Deutsche Bank Venture Capital’s former CVC head, Gil Perez, will join law firm Freshfields in April as its California-based chief innovation officer.

UK corporates invest in the domestic innovation ecosystem less than US, French and German peers. The government is trying to change that.

BMW was among the investors that backed the UK venture firm, which will be divided into a $100m seed fund and a $150m growth fund.

The VC fund backed by E.ON has reached a $120m first close and promoted Patrick Elftmann to US managing partner.

Mital Patel, formerly vice president of strategic and fintech investments at Citi, has taken up a director of strategic investments role.

Algorithmic trading group XTX Markets has named former investment manager Gabriele Papievyte as head of its corporate venturing unit.

YF Strategic Insights will be managed by the company’s parent firm, YF Networks Group, joining sister unit PcComponentes Startup Booster.

Statkraft has contributed to a series B round for Aira, which is tackling a heat pump market CEO Martin Lewerth believes can reach €150bn in size every year.

After a decade at Air Liquide in various roles, most recently managing director for its CVC unit, Vincent Brillault joined Audacia.

Greger will manage the global portfolio for Hubert Burda’s CVC unit.