==============
POTOMAC TECH WIRE -- June 21
==============
Sponsored by: Splunk GovSummit Virtual – June 29th
o Frederick-based MeetingPlay Raises $75 Million; Event Software Maker
o DC-Based Hydrosat Raises $5 Million for Infrared Satellite Constellation
o Amazon Commits $125 Million Toward Affordable Housing at Metro Stations
o MicroStrategy Holds $3.4 Billion in Bitcoin; $660 Million Gain on Crypto Holdings
o Walmart Invests in Virginia Beach-based DroneUp to Expand "Last Mile" Options
> Splunk GovSummit Virtual – June 29th
o Briefly Noted: SkyePoint Decisions, Octo, MaxCyte
__________________________
Event Listings:
> New: APPLY TODAY: 2021 Technology Fast 500™ awards
> Splunk GovSummit Virtual – June 29th
Job Listings:
> New: Public Relations Senior Account Executive - Sage Communications
Services Listings:
> Lowenstein Sandler: Helping Tech Innovators Meet Today's Legal Challenges
For information on advertising options,
click here.
__________________________
o Frederick-based MeetingPlay Raises $75 Million; Event Software Maker
Frederick, Md. --
MeetingPlay, a Frederick, Md.-based developer of software used for events and conferences, has raised $75 million from California-based private equity firm
Sunstone Partners. MeetingPlay’s software is used for conferences, summits, meetings and other events; it has a particular focus on hybrid events that mix in-person and virtual components. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The company’s clients include Marriott International, Databricks and Autodesk. “MeetingPlay delivers unparalleled digital experiences that blend personalization, networking, content and unprecedented engagement that are scalable to support audiences of 100,000 or more,” said
Michael Biggee, co-founder and managing director of Sunstone. MeetingPlay was founded in 2012 by
Joe Schwinger and
Lisa Vann, who both serve as co-CEOs.
https://www.meetingplay.com/news/hybrid-event-technology-company-meetingplay-raises-75-million-growth-equity-investment-from-sunstone-partners
o DC-Based Hydrosat Raises $5 Million for Infrared Satellite Constellation
Washington, DC --
Hydrosat, a DC-based startup creating an infrared satellite constellation, has raised $5 million in a new round of seed funding, led by
Cultivation Capital.
Freeflow Ventures, the Yield Lab, Expon Capital, Techstars, Industrious Ventures and
Synovia Capital also took part in the round, which increased the company's total backing to $10 million. Hydrosat plans to utilize thermal infrared data from space to address issues such as food security, water scarcity and climate risk. The company plans to fly a multi-spectral and thermal infrared mission with Loft Orbital in 2022, and hopes to eventually launch an additional 16-satellite constellation, with the capacity to scan the entire globe on a daily basis. The company currently holds contracts with the European Space Agency, U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense.
https://www.hydrosat.com/
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210617005877/en/Hydrosat-Raises-5M-to-Take-on-Climate-Change-from-Space
o Amazon Commits $125 Million Toward Affordable Housing at Metro Stations
Washington, DC -- Online retail giant
Amazon said it will commit $125 million to expedite the development of more than 1,000 new affordable housing units at Metro stations throughout the DC area over the next five years. Amazon, currently developing its second headquarters in Arlington, said the below-market capital will help the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority create housing for moderate- to low-income families, with easy access to jobs, schools, healthcare and education. The funding will be available only to developers who have joint development agreements with Metro, with $25 million reserved for minority-led developers.
https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amazon-and-metro-announce-125-million-commitment-create-1000
o MicroStrategy Holds $3.4 Billion in Bitcoin; $660 Million Gain on Crypto Holdings
Tysons, Va. -- After its latest purchase of bitcoin,
MicroStrategy, the Tysons-based software company that is one of the largest corporate holders of bitcoin, announced that it now holds
105,085 bitcoins -- valued at $3.4 billion, based on afternoon prices. The company recently raised $489 million in a debt offering to buy additional bitcoin. MicroStrategy said the total purchase price of its entire bitcoin holdings now stands at $2.74 billion -- giving it a paper gain of nearly $660 million since embarking on an ambitious crypto currency purchasing campaign. Its total bitcoin paper gains, which once soared to billions of dollars, have been significantly cut over the last month as the price of the crypto currency has sharply dropped. MicroStrategy’s stock price was down 10% in late day trading on Monday as bitcoin prices fell.
https://www.microstrategy.com/en/investor-relations/press/microstrategy-acquires-additional-bitcoins-and-now-holds-over-105000-bitcoins-in-total_06-21-2021
https://www.hope.com/ (MicroStrategy’s website on bitcoin)
o Walmart Invests in Virginia Beach-based DroneUp to Expand "Last-Mile" Options
Virginia Beach, Va. -- Walmart announced that it has invested in
DroneUp, a Virginia Beach-based drone delivery company. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. Walmart partnered with DroneUp last year on a trial used to deliver at-home
COVID self-collection kits by drones. “The trial demonstrated we could offer customers delivery in minutes versus hours,” wrote
John Furner, CEO and president of Walmart U.S., in a posting about the investment. “Now, after safely completing hundreds of drone deliveries from Walmart stores, we’re making an investment in DroneUp to continue our work toward developing a scalable last-mile delivery solution.” In April, Walmart made a similar investment in electric autonomous vehicle company
Cruise.
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/06/17/walmart-invests-in-droneup-the-nationwide-on-demand-drone-delivery-provider
https://www.droneup.com/
