Gwyneth Paltrow invests in The Expert, a video marketplace for high-end interior designers
The pandemic-induced lockdowns halted many a home decoration project, but the irony was that our homes became even more important. But where to get ideas to decorate? Home décor experts could no longer visit. Now an LA-based startup is addressing this digitization of the interior design market, but kicking off with a typically LA-oriented, high-end clientele.
The LA-based The Expert a platform for video consultations with interior designers has raised a $3 million seed funding round led by Forerunner Ventures, with participation from Sweet Capital, Promus Ventures, Golden Ventures, Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo, AD 100 designer Brigette Romanek and CEO/founder of goop, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Smart home startup Deako raises $12.5M, says its light switches are becoming ‘industry standard’
March 16, 2021 at 7:43 am
Deako’s “plug and play” light switches allow homebuilders and homeowners to easily swap in high-tech, remotely controlled lighting. (Deako Photo)
New funding: Seattle startup Deako Lighting raised $12.5 million as part of a Series B round to fuel growth of the company’s smart light switch technology.
The business: Deako’s “plug and play” light switches allow homebuilders and homeowners to easily swap in high-tech, remotely controlled lighting. Its technology works off a home’s existing wiring and lets homebuilders market their projects as smart homes, without a lot of upfront cost. “Our core value proposition is we make it super simple for homeowners to personalize their home lighting in really cool and powerful ways,” said COO Wes Nicol.
Brett Giroir, M.D. to serve as Chief Medical Advisor for AI-Powered Diagnostics Company, Gauss
Share Article MENLO PARK, Calif. (PRWEB) March 16, 2021 Gauss, a leader in computer vision in healthcare, today announced that former Assistant Secretary of Health and Admiral in the US Public Health Service, Brett P. Giroir, M.D., who previously served as the Trump administration s testing czar during the coronavirus pandemic, is joining the company as its Chief Medical Advisor.
Dr. Giroir joins Gauss as the company is pursuing Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its smartphone-powered, fully at-home COVID-19 rapid test. Upon authorization, the technology will improve Americans’ widespread access to testing, and enable anyone to test themselves within 15 minutes in the comfort of their home at substantially lower cost, enhanced convenience, and assured accuracy.
Astra, and
AST SpaceMobile have recently announced plans to go public through Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs), a method of financing that has become very popular in recent months.
Via Satellite spoke to a number of space investors and analysts to gauge the benefits for startup companies that take this route to scale. While most industry watchers see SPACs as an opportunity, several noted the high expectations for executing bold growth projections to justify valuations all while under the scrutiny of being a publicly traded company.
In the SPAC process, a shell company is formed and goes public. Then, the shell company looks for a company to combine with. The SPAC’s investors must approve the combination for the merger to go forward. “A SPAC is in essence a pool of capital looking for an investment target, and if it doesn’t find one in time, the sponsor has to return purchasers’ money,” said Owen Kurtin of
Whoop, a Boston-based sports wearable company backed by Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, is set to open its first European office in Dublin.
Following questions from the Sunday Independent, the company, which raised $100m in Series E Funding at a $1.2bn (€1bn) valuation last October, confirmed its plan to set up its Irish base.
Alex Jacobs, a senior manager of PR and communications for Whoop, said: Following a year of hypergrowth, Whoop plans to open its first European office in Ireland and further invest in global expansion.
“Dublin is a natural launching point with its proximity to Whoop headquarters in Boston, a deep well of international talent, and a strong community of top tech businesses.