Introduction to Startups Weekly
The second week of the year is usually a busy one for startup news, and 2025 is no exception. From CES product launches to M&As and funding rounds, there’s a lot to catch up on.
Most Interesting Startup Stories from the Week
Several startups launched new products at CES 2025, including Full Nature Farms and its farm irrigation system, Soliddd and its smart glasses for people with macular degeneration, and May Mobility and its electric autonomous minibus. Other notable news includes:
- Green light: Dutch semiconductor giant NXP announced plans to acquire TTTech Auto, a VC-backed Austrian spinoff specializing in safety software for autonomous vehicles, in an all-cash transaction valued at $625 million.
- Healthy match: Healthcare analytics platform H1 acquired Ribbon, a Y Combinator alum that helps patients find doctors supported by their insurance.
- Flock of lawsuits: Flock Safety is getting sued by a mayor who claims the public safety tech company wrongfully terminated him.
- Room for partners: 3D design app Rooms secured a partnership with Google, which will invest $1 million into the startup and give it early access to Gemini AI.
- Wild ride: Defense tech headhunter Peterson Conway is quite the character, and his profile makes for a very good read.
Most Interesting Fundraises this Week
This year almost had its first pentacorn — but not quite. Several other funding rounds of varying size also made the news, including:
- Near-pentacorn: Livestream shopping app Whatnot raised a $265 million Series E round of funding, putting its valuation at nearly $5 billion.
- Blue ocean: Xocean, an Irish marine robotics startup, raised $119 million to expand beyond the energy and hydrography sectors.
- Cross-border: NomuPay, an Irish startup, raised a $37 million Series B round at a $200 million valuation to expand its payment rails in underserved markets across Asia.
- Paying off: OnPay, an Atlanta-based startup, secured a debt facility and over $100 million in new funding, inclusive of a $63 million Series B round.
- Game on: Grand Games, the Turkish startup behind Magic Sort and Car Match, raised a $30 million Series A of funding led by London-based Balderton.
Most Interesting VC and Fund News this Week
- Newcomer: Defiant, a new European early-stage VC firm, came out of stealth and announced its intention to raise as much as $70 million for its initial fund.
- Trucking on: Transportation-focused Trucks Venture Capital plans to make about 30 seed investments out of its new $70 million fund.
- India-focused fund: Silicon Valley-based South Park Commons is raising an India-specific fund, while Accel is taking a measured approach to its India investments.
Last but not Least
VC investment in some emerging markets declined by more than 40% in 2024, and over half of global VC funding went to Silicon Valley. As the AI boom continues, there is no indication that this might change in 2025.
Conclusion
The startup world is always buzzing with activity, and this week was no exception. From new product launches to funding rounds and VC news, there’s a lot to keep up with. As we move forward into 2025, it will be interesting to see how the startup landscape continues to evolve and which companies will come out on top. With the rise of AI and emerging markets, one thing is certain – the world of startups will remain exciting and unpredictable.
