Financial

Mobile payments start-up Square has attracted a $25m Series D investment from US-based coffee retailer Starbucks.

The company has confidentially filed with US regulator Securities and Exchange Commission, and has hired US-based bank Goldman Sachs as lead underwriter, according to news provider Reuters.

Private equity investor Suhail Rizvi is leading the latest round for the Visa-backed mobile payments company, according to news provider New York Times that cites sources familiar with the deal.

Salesforce and SAP Ventures look to have picked a financial winner in file sharing company Box. The deal also has interesting strategic options for Salesforce and SAP, given Box's fast growth amongst mobile users.

Microfinance company Accion secures a 9% stake in Mexico's CrediConfia and a board seat as well as a three-year service contract providing governance, management and technical support.

Technion Research & Development Foundation is joined in the series C round by venture firms Accel Partners, Vertex Venture Capital, ProSeed Venture Capital Fund and eXeed Technology.

Mobile operator Digicel backs the latest round raised by the provider of banking for the un-banked, alongside venture firm RRE Ventures and Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together [MATT.org], a US-based non-profit organisation.

Gordon Hui was previously assistant vice-president in US-based insurer Hartford Financial Services Group's innovation and corporate venture capital group

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