North America

TPG Growth leads $70 mln round for Expanse

San Francisco-based Expanse, an internet information technology operations management platform, has raised $70 million in Series C funding. TPG Growth led the round.

The Co-operators launches fund earmarked for insurtech ventures

The Co-operators Group Ltd, a Canadian insurance and financial services co-operative, has launched a new fund to invest in insurance technology companies. The size of the fund was not disclosed. President and CEO Rob Wesseling said the fund will support The Co-operators' innovation strategy by partnering with companies that offer "cutting-edge technology and solutions to meet the changing needs and preferences of our clients." Last year, The Co-operators partnered with New York-based insurance cloud platform Slice Labs Inc to create a new digital insurance brand in Canada. It also led Slice Labs' US$20 million extended Series A financing.

Fintech startup Buckzy Payments closes $1.75 mln seed deal

Toronto-based financial technology startup Buckzy Payments has raised $1.75 million in a seed-stage financing. Canadian early-stage venture capital firm Mistral Venture Partners led the round. It was joined by U.S. early-stage venture capital firm Revel Partners. Founded last year by President and CEO Abdul Naushad, Buckzy provides a real-time payments ecosystem network and platform that enables rapid remittances, bill payments and e-commerce payments by consumers and small businesses. The company said it will use the financing's proceeds to scale its network.

Venrock leads Series B round for Make School

San Francisco-based Make School, a college offering degree programs developed in partnership with tech companies, has secured $15 million in Series B funding. Venrock led the round.

Noveome Biotherapeutics nabs $15 mln Series D

Pittsburgh-based Noveome Biotherapeutics Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has secured $15 million in Series D financing. The company's investors included U.S. Department of Defense and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County.

HiMama secures $7.25 mln in Round 13-led Series A round

Toronto-based early childhood technology startup HiMama has raised $7.25 million in a Series A financing. The round was led by Canadian growth-stage venture capital firm Round 13 Capital. Round 13 Managing Partner Bruce Croxon will join the board. Founded in 2013 by CEO Ron Spreeuwenberg and CTO Alana Frome, HiMama provides technology that helps child care directors and owners empower their staff, support parents, improve learning outcomes, and grow their business. The company reports ten-fold expansion in the past three years and use of its product in thousands of child care centres globally. The funds raised will support HiMama's growth strategy.

Travel activities and services booking platform Klook racks up $225 mln

Klook, a travel activities and services booking platform, has secured $225 million in Series D+ funding. The SoftBank Vision Fund led the round with participation from return backers including Sequoia China, Matrix Partners, TCV and OurCrowd.

Data stream network operator PubNub scores $23 mln Series D

San Francisco-based PubNub, a data stream network operator, has secured $23 million in Series D funding. The company's investors include Relay Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, Scale Venture Partners and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. In addition to the funding, Jai Das, president and managing director of Sapphire Ventures, joins PubNub's board of directors.

Buckzy Payments inks $1.75 mln seed

Canadian fintech company Buckzy Payments has secured $1.75 million in seed funding. Mistral Venture Partners led the round with participation from Revel Partners. The capital infusion will be used to scale Buckzy's real-time global payments network.

Tibit Communications picks up $20 mln Series B

Petaluma, California-based Tibit Communications Inc, a developer of next-generation access devices for passive optical networking, has raised $20 million in Series B funding. Intel Capital led the round.