Lime

Eight Aussie startups that raised $118.8 million this week

Weekly roundup of eight Australian funding rounds, led by Samsara Eco's $100m Series A extension; Diraq, 1Breadcrumb, Aquila, NRN, Klean, Bearhug and Sindy Labs also secured capital, and Klean won a Queensland grant.

Also TechCrunch Venture·SmartCompany·@AuManufacturing·Techboard·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·Forbes Australia·@AuManufacturing

Investment notes: Neuron US$18.5m Series A

Square Peg's investment note explains why it backed e-scooter operator Neuron's US$18.5 million Series A with GSR Ventures, highlighting the company's city-permit strategy across Australia and New Zealand.

Also Square Peg Capital portfolio

Scooter-sharing startup Beam bucks the trend, raising $38.6 million to expand APAC operations

Scooter-sharing startup Beam raised a US$26 million Series A led by Sequoia India and Hana Ventures, with Right Click Capital participating, to fund Asia-Pacific expansion including Australia.

Also Startup Daily

Coronavirus update for business: Restrictions start easing, Uber bails out Lime, and an economic kick up the butt

Uber invests in Lime and Lime takes over Uber's Jump bike business, while Australian states ease COVID-19 business restrictions and a voucher platform launches for local firms.

Does COVID-19 spell the end of the bike-sharing boom?

Pandemic disruption hits shared mobility: Uber pauses its Jump e-bikes in Australian cities weeks after launch, Lime suspends nearly all markets ahead of a reported down round, and Ride scooters stops Adelaide operations.

Cere Network Raises $3.5 Million in Seed Funding and Expands with the Launch of a New Berlin Innovation Factory

Blockchain CRM startup Cere Network has completed a $3.5m seed round with a broad group of crypto investors, and is opening a New York office and a Berlin innovation hub.

Sugar-free drink company Nexba receives first-ever Australian investment from LGBTQ fund Gaingels

Beverage startup Nexba is nearing the close of a $6 million round, with LGBTQ-focused investor Gaingels making its first Australian investment. Proceeds will fund new product lines and UK expansion, partly raised via crowdfunding.

Also Startup Daily·SmartCompany

In a Spin: Scooter startup acquired for $140 million just two years after launch

Ford has bought San Francisco scooter company Spin, reportedly for about US$100 million, under two years after launch. The piece recalls Spin's 2017 Series A and Y Combinator backing, plus Lime's Uber-backed round.