Investors pump $300 million this year into emerging Dallas-Fort Worth companies

Investors have pumped $300 million so far this year into emerging Dallas-Fort Worth companies, according to data from investment tracking site Crunchbase.

The companies represent a wide range of industries, from financial and health care technology to cancer research and protein snacks.

In the first nine months of 2019, the region recorded 45 deals where investment amounts were disclosed. Crunchbase tallied 17 other deals where investment amounts weren’t disclosed.

A dozen companies attracted investments of $10 million or more, including:

1. Alkami Technology
Digital banking.
Location: Plano.
Founders: Gary Nelson, Sean McElroy, Stephen Bohanon.
Notable: The company has raised over $225 million in capital since its founding in 2009.

2. Spectral MD
Health care technology.
Location: Dallas.
Founders: J. Michael DiMaio.
Notable: The federal agency will dole out payments over the next two years to expand Spectral MD’s proof-of-concept clinical trial that targets burn care assessment in pediatric cases. It previously received $26 million from BARDA from 2013 to 2018 for initial trials.

3. Playful Studios
Game development studio.
Location: McKinney.
Amount raised: $23 million.
Founders: Paul Bettner and Katy Drake Bettner.
Notable: The company is building out several new products, including a platform inspired by video game streaming service Twitch.

4. Payrix
Payments technology.
Location: Frisco.
Amount raised: $22 million.
Founders: Benny Silberstein and Boruch Greenberg.
Notable: Blue Star Innovation Partners is an investment fund led by serial entrepreneurs who back early stage companies alongside the family of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. It’s based at The Star in Frisco.

5. Actuate Therapeutics
Clinical stage pharmaceuticals.
Location: Fort Worth.
Amount raised: $21.7 million.
Founders: Andrew Mazar.
Notable: The funding will pay for clinical trials of cancer-fighting drugs, with patients being recruited at five major medical centers across the U.S.

Stryve Biltong products (Business Wire)

6. Stryve Biltong
Maker of biltong snacks.
Location: Plano.
Amount raised: $16.5 million.
Founders: Joe Oblas.
Notable: This year’s investment is in addition to $10 million the startup landed last year to accelerate manufacturing and brand growth of its high-protein, low-sugar meat snacks.

7. OncoNano Medicine
Health care biotechnology.
Location: Southlake.
Amount raised: $15.4 million
Founders: Ravi Srinivasan.
Notable: The capital infusion from Texas’ cancer-fighting agency will assist in pre-clinical development of a treatment for cancers caused by the human papilloma virus.

8. BaiCells Technologies
Wireless broadband technology.
Location: Plano.
Amount raised: $14.5 million.
Founders: Scott Xingang Liang and Yingzhe Ding.
Notable: Founded in China in 2014, the LTE and 5G equipment manufacturer moved its headquarters to Plano in May 2018.

9. Vinli
Automotive technology.
Location: Dallas.
Amount raised: $13.5 million.
Founders: Mark Haidar and Scott Harper.
Notable: The company is working on software and apps designed to accelerate the rise of connected cars. It previously raised $7 million from investors in 2015

10. ParkHub
Company description: Parking payment systems technology and logistics.
Location: Dallas.
Amount raised: $13 million.
Founders: George Baker Sr.
Notable: The company has won parking management deals for AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the Super Bowl. It’s pioneered the use of sensors in parking garages.

11. Polte
Company description: Cloud-based location tracking alternative to GPS.
Location: Richardson.
Amount raised: $12.5 million.
Founders: Russ Markhovsky.
Notable: It plans to use the new investment to boost commercial and industrial applications of its platform. Polte previously raised $6 million from investors.

12.Neighborhood Goods
Company description: Department store showcasing online brands.
Location: Dallas.
Amount raised: $11 million.
Founders: Matt Alexander and Mark Massinter.
Notable: Launched a year ago in Plano’s Legacy West development, the company is building a store in New York and plans to open another in Austin.

Crunchbase’s data doesn’t include companies that received private equity investment or were sold.