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Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital Leads $34M Series C Investment in Vortexa

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Vortexa (Vortexa), the leading real-time global analytics platform for energy and freight markets, has successfully completed a $34 million Series C funding round. Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital led the funding, with participation from existing investors. The total amount raised by Vortexa now exceeds $60 million, which will be used to accelerate international expansion, technology development, and client service. Vortexa has doubled its valuation since its Series B funding round in 2021 and is near profitability, growing three times faster than the median SaaS business over the last year.
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The $34 million Series C funding round for Vortexa signifies a robust investor confidence in the company's growth potential within the energy and freight analytics market. The oversubscription of this round, despite a challenging fundraising environment, underscores the market's perception of Vortexa as a high-potential player. The company's valuation doubling since its Series B in 2021 and its rapid growth rate, threefold the median SaaS business, indicates a strong performance trajectory. With the energy and freight markets being multi-trillion and multi-billion dollar industries respectively, the demand for real-time decision-making tools is likely to increase, especially given global concerns over energy security, affordability and sustainability.

However, it is crucial to monitor how effectively Vortexa deploys the new capital towards international expansion and technology enhancement. The success of these initiatives will determine the company's ability to capture the 'immense untapped market opportunity' it identifies. Additionally, the involvement of a reputable investor like Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital could provide strategic advantages, including potential partnerships and an expanded network, which may further solidify Vortexa's market position.

The financial injection received by Vortexa is indicative of its capital efficiency and the scalability of its business model. The focus on accelerating international expansion and enhancing technology suggests a strategic use of funds to secure a competitive edge in the analytics market. Investors should note the company's near-profitability status, which is a positive indicator of financial health and operational efficiency. This is particularly noteworthy in a sector where many competitors may be struggling to achieve profitability.

For stakeholders, the long-term benefits could include sustained revenue growth and market share expansion. The potential risks involve the execution of growth strategies in diverse international markets, where regulatory and competitive landscapes can vary significantly. Stakeholders should also consider the broader economic context, as fluctuations in energy prices and freight rates could impact Vortexa's client base and, consequently, its performance.

Vortexa's role in providing analytics for energy traders and other market participants is becoming increasingly critical amidst volatile energy markets and the push for sustainable practices. The ability to offer real-time, precise data is a significant value proposition that can help clients navigate complexities in energy procurement, distribution and consumption. This is particularly relevant as the industry faces transitions towards renewable sources and the need for enhanced data to support this shift.

The strategic investment by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital could also be seen as an endorsement of Vortexa's technological capabilities and its potential to lead in technological innovation within the energy sector. The success of Vortexa's expansion and technology initiatives will likely influence the efficiency and sustainability of global energy flows, which is a key concern for governments, businesses and consumers alike.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vortexa, the leading real-time global analytics platform for energy and freight markets, is excited to announce the successful completion of its $34 million Series C funding round. Investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital spearheaded the funding, with strong participation from existing investors Notion Capital, Monashees, Metaplanet, FJ Labs and Communitas Capital.

The investment, which brings the total amount raised by Vortexa since inception to more than $60 million, will be used to further accelerate the company’s international expansion, state-of-the-art technology and first-class quality of service to its clients and partners.

Commenting on the investment, Fabio Kuhn, CEO of Vortexa, said: “Despite one of the toughest fundraising environments for tech companies in the recent past, this funding round was significantly oversubscribed. Vortexa has doubled its valuation since its Series B funding round in 2021 and, having grown three times faster than the median SaaS business over the last year, is near profitability with an immense untapped market opportunity ahead. It is truly a privilege to partner with Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. We have been extremely impressed with the caliber of the team, who saw past the complexity of the industries Vortexa serves and recognized our unique opportunity to create value and impact globally. I am excited to work with the Expansion Capital team to build the future of the company.”

In the global multitrillion dollar energy and multibillion dollar freight markets, Vortexa helps energy traders, market analysts, charterers and data scientists make high-stake, real-time decisions. The scale, precision and speed of Vortexa’s information and analytics drive greater efficiency in the flows of energy globally, helping society balance its security, affordability and sustainability objectives.

Lincoln Isetta, Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, said: “Vortexa has demonstrated impressive growth and capital efficiency since inception, and we are excited to partner with Fabio and his outstanding team to help take Vortexa to the next level. The increasing complexity of international energy and freight markets is accelerating customer demands for high-quality, real-time data and analytics. Many of the world’s largest and most sophisticated energy and freight market participants trust Vortexa to drive high-impact business decisions and we believe Vortexa is at the forefront of technological leadership in those markets.”

About Vortexa

Vortexa provides market-leading real-time data and advanced analytics for energy and freight markets. With the most accurate and complete picture of global flows, freight and inventories, Vortexa covers crude oil, refined products, LPG and LNG, across all vessel classes. We help traders, analysts and freight professionals gain a competitive edge into complex and opaque markets by making better trading decisions with confidence. Vortexa is a multidisciplinary force of over 120 employees combining the best of energy and freight expertise, data science and engineering across major hubs in London, Singapore, Houston, New York City, Geneva and the UAE.

About Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital

Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital is the growth-focused private investment platform within Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital targets growth equity and credit investments within consumer, technology, healthcare, and other high-growth sectors. For over three decades, Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital has successfully pursued growth investment opportunities and has completed investments in over 200 companies, leveraging the global brand and network of Morgan Stanley.

Vortexa: natasha.adams@vortexa.com

Morgan Stanley: alyson.barnes@morganstanley.com

Source: Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital

FAQ

What is the latest funding round completed by Vortexa?

Vortexa has successfully completed a $34 million Series C funding round.

Who led the funding for Vortexa's latest round?

Investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital spearheaded the funding for Vortexa's latest round.

What is the total amount raised by Vortexa since its inception?

The total amount raised by Vortexa since its inception now exceeds $60 million.

What will the funding be used for?

The funding will be used to accelerate Vortexa's international expansion, technology development, and client service.

How much has Vortexa grown compared to the median SaaS business over the last year?

Vortexa has grown three times faster than the median SaaS business over the last year.

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