Angel investors spread their wings
A weekly selection of news and investment opportunities from OurCrowd, the global venture investing platform
Startup of the Week
Liquid Instruments, all-in-one lab measurement
Test and measurement equipment in the electronics industry is based on decades-old technology that relies on expensive devices, each designed for a distinct function. Liquid Instruments?is disrupting this $24B market with a single configurable, programmable device that can replace a dozen separate pieces of test equipment. Daniel Shaddock , Co-founder of Liquid Instruments and professor of physics at the Australian National University in Canberra, tells Hamish Johnston of Physics World how a new generation of chips are set to revolutionize lab testing. The company’s flagship product, Moku:Pro, provides a suite of nine professional-grade instruments in a single device, saving customers tens of thousands of dollars. Liquid Instruments has over 1,000 customers in more than 30 countries, including Apple, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Nvidia and Xilinx, as well as research clients NASA, Harvard, Yale, UCLA and CalTech. OurCrowd has an allocation in the company’s Series B round alongside co-investors Lockheed Martin Ventures, ANU Connect Ventures and Moelis Australia’s Growth Capital Fund.
Head of Google for Startups Israel at OurCrowd Summit
Yuval Passov , Head of Google for Startups Israel , is confirmed as a speaker at the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit in Jerusalem on February 15th, 2023. Passov will be part of an all-star lineup of tech leaders who will share their insights on the global innovation ecosystem and developing investment opportunities. Investors tell us they are excited to return to the Summit after a three-year absence resulting from the pandemic. More speakers will be announced soon. Early registration is at an all-time high. Spaces are limited. Click here to apply for your early bird ticket.
Angel investors spread their wings worldwide
Angel investing, in common with other forms of venture capital, has traditionally been hyper local, with Silicon Valley VCs boasting that they would not fund a company they couldn't reach on a bicycle. We are now witnessing the growing globalization of angel venture capital, says our CEO Jonathan Medved in his latest ‘Investors on the Frontlines’ column.
Catch Mermade’s affordable lab-grown scallops
Scallops cost a small fortune and are becoming harder to come by due to overfishing and stagnating fish farm growth, but lovers of these protein-rich mollusks might be in luck, thanks to our portfolio company Mermade Seafoods, Zachy Hennessey reports in the Jerusalem Post. “The global scallop market is worth $8 billion a year, over $600 million of which is in the US alone. Our production method will make it possible to reduce the cost of each scallop dish and to expand the market’s volume by orders of magnitude, because supply will finally adjust itself to the high demand,†says Daniel Einhorn , Mermade Seafoods’ cofounder and CEO. The company’s oversubscribed seed round is still open to OurCrowd investors.
7,000 Hilton, Marriott workers to enjoy DailyPay earned wage access
Some 7,000 employees of Atrium Hospitality , the hotel management group that operates 希尔顿全çƒé…’店集团 , 洲际酒店集团 and Marriott Hotels properties, are now eligible to get earned wage access (EWA) from our portfolio company DailyPay, Stephanie Schomer reports in Employee Benefit News. Atrium sees the perk, which gives employees instant access to money they have earned, as a way to attract and retain workers, a problem plaguing the hospitality industry. “We're diligently working to keep up with the growing demands of the business, and this kind of innovation is one of the ways we're striving to be a better employer,†says Anneliesse Cooper SVP of HR at Atrium.?
Coca-Cola, Dave & Buster’s tap Zippin for checkout-free store
å¯å£å¯ä¹å…¬å¸ and US eat-and-play chain Dave & Buster's Inc. have opened the world’s first in-restaurant checkout-free store, powered by technology from our portfolio company Zippin, RTIH reports. The Game & Go store in Hollywood, Florida, lets eager gamers bypass table service to grab a snack without having to go through a cashier. “Consumers crave the freedom to explore and enjoy more drink options than ever before,†says Christina Ruggiero , President, North America Operations - Central Zone at The Coca-Cola Co. The Game & Go outlet is stocked with a variety of food and Coca-Cola beverages to offer Dave & Buster’s gamer customers quick snack options in addition to stopping by the bar or sitting down for a meal.
CNA Network streamlines healthcare hiring with Apploi
Healthcare insurance giant CNA Insurance and its network myCNAjobs will use the Apploi hiring platform to reach more job seekers in the healthcare industry. MyCNAjobs is one of the largest direct care worker career networks in the US, representing over 70% of the direct care workforce. Apploi works with healthcare employers nationwide to source, screen, hire, and onboard new workers. “In such a competitive labor market, it's critical to streamline the hiring process to recruit the best talent,†says Brandi Kurtyka , CEO of myCNAjobs. “Through this integration, employers are able to automate processes and also gain more visibility into return-on-investment and channel performance.â€
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About this Newsletter
Startup Beat?is a weekly selection of news and investment opportunities from?OurCrowd, the global venture investing platform.
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OurCrowd is a global venture investing platform. To date we have more than $1.9 billion in commitments, 215,000 registered investors, 347 portfolio companies, 39 venture funds and 59 exits.
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