Consumer

The Assurant and Samsung-backed consumer device rental service has secured $29m in a series B extension provided by unnamed backers.

Amazon Climate Pledge Fund committed capital to battery recycling services provider at a reported $3.7bn post-money valuation. GCV Analytics data suggest there is a heightened interest in deals from this space and an upward pressure on valuations.

SoftBank-backed barbershop booking service Squire raised $60m at a $750m valuation while card issuing platform developer Lithic was valued at $800m in a round featuring Exor.

Every day, Global University Venturing rounds up the smaller investments from across the university innovation ecosystem in its deal net.

Q&A with Ryota Suzuki, senior investment manager, Sony Innovation Fund by IGV

Wipro has returned to back a $47.6m second close for the Amazon, L’Occitane and Times Group-backed beauty service provider’s series C round at a reported $300m valuation.

Naver Financial Corporation co-led the grocery ordering app operator’s series D round, which included fellow corporate venturer Z Venture Capital.

Denso took part in a $71m series D round for artificial intelligence technology provider Blaize while inflammatory disease drug developer Aristea closed a $63m Novo and Arena-backed round.

Venture capital funding for Indian firms hit a six-year high of $12.1bn in the first six months of 2021

AgFunder was anong the investors that helped the plant-derived cheese product developer formerly known as Alpine Roads take its total funding past $100m.

SAP.io took part in email software provider Sedna's $34m series B round while Byju's picked up BCC-backed learning app developer Toppr in a deal reportedly sized at about $150m.