North America

Auto maintenance service GoWrench nabs $525k in VC

Hamilton, Ontario-based automotive maintenance service GoWrench Auto has raised $525,000 in financing. The investors included Ontario Centre of Excellence, Good News Ventures, Lindsay Adamson and Sameer Kochhar, the founder of Last Pass. Launched in 2015, GoWrench's mobile service helps send certified auto mechanics directly to the customer. Currently available in over 45 Canadian cities, the company plans to use the funds raised to scale-up operations, on-board mechanics, and develop its B2B and consumer-facing platform. GoWrench is led by Founder and CEO Josh Lombardo-Bottema.

Valor Capital raises $56.8 mln toward second venture capital fund

Valor Capital Group has raised $56.8 million toward a $100 million second venture capital fund, according to a filing with the SEC.

Caisse and Fengate-backed eStruxture acquires Backbone

EStruxture Data Centers Inc has acquired Backbone Datavault, a Vancouver-based colocation services provider. No financial terms were disclosed. EStruxture, a Montréal-based network and cloud-neutral data centre operator, said the deal supports its expansion to Vancouver and allows the company to serve customers in both Western and Eastern Canada. Launched last June with a pan-Canadian acquisition and development strategy, eStruxture has been backed with $180 million in financing from various sources, including Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Fengate Real Asset Investments.

Final tranche puts Inocucor's Series B round at $68.6 mln

Inocucor Corp, a developer of biological inputs for high-value produce and row crops, has raised an additional $20 million (US$15.9 million) for its Series B financing. The final tranche, which brings the round to about $68.6 million (US$54.4 million) in total, was backed by existing investors Cycle Capital Management, Desjardins Innovatech, TPG ART and Pontifax AgTech. Concurrently, Pontifax AgTech's Ben Belldegrun has joined the board. Founded in 2007 in Montréal, Inocucor is preparing to occupy its U.S. headquarters. Earlier this week, the company announced its buy of ATP Nutrition, a Canadian plant nutrients supplier.

1Huddle raise $3 mln

1Huddle Inc said April 18 that it raised $3 million in a Series A round led by NRD Capital Management LLC. Newark Venture Partners also invested. 1Huddle, of Newark, New Jersey, is an enterprise software platform that provides learning and training programs in the form of quick-burst mobile games.

RubiconMD raises $13.8 mln

New York-based RubiconMD, which provides a digital consult platform to connect primary care doctors with specialists, announced it has raised $13.8 million in a Series B round. HLM Venture Partners and Optum Ventures led the round, which included Centene Corporation and Blue Ivy Ventures, along with all participating investors from their Series A. RubiconMD, launched in 2013, raised a $4 million Series A round in mid-2016.

RealSelf raises $40 mln

RealSelf Inc said April 19 that it raised $40 million in a funding round led by Elephant. Other investors were not disclosed. Andy Hunt, Elephant co-founder, who also co-founded Warby Parker in 2010, will join the RealSelf board. RealSelf, of Seattle, is an online marketplace for people to learn and share experiences about elective cosmetic procedures.

British AI company BenevolentAI raises $115 mln at $2 bln valuation

London-based BenevolentAI, which applies artificial intelligence to develop new medicines to treat diseases, announced it has raised $115 million in new funding at a pre-money valuation of $2 billion. Not all investors were disclosed, but the company said backers in the latest round include existing investor Woodford Investment Management, as well as new investors from the United States. The company has now raised more than $200 million since it was founded in 2013.

Financial services provider Tala raises $65 mln to fuel expansion

Santa Monica, California-based Tala, maker of a smartphone app that provides credit scoring, lending and other personalized financial services for underserved consumers, has raised a $50 million Series C round led by Revolution Growth. Others participating in the round include existing investors IVP, Data Collective, Lowercase Capital, Ribbit Capital and Female Founders Fund. The company, founded by CEO Shivani Siroya in 2011, also recently raised an additional $15 million in debt as it aims to grow its business in Mexico and India. Tala has now raised a total of $105 million in financing. As part of the latest investment, Steve Murray, managing partner at Revolution Growth, has joined the board.

SquareFoot raises $7 mln

SquareFoot said April 18 that it raised $7 million in a series A round led by Rosecliff Ventures. Also participating were Triangle Peak Partners, RRE Ventures, Primary Venture Partners, Armory Square Ventures, Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, among others. SquareFoot, of New York, is a commercial real estate technology company.