US & International Startup & Tech News
Seattle home-inspection services startup Inspectify raises $5.3M
Seattle-based startup Inspectify, specializing in home inspection services, raised $5.3 million in new funding, led by Munich Re Ventures, which is now its largest external shareholder. Founded in 2019, Inspectify provides inspection software and a booking platform, serving about 250 clients in real estate and related sectors. The company expects to double its revenue and become cash flow positive next year, with growing traction beyond real estate transactions.
Meet The 17-Year-Old CEO Behind A $12M AI-Powered Nutrition App
At just 17, Zach Yadegari, CEO of Cal AI, is disrupting the health and fitness app industry with a cutting-edge nutrition tracking app that leverages AI to streamline calorie counting and improve user experience. Since its launch in May 2024, Cal AI has achieved over a million downloads, a $12 million annual revenue, and built a strong following among young adults, thanks in part to innovative, direct influencer marketing strategies. While balancing his high school responsibilities, Yadegari plans to continue expanding Cal AI and exploring new market demographics, potentially postponing college to focus fully on his venture.
Archon Biosciences emerges from stealth with $20M to create tiny ‘Antibody Cages’
Archon Biosciences, a new startup from Nobel laureate David Baker's lab, recently secured $20 million in seed funding to advance its unique protein-based technology, called Antibody Cages (AbCs), aimed at treating cancer and other diseases. The AbCs, which combine natural antibodies with custom-designed proteins optimized using AI, enable highly targeted and adaptable treatments with reduced side effects. Archon’s modular design allows for efficient drug development, and the team is already seeing promising results in early animal testing.
Seattle startup Moondream, led by AWS vets, raises $4.5M for vision language model software
Seattle-based startup Moondream raised $4.5 million in a pre-seed round to develop a "vision language model" that can interpret and answer questions about images. With 1.6 billion parameters, the model is compact enough to run on phones and edge devices, aiming to support sectors like transportation, retail, and security with advanced Vision AI capabilities. The company’s leadership includes former Amazon Web Services and tech industry veterans, and investors include Felicis Ventures, Microsoft’s M12 GitHub Fund, and Ascend.
Pizza robot maker Picnic raises $5M as Seattle investor Andy Liu joins board
Picnic, a food automation startup known for its pizza-making robots, raised $5 million to expand production and meet growing demand. The funding round was led by Cercano Management, with support from Unlock Venture Partners and other existing investors. Picnic's automated pizza station, used in high-volume venues like stadiums and universities, aims to improve efficiency and consistency in food preparation, with a focus on reducing waste and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Buddy.ai is using AI and gaming to help children learn English as a second language
In 2014, Ivan Crewkov’s startup Cubic.AI was set to launch a smart speaker, but Amazon’s release of the Echo overshadowed it, leading Crewkov to sell the company. This experience inspired him to create Buddy.ai, an AI-powered language-learning app designed for children. Despite early challenges with funding and developing voice recognition for children’s accents, Buddy.ai has grown to reach 55 million downloads and recently raised $11 million to expand product features and school partnerships.
LATAM Startup & Tech News
Stay Raises $3M in Seed Funding
Stay, a corporate pension startup from São Paulo, Brazil, raised $3 million in seed funding led by Better Tomorrow Ventures and MAYA Capital. Launched in 2023, Stay offers a fully digital pension platform, accessible through WhatsApp, to help businesses retain talent while supporting employees’ financial planning. With this funding, the company plans to grow its team and expand its services across Brazil.
Salvaje, the meat foodtech that is going for US$ 2 million in its first seed round
Salvaje aims to become the world's first luxury meat brand, following a startup-style approach to elevate Argentine beef as a premium, branded product. Unlike traditional models that prioritize bulk and efficiency, Salvaje emphasizes adding value by building a unique brand around the consumer experience, highlighting quality, exclusivity, and Argentine heritage. By carefully selecting cuts, partnering with experts, and engaging investors, Salvaje is redefining Argentina's beef industry with the goal of becoming a global gourmet symbol, including aspirations to sponsor major events like the World Cup.
Kueski exceeds 20 million loans and is recognized as one of the 5 most ethical companies in Mexico
Kueski, a leading Mexican fintech in Latin America, has surpassed 20 million loans issued, doubling its growth in just 18 months. This milestone highlights Kueski's commitment to enhancing financial access in Mexico through AI-driven solutions, enabling faster loan approvals and fostering financial inclusion. With partnerships like Amazon Mexico and over 30% of major Mexican e-commerce platforms now offering Kueski Pay, the company continues to empower more Mexicans with credit access and opportunities to build their financial stability.
Mexico's Fairplay gets US$33 million loan to help SMEs
Creel, GarcÃa-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enriquez, SC assisted BBVA in providing a 644 million peso (US$33 million) loan to a trust managed by Fairplay. This loan aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America's retail sector.
Source: AccessWire
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