Business Growth Fund, the UK-based corporate bank-backed growth investment firm, has backed a merger between two geoscience businesses, UK-based Task Geoscience and US-based Fronterra Integrated Geosciences, with £3.8m ($6.4m) of funding. The new entity, Task-Fronterra Group, will have 10 offices throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.
IBM Watson, a cognitive computing subsidiary of conglomerate IBM, has invested an undisclosed sum in Fluid, a US-based web development company that specialises in digital shopping sites, as part of a strategic collaboration. Fluid reportedly raised $24m in 2012 from investors including investment banking firm Goldman Sachs.
Austria-based intelligent robotic navigation system developer RobArt has closed a €3m ($4.2m) in a round backed by Robert Bosch Venture Capital, the corporate venturing arm of industrial manufacturer Robert Bosch, SEB Alliance, the investment vehicle for Sweden-based financial group SEB, and Innovacom. RobArt will invest the funds in expanding its operations and customer base, and in moving its technology closer to the commercialisation stage.
Stitch, the US-based developer of an app that helps salespeople close business deals, has picked up $3.25m in seed funding from Google’s corporate venturing fund Google Ventures, as well as SoftTech, Freestyle Capital, Foundation Capital, Eniac Ventures and assorted angel investors, TechCrunch has reported.
Ingrasys Technology, a subsidiary of electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn and SingTel Innov8, the corporate venturing unit owned by telecommunications company SingTel, have invested in a S$4m (US$3.2m) round raised by Singapore-based surveillance and monitoring technology developer KAI Square. The funding will go towards developing video analytic applications for the cloud-based platform and expanding the company internationally.
Touchmedia, a China-based developer of an interactive advertising platform installed in taxis, has raised an undisclosed amount of financing from digital media company XO Group, Jubilant Worldwide and Touchmedia CEO Micky Fund. The company will utilise the capital to expand within China and to develop forms of advertising that integrate with mobile apps.
Singapore-based same-day hotel booking app In2Nite has completed a $2.8m round led by IDG Ventures, a corporate venturing subsidiary of media company IDG, which also featured additional strategic investors according to Tech in Asia. Frederic de Bure, a partner at IDG Ventures Vietnam, will join In2Nite’s board in conjunction with the funding.
Enplug, a US-based developer of social advertising displays for businesses, has raised $2.5m in seed funding from diversified company Amidi Group, DominateFund, zPark Venture and angel investors including Troy Carter, Interscope executive vice president David Cohen and Lightspeed Venture Partners managing director Justin Caldbeck.
Samsung Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of electronics conglomerate Samsung, has invested $2m in Korea-based automatic content recognition (ACR) company Enswers. Enswers has partnered with Samsung by providing ACR technology for its smart televisions since 2012.
Lawson, the owner of a chain of retail outlets in Japan, has invested $1.1m of series A funding in social music community Beatrobo, Tech in Asia reported. Beatrobo CEO Hiroshi Asaeda told Tech in Asia that the company, which produces a digital music storage device called PlugAir, is valued at about $8m.
Quibb, a professional network that enables users to share industry news and analysis, has announced that it is raising a $750,000 seed round that will include $650,000 from Bloomberg Beta, a subsidiary of media company Bloomberg, betaworks, Lightbank, and some undisclosed angel investors. US-based Quibb is offering the final $100,000 to investors through crowdfunding platform Alphaworks.
Japan-based online recipe sharing business Cookpad has aqcuired Dapur Masak, a similar site based in Indonesia. Cookpad had initially acquired a 40% stake in Dapur Masak for an undisclosed amount in January this year and paid $600,000 for the remaining 60% share, according to VentureNow.
Skit, a US-based animated messaging app, has closed a $500,000 seed round from backers including media conglomerate Warner Bros, RMR Capital, Federal Street Angels and Cloud Power Seed Fund. It will use the funding to grow and update its app, and to boost its marketing and business development.