Weekly Tech Pulse
AI Parking Giant Metropolis Raises $1.6B, Seattle’s Oleria Lands $19M to Reinvent Cybersecurity, Brazil’s Vammo Fuels Electric Motorcycle Revolution with $45M & More!
US & International Startup & Tech News
Seattle security startup Oleria lands $19M in latest funding round
Seattle-based cybersecurity company Oleria secured $19 million in new funding, bringing its total raised to over $60 million.
Founded in 2023, the startup develops software that manages and analyzes employee access to company systems and data.
Led by CEO Jim Alkove, a former Salesforce executive, Oleria is gaining traction with Fortune 500 clients seeking more adaptive identity security solutions.
The latest investment includes backing from Salesforce Ventures, Evolution Equity Partners, Tapestry VC, and Zscaler.
Source: GeekWire
AI startup Metropolis, biggest parking lot network in U.S., raises $1.6B for major retail expansion
AI-powered mobility company Metropolis secured $1.6 billion in a mix of debt and equity funding, reaching a $5 billion valuation.
The Santa Monica-based firm, already the largest parking network in the U.S., plans to expand into retail, gas stations, hotels, and drive-thru services using its computer vision platform for frictionless payments.
The new funding round was led by LionTree, with participation from SoftBank, Vista, and others, doubling its previous debt capacity.
Metropolis processes $5 billion in annual transactions for over 20 million members, growing by one million monthly, as it positions itself to lead the emerging “Recognition Economy.”
Source: CNBC
Fintech DealMaker Raises $20M To Scale Retail Capital Raising
DealMaker, a fintech company enabling direct-to-investor fundraising, raised $20 million in a mix of equity and debt led by Information Venture Partners, with participation from CIBC Innovation Banking.
The New York-based firm has helped companies raise over $2.3 billion from retail investors and aims to make community-based capital raising a mainstream alternative to venture funding.
The company plans to expand AI tools for investor verification and broaden its reach through initiatives like DealMaker Sports and the acquisition of Rally On Media. CEO Rebecca Kacaba envisions a future where investing becomes part of everyday consumer engagement, turning retail investors into loyal brand advocates.
Source: Forbes
Upward, a Seattle fintech startup led by former Remitly execs, raises $8M and partners with Mastercard
Seattle-based fintech startup Upward raised $8 million and formed a strategic partnership with Mastercard to help businesses more easily launch financial products.
Founded in 2021 by former Remitly executives Aaron Gregory and Danielle Hill, Upward provides embedded finance infrastructure that integrates payments, cards, banking, and compliance into one system.
The 20-person company processes over $10 million in monthly payments and serves platforms for independent workers, creators, and small businesses.
The Mastercard partnership enables clients to quickly roll out branded cards and access Mastercard’s business programs, strengthening Upward’s position in the growing $185 billion embedded finance market.
Source: GeekWire
LATAM Startup & Tech News
Solfium Raises $10M to Accelerate Solar Transition in Mexico
Solfium, co-created by Uruguayan entrepreneur Andrés Friedman, closed a $10 million Series A round led by Accion and ALIVE Ventures, with participation from Kamay Ventures (Coca-Cola’s corporate fund).
The company provides a technology platform that helps large corporations and SMEs deploy distributed solar energy across their value chains.
Since its founding in 2021, Solfium has installed over 36,000 solar panels with 25 MW capacity that will prevent 281,000 tons of CO2 emissions over 25 years, and plans to expand into Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay within 18-24 months.
Source: Yahoo! News
Argentine Startup ReForest Latam Raises $1M
Argentine climate-tech startup ReForest Latam from Tucumán raised $1.05 million in a pre-seed round led by Paraguayan fund iThink VC, with participation from Argentine funds Innventure and Antom.
Founded in 2023 by Damián Rivadeneira and Paula Gianserra, the company uses AI-assisted field screening, drones, and biotechnology to restore ecosystems at scale.
ReForest Latam has developed specialized seeds for 30 rainforest species across Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, and aims to restore 1 million hectares in Latin America by 2030 while generating carbon credits for the voluntary carbon market.
Source: Iprofesional
Vammo Raises $45M Series B Round
Brazilian mobility startup Vammo raised a $45 million Series B round led by The Ecosystem Integrity Fund, with participation from Qualcomm Ventures, 2150, Monashees, Construct Capital, Maniv Mobility, Endeavor Catalyst, and former Tesla employees.
Founded in 2022, the company offers electric motorcycles through subscription plans that include maintenance, insurance, and battery swap access at over 150 swap stations in São Paulo.
Vammo operates a manufacturing plant in Manaus, serves over 5,000 vehicles, and will use the funds to expand its capacity and enter new markets in Brazil and Latin America.
Source: LatamList
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