Top Seed Companies: Klutch, Finli, Haleo, Toolbox, Promoted
Our Investor Nicolas von Blottnitz shares the top-seeded companies to keep an eye on this week.
We see about 5,000 startups each week, and I want to give you a glimpse into how we at Headline think about trending tech companies and tracking new investment opportunities. In this post, I’m highlighting top tech companies that have announced or raised a seed round within the past week.
Klutch
Product:
Programmable credit card for consumers to create customized bill payments, investments, or other mini-apps
Lead Investors:
Undisclosed
Total Raised:
$840K
Comparables:
N/A
My Thoughts:
I am confused by Klutch with an open mind. On the one hand, I am not sure what type of unique value propositions can be built here, which at the same time makes me believe that end-users might just create something truly special that transforms the way we think about credit cards.
Finli
Product:
Invoice, payments, and CRM solution for solopreneurs
Lead Investors:
Urban Innovation Fund, MaC Venture Capital
Total Raised:
$9M
Comparables:
Venmo
My Thoughts:
There are 41M solopreneurs in the US, who have grown strongly since the pandemic and at large are still digitally under catered to — like why is Venmo the best solution for my hairdresser to request payment?!
Haleo Clinic
Product:
Mobile app that connects users with professionals to aid with insomnia and poor sleep
Lead Investors:
AQC Capital, Boreal Ventures
Total Raised:
$5M
Comparables:
Calm, Headspace
My Thoughts:
Sleep is so important for an individual’s happiness and performance. I, therefore, think Haleo’s b2b2c go-to-market is the right way to bring this service to market. The ROI for employers should be well worth it to make Haleo available to their employees as a benefit.
Toolbox
Product:
Corporate credit and spend management platform for contractors and construction operations
Lead Investors:
Undisclosed
Total Raised:
$9M
Comparables:
Brex meets HouseCall Pro
My Thoughts:
No-brainer value proposition for a massive target market. I wonder how ToolBox will play/interact with the Housecall Pros or ServiceTitans of this world.
Promoted
Product:
Developer tool for digital marketplaces to optimize their feed, search, promotion, and ads to scale their gross transaction value
Lead Investors:
Y Combinator, Interlace Ventures, Vela Partners
Total Raised:
$8M
Comparables:
Spyker
My Thoughts:
Why become best-in-class in all these complex competencies (feed design, search, etc) if you can just outsource it to a solution like Promoted. Seems like fantastic marketplaces like HipCamp, Snackpass, and OutSchool think the same way.
Hi, I am Nicolas von Blottnitz, an Associate at Headline’s SF office focusing on Consumer, Fintech, and SaaS businesses. Since joining in 2018, I have led our investments in Tabnine, Polygon, Flockjay, Solid, and Grin.
What is the EVA Growth Index?
The EVA Growth index is a composite of third-party data sources around a company’s website traffic. The vertical green lines in the charts represent a point in time where the company raised outside capital.
