A round up of all the latest news on www.globalcorporateventuring.com for our subscribers.
Fundraising
Bristol-Myers Squibb seeks vision with LSP investment
The pharmaceutical firm has committed a “significant” amount to the latest fund to be raised by investment firm LSP as part of a strategic collaboration agreement.
Japan Post to package up private equity subsidiary
The newly privatised postal, insurance and financial services provider manages more than $1.6 trillion in government bonds.
Airbus experiments with Indian BizLab
The aircraft producer has already already launched versions of the BizLab accelerator program in France and Germany so far this year.
Citrix to wind down Startup Accelerator
Citrix Startup Accelerator, launched in 2011, reportedly will be eliminated as part of a company-wide cost-cutting initiative.
Biogen mulls investment in $100m Israel Biotech Fund
The fund is set to target Israel-based biotech startups and, according to Globes, plans to raise between $50m and $100m.
Exits
Slack begins laying IPO groundwork
Although the Alphabet-backed messaging service has no firm plans to do so, it has begun preparations to go public and could hypothetically float 18 months from now.
Alibaba seeks $1bn exit from Dianping-Meituan
Alibaba reportedly holds a stake in the newly merged listings and e-commerce platform sized in the high single digits, and is opting to focus on its own Koubei service.
IT
Flipkart looks to log MapmyIndia investment
The e-commerce company is in talks with mapping data provider MapmyIndia at the same time as it seeks out a new head of corporate development.
Fortscale secures funding from CME and UST
Derivatives marketplace CME and IT services firm UST Global have invested an estimated $4m in Intel-backed cybersecurity analytics company Fortscale.
Health
Cheetah fits into $13m Goqii series A
Fitness coaching app Goqii has received funding in a round co-led by mobile IT technology provider Cheetah Mobile and venture firm New Enterprise Associates.
ObsEva spots corporates for $59m series B
ObsEva, which is developing treatments for pregnancy-related conditions, received the funding from investors including pharmaceutical companies Merck Serono and Novo.
Baronova shapes up with $36.5m
The weight-loss device developer, which has previously secured funding from Allergan and Boston Scientific, has now raised almost $80m altogether.
Media
Mobvista markets itself on NEEQ
The marketing and game publishing company, which counts NetEase, Shanghai Media and Golden Eagle Broadcasting among its backers, has gone public in its home country of China.
Yixia screens Weibo for $200m series D
The social video app developer has now raised $275m altogether and is worth $1bn, after securing cash in a round led by Weibo, with which it is partnering on a $100m fund.
Douban entertains possibility of $150m JD.com investment
Entertainment-focused social network and reviews platform Douban is set to add $150m from e-commerce group JD.com to $59m from backers including Bertelsmann.
Otter swims out to Crunchyroll
Chernin Group and AT&T joint venture Otter Media has invested $22m in Ellation, the owner of anime streaming platform Crunchyroll.
Consumer
The comparison-based e-commerce platform has closed its second Mitsui-backed round of the year, boosting its overall funding to more than $100m.
Didi Kuaidi takes a ride on Ele.me
China’s largest ride hailing company has invested an undisclosed sum in food ordering platform Ele.me, and the two are set to form a strategic partnership.
Jet.com lengthens runway with $350m
Alibaba and Alphabet were among the investors in the round, which was raised at a $1bn pre-money valuation with verbal commitments for a further $150m.
Weying, owner of ticketing platform Wepiao and the manager of two entertainment funds, has confirmed the Tencent and Wanda-backed round.
LeTV calls in $530m for smartphone unit
LeTV Mobile, which has released four smartphones this year, raised the cash from four undisclosed investors and will put the money towards expansion.
Mogujie socialises with Ping An for $200m
Ping An Ventures led the social e-commerce company’s latest round, and it has now raised more than $410m in total from investors also including IDG and Bertelsmann.
Financial
Atom Bank receives $124m of interest
The mobile banking company, expected to officially launch early next year, raised the money in a round led by BBVA, which invested $68m for a 29.5% stake.
Allianz and Baidu draw up digital insurance venture
Insurer Allianz and internet company Baidu are combining with Hillhouse Capital to form an insurance company that will target the digital sector.
Baidu and Citic to combine for direct lending company
The two will put $313m into Baixin Bank, which will provide direct banking services in their home country of China.
Energy and Natural Resources
The company, which secured Amazon as an investor back in August, has developed an app that helps users save water by remotely controlling their sprinklers.
Monsanto call gets PlantResponse for $6m series A
Monsanto led the plant genetics technology developer’s series A round through its corporate venturing unit, and was joined by biotechnology company Novozymes.
Waste-to-energy company Harvest Power, backed by investors including Waste Management, has now raised more than $240m since 2008.
Sunfire rises with corporate investment
The fuel cell and electrolyser producer has raised an eight-figure sum from CEZ, Total and the EDF-funded Electranova Capital.
Maritime energy storage technology company Corvus Energy has received an undisclosed amount of funding from Statoil’s corporate venturing arm.
Industrial
Kabuku concludes series A dance raising $6m
The CyberAgent-backed 3D printing startup raised the cash from marketing firm Dentsu, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Global Brain.
ColorChip shades in $25m series E
The Motorola-backed semiconductor technology producer has now raised $70m altogether, and could hypothetically look to go public in the next two years.
Services
Grofers localises $120m in funding
SoftBank led the series C round, increasing the funding raised by the last-mile delivery startup, now valued at $300m, to $165m this year.
Shiftgig employs Renren for $22m series B
The mobile jobs marketplace has now raised $35m in total, and will use the capital to support an expansion drive across North America.
MindTickle sells Qualcomm on $12.5m series A
Sales training software provider MindTickle has now raised more than $14m in just over a year, with Qualcomm Ventures now among its investors.
Holtzbrinck Ventures, which contributed to the moving services company’s seed round two months ago, has returned for a $7.4m series A.
