Lucra raises $20M for AI-agnostic loyalty platform

Lucra, an eSports gamification loyalty startup, has secured $20 million in funding led by Cathie Wood's ARK Invest. This significant investment highlights a shift in venture capital, suggesting that companies do not necessarily need to brand themselves as AI-focused to attract substantial investment. The funding round is particularly noteworthy given ARK Invest's previous negative experience with a company in a similar sector. This development on the TechCrunch Equity podcast raises questions about the evolving criteria for startup funding and the continued appeal of loyalty and gamification models.