US & International Startup & Tech News
Seattle startup Vieu raises $11M to reimagine B2B sales outreach, with help from AI
Vieu, a Seattle startup founded in 2022 by former Microsoft leaders, helps companies improve enterprise sales by using data to generate warm introductions instead of relying on ineffective cold calls. The company recently raised $11 million in seed funding and has tripled its revenue, with plans to expand both its customer base and employee headcount.
Artisan Raises $11.5 Seed Round To Launch AI Employee For Sales Teams
Artisan, an AI company based in San Francisco, raised $11.5 million in a Seed Round led by Oliver Jung, with participation from notable investors like Y Combinator and HubSpot Ventures. The company, founded by 23-year-old Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, has already achieved $1 million in annual recurring revenue by automating entire job functions with AI employees, including their flagship, Ava, which streamlines business development processes.
Airship wants to build better sales tools for HVAC contractors
The HVAC industry is undergoing transformation as private equity consolidates the market and traditional tradespeople near retirement. Airship is building intuitive point-of-sale software to help HVAC contractors adopt technology, offering tools like energy-efficient incentive programs to increase sales, while positioning itself to serve growing private equity-backed firms.
After $6.6B round, OpenAI investor says the next step for ChatGPT maker should be to go public
Brad Gerstner of Altimeter Capital, speaking at Madrona’s IA Summit, expressed optimism about OpenAI going public, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the public markets. He highlighted OpenAI’s significance in the AI industry and the careful approach its leadership takes with model releases, while noting the challenges Microsoft’s Copilot brand may face against ChatGPT.
Source: GeekWire
LATAM Startup & Tech News
Biotech Xeptiva raises $2.5M to develop veterinary vaccines
Uruguayan biotech Xeptiva raised a $2.5M seed round led by Zentynel to advance the development of vaccines for osteoarthritis pain and atopic dermatitis in pets. Founded in 2021, Xeptiva aims to increase access to effective treatments and is currently in clinical trials with its vaccines.
Cobre, a Colombian Fintech that connects accounts and banks to centralize the treasury, announces its arrival in Mexico
Cobre, a Latin American fintech platform, has expanded into Mexico with plans to close the year with 50 companies using its services for centralized financial management, real-time international payments, and interbank transfers. The company, which aims to surpass 300 clients by the end of 2024, has tailored its infrastructure to Mexico’s banking needs and expects to streamline financial operations for businesses through its interoperable technology and partnerships with local banks.
Conta Simples, the credit card and expense management platform for companies, launches BNPL solution in Brazil
Conta Simples, a corporate credit card and expense management platform, has launched a buy now, pay later (BNPL) solution aimed at B2B transactions. This product allows companies to make cash payments with terms of up to 30 days or in installments, offering greater flexibility in managing expenses. Currently in its initial phase with about 20 clients, the solution is expected to grow, while the potential BNPL market in Brazil is estimated at 205 billion reais annually.
Brazilian Payments Fintech Barte Secures $8 Million Series A led by AlleyCorp
Barte, a São Paulo-based fintech, has raised $8M in a Series A round to scale its modular payments solutions after experiencing significant growth. Founded in 2022, the company helps medium and large businesses with multichannel payment platforms and white-label infrastructure, aiming to streamline payments and enhance customer experiences while generating new revenue streams.
Bnka, a multi-currency virtual wallet for Latin migrants, exceeded 25K users
In recent years, Europe, particularly Spain, has seen a significant increase in migration from Latin America, driven by cultural ties and job opportunities. Bnka, a fintech launched in 2023, has become a key player by offering Latin American migrants in Europe accessible financial services, such as free IBANs and multi-currency wallets, addressing the challenges migrants face when accessing traditional banking.
Imagine's path: from accelerator to US$4 million venture capital fund
Imagine Lab has evaluated over 10,000 startups in Latin America, supported 700, and funded 120, with a third surviving and the top 15 valued at over $300 million. Now focusing on venture capital, Imagine recently raised $4 million for a fund aimed at diverse startups, with an emphasis on inclusivity in both founders and fund managers.
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