Funds
South African chemicals and energy group Sasol formed a €50m ($53.3m) corporate venturing arm dubbed Sasol Ventures that will be managed by Switzerland-headquartered venture capital firm Emerald Technology Ventures as investment adviser. Sasol Ventures will target sustainable chemicals and energy technologies that can decarbonise its operations.
Japan-based venture capital firm Animal Spirits has secured limited partners including taxi and limousine operator Nihon Kotsu and leasing services firm Mizuho Leasing for its debut fund, which has a ¥7bn ($51.9m) target for its close. Financial services groups Mizuho Bank and Fukuoka Financial Group are among the other LPs, the latter through its FFG Venture Business Partners unit, and the fund will target technologies and products addressing social issues such as elderly care and decarbonisation. It has already backed demolition work quote provider Crassone.
Funding
Industrial conglomerate Access Industries’ Access Biotechnology unit led a $135m series B round for Hemab Therapeutics, a Denmark-based developer of prophylactic therapies for thrombotic disorders. Pharmaceutical firm Novo also took part in the round, as did Deep Track Capital, Avoro Ventures, Invus, Rock Springs Capital, Maj Invest Equity, RA Capital Management and HealthCap.
| Company | Company description | Sector | Country | Round | Round size($m) | Deal date | Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instacar | Car leasing platform | Transport | Greece | A | 58.6 | 20/02/2023 | Autohellas; Velocity Partners (lead), Olympia Group, Elikonos Capital Partners |
| Quantum Motion | Quantum computing technology developer | IT | UK | N/A | 50.8 | 21/02/2023 | Robert Bosch (Robert Bosch Venture Capital) (lead), Porsche; British Business Bank (British Patient Capital), IP Group, Oxford Science Enterprises, Inkef, Parkwalk Advisors, Octopus Ventures |
| Pliant | Corporate credit card provider | Financial | Germany | A | 27.6 | 17/02/2023 | SBI Group (SBI Investment) (lead), MS&AD Insurance Group (MS&AD Ventures), Commerzbank (Neosfer); Alstin |
| Mintoak Innovation | Embedded payment software producer | Financial | India | A | 20 | 21/02/2023 | PayPal (PayPal Ventures) (lead), HDFC Bank; British International Investment, Pravega Ventures |
| Newrizon | Automated electric truck and van manufacturer | Transport | China | B+ | 14.5 | 20/02/2023 | Nio (Nio Capital) (lead) |
| Paleo | Fermentation-based meat substitute developer | Consumer | Belgium | A | 12.8 | 21/02/2023 | Royal DSM (DSM Venturing) (co-lead); Planet A Ventures (co-lead), Gimv, SFPIM Relaunch, Beyond Impact, Siddhi Capital |
| Vacan | Vacant seat information provider for local services | Services | Japan | N/A | 5.9 | 21/02/2023 | Unixon Systems, Global Cast, Eneos (Eneos Innovation Partners), TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting, Digital Garage/Bank of Yokohama (Hamagin DG Innovation Fund), Toda Corporation; Resona Bank (Resona Capital), Shijo, Egg Forward |
| Healium | Virtual reality-based mental fitness device developer | Media | US | Seed | 3.6 | 20/02/2023 | Mayo Clinic (lead); KCRise Fund, Missouri General Assembly (Missouri Technology Corporation), Ambition Fund II, Captain Partners, Astronaut Holdings, Citrine Angels, Coact Capital, Gaingels, Impact Venture Capital, QRM Capital, Stadia Ventures, Tidewater Capital, Underdog Ventures |
| MitoCareX Bio | Cancer and rare disease therapy developer | Healthcare | Israel | N/A | <1 ($400,000) | 17/02/2023 | SciSparc |
| Mediclick | Digital pharmacy | Healthcare | Philippines | Pre-A | <1 ($300,000) | 20/02/2023 | Romlas Health Group (lead) |
| Zeabuz | Autonomous marine technology developer | Industrial | Norway | N/A | N/A | 20/02/2023 | Yinson Holding (Yinson GreenTech) |
| Newrizon | Automated electric truck and van manufacturer | Transport | China | N/A | N/A | 20/02/2023 | Nio (Nio Capital) |
