Catch up on the latest announcements coming out of the Austin tech scene featuring spacecraft, real estate and heavy machinery. This is the Built In Austin weekly refresh.
Firefly Aerospace got $75M and is under new ownership. Firefly Aerospace creates launch and in-space vehicles as well as services to make access to space affordable and efficient. The Cedar Park-based company raised a $75 million Series B round led by AE Industrial. The funding will go toward the second launch of its vehicle Alpha and its Blue Ghost lunar lander. AE Industrial also purchased co-founder and investor Max Polyakov’s remaining stake in the company for an undisclosed amount. [Built In Austin]
Rex got $10M. Rex gained $10 million from Insured technology financing pioneer (PIUS), which includes the option for Rex to increase the amount to $45 million. Rex is a residential real estate tech firm that helps eliminate fees and helps homebuyers save money. The funding will help fuel the Austin-based company’s growth and market expansion. [PR Newswire]
AUSTIN TECH QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Smarter Sorting gained $25M. Smarter Sorting provides a platform for brands and retailers to stay compliant with environmental regulations by providing accurate guidance for the disposal, shipping and storing of products such as batteries and electronics. The company raised a $25 million funding round led by G2 Venture Partners that will be used to scale its operations. Smarter Sorting works with 24 national supermarkets and is hiring for nine roles. [Built In Austin]
Boom & Bucket raised $5.5M. Boom & Bucket allows individuals to sell and buy quality heavy equipment — such as bulldozers and cranes — online without price gouging. Boom & Bucket gained $5.5 million in seed funding co-led by Human Capital and Brick & Mortar Ventures. The funds will go toward national expansion and partnering with financial institutions and other technology platforms. [Built In Austin]
Trammell Venture Partners closed its first fund. The Austin-based VC firm announced it closed its first fund focusing on founders building on Bitcoin and Lightning Network. Trammell Venture Partners claims this is the first fund of its kind and that it will create “a torrent of new energy into the early stage crypto market.” Trammell Venture Partners was established in 2016 with a mission to invest in companies with Bitcoin-native technologies, applied AI and security tech. [PR Newswire]
SparkCognition to acquire Integration Wizards. AI software SparkCognition entered a definitive agreement to acquire visual AI firm Integration Wizards. This deal will allow SparkCognition to expand its offerings to include computer vision capabilities, including drone footage, video from handheld devices and more. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. News of this acquisition comes two months after SparkCognition raised a $123 million Series D and became a tech unicorn. The Austin-based company is now hiring for more than 30 roles. [SparkCognition]
