Tech roundup: Buzz Points raises $1.8M, Conversable's new anti-app play, & more

June 9, 2016

Vyze snags another $13M

Austin-based fintech company Vyze raised a $13 million Series B to expand its tech capabilities and up its sales and marketing efforts. The round was led by Austin Ventures and StarVest Partners. This most recent round brings Vyze’s total funding to $35 million. [Built In Austin]


Messaging startup emerges from two years in stealth

Conversable, an Austin startup whose SaaS offering lets customers interact with companies across a number of messaging platforms, launched on Tuesday after two years in stealth mode. Consumers can now order food from Wingstop, an Austin-based fast casual chain, through Facebook Messenger and Twitter. Conversable is one of a number of companies looking to move away from the standalone app model — Uber has been letting customers hail rides from Facebook Messenger since December. [VentureBeat]


Aunt Bertha raises $5M from Techstars, among others

On Tuesday, Austin-based social services platform Aunt Bertha announced a $5 million Series B round of financing led by Techstars Ventures. The company helps users search for food, health, housing and job training programs nearby and apply for them online, making the process easier for applicants and cutting down administrative costs for service providers. [Built In Austin]


Buzz Points raises $1.8M

Austin rewards tech company Buzz Points announced on Wednesday that it has raised $1.8 million from seven investors. Founded in 2009 as fisoc, the company’s Austin staff was 50 strong last year. [Austin Business Journal]


Capital Factory and Austin partner to attract startups from abroad

In a move to attract global small and medium-size businesses to Austin, Capital Factory and the city of Austin are launching a new pilot program called the Austin Reciprocal Soft Landing Pads Program. The $45,000 fund will help support first arrivals from six to eight foreign companies in procuring office space, mentorship and access to support services for their first three to six months in Austin. [Austin American-Statesman]


OpenSymmetry named one of the best workplaces in the US

Austin’s OpenSymmetry landed a coveted spot on Inc. Magazine’s inaugural list of the country’s 50 best workplaces. The magazine audited more than 500 companies, all over three years old with between five and 500 employees and at least $2 million in annual revenue. OpenSymmetry combines consulting services with software to help companies improve their sales performance. [Inc. Magazine]


Ellevest launches women’s investment service in Austin

New York fintech startup Ellevest launched its investment service specifically for women in Austin on Tuesday. Co-founded by Wall Street veteran and finance commentator Sallie Krawcheck, the company aims to help close the investment gap between women and men. Austin is the first city on the company’s national launch schedule. [Built In Austin]


Tulsa transportation startup traverses into Austin

Tride, a Tulsa-based ride hailing app, is the latest entrant into the battle for the market left by Uber and Lyft when they left Austin last month after new regulations on the industry took effect. The company, which got its start as an on-demand party bus app, will be fighting for market share against a swarm of apps including Ride Fare, Get Me, Fasten and Wingz — no cakewalk, but probably better than competing against Uber. [Austin Business Journal]

Images via listed companies.

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