Here’s a list of today’s tech funding stories, updated as the day unfolds. Tip us here if you have a deal to share.
Funding Circle rounds up another $150M, bringing valuation to $1B
There’s a big future in the crowd sourcing and democratization of money lending. Funding Circle, which enables individuals and organizations to loan money to small businesses online, has raised another monstrous round of venture funding — $150 million worth.
Funding Circle’s total raise is now $300 million. The British company is now valued at $1 billion.
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Pioneering social music app maker Smule raises $38 million
Smule, the maker of pioneering social music apps like Ocarina, Magic Piano, and Sing! Karaoke, hasraised $38 million in new funding.
The new round — a combination of equity and debt funding — was led by Adam Street Partners, whileexisting investors Bessemer Ventures and Shasta Ventures also participated. City National provided the debt financing, the company said. San Francisco-based Smule plans on using the new financing for marketing, product development, and international expansion.
Super-cute robot bug gets $1.4M to teach kids to code
Dash Robotics makes small bio-inspired robots that teach kids how to program while they play.
The bots are $50 apiece and come as a sheet of parts that you have to pop out and build yourself, like a model plane. The product has been in beta, but Dash wants to put its robots out to a wider market. To do that, the company has taken $1.4 million in seed funding.
This list will be updated with breaking funding news all day. Check back for more.
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