Raise Report: New Funding for Affirm, NestAway, Rinse
Every two weeks, we round up some of the biggest fundraises taking place in hyperlocal marketing, commerce, and tech.
Monday, April 11: Luka reels in $4.4 million for chat bot help service
Luka, which offers users answers to questions on local restaurant options, weather reports, trivia and more, has raised $4.4 million in Series A funding, TechCrunch reported. Previously a restaurant-exclusive service, Luka’s AI-powered chat bots will now be able to offer advice on this variety of industries going forward. Sherpa Capital led the round, which will power this expansion in the service’s capabilities.
Tuesday, April 12: Affirm locks down $100 million Series D to disrupt financial lending
Affirm, which offers point-of-sale loans with as little information as a name, date of birth, and final four digits of its borrowers’ social security numbers, announced $100 million in equity funding last week, VentureBeat reported. With the round, led by Founders Fund, Affirm will look to expand its service, offering loans directly through a mobile app.
Friday, April 15: Beekeeper picks up $5 million boost for deskless communications platform
A sort of Slack for blue-collar workers, Beekeeper offers a mobile-first communications platform on which employees without desks can keep in touch throughout the workday. Last week, it announced a round of $5 million, TechCrunch reported. FyrFly Venture Partners led the round.
Monday, April 18: Adtile nabs $2 million for motion-sensory mobile ad curator
Adtile, which uses motion-sensing technology that can pick up the shake or twist of a mobile phone to sharpen mobile advertising strategies, has raised $2 million in new funding, MediaPost reported. The funds will go to “research and development efforts.” The investors were not disclosed.
Tuesday, April 19: NestAway secures $30 million for home rental network
NestAway, an Indian company that puts vacant homes on the market and ensures payment of rent to absentee homeowners, has raised $30 million, the Economic Times of India reported. The new capital will help NestAway target new consumer markets and expand geographically. Tiger Global Management and IDG Ventures India led the round.
Tuesday, April 19: Rinse racks up $6 million for on-demand laundry service
Rinse, which picks up, services and returns laundry on demand, has raised $6 million in fresh funding, according to a press release. Javelin Venture Partners led the round. Rinse will use the cash to upgrade its service and expand to new markets.
Thursday, April 21: Lodgify reins in $1.6 million for vacation rental software
Barcelona-based Lodgify has raised $1.6 million for its SaaS, which allows vacation homeowners to set up a site to market their space for rentals, according to a press release. Nauta Capital led the round, which Lodgify will use to “accelerate product development as well as expand its sales and marketing efforts.”
Joseph Zappa is a Street Fight contributor.
Has your company recently raised a new round? Send information to [email protected].
