Dessa

Toronto, Canada Founded: 2015 • Age: 11 yrs Acquired By Square
Custom solutions based on deep learning are provided by Dessa.
Request Access

About Dessa

Dessa is a company based in Toronto (Canada) founded in 2015 by Stephen Piron, Ragavan Thurairatnam, Vincent F Wong, and Eric Kin-Ho Lee was acquired by Square in February 2020.. Dessa has raised $9 million across 2 funding rounds from investors including Square. The company has 18 employees as of December 31, 2024. Dessa operates in a competitive market with competitors including Element AI, TAZI, Razor Labs, AIATOR and Aptus.AI, among others.

  • Headquarter Toronto, Canada
  • Employees 18 as on 31 Dec, 2024
  • Founders Stephen Piron, Ragavan Thurairatnam, Vincent F Wong, Eric Kin-Ho Lee
  • Sectors
    Technology
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
Operational Areas
Technology → Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $9 M (USD)

    in 2 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $9 M (USD), Series A

    Sep 13, 2017

  • Investors
  • Employee Count
    18

    as on Dec 31, 2024

  • Acquired by
    Square

    (Feb 07, 2020)

Upgrade to premium

Unlock complete access to The Company Check

Get unrestricted viewing across everything we track — from companies and brands to investors, funding rounds, acquisitions, financials, and more.

Upgrade to Premium No viewing limits. Your plan controls exports and screening usage.
Included in your Premium account
  • Unlimited viewing on all profiles Companies, investors, financials, funding, acquisitions & directors
  • Full access to every database India & global coverage, advanced filters and rich profile details
  • Always-on access from your team account Single premium plan for everything you see on the portal

Funding Insights of Dessa

Dessa has successfully raised a total of $9M across 2 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series A round of $9 million completed in September 2017. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 2
  • Last Round Series A — $9.0M
  • First Round
  • Investors Count
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Sep, 2017 Amount Series A - Dessa Valuation

investors

Sep, 2017 Amount Series A - Dessa Valuation

investors

Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in Dessa

Dessa has secured backing from 1 investor, including institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Square. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
POS solutions are provided for retail businesses.
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by Dessa

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016

Financial Statements - Dessa

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Dessa Comparisons

Employees
+
Add Comparison
Available on Premium

Competitors of Dessa

Dessa operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Element AI, TAZI, Razor Labs, AIATOR and Aptus.AI, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Custom AI development solutions are provided for enterprises.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Machine learning services are provided to enterprises by TAZI.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Provider of custom services using artificial intelligence and deep learning technologies
domain founded_year HQ Location
Custom AI solutions are provided using proprietary neural network framework.
domain founded_year HQ Location
AI and deep learning solutions for data analysis are provided.
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Dessa

Frequently Asked Questions about Dessa

When was Dessa founded?

Dessa was founded in 2015 and raised its 1st funding round 2 years after it was founded.

Where is Dessa located?

Dessa is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It is registered at Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Who is the current CEO of Dessa?

Stephen Piron is the current CEO of Dessa. They have also founded this company.

Is Dessa a funded company?

Dessa is a funded company, having raised a total of $9M across 2 funding rounds to date.

How many employees does Dessa have?

As of Dec 31, 2024, the latest employee count at Dessa is 18.

What does Dessa do?

Dessa was established in 2015 in Toronto, Canada, by co-founders Stephen Piron, Ragavan Thurairatnam, Vincent F Wong, and Eric Kin-Ho Lee. Deep learning-based custom solutions are offered within the artificial intelligence sector. Operations focus on tailored implementations for clients across industries. Services encompass development and deployment of AI technologies, with a base in North American geography. Leadership is shared between Piron and Lee as co-CEOs.

Who are the top competitors of Dessa?

Dessa's top competitors include Element AI, AIATOR and Razor Labs.

Who are Dessa's investors?

Dessa has 1 investor. Key investors include Square.

Explore millions of companies — effortlessly

Access structured, verified intelligence on 7M+ companies across industries, sectors, and global markets. From early-stage startups to large enterprises, discover ownership, leadership, funding, financials, acquisitions, and market signals — all in one powerful platform.

Free account with essential features Instant access to company reports Enterprise solutions available