Top tech startup news for today, Monday, June 10, 2019

Below are some of the top tech startup news for today, Monday, June 10, 2019.

Facebook to release new versions of its Portal video chatting devices this fall. Last November, Facebook began shipping two versions of its Portal video chatting devices. The devices allow users to video chat with users of Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp services. Now Facebook Vice President of AR/VR Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, said on the company plans to launch new versions of the video chatting devices this fall. “We have a lot more that we’re going to unveil later in this fall, new form factors that we’re going to be shipping,” Bosworth said on stage at the Code Conference in Phoenix.

Innoviz closes $170 million Series C funding round for its solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software. Innoviz, an autonomous and IA startup that manufactures high-performance, solid-state LiDAR sensors and perception software that enable the mass-production of autonomous vehicles, has secured $170 million in Series C funding round to support several key initiatives, including the enhancement of Innoviz’s perception software. In conjunction with the funding, Innoviz also announced it has secured two computer vision industry experts, Dr. Raja Giryes and Or Shimshi, to serve as strategic collaborators to the product and software team, leveraging their extensive experience, deep learning and machine learning techniques to grow Innoviz’s lead in providing unparalleled perception software as part of its holistic hardware and software stack.

Salesforce bets on big data with $15.3 billion Tableau Software buy. Salesforce.com announced on Monday it’s buying big data firm Tableau Software for $15.3 billion, marking the biggest acquisition in the company’s history as it looks to expand its service offerings and provide data insights to its clients. The announcement comes a few days after Alphabet Inc’s Google bought big-data analytics company Looker for $2.6 billion. Founded in January, 2003 by Christian Chabot, Pat Hanrahan and Chris Stolte, the Seattle-based Tableau has more than 86,000 customers, including tech heavyweights such as Verizon Communications and Netflix.

FinTech startup Paysend hits crowdfunding campaign goal of $5.33 million in less than 72 hours. Paysend, a financial technology platform startup that solves the universal problem to securely enable any bank card (Visa or MasterCard) to send and receive money worldwide, has raised $5.33 million (of £4.2 million) in its first crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs.com. The campaign was a huge success, hitting 100% of the target in less than 72 hours. Paysend, which has offices in Fife (Scotland) and London, officially started on Thursday 6 June as a private launch for pre-registered customers, the company has already managed to secure the amount of £4.2M needed for its global expansion and innovation plans.

Shutterfly to be acquired by private equity firm Apollo Global for $2.7 billion. Digital imaging company Shutterfly announced today that it’s agreed to be acquired by private-equity giant Apollo Global Management, in a deal that values the company at $2.7 billion. In a report by Wall Street Journal, Apollo is buying Shutterfly Inc. and Snapfish LLC and plans to combine to create a bigger player in online-photo services. The deal values the photo-book manufacturer and retailer at about $1.7 billion, the companies said Monday. “The purchase of Snapfish, which like parent District Photo Inc. is closely held, would be contingent on the Shutterfly acquisition closing,” the report said. The Redwood City, California-based Shutterfly was founded in December 1999 as an internet-based social expression and personal publishing service.

Alkami bags $55 million Series E funding round to further accelerate innovation and growth. Alkami Technology, Inc., a provider of cloud-based digital banking solutions to banks and credit unions in the United States, has closed $55 million Series E funding round. General Atlantic led the round alongside MissionOG, with participation from existing investors, including S3 Ventures and Argonaut Private Equity. Founded in 2009 by Gary Nelson, Sean McElroy, and Stephen Bohanon, the Alkami Platform enables clients to personalize the digital banking experience for their consumers and businesses and build a thriving and engaged digital community in a digital-first banking world. Alkami was ranked 284th overall in the 2018 Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies as well as #78 on Deloitte’s 2018 Technology Fast 500 in North America.