AAA February 2014 – Page 4

Corporate revolution amid dreams of lean

Widespread talk of such a corporate revolution, with lean start-up principles given primacy, was perhaps the most noticeable trend at the IBF Corporate Venturing and Innovation Partnering Conference in Newport Beach this week, beyond the obvious that corporate venturing is genuinely hot at present.

Walt Disney invests spirit in accelerator

The Walt Disney Company, a US-based media company, and TechStars, a business accelerator company, have combined to create the Disney Accelerator. The business accelerator will be based in Los Angeles and open to technology start-ups in the media and entertainment space. According to TechStars’ blog, “Disney has an incredible legacy of creativity and innovation that… Continue reading Walt Disney invests spirit in accelerator

Anglo American Platinum leads $20m funding for Primus Power

Primus Power, a US-based, grid-scale electrical energy storage company, has raised $20m in the first close of its series C financing led by South Africa-based resource developer Anglo American Platinum, a producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), with a major contribution from its PGM Development Fund, and with the participation of existing investors. Primus has… Continue reading Anglo American Platinum leads $20m funding for Primus Power

It’s all in the bean for Google Blue Bottle deal

Google Ventures has invested in a second round of funding for US specialty coffee chain and brand Blue Bottle in a deal worth $25.75m. The round was led by Morgan Stanley Investment Management with participation from Index Ventures and True Ventures. The funding will be used to expand retail operations, improve internal training programmes and… Continue reading It’s all in the bean for Google Blue Bottle deal

ConocoPhillips, Chevron well up $10m deal

Ziebel, a Norwegian provider of specialist well intervention services for the oil and gas industry, has closed a round of growth capital raising $10m. The funding was secured from lead investor ConocoPhillips Technology Ventures, along with Chevron Technology Ventures, and Energy Technology Ventures. Existing Ziebel investors Energy Ventures, Viking Venture, Jebsen Asset Management, Investinor, and Klaveness Invest also participated in the round.

STC chauffeurs $1.7m deal

STC Ventures, a venture capital fund independently managed by Iris Capital and whose anchor investor is the STC Group, has led a $1.7m investment in UAE-based Careem, a chauffeur-driven online car hiring service. The capital raised will be allocated to enhancing the Careem.com technology platform and expand its car booking service across the Middle East.

Fluidigm to acquire DVS Sciences

Fluidigm Corporation, a US-based maker of microfluidic systems, has agreed to acquire DVS Sciences, a Canada-based maker of bioanalytical solutions, for $207.5m in cash and stock. DVS Sciences has been backed by both Pfizer Venture Investments and Roche Venture Fund, the corporate venturing units of drugs companies Pfizer and Roche, which joined DVS Sciences’ $14.6m… Continue reading Fluidigm to acquire DVS Sciences