Startups Raise Over $314M, Investors Raise $4B for New Funds, and $94B in M&A
October 24, 2023's biggest news in the private markets.
Island, a three-year-old Dallas startup that has developed a web browser for enterprises that offers companies enhanced security, manageability, and customization, raised a $100 million round at a $1.5 billion valuation. Prysm Capital and Canapi Ventures co-led the deal, with additional participation from Insight Partners, Stripes, Sequoia Capital, Cyberstarts, and Georgian. The company has raised a total of $325+ million.
MangoBoost, a seven-year-old startup based in Seattle and Seoul whose software helps data centers reduce power consumption and optimize performance, raised a $55 million Series A at a $300 million, according to TechCrunch. IMM Investment and Shinhan Venture Investment co-led the deal, while Korea Development Bank, KB Investment, IM Capital, and Premier Partners also took part. The company has raised a total of $65 million.
Qosmosys, Singapore-based startup, has closed a $100 million seed round to develop its lunar lander tech. The company did not disclose its investors, nor did a Qosmosys spokesperson respond to TechCrunch’s email. In a press release published to its website, the startup simply said that it practices a “unique and protective funding model.”
Nomad Homes, a four-year-old Dubai startup that has created a marketplace for residential real estate listings across Europe and the Middle East, raised a $20 million Series A extension round led by Acrew Capital, with 01 Advisors, HighSage Ventures, Abstract Ventures, Partech, Precursor Ventures, Potluck Ventures, and Knollwood also pitching in.
Signos, a five-year-old startup based in Burlingame, Ca., whose portable device tracks glucose levels in real-time and helps people make healthier lifestyle choices, raised a $20 million Series B round co-led by Cheyenne Ventures and GV, with Dexcom Ventures and Samsung Next also pitching in.
Cyviation, a two-year-old Israeli startup that helps to protect aircraft from cyberattacks, raised a $4 million round from a group of private investors from Highline Capital, Stonecourt Capital, and Alora Ventures.
Harmonic Security, a London and San Francisco startup founded this year that is developing software to help secure generative AI deployments in the enterprise, raised a $7 million seed round led by Ten Eleven Ventures, with Storm Ventures also taking part.
iQure, a four-year-old startup based in Princeton, NJ, that is developing epilepsy and pain management therapeutics, raised a $1.2 million round. Ventura BioMed Investors and OKG Capital were the co-leads.
Upland, a five-year-old startup based in Palo Alto, Ca., that allows users to buy, sell, and trade virtual properties mapped to the real world, raised a $7 million Series A extension. Investors included EOS Network Ventures as well as previous investors C3 Venture Capital and Animoca Brands. The company has raised a total of $25 million.
Goldman Sachs Asset Management raised $4B for West Street Infrastructure Partners IV, which will invest in infrastructure assets globally
Chevron will buy oil and gas producer and explorer Hess in a $53B all-stock deal to gain a larger US footprint and a stake in Exxon’s Guyana discoveries.
India’s Reliance Industries is nearing a cash and stock deal to acquire a controlling stake in Walt Disney’s Indian operations Disney Star at an ~$10B valuation.
Investment firm Stonepeak Partners agreed to buy Textainer Group Holdings in a deal that values the container leasing firm at ~$7.4B EV.
Swiss pharma giant Roche will pay an initial $7.1B to Roivant and Pfizer for Telavant Holdings, which owns the rights to a new inflammatory bowel disease drug.
DAZN Group and Comcast’s Sky Italia were awarded Italy’s Serie A football league TV broadcasting rights for the next five years for a combined $4.8B.
PE firm Vista Equity Partners will acquire business software company EngageSmart in a $4B deal.
International Flavors & Fragrance is exploring a sale of its pharma solutions business, which could fetch over $3.5B in a sale.
Campbell Soup’s $2.3B acquisition of Rao’s owner Sovos Brands was delayed until next year due to a request from the FTC for more details on the deal.
Industrial technologies company Fortive will acquire German manufacturer EA Elektro-Automatik Holdings for $1.5B cash.
Swedish residential property rental company Heimstaden Bostad, which owns ~13,500 homes in the Netherlands, is looking to sell 2,500 units for a cash injection of at least $620M to avoid a credit downgrade.
Healthcare talent solutions provider AMN Healthcare will acquire healthcare staffing company MSDR for $300M.
Canadian media conglomerate Bell Media will acquire OUTFRONT Media’s Canadian business for $299M.
Buyout fund HIG Capital is preparing to put its sports management agency Sportfive up for sale.
Privately held investment firm Liwathon Group acquired Exxon’s 25% stake in the Miro refinery in Germany.
Los Angeles FC is in early talks with the Chinese owners of Grasshopper Club Zurich to buy the Swiss football club.