The incubator is expected to attract up to 30 battery companies in California who can tap researchers and use equipment at Berkeley Lab and other research institutions.

MBC Ventures will invest at the seed stage in media and entertainment start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa.

The challenge of managing a diverse set of strategic LPs is an area of increasing importance to many venture capital firms.

Asahi Glass Company, Asahi Kasei Innovation Partners, Bekaert, 9th Street Investments (a CoorsTek affiliate), JSR, Mitsubishi Chemical, Murata Manufacturing Company, Nitto Denko and Sabic Ventures commit to $50m first close.

Google led the $35m round in Machinima, and was joined by venture capital firms Redpoint Ventures and MK Capital.

Cfund is founded by Alessandro Piol of Vedanta Capita; and Amol Sarva from Peek and Virgin Mobile USA

BASF Venture Capital joins other unnamed multinational corporations and Fortune 500 companies backing the China Environment fund managed by Tsing Capital.

Chesapeake puts foot on venturing gas.

The India-based microfinance firm launches a $10m lab to promote financial inclusion.

The fund of funds run by Business Leaders for Michigan secures funding from corporates including Amway, DTE Energy, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and La-Z-Boy.