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With Portage backing, New York-based LoanStreet eyes Canadian market (BETAKIT)
Armed with fresh financing from Portage Ventures, New York-based FinTech startup LoanStreet might soon expand its services north of the border. Portage led LoanStreet’s $25 million USD Series B round. Portage’s Adam Felesky believes “Canada could be an interesting market for LoanStreet.”
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Sequoia makes a big bet on Web3, leading $450 million investment in Polygon blockchain (CNBC)
Sequoia Capital India led a $450 million investment in Polygon, a blockchain network that serves as a support layer to Ethereum.
Wafra Capital Partners acquires Toronto FinTech startup Financeit from Goldman Sachs (BETAKIT)
Goldman Sachs Asset Management has sold Toronto FinTech startup Financeit to Kuwait-controlled, New York-based investment advisory firm Wafra Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount. The sale comes five years after Goldman Sachs acquired a majority stake in Financeit.
Why the Ottawa truckers protest has turned to cryptocurrency for fundraising (THE GLOBE AND MAIL)
Fundraising efforts supporting Ottawa protests bypass traditional channels and turn to cryptocurrency.
Newton Crypto now valued at $253 million following $25 million CAD Series B round (BETAKIT)
The new round brings the company’s valuation to approximately $253 million CAD ($200 million USD).
Tories push Trudeau for plan to lure crypto investment (BNN BLOOMBERG)
The proposal by Michelle Rempel Garner is Canada’s first legislative foray into the increasingly popular asset class.
11 Canadian tech companies to watch in 2022 (BETAKIT)
ControlHQ’s co-founder is back with his #CDNtech crystal ball. Here’s Kevin Sandhu’s annual list of Canadian tech companies that will make significant strides in 2022.
That was fast. Alchemy transforms into $10.2B decacorn in less than four months (CRUNCHBASE)
The company just announced a new $200 million “Series C-1” in a new round of financing led by Lightspeed and Silver Lake that nearly triples its valuation—to $10.2 billion—in less than four months.
Micruity aims to “pensionize” 401(k) plans as it lands $6.5 million CAD seed round (BETAKIT)
The goal is to make it easier for insurers, asset managers, and record keepers to communicate and share information as they offer annuity products to customers.
DOJ seizes $3.6 billion in bitcoin from 2016 Bitfinex hack, arrests couple (DECRYPT)
US law enforcement has seized over 94,000 Bitcoins from a New York-based tech entrepreneur and his aspiring-rapper wife. The crypto seizure, which was related to the 2016 Bitfinex hack, was the biggest of all time — worth nearly $4 billion.
Koho secures $210 million to give more Canadians access to wealth creation (BETAKIT)
One of the largest FinTech funding rounds ever raised in Canada, the financing comprises $150 in primary capital, $10 million in secondary for early shareholders and members of the Koho team, and a $50 million debt facility.
Apollo nears $2.3 billion deal for Worldline’s terminal business (WALL STREET JOURNAL)
The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital payments over cash.
ClearEstate raises $16.8 million CAD to help the grieving deal with estates (BETAKIT)
In the next six months, the startup plans to expand to Florida, New York, Texas, and some adjacent states. ClearEstate plans to use its new funding, which closed mid-December, to increase its team from 50 to more than 120 by the end of 2022.
GoCardless valued at $2.1 billion as part of $312 million raise (BNN BLOOMBERG)
GoCardless processes more than $25 billion in transactions per year for the likes of Klarna Bank AB and DocuSign Inc.