Consumer

The venture firm set up with the backing of technology company AOL is joined venture firms including BV Capital, the former corporate venturing unit of media company Bertelsmann, in the A round backing the online gift card business.

Caltech and Pennsylvania back on-line teaching company Coursera, which just won the praise of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Revolymer, which makes chewing gum that is easier to remove from streets and pavements, was backed by the Setsquared Partnership, a joint venture capital initiative between Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey.

VTB has reportedly led an $18m series C round for Fast Lane Ventures, which has incubated online dating site Teamo.ru, Pinternet clone Pinme.ru and location-based shopping service Locata.

Corporates should prepare an Africa strategy, as early movers like technology companies Intel and IBM are dipping their toes into the region.

Intel Capital is joined in the round by venture firms Passport Ventures, FTV Capital and Steven Boal, co-founder of CashStar.

Media group WWE's wrestling television programme Monday Night Raw will be using the social media technology of the spin-off from the maker of Apple's Siri, in its 1000th episode.