Discover the latest trends in global monthly funding data, with a unique focus on companies’ domain name choices, in our monthly funding reports.
Overview
The fundraising landscape in 2023 has experienced a shift as economic conditions and market dynamics have impacted VC activity. In the first quarter of the year, VC activity dropped across all stages and sectors, with angel and seed rounds experiencing a significant decline compared to the previous year.
While Pre-seed funding in May saw an increase in the number of deals, with 29 deals in May compared to 19 in April, there was a slight decrease in the amount raised. Seed Round funding remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in the amount raised. Series A, B, and C funding rounds experienced a decrease in both the number of deals and the amount raised. However, Series D showed significant growth in both the number of deals and the amount raised, indicating a positive trend in this round. The funding landscape in May showcased a mixed picture,, with some rounds experiencing growth while others saw a decline and highlighted investor confidence in early-stage funding rounds.
| Round | Amount May (USD) | Number deals may | Amount April (USD) | Number deals April |
| Pre-seed funding | $63,463,000 | 29 | $44,420,000 | 19 |
| Seed Round | $975,498,215 | 160 | $805,839,000 | 176 |
| Series A | $2,302,950,000 | 98 | $7,614,650,000 | 136 |
| Series B | $2,135,220,000 | 58 | $3,240,750,000 | 69 |
| Series C | $1,481,700,000 | 22 | $1,608,500,000 | 20 |
| Series D | $1,890,800,000 | 19 | $837,000,000 | 8 |
| Series E | $315,000,000 | 4 | $4,948,050,000 | 53 |
| Other | $11,716,570,000 | 110 | $19,549,209,000 | 42 |
| Total | $20,881,201,215 | 500 | $24,710,239,000 | 523 |
By funds raised/ Total funding $20,881,201,215
By number of deals/Total number of deals 500
In May 2023, the sectors that received significant investments include E-Commerce, Financial Services, and FinTech, demonstrating the continued growth and importance of the digital economy. Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Machine Learning also attracted substantial funding, highlighting the ongoing advancements in advanced technologies. Biotechnology, Health Care, Cloud Computing, Transportation, and Clean Energy were also prominent sectors in terms of the highest funding rounds this month.
Namepicks
Anthropic
Anthropic is an AI startup that continues to make waves in the industry with its impressive fundraising efforts. After securing $300 million at $4.1 billion Valuation round last month, led by Spark Capital, with participation from major players like Google, Anthropic is once again in the spotlight. This follows their previous successful funding rounds, including a $124 million Series A and a $580 million Series B.
Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, is currently in closed beta mode, but according to a paper outlining its objectives, it is designed to address harmful prompts by providing explanations on why they are considered dangerous or misguided.
The choice of a short and memorable domain name, especially a common dictionary term like “anthropic,” is a crucial step in establishing a strong global brand presence. This company decision to invested in the exact brand match domain name Anthropic.com aligns with the overarching trend observed in our list, where AI companies prioritize the use of such domain names to build trust, credibility, and gain a competitive advantage. By securing an exact brand match domain name, Anthropic demonstrates its commitment to its brand and facilitates customer engagement by ensuring easy discoverability and memorability.
Restaurant365
Under the leadership of CEO Tony Smith, Restaurant365 specialises in providing cloud-based solutions tailored for the restaurant industry. Their comprehensive software suite encompasses accounting, inventory management, scheduling, payroll, and HR functionalities, streamlining day-to-day operations for restaurant operators. With over 40,000 restaurants placing their trust in Restaurant365’s back-office software, the company enables businesses to optimize food costs, enhance labor management, and drive profitability.
Recently, Restaurant365 successfully raised $135 million in funding, propelling its valuation to surpass $1 billion. This significant round of funding was co-led by KKR and L Catterton, with participation from existing investors like ICONIQ Growth and Bessemer Venture Partners. The infusion of capital will be directed towards further enhancing their product suites, ensuring that Restaurant365’s Accounting, Store Operations, Workforce, and Intelligence solutions continue to meet the evolving needs of the dynamic restaurant industry. The company also aims to expand its market share and solidify its position as a leading provider of innovative solutions for restaurant management.
The number “365” incorporated into the brand name, signifies the company’s dedication to supporting restaurants every day of the year, offering a holistic approach to address their operational needs. The name suggests a continuous and reliable partnership with restaurants, emphasizing the availability and reliability of Restaurant365’s software solutions.
Numbers can make a domain name stand out and easier to remember, enhancing its overall memorability. However, it’s important to carefully consider the placement of numbers as they can potentially make the spelling and pronunciation more challenging. It is recommended to use numbers if they align with the brand and serve a clear purpose like in the case of Resaturant365 its EBM domain name Restaurant365.com.
Strive Health
Strive Health has revolutionised the healthcare landscape by combining technology-enabled care interventions and seamless integration with local providers. This innovative approach has created an integrated care delivery system that supports patients throughout their journey from chronic kidney disease to end-stage kidney disease. Since its launch in April 2020 with an initial group of 700 patients in St. Louis, Strive Health has made remarkable strides. Through its value-based care model, the company has achieved impressive outcomes, including a remarkable reduction of over 20% in the total cost of kidney care and a significant 42% reduction in hospitalizations. Today, Strive Health manages an annual medical spending of over $2.5 billion and has expanded its reach to serve 80,000 patients across 30 states, supported by a dedicated team of 550 employees. The company has also formed partnerships with over 600 nephrology providers in 10 states, further enhancing its comprehensive approach to combatting chronic kidney disease. To fuel its ongoing efforts in this critical field, Strive Health has secured a substantial funding round of $166 million. This investment will enable the company to continue its impactful work in combating chronic kidney disease and advancing the well-being of patients.
Since our founding, we’ve strongly believed that we must meaningfully change the standard of kidney care so people with kidney disease can have better access to care regardless of their socioeconomic background. With the help of our investor partners, this capital raise will propel us further along in our journey to transform kidney care.
Chris Riopelle, CEO and co-founder of Strive, in a press release
The name “Strive Health” reflects the company’s commitment to actively and persistently pursue better health outcomes for individuals affected by chronic kidney disease. By emphasizing the concept of “striving,” the company conveys its dedication to continuously improving and striving for excellence in healthcare. The word “Health” in the name highlights the company’s focus on promoting and enhancing overall well-being. The combination of these words creates a powerful and compelling brand identity that resonates with the company’s mission and vision to drive positive change in the healthcare industry
Strive Health’s choice to invest in the exact brand match domain StriveHealth.com demonstrates their commitment to building a strong and cohesive brand identity, as seen in our research on Health Tech companies and their domain name choices.
Zageno
Zageno, an online marketplace for life science research products based in Cambridge, MA, has raised $33 million in funding. The funding round was led by General Catalyst, Grazia Equity, and OakRidge Management Group, with participation from existing investors Capnamic Ventures and HighSage Ventures. The company plans to utilize the funds to expand its operations and reach in the market. Under the leadership of CEO Florian Wegener, Zageno offers a comprehensive marketplace for life science research products and services, providing scientists with access to laboratory equipment, consumables, chemicals, antibodies, and customized solutions. The platform’s advanced search functionality, transparent pricing, extensive catalog, and dedicated customer support simplify the research workflow and empower scientists to focus on their discoveries.
Set yourself a stretch goal. As you confidence grows so should your ambition. You may decide that you want to bring some media attention to yourself and your brand by pitching an idea to a journalist or submitting your company for a speaking opportunity or industry award. While these can be very hard to achieve they will help you suppress and mitigate feelings of inferiority.
Dr. Florian Wegener CEO of Zageno for Medium.com
The name “Zageno” has a modern and tech-savvy sound, aligning with the online marketplace nature of the company. The use of the term “geno” could be associated with genetics or genomics, which are fundamental areas in life science research.
CV repeating domain names like Zageno.com have a unique rhythm and symmetry that make them highly memorable and visually appealing. Zageno’s choice of Exact Brand Match domain name reinforces their position as a leading online marketplace for life science research products.
River
River, a Bitcoin technology and financial services company, provides a comprehensive range of services for individuals and businesses in the Bitcoin ecosystem. These services include a zero-fee dollar-cost averaging brokerage, mining solutions, full-reserve custody, and a versatile wallet that supports both on-chain and Lightning Network transactions. The Lightning Network, a scaling solution for Bitcoin, enables faster transaction speeds and lower fees by settling transactions off-chain. In addition, River introduced River Lightning, an API that facilitates seamless integration of applications with the Lightning Network. The company recently secured $35 million in a Series B funding round led by investment firm Kingsway Capital, with notable participation from billionaire investor Peter Thiel. This substantial investment demonstrates the growing confidence in River’s innovative approach to Bitcoin-related services and their potential for continued growth and success.
The choice of the brand name “River” for the Bitcoin technology and financial services company reflects its dynamic and fluid nature, mirroring the movement and transformative power of digital currencies. Premium domain names like River.com have the advantage of attracting curious visitors and generating organic traffic, as they are often associated with reputable and sought-after destinations on the web. With thousands of visitors potentially exploring the site each year, River.com offers an opportunity to engage and captivate a wider audience interested in the company’s offerings.
Highlights
The majority of companies (351 out of 500) opted for the popular “.com” domain extension, which has long been associated with credibility and trust in the online world.
The “.io” extension was chosen by 30 companies, which is commonly used by technology and software startups, giving them a modern and tech-savvy image.
The “.ai” extension, associated with artificial intelligence, was selected by 28 companies, reflecting the prevalence of AI-related businesses. Country domain codes offer more freedom of choice but come with certain risks for businesses.
20 companies chose the “.co” extension, often seen as an alternative to “.com” for startups and entrepreneurs. Other less popular domain extensions, including “.xyz,” were chosen by a smaller number of companies (10 in this case).
258 companies made the strategic decision to utilise exact brand match domains (EBMs), aligning their domain names precisely with their brand names to establish a strong online presence and enhance brand recognition.
There were 21 companies that incorporated a dash (“-“) in their domain names, which can sometimes make the domain name harder to remember and create confusion.
While we make every effort to ensure the data on our site is accurate, complete, and up-to-date, we cannot guarantee its reliability. Our data is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, or other advice. We strongly recommend that you independently verify any information before relying on it.
- Monthly Funding Report: April 2023 Funded Startups and Their Domain Name Choices
- The Art of Branding: Lessons from David Aaker, the Father of Modern Branding
- Is It Worth Paying for a Premium Domain Name?
- What Makes Premium Domain Names Strategic Assets?
When it comes to premium domain names, it’s important to weigh the potential loss in terms of brand recognition and revenue against the cost of the investment. In the long run, a premium domain name can be a valuable asset for your business. Contact us to learn more about our premium domain options and how they can help your business succeed.
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