The Pacific Northwest’s hardware scene often gets overlooked due to the booming software industry, but startups and big companies alike make the region an under-the-radar hotspot for gadgets.

Maka Autonomous Robots (Maka-ARS) closed a $8.9 million investment round from Seattle-area firm Ignition Partners and San Francisco-based Bolt in September.

Restaurant owners pay a regular fee in return for the system and ongoing maintenance as well as software and hardware updates.

Last year, RealWear raised an $80 million Series B debt and equity round, bringing its total funding to $100 million.

If interested in sponsoring a category or another component of the GeekWire Awards, please contact us at [email protected]. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583517606.4282334/Vote-for-the-Pacific-Northwest’s-top-hardware-innovation-at-the-GeekWire-Awards?ref=audio_experience

Sparta Science, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based company that applies data and technology in pursuit of human resilience, raised $16m in Series B funding.

The round – which brought total capital raised to date to approximately $26m – was led by GSR Ventures U.S., with participation from Arsenal Growth, and existing investors.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its science and engineering teams, further research, and accelerate the deployment of the Sparta System globally, to include health systems, hospital networks, and corporations focused on improving the personal health of their employees.

Led by Dr. Phil Wagner, Founder and CEO, Sparta Science provides a musculoskeletal health assessment tool used by hundreds of clients, including collegiate and professional sports teams, personal health organizations, and government and military organizations.

Using evidence-based movement assessments and data-driven exercise prescriptions, the system increases resilience, minimize injury risk and speed efficient rehabilitation to physical activity. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583515908.309733/Sparta-Science-Secures-$16M-in-Series-B-Funding?ref=audio_experience

In Canopy's announcement of the closures, the company said it no longer plans to bring a third greenhouse in Ontario online, and that it will shift its resources to growing cannabis outdoors, which is much cheaper.

As more countries around the world weigh friendlier cannabis policies, it's likely that we'll see cannabis growing shift to warmer climates - where the plants can grow outdoors, much like any other crop.

Yeji and I listened in on Viridian's webinar yesterday, where the firm's president, Scott Greiper, predicted that "SPACs will become the most aggressive buyers in the cannabis industry."

He's probably correct, given that cannabis SPACs have raised over $1.5 billion in the last few months, as other sources of capital have dried up.

Canadian cannabis company Organigram Holdings has appointed Derrick West as the company's CFO. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583514006.131467/CULTIVATED:-Layoffs-at-Greenlane-Holdings,-big-law-is-coming-for-cannabis,-and-more?ref=audio_experience

Or a company that uses an intermediary to hire contractors on a self-employed basis?

If so, you’re no doubt aware that HMRC is introducing major reforms to its IR35 anti-tax avoidance legislation on 6 April 2020.

Currently, contractors are responsible for determining whether the nature of their working relationship with a client constitutes a contract of employment.

The incoming IR35 off-payroll rules will make large companies responsible for that decision, and for deducting tax accordingly.

Well, the concern is that, rather than burden themselves with additional responsibilities and potential tax liabilities, large companies could terminate their engagements with contractors, or force them to go on payroll. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583512206.3231554/How-will-IR35-and-the-off-payroll-rules?-Startups.co.uk?ref=audio_experience

Presented by Envestnet | YodleePersonalized insights and superior customer experiences are now the norm in the financial services industry.

For key findings from the most recent Forrester report on customer advocacy in the financial services sector, register now for this VB Live event!

Customer advocacy starts with providing superior customer experiences that are effective, frictionless, and at the end has customers walking away feeling good.

But there’s a big difference between just delivering good customer experiences and actually putting customer needs first.

Trust has been hard to earn in the financial services sector, ever since the global financial crisis. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583510405.5422971/Driving-customer-engagement-with-personalized-financial-experiences-(VB-Live)?ref=audio_experience

Mailprotector Raises $5M in Series A Back to HomeGREENVILLE, SC, Mailprotector has raised $5 million in growth equity funding from Ballast Point Ventures.

Mailprotector, a Greenville, SC-based cybersecurity company, raised $5 million in growth equity funding from Ballast Point Ventures.

"Mailprotector is dedicated to empowering our channel partners with highly valued services and profitable recurring revenue streams," said David Setzer, Mailprotector founder & CEO.

"We were thrilled to find in Ballast Point a firm that aligns with our channel partner commitment and one who respects our stewardship responsibilities in those relationships."

Products include inbound and outbound email security, email continuity, email archiving, email encryption, and business-class hosted email solutions. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583508606.8770514/Mailprotector-Raises-$5M-in-Series-A?ref=audio_experience

These are the reasons why the quality of your web design can make or break your business.

However, if the web design is messy and difficult to understand, you might lose an opportunity to close a deal.

If you don’t have a good site, you can’t make these announcements.

Your web design shows your business’ stabilityYou won’t dare run a website if you’re not confident with what you have to offer.

If you still don’t take web design seriously, you have to change your views. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583506806.1043494/Reasons-why-web-design-can-make-or-break-your-business?ref=audio_experience

Five are a UK startup who have worked very hard to develop their own self-driving software.

Self-driving cars really are the future but in order for them to take over the market, two things need to be properly put in place.

There needs to be a reliable technology to program the cars, and a means to measure how safe that technology is.

AI and the tech industryAI is playing a huge role in the development of self-driving cars.

Five are working on a self-driving system but they are also trying to build a cloud-based development process too. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583505007.0798364/Five-–-A-UK-startup-have-raised-$41-million-for-safe-self-driving-software?ref=audio_experience

According to the Era of Fintech Rising report by Razorpay, 2019 was the year of the fintech industry in India.

And what’s a better way than hackathons to get the community together to build innovative fintech solutions?

The first prize winner will take home Rs 5 lakhs, followed by Rs 3 lakhs each for the second and third prize winners.

The first prize winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs while the second prize winner will get Rs 5 lakhs.

Shortlisted teams in the finals will also get global visibility through an opportunity to present their prototypes to big corporates and digital payment leaders. | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583503219.750704/Fintech-enthusiasts!-Participate-in-the-realme-PaySa-UPI-Hackathon-and-India-Finclusion-Challenge-to-solve-India’s-biggest-financial-challenges?ref=audio_experience

Since 2018 the international gaming event, ICE Africa, is held early in October attracting more than 1500 visitors.

Being the only pan-African gaming event, ICE Africa is an important platform for anyone within the gaming industry, from start-ups to established operators.

Among the speakers we find more than 60 of the worlds most influential leaders within the global gaming industry, a strong indicator of the importance of the role Africa plays in the growth of the gaming industry.

Sports betting, land casinos, online casinos and lotteries are the main gambling activities on the territory of this country.

While most of the major gaming industry events are very expensive to attend, ICE Africa is completely free! | To read full story, visit https://startuparound.com/read/1583501406.969491/Africa’s-growing-gaming-ecosystem?ref=audio_experience