China-based domestic cleaning app 1Jiajie has raised an undisclosed amount in a series C round that included Tencent Industry Win-Win Fund, which is overseen by internet portal Tencent, as well as CDH Investments, DT Capital Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and an unnamed Chinese brokerage firm, China Money Network reported on Tuesday, citing Chinese media reports. Tencent invested $650,000 in 1Jiajie before combining with online entertainment provider Shanda for a $4m series A round in September 2014.
Datafox, a US-based business intelligence platform developer backed by internet company Google, received $5m in series A funding from investors including investment bank Goldman Sachs and venture capital firm Green Visor Capital on Wednesday. The startup previously raised almost $1.5m in a 2013 seed round led by Google’s corporate venturing unit, Google Ventures, and a host of angel investors.
Booktrack, a New Zealand-based audiobook effects provider backed by film production company Road Post Productions, has secured $5m in a round featuring Coent Venture Partners and Sparkbox Ventures, TechCrunch reported on Tuesday. The company, which enables users to add music or audio effects to audiobooks, had previously raised $5m across two rounds from Park Road Post, Sparkbox and Valar Ventures.
Indonesia-based online Muslim fashion retailer HiJup has raised an undisclosed seven-figure amount in a second seed round featuring media conglomerate Emtek, VC firm Fenox Venture Capital and seed fund 500 Startups, Tech in Asia reported on Thursday. HiJup had already received an undisclosed sum in February this year from backers including 500 Startups, Fenox and Skystar Capital.
Agrible, a US-based developer of predictive analytics technology for the agriculture industry, secured $4.1m on Tuesday in a series A round led by advisory firm Serra Ventures that also featured food processing and production company Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). As part of the deal, ADM will also help Agrible distribute its subscription-based data product, Morning Farm Report.
Online reading platform China Reading has invested an undisclosed sum in podcast sharing app Ximalaya FM as part of a strategic collaboration deal, China Money Network reported today, citing an announcement on China Reading’s Weibo account. Ximalaya previously received $11.5m in series A funding up to May 2014 from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, SIG Asia and Sierra Ventures.
PayU, the online payment subsidiary of e-commerce group Naspers, led a $4m series A round for Singapore-based cryptocurrency services startup BitX on Tuesday that also included investment firm Digital Currency Group. BitX, which runs a Bitcoin exchange, transfer and storage service, previously raised $800,000 in an August 2014 seed round backed by Ariadne Capital, Bitcoin Opportunity Corp and angel investor Carol Realini.
Postal service Royal Mail Group led a £2.5m ($3.9m) round for UK-based personalised shopping app developer Mallzee on Wednesday that also included Scottish Investment Bank, Par Equity and a selection of angel investors. Scottish Investment Bank and Par Equity were also among the consortium that provided $850,000 for Mallzee, which adds a Tinder-like swipe interface to the online shopping process, in May 2014.
Holimetrix, the France-based developer of a tool that measures the online impact of television advertising campaigns, secured €3.5m ($3.7m) on Tuesday in a round co-led by Iris Capital, the VC firm backed by telecommunications company Orange and marketing firm Publicis, as well as A Plus Finance and Siparex Proximité Innovation. The round also included Jaina Capital, a VC firm that had reportedly already supplied Holimetrix with about €1m in funding.
Nokia Growth Partners, the corporate venturing arm of communication technology producer Nokia, invested an undisclosed sum in US-based truck safety technology developer Peloton Technology on Wednesday. Peloton secured $16m in an April 2015 series A round featuring vehicle component maker Denso International America, semiconductor company Intel, auto parts provider Magna International, carmaker Volvo, logistics company UPS, lubricants producer Castrol, Sand Hill Angels, Band of Angels and Birchmere Ventures.
Limelight Health, a US-based startup providing cloud-based technology that helps businesses streamline employee health insurance provision, raised $3m in series A funding on Monday from MassMutual Ventures and AXA Strategic Ventures, the respective corporate venturing units of insurers Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and AXA, as well as accelerator LaunchPad Digital Health. Launchpad had already provided an undisclosed amount of seed funding for Limelight in October 2014.
China-based online clothing retailer Grana has raised $1.5m in seed capital from investors including VC fund Golden Gate Ventures. Grana, which previously received A$1.1m ($1m) in October 2014 from luxury goods retailer Bluebell Group and a pool of undisclosed strategic and angel investors, will use the cash to expand its product range and online marketing, and to open pop-up stores where its clothing can be accessed.
GNum, an online telephony subsidiary of telecoms services provider GlobalRoam, invested S$2m ($1.5m) in Singapore-based online analytics provider aSpecial Media on Tuesday. Founded by former executives of media group Singapore Press Holdings, aSpecial previously raised funding from local entrepreneurs and angel investors.
IT services provider Infosys made an investment in India-based strategic consultancy ANSR Consulting on Tuesday sized at $1.4m, according to Hindu Business Line. Infosys, which reportedly acquired a stake of around 5% in ANSR, made the investment through its $500m Innovation Fund.
IDG Ventures India, a local corporate venturing affiliate of media company International Data Group, has provided an undisclosed amount of funding for India-based casual dating app developer iCrushiFlush, the Economic Times reported on Wednesday. The pre-series A investment will go to product development and marketing.
US-based medical neurotechnology developer Brainscope received $500,000 on Thursday from industrial conglomerate General Electric and sports ruling body National Football League as one of the winners of the $10m GE NFL Head Health Challenge. Brainscope had previously raised more than $22m in equity and debt from Revolution, Shaman Ventures, ZG Ventures, State of Maryland Venture Fund, Brain Trust Accelerator Fund and Difference Capital.
CyberAgent Ventures, internet holding company CyberAgent’s investment subsidiary, has invested $480,000 in Japan-based collaborative communication startup Oneteam, The Bridge has reported. Oneteam’s product, which is still in development, would allow groups to communicate with each other and collaborate on projects regardless of their location.