A few years ago, there was no hope of being involved in the startup world if you weren’t backed by some of the biggest venture capital firms in the industry, or you didn’t have an awesome idea that caught Mark Zuckerberg’s eye. But now, thanks to the incredible rise of crowdfunding, it’s never been easier to support entrepreneurs and startups with great ideas and products! Here are 10 of the most funded startups in the world today.
1. Fractal
Mumbai and San Francisco-based Fractal has raised US$360 million in funding from private equity investors TPG. The investment would be made through TPG’s Asia-focused private equity platform TPG Capital Asia. Fractal offers artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics solutions — such as marketing analytics, forecasting, pricing, and promotion optimization services, and consumer insights — to several Fortune 500 firms in the world, which typically have a revenue of US$10 billion. It is one of the most funded AI startups to watch in 2022.
2. PlayersOnly
PlayersOnly is a US-based startup that offers a decentralized sports social media ecosystem. It leverages DeFi to create a marketplace that allows athletes and brands to collaborate to create digital collections and experiences. The startup also offers a social network that connects athletes. DeFi interactions on the marketplace and the social network are facilitated by PlayersOnly (PO) token. In addition to supporting athletes, the startup’s solutions enable fans to invest in their favorite players and teams.
3. Darwinbox
Darwinbox has recently made up to the unicorns in the Analytics SaaS domain. The company specializes in producing HR management software for major companies and has become the first true local player to enter into the famed unicorn club with a valuation of over US$1 billion, starting 2022 with a bang.
4. Enjin
Founded in 2009, Enjin is a blockchain company specializing in NFT solutions. The startup has developed a full ecosystem of blockchain software products and solutions that enable developers, businesses, and individuals to create, manage, trade, distribute, and integrate Ethereum-based NFTs. Enjin is developing Efinity, a blockchain-based ecosystem built on Polkadot intended to serve as the infrastructure for a decentralized, cross-chain metaverse. Efinity is currently in the internal alpha stage.
5. Viz.ai
Viz.ai, the leading AI-powered disease detection, and care coordination platform have raised a US$100 million funding round at a US$1.2 billion valuation. The Series D round, which comes as the number of hospitals using the Viz Platform surpasses the 1,000 mark and patients served reaches millions, was led by Tiger Global and Insight Partners. Also joining the round were several of the company’s early backers, including Scale Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Threshold, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Sozo Ventures, CRV, and Susa. It is one of the most funded AI startups to watch in 2022.
6. NextMeet
Indian startup NextMeet develops an immersive virtual reality (VR) platform for remote working, collaboration, and distance learning. The platform features 3D avatars that let users interact with each other virtually over the metaverse. This makes situations like work from home (WFH) and online learning more interactive and engaging as compared to video calls. The startup also creates custom 3D worlds for virtual events such as conferences, trade fairs, and product launches.
7. Run.AI
Run.AI, which has developed an AI infrastructure orchestration and management platform, announced on Tuesday that it has raised US$75 million in a Series C round led by Tiger Global Management and Insight Partners, who led the previous Series B round. The round includes the participation of additional existing investors, TLV Partners, and SCapital VC, bringing the total funding raised to date to US$118 million.
8. The Sandbox
A subsidiary of Animoca Brands, The Sandbox is a leading decentralized gaming virtual world. The Ethereum-based platform lets players “play, create, own, and govern a virtual world.” Players can own in-game assets in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), such as plots of land that they can build on.
9. OpenSea
OpenSea, one of the most talked-about blockchain startups in Silicon Valley, has raised US$300 million in new venture capital, making it the latest company to cash in on a rush to fund cryptocurrency startups. The new round of funding, led by investment firms Paradigm and Coatue Management, brings the startup’s valuation to a staggering US$13.3 billion just four years after it was founded. It is one of the most funded AI startups to watch in 2022.
10. PolkaWar
PolkaWar is a Singaporean startup that builds an NFT gaming platform. The platform combines decentralized finance (DeFi) and immersive gaming. The startup’s game features a marketplace where players sell in-game items and weapons for crypto. Players earn PWAR, the startup’s crypto-token, by participating in the game, renting their in-game equipment, as well as staking their existing tokens.
