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White Star Capital closes $50 million USD fund focused on crypto and blockchain (BETAKIT)
Speaking with BetaKit, Sep Alavi, general partner at White Star Capital, said the firm launched the fund to help bring a level of institutionalization to the crypto and blockchain sector.
The pandemic effect: IPOs the new path for Canadian tech firms
The Canadian tech ecosystem is thriving in Canada. COVID-19, or the “pandemic effect” has resulted in emerging tech companies in Canada eyeing the public market more than ever for growth. This has led to a tech IPO boom early in 2021, with likely more to come.
Europe’s answer to Robinhood just raised fresh funds at a $5.3 billion valuation (CNBC)
German stock-trading app Trade Republic raised $900 million in a huge funding round that values the start-up at $5.3 billion.
Zeta becomes a unicorn with $250 million SoftBank-led funding (TECHCRUNCH)
The new round valued the startup, which has offices in Bangalore and Dubai, at $1.45 billion.
Canadian tech is having a moment. How best to seize it? (BETAKIT)
Anyone paying attention to the Canadian tech ecosystem will know something special is happening. So what comes next? BetaKit Patrons can register for the first monthly BetaKit Live on May 27 to see the full discussion.
BuyProperly raises $2 million to expand real estate investment platform across Canada, US (BETAKIT)
The startup plans to use the fresh funding to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered property identification model and expand by adding new properties across Canada and the US.
More funding flows into Pipe, as buzzy FinTech raises $250M at a $2B valuation (TECHCRUNCH)
The new funding was raised at “a significant step up in valuation” from the company’s last raise.
7 things startups should know about selling to banks (BETAKIT)
CIBC’s Paul McKinlay, Keith Gordon, Bank of America’s Tom Mildenhall, and Sensibill’s Corey Gross share tips for startups selling to banks.
Wingocard secures $2 million CAD, launches app to teach teens financial literacy (BETAKIT)
Combined with the startup’s Diagram Ventures-led $2 million CAD round last July, the new financing brings Wingocard’s total seed funding to date to $4 million CAD.
Secfi secures $150M round to walk employees through complex world of stock options (CRUNCHBASE)
Frederik Mijnhardt, CEO, and co-founder, Wouter Witvoet, were both employees at a venture-backed company four years ago when they got the idea for Secfi after learning about stock options in a hard way.
Mogo, Unbounce making acquisitions amid planned expansions (BETAKIT)
Mogo has been actively expanding its product suite as well as its ownership stake in other Canadian companies as of late. The company doubled its stake in Toronto-based cryptocurrency startup Coinsquare, two months after introducing a crypto-based solution of its own.
Washington is rushing to regulate crypto. It’s a mess. (PROTOCOL)
The SEC, CFTC, IRS, FinCEN and Congress all want a piece of crypto oversight. The confusion has some in the industry calling for clearer regulations.
Relay Financial secures $18.2 million CAD to bring financial management solution to more SMBs in US (BETAKIT)
The startup plans to use the funding to add customers, grow its engineering and product teams, and better integrate its platform into the small business back office.
Ethereum closes in on long-sought fix to cut energy use over 99% (BNN BLOOMBERG)
Users and developers of the world’s most-used blockchain have been wrangling with its carbon-footprint problem for as long as it’s been around.