Crisis-hit European economies should look to Israel as an exemplar of creating innovation from unemployment.

Roy Williamson, head of Castrol InnoVentures, said: "The judging panel felt that WhipCar's use of a flexible direct-to-peer car share concept was something that Castrol is well placed to bring to life."

Wayra Germany launches its call for projects until July 8 and joins the Wayra network shortly after launch in UK and Ireland.

Agendia was founded in 2003 as a spin-off of the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI)/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam where it had access to the world's largest frozen tumour bank.

The syndicate was joined by several new international investors including Debiopharm and Korys, the Colruyt's family office, and existing investors, including venture capital firm Gilde Healthcare Partners, family office Van Herk Group, Dutch bank ING Corporate Investments and Breedinvest, the holding company of the Blokker households goods stores.

Ulf Sandberg, the incumbent CEO of Finland-based SkySQL, will now serve as president, leading the company's operations in the Americas.

DealAngel has reportedly raised $1.3m in total.

Pitchford is managing director of healthcare investments at Imperial Innovations Group, a UK-listed venture capital firm that primarily supports spin-outs from British universities after its own spin out from Imperial College London.

WhaleShark Media, a US-based voucher discount company backed by Google's corporate venturing unit, has acquired French peer Miwim.