One of the company’s in Funding Daily reminded me of chocolate. Another, of bunnies. And so I have picked an image of a chocolate bunny to serve as the guide to today’s Funding Daily. Unwrap the bright shiny wrapper, and chomp into which technology companies got venture funding.
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Udacity nabs $15M to make online education less boring
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Andreessen Horowitz is giving online education site Udacity $15 million for its plans to democratize higher learning. With the funding, Udacity aims to build out its course offerings, much of which focus on science, math, and programming. Founded in 2011, Udacity has raised $21.1 million to date. Read more on VentureBeat.
Bollywood music delights people across the globe, including investors
As anyone who has sat for 30 hours on a bus through India can tell you, Bollywood music can be addicting. It certainly has a devoted following (to say the least) which is why Dhingana has amassed 15 million monthly active visitors for its free Bollywood and Indian music streaming service. It has also amassed $7 million in its second round of financing led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, with contributions from existing investors Inventus Capital Partners and Helion Venture Partners. Dhingana’s catalogue features 500,000 songs in 35 languages and is available on the web, as well as on iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, and Nokia devices.
Datahug wraps its arms around €2.5M
Everybody likes a good hug, including venture firm DFJ Esprit, which gave Datahug €2.5M for its business networking software which indexes communication logs, like emails, contacts, and calendars, to create a map of professional relationships. Once brought to light, these connections can potentially be used to drive sales and business development. Datahug will use this investment to expand in the US and expand into other sectors. The company is based in Ireland.
Magnum Semiconductor pops open $12M in capital
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Magnum Semiconductor may be popping open magnum bottles of bubbly, following the close of a $12 million deal with NXT Capital Venture Finance. Magnum provides products, tools, and technology that broadcast infrastructure networks use for video, audio, and data compression. This deal came in the form of a subordinated venture loan, and will be used to expand Magnum globally.
Eruditor teaches you how to be beautiful like a Victoria’s Secret model
Open a Victoria’s Secret catalogue, and you see a bevy of beautiful Eastern European women. Not everyone can be a bikini model, but Eruditor Group has raised $4 million to beautify Russian women. Eruditor is an online marketplace where freelancers and businesses can offer healthcare and beauty tutoring. The investment came from Intel Capital and Runa Capital, and will partially be used to take Eruditor into new verticals.
WalkMe lets businesses hold your hand while navigating the worldwide web
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WalkMe has received $5.5 million in finding to guide lost little bunnies around the internet. The platform provides an interactive website guidance system that online services, websites, and software vendors can use to create step-by-step walk-thrus for users. Technology, quite simply, can be confusing, and WalkMe strives to make it easier. To do this, it took money from Gemini Isarel Ventures, Mangrove Capital Partners, and Giza Venture Capital.
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