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

AnthemIQ

Austin-based real estate transaction platform, AnthemIQ, raised a $10 million Series A round led by real estate investment firm, Staubach Capital, according to Austin Inno. 

Founders Kenny Tomlin and Chris Skyles created AnthemIQ to help users navigate commercial real estate transactions from search to a signed lease. Since its launch in February, AnthemIQ has gained over 1,000 users. Not only does the platform help reduce client site visits by 75 percent, it increases transaction volume, helping brokers win more business. Tomlin hopes that within a year, AnthemIQ could have tens of thousands of users. 

RapidDeploy Inc.

RapidDeploy Inc., an Austin startup originally founded in Cape Town, South Africa, raised $29 million in a series B round led by venture capital firm Morpheus Ventures. This recent round brings the company’s total amount raised to $43 million. 

Founded in 2014 by CEO Steven Raucher and CIO Brett Meyerowitz, RapidDeploy’s goal is to help innovate 9-1-1 communication centers across the nation with its dispatch, mapping and analytics products. 

In addition to research and development, the startup is hoping to expand into more states,  according to Austin Inno. RapidDeploy hopes to hire 10 to 15 new employees every quarter for the next year as recognition and funding for this Austin startup increases.

Firefly Aerospace 

After landing $75 million in venture capital funding and succeeding a $1 billion valuation, Firefly Aerospace has become the latest Austin startup to reach unicorn status. According to Silicon Hills News, the series A funding was led by DADA Holdings, with contributions from a number of other investors. Firefly Aerospace provides economical and convenient access to space through small payloads to help assist with spacecraft, launch vehicles, or any in-space services. 

With the help of funding and a $93.3 million award from NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services, Firefly is closer to reaching its $300 million goal as it continues to plan the company’s growth through 2025. In addition to gaining strong investors, financial partners, and major contracts, founder and CEO Tom Markusic sees 2021 as a “breakout year for Firefly.” 

Arrive Logistics

According to Austin Inno, Arrive Logistics, one of Austin’s biggest freight logistics companies, raised $300 million in new funding. After a year of layoffs, 300 employees have been hired since July due to a $280 million increase in gross revenue from 2019 to 2020.

Founders Matt Pyatt and Eric Dunigan founded Arrive Logistics in 2014 to help shipping companies find businesses looking to move their products, with the help of matching algorithms. With hopes of reaching unicorn status, Arrive Logistics plans on investing $20 million in technology in 2021. After 2021, that investment will increase to $30 million a year for the next five years. 

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 recently opened a satellite office where it offers tech PR in San Francisco. Swyft was also listed as one of the top tech PR agencies in Texas by the B2B services review site, Clutch.co.