Lesara operates an e-commerce platform through which consumers can purchase products directly from China-based manufacturers.

E-commerce company Aliababa will work with the media company and private equity firm Yunfeng on the joint venture, which will focus on sports technologies.

Apacig, a joint venture between Rocket Internet and Ooreedo will begin by bringing Vaniday, a marketplace for wellness professionals, to the continent.

The Info Edge-backed restaurant listings platform has now accumulated $225m of funding, securing cash that will support the launch of its restaurant marketing platform.

Baidu led Mia's latest round, taking the baby and maternity e-commerce company's funding to $230m in just over a year.

The Legend-backed startup released its smart smoke alarm conversion kit at the same time as it revealed a $5.5m series A round featuring USAA.

The payment services company launched a European accelerator in May 2014, and is now extending the programme internationally with the help of other corporates.

Rocket Internet has backed a series B round for food delivery service Take Eat Easy, raised less than five months after a $6.4m series A.