Canada-based mobile analytics provider Flybits closed its series A round at $4.75m on Tuesday after raising a $1m second tranche led by Vodafone Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of mobile telecommunications network Vodafone. Robert Bosch Venture Capital, the investment arm of industrial equipment producer Robert Bosch, and Trellis Capital co-led a first tranche in August 2014 that included Mars Investment Accelerator Fund and Ryerson Futures.
Skyward, the US-based developer of a software management system for drones, raised $4.1m on Tuesday in an expansion seed round backed by Verizon Ventures, the corporate venturing unit of telecommunications network Verizon, Norwest Venture Partners, Draper Associates, Founders Co-Op, Techstars Ventures and Voyager Capital. The funding, which reportedly followed a $1.5m Voyager-led seed round in July 2014, will support the expansion of Skyward’s engineering and product development team.
US-based enterprise marketing startup Kaizen Platform secured $4m in series B funding on Monday from Gree Ventures, the investment arm of internet media company Gree, and Fidelity Growth Partners. The same two investors provided $5m for Kaizen Platform’s April 2014 series A round, raised eight months after a $800,000 seed round backed by Gree Ventures, internet company CyberAgent and GMO Venture Partners, the corporate venturing subsidiary of internet company GMO.
Fazua, the Germany-based developer of a drive system for e-bikes, raised an undisclosed seven-figure euro amount in a series A round featuring corporate-backed venture capital fund High-Tech Gruenderfonds (HTGF), Bayern Kapital and three unnamed investors on Thursday. The company previously received an undisclosed amount of seed capital from HTGF, Bayern and an undisclosed business angel in February 2014.
US-based predictive analytics and causal modelling technology startup Albeado closed a $3m series A round led by consultancy firm Brillio. Albeado will invest the financing in expanding its engineering, sales and product development teams.
Media conglomerate Bertelsmann has invested an undisclosed sum in US-based adult education provider Synergis Education that will fund the development of Synergis’ educational programmes. Bertelsmann took part in Synergis’ $33m series A round in 2013 along with University Ventures, Bertelsmann and University of Texas Investment Management, before conglomerate Mitsui invested an additional $5m in May 2014.
Styla, the Germany-based developer of an automated platform for creating online magazines, has raised €2.5m ($2.8m) in a seed round led by Redalpine Venture Partners that also included Groupe Arnault, the holding company that controls luxury goods producer LVMH. The round, which also featured Atlantic Labs, Cherry Ventures and Westtech Ventures, will be spent on Styla’s technology and the expansion of its sales and development teams.
Oil and gas IT technology supplier Schlumberger has invested an undisclosed sum in Canada-based nano-crystalline cellulose producer CelluForce as part of a collaboration to apply CelluForce’s technology to the oil and gas industry. Canadian state-backed fund Sustainable Development Technology Canada also recently provided $4m in funding for the company.
GMO Venture Partners invested ¥300m ($2.5m) in US-based business communication app developer ChatWork on Monday. The capital will go to expanding in Asia, Europe and the US, product development and hiring, with ChatWork set to almost triple its 35-strong workforce, split between California and Tokyo, as it prepares for an initial public offering.
Indonesia-based lifestyle e-commerce company Bobobobo has completed a series A round led by PT Kreatif Media Karya, a subsidiary of media company Emtek Group, Tech in Asia reported on Tuesday. The round, in which Bobobobo raised an undisclosed amount, also included lifestyle and hospitality group Ismaya and will be used by the startup to expand through collaborations with partners including Emtek.
Dopay, the UK-based developer of a mobile banking system for people in developing economies, secured $2m in seed funding on Thursday from private equity firm Ace & Company, Techstars Ventures and a syndicate of angel investors. The company received $20,000 in seed funding when it graduated from financial services firm Barclays’ accelerator last year.
Communications, media and automotive services company Cox Enterprises invested an undisclosed sum in Rimidi, the US-based developer of a cloud-based platform for diabetes management, on Wednesday. Rimidi had previously raised $1.4m in funding between 2012 and 2014, according to regulatory filings.
Jobspotting, the Germany-based developer of a search tool for online recruitment, received an undisclosed amount of seed funding from VC firm Horizon Ventures on Thursday. A graduate of digital media company Axel Springer’s Plug and Play accelerator, Jobspotting subsequently raised €500,000 from Axel Springer and other investors in July 2014.
CrisisResponsePro, a US-based startup working on communications software for crisis and litigation communications, launched on Tuesday with an undisclosed amount of funding from public relations firm PRCG | Haggerty. The company provides daily news covering current crises and best practices for anyone in such a situation looking to communicate with other parties.