Modern consumer corporations generally continue to pump out the kind of products that the world population simply cannot stop buying. Yet these industries, which have been brutally competitive, as well as profitable, since ancient times, are being transformed by a rapidly growing world population, where consumer spending power is truly globalising.

Corporate venturing investments slowed in March by number and value as exits were boosted by three initial public offerings. The slowdown in deal activity came as nerves appeared to creep back into wider market trading, as eurozone country Cyprus negotiated a bailout that involved haircuts for bank depositors.

TheBestDay, a Sydney spin-out, secures AU$1m ($1.05m) to launch its social planning tools service.

India-based e-commerce start-up ShopClues has raised $10M in a series B round from Helion, Nexus & Netprice.

Separately, the company is buying Netherlands-based peer Actiepangina.nl.

In April last year, US-based retailer Nordstrom led an initial close of the round at $16.4m.

UK media-focused venture firm Ingenious Ventures has entered into a strategic partnership with Zag and makes its first investment via its Media Opportunities Fund.

US-based Calavo Growers has announced it will be come the majority share-holder into cloud-based fresh fruit platform FreshRealm.

US-based Rent the Runway has raised $4.4m in additional series C funding from American Express and Novel TMT Ventures, bringing the total round to $24.4m.