Bearhug Recruiting: Executive Search For Early-Stage Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software Startups

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#25: (9/30/24) Early & Growth Stage Tech Startup Funding Recap!

Check Out This Week's Venture Capital Investment Summary Spanning Early & Growth-Stage US Based Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software Startups!

Every Monday, the team here at Bearhug Recruiting aggregates, researches, and publishes a recap of the prior week's fundraising activity within the early and growth-stage Environmental Technology & Enterprise Software startup ecosystem.

This research not only allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the markets we serve, but also benefits others who, like us, enjoy analyzing the latest trends that signal investor confidence AND startup growth within what we believe are the most exciting and impactful segments!

We also hope the people and companies we feature enjoy both a virtual fist bump from the team at Bearhug, plus benefit from some additional free market exposure to amplify their mission. Make sure you reach out to any that are interesting/relevant that you might be able to help!

Here’s this week’s startup funding recap:

  1. David Energy, led by James McGinniss, has raised a $23 million Series A funding round. David Energy is a technology-driven retail energy provider (REP) focused on transitioning the grid to clean energy. The company connects devices that respond to clean energy generation fluctuations in real-time, decarbonizing the energy sector. David Energy serves residents and businesses in Texas, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, aiming to transform how electricity is managed and consumed to reduce the environmental impact. The funds will be used to scale both of the company's business lines in its active states and expand its operations across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The round was led by Cathay Innovation (Simon Wu), with participation from Union Square Ventures (Rebecca Kaden), Keyframe Capital, Equal Ventures (Rick Zullo), and BoxGroup (Adam Rothenberg). Kudos to Jetstream (Tommy Leep), Operator Partners (Zach Weinberg), Notable Capital (Hans Tung), for participating in prior funding rounds as well. [Link] #Smart Thermostat Management #Smart Power Grid #Energy Management #Energy Tech #Energy Efficiency #Clean Energy #CleanTech #Environmental Technology #Sustainability Tech

  2. Eion, led by Anastasia Pavlovic, has raised a $3 million Series A extension funding round. Eion is a carbon removal company specializing in enhanced rock weathering (ERW) on agricultural lands. It utilizes minerals like olivine to absorb carbon dioxide while improving soil pH levels. Eion's patented process for measuring carbon removal is integrated into standard farming practices, supporting both climate change mitigation and agricultural productivity. The company aims to remove 10 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2030 while creating jobs in rural communities. The funds will be used to build on commercial traction, fulfill new contracts, and further invest in research and development. The round was led by Growmark, AgFunder (Tom Shields), Ridgeline (Andrew McMahon), Trailhead Capital, Overture Partners, Mercator Partners, Exelon Foundation, and others. [Link] #AgTech #Durable Carbon Removal #Geochemistry Carbon Dioxide Removal #Environmental Technology #Sustainability Tech #ClimateTech

  3. GenLogs, led by Ryan Joyce, has raised over $6 million in Seed funding round. GenLogs is a provider of a nationwide network of roadside sensors that collect data on truck movements, providing detailed insights into equipment types, carriers, and shipper locations. The system uses computer vision models to extract and analyze data in real-time without the need for hardware installation. This technology enhances freight brokers' ability to secure business and manage trucking logistics with comprehensive visibility into truck movements and shipper activity across the U.S. The funds will be used to expand GenLogs' sensor network and computer vision models, enhancing its ability to provide real-time insights for the transportation industry. The round was led by Autotech Ventures (Burak Cendek) and Steel Atlas (Talal Attieh, Cameron Porter), with participation from Venture53, TitletownTech, Plug and Play Ventures, BBQ Capital (Nemanja Kostic), ASC Ventures, ASC VC (Adam Compain, Andrew Sisto), and JHH Ventures. [Link] #Freight Management Software #Transportation Tech #Logistics Software #Supply Chain Tech #Internet of Things #Generative AI #Robotics #Environmental Technology

  4. Letta, led by Charles Packer, has raised a $10 million Seed funding round. Letta is a generative AI startup that provides a platform for developers to build and deploy agents with advanced memory systems. Letta Cloud allows developers to swap model endpoints and run agents across multiple language models, offering transparency and ease of development. Its Agent Development Environment (ADE) enables the creation and debugging of agents by providing clear access to prompts and memory, giving developers full control over their AI agents' logic and function. The funds will be used to continue building Letta Cloud, including a hosted agent service and the Agent Development Environment. The round was led by Felicis (Astasia Myers), with participation from Sunflower Capital, Essence VC (Timothy Chen), and angel investors including Jeff Dean, Clem Delangue, Cristóbal Valenzuela, Jordan Tigani, Tristan Handy, Robert Nishihara, Barry McCardel, among others. [Link] #Artificial Intelligence API #AI Agent #Developer APIs #Artificial Intelligence #AI Infrastructure #LLMOps Platform

  5. Harmonic, led by Tudor Achim, has raised a $75 million Series A funding round. Harmonic is developing Mathematical Superintelligence (MSI), a form of artificial intelligence rooted in mathematics that guarantees accuracy and eliminates AI hallucinations. Its model, Aristotle, has achieved high accuracy in formal mathematics benchmarks and is positioned to revolutionize various industries such as software engineering, industrial design, and medical technology. Harmonic’s AI platform aims to provide robust and reliable solutions to complex problems through its mathematical framework. The funds will support the company's rapid growth as it continues to develop and deploy MSI across various applications. The round was led by Sequoia Capital (Andrew Reed), with participation from Index Ventures (Jan Hammer), Era Funds, GreatPoint Ventures (DJ Patil, Ray Lane, Ashok Krishnamurthi), DST Global Partners, Blossom Capital, and angel investors including Nikesh Arora, and Jared Leto. [Link] #Artificial Intelligence #AI Governance #AI Integrity #AI Hallucination Detection #DevTools #Industrial Design Tech

  6. AmpUp, led by Tom Sun, has raised a $15 million Series A funding round. AmpUp is a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, deploying thousands of EV charging stations across North America. The company's platform offers smart energy management, balancing energy consumption to create a cleaner, smarter grid. AmpUp's technology is used by a wide range of customers, including major corporations like Domino's Pizza, Goodyear, and Under Armour, to simplify and optimize EV charging infrastructure. The funds will accelerate AmpUp's market expansion and innovation in energy management solutions for the EV sector. The round was led by Touchdown Ventures (Greg Bergamesco), with participation from new investors including Autotech Ventures (Ivy Nguyen), MUUS Climate Partners, Holman, Goodyear, Foothill Ventures, WEX Venture Capital, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, Powerhouse Ventures (Emily Kirsch), and Connecticut Innovations. [Link] #Energy Tech #Charging Infrastructure #Energy Transition Tech #Energy Management Platform #Energy Efficiency Tech #Renewable Energy #Sustainability Tech #Environmental Technology

  7. Looma, led by Cole Johnson, has raised $10 million in Venture funding round. Looma is an in-store digital media platform that uses storytelling and educational content to engage shoppers at the point of decision. The company’s network of screens, deployed in over 675 stores across the U.S., allows brands to deliver targeted messages to consumers. Looma collaborates with independent filmmakers and creators to produce content that educates and influences purchasing decisions while helping retailers monetize their space. The funds will be used to expand Looma’s platform to new retail partners and further develop its product offerings. The round was led by a group of family offices, YETI Capital, and current investors. Kudos to Cofounders Capital (Tim McLoughlin), for participating in prior funding rounds as well. [Link] #In-Store Media Platform #Retail Tech #MarTech #AdTech #Environmental Technology

  8. Tetrix, led by Olivier Babin, has raised $5 million in Seed funding round. Tetrix is an AI-powered platform that automates data collection and analysis for capital allocators in alternative investing markets. Its technology reduces the time to actionable data from weeks to a single day by extracting key insights from fund reports. Tetrix’s platform enhances decision-making by offering investors real-time, detailed analytics on their investment portfolios, leading to more intelligent capital allocation in private markets. The funds will be used to expand Tetrix’s proprietary data collection, extraction, and analysis capabilities. The round was led by Innovation Endeavors (Harpinder Singh), with participation from prominent angels from Blackrock, CPPIB, SoftBank, Lending Club, and Plaid. [Link] #AI Research Platform #VCTech #Artificial Intelligence #Investor Tech #Investing Tech

  9. Atomicwork, led by Vijay Rayapati, has raised over $3 million in Seed funding round. Atomicwork provides a modern service management platform that integrates with existing enterprise systems to automate workflows and employee support. The platform leverages AI to streamline business operations and help organizations scale efficiently. Atomicwork’s technology is designed to deliver digital workplace automation, improving speed and productivity in organizations by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing operational workflows. The funds will accelerate investments in enterprise AI technology and expand the company’s go-to-market team in the United States. The round was led by Storm Ventures (Arun Penmetsa), Z47, Blume Ventures, and Neon Fund. [Link] #Workplace Efficiency #Business Process Automation #Enterprise Service Management Platform #Digital Workplace Automation #Artificial Intelligence

  10. LiveFlow, led by Lasse Kalkar, has raised $13.5 million in Series A funding round. LiveFlow provides an intelligent finance and accounting automation platform that simplifies workflows for accounting firms and finance departments. Its tools allow users to generate financial dashboards, consolidate multiple accounts, and access financial reports from mobile devices. LiveFlow’s platform is used by international accounting firms and global brands to streamline financial operations and enhance decision-making through real-time insights. The funds will support the launch of LiveFlow Next, a new line of products focused on reporting and analysis. The round was led by Valar Ventures (James Fitzgerald). [Link] #Accounting Automation Platform #Finance Automation #Finance and Accounting Software #Artificial Intelligence #FinTech

*Note: The companies we feature in our weekly recap are a very small subset of a much larger batch, carefully chosen based on our team's assessment of how each company aligns with our GTM search practice. It’s worth noting that most startups raise funding rounds privately, often long before the news is announced publicly!