Five Interesting Startup Funding Deals to Know This Month
As Halloween approaches, goblins and ghouls are making their rounds, but so are some fascinating startups with intriguing funding news. This month, we highlight five deals that caught our attention, featuring companies making technology more inclusive, leveraging ocean power, and pushing the boundaries of AI and clean tech.
More Accessible Tech
Toronto-based Fable has secured a $25 million Series B led by Five Elms Capital to enhance its accessibility testing and training solutions. The startup partners with tech giants like Meta and Microsoft to make digital products more usable for people with disabilities. Fable’s platform will expand its community of testers with disabilities, develop AI accessibility best practices, and create inclusive datasets to ensure AI systems consider diverse user needs. This is crucial as AI training datasets often exclude data representing people with disabilities, potentially leading to undetected accessibility issues and bias.
Weeds Be Gone
Carbon Robotics, a Seattle-based AI-powered farming startup, has locked up a $70 million Series D led by new investor Bond. The company plans to fuel the growth of its LaserWeeder software and hardware product, which combines computer vision, AI deep learning, robotics, and lasers to identify and eliminate weeds with millimeter accuracy. Carbon claims its machines can zap about 5,000 weeds per minute and have eliminated over 10 billion weeds across 100 crop types.
Power of Water
CorPower Ocean secured approximately $35 million in funding led by NordicNinja VC to commercialize power from ocean waves. The Sweden-based startup has demonstrated its wave technology project’s ability to operate during Atlantic storms with significant power generation capacity. With operations in multiple countries and expansion plans to the U.S. West Coast, CorPower aims to address the challenges of wave energy’s challenges of wave energy: storm survivability and efficient power generation.
Recycle More
Virginia-based Molg raised a $5.5 million seed round led by Closed Loop Partners to tackle the e-waste problem. The startup’s robotic microfactory can autonomously disassemble complex electronic products, keeping valuable components out of landfills. Molg partners with electronics manufacturers to design products with reuse in mind, addressing the growing need for precious metals and reducing waste.
Better Safety Through Data
Denver-based ForceMetrics raised $22 million led by Costanoa Ventures to enhance emergency response with data-driven insights. The startup’s platform provides 911 responders with immediate access to critical information, helping them make informed decisions during emergencies. ForceMetrics is currently used by 30 police departments across 11 states, surfacing real-time signals that give first responders actionable insights into potential safety risks.
These startups demonstrate innovation across various sectors, from accessibility and agriculture to clean energy and emergency services, showcasing the diverse and vibrant startup ecosystem this month.
