrochemicals apart from engaging in genomic research.
DuPont Pioneer (1926, Des Moines) – Developer of hybrid (non-GM) and GM seeds to mitigate risks against insects, pests and other diseases.

Farm Inputs – Biologicals
Indigo (2013, Cambridge, $163.5M) – Earlier known as Symbiota, it is building technology for delivery of selective plant microbes through seed coatings.
AgBiome (2012, Raleigh, $52M) – Developer of biological agrochemicals for crop protection against soil-borne diseases. Backed by Gates Foundation, Monsanto Growth Ventures, Syngenta Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, UTIMCO, Polaris Partners, Pontifax Agtech, Harris+Harris Group.
Agrivida (2002, Medford, $61M) – Specially engineered enzymes for the nutrition of livestock animals. Backed by KPCB, Middleland Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, Cultivian, DAG Ventures, Bright Capital, Northgate, Prairie Gold.
Zymergen (2013, Emeryville, $174M) – Combination of synthetic biology and machine learning to engineer industry relevant microbes to manufacture chemicals and new materials. Backed by Softbank, Data Collective Venture Capital, True Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Iconiq Capital, DFJ, Innovation Endeavours, Two Sigma Ventures, Prelude Ventures, Tao Capital.

Infrastructure
Advanced Animal Diagnostics (2001, Morrisville, $36M) – Diagnostic infrastructure provider for real-time animal health monitoring through white blood cell levels in animals. Backed by Middleland Capital, Cultivian, Kansas Bioscience Authority, LabCorp, Intersouth Partners, Novartis Venture Fund.

Tech Platforms
Kaiima (2006, Lower Galilee, $91M) – Tech platform to enhance inherent productivity and resource usage efficiency in food and feed crops. Backed by KPCB, DFJ, Horizons Ventures, Tamir Fishman.

Waste Management
Cool Planet (2009, Camarillo, $143M) – Utilizes patented process to convert non-food biomass to gasoline and organic soil nutrients. Backed by Northbridge, UBS, Google Ventures, Energy Technology Ventures, Concord Energy, Sustainable Conversion Ventures, British Petroleum.
Wiserg (2010, Issaquah, $37M) – Devices to convert grocery waste into a nutrient rich liquid which can be used as fertilizer for agriculture.

Cellular Ag
Impossible Foods (2011, Redwood City, $183M) – Beef-substitute made from a protein called Heme extracted from plants. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Google Ventures, UBS, Horizon Ventures, Viking Global.

Breeding Tech
Prairie Plant (1988, Saskatoon,$6.4M) – Plant breeding research to produce berry and other fruit plants for orchards. Backed by WestCap.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Oxitec (2002, Abingdon, $20M) – Develops genetically modified pests which act as anti-pests to suppress the population of disease-causing pests in crops. Backed by Oxford Capital, East Hill.

Farm Business Management
Field Crops – Field Management
Granular (2014, SF, $23M) – Farm management software for collection and analysis of data related to farm business processes and planning of resources. Backed by A16Z, Google Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Tao Capital, Fall Line Capital, Emory Investment Management.

Agribusiness
Cultivation – Algae
Sapphire Energy (2007, San Diego, $290M) – Cultivation of algae and using it as a biomass source for production of crude oil. Backed by Monsanto Growth Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners.

Infrastructure
Irrigation
Netafim (1965, Tel Aviv) – Manufactures components for drip irrigation and develops smart irrigation systems. Backed by Permira and Tene Investment Fund.

Aquaculture – Full Stack System
GFA Advanced Systems (2008, Kadima, $5M) – Developer of zero discharge intensive aquaculture system. Backed by Linnaeus Capital.

Market Linkages
Supply Chain – Farm Inputs
CloudFarm (2013, Beijing, $26M) – Online retailer of Agri inputs including seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, farm equipment, etc.

Supply Chain – Farm Produce
Meicai (2014, Beijing, $253M) – B2B mCommerce for fruits and vegetables. Backed by Zhen Fund and Blue Lake Capital.

Finance
ProducePay (2014, Los Angeles, $9.5M) – Digital Platform for real-time tracking of produce movement and arrangement of collateral and loans. Backed by CoVenture, Menlo Ventures, Arena Ventures, Red Bear Angels, Social Leverage, and ELab.

Indoor Agriculture
AgriBusiness – Cultivation
Sundrop Farms (2009, London, $100M) – Hydroponics cultivation of fruits and vegetables while using renewable energy resources in greenhouses. Backed by KKR.
AeroFarms (2004, NYC, $90M) – Cultivation of leafy greens in soil-less growth medium using aeroponics. Backed by Middleland Capital, Wheatsheaf, GSR Ventures, Mission Point Capital, Meraas and GSR Ventures.

Infrastructure – Hydroponics
GrowLife (1987, Seattle, IPO) – Provides urban hydroponic / soil-less farming systems, components and cultivation supply products. Went public in 2011.
Grodan (1969, Milton) – Vegetative and steerable substrates for indoor cultivation of horticultural crops.

Infrastructure – Lighting
Illumitex (2005, Austin, $73M) – Developer of LED lighting solutions for horticulture, industrial and other use. Backed by NEA, Morgan Creek, Apex, WPG, Syngenta Ventures.

Technology Providers – Data Collection and Analysis
Agrilyst (2015, NYC, $1M) – Software platform for farm data and analytics in indoor farms. Backed by Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, Metamorphic Ventures.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates visit AgriTech feed.

Trucks under commercial vehicles and aerial under nontraditional formed niche upcoming sectors in the electric vehicles sector in 2016.

By stage, the number of fundraising rounds dipped most for early (76%), followed by seed (61%) and then late (18%).

Average ticket size showed a sharp dip for both Series A and Series B investments- 82% and 44% respectively with only a marginal increase for seed (10%).

Top investments in the last one year include LeSee’s Series A round of $1.1B and WM Motor’s Series A round of $1B.

By stage of entry, Y Combinator emerged as the most active investor for seed with Sequoia leading for Series A, Draper Fisher Juvertson leading for Series B and KPCB for later.

11 acquisitions have marked this space since 2016 among which Gree Electric Appliances picking up YinLong for $2B was the highest disclosed deal value.

Historically, automakers have been the most funded business model ($7.9B) followed by components ($2.9B) with $10.61B being invested in this sector between 2016-17 YTD and 283 companies funded in the last 5 years.

Note: You can download the part view of the report here. The full version of this report is available for our paid subscribers. Should you want to access the complete report and explore the Tracxn platform, drop us a note on bd@tracxn.com

Download the Tracxn Industry Report on Electric Vehicles

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – PAYMENTS

• WorlPay, a leading merchant Acquirer Processor, has been acquired by cross-border rival Vantiv for £7.7B ($9.9B). Link
• Bambora, a leading Australian PoS solutions provider, has been acquired by rival Ingenico for €1.5B ($1.7B). Link
• First Data, the leading merchant acquirer processor, has completed the acquisition of CardConnect. Link
• PayPal has completed the acquisition of bill payment management company TIO Networks. Link
• Brighterion, an AI-based fraud detection, AML and KYC solution provider, has been acquired by MasterCard. Link
• Buckaroo, a billing and payment service provider for SMEs, has been acquired by private equity firm BlackFin Capital Partners. Link
• Marqeta, a white label prepaid card issuer and processor
  , has raised a $25M funding in a Series D round led by Visa, with participation from Commerce Ventures, 83 North, Granite Ventures, IA Capital, CommerzVentures and CreditEase. Link
• Innoviti, a PoS payment processing solutions provider, has raised INR120cr ($18M) funding in a Series B round led by SBI Ven Capital, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamaran Ventures. Link
• Curve, a many-in-one meta card provider, has raised $10M funding in a Series A round from Santander InnoVentures, Connect Ventures, Investec, Speedinvest, Oxford Capital, Breega Capital, Samos Investments, Henry Ritchotte, Gael de Boissard, Paul Townsend, Emilian Popa, Alessandro Hatami. Link
• Easy Payment Gateway, an online payment gateway and fraud protection engine, has raised £5.5M ($7M) funding in an Angel round from Andreas Mihalovits and Alejandro Betancourt. Link
• Upserve, a restaurant PoS solutions provider, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Vista Equity Partners, First Round Capital, and Pritzker Group Venture Capital. Link
• Echo Payment Systems, a turnkey prepaid card management solutions provider, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Rebel Venture Fund. Link
• PayStand, a B2B payments startup, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from LEAP Global Partners. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

BlockFraud (2017, Santa Monica, Undisclosed) – An anti-fraud solution focused on mobile device to prevent payment & carrier-billing fraud and affiliate fraud. Backed by Palisades Growth.

LEADER BOARD – PAYMENTS

Payment Gateway
Safecharge (2006, British Virgin Islands, IPO) – A customized payment acceptance portal for merchants. Went public in 2014.
Stripe (2010, SF, $466M) – A merchant acquirer and a payment gateway API provider for web and mobile payments. Backed by Y Combinator, American Express, VISA, Redpoint Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Salesforce, Morgan Stanley, Sequoia Capital, SV Angel, Khosla Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Founders Fund, KPCB, General Catalyst Partners, Thrive Capital, Lowercase Capital, Allen & Company, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Alven Capital, TrueBridge Capital Partners, Entree Capital, Square Peg Capital, Golden Gate Ventures, Playfair Capital, Barclays, Designer Fund, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Darwin Ventures, BoxGroup, Google Capital.
Billdesk (2000, Mumbai, $157.5M) – Electronic payment services provider to banks, businesses and other institutions. Backed by SBI, General Atlantic, TA Associates Management, Bank of Baroda, Temasek, Clearstone Venture Partners, SIDBI Venture Capital, March Capital Partners.

Acquirer Processor
First Data Corporation (1971, Atlanta, Acq, IPO) – A global payments service provider specializing in merchant transaction processing, private label cards and e-check acceptance services. Was acquired by KKR in 2007 for $27.5B. Went public in October 2015.
Vantiv (1971, Cincinnati, IPO) – An electronic payment processor, payment gateway API and PoSsolutions provider. Went public in 2012.
WorldPay (1993, London, Acq.) – A London-based payment processing company offering gateway and PoS services. Went public in October 2015. Was acquired by Vantiv in July 2017 for $10B.
Total System Services (1982, Columbus (Georgia), IPO) – A merchant acquirer and white label prepaid card solutions provider. Went public in 1983.
Adyen (2006, Amsterdam, $266M) – An internet-first merchant acquirer and omnichannel payment solutions provider. Backed by General Atlantic, Index Ventures, Felicis Ventures, Temasek, Iconiq Capital.

Payment Network
VISA (1958, Foster City, IPO) – An association of banks and other financial institutions, which facilitates card payment transactions. Went public in 2008.
MasterCard (1966, Purchase, IPO) – An interbank association facilitating card payments. Went public in 2006.
Vocalink (2007, Rickmansworth, $114M, Acq.) – A UK-based ATM switching platform and interbanknetwork. Aquired by MasterCard for £700M ($926M) in July 2016.
Ripple (2012, SF, $90.5M) – An open source, decentralized protocol to provide real time cross border payments and settlements. Backed by Standard Chartered, AME Cloud Ventures, Seagate, CME Group, IDG Capital Partners, RRE Ventures, Venture 51, Core VC, ChinaRock Capital Management, SBI Holdings, Route 66 Ventures, Camp One Ventures, Blockchain Capital, Santander InnoVentures, Digital Currency Group, SCB Digital Ventures.

PoS Suite
VeriFone (1981, San Jose, IPO) – Provides all kinds of PoS devices, along with a payment gateway. Went public in 2005.
Ingenico Group (1980, Paris, IPO) – A payment processing service provider specializing in NFC enabled PoS terminals, gateways and cross-border e-commerce solutions. Went public in 1985.

Wallet
PayPal (1998, San Jose, Acq., IPO) – An online payment and money transfer service, offeringpayment gateway, merchant accounts and wallet solutions. Acquired by eBay in July 2002 for $1.5B. Went public in July 2015.
Mozido (2008, Austin, $288.5M) – A white label web and mobile wallet solutions provider. Backed by MasterCard, TomorrowVentures, Atlanticus, Brentwood Associates, Wellington Management, Quabbin Capital.
Dashlane (2009, NYC, $52.5M) – A fully-featured password manager and secure digital wallet app. Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, FirstMark Capital, Rho Ventures, TransUnion, FinTech Innovation Lab.
Xapo (2012, Palo Alto, $40M) – A bitcoin wallet provider with cold storage facility. Backed by Greylock Partners, Index Ventures, Benchmark, Fortress Investment Group, Ribbit Capital.

Alternate Payment Methods
PayNearMe (2009, Sunnyvale (CA), $90M) – Provides offline payment services for online solutions. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Maveron, True Ventures, GSV Capital, Kapor Capital, Bullpen Capital, Floodgate, August Capital, Fenwick & West, Endeavour Partners.
TrialPay (2006, Mountain View, $56M, Acq.) – Enables merchants to offer free action based rewards to their customers. Acquired by VISA in February 2015 for an undisclosed amount.

Security
Signifyd (2011, Palo Alto, $106M) – An AI-based transaction monitoring solutions provider with chargeback guarantee. Backed by American Express, Andreessen Horowitz, IA Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, QED Investors, TriplePoint Capital, Menlo Ventures, Data Collective, Tekton Ventures, Resolute Ventures, Allegis Capital, Lucas Venture Group, BYU Cougar Capital, Streamlined Ventures, Thinkplus, Allegis Capital.
Kount (2007, Boise, $80M) – A SAAS based fraud prevention service provider for card-not-present transactions. Backed by CVC Capital Partners.
ThreatMetrix (2005, San Jose, $84M) – A payment fraud prevention service and context-based authentication solution provider. Backed by U.S Venture Partners, Silicon Valley Bank, Adams Street Partners, Tenaya Capital, August Capital, Technology Venture Partners, In-Q-Tel, Talu Ventures.
Ethoca (2005, Toronto, $45M) – A secure network for card issuers and merchants to connect and work outside the payment network. Backed by Spectrum Equity.

Enablers
Fidelity Information Services (1968, Jacksnville, IPO) – PCI Compliance, technology outsourcing and other payment security and back-end solutions for businesses and Financial Institutions. Went public in June 2001.
Trustwave (1995, Chicago, $60M, Acq.) – Provides cloud-based enterprise security solutions for threat detection, prevention & risk mitigation, including PCI compliance. Acquired by Singtel in September 2015 for $770M.
Clear2Pay (2001, Brussels, $125M, Acq.) – Provider of payment solutions to financial institutions. Also provides white label remittance services. Acquired by Fidelity Information Services in September 2014 for $493M.

B2B Payments
GlobalCollect (1994, Netherlands, Acq.) – An international B2B money transfer and payment gateway service provider. Acquired by Ingenico in September 2014 for $1.1B.
Viewpost (2012, Maitland, $79M) – e-Invoice exchange and electronic payment solutions provider. Backed by Western Technology Investment.

Payment Cards
Green Dot Corporation (1999, Monrovia (CA), IPO) – Reloadable prepaid card provider. Went public in 2010.
BlackHawk Network (2001, Pleasanton (CA), IPO) – Provider of white-label solutions for merchants and corporates. Also provides a marketplace for branded retail gift cards and reloading services for third-party prepaid cards. Went public in 2013.
Nubank Brasil (2013, Sao Paulo, $178M) – A MasterCard flagged credit card with mobile app. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Goldman Sachs, Founders Fund, QED Investors, Tiger Global Management, DST Global, Kaszek Ventures.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally 

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – MATCHMAKING

• Tantan, a Beijing-based Tinder-like mobile dating platform, has raised $70M in a Series D round of funding led by Genesis Capital, ZhongWei Capital, SAIF Partners China and Huanju. Link
• Happn, a Paris-based mobile dating platform based on crossed paths, has raised an undisclosed amount in a Series C round of funding led by Lahari Music and Nimish Arora. Link
• Setipe, a Jakarta-based mobile dating portal offering one match per day, was acquired by Lunch Actually Group. Link
• Matrimony.com, a Chennai-based online matrimonial platform has received the final observation letter from the SEBI for its proposed IPO. Link
• Spark Networks and Affinitas, the operator of several online dating platforms have announced a stock-for-stock merger forming Spark Networks SE. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Mel&Jer (2016, Paris), a personality-based matchmaking Facebook messenger bot. Gathers the basic information through FB messenger chat and uses AI to match the users.

LEADER BOARD – MATCHMAKING

Matrimony- Listing
Matrimony (1997, Chennai, $20M) – Online matrimonial matchmaking platform. Backed by Yahoo, Canaan Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Mayfield.
Shaadi (1997, Mumbai, $8M) – Online matrimonial matchmaking platform for South Asians. Backed by Westbridge Capital and InnoVen Capital. Part of People Group.

Matrimony- Algo-based
Baihe (2004, Beijing, $256M) – Online algorithmic matrimonial matchmaking portal. Backed by NEA, Mayfield, Tenaya Capital, GSR Ventures, Zero2IPO Capital, Northern Light Venture Capital and Investor Growth Capital.
Zhenai (2005, Shenzhen, $13M) – An online matrimonial platform with algorithmic matching. Backed by Match, SEAVI Advent, Bridger Capital, and MC Capital Asia Group.

Dating – Open Listings
Momo (2011, Beijing, $290M, IPO) – A Chinese dating and chat platform. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, DST Global, Alibaba Group, YF Capital, Matrix Partners China, and others. Went public in 2014.
Hi5 (2003, SF, $34M, Acq) – Online dating platform. Backed by Mohr Davidow Ventures, Crosslink Capital and Vencore Capital. Acquired by Tagged.
Badoo (2006, London, $30M) – Online dating and social networking platform. Backed by FINAM Global.

Dating – Mutual Likes
Tinder (2010, West Hollywood) – Mobile dating app based on mutual likes. Backed by Benchmark and a part of Match Group owned by IAC.
Tantan (2014, Beijing, $120M) – Mobile dating application based on mutual likes. Backed by SAIF Partners China, KPCB, DST Global, DCM Ventures, LB Investment, SS&C Technologies, Bertelsmann Asia Investment Fund, GX Capital, Yuan Jing Capital, among others.
Paktor (2013, Singapore, $57.5M) – A Tinder-like mobile dating application based on mutual likes. Backed by PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk, YJ Capital, Majuven, SXE Ventures, Golden Equator Capital, Vertex Ventures, Convergence Ventures, K2 Global and Sebrina Holdings.

Dating – Profile Matching
eHarmony (2000, Santa Monica, $113M) – Online dating platform with questionnaire-driven personality-based matchmaking. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Technology Crossover Ventures, Fayez Sarofim, Tuputele Ventures, and others.
Zoosk (2007, SF, $43.5M) – Online dating platform that employs behavioural matchmaking. Backed by Canaan Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, Crosslink Capital, Keating Capital, Amidzad Partners, among others.

Dating – Specialized
Grindr (2008, LA, $93M) – Mobile dating app for gay and bisexual people. Backed by Kunlun.
Blued (2012, Beijing, $32M) – Mobile dating app for gay individuals. Backed by DCM Ventures, China Mobile Games and Entertainment, CrystalStream, New World Development, Ventech, and Vision Knight Capital.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest update visit Matchmaking feed.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting startups in the energy storage sector globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – BIOENERGY

• The protein design company Arzeda raises $12M in Series A funding from OS Fund, Bioeconomy Capital Sustainable Conversion Ventures, and WRF Capital. Link
• BHSL, a specialist in converting poultry manure into fuel, raises $7.8M and acquires Hydro International. Link
• Edeniq, a cellulosic technology company, raises $5M in growth equity from Flint Hills Resources, Angeleno Group, I2BF Global Ventures, Trinity Capital Investment, and Cyrus Capital. Link
• Bioethanol producer Fulcrum Bioenergy, raises $5M equity funding as per SecD filing. Link
• Waste to renewable fuels firm Sustane Technologies secures $2.6M funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s SD Tech Fund. Link
• Biodiesel blends and chemicals manufacturing technology developer xF Technologies, raises $675k debt funding as per SecD filing. Link
• Pacific BioEnergy, a wood pellet manufacturer, raises an undisclosed amount from Sumitomo Corporation. Link
• DOE awards an undisclosed amount to algae production technology developer Lumen Bioscience. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Lumen Bioscience (2017, Seattle, Undisclosed) – Technology developer for large-scale production of algae on non-productive land using engineered strains that grow robustly in seawater, resist contamination and predation, and accumulate substantial amounts of energy-rich components.

LEADER BOARD – BIOENERGY

Production – Horizontal
Sapphire Energy (2007, San Diego, $290M) – Produces a renewable source of crude oil from algae biomass and operates algae-to-energy facility. Backed by ARCH Venture Partners, Wellcome Trust, Arrowpoint Partners, Venrock and Department of Energy.
Joule Unlimited (2007, Bedford, $190M) – Technology developer to produce drop-in fuels using waste carbon dioxide (CO2) feedstock and waste brackish water. Backed by Flagship Ventures.
Sundrop Fuels (2008, Longmont, $155M) – Proprietary bio reforming system to transform cellulosic biomass into clean, affordable, renewable gasoline, jet and diesel fuels. Backed by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and Oak Investment Partners.

Production – Biodiesel
Renewable Energy Group (1996, Ames, IPO) – Advanced biodiesel producer and developer of renewable chemicals. Went Public in January 2012.
Amyris (2003, Emeryville, IPO) – Partnered with Total Oil to produce biodiesel. Backed by KPCB, TGP Growth, Khosla Ventures and DAG Ventures. Went Public in September 2010.

Production – Bioalcohol – Bioethanol
Fulcrum Bioenergy (2007, Pleasanton, $302M) – Manufactures bioethanol from MSW. Backed by Rustic Canyon Partners and US Renewables Group.
Enerkem (2000, Montreal, $284M) – Manufactures bioethanol from MSW. Backed by Braemar Energy Ventures, Rho Capital Partners and BDR Capital.

Production – Bioalcohol – Biobutanol
Cobalt Technologies (2005, Mountain View, $89M) – Manufactures drop-in-fuel biobutanol. Backed by Pinnacle Ventures, VantagePoint Capital Partners and Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund.

Production – Biogas
Stormfisher (2006, Toronto, $350M) – Builds, owns and operates biogas plants. Backed by Denham Capital.

Technology Developer – Horizontal
Virent Energy (2002, Madison, $103M, Acq.) – Technology developer and manufacturer for biofuels and biochemicals. Backed by Royal Dutch Shell, Cargill, Stark Investments and Venture Investors. Acquired by Tesoro in September 2016.

Technology Developer – Biodiesel
Aurora Biofuels (2006, Hayward, $102M) – Technology developer for production of biodiesel from algae. Backed by OAK Investment Partners, Gabriel Venture Partners and Noventi Ventures.

Technology Developer – Bioalcohol – Bioethanol
Mascoma (2006, New Hampshire, $138M, Acq.) – Technology provider and licensor for Bioethanol production. Backed by   Atlas Venture, Khosla Ventures, KPCB, General Catalyst Partners, Pinnacle Ventures, Flagship Ventures, GM Ventures, VantagePoint Capital Partners etc. Acquired by Lallemand in November 2014.

Technology Developer – Biomass
Renmatix (2007, Kennesaw, $152.5M) – Technology developer and manufacturer for cellulosic sugar. Backed by KPCB, Total Ventures and BASF Venture Capital.

Technology Developer – Catalyst
Rive Technology (2006, Monmouth Junction, $67M) – Catalyst technology developer for petroleum and renewable industry. Backed by Charles River Ventures, Advanced Technology Ventures and Nth Power.

Feedstock – Oilseeds
SG Biofuels (2007, Encinitas, $37M) – Biomass and plant oils manufacturer and supplier. Backed by Flint Hills Resources, McNerney & Partners and Finstere Ventures.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates visit Bioenergy feed.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ELECRTIC VEHICLES

• Ucar leads $320M round In Chinese electric car maker Xiaopeng. Link
• Proterra closes $55M Series 6 investment with Generation Investment Management and BMW i Ventures. Link
• ChargePoint raises additional $43M in a Series G funding round led by Siemens. Link
• German aviation startup Volocopter secures $29M from Daimler and business angels to further develop its electrically driven VTOLs. Link
• Chinese phone maker OPPO co-leads $22M round in electric car sharing firm Ponycar. Link
• Self-driving truck startup Embark raises $15M in Series A financing. Link
• Electric vehicle charging solutions provider Tritium raises $7.9M in financing. Link
• Nuvve receives $7.9M California Energy Commission grant to demonstrate Vehicle-to-Grid technology. Link
• German electric ridesharing startup CleverShuttle secures investment from Daimler and EvoBus. Link
• Greenlots, a provider of electric vehicle charging solutions, secures strategic investment from Energy Impact Partners. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Flumen (2016, Budapest) – Flumen focuses on developing solutions to automate electric vehicle charging for fleets. The company’s cloud-based solution receives charging reservations, calculates the optimal charging schedules, and controls the output of the charging stations.

LEADER BOARD – ELECRTIC VEHICLES

Automaker – Horizontal
Polaris Industries (1954, Medina, IPO) – Designs and manufactures on-road electric/hybrid vehicles, snowmobiles, off-road vehicles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Went Public in September 1987.
FDG Electric Vehicles (1990, Hong Kong, IPO) – Manufactures electric vehicles for passenger and commercial use. Also manufactures battery packs and accessories. Went Public in November 2005.

Automaker – Cars
Tesla (2003, Palo Alto, IPO) – Designs and manufactures electric cars and residential energy storage products. Backed by Google, DFJ, VantagePoint Capital Partners, Compass Technology partners, Capricorn Invest Group, Daimler, Panasonic, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Went Public in July 2010.
NIO (2014, Shanghai, $1.1B) – Develops electric supercars. Backed by Baidu, Tencent, Sequoia Capital, IDG Capital Partners, Lenovo, Joy Capital, Hillhouse Capital.

Automaker – Commercial Vehicles
Proterra (2004, Greenville, $400M) – Designs and manufactures heavy-duty drive, vehicle control systems and complete transit buses. Backed by KPCB, Hennessey Capital, General Motors Ventures, Constellation Ventures, 88 Green Ventures, Middle East Venture Partners.

Automaker – Scooters
Vmoto (2002, Perth, IPO) – Designs and manufactures two-wheeled electric vehicles. Went Public in February 2002.
Gogoro (2011, Taipei, $180M) – Develops electric scooters and battery swapping infrastructure for electric two-wheelers. Backed by Panasonic, National Development Fund of Taiwan.

Automaker – Motorcycles
Zero Motorcycles (2006, Scotts Valley, $139M) – Designs and manufactures high-performance electric motorcycles. Backed by Invus Group, California Energy Commission.

Automaker – Nontraditional
Segway (1999, Bedford, $102M, Acq.) – Designs and manufactures personal transportation two-wheeled self-balancing electric vehicles. Acquired by Ninebot in April 2015. Backed by KPCB, Intel, Masdar CleanTech Fund.

Charging Solutions – Charging Network
Volta Charging (2010, SF, $24M) – Develops network of free-to-use charging stations at retail locations. Backed by 500 Startups, Riverwood Capital, EPIC Ventures, Three Bridge Venture Partners.
NewMotion (2009, Amsterdam, $18M) – Develops network of electric vehicle charging station across Europe. Backed by Entrepreneurs Fund, Stichting DOEN.

Charging Solutions – Plug-in Charging
ChargePoint (2007, Campbell, $298M) – Provides electric vehicle charging stations and develops network of public charging stations. Backed by KPCB, Braemar Energy Ventures, Voyager Capital, Rho Ventures.

Charging Solutions – Wireless Charging
Evatran (2009, Wytheville, $16M) – Develops wireless electric vehicle charging solutions. Backed by New Richmond Ventures, US DOE, Zhejiang VIE Science & Technology.

Components – Electric Drive Systems
Protean Electric (2009, Troy, $154M) – Develops in-wheel electric drive system for hybrid and electric light-duty vehicles. Backed by Oak Investment Partners, GSR Ventures, Tianjin THSG Corporation.

Components – Batteries
Boston Power (2005, Westborough, $638M) – Develops fast charging Li-ion batteries. Backed by GSR Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, Foundations Asset Management, GGV Capital, Venrock.

Components – Motors
UQM Technologies (1967, Longmont, IPO) – Manufactures electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the transportation industry. Backed by US Department of Energy. Went Public in May 1992.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally 

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – SECOND HAND GOODS

• The RealReal, an online consignment platform for luxury fashion, raised $50M in funding from Great Hill Partners. Link
• Rebelle, a designer second-hand online shop, raised a $20M debt facility from Silicon Valley based VC firm Partners For Growth (PFG). Link
• Rebagg, a reseller of designer handbags, raised $15.5M in a funding round from U-Start, Big Sur Ventures, Crosslink Capital, FJ Labs and General Catalyst Partners. Link
• Videdressing, a fashion and accessories online marketplace, raised a $6M funding round from DN Capital, Piton Capital, Earlybird Venture Capital and Generis Capital Partners. Link
• Entrupy, a gadget for authenticating luxury handbags, raised a series A funding round of $2.6M. Link
• ModaCruz, an online social marketplace for women’s used fashion products, raised $2M in funding from Middle East Venture Partners and Hummingbird Ventures. Link
• Designer Wardrobe, an online marketplace for pre-loved fashion products raised a seed amount of $1.7M. Link
• Tradee, a mobile-based listing platform for used goods, raised a seed funding amount of $1.2M. Link
• Refabd, an online platform for used furniture and home appliances, raised a seed funding amount of $92.5K from Athamus Venture. Link
• Cashify, an online buy-back platform for used gadgets, raised an undisclosed amount in a Series A funding round. Link
• LXR & Co, a vintage luxury private shopping club, was acquired for $82.5M by Gibralter Ventures. Link
• Secondcry, a second-hand kidswear listing platform, was acquired for an undisclosed amount by Elanic. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Stadium Goods (2015, NYC, $4.6M) – Online consignment store for pre-owned premium sneakers and streetwear apparel.
Daangn (2015, Seongnam-si, $1.08M) – Location-based classifieds platform for multi-category products.

LEADER BOARD – SECOND HAND GOODS

Multi-Category
Listing Platform
58.com (2005, Beijing, IPO) – Online classified advertisements website serving local merchants and consumers in China. Went IPO in 2013.
Baixing (2005, Shanghai, IPO) – Online classified website that helps users to find and publish information related to second-hand goods trade and other local services. Listed on New Third Board in Mar 2016.
Quikr (2008, Bangalore, $369.5M) – Online classifieds portal to search, buy/sell/rent items and services. Backed by Investment AB Kinnevik, Tiger Global, Warburg Pincus, Nokia Growth Partners, NVP and more.
Ganji (2005, Beijing, $290M, Acq.) – Online Chinese domestic classifieds platform that hosts information on jobs, used cars, smartphones, etc. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, Nokia Growth Partners and more. Acquired by 58.com in 2015.
Avito (2007, Moscow, $168M, Acq.) – Online classified website for placement of free and paid advertisements about goods and services from individuals and businesses. Backed by Accel Partners, Naspers, Northzone, Kinnevik AB and more. Acquired by Naspers in 2015.
Olx (2006, NYC, $28.5M, Acq.) – Online classifieds platform that enables its users to post ads and share them on social networks. Backed by Nexus Venture Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Naspers and more. Naspers acquired a majority stake in OLX in 2010 which increased to 95% over time.
Craigslist (1995, SF, Undisclosed) – Online classified advertisements website for jobs, personals, wanted items, services, and discussion forums. Backed by eBay.

Listing Platform – Mobile Only
Letgo (2015, NYC, $375M) – P2P mobile listings platform. Backed by Naspers, Accel Partners, Insight Venture Partners, NEA and more.
OfferUp (2012, Seattle, $192M) – P2P mobile listings platform for household goods. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Tiger Global, T. Rowe Price, GGV Capital and more.

Commission-based Marketplace
Zhuan Zhuan (2015, Chaoyang, $200M) – P2P marketplace for second-hand goods. Backed by Tencent.
Enjoei (2009, Sao Paulo, $7M) – Marketplace for second-hand goods where people can buy and sell used/pre-owned goods. Backed by Monashees, Graph Ventures & BVP.

Commission-based Marketplace – Mobile Only
Mercari (2013, Tokyo, $114M) – Mobile marketplace to buy and sell clothing, electronics, household goods, and handmade items. Backed by World Innovation Lab, Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, GMO Venture Partners, East Ventures and more.
Depop (2011, London, $18M) – Social shopping app to buy and sell items from a smartphone. Backed by Balderton Capital, Holtzbrinck Ventures, H-FARM Ventures, Ballpark Ventures and more.

Fashion
TheRealReal (2011, Tiburon, $173) – Online full-service consignment marketplace for pre-owned designer goods. Backed by Industry Ventures, Canaan Partners, InterWest Partners, Infinity Ventures and more.
Vestiaire Collective (2009, Paris, $131M) – Online marketplace for buying and selling second-hand luxury fashion products. Backed by Eurazeo, Balderton Capital, Ventech, Idinvest Partners, Vitruvian Partners and more.
ThredUp (2009, SF, $127M) – Online consignment based platform for fashion items. Backed by GS, Highland Capital Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Trinity Ventures and more.
Reebonz (2009, Singapore, $80M) – Membership-based online shopping site of new and pre-owned luxury fashion items. Backed by Intel Capital, GGV Capital, Infocomm Investments, Matrix Partners China and more.
Tradesy (2012, Santa Monica, $80M) – Online P2P marketplace to buy and sell clothing items. Backed by KPCB, Rincon Venture Partners, Red Swan Ventures, Daher Capital and more.
Poshmark (2011, Menlo Park, $65.5M) – Mobile P2P marketplace for fashion products. Backed by GGV Capital, Menlo Ventures, Inventus Capital Partners, and more.
Vinted (2008, Vilnius, $61M) – Online marketplace to buy, sell and swap used clothing items. Backed by Hubert Burda Media, Insight Venture Partners and Accel Partners.

Electronics
Aihuishou (2011, Shanghai, $128M) – Online marketplace for recycling and sale of second-hand electronic items. Backed by IFC, Morningside Group, Tiantu Capital, Morningside Ventures, Cathay Capital and more.
Gazelle (2006, Boston, $56M, Acq.) – E-commerce company that buys previously owned consumer electronics directly from consumers and resells them through a global network of retail and wholesale channels. Backed by Craton Equity Partners, Physic Ventures, Rockport Capital, Venrock, and more. Acquired by Outerwall in 2015.
GreenDust (2009, Delhi, $40M) -Online reverse logistics platform for sale of factory second and refurbished electronic products.Backed by Vertex Ventures, KPCB, Kae Capital and more.

Furniture
Chairish (2013, SF, $15M) – Online marketplace for pre-owned vintage home furnishings. Backed by OATV, Azure Capital Partners and Altos Ventures.
Zefo (2015, Bangalore, $7M) – Online marketplace for pre-owned furniture. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Helion Venture Partners & Beenext.

Baby & Kids
Swap (2008, Boston, $50M, Acq.) – Online consignment store for used baby, kids’ and women’s items. Backed by CleanTech Invest, eEquity and Safeguard Scientifics. Acquired by Netcycler in 2012.
Percentil (2012, Madrid, $6M) – Online consignment platform to buy and sell pre-owned kids clothes. Backed by Active Venture Partners & Seaya Ventures.

Collectibles
Reverb (2012, Chicago, $32M) – Online marketplace for vintage musical instruments. Backed by Summit Partners, Lightbank and FJ Labs.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest update visit Second Hand Goods feed.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ED TECH

• Tinkergarten, Enables of children’s education through outdoor activities, has raised $5.4M USD in Series A funding from Owl Ventures, Omidyar Network and Reach Capital. Link
• Leverage, an online college admission platform, has raised an undisclosed amount in Angel funding from Arjun Mehta, Satish Kaul, Deepak Jain and Sadashiva NT. Link
• Sawyer, Provider of class passes for kids, has raised $6M in Series A funding from Advance Venture Partners, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, 3311 Ventures, Female Founders Fund and Collaborative Fund. Link
• A Cloud Guru, AWS certification courses and training provider, has raised $8.84M in Series A funding from Elephant Venture Capital.Link
• Zhixiaole, an AI based educational robot for children, has raised $10M in Series A funding from Qiming Ventures, GGV Capital and Yinghua Capital. Link
• Liulishuo, an English language learning app, has raised $100M in Series C from Shuanghu capital investment, IDG Capital Partners, GGV Capital and Cherubic Ventures. Link
• Project Mudra, a mobile application and software for braille learning, has raised $201.5K in Angel funding from Rajesh Navaneetham and Anand Mahindra. Link  
• Signal Vine, a communication app for schools and universities, has raised $2M in Series A funding from New Markets Venture Partners.Link
• Picmonic, a Visual learning platform for medical students, has raised $100K in Series A funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• Duolingo, a crowdsourced text translation and language learning platform, has raised $25M in Series E funding from Drive Capital. Link
• Byju’s Classes, Provider of online courses for competitive test preparation & supplementary courses for K-12 students, has raised $40M in Series C funding from Tencent. Link
• Grovo, a learning management system for enterprises, has raised $11.3M in Series C funding from Undisclosed Investors. Link
• Aspen University, an online degree programs provider, has raised $10M in Conventional Debt from Runway Growth. Link
• PalmDrive, a foreign education mentor platform, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding in Series A from Northern Light Venture Capital. Link
• mLevel, a game based professional learning provider, has raised $2.2M in Series B funding from BIP Capital. Link
• DesignLab, an online training program for design skills, has raised $285K in Conventional Debt from undisclosed investors. Link
• WealthyLife, Financial literacy and workforce development EdTech games provider, has raised $200K in Seed funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• CareAcademy, a professional training provider for caregivers, has raised $1.9M in Seed funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• Kahoot, a blended learning platform for schools, has raised $10M in Series A funding from Microsoft Ventures, Creandum and Northzone. Link
• PlayAblo, a gamified app for learning K-12 Maths & English, has raised $600K in Seed funding from ABI-Showatech. Link
• KickUp, a professional development platform for teachers through collaborative learning, has raised $730K in Seed funding from Reach Capital and Red House Education. Link
• DataCamp, an online data science courses provider, has raised $4M in Series A funding from Arthur Ventures. Link
• HFJY, an online one-on-one tutoring platform, has raised an undisclosed amount in Series B funding from 01VC and Yonghua Capital.Link
• Learnerbly, an online platform to provide employee training, has raised $2.1M in Seed funding from Frontline Ventures, Playfair Capital, Future Planet Capital, Renaud Visage, Claire Davenport and Stephan Thoma. Link
• Expert360, an online freelance marketplace, has raised $10M in Series B funding from AirTree Ventures. Link
• Qidianla, an online platform for professional learning courses, has raised $3.3M in Series A funding from Tedu. Link
• Execonline, a B2B online training provider, has raised $15.9M in Series B funding from NewSpring Capital, Osage Partners, New Atlantic Ventures, Kaplan Ventures and Thomas Lehrman. Link
• TheMednet, a physician only Q&A based community platform, has raised $1.3M in Seed funding from  Endure Capital, Lumia Capital, Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, Charlie Cheever, Jared Friedman, Paul Buchheit and Peter Pham. Link
• PeopleGrove, a career mentorship platform for schools, has raised $1.8M in Seed funding from Reach Capital, Bisk Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Floodgate Fund, GSV, LaunchCapital, Riverpark Funds and University Ventures. Link
• Bloomz, a communication app for teachers and parents, has raised $605K in Seed funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• Terra Dotta, a higher education SaaS provider, has raised $3.3M in Seed funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• TimoKids, Games and stories providers for kids, has raised $75K in Seed funding from Parallel18. Link
• M-Shule, a mobile-based adaptive learning platform, has raised an undisclosed amount in Seed funding from EWB Canada. Link
• Xiaoyangedu, a cloud-based learning network platform, has raised an undisclosed amount in Series A funding from Yunqi Partners.Link
• VidCode, a coding platform for schools, has raised $1.5M in Seed funding from ZhenFund, Rethink Education, Y Combinator, Coventure, Cherry Ventures and BrainPOP. Link
• Clark, a software solution for tutors to manage operational activities, has raised $2M in Seed funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners.Link
• Mingshi Education, Tutoring service for K-12 students, has raised $10.1M in Series C funding from Morgan Stanley and songfa.comLink
• QingClass, a mobile app for language training, has raised $4.9M in Series A funding from Matrix Partners China and Tencent. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Teachat (2016, Vienna) – Parent teacher conferencing and communication platform.

LEADER BOARD – ED TECH

Pre-K
Huivo (2011, Beijing, $47.3M) – Interactive teaching system, smart classes and a teaching app that aims to provide education solutions for kindergartens. Backed by TAL Education Group, YY and Fosun Kinzon Capital.
51110 (2011, Fuzhou, $30M) – an oOnline platform which helps parents in monitoring their child in kindergarten schools. Backed by China equity.
Fancy Education (2014, Shanghai, $28.5M) – Educational products, which includes teaching management, handheld devices, kindergarten libraries. Backed by Amoeba Capital.
SavvySource (2008, SF, $28.4M) – Online community for parents of Pre-K kids, Backed by undisclosed investors.
Speakaboos (2008, NYC, $25.2M) – Subscription-based interactive storybooks, Backed by Advancit Capital, 212Media, KYOWON, KYOWON creative and Wellington Management.

K-12
EverFi (2008, Washington D.C., $251M) – Platform for teaching and certifying programs on critical skills. Backed by NEA, TomorrowVentures, Silicon Valley Bank, Allen & Company, Advance, Bezos Expeditions, Greenspring Associates, TPG, Rethink Education, Seavest Investment Group, Main Street Advisors, Rethink Impact and The Rise Fund.
Yuanfudao (2012, Beijing, $244.2M) – Online test preparation platform for K-12 students, Backed by IDG Capital Partners, Tencent, New Horizon Capital, K12, Matrix Partners China, Warburg Pincus and China Media Capital.
Byju’s Classes (2008, Bangalore, $244M) – Hybrid test preparation & learning platform. Backed by  Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, IFC, Times Internet, Sofina, Aarin Capital, Tencent, Verlinvest, InnoVen Capital and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Xuele Yunpingtai (2006, Hangzhou, $221.4M) – Cloud-based teaching platform. Backed by GSR Ventures, Haitong International Securities Group and Shenzhen GTJA Investment Group.
Knewton (2008, NYC, $157.3M) – Personalized adaptive learning platform. Backed by Accel Partners, First Round Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, FirstMark Capital, Atomico, Founders Fund, Silicon Valley Bank, GSV Capital, Sofina, EDBI, Pearson, TAL Education Group and Mosaic Ventures.

Test Preparation
Huatu (2001, Beijing, IPO) – Tutoring platform having offline delivery centres. Backed by Fortune Venture capital.
Zhan (2010, Shanghai, $113M) – Online courses for students applying to overseas universities. Backed by Shunwei, GGVC, MCM China, Baifund, VKC Partners and Sequoia Capital.
Princeton Review (1981, NYC, $87M) – Online test preparation for higher education. Backed by Bain Capital Ventures, Reservoir Capital & Olympus Partners.
Varsity Tutors (2007, Washington D.C., $57M) – Offline and local tutoring and test preparation service. Backed by Technology Crossover Ventures.
Koolearn (2000, Beijing, $48.7M) – Online classes and training for various subjects. Backed by Tencent.

Higher Education
Blackboard (1997, Washington D.C., IPO, Acq.) – Learning management system for educators, corporates and public sectors. Went public in 2004. Acquired by Providence Equity Partners in 2011 for $1.64B.
2U (2008, Annapolis, IPO) – Virtual classroom platform provider for colleges and universities. Went public in 2014.
Instructure (2008, Salt Lake City, IPO) – Cloud-based learning management system for K-12 schools, universities and corporates. Went public in 2015.
Chegg (2005, Santa Clara, IPO) – Online tutoring and textbook rental company. Backed by Floodgate, Primera Capital, Insight Partners, KPCB, Foundation Capital, Lucasvg, Acegroup, Gabriel venture partners and GSV cap.
HotChalk (2004, Campbell, $245M) – Virtual classroom platform for universities. Backed by Bertelsmann and Peacock Equity.

Corporate Learning
Kaltura (2006, NYC, $160M) – Open source online video platform that allows companies to simplify the creation of video experiences via video management, publishing, and monetization tools. Backed by Nexus Venture Partners, 406 Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Intel Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, Nokia Growth Partners, Avalon Ventures, Mitsui Global Investment, ORIX, Commonfund, Gera Venture Capital, Luminari Capital and Sapphire Ventures.
Echo360 (2007, Dulles, $89.5M) – Online platform for the schools to upload their live lectures for free with full and unbound access to the students via multi-platform replay. Backed by Revolution, Court Square Ventures, Clark Enterprises, SCP Partners, Duchossois Capital Partners and Swan & Legend Venture Partners.
Grovo (2010, NYC, $73.3M) – SaaS-based learning management system for employee training. Backed by Accel Partners, Lead Edge Capital, SoftTech VC, Western Technology Investment, Costanoa Venture Capital, Red Swan Ventures, Industry Ventures, Milestone Venture Partners, Social Starts, Vayner/RSE, Lerer Hippeau Ventures and BoxGroup.
Catalant (2013, Boston, $73M) – On-demand management consulting service provider. Backed by Greylock Partners, Highland Capital Partners, General Catalyst Partners, Suffolk Equity Partners and GE Ventures.
Panopto (2007, Pittsburgh, $46.8M) – Digital media recording and content management company. Backed by Runa Capital, SaaS Capital, Sterling Partners, Square 1 Bank and Saturn Partners.

Continued Learning
Tedu (2002, Beijing, IPO) – Job-oriented live distance education, classroom-based tutoring and online learning courses for IT professional training. Went public in 2014.
Lynda (1995, Carpinteria, $289M, Acq.) – Online video courses in software, creative and business skills. Backed by Accel Partners, Spectrum Equity, Meritech Capital Partners and TPG Capital. Acquired by LinkedIn in 2015 for $1.5B.
Coursera (2012, CA, $210.1M) – Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) provider. Backed by University of Pennsylvania, NEA, IFC, KPCB, Times Internet, GSV Capital, Learn Capital, Laureate, EDBI, California Institute of Technology, Designer Fund, GSV Asset Management and GSV Financial Group.
Pluralsight (2004, Cedar Valley, $205.4M) – Online video courses in programming and creative learning. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Iconiq Capital, Felicis Ventures and Sorenson Capital.
Udemy (2010, SF, $173M) – Marketplace for online courses. Backed by 500 startups, MHS capital, Light Bank, Learn Capital, Insight Partners, New Venture Partners, Stripes Group and Naspers.
General Assembly (2011, NYC, $173M) – Online and offline courses in technology, business and design streams. Backed by Advance Publications, Wellington Capital Management, IVP, Learn Capital, Maveron, Rethink Education and GSV Capital.

Language Learning
51Talk (2011, Beijing, IPO) – Online English language learning platform providing one-to-one foreign language teacher service. Backed by DCM Ventures, Shunwei, Sequoia Capital, and Zhenfund. Went public in 2016.
TutorGroup (2004, Taiwan, $315M) – Online tutoring platform for learning English. Backed by Alibaba, Qiming Ventures, Temasek, Goldman Sachs, GIC, Russia-China Investment Fund, Silverlink Capital and Softbank Finance Group.
Hujiang (2001, Shanghai, $257M) – Language learning platform focussed on China. Backed by Baidu, Anhui new media, Marseille Fund, Softbank China, Pantheon Ventures and Hina.
VIPKID (2013, Beijing, $125M) – Online English tutoring platform. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Sinovation Ventures, YF Capital, Matrix Partners China, Northern Light Venture Capital and Bryent Stibel.
Open English (2006, Miami, $118M) – Online platform providing live English classes, Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Technology Crossover Ventures, Flybridge Capital Partners, Kaszek Ventures and Ideasy Capital.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates, visit the EdTech feed.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ERP

• Open System, a business accounting software, and ERP solutions provider acquired Precise Software, which develops business management tools for Apparel Decorating industry. Link
• Tyler Technologies, an information management software provider acquires Digital Health Department Inc, a company that provides environmental health software solutions. Link
• Shorebird Technologies, a developer of cloud-based travel ERP solution raised undisclosed seed funding led by Grace Grace Techno Ventures. Link
• Prometheus group, leading provider of enterprise asset maintenance and management solution developer acquires Pipeline Group and Sage Technolgy  Link
• Infor, a cloud-based business application developer acquired Birst Inc, a leading provider of cloud-based Business Intelligence, Visualization and Analytics tools. Link     
• Swedish enterprise IFS(Industrial and Financial System) which provides ERP, asset management, and service management solution acquires MPLSystem and Field Service Management Limited. Link
• Compeat, developer of cloud based restaurant management software provider acquires Ctuit. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Fabacus( (2016, London) – Cloud-based supply chain management solutions for fashion retailers and manufacturers. 

LEADER BOARD – ERP

Multi-Industry
Workday (2005, Pleasanton , IPO) – Provides cloud-based ERP solution focused primarily on human resource, payroll and financial management for multiple industries. Went IPO in 2012.
Kingdee International Software Group (1993, Shenzhen, IPO) – Provides cross-platform ERP solutions deployable on cloud and on-premise for all industries. Went IPO in 2006.

Professional Services
FinancialForce.com (2009, SF, $194M) – Equips customer-centric businesses with a unified cloud platform and applications necessary to streamline operations for all industries. Backed by TCV, SalesForce Ventures, Advent International, and Unit4.
Intacct (1999, San Jose, $135M) – Cloud based ERP solutions with best-in-class financial management and accounting systems. Backed by Battery Ventures, BVP, Sigma Partners, SVB, Split Rock Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, Costanoa Venture Capital, Emergence Capital Ventures, JK&B Capital, and HWVP.

Manufacturing
Plex Systems (1995, Troy, $86.5M) – Cloud-based ERP solution that features modules like machine execution system (MES), supply chain, quality, BI. Backed by Accel, Apax Partners, T.Rowe Price.
Kenandy (2010, Redwood City, $55M) – Integrates order-to-cash, procure-to-pay cycles, production & planning and financials. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, SalesForce Ventures, KPCB, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
IQMS (1989, Paso Robles, $40M) – Offers manufacturing ERP solutions with features like production monitoring, quality control, supply chain and inventory. Backed by TCV, and Banneker Partners.

Retail
Lightspeed (2005, Montreal, $126M) – Offers end-to-end SaaS-based solutions that primarily targets brick and mortar stores. Features include POS integration, inventory management, customer management, analytics. Backed by Accel, iNovia Capital, Investissement Quebec, and CDPQ.
VendHQ (2010, Auckland, $46M) – Cloud-based POS software that enables retailers to accept payments, track customers, manage inventory, provide loyalty incentives and run business analytics. Backed by Point Nine Capital, Valar Ventures, and Square Peg Capital.

Waste Management
AMCS (2003, Limerick, $103M) – ERP provider for recycling and waste management industry with features like Contract Pricing, Invoicing, Subcontractor Management, Billing, Analytics. Backed by Alpina Partners, Highland Capital Partners, Mianach Venture Capital, Insight Partners, Investec, NCB, SVB, and Shannon Development Company.

Government
Deltek (1983, Herndon, $107M, Acq) – Provides ERP solution for government and project-based organizations. Acquired by Roper Technologies for $2.8B in Decemebr 2016.

Education
rSmart (2002, Scottsdale, $14M, Acq.) – Cloud-based ERP solution that integrates academic and administrative functions of educational institutes. Acquired by KualiCo in October 2014.
Foradian (2009, Bangalore, $2M) – Open Source ERP solutions for educational institutes. Backed by an Angel Investor, William Bissell.

Agribusiness
MJ Freeway (2010, Denver, $11M) – SaaS-based integrated software suite for seed sale in Cannabis industry. Backed by Tao Capital Partners.  
Farmeron (2010, Columbus, $4M) – Offers Live Stock Management solutions that provide real-time insights into the production. Backed by Softtech VC, Nextview Ventures, 500 Startups, SeedCamp, and Valley Oak Investments.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates, please visit ERP feed.

A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Renew Financial, a clean energy and home improvement finance company, raises $300M credit from Morgan Stanley Bank and Barclays Bank. Link
• Corvi, a LED lighting products manufacturer, raises $10M strategic investment from Hero Enterprise. Link
• Fresh Energy, a digital utility electricity provider with load disaggregation algorithms, raises $3.5M Seed round from Innogy Innovation Hub. Link
• Ventacity, a manufacturer of heat recovery ventilation units, raises nearly $3.2M funding as per the SEC filing. Link
• UrbanVolt, a Lighting as a Service company, raises $1.7M funding from BMS Finance. Link
• Rebound Technologies, a developer of energy efficient refrigeration technologies, raises $1.2M Seed round from PRIME Coalition, Closed Loop Ventures, and Investors’ Circle. Link
• Energy efficient solutions for refrigeration and AC Systems provider KE2 Therm Solutions raises $780k as per Sec D filing. Link
• Libertine, a developer of energy efficient high performance motor-generator systems, raises $652k from Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. Link
• Svarochi brand from IBahn Illumination raises its first institutional round of funding from a VC firm. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Svarochi (2017, Delhi, Undisclosed) – Smart home lighting products manufacturer from IBahn Illumination. The company has not released their product as on August, 2017.
Volitant AI (2017, Miami Beach) – AI based energy consumption and optimization solution for HVAC products. Still in the developmental phase.

LEADER BOARD – ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Products – Lighting – Material & Component Manufacturers
Bridgelux (2002, Sunnyvale, $219M, Acq.) – LED chip manufacturing company. Backed by El Dorado Ventures, VantagePoint Capital Partners, Craton Equity Partners and Passport Capital. Acquired by China Electronics Corporation in 2015.

Products – Lighting – Finished Products – LED
Lighting Science Group (2004, Melbourne, IPO) – Manufactures different shapes of LED bulbs and invented biologically corrected lighting. Backed by Riverwood Capital and Pegasus Capital. Went public in 2008.
Cree (1987, Durham, IPO) – Manufactures LED components, and semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications. Went Public in 1993.

Products – Lighting – Finished Products – OLED
Novaled (2003, Dresden, $35M, Acq.) – Provides organic materials and complementary technologies for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in display and lighting. Acquired by Samsung in 2013.

Products – Thermal Energy – Insulation
Aerogel (2001, Northborough, IPO) – Provides thermal management and energy conservation insulation solutions. Backed by Mount Royal Ventures, Arcapita Ventures, Lehman Brothers, RockPort Capital Partners, Reservoir Capital Group, Tenaya Capital.

Products – Thermal Energy – HVACR – Heating
System Heat (2012, Moscow, $500k) – Energy efficient radiators which help in reducing energy consumption and increasing savings. Backed by Genezis Capital.

Products – Thermal Energy – HVACR – Cooling
TAS Energy (1999, Houston, $60M) – TAS Energy manufactures energy efficient chilling and cooling systems. Backed by KPCB and Element Partners.

Products – Construction – Pre-Fabricated
View Dynamic Glass (2007, Milpitas, $646M) – Smartglass on which tint level can be modified by the user using smartphone to admit only light and reject glare. Backed by Khosla Ventures, DBL Investors, Sigma Partners, Navitas Capital, The Westly Group.

Energy Management Systems – BEMS
GridPoint (2003, Arlington, $294M, Acq.) – Energy management systems using big data analytics to monitor and manage energy-consuming assets, such as HVAC and lighting systems. Backed by Goldman Sachs, Skypoint Capital, Advantage Capital Partners, Craton Equity Partners. Acquired by TFC Utilities in 2015.
Distech Controls (1995, Brossard, $37M, Acq.) – Building energy management system that provides integration of HVAC, lighting, access control, CCTV, energy management, and other building systems. Backed by Export Development Canada, Enertech Capital. Acquired by Acuity Brands in 2015.

Energy Management Systems – IEMS
Energy and Power Solutions (2001, Costa Mesa, $50M, Acq.) – Energy Management System with real-time information collected at the equipment level, across a customer’s entire enterprise. Backed by NGEN, Robeco, Altira Group. Acquired by Ameresco in 2011.

Energy Management Systems – HEMS
There Corporation (2009, Helsinki, $5.8M) – Home energy management system. Offer smart boiler control,     dual fuel control for air and gas heated houses, comfort control. Backed by VNT Management.

Device Level Management Systems – HVAC Management – Residential – Thermostats
Nest Labs (2010, Palo Alto, $80M, Acq.) – Provides thermostats for monitoring home energy consumption. Backed by KPCB, Google Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Shasta Ventures. Acquired by Google in 2014.
Tado (2011, Munich, $57M) – Smart AC management devices for homes. Backed by Target Partners, Shortcut Ventures, BayBG, Siemens.

Device Level Management Systems – HVAC Management – Commercial
Optimum Energy (2005, Seattle, $36M) – Provides data-driven cooling and heating optimization solutions for enterprise facilities.Backed by Columbia Pacific Advisors.

Device Level Management Systems – Lighting Control Systems – BLCS
Enlighted (2009, Sunnyvale, $83M) – Provides network platform with wireless sensor to collect and analyze data to intelligently adapt the lighting level. Backed by Intel Capital, KPCB, RockPort Capital Partners.

Device Level Management Systems – Lighting Control Systems – SLCS
Sensity Systems (2010, Sunnyvale, $74M, Acq.) – Offers a high-speed, sensor-based, open networking platform to connect lighting systems for improving the experience. Backed by Mohr Davidow Ventures, Cisco Investments, Acuity Brands and Simon Venture Group. Acquired by Verizon in Sep, 2016.

Device Level Management Systems – Power Management Systems – Data Center Management
SynapSense (2006, Folsom, $46M, Acq.) – Wireless cooling and data center asset monitoring solution. Backed by  Sequoia Capital, Crosslink Capital, Frontier Venture Capital, Aeris Capital, Nth Power, Robert Bosch Venture Capital and American River Ventures. Acquired by Panduit in 2014.

Energy Monitoring Systems – Residential & Commercial
Encored (2013, Seoul, $17M) – Energy tracking through app using disaggregation technologies. Backed by  Formation 8, Stonebridge, LG U Plus.

Energy Monitoring Systems – Residential
Bidgely (2010, Sunnyvale, $25M) – Home energy management up to appliance level without using any plug-level monitors. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Plug and Play Tech Center, E.on, RWE Global and  Constellation Technology Ventures.
Sense (2013, Cambridge, $19M) – Device to monitor appliances and track energy usages using electronic signatures. Backed by  Charles River Ventures, Capricorn, Bolt, Shell Global, Prelude Ventures and Energy Impact Partners.

Energy Monitoring Systems – Commercial & Industrial
Verdigris (2011, Moffett Field, $15.7M) – Energy analytics for better management of facilities using disaggregation techniques. Backed by Data Collective, Founder, Jabil, Verizon Ventures, StartX.

Service Providers –  As-a-Service Providers
UrbanVolt (2014, Dublin, $33M) – Lighting as a Service to install and maintain LED lights without any upfront cost. Backed by SUSI Partners.

Service Providers – Finance Providers
Ygrene Energy Fund (2009. Santa Rosa, $185M) – Offers clean energy financing solutions for residential and commercial properties. Backed by Lightyear Capital, New Energy Capital, Virgo Investment Group.

Service Providers – Project Management
Thermondo (2012, Berlin, $32M) – Energy efficient residential heating system installer. Backed by Holtzbrinck Ventures, E.on, IBB, Global Founders Capital, Rocket Internet.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest update, visit Energy Efficiency feed.

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – INTERNET-FIRST MEDIA

• Chinese startup Toutiao raising funds at over $20 billion valuation Link
• Gimlet Media Raises $15 Million From Stripes Group, Emerson Collective Link
• Dice Media and Bustle Partner to Deliver Engaging Tech Career Content to Millennial Women Link
• Fact-Checking Site Snopes Raises More Than $500,000 in a Day to Avoid Shutdown Link
• AudioBoom, the  posts huge revenue growth for H1 2017 Link
• Inshorts plans subscription model to drive revenue growth Link
• WPP Invests USD6.5 Million In Digital News Firm Mic Network Link
• Facebook Signs media content publishers Vox, BuzzFeed, Others For Original Video Services Link
• Group Nine to launch new verticals and video series beyond existing brands Link
• Quartz revenues up 60%, turns profitable Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

OMG Voice (2016, Accra, $1.10M) – Publishes original content on African pop-culture, entertainment, and lifestyle.
Group Nine Media (2016, New York City, $585M) – Digital media network with brand-leading properties in verticals such as Travel, News & Entertainment, Animals, and Science.

LEADER BOARD – INTERNET-FIRST MEDIA

Media Networks > Vertical
Vox Media (2003, Washington DC, 324.04M) – Digital media network which owns and operates multiple online editorial brands. Backed by Accel Partners, General Atlantic, Khosla Ventures, Allen & Company, Comcast Ventures, and NBCUniversal.
Minute Media (2011, Tel Aviv, $60M) – Sports media and technology company with individual brands for football, American sports, and e-sports. Backed by Qumra Capital, Battery Ventures, Dawn Capital, ProSieben, North Base Media.
Uproxx Media Group (2010, Culver City, $42M) – Owns and operates multiple digital brands across news, lifestyle, and entertainment verticals. Investors include Institutional Venture Partners, Advancit Capital, WPP, San Francisco 49ers, United Talent Agency, Multiplier Capital.

Media Networks > Multi-Sector
Leaf Group (2006, Santa Monica, $235.98M) – Owns and operates lifestyle media brands and consumer-facing marketplace properties. Backed by Spectrum Equity, Oak Investment Partners, and Capnamic.
Triboo Media (2014, Milan, $2.2M) – Media company with presence in digital publishing and digital advertising. Backed by First Capital. Became public on.
Purch (2003, Ogden, $175.5M) – Maintains 25+ brands in the technology and e-commerce verticals with yearly revenues of $100M+. Investors include Canso Investment Counsel Ltd, ABS Capital Partners, Highway 12 Ventures, Village Ventures.

Publishers > Multi-Category
Buzzfeed (2008, New York City, $496.8M) – Social news publisher and distributor, which operates local versions for different countries. Backed by NBCUniversal, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, RRE Ventures, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, SoftBank Group, Hearst, General Atlantic, Founder Collective, Crosscut.
Mic (2011, New York City, $61.16M) – News and media company targeting the millennials – tries to explain complex world problems to its target audience. Backed by WPP, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Time Warner, Kyu Collective, You & Mr Jones, Axel Springer SE, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Advancit Capital, Red Swan Ventures, Knight Foundation, Media Development Investment Fund, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, BA4V.
Huffington Post (2005, New York City, $37M) – Online news platform which sources content from its blogger network. Operates local versions for different countries. Backed by RRE Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, Greycroft Partners, SoftBank, Greycroft Partners, Oak Investment Partners, Lerer Hippeau Ventures.

Publishers > Lifestyle
Refinery29 (2004, New York City, $125.6M) – Digital media company focused on women’s fashion and lifestyle. Connects readers with editorial content, commerce, and the fashion community. Investors include Turner, Scripps Networks Interactive, WPP, Stripes Group, Floodgate Fund, First Round Capital, Hearst, Lead Edge Capital, Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Haystack Partners.
Thrillist (2005, New York City, $69M) –  Digital lifestyle brand providing content on food, drink, entertainment, nightlife, gadgets, and gear in the US and the UK. Backed by Axel Springer SE, Oak Investment Partners, SoftBank, Lerer Hippeau Ventures.
Complex (2002, New York City, $60.51M, Acq) – Online magazine with a focus on music, style, pop-culture, and sports. Was acquired by Hearst and Verizon Wireless in 2016. Backed by Hearst, Iconix Brand Group, Wing Venture Capital, Tritium Partners, AVX Partners.

Publishers > Sports
Hupu (2004, Shanghai, $61.2M) – Sports commentary and news platform, which offers a variety of services including integrated sports marketing, event management, media distribution, online games, e-commerce, lottery etc. Backers include Greenwoods Asset Management, Haitong International Securities Group, Morningside Group.
The Player’s Tribune (2014, New York City, $58M) – Athlete driven online sports media platform which publishes first-person stories such as such as videos, podcast, player polls, and written pieces directly from athletes. Backed by Institutional Venture Partners, NEA, GV, Kobe Bryant, Legendary Entertainment.
Bleacher Report (2007, San Francisco, $42.30M, Acq) – Creates and curates team specific sports content and real time event coverage with the help of full-time writers and contributors. Acquired by Turner in 2012. Backers include Crosslink Capital, Hillsven, Oak Investment Partners, SoftTech VC.

Publishers > Business & Finance
Business Insider (2007, New York City, $65.6M, Acq) – Business blog, covering technology, media, law, Wall Street, investing and entrepreneurship. Acquired by Axel Springer in 2015. Backers include Axel Springer SE, Institutional Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, Bezos Expeditions, Allen & Company, Kohlberg Ventures, Pilot Group.
All Business (1999, San Francisco, $37.40M, Acq) – Online resource for small businesses providing them with essential tools, resources, and services. Was acquired by Dun & Bradstreet in 2007. Backers include Sutter Hill Ventures, VantagePoint Capital Partners, REV, Canaan Partners, Intel, Monitor Ventures.
Blue Whale Media (2012, Shanghai, $22.50M) – Online media platform which provides users with financial news and information related to funds, investments, TMT industry news etc. Backed by Tianfeng Securities Co, Xiaomi, Cheetah Mobile, CDH Investments, Rich Yield Capital, Stone capital.

Publishers > Entertainment
IGN Entertainment (1996, San Francisco, $35M, Acq) – Video game news & entertainment media company which provides video games & movies related blogs, news & reviews. Acquired by Ziff Davis in 2013. Backed by Generation Partners, Crosslink Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners.
iFensi (2005, Beijing, $29.50M) – Online media portal for movies and other entertainment related news. Offers an integrated service including blogs, social network, interviews, etc. Backed by Qianhai Indus buyout fund, 36Kr, Hanfor, China Equity Group.
CollegeHumor (1999, Los Angeles, $20M, Acq) – Comedy website that produces as well as crowdsources humorous content including articles, original videos, etc. Acquired by IAC in 2006. Backed by IAC.

Aggregators > News
Toutiao (2012, Beijing, $1.1B) – News aggregator, which combines social media usage data with in-app reading preference data to personalize content offered. Backed by Sequoia Capital, China Construction Bank, Sina, DST Global, SIG China.
Flipboard (2010, Palo Alto, $210.50M) – Curates and aggregates web links from content websites across topics such as news, food, style, fashion and health to business, technology, etc. and displays the content in magazine form. Backed by Rizvi Traverse Management, Goldman Sachs, KPCB, Index Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Comcast Ventures, GGV Capital, Designer Fund, Asia Alpha, Vista Venture Partners.
SmartNews (2012, Tokyo, $90M) – News discovery platform which uses machine learning algorithms to evaluate articles, user behaviors, and social interactions to deliver the most interesting and important stories to its users. Backed by Development Bank of Japan, SMBC Venture Capital, Atomico, Globis Capital Partners, Social Venture Partners, GREE, Mixi, Social Starts.

Aggregators > News Stands
Zinio (2001, San Francisco, $54M) – A multi-platform distribution service for digital magazines with 5.5K+ magazines from a range of publishers. Backed by North Bridge, Commonwealth Capital Ventures, Apax Partners, IDEO, Intel Capital, NetOyster, NEA, Odyssey Investment Partners, Western Technology Investment, Future Perfect Ventures, Palisades Growth.
Texture (2009, Menlo Park, $50M) – Multi-platform digital newsstand which offers flat subscription plans for $9.99 and $14.99 per month. Founded by six publishers – Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corp., Rogers Communications and Time Inc. Backed by KKR & Co. L.P.

Podcasts > Networks
Gimlet (2014, Brooklyn, $22.50M) – US-based podcast network which produces and distributes multiple shows. Backed by Stripes Group, Emerson Collective, Cross Culture Ventures, Betaworks, Graham Holdings Co, Knight Foundation, Lowercase Capital.
Dgital Media (2014, New York City, $9.70M) – Podcasting network which creates, distributes, and monetizes audio content with original programming in areas such as sports, business, tech, comedy, and news. Backed by Entercom Communications.

Podcasts > Aggregators
Stitcher (2008, San Francisco, $21.7M) – Podcast and digital radio station aggregator which provides user-specific recommendations based on listening habits and preferences. Backed by NEA, Benchmark Capital, New Atlantic Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital.
ACast (2013, Stockholm, $9.75M) – Curated and social podcast aggregator which provides extra multimedia content in the form of images, videos, and links enrich each narrative. Backed by Alfven & Didrikson, Bonnier Growth Media, Moor Capital.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates, visit Internet-first Media feed.

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ENTERPRISE SECURITY

• IAM vendor Callsign raised $35M in the Series A round led by Accel Partners. Link
  
• Nyotron, an endpoint security vendor raised $33M in the Series B round led by DGB Investments. Link
  
• PerimeterX, an anti-botnet based website security company raised $23M in the Series B round led by Canaan Partners. Link
  
• IoT security startup, ZingBox raised $22M in the Series B round co-led by Dell Technologies Capital and Tri Ventures. Link
  
• UnifyID, a behavioral IAM solution provider raised $20M in the Series A round led by NEA. Link
  
• Deception-based cloud infrastructure security provider, Guardicore raised $15M in the Series B round co-led by TPV and WRV. Link
  
• SIEM-based threat detection startup, HanSight raised $14.91M in the Series A round led by IDG Capital Partners. Link
  
• Socure, an anti-fraud solution provider raised $13.9M in the Series B round led by Commerce Ventures. Link
  
• Wickr, a secure mobile communication solution vendor raised $8.8M during its ongoing Series C round from undisclosed investors. Link
  
• IoT security startup, MagicCube raised $8.5M in the Series A round led by Bold Capital Partners. Link
  
• Namagoo, a website security startup raised $8M in the Series A round led by GreatPoint Ventures. Link
  
• Network security startup, Bricata raised $8M in the Series A round led by Edison Partners. Link
  
• Insider threat detection startup, Protenus raised $3M in the Series A round led by Kaiser Permanente Ventures. Link
  
• IoT security startup, Senrio raised $1.7M in the Seed round from an undisclosed investor. Link
  
• ScaleFT, a privileged IAM solution provider startup raised $2M in the Seed round led by Graham Weston. Link
  
• Website security company, FunCaptcha raised $1M in a pre-Series A round funding from Sequoia Financial Group. Link
• Forensic security and eDiscovery vendor, Guidance Software acquired by OpenText in a $240M deal. Link
• Altran acquired IRM, a cyber security risk management platform provider in an undisclosed deal. Link
• Datablink, an anti-fraud & digital authentication solution provider acquired by WatchGuard in an undisclosed deal. Link
• Covata announced to acquire CipherPoint, a cloud data security vendor in an undisclosed deal. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Kapalya (2016, SF) – Stealth-mode data encryption and access-control based cloud data security.
Sepio Systems (2016, Tel Aviv) – Malicious hardware device detection and prevention platform for IoT security.
HackerHive (2017, Bangalore) – Cloud-based bug-bounty and public disclosure template generator platform.

LEADER BOARD – ENTERPRISE SECURITY

Suite
Symantec (1982, Mountain View, IPO) – Enterprise security solution suite for enterprise & personal users. Went IPO in 1989.
Kaspersky (1997, Moscow, $200M) – Security solution suite for businesses and consumers, Backed by General Atlantic.
FireEye (2004, Milpitas, IPO) – Enterprise security solution for network, endpoint, mobile devices, email, and threat intelligence. Went IPO in 2013.

Network Security
Palo Alto Networks (2005, Santa Clara, IPO) – Advanced firewalls designed to provide network security, visibility and granular control of network activity. Went IPO in 2012.
Barracuda Networks (2002, Campbell, IPO) – Appliance based network threat detection solutions. Went IPO in 2013.
Zscaler (2008, San Jose, $148M) – Network traffic analysis for application profiling and cloud security. Backed by LSVP, Google Capital, TPG, EMC.

BYOD Security
Blackberry (1984, Waterloo, IPO) – Enterprise Mobility Management suite company. Went IPO in 1999.
Good Technology (1996, Sunnyvale, $522M, Acq.) – Enterprise mobility & security solution. Acquired by Blackberry in 2015.
Lookout (2007, SF, $284M) – Mobile security against zero-day threats. Backed by Accel, A16Z, Greylock.
Airwatch (2003, Atlanta, $225M, Acq.) – Enterprise mobility management & security for BYOD. Acquired by Vmware in 2014.

Endpoint Security
Qihu 360 Software (2005, Beijing, $575M) – Anti-virus solution for desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. Backed by Sequoia, HCP, CDH Fund, IDVC, Matrix Partners, Redpoint.
Tanium (2007, Berkeley, $401.5M) – Helps manage and secure enterprise endpoints. Backed by A16Z, TPG, IVP, Franklin Templeton.
Crowdstrike (2011, Irvine, $256M) – Cloud and machine-learning based endpoint security platform. Backed by Accel Partners, Rackspace, Telstra, CaiptalG.
AVG (1991, Amsterdam, Acq.) – Anti-virus solution on endpoint devices for online security. Acquired by Avast in 2016.

Cloud Security
Illumio (2013, Sunnyvale, $267M) – Visibility and control over workloads running in any data center. Backed by Accel, A16Z.
Netskope (2012, Los Altos, $231M) – Cloud access security broker solution for the enterprise. Backed by LSVP, Accel, Social+Capital Partnership, Iconic Capital.
Armor Defense (2009, Richardson, $149M) – Cloud infrastructure security & secure cloud hosting service. Backed by The Stephens Group, Performance Edge Partners, Arizona Tech Investors.

Application Security
Veracode (2006, Burlington, $114.5M, Acq.) – Automated static, dynamic and mobile application security testing service. Acquired by CA Technologies in 2017.
Checkmarx (2006, NYC, $98.5M) – Static code analysis tools to identify security vulnerabilities in uncompiled code. Backed by Insight Partners, Salesforce.
HackerOne (2012, SF, $74M) – Vulnerability Disclosure & internet security bug bounty programs. Backed by NEA, Benchmark Capital, Dragoneer Investment Group.

Identity & Access Management
Okta (2008, SF, IPO) – Secure identity management and single sign on. Went IPO in 2017.
Ping Identity (2002, Denver, $137M, Acq.) – Identity management solution for federated access to applications. Backed by DFJ, KKR. Acquired by Vista Equity Partners in 2016.
Centrify (2004, Sunnyvale, $94M) – Unified identity management solutions for both privileged and end-users. Backed by Samsung Ventures, Docomo Capital, Accel, Mayfield.

Security Analytics
Tenable Networks (2002, Columbia, $310M) – Continuous network monitoring & vulnerability management solution. Backed by Accel & Insight Partners.
Sumo Logic (2010, Redwood City, $160.5M) – Cloud-based network log management and analytics. Backed by DFJ Growth, IVP, Sequoia, Accel, Greylock.
Skybox Security (2002, San Jose, $144M) – Risk Analytics & remediation recommendation of enterprise threats. Backed by SGEP, Providence Equity, LSVP, Benchmark.

Threat Intelligence
LookingGlass Cyber (2006, Arlington, $77M) – Threat intelligence-based security & dynamic threat defense. Backed by New Spring Capital, Alsop Louie Partners, Vital Financial.
Prevalent (2004, Warren, $72M) – Partner cyber-risk management solution. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Spring Mountain Capital, Fulcrum Equity Partners.
RiskIQ (2009, SF, $68M) – External threat management and intelligence platform. Backed by Summit Partners, Battery Ventures, Georgian Partners, MassMutual Ventures.

Data Security
SafeNet (1983, Belcamp, $139M, Acq.) – Encryption & Key Management based data security. Acquired by Gemalto in 2014.
Digital Guardian (2003, Waltham, $125M) – Endpoint data loss prevention solution. Backed by Fairhaven Capital, Mass Mutual, Siemens Finance.
Ionic Security (2011, Atlanta, $122M) – Centralized policy, encryption and control based data security. Backed by KPCB, Google Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Tech Operators, JAFCO, FF VC, Meritech Capital Partners.

Website Security
CloudFlare (2009, SF, $182M) – Security and performance solutions for websites using a collective intelligence of its network community. Backed by USV, NEA, Qualcomm Venture, MS Ventures, GV.
StackPath (2015, Dallas, $180M) – Cloud-based WAF, secure CDN & VPN service. Backed by ABRY Partners.
Shape Security (2011, Mountain View, $131M) – Website security by making subtle transmutation of underlying HTML page code of web pages, deceiving attackers. Backed by KPCB, GV, NVP.

Email Security
MimeCast (2003, London, IPO) – Saas-based email security by re-routing and analyzing emails. Went IPO in 2015.
Proofpoint (2002, Sunnyvale, IPO) – Email security based on secure email gateways. Went IPO in 2012.

Anti-Fraud
Lifelock (2005, Tempe, $178M, Acq.) – Identity theft protection & payment fraud prevention. Acquired by Symantec in 2017.
Pindrop Security (2011, Atlanta, $122M) – Machine learning and multi-factor analysis based phone fraud detection and prevention. Backed by Google Capital, A16Z, IVP, Felicis.
Signifyd (2011, Palo Alto, $106M) – Cloud-based digital fraud & chargeback prevention solution. Backed by a16z, American Express, IA Ventures, Menlo Ventures.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest update, visit Enterprise Security feed

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

• Thoughtspot, a Palo Alto based firm providing search driven analytics, raised $60M in a series D round led by LightSpeed Venture Partners. Link
• BigSquid, a Salt Lake City based firm providing self serve predictive analysis solution on Domo Appstore, raised $6M in a series A round led by Signal Peak Ventures, with participation from Silverton Partners and Kickstart Seed Fund. Link
• Preferred Networks, a Tokyo based deep learning platform for industries, raised $94.7M in PE round from Toyota Motor Corporation. Link
• iVEDiX, a Pittsford based mobile BI platform raised $5.5M in seed round from undisclosed sources. Link
• Naveego, a Traverse City based firm providing BI and MDM tools on cloud raised $500K in seed round from Boomerang-Catapult. Link
• Node, a San Francisco based firm providing contextual web personalization for B2B sales and marketing raised $11M in series A round led by Avalon Ventures, with participation from Mark Cuban, NEA and Canaan Partners. Link
• Heureka Software, a Cleveland based firm providing cyber security and endpoint detection solution through search intelligence raised $2M in seed round from NCT Ventures and Bridge Investments. Link
• cQuant, a Louisville based firm providing energy analytics quantitative models on subscription basis, raised $200k in conventional debt from undisclosed sources. Link
• Stackfolio, an Atlanta based analytics platform providing Bank’s asset management raised $545K in conventional debt from undisclosed sources. Link
• Truelytics, a Philadelphia based firm providing BI platform for financial advisors raised seed round of $125K from undisclosed investors. Link
• Enview, a San Francisco based firm providing aerial predictive analytics and visualization for energy industry raised $6M in series A from undisclosed investors. Link
• Decooda, an Atlanta based firm providing customer experience analysis through text mining raised an undisclosed amount in series A funding through TechSophy. Link
• Insight Engines, a San Francisco based firm providing NLP based text analysis of Splunk logs, raised $16M in series A led by August Capital, with participation from Splunk, Real Ventures, Data Collective and individuals Erik Swan and Simon Crosby. Link
• Alation, a California based firm providing data centralization raised $23M in series B round led by Icon Ventures with participation from Harmony Partners, Costanoa Ventures, and Data Collective. Link
• ArtiVatic, a Bangalore based firm providing AI enabled platforms for BI, raised undisclosed amount in Angel funding from Spark10 accelerator. Link
• Contextere, an Ottawa based firm providing IoT software for workforce in Aerospace, raised $1M in seed round from Lockheed Martin. Link
• Element Data, a Seattle based analytics platform that helps with decision making through AI and ML, raised $3.5M in seed round through Heather Redman. Link
• ClearGraph, a Palo Alto based firm providing data visualization from enterprise applications was acquired by Tableau. Link
• Syncsort, a Woodcliff Lake based firm providing data integration solutions was acquired by Centerbridge Partners. Link
• Cosmify, a San Francisco based firm providing AI enabled platform for knowledge discovery was acquired by Meltwater. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

FloydHub (2016, San Francisco) provides a platform to automate deep learning analysis. It provides preconfigured instances loaded with deep learning frameworks for faster analysis.

LEADER BOARD – BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

BI Suites
BI Suites – End to End BI Software
Sisense (2004, Tel Aviv, $95.5M) – Provides data preparation, integration and visualization. Backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Opus Capital, Genesis Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Battery Ventures, and RTP Ventures.

BI Suites – Platform
GoodData (2007, San Francisco, $101M) – Provides SaaS based BI analytics solutions. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OReilly AlphaTech Ventures, Next World Capital, General Catalyst Partners, Intel Capital, Tenaya Capital, Windcrest Partners, Fidelity Growth Partners Europe, Almaz Capital, TOTVS, Pharus Capital Management, Danhua Capital, Eight Roads Ventures and F-Prime Capital Partners.

Data Preparation
Data Preparation – Suite
Tamr (2012, Cambridge, $41M) – Provides data preparation platform that combines human insight with machine learning algorithms to unify and prepare data across data sources for analytics. Backed by NEA, Thomson Reuters, GV, Work-Bench, MassMutual Ventures, Hewlett Packard Ventures and SineWave Ventures.

Data Preparation – Integration
Data Preparation – Integration – Self-Serve
Snaplogic (2006, San Mateo, $136M) – Provides PaaS integration platform to integrate applications, data, APIs with each other. Backed by Microsoft, Andreessen Horowitz, Ignition Partners, Western Technology Investment, Silver Lake, Triangle Peak Partners, Cervin Ventures, H. Barton Asset Management, Dhillon Capital, Costella Kirsch, Maples Investments and Pharus Capital Management.

Data Preparation – Cataloging and Metadata management
Attivio (2007, Newton, $102M) – Provides ETL, data transforming, indexing and cleaning to visualization tools like Tableau to understand relationships between data sources. Backed by Oak Investment Partners.

Data Discovery & Visualization
Data Discovery & Visualization – Discovery
Alteryx (2010, Irvine, $163M) – Offers advanced BI solutions including predictive forecasting along with ETL and visualization. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Thomson Reuters, Meritech Capital, Toba Capital, Iconiq Capital and Sapphire Ventures.
MicroStrategy (1989, Vienna, IPO) – Provides self-service analytics solutions focused on multi-source analysis, by combining and blending data from multiple structured and unstructured sources. Went public in June 1998.

Data Discovery & Visualization – Visualization with Analytics
Domo (2010, American Fork, $721M) – Provides self-service data exploration with pre built role based Domo apps. Has over 300+ connectors and data fusion platform to clean, transform and load data automatically. Backed by Greylock Partners, Fidelity Investments, Andreessen Horowitz, Salesforce, Morgan Stanley, WPP, Benchmark Capital, Credit Suisse, Founders Fund, Institutional Venture Partners, GGV Capital, Glynn Capital, BlackRock, T. Rowe Price, Transmedia Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Mercato Partners, TPG, Capital Group, Viking Global Investors, BYU Cougar Capital, Zetta Venture, and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners.
Tableau (2003, Seattle, IPO) – Provides interactive data exploration through heat maps, pivot tables and geographical maps. It also offers data connectors and integrated in-memory ETL architecture. Went public in 2013.
Looker (2011, Santa Cruz, $177.5M) – Provides LookML, a query language that enables data modeling faster and easier than SQL. It also offers visualization and embedded analytics. Backed by First Round Capital, Redpoint Ventures, KPCB, Meritech Capital, PivotNorth Capital, Sapphire Ventures, CapitalG, Geodesic Capital, and Goldman Sachs.

Data Discovery & Visualization – Reporting & Dashboarding
Data Discovery & Visualization – Reporting & Dashboarding – NLP based query
ThoughtSpot (2012, Palo Alto, $211M) – Provides an NLP engine to query relational databases to enable self-service BI for business users. Backed by Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, and Lightspeed China Partners.
Data Discovery & Visualization – Reporting & Dashboarding – GUI-based query.
Roambi (2008, Solana Beach, $50M, Acq.) – Provides mobile first ad-hoc analysis, visualization and dashboards that can be instantly accessed via the iPhone or iPad. Acquired by SAP in February 2016.

Data Discovery & Visualization – Charting Software
ZoomCharts (2014, Riga, $1M) – Provides interactive data visualization charts. Backed by Imprimatur Capital.

Unstructured Data Analysis – Text Analytics
Coveo (2005, Quebec City, $70M) – Provides knowledge base data management through analytics and enterprise search. Backed by BDC Capital, Telesystem, Fonds de solidarite FTQ, Access Capital, Tandem Expansion Fund and IQ Venture Advisors.

Unstructured Data Analysis – Image and Video Analytics
ClarifAi (2013, New York City, $41M) – Deep learning based image and video recognition API provider. Backed by Union Square Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, nyu.edu, NVIDIA, GV, Menlo Ventures, Lux Capital, Osage University Partners, Osage University Partners, LDV Group, LDV Capital, and Corazon Capital.

BI Verticals
BI Verticals – Multifunction – Multiindustry
Anaplan (2006, San Francisco, $232M) – Provides cloud-based modelling and planning software for companies’ sales, operations, and finance teams. Backed by Salesforce, Shasta Ventures, Meritech Capital, DFJ Growth, Coatue, Harmony Partners, Granite Ventures, Workday, Baillie Gifford, Sands Capital, Founders Circle, Founders Circle and Brookside Capital.

BI Verticals – Multifunction – Industrial
Uptake (2014, Palo Alto, $85M) – Provides machine learning enabled predictive platform for multiple industries. Backed by NEA, Trinity Ventures, Shasta Ventures, Revolution, Lightbank, Caterpillar, Peterson Partners, and GreatPoint Ventures.

BI Verticals – Multifunction – Retail – Suite
ManthanRetail (2004, Bangalore, $101M) – Provides a retail and CPG analytics solution. Backed by Norwest Venture Partners, IDG Ventures India, Temasek, SIDBI Venture Capital, ePlanet Capital, InnoVen Capital, and Eight Roads Ventures.

BI Verticals – Multifunction – Retail – In-store
RetailNext (2007, San Jose, $190M) – Provides real-time analytics solution that enables retailers, shopping centers and manufacturers to collect, analyse and visualise in-store data. Backed by Metamorphic Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Nokia Growth Partners, StarVest Partners, August Capital, Commerce Ventures, Tyco, Pereg Ventures, EDB, Siguler Guff, Activant Capital, and American Express Ventures.

BI Verticals – Finance & Accounting
AdaptiveInsights (2003, Palo Alto, $176M) – Provides financial analytics solutions for planning, budgeting and forecasting enabling finance and management teams to plan, monitor, report on, and analyse financial and operational performance. Backed by Salesforce, Bessemer Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, ONSET Ventures, Relay Ventures, JMI Equity Fund, Cardinal Venture Capital, Monitor Ventures, RBC, and Information Ventures.

BI Verticals – HR
Visier (2010, Vancouver, $94.5M) – Provides a workforce analytics and planning solution to reduce workforce costs, improve productivity, attract and retain top talent. Backed by Adams Street Partners, Foundation Capital and Summit Partners.

BI Verticals – Customer Lifecycle Management – Sales
Insidesales (2004, Provo, $251M) – Provides a sales forecasting and visualisation solution based on Neuralytics, a predictive and prescriptive analytics self-learning engine for lead prioritisation and hiring. Backed by Microsoft, Salesforce, KPCB, US Venture Partners, Polaris Partners, EPIC Ventures, Zetta Venture and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners.

BI Verticals – Customer Lifecycle Management – Marketing
Addthis (2004, Vienna, $77 M) – Provides a behavioral audience data and marketing platform. Backed by NEA, QED Investors, Institutional Venture Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, Amidzad Partners, Novak Biddle Venture Partners, Revolution, and Rho Ventures.

BI Verticals – Customer Lifecycle Management – Marketing – Web Analytics
Clicktale (2006, Ramat Gan, $53M) – Provides a patented Customer Experience Visualisation platform for e-businesses to see their customers’ online experience at all levels of detail, from aggregated views to playable videos of users’ browsing sessions. Backed by Viola Group, KKR, Amadeus Capital, YL Ventures, Goldrock Capital and Talis Capital.
ClickFox (2000, Atlanta, $41M) – Provides Customer Experience Analytics (CEA) solutions for businesses to engage customers through a variety of service channels from visiting a website, voice calling and online chat applications to kiosks, retail stores etc. Backed by Morgan Stanley, Ascent Venture Partners, Delta Ventures, Cedar Fund, HTGC and Veritas Venture Partners.

BI Verticals – IT
Nexthink (2004, Prilly, $65M) – Provides end-user IT analytics for security, ITSM and transformation. Backed by Auriga Partners, VI Partners, Mannai, VI Partners, galeo-ventures.com, Waypoint, and Highland Europe.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates, visit Business Intelligence feed.

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – AGRITECH

• Calyxt, a crop gene editing company, raised $56M through IPO. Link
• Impossible Foods, a producer of beef-less burger made from plants and heme protein raised $75M in series D round of funding led by Temasek, with participation from Open Philanthropy, as well as earlier investors Bill Gates, Khosla Ventures and Horizon Ventures. Link
• Prospera, provider of technology solutions for plant health monitoring raised $15M in series B round of funding led by Qualcomm Ventures with participation from Cisco Investments, ICV and previous backer Bessemer Venture Partners. Link
• Provivi, a developer of bio catalyst and fermentation technology for pest control raised $9M of its planned $30M of series B round of funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• Twiga Foods, a Kenyan mobile based B2B supply chain platform for fruits and vegetables raised $6.3M in series A round of funding and a $4M in debt funding led by Wamda Capital with a participation from Omidyar Network, DOB Equity, Uqalo, 1776, Blue Haven Initiative, Alpha Mundi, and AHL. Link
• Leaf (Corsica Innovations, Inc.), a developer of autonomous cannabis growing platform for consumers raised $2.5M of its planned $4M round of funding from undisclosed investors. Link
• CroFarm, an Indian tech-enabled farm to business supply chain of fruits and vegetables raised $783K in seed round of funding from Rajan Anandan (MD, Google India), Jitendra Gupta (MD, PayU India) and Factor[e] Ventures. Link
• Aerobotics, on-demand satellite and drone based imaging and analytics provider for agriculture raised $602K in seed funding from 4Di and the Savannah Fund. Link
• Fresh Range, farm-to-home online retailer raised $362K from 75 investors through equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs. Link
• Agroop, a farm management software developer raised $242K through equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs. Link
• Premier Crop Systems, a developer of field trial management tools for agribusinesses raised undisclosed amount of funding from Syngenta Ventures. Link
• Doodhwala, an Indian subscription based milk delivery company raised undisclosed amount in pre-series A funding round from Tom Varkey, a partner at US-based hedge fund Stonehill Capital. Link
• Solinftec, a provider of automation for agricultural logistics raised undisclosed amount of funding round from TPG ART, a growth equity platform of the private equity firm TPG. Link
• DuPont, an American agrochemicals conglomerate, acquired Granular, a SaaS based farm management and analytics software platform provider for $300M. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Agrome IQ (2017, Bandar Seri Begawan): Develops integrated hardware and software for farm data collection, analytics and automation of farming operations.
Gro.io (2016, Boulder): Develops autonomous indoor hydroponic growing systems.

LEADER BOARD – AGRITECH

Precision Ag
Farm Data and Analytics – Integrated Platforms
The Climate Corporation (2006, SF, $109M, Acq.) – Hardware and software solutions provider for hyper-local weather and farm data with predictive analysis for insurance products. Sold off its insurance business to AmTrust North America in July 2015. Acquired by Monsanto in 2013.
Farmers Edge (2005, Winnipeg, $44M) – Hardware and software solution provider for continuous monitoring of farm fields and predictive analysis for management decision support.

Farm Data and Analytics – Software Platforms
Farmers Business Network (2014, Davenport, $88M) – Precision agriculture solutions through big data analysis of data gathered from farmers and agriculture machinery. Backed by Kleiner Perkins, DBL Partners, and GV.

Field Operations
AutoAgronom (1988, Yokneam Illit, $180M) – Sensor based measurement of physical and chemical changes in root zone supplemented with computerized analysis and fuzzy control algorithms to automatically activate irrigation and fertilization.
Novariant (1994, Fremont, $60.5M) – Sensor based auto steering hardware solutions for GPS-based navigation through tablets. Backed by Sierra Ventures, Ridgewood Capital, Clearstone.
Blue River Tech (2011, Sunnyvale, $30M) – Develops automated technology solutions which use computer vision for identification and selective killing of unwanted weed. Backed by Khosla Ventures, DCVC, Innovation Endeavors, Pontifax Agtech.
Harvest Automation (2007, Billerica, $28M) – Developer of robotic machinery for farming operations. Backed by Founder Collective, Entree Capital, Cultivian, MassVentures.
Feedlogic (2002, Wilmar, $2M) – Automated feeding machines along with data recording platform for livestock farmers in the USA. Backed by unknown private investors.

BioTech
Farm Inputs – Seeds
Monsanto (1901, St. Louis, IPO) – Developer of genetically modified (GM) seedlings to mitigate risks associated with biotic and abiotic stresses in crops. Went public in 2000. Acquired by Bayer in 2016.
Syngenta (2000, Basel) – Developer of genetically modified crops and biological agrochemicals apart from engaging in genomic research.
DuPont Pioneer (1926, Des Moines) – Developer of hybrid (non-GM) and GM seeds to mitigate risks against insects, pests and other diseases.

Farm Inputs – Biologicals
Indigo (2013, Cambridge, $163.5M) – Earlier known as Symbiota, it is building technology for delivery of selective plant microbes through seed coatings.
AgBiome (2012, Raleigh, $52M) – Developer of biological agrochemicals for crop protection against soil-borne diseases. Backed by Gates Foundation, Monsanto Growth Ventures, Syngenta Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, UTIMCO, Polaris Partners, Pontifax Agtech, Harris+Harris Group.
Agrivida (2002, Medford, $61M) – Specially engineered enzymes for the nutrition of livestock animals. Backed by KPCB, Middleland Capital, ARCH Venture Partners, Cultivian, DAG Ventures, Bright Capital, Northgate, Prairie Gold.
Zymergen (2013, Emeryville, $174M) – Combination of synthetic biology and machine learning to engineer industry relevant microbes to manufacture chemicals and new materials. Backed by Softbank, Data Collective Venture Capital, True Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Iconiq Capital, DFJ, Innovation Endeavours, Two Sigma Ventures, Prelude Ventures, Tao Capital.

Infrastructure
Advanced Animal Diagnostics (2001, Morrisville, $36M) – Diagnostic infrastructure provider for real-time animal health monitoring through white blood cell levels in animals. Backed by Middleland Capital, Cultivian, Kansas Bioscience Authority, LabCorp, Intersouth Partners, Novartis Venture Fund.

Tech Platforms
Kaiima (2006, Lower Galilee, $91M) – Tech platform to enhance inherent productivity and resource usage efficiency in food and feed crops. Backed by KPCB, DFJ, Horizons Ventures, Tamir Fishman.

Waste Management
Cool Planet (2009, Camarillo, $143M) – Utilizes patented process to convert non-food biomass to gasoline and organic soil nutrients. Backed by Northbridge, UBS, Google Ventures, Energy Technology Ventures, Concord Energy, Sustainable Conversion Ventures, British Petroleum.
Wiserg (2010, Issaquah, $37M) – Devices to convert grocery waste into a nutrient rich liquid which can be used as fertilizer for agriculture.

Cellular Ag
Impossible Foods (2011, Redwood City, $258M) – Beef-substitute made from a protein called Heme extracted from plants. Backed by Khosla Ventures, Google Ventures, UBS, Horizon Ventures, Viking Global.

Breeding Tech
Prairie Plant (1988, Saskatoon,$6.4M) – Plant breeding research to produce berry and other fruit plants for orchards. Backed by WestCap.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
Oxitec (2002, Abingdon, $20M) – Develops genetically modified pests which act as anti-pests to suppress the population of disease-causing pests in crops. Backed by Oxford Capital, East Hill.

Farm Business Management
Field Crops – Field Management
Granular (2014, SF, $23M, Acq.) – Farm management software for collection and analysis of data related to farm business processes and planning of resources. Backed by A16Z, Google Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Tao Capital, Fall Line Capital, Emory Investment Management. Acquired by DuPont.

Agribusiness
Cultivation – Algae
Sapphire Energy (2007, San Diego, $290M) – Cultivation of algae and using it as a biomass source for production of crude oil. Backed by Monsanto Growth Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners.

Infrastructure
Irrigation
Netafim (1965, Tel Aviv) – Manufactures components for drip irrigation and develops smart irrigation systems. Backed by Permira and Tene Investment Fund.

Aquaculture – Full Stack System
GFA Advanced Systems (2008, Kadima, $5M) – Developer of zero discharge intensive aquaculture system. Backed by Linnaeus Capital.

Market Linkages
Supply Chain – Farm Inputs
CloudFarm (2013, Beijing, $26M) – Online retailer of Agri inputs including seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, farm equipment, etc.

Supply Chain – Farm Produce
Meicai (2014, Beijing, $253M) – B2B mCommerce for fruits and vegetables. Backed by Zhen Fund and Blue Lake Capital.

Finance
ProducePay (2014, Los Angeles, $9.5M) – Digital Platform for real-time tracking of produce movement and arrangement of collateral and loans. Backed by CoVenture, Menlo Ventures, Arena Ventures, Red Bear Angels, Social Leverage, and ELab.

Indoor Agriculture
AgriBusiness – Cultivation
Plenty (2013, SF, $226M) – Indoor soil-less cultivation of vegetables, leafy greens and salads. Backed by SoftBank Group, Innovation Endeavors, Bezos Expeditions, Data Collective, Finistere Ventures and DCM Ventures.
Sundrop Farms (2009, London, $100M) – Hydroponics cultivation of fruits and vegetables while using renewable energy resources in greenhouses. Backed by KKR.
AeroFarms (2004, NYC, $90M) – Cultivation of leafy greens in soil-less growth medium using aeroponics. Backed by Middleland Capital, Wheatsheaf, GSR Ventures, Mission Point Capital, Meraas and GSR Ventures.

Infrastructure – Hydroponics
GrowLife (1987, Seattle, IPO) – Provides urban hydroponic / soil-less farming systems, components and cultivation supply products. Went public in 2011.
Grodan (1969, Milton) – Vegetative and steerable substrates for indoor cultivation of horticultural crops.

Infrastructure – Lighting
Illumitex (2005, Austin, $73M) – Developer of LED lighting solutions for horticulture, industrial and other use. Backed by NEA, Morgan Creek, Apex, WPG, Syngenta Ventures.

Technology Providers – Data Collection and Analysis
Agrilyst (2015, NYC, $1M) – Software platform for farm data and analytics in indoor farms. Backed by Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, Metamorphic Ventures.

Leader board includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates visit AgriTech feed.

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – ENERGY STORAGE

• Roost, developers of the Roost Smart Battery and the Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector solutions, raised $10.4M in its Series B funding round led by Aviva Venture Link
• Highview Power Storage, a UK based startup, has been awarded $2M grant by Innovate UK for a new hybrid configuration of its existing Liquid Air Energy Storage Link
• PlugPower has received $20M of additional debt commitment from NY Green Bank, increasing its initial commitment to $45M from $25M Link
• Avalon Battery has raised $6M in a Series A funding according to regulatory filings Link
• FINSix has raised $13.6M of funding as a mix of Debt and Options according to SEC Filings Link
• Inmatech has raised $300k of Seed funding based on SEC Filings Link
• Nugen Systems has raised $302k of Seed funding according to SEC Filings Link
• Cymbet ahs raised $500k in Secured Promissory Notes based on regulatory filings Link
• P3 Group, has secured a stake in Custom Cells Itzehoe, a manufacturer of lithium accumulators for specialist applications Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Coolfinity (Amstelveen, 2016) – Coolfinity has developed a cooling technology for fridges with intermittent power availability in developing countries. It has developed a 600L fridge integrated with thermal battery to withstand power outages of 12 to 20 hours per day. When the power is off the ice bank technology freezes 50 kg water that functions as a cold battery to maintain temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees Celsius and releases cold air gradually and when power is restored, the ice bank immediately recharges. Useful to keep food, beverages and medicines cold at a stable 3 degrees Celsius. Plans to supply their technology to fridge manufacturers.

LEADER BOARD – ENERGY STORAGE

Batteries
Energizer (1896, St.Louis, IPO) – Energizer is the oldest battery manufacturer in the world. The company has launched multiple product lines, one of them being the Inductive Charger to the world’s first AA battery made with 4% recycled batteries. The different types of battery manufactured are AAA,AA,D,9V, Photo batteries, Hearing Aid batteries etc. Two major brands are Energizer and Eveready. Went public in June, 2015.
Boston Power (2005, Westborough, $638M) – Boston-Power develops and manufactures batteries which charges faster, lasts longer, performs better and is safer than what’s currently on the market. The technology can be used in electronic devices like  laptops, PDAs and mobile phones. Backed by GSR Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, Foundations Asset Management, Venrock, GGV Capital and Gabriel Venture Partners.

Energy Storage Systems
BYD (1996, Shenzhen, IPO) – BYD is a tech enterprise in China specializing in IT, automobile, and new energy. They are the largest supplier of rechargeable batteries in the globe, and has the largest market share for Nickel-cadmium batteries, handset Li-ion batteries, cell-phone chargers and keypads worldwide. Went public in August, 2002.
Sonnen (2010, Wildpoldsried, $98M) – Sonnen offers energy storage system which are integrated with solar systems. The product is targeted at commercial and domestic power consumers for better demand management which will enable users to harvest solar power at night by storing them in batteries and use the device’s inbuilt energy management system to consume the power in an efficient way. Backed by Envision Energy, GE Ventures, Inven Capital, Munich Venture Partners, ECapital and SET Ventures.

Fuel Cell
Ballard Power Systems (1979, Burnaby, IPO) – Ballard Power Systems designs, develops and manufactures hydrogen fuel cell products for residential co-generation, back-up power, and heavy duty applications. The company operates in three segments Power Generation, Automotive, and Material Products. Went public in November, 1995.
Bloom Energy (2001, Sunnyvale, $1.2B) – Bloom Energy builds solid oxide fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity. The company offers distributed generation, energy server service (each Bloom Energy server provides 200kW of power) and energy server architecture. Backed by KPCB, NEA, Goldman Sachs among others.

Component Developer
Manz (1987, Reutlingen, IPO) – Manz is a leading provider of production equipment for lithium-ion battery cells, battery systems, super-capacitors and capacitors. The products manufactured by the company are production solutions for lithium-ion batteries and capacitors in e-mobility and stationary energy storage Went public in September, 2006.
Nexeon (2006, Abingdon, $167M) – Nexeon is a battery materials and licensing company with a unique silicon anode technology. Their technology unlocks the potential of silicon to deliver increased capacity without compromising lithium-ion battery cycle life, and  provides lighter batteries with more power and longer lifetime between charges. Backed by Imperial Innovations and Invesco Perpetual.

Charging Solutions
CyberPower Systems (1997, Shakopee, IPO) – CyberPower Systems designs and manufactures uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, power distribution units (PDUs), surge protectors, mobile charging devices, connectivity devices and Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTx) backup power solutions. Went public in January, 2010.
ChargePoint (2007, Campbell, $298M) – Chargepoint is an electric vehicle infrastructure company that offers a network of public charging stations. ChargePoint operates EV charging network and also designs, builds, and supports the technology that powers it.

Battery Management
Younicos (2006, Berlin, $50M) – Younicos offers battery parks which are 3,000 times faster than conventional power plants enabling them to balance fluctuations in the grid much more precisely and efficiently. The company offers hybrid batteries and battery technology which make batteries intelligent and efficient. They provide micro grid system in remote areas with renewable energy supply and storage technology. Backed by First Solar and Grupoecos.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates visit Energy Storage feed.

RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – WASTE & WATER MANAGEMENT

• AquaVenture Holdings announces $150M debt financing from Deutsche Bank. Link
• Smart beverage platform Bevi raises $16.5M Series B round led by Trinity Ventures with participation from Horizons Ventures and Tamarisc. Link
• Recycle Track Systems raises $11.7M in funding in a round led by Volition Capital. Link
• Origin Materials receives $5M from specialty chemicals group AECI. Link
• GreenMantra Technologies raises $3M from Closed Loop Fund. Link
• Sustane Technologies secures $2.6M as a part of Canadian Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan. Link
• Sustainable Development Technology Canada provides $2.2M grant to GreenMantra Technologies. Link
• New World Angels leads Source Molecular’s $1.6M Series A round. Link
• Dropcountr, a provider of water tracking and reducing software to utilities, raises $600k from Urban Innovation Fund, Zipdragon Ventures and others. Link
• UFraction wins £5k cash prize in the Murgitroyd Innovator Launchpad competition. Link
• Sanivation, a Kenya-based social enterprise offering sanitation services, raises $4.6k from Chivas venture fund. Link

SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND

Rainbow Biosystem (2017, Sion) – Rainbow Biosystem is working on developing a fish cell-based biosensor for water monitoring and management. The impedance-based biosensor would find application in the detection of water toxicity levels.

LEADER BOARD – WASTE & WATER MANAGEMENT

Waste Management – Integrated
Sepur (1965, Plaisir, $158M) – Offers integrated waste management services including collection, transportation, and processing. Backed by Fondations Capital.

Waste Management – Collection – On-demand Collection
Rubicon Global (2008, Atlanta, $163M) – On-demand waste collection and management service. Backed by Goldman Sachs, Claritas Capital, Nima Capital, Tudor Funds, Wellington Management and others.

Waste Management – Treatment – Processing – Waste-to-energy
Stormfisher (2006, London, $350M) – Builds, owns and operates facilities which use food waste, industrial and agricultural waste and convert them into clean energy like Biogas. Backed by Denham Capital.

Waste Management – Treatment – Processing – Composting
Beijing Goldenway Bio-Tech (2001, Beijing, $12M) – Develops compost and organic fertilizers from solid waste. Backed by Tsing Capital.

Waste Management – Treatment – Recycling
HYLA Mobile (2009, Farmers, $140M) – Collects, processes, recycles and redistributes used mobile phones which are used to produce new devices. Backed by Silver Lake, SJF Ventures, KPCB, RRE Ventures and others.

Waste Management – Enablers – Software
AMCS (2003, Limerick, $103M) – Offers end-to-end ERP solution for recycling and waste management industry. Backed by Insight Venture Partners, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Highland Capital Partners Europe, Investec and others.

Waste Management – Enablers – Hardware
Enevo (2010, Espoo, $27M) – Smart sensor network and devices for waste container monitoring. Backed by Finnish Industry Investment, Draper Associates, Lifeline Ventures, Foxconn and others.

Water & Wastewater Management – Treatment – Municipal Wastewater
Darco Water (1999, Singapore, IPO) – Develops wastewater treatment systems for municipal applications. Went Public in 2002.

Water & Wastewater Management – Treatment – Industrial Wastewater
H2O Midstream (2015, Houston, $100M) – Offers solutions for wastewater treatment in the Oil & Gas industry. Backed by EIV Capital.

Water & Wastewater Management – Drinking Water
Waterhealth (1995, Irvine, $93M) – Installs and operate drinking water treatment facilities and supplies drinking water. Backed by IFC, Tata Capital, Acumen, Coca-Cola, Vital Capital Fund and others.

Water & Wastewater Management – Testing & Measurement
RedZone (1987, Pittsburgh, $52M) – Develops inspection technology and systems for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Backed by Innovation Works, ABS Capital Partners, Four Winds Capital and others.

Water & Wastewater Management – Smart Water Management
HydroPoint (2002, Petaluma, $68M) – Develops smart water management solutions for landscape irrigation applications for residential and large-scale applications. Backed by Monitor Ventures, RockPort Capital, Firelake Capital and others.

Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.

For latest updates visit Waste & Water Management feed.