B Capital raises $750M for its second fund Opportunities Fund II
Global investment firm B Capital announced the close of its second fund, B Capital Opportunities Fund II, where it raised $750 million from private and public pension funds, family offices, high-net-worth individuals and sovereign wealth funds. In a statement, the VC firm and the second fund is nearly double the size of its previous fund. The Opportunities Fund II will make primary and secondary investments in later-stage companies across technology, healthcare, and climate tech sectors, with a focus on North America and Asia. With the second fund, B Capital will identify follow-on investment opportunities in its existing, high-performing portfolio companies.
Source : YourStory
NBFC Dvara KGFS raises $14.4M from Impact Investment Exchange
Dvara KGFS, a NBFC in India's remote rural areas, has raised $14.4 million via listed non-convertible debentures (NCDs) from Impact Investment Exchange (IIX). The funds will be used to disburse loans to women borrowers through a joint liability group, micro enterprise loans, and loans for water, sanitation, and hygiene. IIX provided Dvara with debt capital through the $100-million Women's Livelihood Bond™ 6, an orange and sustainability-labelled bond in the market—the only asset class focusing on gender equity and climate action.
Source : YourStory
Ultrahuman bags $35M from Blume Ventures, Steadview Capital and others
Wearable health tech company Ultrahuman raised $35 million in a Series B funding round from Blume Ventures, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Alpha Wave Incubation, and Zomato Founder Deepinder Goyal. The startup plans to allocate the funds to enhance manufacturing capacity and conduct extensive research in the health tracking field.
Bengaluru-based Ultrahuman, founded in 2021 by Kumar and Vatsal Singhal, produces various health tracking and monitoring devices, including fitness rings. Its product suite includes Ring Air, M1 Live, Ultrahuman Home, and Blood Vision.
Source : YourStory
Climate tech startup Sprih raises $3 million in funding round led by Leo Capital
Carbon emission management platform Sprih has raised $3 million in a funding round led by early-stage venture capital firm Leo Capital. The funds will be used for expanding globally on the sales front, acquiring talent for developing artificial intelligence (AI) models focusing on climate issues and expanding the network of partners.
Founded in 2022, the company offers its end-to-end software tool to businesses to simplify the process of measuring, comparing against industry standards, and reporting emissions across their operations and supply chain.
Source : The Economic Times
B2B marketplace and retail platform Jumbotail has secured Rs 151 crore ($18.2 million) in a Series C3 equity funding round led by Singapore-based venture capital firm Artal Asia. Heron Rock, Sabre Investment, Arkham Ventures, Jarvis Reserve Fund, Reaction
The funding will enable the Bengaluru-based startup to expand its suite of go-to-market products and help its new and emerging brands to reach the masses through its nationwide network of kirana stores. Founded in 2015 by S Karthik Venkateswaran and Ashish Jhina, Jumbotail offers a full stack B2B marketplace platform, tech-driven warehousing, and last-mile delivery supply chain network to small and medium enterprises. Additionally, it provides next-day storefront deliveries to kirana stores, and its fintech platform for payment, credit solutions and financial services to kirana store owners.
Source : YourStory
B2B marketplace and retail platform Jumbotail has secured Rs 151 crore ($18.2 million) in a Series C3 equity funding round led by Singapore-based venture capital firm Artal Asia. Heron Rock, Sabre Investment, Arkham Ventures, Jarvis Reserve Fund, Reaction
The funding will enable the Bengaluru-based startup to expand its suite of go-to-market products and help its new and emerging brands to reach the masses through its nationwide network of kirana stores. Founded in 2015 by S Karthik Venkateswaran and Ashish Jhina, Jumbotail offers a full stack B2B marketplace platform, tech-driven warehousing, and last-mile delivery supply chain network to small and medium enterprises. Additionally, it provides next-day storefront deliveries to kirana stores, and its fintech platform for payment, credit solutions and financial services to kirana store owners.
Source : YourStory
ImpactAssets Unveils IA 50 2024, Showcasing 155 Impact Fund Managers Globally From Record Number of Applicants
This year’s list is composed of 155 impact fund managers selected from an unprecedented 343 applications, a submission volume that is 15% higher than last year. This growth signals increased interest in the IA 50, alongside expansion and maturation of the impact investing industry at large. The increasing traction also points to a broader shift that embraces impact investing’s critical role in shaping a sustainable future.
The IA 50 includes three distinct categories based on manager experience: the IA 50, IA 50 Emerging Impact Managers, and IA 50 Emeritus Impact Managers. That diversity of experience makes the list a testament to more recently established, ascending managers as well as the deeply experienced pioneers who have consistently maintained a focus on impactful investments and a commitment to driving social and environmental progress. Among the firms recognized this year, nine have been included on every year’s database since its inception in 2011.
Source : Business Wire
India Accelerator partners with IIM Lucknow to offer angel investing certification programme
Startup accelerator program India Accelerator Wednesday announced a partnership with the IIM-Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre to introduce an early stage venture capital – Angel Investing Certification program. This collaboration seeks to empower aspiring angel investors with the knowledge and skills of the art and science of investing in the startup asset class.
The two-day residential programme at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow EIC (Noida) campus will be held on April 6 and 7, 2024 and the registration will end on March 24. This short programme aims at HNIs, UHNIs, CAs, family offices and startup mentors to understand the startup investing landscape and opportunities for wealth creation, according to a statement by IIM-Lucknow.
Source : Indian Express
Debt Relief Platform Freed Secures $7.5m Funding Led By Sorin Investments, Multiply Ventures
FREED, which helps retail borrowers reduce and manage their debt burden, has raised $7.5 million in Series A round led by Sorin Investments and Multiply Ventures, with participation from Piper Serica and other funds. "We are thrilled to have secured this significant investment, which not only validates the importance of our mission but also provides us with the resources to expand our reach and impact," said Ritesh Srivastava, Founder of Freed. "This funding will enable us to further enhance our technology, scale our operations, and ultimately, make a meaningful difference in the lives of many," he added. The company said it also aims to accelerate its growth trajectory, deepen its impact, and continue pioneering advancements in the debt relief landscape with the latest investment.
Source : YourStory
LOHUM , a lithium-ion battery pack maker and recycling firm, has made headlines by securing $54 million (Rs 450 crore) in a Series B funding round
Several new and existing venture firms, including Singularity Ventures, Baring Private Equity Partners, Cactus Venture Partners, and Venture East, amongst others, also participated in the funding round. As per the startup, the freshly raised capital will be used to fuel its market expansion, scaling up recycling operations across India. The funding will also enable the startup to expand to new energy transition materials markets in North America, the EU, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Founded by Rajat Verma, Lohum is a leading eco-friendly battery material firm advancing climate-tech via low-carbon lithium-ion battery recycling, producing sustainable battery metals & chemicals from used batteries.
Source : LinkedIn
KITES Senior Care, a Bengaluru-based elderly care startup, has made headlines by securing Rs 45 crore in a Series A funding round.
Ranjan Pai, Chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), led the funding round through his family office. As per the startup, the freshly raised funds will be used to deepen its presence in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. The funding will also enable the startup to facilitate expansion into three additional cities across Southern India. Founded by Rajagopal G and Dr. Reema Nadig in 2016, Kites Senior Care is a geriatric care service provider that specializes in a range of geriatric services, including post-operative and post-hospitalization rehabilitative care, dementia care, palliative care, and respite care, both within care facilities and at the residences of senior citizens.
Source : LinkedIn
Lightspeed Ventures to ramp up investments in climate change and AI
Lightspeed Venture Partners, which has backed prominent Indian startups such as Sharechat, Udaan and Razorpay, will invest in emerging areas such as climate change and artificial intelligence, and companies with cross-border operations.
Source : Live Mint