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OMERS Growth Equity backs US data analytics startup Imply in $100 million USD Series D (BETAKIT)
Imply co-founder and CEO Fangjin “FJ” Yang said that the number of use cases for the company’s analytics database offering has “expanded exponentially.” This expansion is part of what attracted PE firm Thoma Bravo, which led Imply’s Series D financing, and fellow new investor OMERS Growth Equity.
Broadcom in Advanced Talks to Buy VMware (THE WALL STREET JOURNAL)
The technology companies are discussing a cash-and-stock deal that could come soon, assuming the talks don’t fall apart, the people said. VMware has a market value of $40 billion, while Broadcom’s is around $222 billion.
Yaletown-backed software company Tasktop to be acquired by Texas-based Planview (BETAKIT)
Once the deal is complete, “the vast majority” of Tasktop’s 200-plus person team will join Planview, and Tasktop founder and CEO Mik Kersten will become Planview’s CTO. The move comes just over a year after Tasktop raised $126 million CAD in growth equity financing led by California’s Sumeru Equity Partners, with participation from previous investors Vancouver-based Yaletown Partners and Austin-based Elsewhere Partners
Report: EA Looking To Sell Or Merge (KOTAKU)
In recent years, as media companies have taken greater interest in the rapidly growing gaming industry, Wilson and Electronic Arts have held talks with a number of different potential suitors, including Disney, Apple, and Amazon.
Modern Treasury, a fintech start-up, had been funneling all its data into a BI tool. But that wasn’t working anymore.
They struggled to answer questions that required data from different systems. And without a universal source of truth, it was hard to get accurate answers.
They needed a modern data stack.
Using Mozart Data, they got an out-of-the-box data stack set up in hours without any engineering.
With scalable data infrastructure in place now, they have a better understanding of product usage, customer success managers can produce quarterly reports for customers, and 47% of the company is regularly working with data.
Read the story to learn how Modern Treasury did this.
BBTV revenue decreases seven percent, net loss increases in Q1 as COVID-19 consumer patterns shift (BETAKIT)
BBTV attributed this overall decline in revenue to a dip in views and revenue per one thousand views (RPMs) that has come as COVID-19 lockdowns have subsided and consumer consumption patterns have changed. According to BBTV, this decrease was partially offset by a rise in the company’s plus solutions revenue.
Data intelligence startup Near, with 1.6B anonymized user IDs, lists on Nasdaq via SPAC at a $1B market cap; raises $100M (TECHCRUNCH)
It will trade on Nasdaq using the “NIR” ticker. Alongside that, the company is picking up a $100 million equity investment into its business from CF Principal Investments, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald.
Fable raises $13.4 million CAD, launches accessibility training program for businesses (BETAKIT)
The investment also saw participation from a group of several notable angel investors including John Ruffolo, who is the founder and managing partner of Maverix Private Equity.
Spare, Lyft partner to offer flexible transportation for transit agencies (BETAKIT)
Spare is expanding its mobility software platform for public transit, ride sharing, and other shared transportation through a partnership with transportation company, Lyft. Meanwhile, BlackBerry is expanding its multi-year partnership with Aurora-based Magna International to collaborate on integrated Advanced Driver Assistance Systems solutions.
Netflix Hit By Layoffs; About 150 Mostly U.S.-Based Employees Affected (DEADLINE)
A number of those laid off are in the executive ranks, including in original content, I hear, with a couple of director-level original series execs rumored to be leaving. There is also rampant rumor that the indie film division will suffer heavy casualties but sources internally say that is not the case.
Converge Technology Solutions to acquire San Diego-based Technology Integration Group (BETAKIT)
Founded in 2017, Converge aims to bring together IT providers with the expertise needed to meet client demands. The company achieves this by providing cloud platforms and services, blockchain technologies, resiliency solutions, and managed services. Converge also offers companies with access to business accelerators.
MasterSchool raises $100M to address tech talent shortage (VENTUREBEAT)
As IT leaders continue to increase the adoption of emerging technologies — artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and robotic process automation (RPA), among other things — the demand for qualified techies across functions is increasing. Organizations need skilled people to implement and drive their digital transformation initiatives — and are even willing to pay handsomely.
Haloo raises $2.9 million CAD to offer IP verification tech as solution for NFT theft, fraud (BETAKIT)
After seeing a rise in applications for NFT-related trademarks, Toronto-based Haloo (formerly Heirlume) has raised $2.9 million CAD in seed funding to offer its IP verification tech as a means of preventing NFT theft and fraud. Meanwhile, EdTech company Pressto—which was launched in Halifax—has closed $1.5 million in pre-seed financing to make it easy for children to make zines of their own.
A timeline of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter (BNN BLOOMBERG)
Twitter users woke up April 4 and found the words “Elon” and “Elon Musk” trending on the site — not because the world’s richest, most-followed businessman had caused a stir with his futuristic companies, but because he’d disclosed a major stake in Twitter Inc.
OnlyForward’s newly launched Gov’r app a “modern way” for citizens to engage with politicians (BETAKIT)
Gov’r bills itself as a modern way for citizens to engage with elected representatives and candidates. The mobile app is designed to find elected reps, get informed about what they’re up to, ask them questions, and receive short video responses back from them in response.