Populus, which just raised a $3.1 million seed round from Precursor Ventures, Relay Ventures and others, helps cities make sense of the influx of transportation data. This brings the startup’s total funding to $3.85 million. The platform is designed to enable cities to access vehicle and trip data from shared-mobility operators. TechCrunch.
News
Precursor Ventures just raised Fund II
Precursor Ventures, a 3.5-year-old, seed-stage investment firm in San Francisco, just closed its second fund, with $31 million in capital commitments, roughly double what it raised for its debut effort in 2017.TechCrunch.
Juniper Square lines up $25M for its real estate investment platform
Juniper Square, a four-year-old startup at the intersection of enterprise software, real estate and financial technology, has brought in an additional $25 million in Series B funding to fuel the growth of its commercial real estate investment platform. Ribbit Capital led the round, with participation from Felicis Ventures. TechCrunch.
Peer tutoring platform Knack raises $1.5M
Knack, a peer tutoring platform aimed at college students, is taking a different approach than some online tutoring marketplaces have in the past. As a result, the Florida-based startup has raised a $1.5 million seed round co-led by Charles Hudson’s Precursor Ventures and Tampa Bay Lighting owner and Fenway Sports Group Partner, Jeff Vinik. TechCrunch.
Dragons’ Den star’s startup secures another US$50-million in financing
Dragons’ Den star Michele Romanow and her partner Andrew D’Souza have secured another US$50-million to grow their latest startup, Clearbanc, just weeks after announcing they had raised US$70-million to bankroll the financing provider for e-commerce firms. The Globe and Mail.
Currant Unveils First AI-Powered Smart Outlet to Help ConsumCurrant Unveils First AI-Powered Smart Outlet to Help Consumers Save Energy and Take Control of Their Homes
Currant, a startup devoted to creating smart products that reduce energy consumption, today announced the Currant Smart Outlet — the first smart outlet on the market powered by artificial intelligence (AI). BusinessWire.
Passport has closed its Seed Funding Round
Passport, a customer service company focused on shipping, has raised $3 million in seed funding from some notable names. TechCrunch.
At Sounding Board, an executive coaching startup, the coaches get coaching, too
Everyone could use an executive coach — even executive coaches. Such is the thinking of Christine Tao and Lori Mazan, co-founders of Sounding Board, a two-year-old, San Francisco-based marketplace focused on leadership coaching that has so far raised $1 million in seed funding led by Bloomberg Beta, with participation from Precursor Ventures and numerous angel investors. TechCrunch.
More Competition For College Admissions Means Room To Haggle On Tuition
You may not realize this, but when you get that financial aid letter from a college, nothing is set in stone. “There’s more haggling going on here in this industry,” says Nick Ducoff, who adds that the overwhelming majority of colleges spend a fortune on recruiting students. WBUR.
Credit Karma acquires mortgage platform Approved
Credit Karma, the service best known for providing free credit score monitoring and other financial advice (mostly to millennials), is getting into the mortgage business. The company today announced that it has acquired Approved, a mortgage platform that brings modern technology to a process that even today often still involves faxing documents back and forth. TechCrunch.
‘Werk’ Works to Make Companies and Employees More Flexible
The majority of American employees want flexibility in the workplace, but less than half say they have it. Werk co-founder and co-CEO Annie Dean discusses bridging the ‘flexibility gap’ and the potential benefits for both bosses and workers. Cheddar TV.
If This Is How You’re Doing Workplace Engagement, You’re Doing It All Wrong
With the almost incessant buzz around the term “employee engagement” over the past few years, everyone knows how important it is for employees to feel a deep connection to the work they do. Entrepreneur.
Fuzzy Pet Health launches a $10-per-month telemedicine vet care plan
A new subscription service will now let you chat with a vet from your smartphone for $10 per month. TechCrunch.
Pared picks up $10M to help restaurant employees live an on-demand life
Pared serves as an on-demand tool for restaurant workers, who might find themselves already working across multiple different jobs or multiple different restaurants and are looking for a lifestyle over which they have some more control. TechCrunch.
A Pioneer of Flexible Work Schedules Makes Them Actually Work
If you want to know who’s fixing the workplace for ambitious women, look no further than Anna Auerbach of Werk Enterprises Inc. Bloomberg.
96% of U.S. Professionals Say They Need Flexibility, but Only 47% Have It
Employers today know that employees want flexibility, and many companies say they offer it. But there are lots of people out there who need flexibility but don’t have access to it. Harvard Business Review.
Ridin’ Dirty To Angel Investing: Rap Superstar Chamillionaire Debuts A New App, Convoz
It’s no secret that multi-platinum, Grammy-winning rapper Chamillionaire is also a tech investor with a nose for what’s hot. It’s also no secret that his newest investment, his own start-up Convoz, is worth watching. Forbes.
Patreon acquires Kit to let creators bundle merch in subscriptions
Patronage platform Patreon just acquired Kit, a startup building a merchandise logistics backend so creators don’t have to fiddle with spreadsheets and stuff envelopes themselves. TechCrunch.
Scout.fm turns podcasts into personalized talk radio
Scout.fm wants to change the way people listen to podcasts. TechCrunch.
Bitcoin Thieves Beware: Super Secure Wallet Maker Casa Raises $2 Million
Casa, a six-month-old startup that helps consumers securely store cryptocurrencies, has launched its first product and raised $2.1 million in new investment. Venture capital firms Lerer Hippeau, Compound and Boost VC participated in the financing round. Forbes.