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This week we’re some huge valuation jumps, how Stripe is eyeing one other shareholder sale, a colourful dialog with an early-stage VC, and extra!
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The massive story
Final week was a great one when it got here to funding for fintech startups. Riyadh-based Tabby grew to become probably the most precious fintech in MENA after securing $160 million in a Collection E spherical at a $3.3 billion valuation because it expands past purchase now, pay later. That’s double the $1.5 billion it was valued at simply 18 months in the past. Spectacular. And, India’s Zeta, a supplier of banking software program to banks and fintech startups, raised $50 million from a strategic investor at a $2 billion valuation. That’s up from the $1.15 billion price ticket (pre-money) it earned in 2021. In the meantime, Mercury is reportedly in talks to boost capital in a new round led by Sequoia at an over $3 billion valuation, which might double the businesses’ worth. (The corporate had no remark when TechCrunch reached out.) If these offers are any indication of what 2025 goes to be like, I’m bracing myself. Beginning to get 2021 flashbacks. (Not fairly, however nonetheless…)
Present me the cash
Funds infrastructure large Stripe is in talks for another shareholder sale that might worth the corporate at “not less than” $85 billion, in accordance with a number of experiences and a supply accustomed to the matter.
Lagos-based Raenest, which provides multi-currency accounts, has raised $11 million in a funding spherical led by QED Buyers to increase its attain throughout Africa.
Ghanian fintech Affinity Africa has raised $8 million in seed funding to increase its monetary merchandise additional throughout the nation, the place cellular cash is the dominant monetary instrument.
Comulate, which builds instruments to assist insurers handle billing and income operations, has closed a $20 million Series B round that it’ll use to increase its tech stack to cowl extra capabilities and scale operations.
Cap desk administration agency Carta made headlines in 2020 when its former advertising VP Emily Kramer filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and retaliation. That case was settled in 2023. However since then, Carta has settled two different lawsuits filed by girls who labored on the agency and alleged sexual harassment and discrimination, authorized filings seen by TechCrunch present. Charles Rollet has more on this.
Crypto alternate Coinbase is engaged on its reentry to India greater than a yr after it formally ceased operations on the planet’s most populous nation.
I had an absolute blast speaking with Sheel Mohnot, basic companion of Higher Tomorrow Ventures for TechCrunch’s Fairness Podcast. We chatted about all the pieces from that point he was in a Justin Bieber video, to how social media has helped him win offers, to how he thinks fintech is making a major comeback.
Excessive-interest headlines
Talking of mega-raises: Fraud detection startup Sardine AI wraps up $70M Series C.
Vouch acquires StartSure Insurance Services; raises Series D funding
Varo CEO Colin Walsh taps Gavin Michael to succeed him
Robinhood’s Q4 crypto revenue soars 700% year-over-year
Thanks for studying! Till subsequent week … comply with me on X @bayareawriter for breaking fintech information, posts about espresso, and extra.
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