North America

Automated customer service Ada nabs C$19 mln in Series A

Toronto-based automated customer service Ada has raised C$19 million in a Series A financing. The round was led by FirstMark Capital. It was joined by Leaders Fund and Burst Capital, as well as Bessemer Venture Partners, Version One Ventures and Barney Pell, which backed last year’s C$2.5 million seed deal. Founded in 2016 by CEO Mike Murchison and Head of Design David Hariri, Ada’s platform allows customer service teams to build and manage artificial intelligence-enabled chatbots to automate interactions.

Northleaf invests in cross-border e-payment specialist PPRO

Northleaf Capital Partners has invested in PPRO Group, a London, U.K.-based cross-border e-payment specialist. No financial terms were disclosed. Founded in 2006, PPRO helps businesses accept more than 140 alternative payment methods globally, including bank transfers, e-wallets and cash-based payments. Earlier this year, the company raised US$50 in financing led by PayPal and joined by longstanding investor HPE Growth Capital, a Dutch private equity firm. Northleaf is a Canadian private equity, infrastructure and private credit investment firm.

Cybersecurity startup Cybeats raises $3 mln in Ripple-led deal

Toronto-based cybersecurity provider Cybeats has secured $3 million in financing. Canadian early-stage venture capital firm Ripple Ventures led the deal, which builds on Cybeat's pre-seed round in January. Also investing were GreenSoil Building Innovation Fund, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund, MLA48, ScaleX Ventures and iNovia Capital. Founded in 2016, Cybeats' technology protects internet-of-things devices in the smart building, medical and critical infrastructure environments from cyber threats. Led by CEO Dmitry Raidman, the startup will use the funds raised for sales, research and development, and team expansion.

Cloudify grabs $7 mln

Israel-based Cloudify, a cloud management and orchestration company, has secured $7 million in financing. The investors included KPN Ventures, CreditEase Israel Innovation Fund, Claridge Israel, BRM Group and VMware.

Egypt-based CIB launches corporate venture firm CVentures

Commercial International Bank, an Egyptian financial institution, has launched CVentures, a corporate venture firm. CVentures will focus on investing in fintech startups.

Seismic nabs $100 mln Series E

San Diego-based Seismic, a provider of sales and marketing solutions, has raised $100 million in Series E funding. Lightspeed Venture Partners and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates led the round with participation from return backers General Atlantic, JMI Equity and Jackson Square Ventures. In addition to the funding, John W. Thompson, a venture partner at Lightspeed and chairman at Microsoft, will join Seismic's board of directors.

Silas Capital invests in ILIA Beauty

ILIA Beauty, a maker of cosmetics, has secured funding from Silas Capital. No financial terms were disclosed.

AI chipmaker Graphcore racks up $200 mln

UK-based Graphcore, an AI chipmaker, has secured $200 million in funding which values the company at $1.7 billion. The company's investors include BMW i Ventures and Microsoft.

Entrada Therapeutics scores $59 mln Series A

Boston-based Entrada Therapeutics, a biotechnology company, has raised $59 million in Series A financing. The lead investors were 5AM Ventures and MPM Capital. Other participants in the round were Roche Venture Fund, MRL Ventures Fund and Agent Capital.

Cancer drug developer Erasca picks up $42 mln Series A

San Diego-based Erasca, a creator of oncology drugs, has raised $42 million in Series A financing. City Hill Ventures and Cormorant Asset Management led the round.