Funding
Computing and cybersecurity
Internet and telecommunications group SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 led an oversubscribed $68m series C round yesterday for Cornami, a US-based data intelligence and cloud security system developer. Applied Ventures, a vehicle for chip equipment producer Applied Materials, took part in the round, which included Impact Venture Capital and Octave Ventures, along with unnamed returning backers.
Verizon Ventures, a corporate VC arm of telecommunications group Verizon, provided an undisclosed amount of funding for TileDB, a US-based database technology developer, today. Other corporate venturing units Lockheed Martin Ventures, Amgen Ventures and NTT Docomo Ventures were among the startup’s recent investors.
Financial services firm Citi (through its Citi Ventures and Sprint units) joined Social Capital to co-lead a $25m series B round for UrbanFootprint, a US-based data-driven urban planning tool developer, last month, today. 2150, A/O PropTech, Assured Guaranty, Dcode Capital, Valo Ventures and Radicle Impact filled out the participants.
Cryptocurrency exchanges Alameda Research and Coinbase (through its Coinbase Ventures unit) took part in an $8.3m series A round for QuestBook, a US-based web3 developer-oriented learning app developer, TechCrunch reported today. Lemniscap led the round, which included Dragonfly, Hashed and Polygon.
Energy
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and Mizuho Capital, vehicles for financial services firms Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho Bank respectively, joined Jafco to take part in a ¥1.23bn ($9.5m) series B second close today for Sharing Energy, the Japan-based operator of solar power generation system installation service called Share Denki. The company’s series B round now stands at ¥5.23bn ($40.5m) and its total funding reached ¥7.63bn ($59.1m).
Fintech
Financial services firms Intesa Sanpaolo, Morgan Stanley, ING, Lloyds Banking Group and SEB all took part in a $160m series D round today for UK-based cloud banking technology developer Thought Machine. Temasek led the round, which included Eurazeo and JPMorgan Chase. The deal valued the company at $2.7bn, representing a 100% increase from the close of its series C round.
PayPal Ventures, a vehicle for digital payment processor PayPal, took part in a $108m series C round today for Modulr, a UK-based payment automation technology developer. General Atlantic led the round, which was filled out by Blenheim Chalcot, Frog Capital and Highland Europe.
Gaming
Mobile casino game publisher Playtika led a $5m seed round on Monday for ProDrops, an Israel-based provider of gaming and esports-driven trading card game.
Healthtech
Healthcare services provider Mayo Clinic and biotechnology group Regeneron Pharmaceuticals took part in a $29.5m series B round yesterday for Vyriad, a US-based oncolytic virus-driven cancer therapy developer. Harry Stine of Stine Seed Farms co-led the round, and they were joined by Mirae Asset and Southeast Minnesota Capital Fund, taking the company’s overall funding to more than $100m since 2015.
Evonik Venture Capital, the corporate venture capital arm of speciality chemicals producer Evonik, participated yesterday in a €22m ($23.2m) first close for a series D round – which could potentially be sized at up to €52m ($54.7m) – for Vivasure Medical, an Ireland-based developer of an absorbable technology designed for percutaneous vessel closure. A multinational strategic corporation led the round, potentially buying the company if it meets specified milestones. Another similarly unnamed corporate backer was among the participants, as were returning investors, Fountain Healthcare Partners, Orchestra BioMed, LSP Health Economics Fund managed by the EQT Life Sciences team and Panakès Partners.
Internet technology group Alphabet’s GV unit took part in a $60m series B round yesterday for Mirvie, a US-based unexpected pregnancy complication prediction technology developer, taking its overall funding to $90m. Decheng Capital led the round, which included BlackRock, Foresite Capital, General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures, Mayfield and Allyson Felix while Comerica Bank supplied debt.
Human resources
Real estate developer Property Agent took part today in a ¥350m ($2.7m) series B round for Piece to Peace, the Japan-based operator of marketing-focused talent matching platform Carry Me. Nippon Venture Capital and unnamed private investors took part in the round, which included an undisclosed amount of debt supplied by unspecified financial institutions, taking the company’s overall funding to ¥507m ($3.9m).
Leisure
Oriental Land Innovations, a corporate VC vehicle for theme park operator Oriental Land Company, provided an undisclosed amount for Otomo, a Japan-based private tour digitisation service.
SaaS
Salesforce Ventures, a corporate venturing arm of enterprise software provider Salesforce, led a $75m series C round yesterday for Vivun, a US-based buyer experience technology developer. Tiger Global, Menlo Ventures, Accel and Unusual Ventures filled out the participants in the round, which took the company’s total funding to $131m.
CIBC Innovation Banking, a subsidiary of financial services firm Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, provided $35m yesterday for Impartner, a US-based channel partner management technology developer.
Industrial
Diversified energy group Alliance Resource Partners joined Applied Ventures and Chevron Technology Ventures, the respective corporate VC arms of semiconductor technology provider Applied Materials and oil and gas producer Chevron, yesterday to take part in an $80m series D round for Infinitum Electric, a US-based air-core motor developer. Riverstone Holdings led the round, which included Cottonwood Technology Fund, Aventurine Partners, Energy Innovation Capital and Ajax Strategies, taking Infinitum Electric’s total funding to $135m. The company’s current shareholders also include industrial automation group Rockwell Automation and Caterpillar Venture Capital, a vehicle for construction machinery and equipment manufacturer Caterpillar.
Chemicals producer Nissan Chemical Corporation joined 412 Venture Fund to co-lead a $6.5m series A round yesterday for Arieca, a US-based liquid metal-derived thermal interface material developer. Electronic component manufacturer Rohm Semiconductor took part in the round, as did Monozukuri Venture Funds, Mountain State Capital, Innovation Works and Carnegie Mellon University.
Next47, a corporate venturing vehicle for industrial equipment and appliance producer Siemens, joined Y Combinator to co-lead a $15m series A round yesterday for Tractian, a US-based industrial machine monitoring system developer. Debjit Mukerji, a partner at Next47 is set to sit on Traction’s board as part of the deal.
Funds
Rabo Investments and Eight Roads Ventures, respective vehicles for financial services firms Rabobank and Fidelity, led the close reached by Netherlands-headquartered VC firm Anterra’s second fund sized at above $260m. All limited partners from its first iteration committed to Fund II, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and tech entrepreneurs.
West Japan Railway Company, the Japan-based rail operator also known as JR West, has injected ¥2bn ($15.5m) in its corporate venturing arm, JR West Innovations.
Financial services firm Bank Negara Indonesia provided Rp 500bn ($34.1m) yesterday for its corporate venturing arm dubbed PT BNI Modal Ventura, which was formed last month, Tech in Asia reported today, citing a filing at the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
