Consumer

KDDI followed up a $1m investment two years ago by participating in the craft goods marketplace's latest funding round, which will support marketing and system development.

The deal marks the first investment for the $400m Focus Media FountainVest Sports JV fund, established last month.

The media company, which already held a 22% stake in fashion platform Stylight, has agreed to buy the remaining 78%, giving an exit to Tengelmann Ventures and Holtzbrinck Ventures.

Online fresh produce seller Benlai Life has closed $117m in funding, $30m of which came from kitchen appliance producer Joyoung in December 2015.

Stefan Gabriel, formerly head of advanced materials and manufactured product group 3M's corporate venturing unit for six years, hosted a discussion on CVC data.

After several decades of peaks and troughs, corporate venturers feel they are climbing up the slope of enlightenment.

Kite Hill, the producer of a range of vegan dairy substitutes, has closed an $18m round co-led by General Mills' 301 unit and plans to expand distribution and marketing.

The sixth annual Global Corporate Venturing awards are a celebration of the industry and how it helps entrepreneurs, the venture ecosystem and parent companies make the world a better place and deliver on their strategic and financial goals.