Technology Private Placement and M&A Transactions Review Week Ending October 29, 2023

Pony.ai: The company raised $100 million of Series D2 venture funding from NEOM (Conglomerates) on October 24, 2023, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $8.4 billion. The company is a developer of an autonomous driving technology that uses artificial intelligence and algorithms to accurately perceive a vehicle’s surroundings in order to predict the actions of nearby drivers and maneuver the vehicle accordingly.

Perplexity: The company is reportedly in the process of raising $50 million of venture funding in a deal led by IVP on October 25, 2023, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $450 million. The company is a developer of an artificial intelligence-based search engine platform designed to provide large language models and search engines.

Cranium: The company raised $25 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by Telstra Ventures on October 26, 2023. SYN Ventures and KPMG also participated in the round. The company is an enterprise AI security and trust software firm, enabling organizations to gain visibility, security, and compliance across their AI and GenAI systems.

VaultSpeed: The company raised EUR 14.9 million of venture funding from Fortino Capital Partners, Octopus Ventures and Fortis Investment Management Belgium on October 24, 2023, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at EUR 23.6 million. The company is a developer of a software platform designed to offer data warehouse automation solutions.

Oxolo: The company raised EUR 13 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by DN Capital on October 24, 2023. Christian Vollmann, Stefan Wiskemann, Johannes Plehn, Thomas Hagemann, Alex Täubert and Mischa Ruerup also participated in the round. The company is a developer of AI-powered chatbot avatars intended to create an emotional relationship between humans and avatars for improved interactions.

Threedium: The company raised GBP 11 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by The Interpublic Group of Companies and OLMA Capital Management on October 25, 2023. EdenBase, Lyra Ventures, Consensys Mesh, Kinisis Ventures, Reflexive Capital and Nirvana Family Office also participated in the round. The company is a developer of 3D and immersive technology designed to bridge the gap between online and in-store experiences.

AdCreative.ai: The company raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding in a deal led by Inventram on October 25, 2023. The company is an operator of an artificial intelligence-based platform intended to generate ad creatives and social media posts for clients.

AirWorks: The company received an undisclosed amount of development capital from PSG and other existing investors on October 24, 2023. The company is a developer of autonomous drafting software designed to convert any aerial dataset into computer-aided design models.

Upstream Tech: The company received an undisclosed amount of development capital from Hull Street Energy on October 24, 2023. The company is a developer of technological applications designed to monitor, measure, and support freshwater conservation with machine learning techniques and satellite imagery.

Arcion / Databricks: The company was acquired by Databricks, for $100 million on October 23, 2023. The company is a developer of a database platform designed to offer autonomous migration and cloud-neutral database replication.

Evil Studios / Unknown Investor: The company was acquired by a private buyer for an undisclosed amount on October 23, 2023. The company is an operator of an adult card and party mobile game based in Carson City, Nevada.

FlexSim Software Products / Autodesk: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Autodesk for an undisclosed amount on October 23, 2023. The company is a developer of 3D simulation modeling and analysis software catering to the healthcare, manufacturing, material handling, supply chain and logistics sectors.

LinkBuilder.io / Next Net Media: The company was acquired by Next Net Media, via its financial sponsors Riverside Credit Solutions and Clearview Capital, through an LBO on October 24, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a developer of a link-building platform designed to help businesses improve their search engine rankings and organic traffic.

Mellow Mountain Radio / Cutter Grind Broadcasting: The company was acquired by Cutter Grind Broadcasting for an undisclosed amount on October 26, 2023. The company is an operator of a radio channel based out of the United States that gives information about sports, music, shows, traffic, weather, events and contests.

PATHWAYos / Vector Solutions: The company was acquired by Vector Solutions, via its financial sponsors Genstar Capital, Insight Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners, through an LBO on October 24, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a developer of a cloud-based school technology platform designed to help students and administrators track and report students’ community service learning and internship experiences.

Plum Voice / Sharpen Technologies: The company was acquired by Sharpen Technologies, via its financial sponsors TELEO Capital and Allos Ventures, through an LBO on October 23, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a developer of artificial intelligence (AI) powered programmable communications intended to improve frequent customer interactions over the phone.

Splitgraph / EnterpriseDB: The company was acquired by EnterpriseDB, via its financial sponsors Bain Capital and Ergo Partners, through an LBO on October 24, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a developer of an integrated data catalog software designed to combine data sources into reproducible data images.

Zfluence / Her Campus Media: The company was acquired by Her Campus Media for an undisclosed amount on October 26, 2023. The company is a developer of an influencer platform intended to connect brands with fans.