Startups

Backpack: Pediatric Mental Healthcare Company Closes $14 Million In Funding

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 12, 2024

Backpack Healthcare (formerly Youme Healthcare), an online pediatric mental healthcare provider, announced that it raised a $14 million Series A funding round led by PACE Healthcare Capital with participation from ECMC, Techstars, Collab Capital, Bridge Builders Collaborative, Portland Seed Fund, Hopelab, Rethink Education, Genius Guild, and Unlikely Collaborators and notable angel investors such as Maya Ghosn Bichara and Jeffrey Walker.

Acclinate: Digital Health Company Secures $7 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 12, 2024

Health equity company Acclinate announced it raised $7 million in Series A funding, led by Cencora Ventures and with notable contributions from Labcorp and Latimer Ventures. This funding round will enable Acclinate to scale its impact in clinical trial diversity and health equity.

OPTIX: $15 Million Raised To Develop Solutions For AR And VR Products

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 12, 2024

XR tech company OPTIX announced that it had closed its oversubscribed Pre-A funding led by Primavera Venture Partners. The company’s existing investors Lanchi Ventures also joined, bringing OPTIX total equity raise to $15 million. This is OPTIX's third funding round in under than two years since the company was established in August 2022.

Privateer Raises $56.5 Million And Acquires Orbital Insight

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 11, 2024

Privateer is a company focused on improving life on Earth from space by enabling greater access to space safety, fully automated maneuvers, and the first-ever space ride-sharing platform for space imagery and data. The company was founded by CEO and Chairman Alex Fielding, Chief Scientist Dr. Moriba Jah, and renowned Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Wayve: Embodied AI Automated Driving Technology Company Raises $1.05 Billion

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 11, 2024

Wayve, a market leader in Embodied AI-based autonomous driving, announced the successful closing of $1.05 billion in Series C funding. SoftBank Group led the funding round, which also included new investor NVIDIA and existing investor Microsoft. This investment will accelerate Wayve’s goal to reimagine autonomous mobility through embodied intelligence.

Rad AI: GenAI-Based Healthcare Company Raises $50 Million

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 11, 2024

Rad AI, a leader in generative AI for healthcare, announced it raised $50 million in Series B funding. The funding round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from WiL (World Innovation Lab) and existing investors ARTIS Ventures, OCV Partners, Kickstart Fund, Gradient Ventures (Google's AI-based fund), and others. This funding round raised the total capital to over $80 million.

Zanskar: $30 Million Raised To Accelerate Geothermal Energy For Clean Power

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 10, 2024

Leading geothermal exploration company Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals announced the closing of $30 million in new funding led by Obvious Ventures. The funding round, which includes participation by previous investors such as Munich Re Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Safar Partners, First Star Ventures, and new investor Clearvision Ventures, will enable Zanskar to scale its AI-led exploration technology to develop new geothermal resources.

Renegade Partners: $128 Million Fund II Revealed

By Amit Chowdhry ● May 10, 2024

San Francisco-based Renegade Partners, an early-stage venture firm investing in tech companies, announced Fund II. Renegade will invest the $128 million (mostly at Series A) in 20 companies. All of Renegade Partners’ institutional investors, which include pensions, foundations, and an Ivy League endowment, have matched or increased their allocations for Fund II, bringing the total AUM to $228 million.