Spacetech funding stays aloft

February 6, 2024

Hi, Agen. The past few quarters have been sluggish for funding to scads of startup technology sectors. Spacetech, however, is not one of them — investors continued to pour billions into the sector. Plus, last week was a tough one on the layoff front, especially if you work in fintech or digital media. And, is the IPO market back in business?

🚀 Space infrastructure stayed aloft in tough funding climate

Last year, investors poured more than $4.6 billion globally into startups in the space travel and satellite categories, as well as space-related aerospace sectors, Crunchbase data shows. Supersized rounds went to companies developing everything from satellite networks to space stations.

Related Crunchbase Pro list: Spacetech Funding, 2023

💸 Is the IPO market back in business?

This IPO market will not be like the ones of the past five years, writes guest author Greg Sichenzia, a securities lawyer who has counseled numerous companies and investment banks through initial public offerings. Here’s why.

✂️ Layoffs hit fintech giants, digital media startups

More than 6,000 U.S. tech workers lost their jobs last week, per our latest tally. Particularly hard hit were workers at two of the biggest fintech companies, and those at a digital media startup that completely shut down.

⚡️ Lightspeed picks up the pace

Lightspeed Venture Partners — now nearly a quarter of a century old and known for backing companies such as Snap, Nest and Stripe — significantly picked up its investment cadence in the final quarter of 2023, Crunchbase data shows.

Related Crunchbase Pro list: Lightspeed Venture Partners’ Investments

🏅 Top 10: How’s a fresh $1.5B for you?

Who said large growth rounds were dead? Last week’s list of 10 largest U.S. startup deals was topped by a whopping $1.5 billion fundraise by a renewable energy company, and followed by large rounds for AI, transportation and biotech companies.

📊 The state of startups in 7 charts

From M&A activity to Web3 funding, let’s look at what’s happening in the startup world as seen through seven charts based on recent Crunchbase data.

🤔 5 interesting startups that got money in January

Several interesting, under-the-radar companies got investor cash in January, including a startup cleaning up space and one developing humanoid robots to help around the house. Let’s take a look.

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