💸 Gynecological Health Startup MiMARK Secures €4.22M in Seed Funding
FemWealth Issue #138
Hi FemWealth Friends!
In today’s edition: Marina Rigau and Eva Colas’ MiMARK Diagnostics raised €4.22M in Seed funding to develop in vitro diagnostic solutions for managing gynecological malignancies; led by Ilana Wisby Oxford Quantum Circuits raised a $100M Series B round; Hedda Båverud Olsson and Sophie Wilkinson’s Lassie raised €23M in Series B funding for the first preventive pet insurance ecosystem; led by Sheila Gulati, Tola Capital raised $230M to invest in AI-enabled enterprise software.
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In the Spotlight 💸
Founded by Marina Rigau (CEO) and Eva Colas (CSO), MiMARK Diagnostics is a Barcelona-based biotech company that develops in vitro diagnostic solutions for managing gynecological malignancies, particularly improving Endometrial Cancer diagnosis.
The company raised €4.22 million in Seed funding from a mix of private and public investors, including Clave Capital, Nara Capital, Namarel Ventures, WA4STEAM, CDTI Innvierte, Inveready, and Canterbury Scientific, and EU funding.
Read more: Endometrial Cancer Diagnostics Company MiMARK Secures €4.22M in Seed Funding
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Startups: Oxford Quantum Circuits raises $100M for quantum compute-as-a-service - Led by Chief Executive Officer Ilana Wisby, the Oxford, UK-based company offers quantum computing via a SaaS-based model. It raised a $100 million Series B round led by SBI Investment, with additional funds from Oxford Science Enterprises, University of Tokyo Edge Capital, Lansdowne Partners, and OTIF.
“To solve the world’s most pressing challenges — from climate change to accelerated drug discovery — we need to put quantum computers in the hands of humanity and at the fingertips of our most brilliant minds.
We’re proud to be pioneering enterprise-ready quantum with our customers, partners and investors.” - Ilana Wisby, Chief Executive Officer (via Tech.eu)
Pika, which is building AI tools to generate and edit videos, raises $55M - Co-founded by Demi Guo (CEO) and Chenlin Meng (CTO), Pika is a San Francisco-based text-to-video platform. It raised $55 million in a round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and joined by Homebrew, Conviction Capital, SV Angel, Ben’s Bites, and angel investors.
Candex lands $45M infusion to grow its procurement management business - Co-founded by Shani Vaza-Wahrmann, Candex is a New York-based procurement management platform. It raised $45 million in a Series B funding round led by Goldman Sachs, with participation by WiL, Altos Ventures, NFX, Craft Ventures, JPMorgan, American Express, and Edenred.
Aro Biotherapeutics raises funds for Pompe disease treatment - Co-founded by Karyn ONeil (CSO) and led by CEO Susan Dillon, PhD, Aro Biotherapeutics is a US-based developer of tissue-targeted genetic medicines. It secured $41.5 million in Series B funding. Cowen Healthcare Investments led the round, joined by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Northpond Ventures, Healthcap, and BVF Partners.
Zubale bags new capital for software to help retailers scale e-commerce in Latin America - Co-founded and co-led by Allison Campbell, Zubale is a Mexico-based company providing tools to retailers to scale their digital channels. It secured $25 million in a Series A extension. QED Investors led the round, joined by NFX and other investors.
Cradle raises $24M to expand Generative AI for protein design and engineering - Co-founded by Elise de Reus, Cradle uses generative AI to help scientists design and engineer proteins. The Netherlands-based biotech startup raised $24 million in Series A funding. Index Ventures led the round, with participation from Kindred Capital and angel investors.
Lassie brings €23M home for pet insurance - Co-founded and led by Hedda Båverud Olsson (CEO) and Sophie Wilkinson (COO), the Sweden-based startup offers the world’s first preventive pet insurance ecosystem. It raised €23 million in Series B funding.
Mozaic raises $20 million to build payment-splitting solution for creators - Co-founded by Rachel Knepp, Mozaic.io is a global payments platform for creators. It announced $20 million in Series A funding from Volition Capital.
Italian startup WeRoad raises €18M to scale millennial adventure travel - Co-founded by Erika De Santi, WeRoad is a traveltech startup for millennials. It secured €18 million in Series B funding led by H14.
Finland’s Carbo Culture Completes $18M Series A Funding Round - Co-founded and led by Henrietta Moon, Carbo Culture is a Helsinki-based startup developing industrial-scale carbon removal technology. It secured $18 million in Series A funding, in a round led by GenZero and True Ventures.
Austrian startup Hololight raises $12M to accelerate XR streaming for industrial applications - Co-founded by Susanne (Kühsling) Haspinger (COO), Hololight provides an extended reality (XR) streaming platform for enterprises. It raised $12 million in a round led by Flatz Hoffmann, and joined by EnBW New Ventures, Bayern Kapital, and Future Energy Ventures.
Visa joins investment round in Finnish fintech Enfuce - Co-founded and co-led by Denise Johansson and Monika Liikamaa, Helsinki-based Enfuce offers an API-first card issuing and payment processing solution. It raised €8.5 million in a follow-on round led by Vitruvian Partners with Maki.vc, and Visa participating.
QuantumDiamonds raises €7M Seed funding for quantum sensing technology - Co-founded by Kristina Liu (COO), QuantumDiamonds develops atom-sized quantum sensors that enable non-destructive, nano-scale imaging of magnetic fields, with applications across various industries, including semiconductor manufacturing and medical diagnostics. The Germany-based company raised €7 million in Seed funding led by IQ Capital and Earlybird. Onsight Ventures, First Momentum, Creator Fund, UnternehmerTUM, and angel investors from the semiconductor industry have also participated.
Paris-based WeeFin secures €7 million Series A to elevate the standards of sustainable finance - Co-founded by Marion Aubert (CPO) and Sabrine Aouida (Head of ESG Research and Regulatory), WeeFin is a SaaS platform that helps financial institutions understand and comply with ESG regulations. It raised €7 million in Series A funding from investors including IRIS, Ring Capital, Asterion Ventures, and Investir&+.
Clayful, a startup that helps students connect to mental health experts within 60 seconds, raises $7M - Co-founded by Maria Barrera (CEO) and Melissa Pelochino (Chief Experience Officer), the US-based platform enables students aged eight to 18 to connect with a mental health expert within 60 seconds when they need it. The startup raised $7 million in funding from investors including Google Latino Founders Fund, Reach Capital, Ovo Fund, Common Sense Ventures, Charter School Growth Fund, and Wisdom Ventures.
“Our design is based on meeting kids where they are at in and outside of school, online and on their schedule.” - Maria Barrera, CEO of Clayful (via TechCrunch)
Drug discovery startup Pepper Bio hopes to challenge Eroom’s law with new funding - Co-founded by Samantha Dale Strasser (CSO), the US-based drug discovery company aims to bring solutions for those suffering from untreated diseases, including certain forms of cancer. It raised $6.5 million in a Seed round led by NFX, with participation from Merck, Silverton Partners, Mana Ventures, Tensility Ventures, and VSC Ventures.
Letterhead Secures $5.3 Million in Seed Funding For Newsletter Content Automation - Co-founded by Rebekah Monson (COO), Letterhead is a US-based software platform for automating the creation and management of email newsletters. It raised $5.3 million in Seed funding. Las Olas VC and Reign Ventures co-led the round, joined by BDMI, Florida Opportunity Fund, and McClatchy.
With Backing from New Strategic Partner Honeywell Smart Energy, SparkMeter is Digitizing Grids to Advance the Energy Transition for Utilities in the US and Worldwide - Co-founded by Allison Archambault, SparkMeter is a US-based grid management provider. It raised $5 million from Honeywell Smart Energy.
Salesforce Ventures and Female Founders Fund back Kenyan climate-tech Amini in $4M seed round - Founded and led by Kate Kallot, Amini is a Kenya-based climate-tech startup bridging the environmental data gap in Africa. It raised $4 million in a Seed funding round led by Salesforce Ventures and the Female Founders Fund. Satgana, Pale Blue Dot, and Superorganism have also participated.
Bristol-based Hybr bags €3.7 million to improve relations between landlords and student tenants - Founded and led by Hannah Chappatte, Hybr is a UK-based startup that aggregates all available homes for first-time renters. It raised £3.2 million in Seed funding from investors including BlackWood Ventures.
This founder used AI to build his paralysed daughter an exoskeleton. Now he’s raised money to turn it into a business that will teach you anything - Co-founded by Nejma Belkhdim (CPO), Nolej is a France-based edtech company building infrastructure to power the future of learning. It raised €3 million from Educapital and Square Knowledge Ventures.
BioFluff knits $2.5M in seed funding for sustainable alternative luxury materials - Co-founded by Roni GamZon, Paris-based BioFluff is developing plant-based fur for the luxury clothing market. It raised $2.5 million in a Seed funding round led by Astanor Ventures.
OCEAN ECOSTRUCTURES raises €1.6M to regenerate biodiversity in degraded marine environments - Co-founded by Mireia de Mas (COO) and Anna Lloveras (CSO), Barcelona-based Ocean Ecostructure specializes in the regeneration of marine biodiversity. It raised €1.6 million in funding from Ship2B Ventures, Inclimo Climate Tech, and BStartup of Banco Sabadell.
Pakistan-based BusCaro is providing safer transportation options, especially for women - Founded and led by Maha Shahzad, BusCaro provides buses and vans for commuter transportation. It raised $1.5 million in Pre-Seed funding. Orbit Startups led the round, joined by Wahed Ventures and angel investors.
VC & PE: Tola Capital, investing in AI-enabled enterprise software, closes largest fund at $230M - Co-founded and led by managing director Sheila Gulati, Tola Capital invests in AI-enabled enterprise software. It closed its third and largest fund with $230 million in capital commitments.
NXTP closes largest fund with $98M for early-stage B2B founders in Latin America - Co-led by founding partner Marta Cruz, NXTP Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in early-stage, business-to-business startups in Latin America. It secured $98 million in capital commitments for its third and largest fund to date.
Morgan Stanley Hits $50M Target For Fund Empowering Underrepresented Tech Entrepreneurs - Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) announced the close of its Morgan Stanley Next Level Fund, aimed at early-stage tech companies led by underrepresented entrepreneurs. It is co-led by Alice S. Vilma.
Bethnal Green Ventures announces first close of newest tech for good fund at £33M - Co-led by Managing Partner Melanie Hayes, Bethnal Green Ventures - the UK’s first B-Corp certified VC firm - announced the first close of a new fund at £33 million. LPs include the British Business Bank, M&G Catalyst, and Big Society Capital. With the new fund, the firm aims to invest in 100 new ventures over the next four years through its Tech for Good programme.
“We firmly believe the companies at the top of the FTSE and the Nasdaq in 10 to 20 years time will be those that can demonstrate their positive social and environmental impact as well as their financial success. It’s our job to find and support those companies when they’re just starting out.” - Melanie Hayes, Managing Partner (via Tech.eu)
Kinterra Capital’s debut $565M fund to support mining for battery metals - Co-founded and co-led Cheryl Brandon, CFA, M.Sc., the Canadian private equity firm closed its $565 million debut fund focused on securing critical mineral assets for battery development.
The top takeaways from Atomico’s State of European Tech report - According to Atomico’s State of Europe, just 7% of European funding rounds went to all-women founding teams in the first nine months of the year. The amount represents just 3% of the total capital raised.
Women of the Year: The FT’s 25 most influential women of 2023
Sports: Women’s elite sports revenue will cross billion dollars in 2024: Deloitte Women’s elite sports will become a billion-dollar industry for the first time in 2024, estimates Deloitte.
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Until next Sunday,
Anamaria
Founder & Writer of FemWealth