Belgium-based telecom operator Belgacom has made two strategic investments in European companies.
The Belgian telephone company has invested $2m in Israel-based video service Jinni and become its first European strategic customer.
Belgacom and SRIW Techno, the technology venture capital fund of regional development fund SRIW, have invested €8m ($10m) in software company In3Depth Systems.
In3Depth has three subsidiaries, Softkinetic, Optrima and Softkinetic Studios and, alongside semiconductor company Texas Instruments, internet television group Metrological and consumer electronics manufacturer Panasonic, Belgacom is already one of the partners for its three dimension, gesture-controlled user interfaces and applications.
Frederic Papeians, chief financial officer of In3Depth, said: "We have successfully completed the first tranche of our fund-raising in a record time. We are well on our way to complete our full series B by year end, which will round up our lineup of strategic and financial investors in order to capture the market and increase shareholder value."
Didier Bellens, chief executive of Belgacom, said: "This investment is in line with Belgacom’s ongoing strategy to invest in promising companies that have developed innovative services and products to enrich Belgacom’s customer experience. Belgacom brings its commercial and strategic support while also benefiting from this initiative as a shareholder."
Go4Venture, a London-based private placement boutique, advised In3Depth.