Series A
New mobile banking and rewards platform Chime has raised $8 million in its first round of financing from Crosslink Capital, Homebrew, Forerunner Ventures, and PivotNorth Capital. Chime partners with FDIC-insured banks to offer an app that acts as a substitute for a debit card. “Millennials are seeking alternatives to traditional banks. They’re avoiding credit and want services that put the mobile experience first,” said former Visa executive and current Chime CEO Chris Britt. “Chime is reimagining banking and payments with a fresh approach designed to give consumers the control of a debit account with instant rewards when they pay.”
Shippable Inc., a maker of cloud-based developer tools that integrate with GitHub and other version control systems, has raised $8 million. Backers of the Bellevue, Wash.-based company include Madrona Venture Group, Vulcan Capital, Divergent Ventures, and Founders Co-Op.
Sequoia Capital is investing $4.7 million in Thanx Inc., a customer loyalty platform that is partnering with Visa, MasterCard, and ApplePay to provide consumer insights and enhance retention. By cultivating data from the credit cards themselves, and not a separate loyalty card or external hardware like an iPad, Sequoia is betting that Thanx will have more success than other digital loyalty programs. “Existing loyalty programs are a hassle, which is why consumers become inactive and merchants don’t see results,” said Thanx founder and CEO Zach Goldstein through a press release. “Thanx feels nearly seamless for merchants and consumers alike.”
Gemr, a social network and online marketplace for hobbyists looking for collectibles, has secured a $4.7 million Series A. The Portsmouth, NH-based company will use the financing to improve its iOS and Android mobile apps and build out its web community. One of its co-founders, Gary Sullivan, is an appraiser on the PBS show “Antique Roadshow.”
Series B
Showpad, a data analytics tool for sales professionals to use on their mobile devices, is the recipient of $8.5 million in Series B financing from returning investor Hummingbird Ventures and Dawn Capital. Showpad was founded in Belgium in 2011 but now has its headquarters in San Francisco.
Codoon, a Chinese provider of both hardware and software fitness and wellness solutions, has secured $30 million from SBCVC Fund III and SIG. The three year old company has now raised over $40 million.
French telecom data analytics company Intersec has received a $20 million Series B from Highland Capital Partners Europe.