500 Startups
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DATABASE (628)
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ARTICLES (477)
Founded in 2003, Bezos Expeditions is a family investment office based in Mercer Island in the US. The firm was originally set up to manage the personal investments of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.The Bezos fund owns the Washington Post, Blue Origin space projects and the Bezos family foundation. The fund has also backed early tech startups like Twitter, Airbnb and Uber. Today, Bezos Expeditions also supports non-profit projects. In 2013, it helped to recover parts of two engines from the Atlantic Ocean that were later identified as belonging to Apollo 11, the first space mission that successfully landed humans on the moon in 1969. The crew of the ship Seabed Worker spent three weeks at sea pulling up pieces of the Apollo F1 engines.
Founded in 2003, Bezos Expeditions is a family investment office based in Mercer Island in the US. The firm was originally set up to manage the personal investments of Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos.The Bezos fund owns the Washington Post, Blue Origin space projects and the Bezos family foundation. The fund has also backed early tech startups like Twitter, Airbnb and Uber. Today, Bezos Expeditions also supports non-profit projects. In 2013, it helped to recover parts of two engines from the Atlantic Ocean that were later identified as belonging to Apollo 11, the first space mission that successfully landed humans on the moon in 1969. The crew of the ship Seabed Worker spent three weeks at sea pulling up pieces of the Apollo F1 engines.
Crevisse Partners is a South Korean investor and venture builder with an impact focus. Its name stands for “Creative, Visionary and Social Entrepreneurs”. Originally incorporated in 2004, Crevisse claims to be the first impact investor in Korea, even before such terms became commonplace. The company strives to develop businesses in sectors “where the market principle wasn’t working”.Crevisse has internally incubated a number of companies in South Korea, such as reusable drinking cup company BringYourCup, sustainable forestry firm Forest Trust, and fundraising service DONUS. Crevisse Ventures is the company’s dedicated VC arm that manages a $20m fund and a number of blended finance funds through collaborations with government agencies and financial institutions. In particular, Crevisse Ventures focuses on startups that solve problems in four major areas: urban communities; climate and energy; education and welfare; as well as jobs and economic growth.
Crevisse Partners is a South Korean investor and venture builder with an impact focus. Its name stands for “Creative, Visionary and Social Entrepreneurs”. Originally incorporated in 2004, Crevisse claims to be the first impact investor in Korea, even before such terms became commonplace. The company strives to develop businesses in sectors “where the market principle wasn’t working”.Crevisse has internally incubated a number of companies in South Korea, such as reusable drinking cup company BringYourCup, sustainable forestry firm Forest Trust, and fundraising service DONUS. Crevisse Ventures is the company’s dedicated VC arm that manages a $20m fund and a number of blended finance funds through collaborations with government agencies and financial institutions. In particular, Crevisse Ventures focuses on startups that solve problems in four major areas: urban communities; climate and energy; education and welfare; as well as jobs and economic growth.
Jason Stockwood is the chairman and co-owner of Grimsby Town Football Club. The Grimsby working-class lad managed to get a scholarship to study in the US, worked at Trailfinders and Lastminute.com in the 1990s. He was a non-executive director of Skyscanner and international MD at Travelocity Business and also at Match.com. In 2010, he became the CEO and vice-chair of online insurance company, Simply Business, that was sold for £400m in 2017.The co-founder of VC 53° has also invested in British startups across market segments, including the Series B investment round of food-sharing app OLIO in September 2021 and August 2020 financing of carbon tracking platform for banks and investors CoGo UK.
Jason Stockwood is the chairman and co-owner of Grimsby Town Football Club. The Grimsby working-class lad managed to get a scholarship to study in the US, worked at Trailfinders and Lastminute.com in the 1990s. He was a non-executive director of Skyscanner and international MD at Travelocity Business and also at Match.com. In 2010, he became the CEO and vice-chair of online insurance company, Simply Business, that was sold for £400m in 2017.The co-founder of VC 53° has also invested in British startups across market segments, including the Series B investment round of food-sharing app OLIO in September 2021 and August 2020 financing of carbon tracking platform for banks and investors CoGo UK.
Rothenberg Ventures is a Silicon Valley VC, also previously known as Frontier Technology Venture Capital. Based in San Francisco, the VC was also a spin-off from River Ecosystem. Founded with seed capital of $5m raised by Mike Rothenberg in 2012, the firm has invested in more than 100 startups in VR/AR, AI, machine learning, drones, robotics and space. In 2016, the VC and its founder were investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2018, Rothenberg himself and the VC were charged with fraud. Rothenberg has resigned from the firm and agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business for five years. The SEC is seeking $18.8m disgorgement penalties and $9m civil penalty plus $3.7m pre-judgement interest.
Rothenberg Ventures is a Silicon Valley VC, also previously known as Frontier Technology Venture Capital. Based in San Francisco, the VC was also a spin-off from River Ecosystem. Founded with seed capital of $5m raised by Mike Rothenberg in 2012, the firm has invested in more than 100 startups in VR/AR, AI, machine learning, drones, robotics and space. In 2016, the VC and its founder were investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2018, Rothenberg himself and the VC were charged with fraud. Rothenberg has resigned from the firm and agreed to be barred from the brokerage and investment advisory business for five years. The SEC is seeking $18.8m disgorgement penalties and $9m civil penalty plus $3.7m pre-judgement interest.
Lever VC was founded in 2018 by Nick Cooney, an early investor of Beyond Meat and Memphis Meats. He is also the co-founder of Good Food Institute. Lever has currently invested in 14 startups from the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America.Focused on investments in early-stage alternative protein companies, the firm announced the first close of its Lever VC Fund I in August 2020, with its fourth close at $46m in April 2021. The final close will be completed by June 2021. Investors in the fund include NFL and NBA athletes, British nobility, food businesses, alt-protein companies and family offices as limited partners.In June 2020, Lever launched a $28m joint investment fund and accelerator to invest in Chinese plant-based and cell-cultivated meat and dairy companies. The Lever China Alternative Protein Fund will invest RMB 40m in alt-protein companies in mainland China over the next four years.
Lever VC was founded in 2018 by Nick Cooney, an early investor of Beyond Meat and Memphis Meats. He is also the co-founder of Good Food Institute. Lever has currently invested in 14 startups from the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America.Focused on investments in early-stage alternative protein companies, the firm announced the first close of its Lever VC Fund I in August 2020, with its fourth close at $46m in April 2021. The final close will be completed by June 2021. Investors in the fund include NFL and NBA athletes, British nobility, food businesses, alt-protein companies and family offices as limited partners.In June 2020, Lever launched a $28m joint investment fund and accelerator to invest in Chinese plant-based and cell-cultivated meat and dairy companies. The Lever China Alternative Protein Fund will invest RMB 40m in alt-protein companies in mainland China over the next four years.
German-born Andreas “Andy” Bechtolsheim is chairman and co-founder of Arista Networks and was a co-founder at Sun Microsystems, which was acquired by Oracle in 2010 for $7.4bn. His main interest is in productivity software across market segments, as well as cybersecurity. He is also a billionaire investor, with much of his wealth coming from being the first angel investor in Google. Since then, he has been an occasional investor in startups, with his most recent disclosed investments occurring in 2020 when he invested in two companies. He has also participated in the $22m Series A round of US email security company Material Security and in the $21m Series A round of AI customer service platform Cresta.
German-born Andreas “Andy” Bechtolsheim is chairman and co-founder of Arista Networks and was a co-founder at Sun Microsystems, which was acquired by Oracle in 2010 for $7.4bn. His main interest is in productivity software across market segments, as well as cybersecurity. He is also a billionaire investor, with much of his wealth coming from being the first angel investor in Google. Since then, he has been an occasional investor in startups, with his most recent disclosed investments occurring in 2020 when he invested in two companies. He has also participated in the $22m Series A round of US email security company Material Security and in the $21m Series A round of AI customer service platform Cresta.
Owen van Natta was formerly COO of Facebook and CEO of MySpace, and also previously held senior positions in Amazon and Zynga. He is an angel investor, founder of 415 LLC as well as a founding partner of tech-focused VC firm Prefix Capital, and has invested in a number of startups to date. His disclosed investments include participation in the March 2017 $800,000 seed round of Irish water regulatory platform SwiftComply and the November 2015 undisclosed funding round of US-based unicorn Diamond Foundry, the first certified carbon-neutral lab-produced diamond manufacturer. No pic on SM
Owen van Natta was formerly COO of Facebook and CEO of MySpace, and also previously held senior positions in Amazon and Zynga. He is an angel investor, founder of 415 LLC as well as a founding partner of tech-focused VC firm Prefix Capital, and has invested in a number of startups to date. His disclosed investments include participation in the March 2017 $800,000 seed round of Irish water regulatory platform SwiftComply and the November 2015 undisclosed funding round of US-based unicorn Diamond Foundry, the first certified carbon-neutral lab-produced diamond manufacturer. No pic on SM
David Spector is the president and co-founder of the online lingerie company ThirdLove. A former partner at Sequioa Capital, he is a prolific angel investor with investments in around 30 startups across different geographies and market segments. Spector’s most recent disclosed investments are from 2020 and include participation in the $4.6m seed round of US fintech provider CapChase and in the $70m Series C round of US mobile marketing company Attentive.
David Spector is the president and co-founder of the online lingerie company ThirdLove. A former partner at Sequioa Capital, he is a prolific angel investor with investments in around 30 startups across different geographies and market segments. Spector’s most recent disclosed investments are from 2020 and include participation in the $4.6m seed round of US fintech provider CapChase and in the $70m Series C round of US mobile marketing company Attentive.
American investment capital firm Farallon Capital Management was established in 1986. The company manages equity capital for institutions, including college endowments, charitable foundations and pension plans, and funds for high net worth individuals. While most of its investments are in risk arbitrage and debt restructuring, it has also invested in startups across different verticals, such as Indonesian ride-hailing firm Gojek and a host of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology companies.Farallon’s history with Indonesia began long before Gojek came into existence. In 2002, Farallon bought a controlling stake in Bank Central Asia (BCA), an Indonesian bank, during a time when investors avoided Indonesian banks that had been saddled with bad debt. With the controlling stake, Farallon installed a new bank chairman and reformed BCA. Over the next four years Farallon slowly divested in BCA and finally sold the remaining 4% stake in 2006 to earn a profit.
American investment capital firm Farallon Capital Management was established in 1986. The company manages equity capital for institutions, including college endowments, charitable foundations and pension plans, and funds for high net worth individuals. While most of its investments are in risk arbitrage and debt restructuring, it has also invested in startups across different verticals, such as Indonesian ride-hailing firm Gojek and a host of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology companies.Farallon’s history with Indonesia began long before Gojek came into existence. In 2002, Farallon bought a controlling stake in Bank Central Asia (BCA), an Indonesian bank, during a time when investors avoided Indonesian banks that had been saddled with bad debt. With the controlling stake, Farallon installed a new bank chairman and reformed BCA. Over the next four years Farallon slowly divested in BCA and finally sold the remaining 4% stake in 2006 to earn a profit.
Founded in San Francisco in 2009, Eniac Ventures is an early-stage investor in diverse sectors. It currently has 59 startups in its portolio. The vast majority of its exits have been via acquisitions by larger companies such as Anchor sold to Spotify. The VC also invested in Airbnb and Medallia that went public in 2020 and 2019 respectively.Recent investments in June 2021 include co-leading the $4.2m seed round of US mental healthcare platform Nirvana Health and participation in the $30m Series B round of Briq, a US financial planning and workflow automation platform for the construction industry. The VC also joined in the Series A round of Vence, the California-based producer of smart wearables for livestock management.
Founded in San Francisco in 2009, Eniac Ventures is an early-stage investor in diverse sectors. It currently has 59 startups in its portolio. The vast majority of its exits have been via acquisitions by larger companies such as Anchor sold to Spotify. The VC also invested in Airbnb and Medallia that went public in 2020 and 2019 respectively.Recent investments in June 2021 include co-leading the $4.2m seed round of US mental healthcare platform Nirvana Health and participation in the $30m Series B round of Briq, a US financial planning and workflow automation platform for the construction industry. The VC also joined in the Series A round of Vence, the California-based producer of smart wearables for livestock management.
Silicon Valley-based Almaz Capital was co-founded in 2008 as a bridge VC fund by Alexander Galitsky, a serial techpreneur and former senior executive at the Soviet Space Agency and Defense Industry. Almaz also has an office in Berlin and partners with interests in the UK, Poland and Ukraine. The global fund has invested in over 30 startups and managed 15 exits within its portfolio.Recent investments in 2021 include co-leading the $54m Series B round of Refurbed with Evli Growth Partners in August. Almaz was also the lead investor for the $6m funding round for US-based precision audio software Sonarworks in July.
Silicon Valley-based Almaz Capital was co-founded in 2008 as a bridge VC fund by Alexander Galitsky, a serial techpreneur and former senior executive at the Soviet Space Agency and Defense Industry. Almaz also has an office in Berlin and partners with interests in the UK, Poland and Ukraine. The global fund has invested in over 30 startups and managed 15 exits within its portfolio.Recent investments in 2021 include co-leading the $54m Series B round of Refurbed with Evli Growth Partners in August. Almaz was also the lead investor for the $6m funding round for US-based precision audio software Sonarworks in July.
Bamboo Capital Partners is an impact investment company that focuses on supporting energy access, finance and healthcare-related ventures in developing countries. The company manages 10 investment funds across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with companies in Indonesia, India, Kyrgyz Republic, and Brazil having received investments from this company. Bamboo Capital Partners states that their portfolio healthcare companies have served 3.4m patients, and 9.68m metric tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided through the use of solar panels and green energy championed by their startups.Bamboo Capital Partners have worked with governments and major investment groups to support the fulfillment of SDG goals through startup investing. In 2020, Bamboo Capital Partners was appointed by the government of Madagascar and the World Bank as the fund manager for the $40m Off-Grid Market Development Fund. Bamboo is also a partner of the Palladium Group, which owns a minority stake in the VC.
Bamboo Capital Partners is an impact investment company that focuses on supporting energy access, finance and healthcare-related ventures in developing countries. The company manages 10 investment funds across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, with companies in Indonesia, India, Kyrgyz Republic, and Brazil having received investments from this company. Bamboo Capital Partners states that their portfolio healthcare companies have served 3.4m patients, and 9.68m metric tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided through the use of solar panels and green energy championed by their startups.Bamboo Capital Partners have worked with governments and major investment groups to support the fulfillment of SDG goals through startup investing. In 2020, Bamboo Capital Partners was appointed by the government of Madagascar and the World Bank as the fund manager for the $40m Off-Grid Market Development Fund. Bamboo is also a partner of the Palladium Group, which owns a minority stake in the VC.
The British F1 racing driver and five-time FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton has started to promote veganism and sustainable lifestyles, investing in several technology startups that develop solutions in that field.In 2019 he launched Neat Meat, the British vegan fast casual chain, in collaboration with The Cream Group, UNICEF Ambassadors and early investor in Beyond Meat Tommaso Chiabra. More recently he participated in a Series D funding round backing NotCo, the first Chilean unicorn selling plant-based food and beverage products across Latin America and the US.Hamilton is actively fighting to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices across industries. In 2019 he also pushed Mercedes-Benz to discuss the possibility of including animal-free interiors in their cars. On that he said: I want to be part of a system that is going to help heal the world and do something positive for the future.”
The British F1 racing driver and five-time FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton has started to promote veganism and sustainable lifestyles, investing in several technology startups that develop solutions in that field.In 2019 he launched Neat Meat, the British vegan fast casual chain, in collaboration with The Cream Group, UNICEF Ambassadors and early investor in Beyond Meat Tommaso Chiabra. More recently he participated in a Series D funding round backing NotCo, the first Chilean unicorn selling plant-based food and beverage products across Latin America and the US.Hamilton is actively fighting to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices across industries. In 2019 he also pushed Mercedes-Benz to discuss the possibility of including animal-free interiors in their cars. On that he said: I want to be part of a system that is going to help heal the world and do something positive for the future.”
Fu was born in Jiangxi province in March 1978. In 2005, he led a team that created free antivirus software Qihoo 360 Security Guard. In 2008, he became vice president at Matrix Partners China. A year later, Fu became CEO and chairman of picture software firm Conew Image, which merged with Kingsoft Security in November 2010 to create Kingsoft Network. Fu has served as CEO of the merged company ever since, which, in March 2014, was renamed Cheetah Mobile. He is also founder and general partner at Purple Cow Startups.
Fu was born in Jiangxi province in March 1978. In 2005, he led a team that created free antivirus software Qihoo 360 Security Guard. In 2008, he became vice president at Matrix Partners China. A year later, Fu became CEO and chairman of picture software firm Conew Image, which merged with Kingsoft Security in November 2010 to create Kingsoft Network. Fu has served as CEO of the merged company ever since, which, in March 2014, was renamed Cheetah Mobile. He is also founder and general partner at Purple Cow Startups.
Mayfield Fund is one of Silicon Valley's oldest venture capital firms. Founded by Wally Davis and Thomas J Davis Jr in 1969, the VC is based in Menlo Park, California.Current investments include CRISPR-focused companies like Mammoth Biosciences and biotech startup iLoF,l which is focused on creating a digital library of optical fingerprints for non-invasive patient screening, early diagnostics and personalized medical treatments.. With a total of $2.5bn assets under management, the firm focuses mainly on early-stage to growth-stage investments. The VC has also backed startups like Marketo, Lyft and SolarCity. Most of Mayfield’s exits took place during the 2008 financial crisis and through subsequent funds.In April 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Mayfield announced two new funds which raised $750m in total. Mayfield XVI will invest in early-stage companies, while Mayfield Select II will focus on growth-stage companies outside its portfolio. The company said last year that it has raised a similar size fund every four years and has invested in 30 companies per fund. It primarily leads Series A investments.
Mayfield Fund is one of Silicon Valley's oldest venture capital firms. Founded by Wally Davis and Thomas J Davis Jr in 1969, the VC is based in Menlo Park, California.Current investments include CRISPR-focused companies like Mammoth Biosciences and biotech startup iLoF,l which is focused on creating a digital library of optical fingerprints for non-invasive patient screening, early diagnostics and personalized medical treatments.. With a total of $2.5bn assets under management, the firm focuses mainly on early-stage to growth-stage investments. The VC has also backed startups like Marketo, Lyft and SolarCity. Most of Mayfield’s exits took place during the 2008 financial crisis and through subsequent funds.In April 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Mayfield announced two new funds which raised $750m in total. Mayfield XVI will invest in early-stage companies, while Mayfield Select II will focus on growth-stage companies outside its portfolio. The company said last year that it has raised a similar size fund every four years and has invested in 30 companies per fund. It primarily leads Series A investments.
Portugal's Prodsmart takes AI, IoT-based manufacturing to US factories
Smart factories can cut wastage by 80% and improve inventory, production and supply chains, tackling US$200 billion worth of losses
Ricult: Providing smallholder farmers easier access to capital
Based in Pakistan and Thailand, Ricult’s mobile app platform provides advanced weather forecasting, easy loan applications and direct market access to help farmers increase productivity and profits
Forward Fooding: Ranking the world's agrifood startups on success and sustainability
The collaborative platform has opened applications for its FoodTech500 global ranking of agrifood startups; counts over 7,000 startups and scaleups mapped so far
Ciweishixi: HR startup helps Chinese youth pursue rewarding careers
Ciweishixi uses the Western internship model to help young people discover their true passion, online and offline
Alodokter wants personalised healthcare on tap
The Indonesian healthcare startup recently got a US$9 million Series B funding for expansion.
Xu Jinghong: Champion of young entrepreneurs and high-tech startups
Under Xu Jinghong’s leadership, Tsinghua Holdings grew its assets sevenfold and incubated over 10,000 businesses. In his new role as VC investor, Xu wants to nurture startups into future global leaders
Renewable energy crowdfunding platform Fundeen eyes 2019 profit amid sector boom
The young Spanish startup is eyeing projects worth €220 million by 2023, while cutting CO2 emissions equivalent to 1.3 million Madrid-New York flights
Inspired by rowdy teenagers: the Musical.ly story
Now better known as TikTok, the original Musical.ly was the only Chinese social app to have cracked the Western market – before it got snapped up by Bytedance and joined its stable of short video apps
Will China ride into a car-sharing future?
Chinese car-sharing startups face reckoning as more than 500 players crowd into a fast-growing, but young, market
KK Fund, GK Plug and Play Indonesia set up online meets between VCs and startups amid Covid-19
VCs like Sequoia Capital, EV Growth, Monk's Hill Ventures and MDI Ventures are onboard to spot potential investments despite Covid-19 downturn
Carlos Melo Brito: Driving force behind Porto's innovation boom
The professor has overseen the creation and growth of the University of Porto-based UPTEC incubator, birthplace of many of Portugal's most successful startups
SWITCH Singapore: Investors highlight Vietnam startup ecosystem's potential and resilience
The quality of Vietnam’s local talent remains one of its biggest strengths, but foreign investors also need to be patient and be familiar with the local regulatory landscape
This Chinese café startup aims to best Starbucks with “new retail” strategy
Luckin Coffee has gone from scratch to China’s first coffee shop unicorn in less than a year, pouring more than 5 million cups of coffee along the way
Cristina Fonseca: On a one-woman mission to make Portugal more innovative
The co-founder of Portugal's third unicorn, Talkdesk, is now an influential investor and AI authority
How Sequoia Capital China is helping its portfolio startups get through the Covid-19 crisis
The renowned investor is also making big bets on the opportunities that lie head
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