AAA March 2013

Latest restructuring seeds hope

The challenges faced by all three – Q.Cells, SunTech and SunPower – have been more broadly reflected across the clean-tech industry but there could be light at the end of the tunnel, judging by a new report by Global Corporate Venturing in partnership with Baker Botts.

QPID kisses $3m

US-based QPID has exceed its original target of $3m, by closing a $4m round series A funding from Matrix Partners, Partners Innovation Fund, Massachusetts General Physicians Organization and Cardinal Partners.

Pinterest acquires Livestar

Virtual pin-board website Pinterest has acquired mobile recommendation app Livestar, which was founded by angel investor Fritz Lanman. No financial terms were disclosed. The acquisition will see Livestar shutdown immediately . The members of Livestar’s engineering team will now join Pinterest. Pinterest shareholders include Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, FirstMark Capital, Rakuten and Valiant Capital… Continue reading Pinterest acquires Livestar

Enanta raises $56m IPO

US-based Enanta Pharmaceuticals Inc has raised $56m in its IPO. The company priced four million shares at $14 per share for an initial market cap of approximately $236 million.

Bessemer invests in Vasona

 Venture Capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners has led a $12m round of series B financing into Vasona Networks, a provider of platforms for mobile network capacity and resource management. There was also involvement from New Venture Partners and Vodafone Ventures, the corporate venturing division of UK-listed mobile phone operator Vodafone, according to gigaom.com. The new funds… Continue reading Bessemer invests in Vasona

Bavarian industry and modern capitalism

As German industry has passed through the financial crisis comparatively unscathed, my trip last week to the Munich Network’s corporate venturing conference shed light on how one of the most important industrial areas of the country is approaching investing in small companies. The Bavarian region is closely associated with the country’s famous Mittelstand. In an… Continue reading Bavarian industry and modern capitalism