The Deutsche Telekom spinoff’s Growth Equity III Fund has completed a $300m first close backed by its former parent company as well as SoftBank.

Invest in a business development function — early. Be creative with funding and careful with how your strategic value is measured.

Pfizer Ventures has led a $102m series A for Capstan Therapeutics while Globis Capital Partners took part in an $85.4m round for Andpad.

Access Industries, Pfizer and SR One were among the investors in a $125m round for Nimbus Therapeutics while Aerwins agreed a reverse takeover.

Masaji Matsuoka has left Mistui & Co after more than 12 years and joined Magenta Venture Partners as managing general director.

Karolina Bjurehed, formerly head of IR and investment director at Volvo Cars Tech Fund, has joined VC firm Industrifonden.

From board seats to leading rounds to deciding when to back boom stocks — there are a lot of VC obsessions that corporate investors can skip.

Bertelsmann-backed paywall management software provider Zephr is set to be acquired by Zuora in a $44m deal while Meituan co-led a $875m round for EV battery producer Sunwoda.

Helmerich & Payne and Liberty Energy backed a $138m round for Fervo Energy, and Shandong Weigao helped Jinjiang Electron raise $103m.

Hanwha Life took part in a $20m series B round for Airs Medical while Allianz-backed AV8 Ventures helped Think Bioscience close $17m in seed funding.