Last week was busy for D.C. startups with more than $350 million dollars raised across three area tech companies. Other companies announced plans to go public, and two startups launched new products and services. Catch up on the latest D.C. tech news. This is the Built In DC weekly refresh.
Hawkeye 360 raised $145M to build new satellite constellations. The Herndon-based radio frequency data and analytics company detects, characterizes and geolocates data for a variety of uses. Its mission is to deliver geospatial intelligence solutions to organizations in defense, maritime and wildlife protection. To date, HawkEye 360 has raised $302 million. [Built In DC]
Inspiration launched with $200M in funding. The EV solutions startup emerged from stealth last week. Inspiration also announced its first customer, Revel. D.C.-based Inspiration claims to be the first company that not only enables businesses to electrify existing fleets but also offers partnering companies financing solutions. The new funds will be used to secure additional assets to electrify fleets for future Inspiration partnerships. [Built In DC]
D.C. Tech Quote of the Week
Cybersecurity startup SCYTHE raised $10M to fund hiring. The Arlington-based startup helps cybersecurity teams emulate real-world threats to help prepare for and respond to cyberattacks. The modular solution also helps companies validate the efficacy of security tools and justify spending. The startup is actively hiring for roles in engineering, sales, marketing and customer service. [Built In DC]
FiscalNote announced plans to go public via a $1.3B SPAC deal. The legal data and analytics company will go public sometime next year through a merger with Duddell Street Acquisition Corp. FiscalNote provides data and insights on government policy and regulation to keep companies up to date with legislation affecting their businesses. [Built In DC]
Brivo also announced its IPO plans. The SPAC merger with Crown PropTech Acquisitions values Brivo at $808 million and is expected to provide up to $304 million of capital. When the deal closes, the company will trade under the ticker symbol “BRVS” on the New York Stock Exchange. Brivo is a smart building tech company offering cloud-based solutions for commercial real estate, large distributed enterprises and multi-family residences. It provides both building security hardware and software as well as building management technology. [Built In DC]
Dcode launched a subscription-only tier for its Nexus platform. Unlike most accelerators that bring young companies from concept to product, Dcode trains both tech companies and government employees on how to work together. Dcode previously only offered Nexus to companies within its accelerator program, but now any tech company can pay a fee to gain access to Dcode’s library of online curriculum, network with government employees and attend Nexus events. [Built In DC]
Vibrent Health launched an AI-driven Covid-19 screening platform. The healthtech and research company developed the Broad Assessment and Symptom Identification System (BASIS) to screen and test people for Covid-19 from any internet-enabled device. Through a series of questionnaires, BASIS can differentiate Covid-19 from other respiratory viruses. If a user’s probability of having Covid is high, the application can send a test kit to their house, eliminating the need for in-person testing. [Built In DC]