North America

RapidSOS takes in $30 mln Series B

RapidSOS, a provider of an advanced emergency tech platform, has secured $30 million in Series B funding. Playground Global led the round with participation from Highland Capital Partners, M12, Two Sigma Ventures, Forte Ventures, The Westly Group and CSAA IG.

Raycatch locks in Series B funding

Tel Aviv-based Raycatch Ltd, a provider of AI technology that enhances existing solar plant energy yield, has secured an undisclosed amount of Series B financing. DSM Venturing, the venturing arm of Royal DSM and BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures led the round with participation from Rio Ventures and Maverick Ventures Israel.

Viola Ventures leads Series B round for Taranis

Tel Aviv-based Taranis, a precision agriculture intelligence platform, has secured $20 million in Series B financing. Viola Ventures led the round with participation from Finistere Ventures, Vertex Ventures, OurCrowd, Cavallo Ventures, the venture capital arm of Wilbur-Ellis and Sumitomo Corporation Europe.

VC-backed Harness recruits Eubanks as chief revenue officer

San Francisco-based Harness, a continuous delivery-as-a-service platform, has named Jason Eubanks as chief revenue officer. Previously, he was CRO at Markforged. Harness is backed by Menlo Ventures.

NEA promotes Schottenstein to principal

New Enterprise Associates Inc has promoted Julia Schottenstein to principal. Prior to joining the firm, Schottenstein was an investment banker at Qatalyst Partners.

SGVC wraps up third fund at $51 mln

Los Angeles-based SGVC, a venture firm, has closed its third fund at $51 million. SGVC Fund III will focus mostly on early-stage investments in Silicon Valley-based financial technology software companies. The fund's investors include Hachschara Insurance Company, True Capital Management and Manhattan West Asset Management. Leumi Investment Services Inc was the placement agent.

Danish company Templafy raises $15 mln

Copenhagen, Denmark-based Templafy, a provider of enterprise template management and document creation, announced it has raised an additional $15 million in its Series B round. The funding comes from existing investors, including Insight Venture Partners and Dawn Capital, as well as Series A investors SEED Capital, Preben Damgaard, the company’s founders and management and other private investors. The company, founded in 2014, also has offices in London and New York and has now raised $40.2 million in total funding.

Engineer.ai raises $29.5 mln

Obvious Ventures adds Di-Ann Eisnor as venture partner

Di-Ann Eisnor, a onetime director of growth at Waze and currently incubating new urban systems at Google’s Area 120, was named venture partner at Obvious Ventures. The San Francisco firm said Eisnor will help to find and fund world positive startups across the full stack of urban infrastructure.

Ottawa's VCCI commits $50 mln to seven innovative VC firms

The federal government’s $400 million Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) has committed $50 million to seven Canadian venture capital firms. The recipients were chosen because they reflect new and innovative models, supply capital to under-served regions and sectors, and support emerging managers and diverse management teams. The seven firms, which will each secure between $5 million and $15 million, are: AmorChem, Brightspark, Build Ventures, Garage Capital, Highline BETA, Pique Ventures and TandemLaunch. Earlier this year, VCCI committed $350 million to five funds-of-funds managers.