Welcome to the ultimate weekly recap of the most exciting news from the world of startups. This week, we dive into acquisitions, new unicorns, wearable AI devices, and VCs supporting Kamala Harris.
Most Interesting Startup Stories from the Week
As the IPO market remains stagnant, mergers and acquisitions are on the rise among startups. From Canva acquiring Leonardo.ai to Airtable acquihiring Dopt, the startup world is buzzing with activity.
Canva Acquires Leonardo: Canva, a graphic design platform, has acquired generative AI-powered image creation startup Leonardo.ai. This move strengthens Canva's AI capabilities as it continues to expand its offerings. Read more
Airtable Acquihires Dopt: Airtable, a collaboration company, has acquired Dopt, a startup specializing in AI-powered onboarding. This acquisition will enhance Airtable's AI capabilities, particularly in its app creation tool. Read more
Clutch Sells to Plaiced: Clutch, a marketplace connecting creators with businesses, has decided to sell itself to online social network Plaiced after facing challenges in the market. Read more
Bending Spoons Acquires WeTransfer: Bending Spoons, known for acquiring struggling startups, has acquired file transfer service WeTransfer. This acquisition comes after WeTransfer postponed its plans for an IPO. Read more
Most Interesting Fundraises This Week
Rapido Becomes a Unicorn: Indian bike-taxi startup Rapido has achieved unicorn status with a $120 million funding round led by WestBridge Capital, challenging India's mobility duopoly. Read more
Flo Health Raises $200 Million: Fertility-focused period tracking app Flo Health has raised a Series C led by General Atlantic, valuing the company at $1 billion. Read more
AI Combatting Loneliness: Harvard dropout Avi Schiffmann's AI device, Friend, has raised $2.5 million in VC funding for its unique constant companionship offering. Read more
Introducing Bee: Bee, a wearable AI hardware company founded by former Twitter employees, has raised $7 million to develop an AI assistant for everyday tasks. Read more
Knowde's Latest Funding Round: Knowde, a marketplace for chemicals and raw ingredients, raised $60 million in a new funding round. Read more
Most Interesting VC and Fund News This Week
VCs for Kamala Harris: A group of VCs, including Reid Hoffman, Vinod Khosla, and Mark Cuban, have pledged their support for Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. Read more
Cook Leaves Tiger Global: Partner Alex Cook has left Tiger Global, adding to the list of high-profile departures from the firm in recent years. Read more
Moxxie Ventures Raises Third Fund: Moxxie Ventures surpassed its fundraising target for its third fund, securing $95 million in fresh capital. Read more
Last But Not Least
Autonomous vehicle software startup Applied Intuition has raised $300 million in a secondary sale, with Fidelity Management & Research Company joining its list of investors. Read more
Now, let's break it down: This week's highlights include major acquisitions, new unicorns, innovative AI devices, and VC news. From Canva's acquisition of Leonardo.ai to Flo Health's $200 million raise, the startup world is buzzing with activity. VCs are also making headlines, with some pledging their support for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Overall, these developments showcase the dynamic nature of the startup ecosystem and offer insights into potential investment opportunities and industry trends.