Bloomberg and Novel Group returned to invest in the celebrity-centered online education startup, taking its total funding to more than $56m.
Month: March 2017
Quixey closure reportedly due to Alibaba debt deal
Mobile search platform Quixey, which revealed last month it was ‘exploring strategic options’ has reportedly shut down due to provisions in a loan from equity investor Alibaba.
Rigetti processes $64m in funding
Quantum circuit developer Rigetti Computing has revealed a $24m series A round backed by Bloomberg Beta and a $40m series B round.
Buzzfeed begins IPO preperations
The online media company has reportedly earmarked 2018 for an initial public offering which would allow NBCUniversal, SoftBank and Hearst to exit.
UCloud ups its funding by $139m
Oriza Holdings and CICC Alpha co-led the latest round for the Bertelsmann and Legend-backed cloud computing services firm, bringing its overall funding to near $300m.
Brace tightens up $22m round for Antiva
Antiva Biosciences, which is developing therapies to treat lesions that cause cervical cancer, has raised $22m in a series C round led by the venture capital arm of EMS.
JD.com helps crown Kingdee Healthcare with $14.5m
JD.com co-led the healthcare access app developer’s series A round two years after acquiring a 10% stake in its listed parent company.
Twist reveals $33m in funding
Twist Bioscience, a US-based DNA manufacturing technology developer backed by genomics technology company llumina, pharmaceutical firm WuXi PharmaTech and biotechnology producer Institut Mérieux, received $33m from undisclosed investors on Monday. Twist is developing a semiconductor-based process that uses silicon to produce synthetic DNA for eventual use in areas such as personalised medicines and pharmaceuticals, sustainable… Continue reading Twist reveals $33m in funding
Youon pedals toward $86m IPO
Youon, backed by Ant Financial and IDG Capital, has filed for an initial public offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange that would make it the first Chinese bike sharing company to float.
SHV goes on Picnic in $108m round
Grocery e-commerce company Picnic has raised cash in a round led by SHV Holdings’ NPM Capital subsidiary and will use the funding to expand across the Netherlands.
SoftBank offers $6bn to Didi Chuxing
Didi Chuxing is reportedly mulling a $6bn investment by SoftBank, with two more existing backers, Tencent and Apple, considering participation as well.
Creamfinance primes series B
Financial services firm Capitec Bank has made a strategic investment in consumer finance provider Creamfinance, leading a $22.9m series B round.
Phoenix rises with corporate-backed fund
US-based venture capital firm Phoenix Venture Partners closed its second fund on Monday with limited partners that included pharmaceutical firm Pfizer, manufacturing conglomerate 3M and glass and ceramics materials producer Corning. Chemical producers Eastman Chemical, Solvay and Showa Denko, and manufacturing company WL Gore & Associates have also contributed to PVP II fund, the size… Continue reading Phoenix rises with corporate-backed fund
Banco do Brasil backs BR Startups
The insurance-focused venture capital fund has added Banco do Brasil subsidiary BB Seguridade to a range of limited partners including Microsoft, Qualcomm and Monsanto.