What is an IPO pop and why do VCs hate it so much?

Over the weekend, several VCs tweeted that my headline recapping Stitch Fix’s first day of trading was too harsh. The headline read, “Stitch Fix up just 1% on first day of trading, after reducing size of IPO.” I didn’t say it “fumbled” or label it as “weak” and “disappointing” like many other media publications, but that would have… Continue reading What is an IPO pop and why do VCs hate it so much?

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Tech In Asia raises $6.6M led by Korean conglomerate Hanwha

Tech In Asia, the Singapore-based media and events startup, has closed $6.6 million in fresh funding. The lead investor is a name that may not be too familiar to regular readers (yet) and that’s Hanwha, a Korean conglomerate which started out in explosives in 1952 but has since expanded into a range of verticals including (now)… Continue reading Tech In Asia raises $6.6M led by Korean conglomerate Hanwha

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Southeast Asia’s aCommerce lands $65M led by KRR-backed Emerald Media

Southeast Asia-based aCommerce, a startup that helps brands get into e-commerce and digital media in the fast-growing region, has pulled in $65 million in new funding led by Emerald Media, an Asian firm backed by global investor KKR. The Series B deal takes Bangkok-based aCommerce to $94 million raised to date. Existing backers Blue Sky, MDI Ventures… Continue reading Southeast Asia’s aCommerce lands $65M led by KRR-backed Emerald Media

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Alibaba invests $2.9B in hypermarket operator Sun Art to continue its offline retail push

Alibaba is continuing its expansion into offline retail after the Chinese e-commerce giant bought up more than one-third of one of Chinese most prolific operators of hypermarket stores. The firm announced today it has spent HK$22.4 billion (around US$2.88 billion) to acquire of 36.16 percent in Sun Art Retail Group, a Hong Kong-listed business that operates 446 hypermarkets across… Continue reading Alibaba invests $2.9B in hypermarket operator Sun Art to continue its offline retail push

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Zego picks up £6M Series A led by Balderton for its gig economy worker insurance

Zego, the London-based startup that appears to have spotted a gaping insurance hole in the so-called gig economy, has raised £6 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Balderton Capital, with participation from existing backers, including LocalGlobe and unnamed angel investors in the insurance sector. The company plans to use the new… Continue reading Zego picks up £6M Series A led by Balderton for its gig economy worker insurance

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Code2040 raises $5.6 million from The Knight Foundation and others

Code2040, founded by Laura Weidman Powers and Tristan Walker, recently raised $5.6 million to advance its diversity and inclusion efforts in technology. The latest funding comes from The Knight Foundation, The Sara and Ev Williams Foundation and others, and brings Code2040’s total funding raised to more than $7 million. Code2040’s Fellows program, which first launched… Continue reading Code2040 raises $5.6 million from The Knight Foundation and others

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Identity solutions business SailPoint up 9% following IPO

SailPoint, the enterprise identity solutions business, went up 9 percent in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange Friday. The company raised $240 million; after pricing its shares at $12, it saw them rise to $13.11 on its first day of trading. The Austin, Texas-based company works with businesses like Sallie Mae and Weight Watchers… Continue reading Identity solutions business SailPoint up 9% following IPO

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Stitch Fix up just 1% on first day of trading, after reducing size of IPO

Stitch Fix went up just 1 percent on its first day of trading. After pricing at $15, the company closed at $15.15. It’s also below the opening trade of $16.90. The company didn’t raise as much money as it had been hoping for. It raised $120 million, after pricing at $15, below the expected range of $18 to… Continue reading Stitch Fix up just 1% on first day of trading, after reducing size of IPO

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Shasta Ventures promotes three to partner

Shasta Ventures is promoting three of its principals to partner. Nikhil Basu Trivedi, Jacob Mullins and Nitin Chopra have all made it to this coveted venture capital milestone. Shasta has about $1.3 billion under management across its five funds.  Notable exits include Dollar Shave Club, Nest, Apptio, SteelBrick and Skycure.  The group likes to invest in Series A rounds… Continue reading Shasta Ventures promotes three to partner

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Media startup Axios raises another $20 million

There’s a glimpse of hope in new media as Axios just raised $20 million less than a year after its launch, the Wall Street Journal reported. The company already had a pretty big list of investors, and most of the startup’s existing investors are putting more money into Axios. Existing investors Greycroft Partners and Lerer Hippeau… Continue reading Media startup Axios raises another $20 million

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