Google-backed toy robot maker Play-i raises $1.4m in pre-orders for its Bo & Yana robots, in a product crowdfunding campaign run through its own site.

Tech giant Microsoft partners with the University of Melbourne and the Victoria Government on $8m Natural User Interface development deal.

German e-tailer of fashion for plus-sized women raises $13.6m led by Index Ventures and including existing investor, German media group DuMont's digital media venturing unit.

Waltop, maker of stylus technology for writing on digital devices, receives funding from Intel Capital amid recognition of growing demand for mobile-related technologies.

Omnivore Partners, the early stage investment unit of India food company Godrey Agrovet (part of Tyson Foods), has bought a minority stake in Eruvaka Technologies, an India maker of diagnostic equipment for aquaculture farmers, for an undisclosed amount.