We're sending a cake to the next fintech startup that goes public
Oct 20, 2023
auto_awesome
In this episode, Mary Ann and Alex discuss the recent funding rounds for Allara and Agnikul. They also delve into the beef between WeWork and Codi, and the latest updates on digital-nomad friendly home rental business, Anyplace. The hosts speculate on Plaid's potential IPO and talk about the current AI wave. They also mention their previous discussion with a Crunchbase analyst about Q3 VC.
Alara, a telehealth platform, raised $10 million to provide specialized care and support for women with chronic hormonal conditions.
Agnical raised $26.7 million to build smaller and more affordable rockets for the growing space tech industry in India.
Deep dives
Alara: A telehealth platform for women with chronic hormonal conditions
Alara is a telehealth platform that focuses on helping women with chronic hormonal conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis. They provide specialized care and support to women who often struggle to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for these conditions. Alara recently raised $10 million in a Series A round led by Google Ventures and has partnered with major insurers to expand access to their services.
Agnical: Building smaller and cheaper rockets for lower orbits
Agnical, based in India, raised $26.7 million to build smaller and more affordable rockets for slightly lower orbits. These small lift launch vehicles cater to the increasing demand for smaller payload delivery to space. By focusing on smaller rockets, Agnical aims to provide more accessible and cost-effective space launch options. The company has been recognized as India's answer to SpaceX and has contributed to the growing space tech industry in the region.
WeWork and Cody: A rivalry in the co-working space
WeWork, known for its struggles in recent years, faced competition from Cody, a startup offering fully private and turnkey office spaces. Cody launched a marketing campaign called 'We Won't' targeting WeWork customers facing closures and offering alternative office solutions. Notably, WeWork sent a cease and desist letter to Cody, claiming unauthorized use of its intellectual property. This rivalry highlights the changing landscape of co-working and the need for startups to adapt and deliver value to customers quickly.
Plaid hires new CFO, hinting at potential IPO plans
Financial technology company Plaid hired a new CFO, sparking speculation of a potential IPO in the future. Plaid, known for its services in linking bank accounts to applications, has been expanding its offerings in areas such as anti-fraud and identity verification. While Plaid has not confirmed any immediate plans for an IPO, the addition of a CFO signals the company's growth and maturity in the industry.
This is our Friday show, and we’re talking about the week’s biggest startup and tech news. Mary Ann and Alex ran as a pair this week, and here's what they got into:
Beef in the (leased) boardroom:WeWork is irked by Codi, which is hammering the well-known shared-office giant in an advertising campaign. Meanwhile, Anyplace raised more capital to fund its digital-nomad friendly home rental business.
In case you missed it, we had a great chat with a Crunchbase analyst earlier this week about all things Q3 VC! As always, Equity is back on Monday, but you can keep up with us in the meantime on X and Threads.
Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. Bryce Durbin is our Illustrator. We'd also like to thank the audience development team and Henry Pickavet, who manages TechCrunch audio products.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode