North America

TechOperators leads $8.1 mln round for Polarity

Polarity, a memory augmentation platform, has secured $8.1 million in funding. TechOperators led the round with participation from other investors that included Shasta Ventures, Strategic Cyber Ventures and Gula Tech Adventures. In addition to the funding, Tom Noonan and Dan Ingevaldson will join Polarity's board while Ron Gula will come on board as an observer.

Freshly capitalized Fiix acquires U.S.-based Alchemy IoT

Fiix, a Toronto-based maintenance and asset management software provider, has acquired Alchemy IoT, a Lafayette, Colorado-based industrial asset intelligence company. No financial terms were disclosed. Fiix said the acquisition will bring artificial intelligence capabilities to its computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) products. The deal follows the close earlier this year of Fiix's $53 million (US$40 million) Series C financing. The round was led by Georgian Partners and joined by BuildGroup.

Agtech provider SomaDetect raises $2.6 mln in seed financing

Fredericton-based agricultural technology company SomaDetect has closed a seed-stage financing, raising about $2.6 million (US$2 million). New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, the Western New York Impact Investment Fund and New York Ventures invested in the round. SomaDetect previously secured seed funding from Builders VC, Cavallo Ventures, Dairy Farmers of America and iGan Partners. Founded in 2016 by CEO Bethany Deshpande, SomaDetect has created an in-line sensor that measures critical indicators of dairy quality and health from cows at milking. It will use the financing's proceeds to expand its collection of data points from farms across North America.

Lucidworks scores $100 mln

San Francisco-based Lucidworks, a provider of AI-powered search solutions, has secured $100 million in funding. The investors included Francisco Partners and TPG Sixth Street Partners.

Joust Labs picks up $2.6 mln

Joust Labs, a banking platform for independent professionals, has secured $2.6 million in funding. PTB Ventures led the round with participation from other backers that included Accion Venture Lab, Financial Venture Studio and Techstars.

Indian digital platform Meesho racks up $125 mln: Reuters

Indian digital platform Meesho has raised $125 million in funding, reported Reuters. Naspers led the round. The investors included Facebook, SAIF, Sequoia, Shunwei Capital, RPS and Venture Highway.

Hazel Technologies takes in $13 mln Series B

Chicago and California-based Hazel Technologies Inc, an agricultural technology company, has raised $13 million in Series B funding. Pangaea Ventures and S2G Ventures led the round.

Skincare brand Herbivore inks $15 mln Series A

Herbivore, a skincare brand, has secured $15 million in Series A funding. Silas Capital led the round.

Flare Capital recruits Chiang as principal

Flare Capital Partners has named Ian Chiang as a principal. Previously, he was senior vice president and a founding member of CareAllies.

Corvus Energy secures investment from Shell's venture arm

Corvus Energy, a Richmond, British Columbia-based developer of maritime energy storage solutions, has raised additional, undisclosed financing. The investor was Shell Ventures, the venture capital arm of Anglo-Dutch energy and chemical group Royal Dutch Shell plc. Founded in 2009, Corvus provides energy storage in the form of modular lithium-ion battery systems for maritime, offshore, subsea and port applications. Its solutions optimize energy consumption and reduce costs and emissions. Led by CEO Geir Bjørkeli, Corvus will use the funds raised to expand internationally and further enhance its technology. Corvus' other backers include Equinor Technology Ventures and Norsk Hydro.