AAA July 2012 – Page 3

Month: July 2012

3M heats up 7AC

The corporate venturing unit of US-based industrial company 3M has backed US-based ventilation, air conditioning and heating company 7AC Technologies. 3M New Ventures invested an undisclosed sum in 7AC on July 20. A March filing with US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission shows 7AC raised $2.4m of a planned $2.5m round. Last year 7AC… Continue reading 3M heats up 7AC

O’Reilly links with Bitly

O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of US-based media company O’Reilly Media, has helped Bit.ly, a US-based URL shortening company, raise $15m. The round was led by venture firm Khosla Ventures and also included RRE Ventures. In 2010 Bitly raised $10m in a series B round, which was also backed by AOL’s corporate venturing… Continue reading O’Reilly links with Bitly

Redpoint e.Ventures raises $130m

Founding partners Yann de Vries, ex-Cisco corporate development, and Anderson Thees, formerly chief executive of Brazil-based search engine Apontador, are managing the Brazil-focused fund, which has invested in portfolio companies Viajanet, Grupo Xango, 55Social, Shoes4you and Sophie & Juliete.

The Big Deal: Bang & Olufsen and Sparkle Roll

In a strategy review last year titled “Leaner, Faster, Stronger”, Denmark-based high-end consumer electronics business Bang & Olufsen (B&O) outlined six threats to its business, one of which was: “A lack of focus on growing economies, especially China.” Given that in the luxury goods market, management consultancy McKinsey predicts China is expected to consume 20%… Continue reading The Big Deal: Bang & Olufsen and Sparkle Roll

UK’s ‘modest’ activity criticised

The RSA report recommends a number of measures policymakers could consider as ways of strengthening the ecosystem to encourage and support corporate venturing, such as a venture connectivity forum, a co-investment fund and fiscal incentives, including restarting the Corporate Venturing Scheme, wound up by the last government.

RSA report signals global battle

Venture is a people business and while there are notable tax and policies that can help, ultimately, the countries that succeed in this latest battlefield will be the ones that take a lead from the best entrepreneurs and hire and attract the top minds from around the world to work with them and create a true venture connectivity ecosystem. Sadly, a lack of vision is holding most countries back in this area.

Fab adds $105m to its smile

Fab, a US-based consumer products sales site, has raised $105m in its series C round froma  consortium including overseas corporations’ corporate venturing units. Russia-based internet company Ru-Net’s ru-Net Technology Partners for US investments and Japan-based phone operator NTT’s DoCoMo Capital corporate venturing unit, were joined by venture capital firms Atomico, which led the C round,… Continue reading Fab adds $105m to its smile

Ptch works on its dream

US-based film studio DreamWorks Animation has incubated an iPhone video and photos application, Ptch. Ed Leonard, chief executive of Ptch who was previously chief technology officer at DreamWorks, told news provider PSFK: “What we’re trying to do is to really transform how consumers think about sharing their media in a visual way. “About a year… Continue reading Ptch works on its dream