Energy

UK-based sales software providers Highspot and Cognism both scored funding in late-stage rounds, with Salesforce Ventures, Axa Venture Partners and Swisscom Ventures among the investors.

SoftBank led 5G chip developer Eigencomm's $157m series C round while smart bank Seba Bank raised $120m in its own series C, which included Alameda Research.

Synthetic DNA producer DNA Script and personalised health plan provider Transcarent each closed $200m corporate-backed series C rounds.

2021 registered record figures in the realm of corporate venturing.

Manulife and Shell helped the solar power provider raise the cash as Exelon-backed residential solar energy supplier PosiGen secured $100m, showing continuing interest in the solar power space.

Battery cell technology developer StoreDot has raised $60m of a targeted $80m, with carmaker VinFast leading the round as it looks to go all-electric.

The digital transformation that has disrupted and reshaped the industrial sector in recent years, known as the fourth industrial revolution or industry 4.0, has now reached a new chapter with the development of what has been dubbed as industry 5.0.

Data software provider Weka raised $73m in a round led by Hitachi Ventures while Advance Publications exited social impact technology developer EverFi in a $750m acquisition.

Tencent has dodged most of China's regulatory crackdown and built an impressive fintech portfolio globally.

In the second part of our look at the year's corporate venturing trends, we analyse fintech and enterprise bull markets along with some emerging regions.

The launch of CIV-LAC as a regional corporate entrepreneurial platform is expected to help 600 startups.