Summary:
CES 2025 showcases innovative products like smart irrigation and autonomous minibuses.
Whatnot raises $265 million, nearing a $5 billion valuation.
NXP plans a $625 million acquisition of TTTech Auto for autonomous vehicle safety.
Defiant emerges as a new VC firm aiming for $70 million in funding.
VC investment in emerging markets declined by over 40% last year.
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Most Interesting Startup Stories from the Week
Image Credits: May Mobility
The second week of the year has been bustling with startup news, and 2025 is no different. Notable launches at CES 2025 include:
- Full Nature Farms unveiled a smart irrigation system to reduce agricultural water waste.
- Soliddd introduced smart glasses for individuals with macular degeneration.
- May Mobility showcased an electric autonomous minibus.
Other significant news includes:
- NXP, a Dutch semiconductor giant, announced plans to acquire TTTech Auto for $625 million, aiming to enhance safety software for autonomous vehicles.
- H1, a healthcare analytics platform, acquired Ribbon, a Y Combinator graduate that helps patients find doctors based on insurance.
- Flock Safety faces a lawsuit from a California mayor alleging wrongful termination.
- Rooms, a 3D design app, secured a $1 million investment from Google and access to Gemini AI.
- Peterson Conway, a defense tech recruiter, has a compelling profile worth reading.
Most Interesting Fundraises This Week
Image Credits: Whatnot
This week almost marked the first pentacorn of the year:
- Whatnot, a livestream shopping app, raised $265 million, pushing its valuation to nearly $5 billion.
- Xocean, an Irish startup, raised $119 million for marine robotics.
- NomuPay secured $37 million to enhance payment systems in underserved Asian markets.
- OnPay, based in Atlanta, raised over $100 million for payroll and HR solutions, including a $63 million Series B round.
- Grand Games, the Turkish gaming startup, raised $30 million for its projects.
Most Interesting VC and Fund News This Week
Image Credits: Defiant
- Defiant, a new European VC firm, aims to raise $70 million for its first fund focused on B2B SaaS and fintech.
- Trucks Venture Capital plans to make around 30 seed investments from its new $70 million fund.
- South Park Commons is raising $40 million for an India-specific fund, despite mixed sentiments in the market.
Last but Not Least
Recent reports indicate that VC investment in emerging markets dropped by over 40% last year, while over half of global VC funding was funneled into Silicon Valley. As the AI boom continues, this trend is expected to persist in 2025.
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