Week update #9

Welcome to the first edition of 2024 of the weekly newsletter. I hope you had a great start of a fantastic new year.

I've used the last couple of days to disconnect completely and recharge my batteries, looking forward to the new projects and initiative that this 2024 will bring us.

During this last year I've tried to create a niche in the market, where people could have all the information about the fintech and startup ecosystem in one place, in the easiest way possible. With the first edition of 2024, I wanted to have an overview of everything that happened last year, highlighting the news and posts that had more interactions and resonance.

So let's have a look together at the top 10 fintech and startup update of 2023:

1. Bending Spoons , the italian software development company, raised $100 millions in a new founding round, bringing the totale raised to more than $300 millions;
2. Italian regulator blocks Intesa Sanpaolo to transfer their customers to the new digital bank of the group, Isybank;
3. The fall of WeWork , going from a valuation of $47 billions to bankrupt;
4. Italian fintech startup Cents raised €1.15 millions in their first seed round. I've helped them to structure and grow in the last couple of months, and I absolutely love that they are in the list of top news from last year;
5. Proptech Casavo trying to raise additional $30 millions with SFP. This news was particularly interesting, mostly taking in consideration that they raised more than $100 millions less than 12 months before;
6. 高盛 shuts down ZestMoney and lay off the entire team. Everyone was cheering when the financial giant acquired the small startup, but the ending could have been a different one;
7. WeRoad , italian traveltech startup, raised $18 millions for their series B. This news highlight the grow of the italian startup ecosystem, round like this one were just impossible to see a couple of years ago;
8. Italian fintech startup Viceversa just closed a $10 millions seed round. This was one of the major round in the ecosystem for early stage startups;
9. Not only startup, but also VC. 2100 Ventures closes it first fund, raising $30 millions from investors and LP. I strongly believe 2100 Ventures will be one of the main player in the European VC market in the upcoming years. I know them personally, and I think their investment process is one of the best out there;
10. Getir trying to close a $500 millions round, with a 80% cut on the last valuation. This was one of the most iconic topic in 2023, where startups weren't able to justify their valuation anymore, trying to raise money at lower multiples.

After a very difficult 2022, we can think at 2023 as a consolidation year, where only the projects and startups with strong economics and foundations were able to grow and prosper, bringing back the market to a certain kind of normality.

As we start this new year, I wanted to thank you all for following me and this newsletter here on Linkedin. I hope to be able to bring more and more value in the upcoming year, giving my best to support the growth of the startup ecosystem.

Startups raising funds

• PopulaRise - The platform that allows companies of every dimension to promote themselves on social media through the collaboration with their clients. B2B2C SaaS. Raising $1M.
• Cents - Fintech companies that allow corporate to include charity payments on their checkout. B2B SaaS. Raising $1M. Round closed!
• Bitcoin People - Fintech company focused on crypto payments between corporate and cross countries. B2B, SaaS. Raising $500k.
• Tutornow - Edtech that provides an online tutoring platform for students with learning disorders. Raising $500k to $1M.
• Recivu - Fintech? startup trying to digitize the receipt flow by getting rid of papers. Looking for $150k in SAFE, already $50k committed.
• Weagle - B2B Tech startup that provides the very first browser designed for company, with total security for sensitive data. Raising $6 millions for their seed round.
• Reach Finance - Reach is the fintech platform for wealth accumulation for the Y&Z generations, they provide users with the tools to build wealth such as a budget tracker, a financial plan and a systematization of investments. Looking for $700k, with already $500k committed;
• wrapp.ai - A fintech startups that offers a virtual accountant and CFO that can help SMEs scale globally. Looking for $1 million, $750k already granted from public funds, looking to close the last $350k.
• Viewit - Fintech startup, providing smart solution to boost management and performances, get more financing and innovate. Raising $500k.

If you are a startup and want to be present in this list, please contact me directly.

If you are an angel investor or a VC interested in those companies, contact me for an intro!

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