Pittsburgh robotics co. lands $73M | $7.5M to build KC engineering center
What is fueling Fast Future Country innovation? In this weekly feature, we share a variety of announcements covering funding, acquisitions, exits, grants and everything in between. Got something to celebrate? Click here to share your story.
Gecko Robotics closes on $73M funding round
PITTSBURGH, PA—Gecko Robotics, which develops robotic platforms that perform industrial inspection, has closed on a $73 million Series C funding round. The round was led by New York-based XN, along with Founders Fund, XYZ, Drive Capital, Snowpoint Ventures, Palantir Technologies founder Joe Lonsdale, DoorDash New Horizons lead Gokul Rajaram and Pittsburgh hometown hero Mark Cuban, among others.
Engineering center coming to Kansas City
KANSAS, CITY, MO—Global engineering and design company RLE International announced that it will establish a new Modification and Engineering Center in Kansas City, investing $7.5 million and creating 85 high-paying jobs. RLE’s state-of-the-art facility will provide complex engineering, design, and build solutions for automotive and mobility clients.
Fintech company completes $2M funding round
MADISON, WI—Fintech platform Quiver Quantitative has announced the closure of a $2 million round led by Allos Ventures, which has offices in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. M25, Kinetic Ventures, Bascom Ventures, Lancaster Investments, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in Madison, and the Idea Fund of La Crosse also participated.
Microlearning platform closes on $3.2M seed round
LOUIS, MO—Whistle Systems, a microlearning platform that helps companies understand how to make better investments in people and empower their success, has closed on a $3.2 million seed funding round. The round was led by Dundee Venture Capital (VC). Other investors include Chicago-based M25.
$1.24M seed round funding for AfterSchool HQ
FISHERS, IN—Startup AfterSchool HQ has raised a seed round totaling $1.24 million, which includes participation from Indianapolis-based Elevate Ventures. The web-based platform helps to manage after-school programs for both schools and parents.
Teaching college students to develop tech for self-driving cars
SOUTHFIELD, MI—C.J. Chung, a professor of mathematics and computer science has won a $281,712 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop programs for teaching college students how to develop computer programs for self-driving cars.