Mind Palette, the Japan-based creator of photo sharing app Snapeee, has raised ¥400m ($4m) in funding from publishing firm Kodansha, investment firm Global Brain and venture capital firm Energy and Environment Investment, Japanese venture capital site The Bridge reported on Monday. Snapeee, which reportedly has 8 million users across Asia, will also partner with Kodansha on content delivery.
Japan-based Exchange Corporation closed a $3.3m series A round co-led by CyberAgent Ventures, the corporate venturing arm of internet company CyberAgent, and venture firm Arbor Ventures on Tuesday to launch Paidy, a cardless e-commerce payment and instant credit service. Human resources provider Recruit also invested through its Recruit Strategic Partners fund, along with seed investors 500 Startups and Cherubic Ventures.
Wells Fargo-backed venture capital firm Norwest Venture Partners invested an undisclosed amount in US-based fashion jewellery brand Kendra Scott on Wednesday in return for a minority stake. Kendra Scott will have 17 dedicated retail stores by the end of 2014 and plans to expand across the United States.
Pogoseat, the US-based creator of an app allowing users to upgrade their seats at public events, raised $2.3m in seed funding from investors including telecommunications company KDDI and entertainment company Universal Music Group. Other investors in the round include SK Ventures, Structure Capital, Zelkova Ventures, Global Brain, Broad Strategy Fund, Tylt Lab and XG Ventures.
India-based data analytics software developer Peel-Works secured $2m on Monday from IDG Ventures India, one of publishing company IDG’s corporate venturing subsidiaries, and venture firm Inventus Capital Partners. Peel-Works will use the funding to expand its product offering, increase its senior staff and expand its technology base.
US-based IT support services network Geekatoo has raised $1.7m in seed funding from backers including internet platform DeNA, 500 Startups, Wefunder, China Rock and Microventures. Geekatoo will now seek out corporate partners it can use to grow its business.
Smoope, a Germany-based business-to-consumer startup, secured an undisclosed sum of seed financing on Tuesday from High-Tech Gruenderfonds and an unnamed angel investor. Smoope has developed a mobile app that provides instant messaging for businesses and their customers.
American Family Ventures, the corporate venturing fund run by insurance firm American Family, led a $1.25m series A round for US-based rental listings company Abodo on Wednesday. 4490 Ventures and Lakewest Venture Partners also invested in the round, which will be used to stabilise growth in Abodo’s six existing markets, and to move into 25 additional markets in the next year.
Internet company Adways, VC firm Nippon Venture Capital and investment firm AdBrain jointly provided $1m on Wednesday for Japan-based mobile game publisher 3rd Kind’s second round of funding. The cash will be used to hire additional staff and support growth in Japan, China and South Korea.
Synapsify, a US-based text analytics company, has raised $850,000 from investors including ICG Ventures, the corporate venturing subsidiary of publishing group Ingram, Middleland Capital, Standup Capital and Maryland Venture Fund, which provided $145,000. The company raised $600,000 from ICG, Middleland and Fortify Ventures in March 2013.