US-based cybersecurity startup Lexumo completed a $4.9m seed round on Tuesday funded by research and development company Draper Laboratory, Accomplice and .406 Ventures. The capital will be used to build Lexumo’s ales and marketing teams, and develop and commercialise its platform, which continuously searches and indexes software to identify security vulnerabilities.
Venture capital firm Arch Venture Partners launched Unity Biotechnology, a developer of therapeutics to prevent, stop or reverse diseases related to aging, on Wednesday with an undisclosed amount of funding. Pharmaceutical firm WuXi PharmaTech, medical research company Mayo Clinic and VC firm Venrock were among the investors that also contributed to the round, which will support Unity’s cellular senescence-focused research.
WiSilica, the US-based developer of a smart environment platform for internet of things technologies, completed a $3.4m series A round yesterday led by VC firm First Floor Capital that included robotics and industrial equipment maker Aurotek, Anchor Asia Management and undisclosed angel investors. The company will use the funds to expand its 50-strong team and further develop its technology.
Total Energy Ventures, the strategic investment arm of oil and gas company Total, has invested an undisclosed amount in Tanzania-based small-scale solar power provider Off Grid Electric. Off Grid had previously raised $48m in funding from investors including solar system provider SolarCity, DBL Partners, Omidyar Network, Serious Change, Western Technology Investment, Tope Lawani, Vulcan Capital and Zouk Capital.
Financial technology security company Giesecke & Devrient led a $3.1m seed round for Fit Pay, the US-based creator of a payment platform for wearable device manufacturers, yesterday. The round also included accelerator Plug and Play, due to Fit Pay graduating from its FinTech Accelerator Program in autumn 2015.
Optic and imaging technology producer Nikon invested an undisclosed amount in Tribogenics, a US-based provider of X-ray technology for the industrial, security and scientific sectors, yesterday as part of a strategic collaboration agreement. Tribogenics raised $8.7m from backers including Flywheel Ventures and Founders Fund across two rounds in 2011 and 2012, and another $11m in June 2015 according to CrunchBase. Other past investors include consulting firm CP Group, NewCap Partners and Seraph Capital.
Hobnob, the US-based operator of a text-based event invitation service, secured $2.3m yesterday in a seed round featuring Norwest Venture Partners, the VC firm that manages funds on behalf of financial services firm Wells Fargo, as well as Aspect Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners and Greycroft Partners. The cash will support the launch of the platform on Android, the expansion of Hobnob’s team and the introduction of additional features for the app.
Screen, the US-based developer of a piece of hardware that enables parents to control device use by their children, has raised $1.9m in seed funding from backers including Novel TMT, the corporate venturing vehicle for telecommunications company Novel Group, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The round, closed last year, was led by Lerer Hippeau Ventures and also featured Advancit Capital, Collaborative Fund, Box Group, Maveron Capital and angel investor Peter Hershberger.
Wipro Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of IT services company Wipro, has invested Rs 97.8m ($1.4m) in India-based big data technology company Altizon Systems as part of a $4m series A round, the Economic Times reported on Monday. The round, which also included Lumis Partners, The Hive and Infuse Ventures, will be used to strengthen Altizon’s sales and marketing capabilities.
Classified listings platform Info Edge has paid Rs 74m ($1.1m) for a 35% stake in Rare Media Company, the India-based developer of a sales staff management app, the Economic Times has reported. The investment is linked to Info Edge’s property subsidiary 99acres, which uses Rare Media for data verification on its sales team.
BEC, the Japan-based creator of back office consultation crowdsourcing platform Gozal, has received ¥100m (about $830,000) in funding from CyberAgent Ventures, the strategic investment arm of internet company CyberAgent, as well as digital marketing firm Speee and Saison Ventures, the VC subsidiary of payment services provider Credit Saison, according to The Bridge. CyberAgent’s Seed Generator Fund previously supplied BEC with ¥10m in late 2014.
Broadcaster Sky invested £300,000 ($440,000) in UK-based fan engagement and sports marketing app developer InCrowd Sports on Wednesday. InCrowd builds apps for sports clubs that enable them to engage with, and receive feedback from fans.