There’s little question that former Facebook executive and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya thoroughly enjoys challenging the way that startups are funded. Because he has the hot hand, so to speak, he’s able to get away with it, too. Read More
from TechCrunch
With over four million listings across more than 65,000 cities worldwide, Airbnb has not just upended the global hospitality industry — it has inadvertently created an industry within an industry: demand for services that help hosts manage their properties efficiently and professionally. It’s a hot space, for sure. GuestReady, a one-year-old contender based in London, has pulled in… Read More
from TechCrunch
Reflektion, a marketing startup that uses predictive analytics to increase conversion rates on e-commerce sites, has raised $12 million to support its international expansion plans. The new funding is an extended Series B round led by Hasso Plattner, with participation from returning investors Battery Ventures and Clear Ventures. Read More
from TechCrunch
Apple is doubling on wireless charging, the technology that debuted in this year’s iPhone 8 and iPhone X, after it scooped up New Zealand-based company PowerbyProxi in its latest piece of M&A. Ten-year-old PowerbyProxi is a spinout of the University of Auckland and it is focused on developing wireless charging and power transfer products. That spans wireless control systems,… Read More
from TechCrunch
Sometimes, for growth stage startups raising money, when it rains it pours. That’s the case for Klook, a Hong Kong-based travel startup that specializes in helping travelers book trip activities and logistics for when they are overseas. Klook raised $30 million Series B back in March and, despite admitting that it has barely touched that cash, today it revealed that it has competed… Read More
from TechCrunch
Weibo, the Twitter-like Chinese social network that is profitable unlike Twitter, is raising $700 million as it looks for acquisitions to continue the rocket ship growth its business has seen in 2017. The Beijing-based company, which is listed on the NASDAQ with a current market cap of $21 billion, announced today it will offer up to $700 million in convertible senior notes in order to… Read More
from TechCrunch
Echo, the U.K. startup that offers an app to help you manage your medication and order repeat prescriptions for delivery, has raised $7 million in Series A funding. The round is led by White Star Capital, with participation from MMC Ventures, LocalGlobe, and Rocket Internet’s Global Founders Capital. Read More
from TechCrunch
A lot of startups have been raising money for credit cards and other financing businesses lately.
Now Jiko has debit card technology that has convinced Upfront Ventures, Radical Impact, Social Capital and others to invest $7.7 million in a Series A. The Oakland, California-based business markets itself as a secure place to save your money, while also offering at least .5% cash back on debit… Read More
from TechCrunch
Most young adults don’t have credit cards these days. Many of them are concerned about accruing debt. Others are finding it difficult to build credit. A handful of startups are now focused on building alternatives. One of these is Deserve, which recently changed its name from SelfScore. The Menlo Park-based startup had been working with international students to assess credit.… Read More
from TechCrunch
ChowNow, an online food ordering service, has raised a $20 million Series B round led by Catalyst. This round brings ChowNow’s total funding to nearly $40 million.
“We were excited for [Catalyst] to get involved because they were behind Mindbody,” ChowNow CEO Chris Webb told TechCrunch.
Mindbody, a white-label service for health and wellness businesses, went public in 2015. Read More
from TechCrunch