Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Venture Capital
• Whop, an NYC-based creator-commerce platform, raised $200m in Series D funding at a $5.1b valuation led by Sequoia Capital and Shopify. Sequoia's Doug Leone will join Whop's board, marking his first deal since un-retiring earlier this year. Go deeper
• Blacksmith, an SF-based infrastructure platform for building and testing code, raised a $66m Series C round at a $1b valuation. Sequoia Capital led, joined by Premji Invest, Peak XV Partners, GV, and Y Combinator. Go deeper
• Kevel, a Durham, N.C.-based ad tech infrastructure startup, raised a $52m Series D round from Fulcrum Equity Partners, Dunnhumby Ventures LLC, Iberis Capital and ORIX USA's growth capital business. Go deeper
• Mach9, an SF-based computer-aided design software developer, raised a $34 million Series A round. First Round Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners led, joined by Prudence and Quiet Capital. Go deeper
⚡️ Optivolt, an SF-based startup developing a device to improve solar panel efficiency, raised $32m in Series A funding. VXI Capital led, joined by RA Capital, Valo Ventures and Atlas Innovate. Go deeper
• Hive, a Kitchener, Ontario-based event marketing platform, raised a $27m Series B round led by Frontier Growth. Go deeper
💊 Arctic Therapeutics, an Icelandic biotech developing treatments for dementia and skin diseases, raised $21.5m led by Pekron, Sanos Group, Kaldbakur and Landvættir. Go deeper
• Firstwork, an SF-based automated onboarding platform, raised a $15m Series A. Earlybird Venture Capital led, joined by Legion VC, Deel Ventures, Gradient and Y Combinator. Go deeper
• ScribeUp, a Cambridge, Mass.-based provider of embedded recurring bill management for financial institutions, raised $13m, including a $10m Series A and $3m in venture debt. Curql led, joined by Mucker Capital and Service Ventures. Go deeper
• Mika Games, a Cyprus-based gaming financing startup, raised $10m led by Flint Capital. Go deeper
🌎 Pascal, a Watertown, Mass.-based developer of solid refrigerant tech for efficient cooling, raised $8.5m in seed funding. Sazze Partners and LB Investment led, joined by KDB Silicon Valley. Go deeper
• Opply, a U.K.-based CPG ops automation platform, raised $7.5m. Chalfen Ventures led, joined by Index Ventures, Anthemis, Entrepreneurs First, In This Together and Ventures Together. Go deeper
🌎 Kodama Systems, an SF-based developer of autonomy tech for the forestry industry, raised $7m. Konvoy Ventures and Breakwater Ventures led, joined by Blue Forest Asset Management, NYA Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Dangerous Ventures, and M1C. Go deeper
⚡️ Stellios Technologies, an Austin, Texas-based developer of high-power energy tech, raised $5m in pre-seed funding from Sofreh Capital, Wave Function Ventures, Cubit Capital, Mana Ventures, Atoms & Bits, Output Capital, and Erik Bruckner. Go deeper
Private Equity
🏈 Apollo and Blackstone each are seeking approval to buy minority stakes in NFL teams, per Bloomberg. Go deeper
• Platform Accounting Group, an acquirer of boutique accounting and advisory firms, raised $355m. Treville Capital Group led, joined by Vista Credit Partners, Siguler Guff, Aquiline, and Brightwood Capital Advisors and existing investor The Cynosure Group. Go deeper
•Renovus Capital Partners took a majority stake in Aspire Home Health Care, a Chicago-based provider of orthopedic and home health services. Go deeper
• Savillex, backed by Thompson Street Capital Partners, acquired the life sciences fluid management unit of Entegris (Nasdaq: ENTG). Go deeper
• WilliamsMarston, backed by Kelso & Co., acquired the NetSuite services unit of Level Equity portfolio company Charted. Go deeper
More M&A
• Akzo Nobel, a Dutch paintmaker, is in talks to sell its European vehicle refinishing business to secure approval for its takeover of Philadelphia-based rival Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), per the WSJ. Go deeper
• ArcelorMittal (Ams: MT) agreed to sell its South Africa unit for around $610m to the country's Industrial Development Corp. Go deeper
🚑 Hackensack Meridian Health, a New Jersey health system, agreed to acquire fellow New Jersey hospital system Hunterdon Health for $230m. Go deeper
Debt
🚑 ABM Respiratory Care, an Eagan, Minn.-based respiratory care device maker, secured $20m from Trinity Capital (NYSE: TRIN). Go deeper
It's Personnel
• Mustafa Neemuchwala stepped down as a partner at NEA to become chief business officer of NEA portfolio company Valarian. Go deeper
⚡️ Alexis Glick was appointed CEO of NineDot Energy, a Brooklyn-based battery storage developer. Glick previously served as CEO of Nature Energy North America. She succeeds founder David Arfin. Go deeper
Odds & ends
⚡️ Westinghouse Electric, a Cranberry Township, Pa.-based nuclear reactor and fuel maker owned by Brookfield Renewable Partners and Cameco, plans to invest $1b to expand a nuclear fuel production site in South Carolina. Axios Pro flashback
