Parent companies Z Holdings and Line Corporation are set to merge in a $30bn deal, meaning their corporate venturing subsidiaries could be in line to also join forces.

The consumer-focused venture firm has raised $60m for the first close of the L’Oréal-backed Fireside Fund II on the way to a $100m target.

Toppan Printing, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Elan Corporation and CBC Co all invested in a $15.6m round for medical suppliers e-commerce platform Medikabazaar.

Conglomerate Al Yemni Group helped car hire service Ekar close a $17.5m round that will support its entry into Saudi Arabia as it looks to expand across the Middle East.

The education services provider is set to invest $4.2m in university-based startups in support of open innovation platform Wain Connect.

The education services provider is set to invest $4.2m in university-based startups in support of open innovation platform Wain Connect.

The second Vision Fund has reached its first close, though the sum is a far cry from the $108bn in MOUs it secured from potential backers earlier this year.

The iQiyi-incubated VR and AR tech developer has raised $14.2m in an Addor Capital-led series A round that will be used to boost its product offering.

Qiming Venture Partners led a $14.3m round for UBTech Robotics’ educational technology affiliate, with the cash to go to product development, partnerships and expansion.

Each Friday, the Global Corporate Venturing Deal Net rounds up the week’s smaller deals and tracks the emerging companies accessing corporate funds.