Carbon-neutral e-fuel, community-driven gaming, ChatGPT in college, Shein's identity crisis, and many more...
What's Up Tech? #166th
Welcome to our 166th newsletter, written with 🖤 by Arnaud Savouré and Justine Pelisson.
Fundraisings from last week with Electra, Everphone, INERATEC, and Build A Rocket Boy
News from last week with OpenAI’s first partnership in higher education, Notion’s new calendar app, and China’s review of Shein while it prepares for its IPO
Internships & Job offers of the week
Enjoy the read! 🌞
🚗 EV-charging startup Electra raised €304M to fuel its European expansion (🇫🇷)
Paris-based EV-charging startup Electra secured €304 million in a Series B round to accelerate its network expansion. The round, Europe's second-largest in the sector, brings Electra close to unicorn status. 💸
Electra aims to deploy 2,200 stations (15,000 charging points) across eight countries by 2030. The company, handling both physical deployment and software support, anticipates profitability by 2026. CEO Aurélien de Meaux emphasizes capturing revenue from every recharge in a market poised for growth with the EU's push for electric cars. 🔌
EV-charging startup Electra Raises €304m Series B to Expand European Network
📱 Everphone secured €270M to fuel growth and expand circular Device-as-a-Service model (🇩🇪)
Berlin-based B2B phone-as-a-service startup Everphone raised €270 million in Series D funding, attracting investments from new providers like Citigroup, Phoenix Insurance, and KfW. 👌
The financing, following Everphone's successful raises in 2022 and 2021, positions the company to achieve significant growth and integrate an additional one million users into its circular Device-as-a-Service model. Everphone, founded in 2016, focuses on sustainable practices for managing corporate smartphones, tablets, and laptops, catering to a diverse clientele. 💼
German startup Everphone Dials €270M Funding to Boost Circular Economy for Devices
🌿 INERATEC secured $129M to propel global advancement of carbon-neutral e-fuel technologies (🇩🇪)
INERATEC, a German e-fuel company, has secured a significant boost with a $129M Series B funding round led by TDK Ventures, Inc., the investment arm of TDK Corporation. This substantial investment accelerates the global development and commercialization of Ineratec’s carbon-neutral e-fuel technologies. 🌍
INERATEC’s pioneering process transforms CO2 and low-carbon hydrogen into synthesis gas, providing renewable e-fuels crucial for sustainability in aviation, shipping, and more.🌱
Aligned with TDK Corporation's commitment, this investment supports leaders in energy transition and decarbonization in the U.S. and Europe. ⚡
TDK Corporation Fuels INERATEC’s E-fuel Technology Advancement with $129M Investment
🎮 Build a Rocket Boy raised $110M to launch its 'Everywhere' platform and 'MindsEye' AAA game (🇬🇧)
Scotland's Build a Rocket Boy, a game development company led by ex-Grand Theft Auto developer Leslie Benzies, secured $110M in Series D funding to support the company’s commercialization efforts. 🚀
Build a Rocket Boy is renowned for developing an immersive open-world platform called 'Everywhere' and a story-driven adventure 'MindsEye,' fostering community-driven gaming and empowering players with creative tools. ✨
🤖 OpenAI partners with Arizona State University to bring ChatGPT to campus
In a groundbreaking move, OpenAI announced its collaboration with Arizona State University, introducing ChatGPT to researchers, staff, and faculty. This alliance reflects the evolving landscape of AI in education, sparking debates on its role in learning. 🎓
Despite concerns, proponents see the potential for ChatGPT to assist students, fostering engagement and reshaping traditional educational approaches. 📚
📅 Notion unveils standalone integrated calendar app
Notion, the productivity and note-taking web application, is responding to user demands with the launch of Notion Calendar, a feature-rich, standalone app deeply integrated with its database and note systems. 💼
While essentially a revamped version of Cron (a calendar startup the company bought in 2022), the app introduces robust Notion integration, allowing users to seamlessly link documents and databases to calendar invites. Although initially available on Mac, Windows, and iOS, the app's current limitations include the absence of Android support and integration with Outlook. ❌
Nevertheless, Notion continues its quest to be the all-encompassing business app, adding to its suite of AI features, messaging tools, and automated workflows. 🚀
Notion Turns its Cron Acquisition Into an Integrated Calendar App
📉 Shein faces security review in China ahead of U.S. IPO
China's Cyberspace Administration is currently reviewing Shein's supply chain and data handling as the popular fast-fashion platform prepares for its U.S. IPO, categorizing the fashion giant as Chinese despite its attempts to distance from its origin. 👗
Securing approval from both Washington, D.C., and Beijing is crucial for Shein's IPO progression. 🌐
China Launches a Security Review of Shein. Here’s What it Means for its IPO
Internships
ESG & Community VC Intern - 360 Capital (Paris)
VC Internship - Flashpoint (Warsaw)
Visiting Analyst - Redalpine (Berlin)
Visiting Analyst - WENVEST Capital (Munich)
Jobs
Associate - Frontline (London)
Senior Investment Associate - Rockstart (Copenhagen)
Investment Associate - Cusp Capital (Essen)
👉 If you’d like to discover more offers, you can check our job board just here or fill this form to submit a new one.
You can also read more about baby vc on our website and follow our updates on LinkedIn, or directly reach out to us at hello@baby-vc.co! 🤝
The whole baby vc crew 🖤