Spring is here, and so are some fascinating startup deals that raised significant funding in March. From robotic massages to solutions for pet-friendly rentals, as well as health and climate-focused innovations, let’s explore the standout startups that caught our attention.

Robotic Relaxation
While we often highlight smaller funding rounds, some big deals deserve a mention, especially when they involve innovative ideas.

Robotics is a popular sector for investment, but typically, the focus is on robots for warehouses or dangerous tasks. New York-based Aescape, however, is doing something different. The company, a “lifestyle robotics” firm, has developed AI-powered robots designed to provide relaxing massages.

Aescape raised $83 million in a funding round led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from NBA Champion Kevin Love. The startup launched last year with fitness and luxury brand Equinox, offering its services at select New York City locations. Now, Equinox plans to expand the partnership to 60 locations nationwide, helping people recover from workouts with robotic massage therapy.

Pet-Friendly Rentals
Finding rental housing that allows pets can be a challenge for pet owners, but PetScreening has created a solution. This North Carolina-based startup raised $80 million in Series B funding to develop the first pet policy management platform for the rental housing industry.

PetScreening’s platform enables renters to share information about their pets, while helping property owners enforce fair and consistent pet policies. By evaluating factors such as breed, weight, and age, property owners can make informed decisions about pet-friendly policies, rather than applying one-size-fits-all rules. The platform now serves more than 7 million rental units and has introduced a free service for lost pets, FidoAlert for dogs and TabbyAlert for cats.

Stroke Diagnosis Innovation
With 795,000 strokes occurring annually in the U.S., accurate diagnosis is critical. Brainomix, a spinoff from the University of Oxford, raised $18 million in Series C funding to improve stroke diagnosis with its Brainomix 360 Stroke platform. This technology automates imaging biomarkers to enhance diagnosis and treatment decisions, already in use in over 300 hospitals across 20 countries.

The platform has increased the number of patients receiving mechanical thrombectomy—a stroke treatment that reduces disability—by 50%. Brainomix plans to use the new funds to expand its presence in the U.S. and continue its work in lung fibrosis with the Brainomix 360 e-Lung platform.

Dual Solutions for Climate and Water
Capture6, a startup focused on both carbon removal and water recovery, raised $27.5 million in Series A funding. Based in Berkeley, California, the company developed a system that turns waste brine—a byproduct of various industries—into a solvent that captures carbon dioxide and recovers freshwater.

As freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, Capture6’s technology could play a critical role in addressing both climate change and water scarcity. The company has partnered with the Palmdale Water District in Southern California to eliminate up to 100 acres of brine ponds, and the new funding will help further expand its carbon and water recovery projects.

Reducing Kitchen Waste
In the foodservice industry, waste is a significant issue. Topanga.io, a Los Angeles-based startup, raised $8 million in Series A funding to develop an AI-powered platform designed to reduce food waste. The platform includes an AI-driven smart scale to measure food waste, reduce overproduction by 70%, and provide insights for menu planning.

With more than 430 kitchens already using the platform, Topanga.io aims to scale its solution across the foodservice, healthcare, and hospitality industries. The company claims that foodservice operators in the U.S. lose more than $27 billion annually due to overproduction and waste.

These March startup deals highlight innovative solutions across various sectors, from health and wellness to climate change and sustainability. Keep an eye on these companies as they continue to make waves in their respective industries.