Diamond producer De Beers Group of Companies paid an undisclosed amount on Tuesday for a 33.4% stake in Synova, the Switzerland-based developer of a water jet-guided laser diamond cutting tool. De Beers and Synova plan to collaborate on a fully-automated cutting and shaping system based on Synova’s Laser MicroJet technology.
IT services provider Infosys has invested $2m in Airviz, a US-based personal air quality monitoring technology developer, through its $500m Infosys Innovation Fund. A spin-out from Carnegie Mellon University, Airviz has created a fine particulate monitor that combines with big data visualisation of historical air quality data so that users can identify and measure issues affecting their personal air quality.
Wallflower, a US-based startup developing safety and control technology for home appliances, closed its $1.5m second seed round on Tuesday, securing funding from undisclosed investors. A graduate of the accelerator formed by software company Microsoft and insurer American Family Insurance last year, Wallflower has now raised $2m altogether.
Japan-based learning technology developer StudyPlus has received ¥185m ($1.5m) in funding from media company Asahi Shimbun and venture capital firm Femto, according to 2TechAsia. StudyPlus will use the cash to build out its team, particularly with regard to engineers.
CareerDean, the US-based operator of a career advice network for software engineers, has raised $1.2m in a seed round led by VC firm GGV Capital that also featured digital media company Gree, 500 Startups and other, undisclosed investors, Dow Jones reported on Monday. It will use the funding to further develop its online site.
India-based price-comparison website operator BuyHatke has secured $1m in seed funding from e-commerce company Beenos and S Gopalakrishnan, the co-founder of Infosys, according to the Economic Times. The funding will be invested in marketing, product development and expanding the startup’s team.
CyberAgent Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of internet company CyberAgent, has invested an undisclosed sum in Japan-based dogsitting service DogHuggy, The Bridge has reported. DogHuggy plans to launch imminently and aims to have 500 hosts on its books by the end of next month.
StrongDM, the US-based developer of an automated real-time data error detection system, secured $800,000 on Monday in a seed round led by Bloomberg Beta, the early-stage investment subsidiary of media company Bloomberg. Data Collective, SocialStarts and Jerry Neumann, also took part in the round.
OneTeam, the Japan-based developer of a workplace communication app, has raised ¥60m ($500,000) in seed funding from CyberAgent Ventures, Tech in Asia reported today. Founded only three months ago, the company’s app is yet to be released in closed beta.
CyberAgent Ventures has also provided ¥10m ($80,000) of seed funding for Imanee, a Japan-based e-commerce company that enables users to buy clothes worn on television shows. The investment, made in late April and disclosed on Monday, will support product testing, staff expansion and user acquisition.
– Photo courtesy of Synova S.A.