Tue.Aug 30, 2022

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Kenyan fintech Pezesha raises $11M backed by Women’s World Banking, Cardano parent IOG

TechCrunch

Access to finance remains a key growth constraint for small businesses, with data showing a $330 billion financing deficit for the small enterprises that make up 90% of Africa’s businesses. This is the gap that Kenya’s embedded finance fintech Pezesha seeks to bridge as it expands into Nigeria, Rwanda and Francophone Africa following an $11 million pre-Series A equity-debt round led by Women’s World Banking Capital Partners II with participation from Verdant Frontiers Fintech Fund, cFund and Car

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Networking For Entrepreneurs: Complete Guide

Feedough

Entrepreneurship is not a solo journey. To be successful, you. Read more. The post Networking For Entrepreneurs: Complete Guide appeared first on Feedough.

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6 ways to make sure your startup is using the right GTM model

TechCrunch

Ali Mitchell. Contributor. Share on Twitter. Ali Mitchell is a partner and co-head of EQT Ventures. He helps startups figure out product-market fit and establish the right time to scale. Laura Yao. Contributor. Share on Twitter. Laura Yao is a partner at EQT Ventures. She focuses on investing in Silicon Valley-based tech startups. In times of (capital) abundance, startups can afford to overbuild their sales teams, hire the wrong sales leaders and invest resources in sales strategies that don’t p

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Investing in PROOF

Andreessen Horowitz

… The post Investing in PROOF appeared first on Andreessen Horowitz.

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From Curiosity to Competitive Edge: How Mid-Market CEOs Are Using AI to Scale Smarter

Speaker: Lee Andrews, Founder at LJA New Media & Tony Karrer, Founder and CTO at Aggregage

This session will walk you through how one CEO used generative AI, workflow automation, and sales personalization to transform an entire security company—then built the Zero to Strategy framework that other mid-market leaders are now using to unlock 3.5x ROI. As a business executive, you’ll learn how to assess AI opportunities in your business, drive adoption across teams, and overcome internal resource constraints—without hiring a single data scientist.

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Key issues you should consider before signing an international merger deal

TechCrunch

Ben Boissevain. Contributor. Share on Twitter. Ben Boissevain is the founder of Ascento Capital , a boutique investment bank that provides advisory services for M&A, capital raises and valuations to technology companies in the U.S. and internationally. More posts by this contributor. How to prepare for M&A, your most likely exit avenue. Despite the war in Ukraine, accelerating inflation and increasing interest rates, the technology sector has still seen M&A happening in the United S

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TechCrunch+ roundup: Gen Z VCs, choosing a GTM model, crypto crisis communication tips

TechCrunch

I’ve always wondered who gets to name demographic cohorts. My parents were pre-Baby Boomers, which made them part of the Silent Generation. (I’m Generation X, so feel free to ignore me entirely.). Generation Z is stereotyped as being materialistic, mistrustful and extremely reliant on personal technology. And now that they are entering the ranks of venture capital, one investor says those traits are informing how deals are made.

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Japan’s SBI Group leads $6.7m funding in SG fintech startup banco

AsiaTechDaily

Bookmark ( 0 ) Please login to bookmark Username or Email Address Password Remember Me No account yet? Register Singapore-headquartered fintech startup banco (RABC Group) announced the successful raise of $6.7 million in Series A funding led by Japan-based leading financial group SBI Group, alongside investors Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), R3, Savills, KZM & Company, and others.

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Daily Crunch: Embedded finance fintech Pezesha raises $11M pre-Series A equity-debt round

TechCrunch

To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here. Hey, hey, hey! Good to have you back with us again. Today, we’re mostly amazed at how quiet Twitter gets during Burning Man, and excited that we’re doing a Labor Day sale for TechCrunch Plus , if you’ve been wanting to read our subscription site but you’ve been holding off for whatever reason. — Christine and Haje.

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What Synthetic Embryos Can and Can’t Do, Now and in the Future

Andreessen Horowitz

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz is the Bren Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and a Professor of Stem Cell Biology and Development at the University of Cambridge. In this interview, we discuss recent advances in technologies that allow us to use stem cells to create embryo-like structures with a brain and.

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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MEDU takes in $4M to develop reusable personal protective equipment

TechCrunch

In otherwise normal times, hospitals generate more than 5 million tons of waste each year, according to Greenhealth. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was in short supply over the past two years, and it was widely reported that some had to reuse what is typically a single-use item, like surgical gowns. MEDU , a Mexico-based startup, wants to reduce that waste and replace single-wear medical garments through the creation of a line of sustainable, virus-resistant reusable pieces, including surgi

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How to get a job in a startup business by a Techstars COO

Founder Bounty

So you're looking to move into startups? Before you do there are a number of different things you must think about and consider and know what your getting yourself into. Reasons why you should not move to a startup from a Techstars COO in 2022 Startups are a great buzzword. Thats what i used to think. Its easy money, an easy life, a great work-life balance, stability and at the end of a year or 2 you will have made it so all of your problems will be over.

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Crafting an XaaS customer success strategy that drives growth

TechCrunch

Rachel Parrinello. Contributor. Rachel Parrinello is a principal in The Alexander Group’s San Francisco office and is a leader in sales compensation, media sales and technology practices. John Stamos. Contributor. John Stamos , a principal in The Alexander Group’s Chicago office, has extensive experience leading large-scale sales transformation engagements, enterprise program build-outs and global compensation redesign efforts.

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Payments addressing platform iPiD rises $3.3m seed funding

AsiaTechDaily

Bookmark ( 0 ) Please login to bookmark Username or Email Address Password Remember Me No account yet? Register Singapore-headquartered fintech start-up International Payments Identity (iPiD) has announced a $3.3 million seed funding round supported by strategic investors Rapyd Ventures, Jungle Ventures, 1982 Ventures, Resolution Ventures, Saison Capital, the XA Network and Wing Vasiksiri.

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15 Modern Use Cases for Enterprise Business Intelligence

Large enterprises face unique challenges in optimizing their Business Intelligence (BI) output due to the sheer scale and complexity of their operations. Unlike smaller organizations, where basic BI features and simple dashboards might suffice, enterprises must manage vast amounts of data from diverse sources. What are the top modern BI use cases for enterprise businesses to help you get a leg up on the competition?

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Star-studded digital avatar startup Genies launches NFT fashion marketplace

TechCrunch

Digital avatar startup Genies , known its for high-profile partnerships with celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Migos and Cardi B, has just released its long-anticipated NFT storefront, “The Warehouse.” Genies last earned a $1 billion valuation from heavy-hitting tech investors including Silver Lake and Mary Meeker’s Bond Capital during its most recent raise, a $150 million Series C round announced in April.

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Answering Your Questions #9

OkDork

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts / Spotify. What’s up, you beautiful bastards. We are back with Q&A round 9! In this episode, you’ll enjoy 3 BIG things: The most powerful tool for self-improvement. Don’t look for business ideas, find pain. How to enjoy the journey more. And if you want to have one of your questions answered in a future episode, submit here.

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Robin Games debuts PLAYHOUSE, an interior design game you can both play and shop

TechCrunch

Women-led mobile gaming startup Robin Games raised funding around the idea of carving out a new niche in the market of “lifestyle gaming.” The idea, the company explained at the time of its 2020 public debut , was to create a fantasy gaming experience that’s more sophisticated and stylish — something more in line with the sort of content you’d typically find in a lifestyle magazine or Instagram influencer’s profile.

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How to Save Money on Commercial Truck Insurance for Your Business

Common Reasons Why Startups Fail

When you start a company, there are so many exciting thoughts that run through your mind. You have visions of a successful and profitable business.… The post How to Save Money on Commercial Truck Insurance for Your Business appeared first on.

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The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!

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GoPuff to pull out of Spain as q-commerce belt tightening continues

TechCrunch

The q-commerce belt tightening continues: US category veteran GoPuff, the Softbank-backed delivery platform juggernaut — which was being valued at $15BN as recently as 2020, and had been rumored to be prepping for an IPO at the start of this year (er, nope that didn’t happen!) — is dialling back its ambitions in Europe. According to a report in Bloomberg , which cites people familiar with the matter, the speedy grocery delivery player is planning to pull out of Spain in a bid t

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Flush with fresh funds, UK ‘eco laundry’ startup Oxwash spins up growth plans

TechCrunch

Oxwash , a UK startup that’s spent the last few years applying high tech processes to shrink the environment cost of dry cleaning and commercial laundry, has trousered £10 million (~$12M) in Series A funding to expand its nationwide footprint. Currently its service is available in five UK cities: London, Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol and Manchester but — flush with fresh funding — it’s aiming for broader domestic coverage and eyeing a US launch after that.

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Populus to combat curbside parking chaos with millions in new funding

TechCrunch

Populus, the San Francisco-based transportation data startup, got its start as shared scooter mania took hold and cities tried to make sense of how infrastructure was being used by fleets of tiny vehicles. Now, Populus co-founder and CEO Regina Clewlow is positioning the company, which collects data on transportation fleets and shares it with cities, to take advantage another hot opportunity: curbs and congestion. .

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Mavenoid, which automates technical support and onboarding for hardware companies, raises $30M

TechCrunch

Mavenoid , a Swedish company that provides both human- and AI-enabled support and troubleshooting tools for hardware companies, has raised $30 million in a series B round of funding. Founded out of Stockholm in 2017, Mavenoid works with hardware and consumer electronics companies including HP, Husqvarna, and Jabra, serving to automate technical support and onboarding for customers spanning everything from printers and ovens, to electric scooters and industrial equipment.

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How Top Tech CFOs Solve Annual Planning’s Biggest Challenges

Gearing up for 2025 annual planning? Our latest eBook from the Operators Guild is your ultimate guide. Discover real-world solutions and best practices shared by top CFOs, drawn directly from discussions within OG’s vibrant online community. Learn from senior executives at high-growth tech startups as they outline financial planning strategies, align CEO and board goals, and coordinate budgets across departments.

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How gender-affirming healthcare startups are navigating legal miasma

TechCrunch

Kate Anthony started in the Lone Star State. It was there, in 2019, that she launched her app Euphoria , seeking to provide information and resources on gender-affirming care. She knew the stakes were going to be high, and as the state passed anti-trans legislation, she and her company were forced to flee. Settling in Denver, Anthony made a plan on what to do next.

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As US SPACs flounder, did Europe largely dodge a bullet?

TechCrunch

Yesterday, we asked how low SPAC-led public debuts could go, and the answer was very close to zero. Some now-public companies that rode blank-check companies to the public markets have seen 90% or more of their value deleted. It’s difficult to overstate how far some SPAC combinations have fallen. The Exchange explores startups, markets and money. Read it every morning on TechCrunch+ or get The Exchange newsletter every Saturday.

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Kula makes the job recruitment process less exhausting

TechCrunch

The process of finding job candidates often entails a lot of tedious manual work for recruiters, like sending versions of the same email over and over again. That’s Kula was created. The platform not only automates tasks like sending introductory messages, but also surfaces promising leads from the first-degree connections of an organization’s existing employee base.

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Topi raises $45M to power hardware subscriptions for B2B merchants

TechCrunch

A new company is looking to do for B2B hardware sales what a growing number of companies have been doing in the consumer sphere, by making it easier for businesses to pay for equipment in instalments through rentals and subscriptions. While companies such as Klarna and Affirm have been pushing payment services that help consumers procure goods without having to pay for everything up front, Berlin-based startup Topi launched out of stealth last December with $4.5 million in funding to do somethin

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5 Ways You Can Win Faster with Gen AI in Sales

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.