Nexd rebrands as Olono, raises $4M
Olono, formerly Nexd, announced a rebrand, a new website and a fresh $4 million funding round of seed funding this week. The startup provides software for sales professionals that uses data integration, machine learning and predictive analytics. ATX Seed Ventures led the round with participation from Wildcat Venture Partners and a group of Austin angel investors. Olono will use the funding to increase sales and marketing efforts, as well as to iterate on its product. [Press Release]
Healthtech startup Iris Plans raises $5.1M
Iris Plans raised $5.1 million to increase strategic partnerships with major healthcare firms, grow its internal team and enhance its technology. The healthtech startup provides a compliant, secure video-conferencing platform with trained facilitators for families and seriously ill patients to guide them through medical processes. Austin-based VC firm LiveOak Venture Partners led the round, setting its 20th investment in a Texas startup. [Built In Austin]
Siemens to open Austin digital center, adding 130 jobs
Siemens announced on Tuesday that it is directing $14 million a year to build a local Digital Service Center for its building technologies division. The innovation hub, which will bring in 130 jobs, will analyze data from thousands of connected devices and software to help inform real-time decision-making. [Press Release]
Car2go to replace smart cars with Mercedes-Benz vehicles
Within the next month, Car2go plans to swap out its remaining smart cars with Mercedes-Benz CLA sedans and GLA SUVs in Austin. The car sharing service began replacing some of its smart vehicles with Mercedes in January, but it was unclear at the time whether it would fully transition to an all-Mercedes fleet. Car2go is a subsidiary of Daimler, the parent company of both smart and Mercedes-Benz. [Austin American Statesman]
ACC’s $153M additions to include business incubator
Austin Community College just broke ground on the second phase of construction for its Highland Campus, which is expected to be finished in two years. Once complete, the 415,000 square-foot project will include a new business incubator, media center, a health sciences and STEM simulation center, and a culinary arts and hospitality management center. [Austin Business Journal]
Dell names Brian Reaves as chief diversity and inclusion officer
On Tuesday, Dell welcomed Brian Reaves as its new chief diversity and inclusion officer. Reaves joins the team from SAP, where he led the development and implementation of company-wide diversity and inclusion initiatives. [Press Release]
Sterling Creek Holdings raises $852K
Sterling Creek Holdings closed $852,000 on Monday, according to an SEC. The Austin-based company developed a proprietary algorithm for calculating a total enterprise value opportunity score using private and public data. The TEVO score helps business owners make sense of their current valuations and the market’s potential valuation within an industry. [FormDs]
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