Fintech firm Consero secures $50M in funding
Consero raised one of the largest single rounds of funding for Austin tech this year, in the form of a $50 million investment from a Boston private equity firm. Launched in 2006, Consero supports over 250 mid-size businesses with its fintech platform. BV Investment Partners was the sole investor in the round. The funding will be used to hire nationally in sales, engineering, and finance and accounting, as well as for product enhancements and a new acquisition strategy. [Built In Austin]
Bumble launches fund for women-led businesses
Austin-based Bumble, the dating and networking app founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, announced that it has launched an early-stage investment fund to support women-led businesses. Sarah Jones Simmer, Bumble’s COO, and Sarah Kunst, Bumble’s senior advisor will lead the fund’s investment strategy. Per TechCrunch, Bumble’s fund will invest between $5,000 and $250,000 in companies led by women that focus on women’s interests. [TechCrunch]
PLNAR raises $3.9 million
PLNAR, an Austin-based AR startup that makes 3D measurements with smartphones, closed a $3.9 million Series A funding this week. InsurTech, FinTech and ManchesterStory Group led the funding that included participation from The Venture Reality Fund and Colopl Next. PLNR will use the investment to expand in the insurance claims and home improvement industries. [Press Release]
Cloud storage firm Caringo files $3.4M in new funding
Caringo, a data storage firm launched in 2005, raised $3.4 million from five undisclosed investors this week, according to a regulatory filing. Prior to this week’s funding, the company last raised nearly $9 million in September of 2016 from New Science Ventures and Advantage Capital Partners. The company did not issue a statement regarding the investment. [FormDs]
ListingSpark closes $2M from Silverton Partners
Real estate tech startup ListingSpark secured a $2 million Series A last week from Silverton Partners. The new funding will be used to enter new markets, extend its services, and hire more agents and staff and to continue developing its new title startup, Spark Title. [Press Release]
MassChallenge Texas awards $500K to 8 startups
MassChallenge Texas recently graduated its inaugural cohort that included 84 startups. To close out the program, MassChallenge awarded $500,000 to eight of the highest-impact startups. Companies receiving a piece of the total prize money included: EQO, Sempulse, Cloud 9, NovoThelium, Augmenta, GrubTubs, Popspots and The Mentor Method. [Press Release]
