Student Loan Genius raises $3.5M
Austin startup Student Loan Genius, whose platform lets companies contribute toward employees' student loan payments, secured $3.5 million in funding on Wednesday. Vestigo Ventures led the seed round, with participation from MFG Ventures, Prudential Financial and Rubicon Venture Capital. The company will use the funding for commercialization of its platform as well to pump up its hiring efforts in technology, sales and marketing. Student Loan Genius has now raised north of $6 million from investors. [Built In Austin]
NarrativeDx raises $1.1M
Austin healthtech startup NarrativeDx raised $1.1 million late last week from five investors, according to an SEC filing. Launched in 2013, NarrativeDx’s machine learning platform collects and analyzes patient feedback to help healthcare professionals provide better client experiences. The company did not issue a statement. [FormDs]
Silverton Partners closes fifth fund of $108M
On Friday, local VC firm Silverton Partners announced it has raised its fifth investment fund totaling $108 million. Since its 2006 launch, Silverton Partners has made 50 investments in early-stage startups operating in the enterprise and consumer tech sectors. This fund is Silverton’s largest to date, and it will help the firm bring on more top-tier limited partners. [Press Release]
Vuevent gets acquired by TrellisSoft
Vuevent, an application and marketing platform for events that launched in 2014, was acquired by San Jose-based TrellisSoft. Details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Vuevent will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of TrellisSoft. Vuevent CEO Brent Shafer said the company will continue operating out of Austin. [Press Release]
Coworking company opens first Austin location, with second on the way
The Conneticut-based wellness-focused coworking space work well win recently opened its first Austin location, with a second opening slated for this fall. The company's first local space took over Journey Coworking, formerly known as ATX Factory, at 5325 Levander Loop. Its second spot will be located at 3443 Ed Bluestein Blvd. in East Austin — the site of a former Motorola plant. Its amenities include purified air systems, meditation spaces, natural light design, nutritious food and drink options, and plants, as well as professional education opportunities. [Press Release]
April Downing joins Civitas Learning as company’s first COO
Edtech analytics company Civitas Learning announced recently that Austin tech veteran April Downing will be joining its ranks as its first COO. Downing helped Civitas Learning raise nearly $9 million in 2013. She joins the company from WP Engine, where she served as CFO and helped grow revenues to more than $100 million in less than five years. [Press Release]
ShippingEasy takes home All-Star Service Team of the Year award
E-commerce shipping platform ShippingEasy won this year’s Small Business Award for All-Star Service Team by the National Customer Service Association. ShippingEasy's platform integrates with a range of online marketplaces, including Amazon, Etsy and Shopify, among others. [Press Release]
