Mobile and online game developer Kingnet has invested $5m in Sphericam, the US-based creator of a virtual reality camera that can self-stitch and livestream 4K quality video in real-time, as part of an increased focus on VR content. Production of the startup’s Sphericam 2 camera is set to begin in July this year, with shipping expected to start shortly afterwards. Sphericam had previously raised $450,000 through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015.
CareerFoundry, the Germany-based operator of an online learning community for web and app developers, has completed a $5m series A round featuring Tengelmann Ventures and Bauer Venture Partners, the respective corporate venturing vehicles for retail chain Tengelmann and media group Bauer, and venture capital firm IBB Beteiligungsgesellschaft, it announced on Tuesday. Tengelmann Ventures had previously led CareerFoundry’s June 2015 seed round, which boosted the startup’s overall funding to $1.1m.
Mobile gaming company Nazara Games has paid an undisclosed sum for a 26% stake in UK-based gaming studio Mastermind Sports, the Economic Times reported yesterday. Mastermind’s main product is a real-time social prediction platform called CricBet that can be used to bet on cricket games, and which could in future be replicated for other sports.
Broadcasters Home Box Office and Discovery Communications invested an undisclosed amount in US-based cloud graphics technology developer Otoy on Tuesday as part of a partnership that will facilitate the creation of original, holographic-based TV content. Founded in 2008, Otoy has not disclosed how much funding it has raised, but its investors also include design software producer Autodesk and investment firm DST Global.
Television broadcaster Gray Television has invested $3m in Syncbak, a US-based developer of technology capable of replicating on-air broadcasts for over-the-top video platforms online. Founded in 2009, Syncbak had previously raised $8.6m in financing according to regulatory filings, and its existing investors include broadcaster CBS, and trade associations National Association of Broadcasters and Consumer Technology Association.
Pharmacy chain CVS Health invested an undisclosed amount in US-based e-commerce discovery service Curbside on Tuesday as part of a collaboration to launch CVS Express, a service allowing customers to order goods from CVS through an app and pick them up outside their local store. Curbside had already raised $34.5m from backers including corporate venturing units Qualcomm Ventures and O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Index Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Innnovation Endeavors, Chicago Ventures, TenOneTen and WGI Group.
Gradescope, the US-based developer of an artificial intelligence tool to help teachers mark and grade work, has raised $2.6m in seed financing from Bloomberg Beta, the corporate venturing subsidiary of media company Bloomberg, as well as Freestyle Capital, Reach Capital, House Fund and K9 Ventures, according to a company blog post on Monday. The startup plans to release an assisted grading tool for simple types of questions later this year with more complex engineering, maths and diagram-based questions to follow.
Aviation-focused conglomerate Bird Group provided $2m in funding to Tripchamp, a US-based corporate travel booking platform that provides specialised packages covering flights, hotels and cars, on Tuesday. The investment will support Tripchamp’s corporate growth and the strengthening of its customer service channels.
Captiv8, the US-based creator of an artificial intelligence platform that links marketers with brand advocates, has secured $2m in funding from investors including talent agency United Talent Agency, it announced on Wednesday. The round also included Social Capital, Subtraction Capital, Liquid 2 Ventures, Social Starts, Lone Wolf and Launch Fund.
Unilever Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of consumer product manufacturer Unilever, led a $1.4m round for US-based on-demand consumer interview and focus group provider Discuss.io on Monday. The cash will support product development and international expansion for Discuss.io, which connects brands and marketers with research participants across the world through real-time webcam video interviews.
News Corp Australia, a subsidiary of media group News Corp, has led an oversubscribed A$1.1m ($850,000) seed round for Australia-based augmented technology startup Plattar that also included undisclosed private investors, The Australian reported on Monday. News Corp Australia made the strategic investment as part of a drive to integrate augmented reality across more of its publications, according to chief technology officer Alisa Bowen.
Eyefactive, a Germany-based developer of scalable multitouch technology that allows information to be displayed on interactive tables and walls, raised an undisclosed six-figure euro amount of funding yesterday from corporate-backed VC fund High-Tech Gruenderfonds and MBG Schleswig-Holstein. The two had previously provided an undisclosed amount of funding for Eyefactive in 2011.
CyberAgent Ventures, the corporate venturing vehicle for internet company CyberAgent, has invested an undisclosed amount in Vietnam-based online education provider Kyna.vn, DealStreetAsia has reported. The investment is the first to be made from the $50m Southeast Asia-focused fund CyberAgent Ventures launched in June 2015.