For the second consecutive month in a row, Austin tech has collectively raised over $90 million in fresh capital. Fourteen companies welcomed a sum of $94.5 million in October, with an average deal size of $6.7 million. Here are the top five rounds of another high month.
5. Certain Affinity, $10M, Oct. 16
Investors: Leyou Technologies
Bio: Certain Affinity is the gaming developer behind some of the industry’s leading titles, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, DOOM, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Halo 4 and Crimson Alliance. The company recently moved into a new headquarters in North Austin with a team of 125 employees.
News: As part of the investment terms, Hong Kong-based Leyou Technologies will take a 20 percent ownership stake of Certain Affinity. Certain Affinity will continue to run independently and will partner with Leyou on an upcoming game.
4. Ambiq Micro, $10.1M, Oct. 30
Investors: 42 undisclosed investors
Bio: Ambiq Micro develops ultra-low, energy-efficient batteries that power IoT devices, wireless sensors, smart cards and wearables.
News: October’s funding marked a $10.1 million amendment to Ambiq Micro’s previous $23 million raised in June. The company did not issue a statement regarding the funding news, but it did make headlines in September after Huawei selected Ambiq’s Apollo2 platform to power its new line of lightweight fitness wearables.
3. Tethr, $15M, Oct. 27
Investors: Grotech Ventures, MissionOG
Bio: Also known as CollabIP, Tethr’s conversation intelligence platform records, transcribes and pulls insights from calls between companies and their clients. Its technology gets smarter with every call as it learns the key business strategies to listen for.
News: Tethr’s funding will be used to hire in sales, marketing, operations and engineering, grow its business operations and invest in product. Since its 2012 launch, the company has raised $21 million.
2. ESO, $15.5M, Oct. 10
Investors: Accel-KKR
Bio: Launched in 2004, ESO develops interoperability software and management solutions for EMS, fire departments, hospitals and billing.
News: A company spokesperson said the funding will be used to hire across the company, with an emphasis on software development and quality assurance roles. The influx in capital played an integral role in ESO’s acquisition of FIREHOUSE Software, which ESO announced the week prior.
1. Baxter Planning Systems, $25M, Oct. 12
Investors: Polaris Partners
Bio: Baxter Planning Systems’ inventory management software and planning services help companies optimize and automate supply chain management.
News: The $25 million investment marks the company’s first organized fundraising, following a series of seed investments more than 15 years ago. Baxter Planning Systems launched in 1993 and will use the funding to strengthen its international presence, bring on 10 new employees and increase sales and marketing efforts.
