
OpenTable, an online restaurant reservation provider, has acquired SingTel and Amex-backed Ness Computing, a US-based provider of personalised restaurant recommendations, for $17.2m.
Nokia Growth Partners, alongside existing investor Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, has invested $10m in a series B round of funding raised by China-based online food ordering company Meican. Food-delivery companies are growing in popularity across Asia, especially in China, as the number of internet users increases and a burgeoning middle class with disposable income turns to ordering food online.
Byecity, a Chinese website providing travel and tourism information, has raised approximately $20m in a series B round of funding provided by Alibaba Capital Partners and CBC capital.
US retail company Target has selected the first five startups to participate in its new India-based accelerator.
Microsoft Ventures and Espirito Santo Ventures will be joined by another corporate venturing unit, Qualcomm Ventures, and will seek to secure up to BRL 300m ($127.8m) for the fund.
Tencent Holdings, the corporate investing unit of China internet group Tencent, has formed a strategic partnership with China e-commerce site, JD.com, which included Tencent acquiring a 15% stake in the business for a reported $214.7m. The move will enable Tencent to gain traction in the China market and beef up its competitiveness against the likes of other internet commerce sites, such as Alibaba.
John Lewis is launching a technology incubator, JLab, to be housed in Level 39 and timed to coincide with its 150-year anniversary celebrations later in 2014.