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	<title>investment Archives - Cross-Border Magazine</title>
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		<title>Kord raises £6.4 million to unify onboarding, compliance and payments</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/kord-raises-6-4-million-investment/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 12:45:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cross-border]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-commerce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kord fintech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kord invesment]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[startups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UK]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=13381</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>UK fintech company Kord has raised £6.4 million in Series A funding to expand its platform for customer onboarding, regulatory compliance and payment processing. The round was led by Guinness...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/kord-raises-6-4-million-investment/">Kord raises £6.4 million to unify onboarding, compliance and payments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13.png"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-13382" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/crossbordermagazine-header-13.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">UK fintech company Kord has raised £6.4 million in Series A funding to expand its platform for customer onboarding, regulatory compliance and payment processing.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The round was led by Guinness Ventures, with participation from Beringea, SFC Capital and angel investors. The investment brings Kord’s total funding to approximately £9 million since the company's founding in 2020.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord plans to use the new capital to expand its team, accelerate product development and attract more customers across the property, legal and financial-services sectors.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company is addressing a persistent problem in regulated industries: businesses often rely on several disconnected systems to verify customers, conduct anti-money-laundering checks, manage documents and process payments. Kord aims to bring those processes together within one platform.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What Kord does</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord is a London-based fintech infrastructure company founded by CEO James Owusu. It operates as the business-to-business brand of Checkboard Limited.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Its platform is designed for regulated organizations such as estate agents, law firms, conveyancers, lenders and brokers.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord combines several services that companies would traditionally obtain from different providers, including:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Digital onboarding</li>



<li>Identity verification</li>



<li>Know-your-customer checks</li>



<li>Anti-money-laundering screening</li>



<li>Sanctions monitoring</li>



<li>Source-of-funds verification</li>



<li>Electronic signatures</li>



<li>Client-money accounts</li>



<li>Payment collection</li>



<li>Compliance reporting</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company’s main objective is to integrate customer identity, compliance information, and payment activity into a single workflow.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This can reduce duplicated administration and provide businesses with a clearer record of who the customer is, where the funds came from and how the transaction was processed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why Kord raised £6.4 million</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord intends to use the Series A funding to strengthen its technology and expand across regulated industries. Many companies still use one provider for identity verification, another for compliance checks, a separate platform for documents and an external payment service.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This fragmented approach can create delays, increase costs and make oversight more difficult. Customers may also be required to submit the same information several times as they move between estate agents, mortgage providers, conveyancers and law firms.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord wants to replace this fragmented process with a more coordinated digital transaction system. Rather than offering only an identity-verification tool, the company is developing infrastructure that connects onboarding, compliance decisions and the movement of money.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Connecting compliance and payments</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of Kord’s central ideas is that customer identity and payment activity should not be handled separately. A business may verify a customer successfully during onboarding but use a different platform to receive or distribute funds.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When those systems are disconnected, it can be difficult to maintain a complete view of the transaction. Kord allows businesses to collect customer information, verify identity documents, complete compliance checks, review the source of funds, and manage payments within the same environment.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company also provides digital wallets and client-money accounts for regulated organizations. This integrated model is intended to create a stronger audit trail and reduce manual work. It may also help businesses identify inconsistencies between the person completing the onboarding process and the individual or organization sending the money.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Responding to identity fraud</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fraud prevention is an important part of Kord’s proposition.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Generative AI has made it easier to produce manipulated documents, false images and convincing digital identities. Regulated companies therefore need to compare customer information against multiple data sources.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord says its API-based platform helps businesses verify identity information and detect suspicious discrepancies.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company describes its payment infrastructure as a closed-loop environment in which identity, compliance data and payment activity remain connected.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This approach is designed to reduce risks such as impersonation, payment diversion and account substitution during high-value transactions.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">For regulated businesses, the ability to connect a verified identity directly to the movement of money could become increasingly valuable as digital fraud becomes more sophisticated.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Property transactions are a key market</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The property sector is one of Kord’s main target markets. Buying or selling a property involves several parties, including buyers, sellers, estate agents, lenders, solicitors and conveyancers.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Different organizations may need to complete their own identity, compliance and source-of-funds checks. This can lead to duplication and longer transaction times. Kord wants businesses to complete identity verification, anti-money-laundering screening, document collection and payments through a more coordinated system.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Reducing administrative friction could help transactions move more quickly and lower the risk of delays caused by missing or repeated documentation. However, Kord cannot remove every cause of failed property transactions. Financing problems, broken chains, survey findings and changing customer circumstances also play important roles.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Its value lies in simplifying the compliance and payment stages.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Supporting law firms and conveyancers</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Law firms and conveyancers are another important market segment because they frequently handle large sums of client money. These businesses must verify customer identities, screen for sanctions, establish the source of funds and maintain records of the checks they complete.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord combines these compliance functions with payment processing and client-money accounts. The platform is designed to create a clear record of how funds were received, held and transferred.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is important because compliance involves more than completing a check. A regulated company may need to demonstrate which documents were reviewed, when the review took place, which risks were identified and why a transaction was approved. Kord aims to centralize that information within an audit-ready record.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Investor interest in fintech infrastructure</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord’s funding reflects wider investor interest in fintech companies that provide infrastructure to regulated industries.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Investment is increasingly moving beyond consumer banking applications toward business-to-business services such as:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Identity verification</li>



<li>Regulatory technology</li>



<li>Fraud prevention</li>



<li>Payment infrastructure</li>



<li>Client-money management</li>



<li>Transaction monitoring</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These services are becoming more important as traditionally paper-based sectors adopt digital processes.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Property and legal services still rely heavily on emails, PDF documents, manual checks, bank transfers and disconnected software. Kord is betting that companies will increasingly prefer integrated platforms instead of purchasing multiple separate tools.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A modular platform</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord describes its technology as modular, allowing customers to adopt individual services or combine several functions. A business could use Kord only for identity verification or source-of-funds checks while retaining its existing payment platform.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Another customer could use the full system for onboarding, compliance, client accounts and payments. This flexibility may help Kord serve industries with different requirements.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An estate agent may prioritize identity checks and source-of-funds verification, while a law firm may require detailed compliance records and client-money services. Kord also offers API-based integration, allowing its technology to connect with existing customer management, accounting, and case management systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What comes next for Kord?</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following the Series A round, Kord will focus on product development, recruitment and customer acquisition. Its main challenge will be proving that the platform can scale across different regulated industries while remaining simple to use.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Integration will also be critical. Law firms, financial-services companies and property businesses already depend on specialist software. Kord’s ability to connect with those systems could determine how quickly customers adopt its platform.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company is expanding at a time when regulated businesses face two competing pressures. Customers expect faster and more convenient digital experiences, while regulators require stronger identity checks, fraud controls and record-keeping.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord is attempting to meet both demands by building compliance directly into the transaction process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Building trust into digital transactions</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kord’s £6.4 million Series A is ultimately an investment in digital trust infrastructure.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company is not trying to remove compliance from regulated transactions. It wants to make compliance more connected, efficient and easier to manage.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">By bringing together identity verification, anti-money-laundering checks, source-of-funds analysis, client accounts and payments, Kord is addressing a structural weakness in many regulated industries.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Customer information and customer money are still frequently managed through separate systems.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The new funding gives Kord additional resources to expand its platform and strengthen its position across property, legal and financial services.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As digital fraud becomes more advanced and regulated industries continue to modernize, platforms that connect identity, compliance and payments could become an increasingly important part of Europe’s fintech market.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/kord-raises-6-4-million-investment/">Kord raises £6.4 million to unify onboarding, compliance and payments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>Katana Raises €14 Million to Boost European E-Commerce Manufacturing Tech</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/katana-raises-e14-million/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:53:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cross-border]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-commerce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Estonia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Katana]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=12371</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Estonian software company Katana has secured an additional €14 million as part of its extended Series B funding round. The investment strengthens Katana’s position as one of Europe’s leading platforms...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/katana-raises-e14-million/">Katana Raises €14 Million to Boost European E-Commerce Manufacturing Tech</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801.png"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-12372" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-10-07t185004801.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Estonian software company Katana has secured an additional €14 million as part of its extended Series B funding round. The investment strengthens Katana’s position as one of Europe’s leading platforms for cloud-based manufacturing and inventory management, enabling small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses to streamline their production and operations.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The funding round was led by a consortium of international investors, reinforcing the growing interest in operations and supply chain technology within Europe’s digital commerce ecosystem.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Katana: Empowering small manufacturers and online sellers</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Katana’s platform is designed for SMBs that produce and sell online, offering real-time insights into production, materials, inventory, and order fulfillment. By directly connecting with leading e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, and QuickBooks, Katana enables seamless integration between sales channels and production workflows.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This functionality has become increasingly valuable as European manufacturers adapt to post-pandemic shifts toward direct-to-consumer (DTC) and omnichannel commerce models.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to the company, the new funding will be used to accelerate AI-driven automation features, expand its integration ecosystem, and grow its engineering and data science teams in Tallinn and across Europe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Katana Investors Betting on Operational Intelligence</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While many recent e-commerce investments have targeted marketplaces and logistics providers, Katana’s success illustrates a new focus on back-end enablement — solutions that help e-commerce businesses scale efficiently without losing control of production and inventory.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This strategic direction aligns with broader European trends in 2025:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Growing demand for digital manufacturing tools among SMEs<br></li>



<li>Increased regulatory complexity requiring better supply chain visibility<br></li>



<li>Rising investor confidence in B2B SaaS solutions that enable efficiency rather than pure consumer growth<br></li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The latest funding follows Katana’s previous Series B round, which had already attracted strong interest from both European and US venture capital firms. The extension confirms sustained confidence in the platform’s scalability and revenue potential.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Katana’s role in Europe’s evolving e-commerce landscape</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As European e-commerce grows at around 7% annually, businesses are increasingly seeking solutions that optimize fulfillment, inventory, and production to meet rapidly changing consumer expectations. Katana’s platform addresses precisely this need by bridging the gap between digital storefronts and physical output.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Its approach represents a shift in how e-commerce companies operate — from focusing purely on sales and marketing to integrating intelligent production planning directly into their digital ecosystem.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Outlook: strengthening Europe’s digital manufacturing backbone</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With this latest capital injection, Katana is positioned to play a defining role in the modernization of Europe’s small-scale manufacturing and e-commerce operations. By combining AI-enhanced forecasting, real-time data analytics, and cross-platform connectivity, the company enables thousands of sellers to achieve greater control and profitability.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As investors continue to prioritize resilience and operational transparency, Katana’s funding round signals strong market confidence in intelligent manufacturing software as a cornerstone of Europe’s e-commerce future.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/katana-raises-e14-million/">Katana Raises €14 Million to Boost European E-Commerce Manufacturing Tech</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>Ratio Secures €650,000 to Digitize and Revolutionize Real Estate Investment in Spain</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/ratio-closes-first-funding-round/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 May 2025 08:38:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cross-border]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-commerce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[real state]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=11980</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Ratio, a Spanish real estate promotion and investment solution, has successfully closed a €650,000 funding round. This milestone reinforces Ratio's strategic objective to expand its product capabilities and strengthen its...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/ratio-closes-first-funding-round/">Ratio Secures €650,000 to Digitize and Revolutionize Real Estate Investment in Spain</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639.png"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11981" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/crossbordermagazine-header-2025-05-16t103600639.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ratio, a Spanish real estate promotion and investment solution, has successfully closed a €650,000 funding round. This milestone reinforces Ratio's strategic objective to expand its product capabilities and strengthen its Spanish real estate market footprint.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Public and Private Investors Back Ratio's Disruptive Model</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The funding round is structured in two parts:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>€450,000 in equity investment</strong>, led by experienced business angels from the fintech firm <strong>SeQura</strong>, the real estate agency <strong>Guinot Prunera</strong>, and the private equity firm <strong>Orion Capital Managers</strong>.</li>



<li><strong>€200,000 in a participatory loan</strong> from <strong>Empresa Nacional de Innovación (ENISA)</strong>, a public entity under Spain’s Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Tourism.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This blend of private and public capital empowers Ratio financially and validates its innovative business model and strategic potential in a sector ripe for digital transformation.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The trust placed in us by business angels with extensive backgrounds in fintech, e-commerce, and real estate shows how disruptive our technology is. This capital injection will allow us to accelerate development and optimize every phase of real estate promotion,” said <strong>Nicolás Araujo Müller</strong>, co-founder and CEO of Ratio.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Era in Real Estate Investment</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Founded to streamline and democratize real estate development, Ratio's digital platform offers developers an end-to-end solution to manage their operations and financing processes more efficiently. The technology eliminates unnecessary commissions and bureaucratic delays, allowing projects to reach profitability faster.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In its first year of operation, <strong>Ratio facilitated over €10 million in real estate investments</strong>, with a projected doubling of this figure by 2025. This would place its expected turnover at over <strong>€500,000</strong> by the end of the next fiscal year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Strong Investor Confidence in a Scalable Future</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of Ratio's early backers, <strong>Juan Ignacio Cifre</strong> of Guinot Prunera, expressed strong support: “The real estate sector urgently needs modernization. Ratio is bringing precisely that with its powerful technology, rigorous project vetting, and an innovative solution that benefits both developers and investors.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This investor confidence reflects Ratio’s ability to deliver real value to a traditionally complex and slow-moving industry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ENISA Loan: A Stamp of Institutional Approval</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ratio’s €200,000 participatory loan from <strong>ENISA</strong> is not just financial support—it's also a mark of institutional trust. ENISA’s stringent requirements demand demonstrable innovation, a solid financial structure, and a scalable business model.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The ENISA process reaffirmed our high professional standards and proved that Ratio is well-prepared for long-term growth,” said Araujo.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Expansion Plans for 2025: Madrid and the Balearic Islands</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following a successful 2024—during which <strong>six real estate projects were completed in Barcelona</strong>, involving more than <strong>170 investors from various countries</strong>—Ratio is preparing to expand to other key markets in 2025. These include <strong>Madrid</strong> and the <strong>Balearic Islands</strong>, regions where demand for streamlined, tech-driven real estate solutions is rapidly growing.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/ratio-closes-first-funding-round/">Ratio Secures €650,000 to Digitize and Revolutionize Real Estate Investment in Spain</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>AI Investment in the EU vs USA: Public and Private Dynamics</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/ai-investment-in-the-eu-vs-usa/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jan 2025 09:28:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Insights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI technologies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cross-border]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-commerce]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=11614</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to redefine industries and economies worldwide, driven by substantial investments from both public and private sectors. The European Union (EU) and the United States (USA) are...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/ai-investment-in-the-eu-vs-usa/">AI Investment in the EU vs USA: Public and Private Dynamics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11615" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/crossbordermagazine-header-64.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to redefine industries and economies worldwide, driven by substantial investments from both public and private sectors. The European Union (EU) and the United States (USA) are leading players in this transformative field, but their approaches to funding and fostering AI development reveal significant contrasts. Today, we review the investment landscapes of the EU and USA, examining public initiatives, private contributions, and the interplay between them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Public Investment in AI: EU vs. USA</strong></h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>European Union’s Strategy</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The EU prioritizes a collaborative and regulatory approach to AI, emphasizing ethical AI development and societal impact. Public investment in AI is channeled through frameworks such as the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe Program.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Key Initiatives</strong>:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><em>Horizon Europe</em>: Allocates approximately €95.5 billion (2021-2027) for research and innovation, with a significant focus on AI.</li>



<li><em>AI-on-Demand Platform</em>: Aims to centralize AI resources and expertise to bolster AI adoption across member states.</li>



<li><em>National AI Strategies</em>: Each EU member state contributes additional funding aligned with EU-wide goals, fostering decentralized yet cohesive investment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>United States’ Strategy</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The USA’s public investment in AI reflects its emphasis on competition and innovation. Federal funding is often directed toward defense, healthcare, and academic research.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Key Initiatives</strong>:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><em>National AI Initiative Act</em>: Establishes a coordinated federal strategy for AI investment.</li>



<li><em>Department of Defense (DoD)</em>: Allocates billions annually to AI research for defense applications.</li>



<li><em>National Science Foundation (NSF)</em>: Invests over $500 million annually in AI research.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Comparative Analysis</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While the EU focuses on collaborative and ethical AI, the USA’s strategy is more competitive and sector-specific. The EU’s regulatory-first approach sometimes slows funding deployment compared to the USA’s agile and market-driven investments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Private Sector Investment in AI</strong></h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>European Union</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The private sector in the EU often lags behind the USA in AI funding. Fragmented markets and cautious investment climates contribute to this disparity.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Key Trends</strong>:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Venture capital (VC) investments in AI startups are growing but remain lower than in the USA.</li>



<li>Large multinational firms like SAP and Siemens lead in AI development but focus primarily on industrial and enterprise AI.</li>



<li>The European Investment Fund (EIF) supports VC and private equity firms to stimulate private sector investment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>United States</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The USA’s private sector is a global leader in AI funding, driven by Silicon Valley’s ecosystem and a robust venture capital market.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Key Trends</strong>:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI dominate private AI investments, focusing on cutting-edge technologies.</li>



<li>Venture capital funding exceeded $75 billion in 2023 alone, a figure far surpassing the EU.</li>



<li>Startups in AI enjoy access to diverse funding sources, from accelerators to mega-rounds led by institutional investors.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Comparative Analysis</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Private sector investment in the USA significantly outpaces that in the EU, thanks to a mature venture capital ecosystem and a culture of entrepreneurial risk-taking. In contrast, the EU’s fragmented markets and stricter regulations pose challenges to scaling AI investments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Interplay of Public and Private Investments</strong></h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Synergies in the EU</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The EU’s public investments aim to bridge gaps in private funding, fostering a supportive ecosystem for startups and SMEs. Initiatives like the European Innovation Council (EIC) provide grants and equity investments to high-potential AI projects. However, the regulatory focus sometimes dampens private sector enthusiasm.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Synergies in the USA</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the USA, public funding often acts as a catalyst for private investment. Federal agencies fund foundational research, while private firms commercialize these breakthroughs. The dynamic interplay fosters rapid innovation but can lead to ethical and societal concerns due to limited regulatory oversight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Divergent Paths to AI Leadership</strong></h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The EU and USA exemplify two distinct approaches to AI investment. The EU’s focus on ethics, regulation, and collaboration contrasts with the USA’s emphasis on innovation, competition, and commercialization. These differences reflect broader economic and cultural philosophies and will shape their respective roles in the global AI landscape.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As AI continues to evolve, balancing innovation with ethics and competition with collaboration will be crucial for both regions. Understanding these investment dynamics is key to predicting the trajectory of AI development on both sides of the Atlantic.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/ai-investment-in-the-eu-vs-usa/">AI Investment in the EU vs USA: Public and Private Dynamics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>Tencent announced a $500 million investment in GoTo from Indonesia</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/tencent-500-million-investment-in-indonesia/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:45:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Logistics]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Alibaba Group]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=11474</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Tencent has announced a $500 million investment in Indonesia. These funds will cover the construction of its third data center in the region in a partnership with GoTo Group and...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/tencent-500-million-investment-in-indonesia/">Tencent announced a $500 million investment in GoTo from Indonesia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11475" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/tencentindonesia.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tencent has announced a $500 million investment in Indonesia. These funds will cover the construction of its third data center in the region in a partnership with GoTo Group and Alibaba Group. But more investments are promising to arrive soon in this Southeast Asian country.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Indonesian government wants companies doing business in Indonesia to invest sufficiently. If they do, they may be able to continue to offer some of their products or services. We have already seen this with the ban on iPhone 16 and Pixel sales for lacking the so-called National Component Level Certificate (TKDN).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Multiple media reports have reported that the announcement was made over the weekend during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's state visit to China. Tencent's $500 million is part of a foreign investment package that promises to exceed $10 billion. What will all this money be used for? To boost the cloud computing business.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The idea is that Southeast Asia's largest economy will be able to offer its companies and startups a more solid infrastructure for all kinds of cloud services, including artificial intelligence (AI). This is part of a program known as “Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision,” which seeks to consolidate the industry and services sectors in Indonesia for the country's 100th anniversary of independence.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">GoTo partnership with Tencent&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">GoTo, an Indonesian group, needs to lean on external partners on topics such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure. Chinese companies such as Alibaba and Tencent are expected to capitalize on this need. However, to operate in the country, they have to meet a number of strict requirements that translate into local investment, something that the Indonesian government is pursuing.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The data handled by GoTo and its partners must remain stored in Indonesia. As recently promised, the only way to guarantee this requirement for national data sovereignty is to install more data centers in the country. The government has also succeeded in concluding an agreement to train Indonesian workers on issues related to the “new global digital economy.”</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/tencent-500-million-investment-in-indonesia/">Tencent announced a $500 million investment in GoTo from Indonesia</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>Amazon will invest  $230 million into generative AI startups worldwide</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/amazon-invests-in-ai-startups/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amazon]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[startups]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=11010</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Amazon announced a commitment to invest $230 million (€214.87 million) to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications in startups worldwide. This investment will provide startups, especially early-stage companies, with...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/amazon-invests-in-ai-startups/">Amazon will invest  $230 million into generative AI startups worldwide</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11011" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/amazonaiinvestment.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Amazon announced a commitment to invest $230 million (€214.87 million) to accelerate the creation of generative AI applications in startups worldwide. This investment will provide startups, especially early-stage companies, with AWS credits, mentorship, and education to foster using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Part of this new commitment will fund the second cohort of the AWS Generative AI Accelerator program, which offers hands-on experience and up to $1 million (€934,300) in credits to each of the top 80 early-stage startups using generative AI to solve complex challenges. The AWS Generative AI Accelerator applications are open from June 13 through July 19.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI startups&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Matt Wood, vice president of artificial intelligence products at AWS, highlighted AWS's long history of helping startups build, launch and scale their businesses. Wood states, "It's no coincidence that 96% of all AI/ML unicorns operate on AWS. With this new initiative, we will help startups launch and scale world-class businesses by providing the resources needed to develop new AI applications that will transform how the world learns, connects, and conducts business."</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">AWS credits can be used to access AWS computing, storage, database technologies, and energy-efficient AI chips such as AWS Trainium and AWS Inferentia2. These credits can also be used on Amazon SageMaker. This fully managed service helps companies build and train their own models and access models and tools to create generative AI applications easily and securely through Amazon Bedrock.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The AWS Generative AI Accelerator Program</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The AWS Generative AI Accelerator selects top emerging startups using generative AI to solve complex problems in industries such as financial services, health and life sciences, media and entertainment, business, and climate change. Participants will have access to sessions on ML performance optimization, technology infrastructure improvement, and go-to-market strategies. The 10-week program will pair participants with business and technical mentors based on their industry sector.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/amazon-invests-in-ai-startups/">Amazon will invest  $230 million into generative AI startups worldwide</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>OpenAI aims for a massive $100 billion valuation</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/openai-valuation-100-billion/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Dec 2023 12:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ChatGPT]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=10563</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>OpenAI, the ChatGPT creator, wants to achieve a valuation of $100 billion during its next investment round in 2024.&#160; Currently, the company is still in preliminary talks, with no information...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/openai-valuation-100-billion/">OpenAI aims for a massive $100 billion valuation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-10564" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/openaivaluation.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI, the ChatGPT creator, wants to achieve a valuation of $100 billion during its next investment round in 2024.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Currently, the company is still in preliminary talks, with no information yet on terms, final value and/or timing. If this amount is achieved, the company led by Sam Altman would become the second most valuable startup in the United States, behind Elon Musk's SpaceX.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, OpenAI is about to complete an IPO in early January. This would allow its employees to sell their shares, valued at $86 billion (78,006 million euros). This deal is led by Thrive Capital, which is receiving greater demand from investors than availability.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI is currently an extremely desirable company, and there is no doubt about it. This 2023 has been a reflection of the bet on artificial intelligence and how the launch of ChatGPT has proved to be a real revolution in this field.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So far, Microsoft has allocated 11,791 million euros to the project. For this reason, giants such as Amazon or Alphabet are looking for a competitor to match.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ChatGPT isn’t OpenAI only profitable technology&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">ChatGPT and GPT-4 have garnered much attention, but OpenAI has other text-related products. GPT-3, the previous flagship LLM, is a general text completion model: start a sentence and watch GPT-3 finish it for you.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It sounds simple, but GPT-3 produces much more advanced text than any previous LLM. In addition, it can be tailored to specific examples, which is impossible with ChatGPT and GPT-4.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI is also working alongside G42 with the goal of raising funds for a new chip company. It is not yet clear whether the funding for the two projects is related, but for now, OpenAI expects to raise between $8 billion and $10 billion (€7.256 - €9.07 billion) from G42.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/openai-valuation-100-billion/">OpenAI aims for a massive $100 billion valuation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>Shein aims for a 90 billion dollar valuation for its possible IPO</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/shein-ipo-90-billion/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Nov 2023 18:28:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Fashion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[SHEIN]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=10417</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Shein aims for a 90 billion dollar valuation for its possible IPO in the United States. As reported by Bloomberg, the company has told potential investors that it aims to...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/shein-ipo-90-billion/">Shein aims for a 90 billion dollar valuation for its possible IPO</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-10418" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ipo-shein.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shein aims for a 90 billion dollar valuation for its possible IPO in the United States. As reported by Bloomberg, the company has told potential investors that it aims to reach that value by launching an initial public offering (IPO).</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The valuation price is above the $64 billion given in an investment round that took place last January. Despite this, it remained a figure below $100 billion (in April) and became the third most valuable startup in the world.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Since then, its position has declined along with that of other startups and companies in the technology sector. This is due to investor uncertainty about the economic outlook and higher interest rates.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If the IPO is successful, it would be one of the largest globally and an opportunity to test the appetite of U.S. investors for Chinese companies amid the current state of capital markets and geopolitical tensions.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, this is not the first time Shein has tried to go public. In 2020, they were going to leap, but it was postponed due to the unpredictability of the markets amid growing tensions between the US and China.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shein is causing ripples in the fashion market</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Since Shein started its aggressive 2023 campaign to position itself as the leading ultra-low-cost fashion brand globally, the remaining fashion brands have struggled to keep pace and are pushing towards a more aggressive approach to fight back.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zara is one of the most aggressive, with a logo renewed in 2019 by Fabien Baron, multiple new online functionalities, and the international launch of Zara Pre-owned as a way to target the same economic demographic that Shein is.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Mango has also climbed up the pyramid through collaborations and with its own lines, such as Selection (with noble raw materials and prices that reach 300 euros) and Beyond (launched this month and where the maximum price is 999 euros for a fur coat).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/shein-ipo-90-billion/">Shein aims for a 90 billion dollar valuation for its possible IPO</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>OpenAI aims to achieve a valuation of up to $90 billion</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/openai-valuation-over-90-billion/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Sep 2023 11:59:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AI tools]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[OpenAI]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=10278</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>OpenAI - the company that created ChatGPT - aims for a valuation of up to $90 billion, specifically, according to The Wall Street Journal. Currently, the firm is seeking investors...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/openai-valuation-over-90-billion/">OpenAI aims to achieve a valuation of up to $90 billion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-10279" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/openai-valuation.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI - the company that created ChatGPT - aims for a valuation of up to $90 billion, specifically, according to The Wall Street Journal. Currently, the firm is seeking investors for a stock placement in which it sets a benchmark valuation between $80 billion and $90 billion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The newspaper underlines that the shares to be placed would come from those held by OpenAI employees. This would point to significant benefits for Microsoft, which controls 49% of the capital and agreed to an investment in OpenAI last January with a reference valuation of around $30 billion.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to TWSJ, the company has conveyed to potential investors that it expects to generate revenues of about $1 billion this 2023 and several billion in 2024.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The stock sale deal would amount to several hundred million dollars from minority employee stakes. The valuation would make OpenAI one of the most valuable unlisted technology companies in the world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OpenAI value was raised by Microsoft&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Recently Microsoft made a&nbsp; “multiyear, multibillion-dollar” investment in OpenAI valued at over $10 billion.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Microsoft had already invested more than $3 billion in OpenAI, and the new deal reinforced Microsoft's public stand regarding AI implementation. So far, the company created by Bill Gates truly believes that AI companions and AI tools will be an integral part of our near future.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In fact, in this same spirit, Microsoft has recently announced the launch of the Copilot AI ecosystem. A full-fledged network of solutions all controlled by the same AI assistant - the eponymous Copilot. The first of these solutions was already presented under the name of Microsoft 365 Chat, aiming at providing support to Microsoft suite users.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/openai-valuation-over-90-billion/">OpenAI aims to achieve a valuation of up to $90 billion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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		<title>Taclia gets over €6 million investment from Cusp Capital</title>
		<link>https://cross-border-magazine.com/taclia-gets-6-million-euros/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Frank Calviño]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 May 2023 11:20:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cross-border]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-commerce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fintech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[technology]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://cross-border-magazine.com/?p=9891</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Taclia announced its successful investment round of over €6 million from Cusp Capital and Stage 2 Capital. The startup in Barcelona offers small and medium-sized businesses a free management platform...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/taclia-gets-6-million-euros/">Taclia gets over €6 million investment from Cusp Capital</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-9892" srcset="https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment-300x169.png 300w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment-768x432.png 768w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment-780x439.png 780w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment-1190x669.png 1190w, https://cross-border-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tacliainvestment.png 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Taclia announced its successful investment round of over €6 million from Cusp Capital and Stage 2 Capital. The startup in Barcelona offers small and medium-sized businesses a free management platform to simplify their daily processes. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What makes Taclia unique is that the platform combines functionalities that cover essential business operations, such as service and appointment scheduling, customer tracking, budget and invoice creation, real-time employee location, and time and attendance tracking. The tool helps its ever-growing customer base to digitize their businesses by simplifying tasks, improving productivity, and increasing efficiency.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Winning over an average of 500 new customers per week, Taclia has quickly become one of the fastest-growing management software programs. Product-led growth drives customer engagement and value without needing a salesperson. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Taclia aims to become a global service</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Alex Casals, founder and CEO of Taclia, is grateful to have obtained the backing of the renowned investors: "Cusp Capital and Stage 2 Capital have identified Taclia's strong potential, which encourages us to keep working to make our platform the perfect ally for businesses, easy to use and fully customizable." Taclia plans to use the newly obtained financial means to improve the product further, grow its team, and scale worldwide.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Backed by Cusp Capital and Stage 2 Capital: both funds see great potential for Taclia. Cusp Capital, is a German investment fund known for investing in companies such as Zalando, Delivery Hero, and Klarna, has turned its attention to Taclia.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Maximilian Rowoldt, Cusp Capital investor, is excited to accompany Taclia on its journey to become the ultimate global technology solution for business: "At Cusp Capital, we are convinced that software solutions covering all essential business functions will revolutionize business. By using Taclia, companies can operate at new levels of speed and cost and address challenges such as labor shortages through greater efficiency."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Barcelona, a start-up heaven&nbsp;</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">There are currently around 1,900 'startups' in Catalonia, with most of them concentrated in Barcelona and following a growth of almost 75% since 2016, according to the Barcelona and Catalonia Startup Hub. The autonomous capital has a deep-rooted tradition in these companies, within the health technology sector, and is boosted by grants from the Catalan government and its universities.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Barcelona's startup network has been diversifying into other sectors, such as mobility and sustainability, thanks to the support and capital provided by numerous investors. At the same time, the city has experienced the arrival of several fintech (financial technology) companies from London, tempted by the better post-Brexit banking conditions, the good weather, or the lower cost of living.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com/taclia-gets-6-million-euros/">Taclia gets over €6 million investment from Cusp Capital</a> appeared first on <a href="https://cross-border-magazine.com">Cross-Border Magazine</a>.</p>
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