IT

Microsoft is the latest corporate to join France-based incubator Station F, where it will focus on artificial intelligence technology.

The Comcast-backed company, which links a visual social media platform with goods and services, is valued at $4bn and is potentially pointing a new way forward for mobile commerce.

Google's newly formed AI fund has made its first public investment, leading a $10.5m round for app algorithm marketplace Algorithmia that included Rakuten.

The augmented writing platform has now raised almost $30m since it was founded, having attracted Bloomberg Beta for a third successive round.

The firm has achieved the first close of its latest fund, backed by corporates including Orange, Publicis and Valeo as well as state-owned investment bank Bpifrance.

Safran Corporate Ventures took part in a round that took microprocessor provider Kalray's overall funding to $65m.

Connected toy maker Sphero has spun out a personal robotics startup called Misty Robotics with a series A round that included Venrock and Foundry Group.

A spinout of CEA, one of the institutes that forms part of Paris-Saclay, Kalray has developed manycore microprocessors that require only low levels of energy.

Business planning software startup Alight will use the proceeds from the Caterpillar Venture Capital-led round to scale its mining and mortgage industry products.