The Latest from Mike Butcher
Minna Technologies, a subscription management tool for banking customers, raises $18.8M
With the proliferation of subscription services, combined with our lives becoming almost 100% digital, there’s a rising need to be able to manage these services. But most banks don’t have much of
Digital road freight forwarder Sennder raises $160M Series, plans European expansion
Sennder, a large digital road freight forwarder based out of Germany, has raised $160m in Series D financing. The round was led by an unnamed party, but round participants included Accel, Lakestar, HV
UK on-demand supermarket Weezy raises $20M Series A led by NYC’s Left Lane Capital
Weezy — an on-demand supermarket that delivers groceries in as fast as 15 minutes — has raised $20 million in a Series A funding led by New York-based venture capital fund Left Lane Capital. Also
Rho, a startup bank aimed at high-growth businesses, raises $15M Series A led by M13 Ventures
Rho Technologies, the NYC-based fintech behind Rho Business Banking, has raised a $15 million Series A round led by M13 Ventures with participation from Torch Capital and Inspired Capital. The company
UK tests ‘Space Tug’ capable of refiring its engine several times in orbit, and collecting space junk
U.K. space tech startup Skyrora is currently the only private company capable of launching rockets from U.K. soil. On Christmas Eve at its testing facility in Fife, Scotland, the team performed a thir
LAUNCHub Ventures heading towards a $85M fund for South Eastern European startups
LAUNCHub Ventures, an early-stage European VC which concentrates mainly on Central Eastern (CEE) and South-Eastern Europe (SEE), has completed the first closing of its new fund at €44 million ($53.5
Curve says closing its new $95M Series C funding will put it on track for a US launch
Curve, the London-based fintech that combines multiple cards and accounts into one smart card and an app, has secured a Series C funding round of $95 million. The financing was led by IDC Ventures, Fu
Lisbon’s startup scene rises as Portugal gears up to be a European tech tiger
Lisbon — and Portugal generally — is becoming a magnet for digital nomads with talent.
Bristol’s Brightpearl raises $33M Series C round led by Sage to boost its platform for retailers
Brightpearl, which allows retailers to streamline their operations thus boosting sales, has raised $33 million in funding to scale its business. This Series C round was led by Sage, which has put $23
Yayzy app automatically calculates the environmental impact of your spending
Ahead of the turning of the New Year, many people are wishing they could do something about the environment. Now, a U.K. startup hopes to make our environmental impact more personal. Yayzy has now lau
AI-driven energy startup Octopus hits $2B mark after $200M investment from Tokyo Gas
You’ve heard of challenger banks? Now meet the challenger energy suppliers. The U.K.’s Octopus Energy has attained a $2.06 billion valuation (£1.5 billion) after attracting a $200 million (£150
After lockdowns boost gaming marketplace Eneba, it raises $8M from Practica and InReach
Eneba, a marketplace for gamers that sells games and other products, has raised an $8 million round of funding from Practica Capital and InReach Ventures. The funding is described as a “combinat
Lockheed Martin acquires rocket engine maker Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.4B as space heats up
Lockheed Martin (LM), the U.S.’s largest defence contractor, will acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR), a rocket engine and missile manufacturer, for $4.4 billion including debt and net cash, giving the
Foresight raises $15M for its construction workers’ compensation platform
When an accident on a building site resulted in the death of their friend, the founders of Safesite were inspired to launch the platform to digitize safety programs for construction. The data from tha
Umba, a digital bank for emerging markets, raises $2M Seed funding to expand across Africa
Umba, a digital bank for emerging markets and aiming first at Africa, has secured a $2 million seed funding round from new investors including Lachy Groom, ex-Head of Issuing at Stripe; Ludlow Venture
Poland’s GeneMe secures €5.2M seed funding for its rapid COVID-19 test
GeneMe, Poland-based biotechnology company with a COVID-19 test, has secured a €5.2 million round of seed funding led by Robin Tombs, co-founder of Yoti and previously of Gamesys, and other angel in
Walnut raises $3.5M from Ron Conway and others to stop remote sales pitches breaking
Amid the rise of remote selling due to the pandemic, Walnut, billing itself as a “Wix for Sales teams,” has raised $3.5 million from SV Angel (Ron and Topher Conway) and A.Capital by Ronny
Magdrive secures seed funding for new propulsion system which could take us to the stars
A startup with a new type of spacecraft propulsion system could make the interplanetary travel seen in “Star Trek” a reality. Magdrive has just closed a £1.4 million seed round led by Fou
OpenSensors secures $4M for air-monitoring platform which allows offices to be more COVID-safe
Today, the acute asthma attack of a primary school-aged girl in February 2013 was ruled by a U.K. court to be due to air pollution. It is thought to be the first ruling of its kind in the world. Only
Iceland’s Controlant, with $50M backing, emerges as key player in Cold Chain for COVID-19 vaccine
A startup hailing from far-flung Iceland is emerging as one of the key players in the race to distribute one of the key coronavirus vaccines around the world. Controlant — which has a unique real-ti