Next-generation 911 emergency call delivery network RapidSOS, the Dave app that helps predicts bank overdrafts and helps consumers avoid big fees, and all-natural kids meal creator KidFresh were among this past week’s notable investing deals.
RapidSOS – this week’s spotlight, is an emergency technology platform to predict and preempt emergencies before they occur, warn people in harm’s way, and connect any device (car, IoT, wearable, phone) directly to 911 and to first responders in an emergency. RapidSOS spent 4 years working closely with public safety officials across the U.S. to develop a universal data link into 911 and first responder networks to help carry 240 million 911-call traffic data each year. $14 million in Series A funding to now total $19 million from 10 investors. Based in New York, New York.
CrediHealth – platform connects consumers to better information on hospital services and costs and to doctors and specialists. $1.5 million in funding. Based in Gurgaon, India, CrediHealth works with more than 630 hospitals across the country.
Dave – wants to save you from banking fees due to overdrafts through predictive and innovative algorithms over mobile. Banks racked up over $30 billion from such fees that penalized 25% of Americans who carry on average less than $250 in their accounts last year. Dave has also partnered with Trees for the Future — to plant trees for each 1% tip it receives. $3 million in seed funding. Based in Los Angeles, California.
EverFi – software-as-a-service and digital curriculum to schools and other organizations. TPG Rise ($2B fund) is notably among who the latest funders are. $190 million in Series D funding. Based in Washington, DC.
Faasos – aims to be the best-in-class “Food on Demand” delivery business in India. Delivers as many as 12,000 orders a day (2015). Faasos faces a crowded competition food-delivery space. UberEats in India, announced just this January, might become the new elephant in the room. $6.4 million in Series C funding to now total 60.4 million from 5 investors. Based in Pune, India.
Kidfresh – is targeting the snackables set with nutritious frozen meals and snacks for children. Studies show that in the U.S., just one out of 10 children receive the recommended daily intake of nutrition among food groups. $10 million in funding from 3 investors. Based in New York, New York.
MarcoPolo Learning – a mobile-based early childhood education startup, serves more than 5 million children in more than 150 countries, with plans to create more premium animated content for kids and distribute it through a variety of channels. $8.5 million in Series A funding to now total $11.9 million from 7 investors. Based in New York, New York.
Nutriati – specializes in “fractionating,” or breaking down garbanzo beans (chickpeas) into high-protein and gluten-free flours, which it sells to manufacturers for use in commercial products. $8 million venture funding from 4 investors. Based in Richmond, Virginia.
Sense360 – sells technology to help physically track consumers in brick-and-mortar stores and then sell that data to retailers. Opportunities to provide “360-degree view” of consumer activity offline with online. $7 million in Series A funding to now total $9.75 million from 11 investors. Based in Los Angeles, California.
Innovation of Note
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering have developed a low-cost chemical process to create nanosilicon anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries from used waste glass bottles.
Other News of Note
UK startup uses recycled plastic to rebuild roads.
Scientist invents way to trigger artificial photosynthesis to clean the air.
Adidas plans to make shoes made of plastic found in the ocean.
Plastic-eating caterpillar can one day get rid of plastic in trash.
Albertson’s, Safeway’s owner, is rumored to be interested in Whole Foods.
***
Sources: Crunchbase, TechCrunch, CNBC, AgFunder
