SAP has committed to the $49.1m debut fund raised by Amplify Partners, an early-stage VC firm that funds information technology infrastructure startups.

The aldehyde disease specialist, in which Johnson & Johnson owns a 44.5% stake, could potentially raise up to $27.6m from the initial public offering.

Kaiser Permanente-backed Agile plans to use the proceeds from its initial public offering to support clinical trials of its lead product candidate, a weekly contraceptive patch.

US retail company Target has selected the first five startups to participate in its new India-based accelerator.

Microsoft Ventures and Espirito Santo Ventures will be joined by another corporate venturing unit, Qualcomm Ventures, and will seek to secure up to BRL 300m ($127.8m) for the fund.

John Lewis is launching a technology incubator, JLab, to be housed in Level 39 and timed to coincide with its 150-year anniversary celebrations later in 2014.