Funding deals, Founders and Investors, & Movers and Shakers #39

FUNDING

🇧🇭 CoinMENA has secured $9.5M in seed funding from BECO Capital, Kenetic Capital, Arab Bank Switzerland, Bunat Ventures, FTX investment arm Alameda Research and Girnas Capital. Link here. 

A technology start-up that helps entrepreneurs in developing countries gain access to loans has raised $120 million in fresh capital. 🇿🇦 JUMO, which is based in London, tapped Fidelity, the American investment giant, Visa, and other investors for the cash. Link here. 

🇮🇳 Paytm has raised $1.104 billion in India’s largest-ever anchor round as part of its initial public offering, which is also shaping up to be the nation’s largest, as the poster child of the Indian startup ecosystem moves closer to listing in the public markets. Link here. 

As we enter the final quarter of a blockbuster funding year, the record pace of global venture capital funding continues. More than $54 billion was invested in over 2,000 companies around the world in October. Link here. 

🇮🇹 Viceversa, a Milan, Italy and Dublin, Ireland-based Revenue Based Financing company, raised €23m in seed and debt funding. Link here. 

🇺🇸 UpWest, the venture firm led by Shuly Galili, Gil Ben-Artzy, and Assaf Wahrhaft, announced that it has closed on a $70 million fund, the fourth in the firm’s more than 10-year history. Link here. 

🇳🇬 Payhippo, a lending startup that is widening credit access for small businesses in Nigeria, announced that it raised $3 million in seed funding. Link here. 

🇺🇸 Fintual, a fintech and asset manager based in Chile, received a $39 million round led by Sequoia Capital — it is the venture capital fund’s first investment in Chile. Link here. 

Less than six months after securing its seed round, 🇨🇦 Float’s corporate card and spending management solution has attracted hundreds of new customers and $37 million CAD ($30 million USD) from a notable group of investors. Link here. 

Crypto trading firm 🇬🇧 Ziglu revealed it has now surpassed £6mln in its crowdfunding efforts. Link here. 

Challenger business bank 🇫🇷 Qonto is expected to raise fresh funds from US hedge fund Tiger Global in a deal that could increase its valuation five-fold, multiple sources told Insider. Link here. 

What a time to be an Angel in Europe! The pace of the current fundraising market has been remarkable, with Q2 alone witnessing early-stage funding reach £5.49b. There are many angels out there that bring more than money.  Link here. 

FOUNDERS & INVESTORS

Digital lender 🇬🇧 Jaja Finance Ltd announces that a consortium of investors, led by existing shareholder KKR and including entities owned by investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP, has reached an agreement with Jaja to become majority shareholders of the business. Link here.

🇨🇿 Dateio, Czech pioneer in payment data enrichment, has partnered with YAP, the leading fintech revolutionizing the digital banking experience in MENASA, to provide YAP’s client with clarity around their spending. Link here. 

🇸🇪 Klarna, a leading global retail bank announces it has signed an agreement to acquire PriceRunner. Link here. 

🇬🇧 Paysafe Group has completed its acquisition of German fintech company 🇩🇪 viafintech. Link here. 

🇬🇧 Sokin, the next-generation global payments provider, has launched its Global Currency Account in four additional languages, to support those on the outside of the English-centric financial ecosystem. Link here. 

🇧🇷 Nu Holdings, the Brazilian digital bank backed by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is seeking a valuation of as much as $50.6 billion in its initial public offering, making it one of Latin America’s biggest companies. Link here. 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

🇬🇧 TrueLayer, the global open banking pioneer, announced the appointment of Rob Hale as Head of Banking in Australia. An expert in banking technology and strategy, with extensive experience in Australia and overseas, Rob is a leading advocate, innovator, and collaborator in the open finance movement in Australia, harnessing the power of the CDR. Link here. 

OPPORTUNITIES

🇬🇧 Revolut is recruiting a technical lead to build a crypto exchange. Link here. 

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