Northzone's ninth fund has signed up Rabo Frontier Ventures as a limited partner on the way to reaching a $500m final close.

Rabo Frontier Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of financial services firm Rabobank, has invested in a $500m fund that has been closed by UK-based VC firm Northzone.

The vehicle’s other limited partners include unnamed contributors to Northzone’s earlier funds as well as undisclosed new investors. Northzone has now raised €1.5bn ($1.7bn) across nine funds since it was founded in 1996.

Northzone IX is primarily concentrating on series A and B rounds but will also take part in a limited…