Microsoft to create $1B Climate Innovation Fund | Unconventional space launch startup SpinLaunch raises $35M | Series C round raises $30M for AI-based recruiting startup Phenom People
Microsoft intends to be carbon negative by 2030 and is launching a Climate Innovation Fund to pick up the pace of development for carbon reduction, capture and removal technologies. The fund will support innovative work with equity and debt investments.
SpinLaunch, a startup that believes it can put payloads into outer space using a kinetic launch system rather than rockets, raised $35 million in a funding round that included an investment from Airbus Ventures. The new money will be used to build out a headquarters and research and development facility in California, and a flight test facility in New Mexico.
Phenom People, a startup that uses artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of corporate recruiting, brought in $30 million in a funding round that included an investment from AXA Venture Partners, the venture arm of the global financial company AXA. With the new capital it expects to scale its operations and expand internationally.
Epsagon, a startup that helps clients monitor and manage microservice apps running in the cloud, raised $16 million in its most recent funding round. CEO Nitzan Shapira said the new capital will fund expansion of research and development, sales and marketing.
Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek and private equity investor Trustbridge Partners have discussed increasing their stake in WeWork China, sources said. The objective of the investors reportedly is to acquire majority ownership of the company.
Funnel, a Swedish-based startup that helps clients collect and organize their marketing data, raised $47 million in its Series B round. The company said the new capital will be used to expand its operations in the US and invest in its technical teams.
Xie Zhu, a Chinese technology startup that uses artificial intelligence to manage hotel systems such as air conditioning, lighting and locks, raised $37 million in its Series A funding round. The company will use the new capital to further develop its technology, expand in Southeast Asia and position itself for an initial public offering this year.
Nestle will create a $260 million venture capital fund to invest in startups working on sustainable packaging. The company intends to cut its use of new plastic by a third by 2025.
Nanox, a startup with operations in Japan and Israel that aims to significantly reduce the cost of X-ray equipment, raised $26 million in a funding round that included a strategic investment from Foxconn.
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