Editorial: A Look at Unicorns Funds Toyota’s research division, Toyota Research Institute, has launched a dedicated corporate venturing fund called Toyota AI Ventures that will invest in artificial intelligence as well as robotics, autonomous mobility, data and cloud technology. Partech Ventures, a US-headquartered venture firm with a significant presence in Europe,has closed its seventh VC-stage fund, Partech … Continue reading "17 July 2017 – A Look at Unicorns"

Editorial: What do people want when the summer is over? Funds AT&T has been relatively quiet while competitors like Verizon, Telstra and SoftBank have made great strides in corporate venturing, but that may be about to change with the formation of a strategic investment fund in which the telecom firm plans to invest up to $200m. Autoliv … Continue reading "10 July 2017 – Looking to the End of Summer"

Funds Cloudflare, an internet technology provider with its own security products, has launched its own $100m fund. Cybersecurity technology producer Trend Micro has inserted an initial $100m into a newly formed corporate venturing unit that will target disruptive sectors such as the internet-of-things, which its parent company believes will be the next technology mega wave. Corporates boost Cathay … Continue reading "03 July 2017 – The Political Environment and Investment"

News US looks into regulating Chinese investment PraxisUnico challenges universities to collaborate with industry Funds Juewei and Ele.me to cater to startups Sanovas performs $75m fundraising Corporate-backed 500 Startups Japan scales to $35m Foxconn joins Hardware Club Government Scotland readies $250m in funding The 23 Fund: a new model for growth capital in the world’s … Continue reading "26 June 2017 – Impact Revolution…Led By Entrepreneurs"

Funds Ping An outlines fintech investment plans Medicxi nabs corporates to close $300m fund Novartis and Alphabet subsidiary Verily were among the limited partners for a the late-stage fund, which will complement the GSK and Johnson & Johnson-backed fund  Medicxi closed in 2016. Japan-based ICT equipment provider Nihon Unisys has formed a $45m corporate venturing unit that … Continue reading "19 June 2017 – Ride Hailing Services Grab Deals and Much More"

Deals Houzz is reportedly nearing the close of a $400m round led by multi-family office Iconiq Capital that will value it at about $400m. Essential, the smartphone startup founded by Andy Rubin, formerly head of Android at Google, has reportedly raised $300m at a valuation somewhere between $900m and $1bn. Pinterest has raised $150m from … Continue reading "12 June 2017 – Essential Houzz Deals and Much More"

Funds Invenergy announced (just ahead of Trump’s Paris deal pullout) that it will launch a corporate venturing arm aimed at cleantech software companies. Chinese internet company 37 Interactive Entertainment has launched an investment fund together with VC firm Oriental Future Capital. Google is reportedly launching an AI-focused fund that will be led by engineers rather than professional investors. Salesforce breaks … Continue reading "05 June 2017 – Invenergy Launches Cleantech Corporate Venturing Arm and Much More"

Deals Alibaba and Ant Financial are reportedly set to lead a $1bn round for food ordering platform Ele.me that will value it at up to $6bn. Peloton, the home fitness service that combines a high-tech exercise bike with a subscription-based service that makes it feel like you’re in a live class (within reason obviously, though … Continue reading "29 May 2017 – Home Fitness Service Peloton Raises $325m and Much More"

Before we dive into this week’s news, here’s a recommendation for a more in-depth look at a recent deal. Naspers has invested more than $420m in online food delivery service Delivery Hero at a $3.1bn flat valuation. Deals SoftBank is carrying on its Indian deal spree, paying $1.4bn for a 20% stake in One97 Communications, … Continue reading "22 May 2017 – Naspers $420m Order for Delivery Hero and Much More"

Deals The $5.5bn round on-demand ride provider Didi Chuxing just confirmed was closed at a $50bn valuation that means it is closing ground with rival Uber in terms of size, and the company has indicated it will use the cash to finally expand globally. Yixin Group, the online automotive marketplace spinout of motoring e-commerce firm … Continue reading "15 May 2017 – SoftBank Leads Improbable $502m Investment and Much More"