Digitized data platform raises $2.4.m Series A finance led by Social+Capital

Motorola Solutions continues backing business apps company Canvas in Series C funding round

CyberAgent Ventures, the corporate venturing unit behind Japan games business CyberAgent Inc., aims to raise $1m each month in crowdfunding for Japan start-ups with the initiation of a YEN45m ($415,000) crowdfunding platform.

Japan corporate venturing players, Itochu Technology Ventures and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, have come back to invest in a series B round valued at $3.4, to help accelerate the growth of Japan-based VIP flash fashion sales site, Muse & Co.

Globis Capital Partners, the corporate venturing unit of Japan-based global corporate management education business, and GMO Venture Partners, the corporate venturing unit of Japan GMO Internet Group, both see a growth trend in crowdsourcing or outsourcing of designers, engineers and IT specialists in their local market of Japan. Their latest $2.9m seed investment in Japan-based Lancers illustrates that trend.

Mixi, the Japan-based social networking site and Facebook rival, is following other Japanese media and telecommunications companies into the corporate venturing market. Following two start-up investments in recent weeks, Mixi now plans to set up its own venturing unit later this year.

Rocket Internet, the German e-commerce incubator, is heating things up again in Brazil with its latest $2.5m series B investment in Airu, an internet site that hosts independent retailers selling homemade and vintage goods. The latest deal reportedly almost doubles Rocket's investment in the Brazilian company.

Last month, peer Bina Technologies raised $6.25m, while Spiral Genetics gathered $3m from venture capital firm DFJ after forming from University of Washington entrepreneurship class in 2009, according to news provider Xconomy.