Vroom launches VR showroom
Buying cars online may seem risky, but getting a look at the vehicles in immersive virtual reality could help accelerate growth of online car retailer Vroom. The new experience is launching in a series of pop-up shops soon, allowing users to explore a range a pre-owned options even if the cars aren’t physically nearby. [New York Business Journal]
Spot.IM scores $13M Series A
Spot.IM, a social engagement platform that’s disrupting the digital publishing industry, announced it has closed a $13 million Series A. The round was led by Index Ventures and AltaIR Capital, with additional investments from Norma Investments Limited, M&C Saatchi Mobile CEO, James Hilton, Wix co-founder and CEO, Avishai Abrahami, Wix co-founder and CTO, Giora Kaplan, Wix President and COO, Nir Zohar, Brian Bedol and Ran Tushia. [Built In NYC]
Etsy stock rallies with Q2 sales growth
Etsy had a stellar quarter, with merchant sales topping $669.7 million. The news came after two days of strong stock performance and a new buy rating from Citigroup, showing that the e-commerce site is holding its own despite Amazon moving in on its business. [TechCrunch]
Axial scores $14M to help businesses find buyers
Mergers and acquisitions are big business, and Axial wants to help facilitate that business. The company announced this week it raised $14 million from Edison Partners, Comcast Ventures, First Round and Redpoint Ventures, helping it to clarify the world of private capital. [New York Business Journal]
Shoppable bags $3.5M Series A
Shoppable wants to bring new retailers into its universal shopping cart platform, and it announced this week it raised $3.5 million to help achieve that goal. The company already has 200 companies in its system, with 100 more waiting to get on. [Built In NYC]
Verge founder outlines next project
Joshua Topolsky announced his latest project this week, a digital media startup called The Outline. The Verge founder and former Bloomberg digital editor is billing the site as a technology startup more than a content platform and plans to forgo social-driven traffic. He has raised $5 million for his new project. [Built In NYC]
NYC hires new chief digital officer
New York City is bringing on former Metropolitan Museum of Art and Columbia University digital leader Sree Sreenivasa as the city’s chief digital officer. His new role will have him heading up the Office of Digital Strategy, where he will engage the public via technology. The new post comes two months after Sreenivasa stepped down from the Met amid cost-cutting measures. [ARTnews]
Zype raises another $2M for video platform
Video platform provider Zype raised $2 million this week, building its seed round to a total of $3.6 million. The company, which give media organizations tools to distribute and track video, is being backed by Point Nine Capital, Alpine Meridian Ventures, Berlin Ventures, Entrepreneurs Investment Fund and Terrapin Bale Ventures. [TechCrunch]
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