Industrial

First quarter analysis

Sector focus: Consumer

Robert Bosch's corporate venturing unit now has roughly $480m under management, launching its third fund and disclosing its latest investment, in irrigation technology developer CropX.

Statoil's newly formed $200m cleaner energy-focused fund will look to build up a portfolio of 15 to 25 companies in the next four to seven years, according to SEV managing director Gareth Burns.

Samsung led the OLED display technology developer's series A round through its corporate venturing subsidiary, while LG, Japan Display and JOLED also participated.

The enterprise messaging company took its total funding to $540m, securing $200m at a $3.8bn valuation from backers including Alphabet and Comcast, showing there is still big late-stage money available for the right kind of company.

Reflective display developer Clearink Displays has now raised $10m since 2012 and hopes to add another $6m in the coming months.

Discussion at Kyushu University, Japan, identifies that Fukuoka, under its youthful mayor Soichiro Takashima (he was elected in 2010 aged 36), is one region continuing to explore its options to be a growth centre.

All the VC deals (with named investors) on Friday had effectively corporate or government venture capital angles, including sole rounds by CVCs.