Vorwerk-backed fashion e-commerce platform Lesara has raised capital from a consortium of unnamed backers in the US and the UK to drive international expansion.

Annette Reineke has been appointed vice-president of research at Geisenheim University, with technology transfer one of her responsibilities.

Merck Group and Illumina were among the investors in a $13.2m round, along with Idinvest Partners, Kurma Partners and existing backer Sofinnova Partners.

The voice-control technology developer spun out from University of Bristol has closed a series E round led by strategic investor Infineon Technologies.

The government has launched Spin-Off Austria, an $18m nationwide initiative that will support academics looking to set up spinouts.

The voice-control technology provider has closed a series E round led by strategic investor Infineon Technologies that included Robert Bosch Venture Capital.

Financial services firms Iccrea, Banca Etica and Banca Sella have put their weight behind mobile payment service Satispay in a $21.5m series C round.

The digital marketing software producer's only previous funding had been a $1.4m round four years ago that included e-mail marketing company Caloga.

Antidote Technologies, developer of a recruitment platform for clinical trials, has agreed an $11m round that will be led by Merck Global Health Innovation Fund.