Deck, a startup automating data collection, has raised US$12 million in a series A funding round led by Infinity Ventures.

This investment increases the company’s total funding to US$16.5 million since its founding in January 2024.

The company focuses on simplifying user-permissioned data access across the internet. Its browser-based data agents “unlock” the data from any website through automation.

The new funding will help Deck further develop its platform. It will also enhance its capabilities in automating data access.

🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Data-scraping startups navigate regulatory complexity

Deck’s launch coincides with a significant shift in the privacy regulatory landscape, with eight U.S. states implementing new data privacy laws in 2025 alone.

These new regulations create varying requirements for user consent and data access across states. For example, Delaware requires disclosure of specific third parties receiving data, while Maryland prohibits the sale of sensitive personal information entirely.

Deck’s emphasis on “explicit user consent” appears strategically positioned to navigate these evolving regulations, potentially turning a compliance challenge into a competitive advantage.

The founders acknowledge their technology “may hypothetically be violating some terms and conditions” while arguing they follow the “open data international trend,” highlighting the legal gray areas data access startups must navigate.

2️⃣ Second-time founders leverage experience in regulated data spaces

Deck’s founding team previously built Flinks, described as the “Plaid for Canada,” which was acquired by National Bank of Canada for approximately US$140 million in 2021.

The founders’ experience navigating financial data regulations likely provided valuable insights for handling complex user-permissioned data in other sectors, especially as regulations continue to evolve across industries.

Their rapid scaling to connect with over 100,000 utility providers across 40+ countries demonstrates how previous domain expertise can accelerate execution in related sectors.

3️⃣ API infrastructure investment follows open banking’s playbook