Updated on Oct 25, 2024
1. Sensei raises €15M in a Series A to revolutionize retail without cashiers🛒🤖
Sensei, the pioneering Portuguese startup in autonomous store technology, has closed a Series A funding round of €15 million 💸. This funding will allow the company to expand its cashier-less retail solutions, which promise to transform the shopping experience in physical stores.
What does Sensei do?
• Autonomous cashier-less stores 🛍️: Sensei develops technology that allows shoppers to enter, take the products they want, and leave without going through a checkout, thanks to sensors and algorithms that automatically register the selected items.
• Artificial intelligence and computer vision 🤖: Its platform combines AI and computer vision to track customer and product movements in real-time, ensuring accuracy and a frictionless experience.
• Reduction of operational costs and improvement of user experience 💡: Sensei's autonomous stores help retailers reduce costs associated with checkout staff while providing customers with a fast and convenient shopping experience.
How will the €15 million be used?
• Development and expansion of technology 🛠️: Sensei will use these funds to enhance its autonomous store system, making its technology even more precise and scalable for large surfaces.
• Expansion into new markets 🌍: The startup plans to expand internationally, bringing its autonomous retail technology to other European countries where interest in this model is on the rise.
• Collaborations with retailers 👥: With this funding, Sensei aims to establish partnerships with major retailers to implement its technology in a larger number of stores.
👉🏻 Read more about Sensei's investment round and discover how this startup is transforming the retail world.
2. Vay, the remote driving startup, secures a million-euro loan to revolutionize urban mobility 🚗💨.
Remote driving is already a reality! Vay, the German startup that is redefining urban mobility, has just secured a significant loan that will help it advance its proposal for remotely operated vehicles 📲🇩🇪. With this financial backing, Vay plans to expand its fleet of remote cars and continue developing its remote driving technology, a concept that promises to transform urban transport.
Vay's proposition allows users to request a car that is operated remotely to their location. Once the car arrives, the user can take control and drive it, or simply let the vehicle park itself without worrying about bringing it back. This model reduces the need to own a car while providing an efficient and flexible mobility solution in cities 🚗💡.
The loan secured by Vay comes from a group of investors who see the potential in this technology and its application for the future of transport in metropolitan areas. With this funding, the startup plans to continue innovating and expanding into other cities in Europe, where it hopes to popularize this new form of transport.
“We want to make mobility more accessible and reduce the impact of car ownership in cities”, commented Thomas von der Ohe, CEO of Vay. The remote driving technology promises to offer an unparalleled user experience and, in addition, contribute to reducing parked vehicles on the streets.
👉🏻 Discover more about Vay and its technology
3. Corium Biotech raises €500,000 in a pre-seed round to transform the luxury sector! 💎🧪
The Portuguese startup Corium Biotech has managed to raise €500,000 in a pre-seed funding round, a key support that will enable it to drive the development of its innovative line of luxury products based on biotechnology. This funding marks an important step in its mission to integrate sustainability and cutting-edge technology into such an exclusive sector.
What does Corium Biotech offer?
• Biotechnological materials for luxury 🌱: Corium Biotech is dedicated to creating exclusive materials designed for the fashion industry and other luxury sectors, using biotechnological processes that minimize environmental impact.
• Eco-conscious cosmetics 💧: The company is also developing a line of advanced cosmetics made with biotechnological ingredients that respect the environment without sacrificing quality.
• Commitment to sustainability ♻️: With an approach aligned with current trends towards sustainable luxury, Corium Biotech bets on products that not only meet high standards of exclusivity but also contribute to a smaller ecological footprint.
Where will the €500,000 be allocated?
• Innovation in products and materials 🔬: The funds will allow for the advancement in the development of new biotechnological products for the luxury sector, from cosmetics to high-quality textiles.
• Strengthening the R&D team 👩🔬: The startup plans to invest in specialized talent in research and development, a key pillar to maintain its edge in a highly competitive sector.
• Preparation for commercial expansion 🚀: Though in an initial phase, Corium Biotech plans to establish strategic contacts in the luxury industry to allow for gradual expansion into the market.
Comments from the leaders
The CEO of Corium Biotech, Marta Silva, shared: “This funding gives us the necessary boost to advance our vision of sustainable luxury. We want our products to reflect a new era where technology and sustainability go hand in hand.”
One of the investors in this round stated: “We see in Corium Biotech a unique opportunity to redefine luxury through innovation and respect for the environment. We are excited to be part of this journey.”
👉🏻 More information on Corium Biotech's funding round and how they plan to make a significant mark in the luxury sector.
Corium Biotech brings a new concept of luxury where sustainability and technology are the protagonists! 🌍💡
4. Coreflux closes a €2M round to optimize data management in companies 🌐💶.
From Portugal, Coreflux has raised €2 million in a seed investment round to take its data management technology to the next level. This startup specializes in providing advanced solutions for organizing and analyzing large volumes of data in companies, facilitating quicker and more precise decision-making 📈💡.
Coreflux is designing a platform that allows organizations to structure and visualize their data efficiently, addressing one of the biggest challenges faced by modern businesses: information overload 📊. Its technology is ideal for sectors such as healthcare, finance, and logistics, where data is key to process optimization and performance improvement.
The round has been led by several European technology funds that have recognized Coreflux's potential to revolutionize the use of business data on the continent 🇪🇺. With this investment, the startup plans to enhance its product, expand its team, and begin its expansion into international markets.
“We want to transform how companies handle their data so that every decision is backed by clear and accessible information”, commented João Ribeiro, CEO of Coreflux.
👉🏻 Here is the full news on the round
👉🏻 Discover more about Coreflux and its data management platform.
With this financial backing, Coreflux is preparing to lead the data management sector in Europe, helping companies turn information into their greatest competitive advantage. A step closer to a more efficient business world! 🌍🚀
5. Is Media for Equity: Growth Accelerator or Fake Economy? 🚀💸
The Media for Equity model sparks divided opinions in the startup world. While some view it as an excellent way to gain visibility without risking cash flow, others believe this strategy can be a "fake economy" 💭, as exchanging equity for advertising can dilute company capital without a guarantee of tangible returns.
How does it benefit or affect growth?
• Acceleration in visibility 📊: Startups gain advertising space that they could hardly afford with their own funds, allowing for rapid growth in brand recognition and user base.
• Opportunity cost ⚖️: Although it offers a “fast track” to growth, giving up a portion of capital in exchange for advertising can be costly in the long run. The lack of direct returns from these marketing campaigns may make this exchange not always profitable, especially if the startup already has a budget allocated for digital media.
Critiques of the model
• Capital dilution without liquidity 💸: Critics warn that this model reduces the stakes of founders and early investors without providing cash, which could be a risky gamble in the early stages of growth.
• Dependence on branding metrics: For companies whose profitability relies on customer acquisition metrics and not just brand awareness, Media for Equity may fall short in terms of real value.
When does Media for Equity work best?
Consumer startups, especially in sectors like food, mobility, and e-commerce, find that Media for Equity is useful for rapidly increasing brand reach in mass markets. However, for more specialized sectors or companies that require immediate cash flow for operations, the model can be riskier than advantageous.
👉🏻 Read the complete analysis on Media for Equity and find out if it is the right model for your startup.
Fast track to growth or a costly illusion? The answer seems to depend on the type of business and its short-term and long-term goals. 🔍
