Volkswagen and Ingka Group helped Northvolt secure over $1bn while Dai-ichi Life has led a $120m series C for YuLife.
Funds
US-based identity authentication technology provider Ping Identity formed a $50m corporate venture capital subsidiary last month called Ping Ventures. The unit has already invested in access control system developer Allthenticate.
US-based cryptocurrency and encrypted message platform developer Mask Network has formed a $42m corporate venture capital arm dubbed Bonfire Union Ventures, TechCrunch reported yesterday. The company said a “significant portion” of its shareholders have backed the unit, without revealing their names.
M&A
Robotics technology group Ondas Holdings has paid an undisclosed sum to acquire Airobotics, the Israel-based unmanned aerial vehicle producer backed by software provider Microsoft. The transaction is set to close in the fourth quarter of this year and TechCrunch estimates the size to be $18.4m, adding that Airobotics had raised roughly $130m in total funding.
Funding
| Company | Company description | Sector | Country | Round | Round size($m) | Deal date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northvolt | EV-focused lithium-ion battery developer | Transport | Sweden | N/A | 1,100 | 07/07/2022 | Volkswagen, Ingka Group (IMAS Foundation); Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Baillie Gifford, Swedbank Robur, PCS Holding, TM Capital, AMF, Folksam Group, Ava Investors, Omers (Omers Capital Markets), 4 to 1 Investments, ATP, Compagnia di San Paolo, Olympia Group |
| YuLife | Technology-driven insurance provider | Financial | UK | C | 120 | 07/07/2022 | Dai-ichi Life (lead); Creandum, LocalGlobe, Target Global (Latitude), Notion, Eurazeo, MMC Ventures, Anthemis, OurCrowd |
| Flexe | Logistics technology developer | Services | US | D | 119 | 07/07/2022 | Prologis (Prologis Ventures); BlackRock (lead), Tiger Global, T Rowe Price , Rowe Price Investment Management, Activate Capital, Madrona Ventures, Redpoint Ventures |
| Aurora Labs | AI-equipped smart car software provider | Transport | Israel | C | 63 | 07/07/2022 | Porsche; Moore Strategic Ventures (lead) |
| Klang Games | Game development studio | Media | Germany | C | 41 | 06/07/2022 | Animoca Brands (co-lead), Supercell, New York Life Insurance Company (New Life Ventures); Anthos Capital, Kingsway Capital (co-lead), Novator, Roosh, AngelHub |
| Tropic Biosciences | High-performance tropical crop developer | Industrial | UK | N/A | 35 | 07/07/2022 | Sucden (Sucden Ventures), Tefken (Tekfen Ventures); Blue Horizon (lead), Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, Bloom8 (previously Rage Capital), Skyviews Life Science, |
| Acto | Life sciences-focused e-learning platform | Services | Canada | B | 18 | 07/07/2022 | Salesforce (Salesforce Ventures); Questa Capital (lead), Resolve Growth Partners, Panache Ventures, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund1 |
| Finli | Payment management platform developer | Financial | US | Seed | 6 | 07/07/2022 | The Motley Fool (Motley Fool Ventures); Urban Innovation Fund (lead), Techstars, Muse Capital, M13, Alumni Ventures, Mac Venture Capital, Slauson and Co, Core Innovation Capital |
| Peakflo | Accounts payable and receivable software developer | Financial | Singapore | Seed | 4.1 | 07/07/2022 | CreditEase (CE Fintech Capital), GMO (GMO Fintech Fund); Y Combinator, Rebel Fund, Amino Capital, Soma Capital, GFC, Entrepreneur First, Oliver Jung, Amrish Rau, Alexander Kudlich, XA Network |
| Free Standard | Online recycled product marketplace | Consumer | Japan | Pre-A | 4 | 07/07/2022 | Yamato Holdings (Kuroneko Innovation Fund); Ideo (D4V), Anri, Chiba Dojo |
| BuildNext | Homebuilding technology provider | Industrial | India | Pre-A | 3.5 | 07/07/2022 | Pidilite Industries (Madhumala Ventures) (lead) |
| Simplifyber | Sustainable fashion brand | Consumer | US | Seed | 3.5 | 06/07/2022 | The Heritage Group (HG Ventures); At One Ventures (Lead), Plug and Play Tech Center (Plug & Play Ventures), Keeler Family Office (Keeler Investments Group), Techstars, The Helm, W Fund, Jetstream Ventures, Refashiond Ventures, CapitalX Ventures |
| Maolac | Breast milk substitute developer | Consumer | Israel | Seed | 3.2 | 06/07/2022 | Mediterranean Towers (Mediterranean Towers Ventures), Strauss Group (Kitchen FoodTech Hub); OurCrowd (lead), The Food Tech Lab, Ventures Israel, Naomi Investments |
| TMRW Food | Plant-based food developer | Consumer | Canada | N/A | 2 | 07/07/2022 | Telus (Telus Pollinator Fund for Good); Philip Donne, unnamed existing investors |
| Closure | Contract cancellation service | Services | Netherlands | N/A | 1.5 | 07/07/2022 | Rabobank; Borski Fund, Kees Jan Rietveld, Lex Geerdes, Wiegertje Groenveld |
| Lightbulb.ai | Emotion and engagement analytics tool provider | IT | India | N/A | 1.5 | 06/07/2022 | VideoVerse; Chiratae Ventures (co-lead), 9Unicorns (co-lead), Anthill Ventures |
| Optibus | Public transport optimisation platform | Transport | US | N/A | N/A | 06/07/2022 | Volvo (Volvo Group Venture Capital) |
| Acadian Technologies (Vspagy) | AI-powered marketing technology developer | Media | India | N/A | N/A | 05/07/2022 | Globe Teleservices |
| Something Random | Virtual reality technology developer | Media | Poland | N/A | N/A | 05/07/2022 | NetEase |
| Staffing Engine | Smart recruitment platform developer | Services | US | N/A | N/A | 07/07/2022 | Partners Personnel |
| Agriculture Development Company | Poultry product provider | Consumer | US | N/A | N/A | 06/07/2022 | Tyson Foods |
