Houston startups keep pace with venture capital raised this year. The funding round, which closed in the second quarter, saw Houston companies across a variety of sectors and industries complete significant rounds from seed to Series C.
Last quarter, 11 startups raised more than $222 million in funding, according to a report by InnovationMap. That’s up from Q1 and Q2. Here’s a timeline of companies that have recently secured new funding.
Houston-based EV charging technology firm raises $6 million in Series A
Revterra Corp. has completed a $6 million Series A round led by Equinor Ventures. Photo credit: Revtera
Houston-based technology company Revterra Corp. has raised $6 million in Series A funding to advance the development of batteries for electric vehicle charging stations.
Norway’s Equinor Ventures led the round, with participation from Houston-based SCF Ventures. Revterra previously raised nearly $500,000 through a combination of angel investments and National Science Foundation grants.
According to Revterra, the company’s Kinetic Flywheel Battery provides a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to install a high-power DC charger for electric vehicles. The technology will reduce the strain on the grid, the company said. keep reading.
Houston-Founded Blockchain Startup Raises $15M in Series A to Extend Its International Impact
Topl’s latest funding round includes participation from Houston investors and international partners. via image Getty Images
A blockchain technology company founded out of Rice University has closed its latest funding round.
Founded in 2017, Topl is a blockchain-as-a-service company developing a purpose-built blockchain ecosystem to enhance impact and sustainability within a business’s user base. His $15 million Series A round for the company was co-led by Houston-based Mercury, Republic Asia and Malta-based Cryptology Asset Group.
“Topl’s blockchain was built to power the next wave of more sustainable and inclusive supply chains and markets,” said Chris Georgen, founder and managing director of Topl. said in a news release. “Every decision we have made has been a relentless focus on this issue, and we believe that this approach is already in place or approaching launch in over 30 different impact-forward use cases. It’s exciting to see the results we’re seeing.” keep reading.
Houston-Based Gig Economy Startup Raises $1.2M, Launches Beta Platform
Madison Long (left) and Simone May co-founded Clutch to democratize the success of side jobs on college campuses. Photo credit: Clutch
Two Houstonians with a mission to enable safe and fair entrepreneurship on college campuses have launched a new beta platform and closed pre-seed funding.
Clutch, a digital marketplace startup founded by Simone May and Madison Long, has closed a $1.2 million pre-seed round of funding led by Precursor Ventures and other partners including Capital Factory and HearstLab. Investments from this round will support the launch of Clutch’s national open beta, a platform for national brands and student creators, as well as continued investment in customer and product strategy.
“We are at this inflection point where marketing is changing,” May said in a press release. “We know the next generation can clearly see that, and I think a lot of marketing agencies are starting to catch up. We don’t want , and we don’t like inorganic, inauthentic ads, which is why user-generated content is so big and feels so real.” keep reading.
Houston Hydrogen Startup Closes $25M Series B
The hydrogen company is raising new capital. Photo via utility.global
Houston-based sustainable hydrogen company Utility Global has closed a $25 million Series B funding round, reports Axios.
Houston-based private equity firm Ara Partners led the round. Other participating investors include Samsung Ventures, NOVA and Aramco.
Founded in 2018, Utility Global has developed clean hydrogen solutions. The proprietary technology, called the eXERO Technology Platform, includes a zero-power process that converts sustainable waste streams into high-purity hydrogen. Additionally, the company has developed his H2Gen product line to provide customers with reliable, low-carbon, high-purity hydrogen that offers unmatched feedstock flexibility and highly competitive economics. did. keep reading.
Houston-Headquartered Industrial Blockchain Technology Firm Closes $4M Series C Round
Data Gumbo, an industrial blockchain software-as-a-service company based in Houston, has announced its latest round or funding. Photo credit: Data Gumbo
Houston-based tech startup Data Gumbo has raised $4 million in Series C funding from foreign energy companies Saudi Aramco and the venture capital arm of Equinor.
Data Gumbo was funded by Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, a VC subsidiary of government-owned oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco, and Equinor Technology Ventures, a VC subsidiary of Norwegian energy operator Equinor. Saudi Aramco and Equinor’s US headquarters are in Houston. keep reading.
Houston firm raises $138 million for next-generation geothermal energy
The future of geothermal energy is here — and we’ve just had a big payday. Photo by Getty Images
Houston-based startup Fervo Energy has raised $138 million to accelerate the construction and operation of carbon-free power plants fueled by geothermal energy.
Fervos said the Series C round will help complete power plants in Nevada and Utah and evaluate new projects in California, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, and other countries. said.
California-based investment firm DCVC led the round, with participation from six new investors. keep reading.
Houston’s ‘Sneakerheads’ raises $8.9M to further develop digital marketplace
The three co-founders of Tradeblock have known each other since childhood. Photo credit: tradeblock.us
The Houston-based company has raised some new funding as it plans to expand development of its marketplace platform.
Tradeblock, a unique sneaker trading platform, has raised $8.9 million in funding from investment partners Courtside VC, Trinity Ventures, and Concrete Rose Capital. The company expects about $4.5 million in additional funding in its seed round, according to a news release.
Tradeblock — founded in 2020 by self-proclaimed “sneakerheads” and childhood friends Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, Tony Malveaux, and Darren Smith — will use the new funding to expand and improve its digital shoe marketplace. keep reading.
Houston-based health tech startup raises $14M Series A
Optellum, a US company based out of the TMC Innovation Institute, has raised new funding. Photo by Getty Images
The Oxford-based health tech startup, which has its US headquarters in Houston, has announced that it has closed its Series A round of funding.
Optellum, which created a breakthrough AI platform for diagnosing and treating early-stage lung cancer, has raised $14 million in Series A funding round. The round was led by UK-based Mercia, with additional investors from California-based Intuitive Ventures and New York-based Black Opal Ventures. Existing investors also participated in the round, including Oxford University’s St. John’s College, IQ Capital and the family office of Sir Martin and Audrey Wood, according to a news release.
Dr. Oliver Keown, Managing Director of Intuitive Ventures, said in the release: “Optellum is uniquely positioned to deliver and deliver significant value to both patients, providers and payers. We are thrilled to provide Optellum with a full arsenal of financial and strategic support.” keep reading.
Houston-Based Biomaterials Company Raises $1.1M to Expand Team, Build New Headquarters
BUCHA BIO has raised over $1 million to expand its team, build a new headquarters and accelerate its go-to-market strategy. Image courtesy of BUCHA BIO
The Houston company that created plant-based materials that could replace unsustainable traditional leather and plastic has announced the closing of an oversubscribed seed funding round.
BUCHA BIO announced that it has raised $1.1 million in seed funding. The round includes investors, CEO and founder Chris Zarou of Glasswall Syndicate, which includes existing partners New Climate Ventures, Lifely VC and Beni VC, as well as new partners Prithvi VC, Asymmetry VC and Alwyn Capital. I participated. The leader of the visionary music group and manager of multi-platinum his Grammy-nominated rapper Logic, the startup reports in its news release.
“I am delighted to support BUCHA BIO’s amazing early market traction. Their next generation of bio-based materials is game-changing and their goal is my personal It is consistent with our vision for the entertainment industry and beyond.” keep reading.
Houston-based Codenotary has extended its Series B funding round
Codenotary’s Software Enables Tools for Software Development Lifecycle Notarization and VerificationPhoto by Getty Images
The Houston software startup, which raised $12.5 million earlier this year, has announced another $6 million in funding. Codenotary, which provides technology that helps protect the software supply chain, closed a Series B round in January. The new funding brings the company’s total investment to $24 million, thanks to investors Bluwat and Elaia.leaders and a Series A round announced in 2020.
Formerly known as vChain, Codenotary was founded in 2018 by CEO Moshe Bar and CTO Dennis Zimmer. Additional capital, which will be used to expand sales in the US and Europe and enter the Asian market, was raised as an extension of the Series B round. keep reading.
Houston-based virtual reality startup raises $3.2M in first round of external capital
VR training startup HTX Labs has raised its first outside funding. Courtesy of HTX Labs
HTX Labs, a Houston-based company that designs augmented reality training for military and business purposes, announced last week that it had raised its first outside capital.
The company has received a $3.2 million investment from Cypress Growth Capital. Founded in 2017, his HTX Labs (developers of the EMPACT immersive learning platform) was funded by the Department of Defense to expand its commercial enterprise customer base. The platform uses virtual and augmented reality, and according to a news release, “Organizations can provide cost-effective, safe, centralized and immersive training within an engaging and fully interactive virtual environment. Programs can be created, deployed, measured and maintained quickly.”
“We were looking to secure external capital to accelerate the growth of our EMPACT platform and customer base, but were unable to find the right partner to provide an investment vehicle that matched our needs. HTX Labs CEO Scott Schneider said in a release. keep reading.
