Professional services firms are late to the corporate investing game, but that is changing. PwC Germany’s fund — which has double digit millions in capital and has so far made 20 investments — has become a frontrunner.

Tech's greatest deal had been YouTube by Sequoia but the venture model has evolved with founder ambitions

Blockchain technology provider Venom Foundation is joining Iceberg Capital on a $1bn fund while BioNTech is paying $440m for portfolio company InstaDeep.

USAA, Samsung and UEM chipped in as Lumotive raised $13m, while Printpack and Braskem are exiting Nexus Circular in a $150m acquisition.

Forge Therapeutics acquired spinoff Blacksmith Medicines while solar film producer Sinopont raised $145m in series D funding.

China Mobile and Hexie Health Insurance co-led Moore Threads’ $215m series B round while Eicher Motors provided $37.4m for Stark Future.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial provided $200m for Akulaku while various Chinese corporates participated in Freetech’s $100m series B round.

Head of strategy Neeraj Makin will oversee Dubai banking group NBD's corporate venture fund, one of the few to be set up by a Middle Eastern bank.

Several corporates took part in SonoThera’s $60.8m series A round while NEC closed its Orchestrating Future Fund at $140m.

The new fund will invest in software, mobility services and sustainability.

Corporate investors are backing a host of elder-care startups, from those seeking Parkinson's cures to apps aiding mental wellbeing.

Torq Ventures — which has gone from consultancy to full CVC unit in 3 years — is a sign of how fast Brazilian corporate venture is growing.

The agricultural chemicals producer is widening its investment remit, looking at everything from fintech for farmers and soil health.

Suzano and Yara participated in Agrolend’s $145m latest round while Xencor contributed to Zenas BioPharma’s $118m series B.