Having secured venture investments of all sizes last week, check out what these Bay Area startups are doing with their new capital and which industries are up next for tech innovation. This is the Built In SF weekly refresh.
Discord acquired Ubiquity6. The messaging platform announced its acquisition of AR company Ubiquity6. The latter’s desktop software connects users remotely so they can play online party games together. Now, with their combined tech and talent, the companies are planning to further their goal of connecting users through shared experiences. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. [TechCrunch]
Side pulled in $50M. The company closed on its latest round of funding led by Tiger Global to invest in national expansion for its platform, which works to help real estate agents gain ownership of their own brands. With an IPO in the company’s plans for the future, the unicorn is also growing its team across dozens of tech roles. [Built In SF]
SF Tech Quote of the Week
VRChat secured $80M. In this platform’s virtual world, users can create customized avatars and socialize with other users as they create and explore each other’s digital settings. With Series D funding led by Anthos Capital, VRChat is building out its platform and growing its team across engineering, finance and more. To date, the startup has pulled in $95.2 million in venture funding. [Built In SF]
Zipline raised $250M. Using a fleet of autonomous drones and its logistics software, delivery startup Zipline works to deliver medical supplies like vaccines and medications. Baillie Gifford led the hefty funding round that brings Zipline’s valuation to $2.75 billion. With the fresh capital, the startup is planning to expand its logistics networks across Africa and the U.S. [TechCrunch]
Ghost pulled in $100M. Engineering an autonomous driving system for highway and crash prevention, this company is planning to put its fresh capital toward furthering research and development. The Series D round for the company was led by Sutter Hill Ventures as it works to continue building out its autonomous tech. [TechCrunch]
Moveworks got $200M. Powered by AI, the startup’s automation platform helps companies provide support for their employees whether they work from home or in the office. Moveworks closed on its Series C funding round co-led by Tiger Global and Alkeon Capital that brings its total funding to $135 million. With the funding, it’s planning to build out its customer base. To date, the Mountain View company’s valuation reaches $2.1 billion. [PR Newswire]
Shogun secured $67.5M. Based in Palo Alto, the startup provides a headless platform to help brands build out unique e-commerce experiences. With its Insight Partners-led Series C funding round, Shogun is accelerating product development and scaling its go-to-market efforts across sales and marketing. [PR Newswire]
Noname Security raised $60M. Providing businesses with an API for security, the Palo Alto-based company closed on a Series B round led by Insight Partners. Its cloud-native platform offers solutions for discovery, analysis, remediation and testing. Noname’s latest funding round follows its $25 million Series A from last year. [Crunchbase News]
In more VC funding news: Fintech startup Kikoff launched from stealth with $42.5 million in total funding for its platform that aims to help younger generations establish and build credit. Investors include Portage Ventures, Stephen Curry and others. [Crunchbase News]
General Catalyst led the $25 million Series A round for Local Kitchens, a startup focused on combining multiple local eateries in a central place to provide takeout and delivery. It’s using the money to expand its presence. [BusinessWire]
Microverse closed on a $12.5 million Series A for its edtech platform that teaches students to code. Northzone led the round that brings the startup’s total funding to $16 million. [TechCrunch]
Having developed a robot that can dispense and mix craft beverages in less than 20 seconds, Botrista closed on a $10 million Series A round led by Purestone Capital and La Kaffa International to accelerate its deployment operations.
Beeflow pulled in $8.3 million in an Ospraie Ag Science-led Series A for its tech that works to keep bees strong and healthy during colder months so they can efficiently pollinate farmers’ plants. [TechCrunch]
