Steve Garnett, Europe Middle East and Africa chairman of Salesforce, said: “Salesforce is excited to join forces with leading European venture capital firms to launch the Innovation Challenge and reward Europe’s top entrepreneurs and enable them to accelerate their innovation and time to market.”
Month: May 2013
NewSchools ventures into partnerships
US-listed social games developer Zynga and venture capital firm Rethink Education have separately set up strategic partnerships with non-profit NewSchools Venture Fund. NewSchools said set up a partnership with Zynga to help entrepreneurs develop education-focused games. Education, currently the third largest segment of the economy behind health and energy, received 1% of venture capital funding… Continue reading NewSchools ventures into partnerships
Badger buys Aquacue
Aquacue, a US-based software company providing wireless metering technology backed by Denmark-based industrial group Grundfos, has exited to New York-listed trade buyer Badger Meter for an undisclosed amount. In September 2011, Grundfos opened a water technology centre in California, US, having earlier in the year added an observer to Aquacue’s board. Jeff Barnes, partner at… Continue reading Badger buys Aquacue
Lending Club collects on $125m
US-listed search engine provider Google has bought a minority stake in unsecured personal loans provider Lending Club as part of a $125m secondaries deal. Google and venture capital firm Foundation Capital, were among buyers acquiring shares from existing investors in Lending Club at a reported $1.55bn valuation. David Lawee, vice-president of corporate development at Google,… Continue reading Lending Club collects on $125m
Qiwi lands on $212.5m
The company priced 12.5 million American depository shares at $17 each, after having filed to sell 12 million shares at between $16 and $18 each.
MetricStream complies with Goldman
Shellye Archambeau, chief executive at MetricStream, said: “This strategic investment led by Goldman Sachs will further enable us to accelerate our innovation and market leadership.”
Brown sets up Bowery
Mike Brown (pictured), co-founder of AOL Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the eponymous US-based internet service provider, is setting up Bowery Ventures. News provider All Things Digital said AOL had committed to Bowery’s first fund, which has raised $33m. News provider Fortune, which first reported Brown’s departure, said he would focus investments on enterprise… Continue reading Brown sets up Bowery
Astrid exits to Yahoo
In July 2011, Google Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of US-listed search engine, joined a consortium providing a reported $400,000 of seed round funding to Astrid.
Coda drives into bankruptcy
Coda Holdings, a US-based electric vehicle and battery system developer backed by Asian corporations, has entered bankruptcy as part of a sale process and plan to focus on stationary energy storage. Alternative investments firm Fortress Investment Group through an affiliate is leading a consortium of lenders intending to provide debtor-in-possession financing to enable Coda’s energy… Continue reading Coda drives into bankruptcy
Citrix has ZeroMail
Delimiter said Citrix could invest up to $400,000 in a convertible loan note through its Innovation Accelerator.
Citrix enters Incoming Media
Incoming Media, an Australia-based mobile video provider spun out from National ICT Australia (Nicta), has raised $1.1m in its seed round from a consortium including US-based software company Citrix. Alongside Citrix’s Startup Accelerator in the seed round were venture capital firm OneVentures, which led, and Nicta. Michael Harries, chief technology officer at Citrix Startup Accelerator,… Continue reading Citrix enters Incoming Media
Apple bites into critics
The Apple app store’s growth means there will be a lot of upcoming young turks to keep track of, and some should receive investments from established companies.
GS Power puts wind in NSL sails
South Korea-based power company GS Power has made a direct investment into India-based renewable energy company NSL Renewable Power.
Alibaba makes play in DDMap
Alibaba, a China-based online trading and commerce group, has invested an undisclosed amount of series F funding in DDMap, a Chinese lifestyle e-commerce service website. The investment follows an undisclosed series E round in October 2012 from a syndicate that also included Citi Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of the eponymous US-listed bank. News reports… Continue reading Alibaba makes play in DDMap