TLDR:
- Cart.com, a Houston-based e-commerce unicorn, secured $130 million in financing from BlackRock.
- Houston saw a 17.7% increase in VC funding in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
Cart.com, an e-commerce platform based in Houston, recently secured $105 million in debt refinancing from BlackRock, along with a $25 million series C extension round, bringing their total series C funding to $85 million with a valuation of $1.2 billion. The company plans to consolidate its venture debt into one package at competitive terms. The Houston area also saw an uptick in VC funding with startups attracting $760.55 million in the first six months of 2024, a 17.7% increase from the previous year.
Another Houston-based tech company, Octagos Health, raised $43 million in a series B round to expand their AI-backed platform for cardiac health. Additionally, Resilitix AI, a disaster AI startup, partnered with local organizations to provide key data in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Energy giant bp announced a deal with a retail company to bring EV charging technology to Houston malls, including The Galleria and Katy Mills Mall.
