Highlights of the Week (11/06/2020)

November 6, 2020

The first week of November has been eventful as the nation continues to be on the edge of their seats as votes are being tallied.

We shared a recap behind some of the key businesses for mail-in voting such as Election Systems and Software and Runbeck Election Service, why counting can be extremely slow in counties, as well as why the whole system can be scrutinized. Read about it here.
If you don’t know why everyone says this is the year of SPAC, and why companies like DraftKings and Hims have chosen to go public through SPAC, time to refresh your knowledge.
Healthcare companies thrived in 2020, with a flurry of companies going public, and funding poured into private companies nearing $20BN. Read our list of companies that are disrupting dental insurance, women healthcare, diabetes management, and more.
As we head into week two of November and Christmas coffee cups start popping up in coffee shops, people are thinking of year-end traveling, but not traditionally by air. Year-end travelers are taking to the road and these RV companies are reaping the benefits with unconventional services.
Bonus: Google search for “wine near me” has skyrocketed this week. Destress with some of our top picked mental healthcare companies.

Weekly Funding Highlight

Source: PrivCo Data

REEF Global topped our U.S. charts for investments racking up almost the same amount of investments as the combined Software and Internet Services industry with $700MM funding from Softbank and Mubadala leading the round. The company started out in providing hardware, software, and management services for parking lots but has since expanded to utilizing empty parking spaces and retrofitting them into cloud kitchens, healthcare clinics, and logistics and last-mile delivery spaces.

Here’s a list of some other ghost kitchen companies who have also received funding within the last 12 months.

The Pandemic is Spurring Property Investment

With mortgage rates at record low, buyers are swapping cities for suburban life.
[Read more]

Airbnb Readies IPO

The company is making plans to IPO next week even midst COVID-19 cases rising globally.
[Read more]

Since last week, PrivCo has added:
1206 Companies | 119 Funding Activities | 124 M&A Deals

Funding & Deal Highlights:

$100MM Funding
Fast, a checkout solutions provider is in talks to receive $100MM in undisclosed funding, putting it at a $1.0BN valuation.

Equity Funding
Shoulder Innovations, a Holland, Michigan-based developer of shoulder replacement systems, closed a $21.6MM equity financing.

Neurous Medical, a company that is developing a proprietary high-frequency nerve blocking technology, raised $37MM in equity.

Other Funding
Voltus, a San Francisco based energy resources platform, receives $25MM in Series B funding.

Suzy, a real-time market research platform, raises $34MM in Series C funding.

Touchstone Exploration, a publicly-traded Canadian company in the coal and mining industry, raises $30MM in connection with a private placement.

Acquisitions
Nestle has acquired a meal kit startup Freshly for $1.5BN.

Macquarie and GCM Grosvenor have inked a $300MM deal for IT provider Alaska Communications

Benestar Brands, a holding company for snack products, has acquired Miller Baking Company, which makes Pretzilla soft pretzels and related products.

Medical device maker Stryker Corp, wins antitrust approval to buy Wright Medical Group for $4BN, making it a market leader in implants for the treatment of bone fractures as well as joint replacements.

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