Netherlands impact investor Social Impact Ventures has closed its first fund at $45m, with insurer ASR providing $5.6m and ASN Bank $3.3m.

John Paul is among the investors in a $22.5m round for Velocity, which operates a booking platform for high-end dining experiences, adding to a $16m round last year.

Hubert Burda Media has led a series E round for the curated marketplace, which sells items produced by small businesses, taking its total equity funding to about $58m.

Susan Warburton will act as innovation business development manager as part of ambitions to connect Manchester universities with local industry.

Viclink has introduced a scheme, supported by 26 international institutions, that gives businesses and non-governmental organisations access to free licences for university research.

The biotech company is seeking up to $45m from an initial public offering that will be conducted in April or May 2017, and is currently raising more funding.

Generali Insurance, Miele and Barmer Gek are among the limited partners that backed the first close of the fund, which is expected to reach $135m in size.

The imaging technology spinout has attracted semiconductor manufacturer Intel as a co-lead for the round and a consortium that also included the European Investment Fund.