Startups Raise Over $909M, Investors Raise $10M for New Funds, and $29.8B in M&A
November 1, 2023's biggest news in the private markets.
CMBlu, a nine-year-old German startup that builds large battery storage systems, raised a $105.7 million round. Strabag was the deal lead.
Kasa Living, a seven-year-old New York-based hospitality property manager that operates high-end apartments and hotels for flexible-duration rentals, has raised $70 million in Series C funding co-led by Citi Ventures and FirstMark Capital.
QI Tech, a five-year-old São Paulo startup that provides its clients with the ability to offer banking services via a modular API, raised a $200 million Series B round led by General Atlantic, with previous investor Across Capital also participating. The company has raised a total of $262 million.
Shield AI, an eight-year-old San Diego startup that develops "autonomous flying systems" (aka drones) for the U.S. military and its allies, raised a $200 million Series F round at a $2.7 billion post-money valuation. The co-leads were previous investors U.S. Innovation Technology Fund and Riot Ventures, with additional participation from ARK Invest and prior backers Disruptive and Snowpoint.
SkyCell, a 10-year-old Zürich startup that is building smart containers for the shipment of medicines, raised a $57 million round at a $600 million valuation. Catalyst led the transaction.
Aqtual, a five-year-old startup based in Hayward, Ca., that says it is using its cell-free DNA platform to develop products for chronic diseases and oncology, raised a $16 million Series A round. Investors included Genoa Ventures, Manta Ray Ventures, and Yu Galaxy.
Cambrium, a three-year-old Berlin startup that is designing structural proteins for use in personal care and fashion, raised an $11.6 million round led by Essential Capital and including SNR, Valor Equity Partners, HOF Capital, and previous investor Merantix.
Charlie, a two-year-old Los Angeles startup that provides banking services to Americans over the age of 62, raised a $16 million Series A round and $7 million in debt. The deal lead was TTV Capital, while FPV Ventures and Better Tomorrow Ventures also joined in.
Fibracast, a 13-year-old Canadian company that develops and manufactures water filtration membranes and systems for companies and municipalities, raised a $32.1 million Series A round led by Cycle Capital, with Export Development Canada also pitching in.
Funnel Leasing, a 14-year-old company based in Odessa, Fl., whose platform for property managers handles CRM functions, leasing, and tenant communication, raised a $32 million Series B2 round. RET Ventures was the deal lead.
Guidde, a three-year-old startup based in Belmont, Ca., that uses generative AI to automatically generate software documentation videos, raised an $11.6 million Series A round led by Norwest Venture Partners, with Entree Capital, Honeystone Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, and Tiferes Ventures also anteing up.
Neuros Medical, a 15-year-old company based in Aliso Viejo, CA, that is focused on alleviating chronic post-amputation pain, raised a $25 million round. Trinity Capital was the lead investor.
Railsr, a seven-year-old London startup that provides access to financial services via embedded software, raised a $24 million round seven months after it was rescued from collapse. Previous investors D Squared Capital and Moneta VC co-led the deal.
Samara, a one-year-old San Francisco startup spun out of Airbnb that makes prefab ADUs for homeowners, raised a $41 million round led by Thrive Capital, with 8VC, General Catalyst, New Legacy, SV Angel, and Airbnb also taking part.
Triplebar, a four-year-old startup based in Emeryville, Ca., that is developing animal proteins from microbes, raised a $20 million Series A round. Synthesis Capital led the round, with participation from Essential Capital, Stray Dog Capital, iSelect Fund, and The Production Board. The company has raised a total of $25 million.
Wirepas, a 13-year-old Finnish company that provides infrastructure for large IoT networks, raised a $22 million round led by Highland Europe, with Amalfi and IQT as well as previous investors ETF Partners, KPN Ventures, and Vito Ventures also chipping in.
Almouneer, a six-year-old Egyptian startup that is building a platform to treat diabetes and obesity in Africa and the Middle East, raised a $3.6 million seed round led by Global Ventures, with Proparco, Digital Africa, and Wrightwood Investments also opting in.
Circu Li-ion, a two-year-old Luxembourg startup that is attempting to automate the process of recycling batteries, raised a $4.8 million seed round led by BonVenture as well as $4.2 million in grants from the European Innovation Council Accelerator and collaborations with recyclers and OEMs.
Graylog, an 11-year-old Houston company whose tools help companies analyze their logs and address digital security threats, raised a $9 million Series C extension and $30 million in debt. Silver Lake Waterman, Piper Sandler Merchant Banking, and Harbert Growth Partners co-led the equity piece.
memox, a five-year-old Zürich startup that provides online booking services for conference rooms and meeting spaces, raised a $3 million Series A round co-led by Swiss Prime Site and 41 Group.
Yuzu Health, a one-year-old New York startup that aims to help small businesses offer more affordable health plans by customizing plans based on their employees’ needs, raised a $5 million seed round led by Lachy Groom, with Neo, Day One Ventures, Altman Capital, WndrCo, and Browder Capital also stepping up.
Leverage VC, a New York firm focused on seed stage deals in gaming, mental health, and eldertech, raised a $10 million fund.
Zegona Communications will buy telecom Vodafone Group’s Spanish business in a deal valued at as much as $5.3B, including debt.
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC will acquire a 35% stake in Hotel Investment Partners from Blackstone Group in a deal that values the Spanish hotel group at over $4.2B.
US urged a judge to block JetBlue Airways' $3.8B purchase of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, arguing that the acquisition would lead to higher fares and fewer flights for travelers.
Late-stage cardiovascular treatment biotech firm Cytokinetics, which has a market cap of $3.4B, is exploring options after receiving takeover interest.
Germany plans to buy a 25% stake in transmission system operator TransnetBW from majority owner EnBW Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg in a $3.4B acquisition.
Asda, Britain’s third largest supermarket group, completed the acquisition of the majority of EG Group’s UK and Ireland business at a $2.5B EV.
Electronic instrument maker Ametek will acquire medical components maker Paragon Medical in a $1.9B deal.
American electronic products company Hubell will acquire Systems Control, a leading provider of substation control and relay panels, for $1.1B.
PE firms Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners will buy Australian energy market software provider Energy Exemplar from PE firm Riverside Capital in a deal worth over $1B.
Penfolds-maker Treasury Wine Estates will buy DAOU Vineyards in California for as much as $1B.
Canadian Tire bought back a 20% stake in in its financial-services business from Bank of Nova Scotia for $647M cash.
Eli Lilly will acquire the rights to develop and sell an experimental gene-editing technology for heart disease from Beam Therapeutics for up to $600M.
Global packaging company Greif plans to acquire jerrycans and plastic containers company I PACKCHEM Group in a $538M cash transaction.
GLIL Infrastructure acquired a 16.6% stake in its mobile towers JV Cornerstone from Britain's Virgin Media O2 for $437M cash.
Michael Rees, the billionaire co-president of asset manager Blue Owl Capital, is among bidders interested in buying a stake in NFL team Pittsburgh Steelers.