Want to stay up to date on the latest startup fundings, launches, and expansions in Austin? Startup Over Coffee’s weekly roundup of Austin startups to watch will keep you in the loop on the latest Austin tech news. Catch up on previous weekly roundups here.

BP3 Global Inc.

Founded in 2007, BP3 Global uses its robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, intelligent document processing, application modernization, and application support to design and deliver hundreds of business process automation programs to some of the world’s best companies. According to Austin Inno, the company has recently raised a $33 million funding round. This round was led by private inquiry firm Horizon Capital. 

In addition to its new funding, Horizon’s managing partner Simon Hitchcock and Horizon’s director Thomas Maizels will be joining BP3’s board. BP3’s new funding will fuel growth and acquisitions across the entire company. 

Aifleet

With the shortage of truck drivers in the U.S., many are worried that the 80,000 driver shortage will continue to increase within the years to come, affecting America’s supply chain. Announced in Built in Austin, Austin-based company Aifleet is building a driver-centric trucking company that uses AI technology to enhance truckers’ workflow, which will help minimize wait time and maximize truckers’ driving time on the road. In addition, the company recently raised $21 million in venture capital, making its total funds $24 million. 

Currently, the company is primarily based in Austin, with some of the technology team located in Hungary, and has 60 employees. 40 of the 60 employees are truck drivers themselves. The new funding will allow Aifleet to upscale operations. Co-founder Marc El Khoury explains that the company hopes to hire 150 to 200 people by next year. 

UNION

As more restaurants and bars continue to open back up after the pandemic, many of these places are finding it difficult to “staff up to pre-pandemic level.” According to Built in Austin, UNION, a cloud-based point-of-sale software, raised a $22 million Series B funding round. UNION’s software provides servers and bartenders with a system that’ll assist servers with keeping notes

on customers and allow customers to order and pay for their food themselves through their phone. The funding round was led by Clerisy and had contributions from Roth capital, Aquila Capital Partners, NEA, Wellington, and other previous investors. 

The company announced that its software increases revenue by up to 30 percent and reduces customer wait time by up to 80 percent. The startup currently has 72 employees but plans on adding 50 with the help of their new funding. Additionally, its new funding money will allow the company to branch out into the nation’s biggest metro areas. 

Cart.com Inc.

Cart.com has become one of Texas’ fastest-growing technology startups and has recently relocated its headquarters from Houston to Austin. Austin Inno announced that the company’s headquarters is located in downtown Austin at the corner of Brazos and sixth street. 

According to Cart.com’s website, the startup provides the same end-to-end e-commerce capabilities that the world’s largest online retailers would use to aspiring brands of all sizes. Although the company moved its headquarters to Austin, CEO Omair Tariq, its chief strategy officer, and chief of staff will stay at the Houston location. However, Cart’s chief innovation officer, chief financial officer, and head of marketing will be located in Austin. 

Cart has around 150 employees based in Austin but is looking at adding 150 within the next 12 months. Now that its Austin office is opened, employees have the choice of working from the office, but the space is primarily a place where employees can collaborate and have meetings outside their usual home working environment. 

About Michelle Vernaza: Michelle is a Business Development Associate Intern for Swyft, which is a tech PR firm in Austin and Houston and a top digital marketing and PR agency in Denver since its founding in 2011. Swyft also has a small satellite office where it offers tech PR in San Francisco. Swyft has been listed as one of the top tech PR agencies in Texas for two years running by the B2B services review site, Clutch.co.