The media distributor has invested an initial $32m, and will provide the rest at a later date in a bid to increase its stake in the fund to 100%.

EDF joined Cisco and a host of Canadian venture capital investors in backing McRock Capital, which is targeting $65m for its industrial internet of things fund.

The IT services provider previously revealed it was considering setting aside $120m for venture capital investments in the US, Israel and India.

The semiconductor maker's technology links up with the robotics technology it is funding through the accelerator, according to its head, Houman Haghighi.

The bookmaker has formed a London and Israel-based accelerator that will invest $39,000 in each of its startups.

Venture capital firm Advance Vixeid Partners, which counts the media company as its largest investor, has already led native advertising company Nativo's $20m series B round.

The publishing company has invested an undisclosed sum in the newly formed accelerator and incubator, also transferring some of its educational assets.

Andrew McCartney, part of Microsoft Ventures as one of its entrepreneurs in residence, has co-founded a fund called Whitespace that will support corporate spin-outs.

Amazon has formed a fund to back startups that could incorporate its Alexa voice technology, and has revealed its first seven investments.