Dating startups still attract lots of VC love

Plus, January startup funding stays subdued February 14, 2024 Hi, {NAME}. Most startups [haven’t been feeling a lot of love]( from investors for the past few years. But VCs still seem to be attracted to romance-related startups, particularly those looking to make the dating experience more fun and engaging. Dozens of [startups in the dating space have raised millions in recent years](. Plus, [venture investors kept the brakes on in the first month of 2024]( our data shows. 💕 [Investors still swiping right on dating startups]( VCs still seem to have warm and fuzzy feelings for dating startups, [Crunchbase]( data shows, with the latest cohort of funded romance apps particularly geared toward a generation of singles weary of the shallowness and tedium of endless swiping. Related Crunchbase Pro list: [Dating- And Romance-Centric Startups]( 🛑 [VCs kept the brakes on in January]( Venture funding was subdued in the first month of 2024, clocking in below even the already depressed monthly averages of 2023, Crunchbase data shows. What will it take to kickstart startup investment this year? 💸 [3 ways to optimize your incentive compensation program]( Variable compensation is the largest sales expense for most businesses. It’s also incredibly complex and, without the right strategy, can end up detracting from profits instead of driving more revenue. With that in mind, guest author [Mark Schopmeyer]( offers three steps toward striking the right balance with your incentive compensation program. 🦄 [AI leads the way on new unicorn creation]( Of the 95 companies that joined [The Crunchbase Unicorn Board]( in 2023, AI was the [leading sector](. We dive into that and other unicorn company trends at the start of 2024. See also: [The Crunchbase Unicorn Board]( 🚰 [Funding flows freely to water-saving startups]( Venture funding [may be running dry]( but money for water conservation-related startups has not, [Crunchbase]( data shows. In fact, [startups working on water industry-related technologies raised more money last year than they did in 2021](. Related Crunchbase Pro list: [Water-Related Funding]( 🤝 [Crunchbase announces new partnership with monday.com]( Now, [monday.com sales CRM]( users can enrich their CRM records with Crunchbase’s best-in-class proprietary company data to quickly identify qualified opportunities and inform outreach. Find out more [here](. Final week: CNBC is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Disruptor 50 list The Disruptor 50 list is an annual look at the most innovative venture-backed companies. Private startups are scored on criteria including scalability, revenue and user growth, the use of breakthrough technology, and workforce diversity. The deadline to apply is Friday at 11:59pm ET. [SUBMIT NOMINATION]( Recent Investments [Alys Pharmaceuticals]( [$100M]( / [Seed Round]( Alys Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immuno-dermatology treatments. Categories: Biotechnology • Health Care • Pharmaceutical Founders: [Brian Kim]( [Craig Mello]( [Eric Deutsch]( [John Harris]( [Lars French]( [Mark Prausnitz]( [Thibaud Portal]( Investors: [Medicxi]( (Lead) [Nucleus Security]( [$43M]( / [Series B]( Nucleus Security provides a vulnerability management solution that enables organizations to manage their vulnerability information. Categories: Cyber Security • Information Technology • Risk Management • SaaS Founders: [Nicolas Fleming]( [Scott Kuffer]( [Stephen Carter]( Investors: [Arthur Ventures]( (Lead), [Lead Edge Capital]( (Lead), [In-Q-Tel]( [Ilara Health]( [$2.5M]( / [Seed Round]( Ilara Health is a health technology company that connects private clinics with diagnostic devices and pharmaceuticals. Categories: Electronic Health Record (EHR) • Health Care • Health Diagnostics • Medical Device Founders: [Amaan Banwait]( [Emilian Popa]( [Hannes Eckmayr]( [Maximilan Mancini]( [Sameer Farooqi]( Investors: [DOB Equity]( (Lead), [AAIC Investment]( [Angaza Capital]( [+ 3 more]( More Fundings Company Amount / Round Lead Investor [Lilac Solutions]( $145M / [Series C]( - [Sudo Biosciences]( $30M / [Series B]( [Enavate Sciences]( [Analog]( $16M / [Seed Round]( [Tribe Capital]( [Ilara Health]( $1.7M / [Debt Financing]( - [All Recent Funding Activity]( Recent Acquisitions [Endeavor Energy Resources]( Pending acquisition by [Diamondback Energy]( for $26B More Acquisitions Company Acquired By Amount [Ethereal Engine]( [Infinite Reality]( $75M [All Recent Acquisition Activity]( Upcoming Tech Events [SXSW 2024]( March 8 - 16, 2024 in Austin SXSW 2024 celebrates the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture. 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