QASymphony, the US-based software testing technology startup backed by software development services company KMS Technology, received $5m on Wednesday in a series B round led by growth equity firm Fulcrum Equity Partners. The round also featured BIP Capital, which invested in QASymphony’s $2.5m series A round in January 2015 alongside KMS and Poplar Ventures.
Rocsole, a Finland-based provider of tomography technology for industrial process applications, secured an undisclosed amount on Tuesday in a round led by oil and gas company Repsol. Other investors in Rocsole, which plans to now open sales and service centres in North America, Asia and Europe, include securities brokerage Capillary and Finnish export credit agency Finnvera.
Airbus Ventures, the $150m corporate venturing unit owned by aerospace group Airbus, had made its first investment, providing an undisclosed amount for US-based motor vehicle manufacturer Local Motors. Local Motors had raised $3m in 2007, the year it was founded, from component car manufacturer Factory Five Racing and undisclosed angel investors.
Creo, the India-based creator of HDMI wireless streaming stick Teewe, has raised $3m in a series A round funded by e-commerce company Beenext, venture capital firm Sequoia Capital and VC fund India Quotient, YourStory reported yesterday. Sequoia and India Quotient previously supplied Creo with $1.75m in seed capital in March 2015.
Communications equipment manufacturer Motorola Solutions invested an undisclosed amount in US-based advanced battery developer Pellion Technologies on Tuesday. Pellion is working on magnesium-ion batteries it claims could have 50% higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries. It has not disclosed previous funding, but claims its investor base includes Fortune 500 strategic investors, VC investors and US government program ARPA-E.
Industrial product manufacturer Evonik has taken part in a series A round for Synoste, the Finland-based developer of an implant that will treat leg length discrepancy. The round, sized in the single-million digit euro range, also included High-Tech Gruenderfonds, Finnvera, Lifeline Ventures and undisclosed Finnish business angels.
RDSeed, an investment subsidiary of corporate investment holding company Rafael Development Corporation (RDC), led a $1.5m seed round for IronScales, the Israel-based developer of an employee-based cybersecurity system, on Tuesday. RDC, a joint venture between weapons technology provider Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and technology holding company Elron Electronic Industries, aims to commercialise civilian technologies which are based on defence technologies developed by Rafael.
TheLorry, a Malaysia-based provider of on-demand cargo transportation services, has raised $1.5m in a series A round led by SPH Media Fund, a corporate venturing subsidiary of media group Singapore Press Holdings, which also included Elixir Capital, DealStreetAsia reported on Monday. The startup received an undisclosed amount of seed funding from VC fund KK Fund in September 2015, and will spend the series A cash on launching new services as it fortifies in Malaysia and prepares to expand internationally.
E-commerce group Flipkart has invested an undisclosed sum in Tinystep, the India-based operator of a social network focused on parenting, the Economic Times reported on Monday. Tinystep, which claims to have more than 10,000 parents on its platform, intends to now expand its team and begin the process of securing service-provider partners in order to begin generating revenue.
Igloohome, a Singapore-based startup developing virtual technology to assist Airbnb hosts, has received $1.25m in a seed round led by Wavemaker Partners and backed by Singtel Innov8, which acts as telecommunications firm SingTel’s corporate venturing unit, as well as Dreamit and Mesh Ventures. Founded by ex-employees of SingTel, Igloohome is available in Australia, Singapore and Thailand, and will launch in the US later this year.
GV, the corporate venturing arm of technology and internet conglomerate Alphabet, invested an undisclosed amount in US-based converged network infrastructure developer Plexxi on Wednesday. Plexxi had raised $83m from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Matrix Partners and North Bridge Venture Partners across four rounds as of September 2015.
Germany-based marketing technology startup CrossEngage has raised an undisclosed seven-figure euro amount from Capnamic Ventures, the VC firm backed by media company media group M. DuMont Schauberg, along with additional investors including Project A Ventures and IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft. CrossEngage’s cloud-based software helps businesses coordinate their marketing across multiple channels while retaining a consistent voice.
Skydisc, a Japan-based developer of detachable sensors and cloud technology for data management, has secured ¥100m ($850,000) from Nissay Capital, which acts as insurance firm Nippon Life’s corporate venturing arm; Archetype Ventures, which fulfils the same purpose for incubator and consulting firm Archetype; and VC firm Dogan, The Bridge reported on Monday. The company’s sensors can detect temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration among other things.
Thailand-based mobile commerce marketplace ShopSpot has received an undisclosed amount of pre-series A funding from SingTel Innov8 and Invent, the corporate venturing arm of telecoms company TIS, Tech in Asia reported on Wednesday. ShopSpot previously raised $630,000 in 2013 from SingTel Innov8 and Jungle Ventures.
Shiryouko Studio, a Taiwan-based provider of video marketing services for mobile game developers, has received ¥30m ($260,000) in seed capital from marketing company Adways, mobile game-oriented research firm Spicemart and VC firm Accord Ventures, according to The Bridge. It plans to expand in order to provide services to Japan-based companies in other industries that want to access the Chinese market.
Cyberagent Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of internet company Cyberagent, has provided a six-figure amount of seed funding for Vietnam-based household services provider Jupviec.vn, DealStreetAsia reported on Wednesday. Founded in 2012, Jupviec serves some 10,000 customers in Hanoi but will look to expand to Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese cities during this year.