Austin tech collectively raised more than $950 million from investors in 2017, up by about $40 million over 2016. Of 146 rounds, the average investment size sat at around $6.4 million. These are the top 10 largest fundings of the year, totaling $377 million.
10. Ambiq Micro
Date: June 19, 2017
Amount: $23M
Ambiq Micro raised a total of $34.1 million with June’s $23 million round and a second round in October. Since its inception in 2010, the company has raised over $80 million to develop energy efficient batteries that power IoT devices.
10. Pivot3
Date: Aug. 24, 2017
Amount: $23M
August’s round marked an add-on to a previous investment that Pivot3 filed for in March of 2016 for $19 million. The 15-year-old company did not issue a statement at the time of either filing. We chatted with Pivot3’s CTO Bill Galloway just weeks before the August funding to learn more about how the company built a product — and market — from scratch in the IT infrastructure and storage space industry.
7. uShip
Date: Feb. 15, 2017
Amount: $25M
Logistic company and uShip partner DB Schenker was the sole investor to uShip’s February Series D. The two companies announced a 5-year partnership the year prior. uShip used the funding to accelerate the development of its enterprise logistics automation software for high-volume enterprise shippers and small and midsize businesses.
7. Baxter Planning
Date: Oct. 12, 2017
Amount: $25M
Baxter Planning launched in 1993, yet October’s funding marked the software firm's first major investment. Polaris Partners led the funding, which Baxter will use to make about 10 new hires in sales and marketing, strengthen its product and increase international adoption. Baxter Planning develops inventory planning and logistics management software.
7. Tiff’s Treats
Date: Nov. 15, 2017
Amount: $25M
Tiff’s Treats proprietary technology has led to the successful deliveries of more than 80 million cookies since its 1999 launch. Its platform integrates with Austin-based HotSchedules, Slack, Asana, Intacct, ADP, Sysco and enterprise-for-business car fleets with Nissan Versa to make online ordering easier than ever before. November’s funding will be used to expand into Tennessee.
5. Main Street Hub
Date: Jan. 11, 2017
Amount: $27M
Main Street Hub made plans to add over 200 new employees following the $27 million it raised in debt refinancing and expansion with Silicon Valley Bank. The company also announced later this year its plans to move its NYC office to Austin, growing its local presence even more.
5. Opcity
Date: May 10, 2017
Amount: $27M
Opcity had a busy 2017, raising a $27 million Series A in May and moving into a new south Austin headquarters for its rapidly expanding team in November. Just two years old, Opcity connects transaction-ready home sellers and buyers with its network of real estate agents. The startup used May’s funding to hire across sales, marketing, design, general counsel, IT, data science, business analytics, recruiting and service operations.
4. Zilliant
Date: April 5, 2017
Amount: $30M
This yea, Goldman Sach’s made its first investment in Austin-based Zilliant to the tune of $30 million. Zilliant builds predictive pricing optimization and management solutions that drive business opportunities with every customer interaction. The company launched in 1999 and has raised over $90 million to date. April’s funding will be used to expand globally.
3. SparkCognition
Date: June 26, 2017
Amount: $32.5M
SparkCognition landed two huge investors when the VC units of Verizon Communication and The Boeing Company led the company’s $32.5 million Series B last summer. The AI startup directed the funding toward entering new verticals like manufactuaring, energy, aerospace, maritime and national security. To date, SparkCognition has raised over $48 million in funding.
2. The Zebra
Date: Sept. 19, 2017
Amount: $40M
The Zebra, an online hub helping users compare auto insurance rates in real time, raised a $40 million Series B and announced a new CEO in September. Accel Partners led the funding. The Silicon Valley-based VC firm has also invested in KAYAK, where The Zebra’s new CEO Keith Melnick previously served as president. The Zebra’s funding, which will help the startup strengthen its product and grow its team, marks Accel Partners’ largest investment in an Austin company.
1. BorrowersFirst
Date: Jan. 17, 2017
Amount: $100M
Launched in 2014, BorrowersFirst secured $100 million in capital from Waterfall Asset Management. The company provided consumer loans with lower interest rates and a faster loan approval process. As of October, the fintech startup stopped accepting new loans and appears to have outsourced existing active loans to partner financing groups.
