A $25m early-stage investment fund is to support spinouts of University System of Maryland.

The stock market operator has set up a strategic investment unit called DB1 Ventures to manage its VC portfolio and fund new companies.

Thuja Capital Healthcare Fund II will support commercialisation of research at Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht and Radboud University Medical Center.

The cereal producer has founded a corporate venturing unit named Eighteen94 Capital that will fund food, ingredients, packaging and enabling technology startups.

The two universities have joined forces with Atlantic Bridge and attracted the European Investment Fund, Enterprise Ireland, AIB and Bank of Ireland as investors.

Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical is set to inject capital into TPG Biotechnology Partners V, which focuses on the biomedical and life science sectors.

Woodford Investment Management increases its stake in Imperial innovations to 21% with a $16m investment.

Phoenix Group has partnered Arkin Holdings to establish a strategic collaboration that will focus on pharmaceutical and biotechnology investments.

C31 Ventures will make strategic investments in areas of interest to the Singapore-based property developer, and has already committed $11m to a state-run fund.

MMI Holdings' Exponential Ventures unit is the largest limited partner in a $16.5m fund closed by South Africa-based venture capital firm 4Di Capital.