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ApplyBoard raises $375 million CAD Series D at $4 billion valuation (BETAKIT)
The Kitchener-Waterloo-based startup claims the new financing gives it a post-money valuation of $4 billion CAD ($3.2 billion USD), double that of the company’s $100 million Series C round in May 2020.
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Waymo raises $2.5 billion in funding round (WALL STREET JOURNAL)
Alphabet’s self-driving affiliate says it wants to continue developing its Waymo Driver autonomous-driving system.
Anduril raises $450M as the defense tech company’s valuation soars to $4.6B (TECHCRUNCH)
The AI-powered defense company founded by tech iconoclast Palmer Luckey has landed a $450 million round of investment that values the startup at $4.6 billion just four years in.
Clearco adds chief growth officer to lead international expansion efforts (BETAKIT)
Bose’s addition to Clearco, as well as Clark’s, are part of a broader hiring spree by Clearco following its Series C funding round earlier this year that gave the company a close to $2 billion USD valuation.
After raising $200 million before CEO ouster, marketing automation startup Iterable announces $2 billion valuationt (FORBES)
Founded in San Francisco in 2013 by Andrew Boni and Justin Zhu, Iterable helps companies send hyper-targeted and automated messages, emails, push notifications and other information.
Two US startups with Canadian roots, Moonshot and Nylas, secure combined $280 million (BETAKIT)
Nylas provides productivity infrastructure solutions for developers, while Moonshot aims to build a portfolio of profitable e-commerce brands.
Bias isn’t the only problem with credit scores — and no, AI can’t help (MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW)
Additionally, people around the country are furious after being denied their unemployment benefits due to apparent problems with facial recognition technology that claims to prevent fraud.
Fill out the BetaKit x Cisco Startup Survey (BETAKIT)
To better understand the current state of Canadian startups and small businesses, BetaKit has joined forces with Cisco Designed to create a brief survey.
Cruise starts pre-production of its autonomous shuttle thanks to $5 billion from GM (THE VERGE)
GM is extending a line of credit to the autonomous vehicle company.
With third acquisition, holding company PlanetCorp is looking to win big with AI, 5G, blockchain (BETAKIT)
Amid a recent surge in M&A activity in Canada’s tech sector during COVID-19, PlanetCorp’s team sees a path to growth through merging with and acquiring other firms, and working closely with the companies to help them scale.
Quantum computers are already detangling nature’s mysteries (WIRED)
Practical quantum computers may be decades away – but the race to build them is already tackling thorny global problems, and unlocking the secrets of the universe.
KeepTruckin raises $190 million to invest in AI products, double R&D team to 700 (TECHCRUNCH)
KeepTruckin intends to invest its new capital back into its AI-powered products like its GPS tracking, ELD compliance and dispatch and workflow, but it’s specifically interested in improving its smart dashcam.
Raquel Urtasun launches new self-driving startup Waabi with $100 million CAD from top investors (BETAKIT)
The round was led by Khosla Ventures, which has invested in the likes of Square, Stripe, and DoorDash, and includes participation from autonomous driving startup Aurora, which acquired Uber ATG.
How AI is helping power performance in the pool (THE GLOBE AND MAIL)
It’s not just technological advances that empower Canadian companies such as Smart Swim Goggle maker Form Athletica Inc. to succeed, but also the maturing of Canada’s technology ecosystem, Dan Eisenhardt says.