The news roundup for the week ending 26 August 2016.
Editorial: The VC industry is booming
As figures reveal 811 European firms participated in 2680 deals since early 2015, Cambridge has raised a $90m fund and the Chinese government is aiming for a $30bn vehicle.
The Global University Venturing Deal Net rounds up all the latest smaller deals and tracks emerging companies accessing university funds.
Keio Innovation Initiative sets $150m target
Corporates including Yahoo Japan and Tokyo Broadcasting System have contributed to the $50m first close of the VC partnership between Keio University and securities brokerage Nomura.
Pear, the venture firm formerly known as Pejman Mar Ventures, has secured University of Chicago as a limited partner for its $75m second fund.
Connecticut launches innovation fund
The university has joined forces with Connecticut Innovations and Webster Bank for a $1.5m fund aimed at local spinouts and startups.
Snapchat to buy a Vurb for $110m
Vurb, a contextualised search app that had raised $10m from backers including Stanford University, is set to be acquired by Snapchat in a 75-25 stock-cash deal.
Tsinova cycles to $22.6m series B
Tsinghua University’s investment affiliate has led a series B round for the bicycle maker.
Tioma passes series A checkpoint with $86m
Tioma Therapeutics, an oncology treatment spinout of Washington University in St Louis, has secured funding from backers including Novo, GlaxoSmithKline and Roche.
The report has showed that most venture capital firms that have backed startups in the cleantech sector lost cash.
David Ollila, founding director at Northern Michigan University’s tech transfer office, has left to join Skypoint Ventures.
UT sees Alafair on the horizon
UT Horizon Fund has participated in a $2m series A for medical device manufacturer Alafair Biosciences.
Viridis studies $3.2m series A
University Ventures has taken part in a funding round for the data analytics provider that matches students with potential employers.
Wooptix snaps $3.3m investment
The imaging technology spinout has attracted semiconductor manufacturer Intel as a co-lead for the round and a consortium that also included the European Investment Fund.
Iconic completes $48.5m series C
Lundbeck-backed Iconic Therapeutics, which aims to apply tissue factor biology to retinal disease and cancer treatments, has now raised $80m altogether.
AstraZeneca targets Moderna medicine with $140m investment
The pharmaceutical company has boosted its stake in mRNA drug developer and strategic partner Moderna to 9%, lifting Moderna’s overall funding to at least $790m.
Galvanize electrifies $45m series B
The incubator and workspace provider has secured capital from a consortium featuring return investor University Ventures.
Viclink has introduced a scheme, supported by 26 international institutions, that gives businesses and non-governmental organisations access to free licences for university research.
RiskSense calculates $7m investment
The spinout of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has raised its first funding round led by Paladin Capital Group.
Stanford signs up for SigOpt series A
Data analytics platform SigOpt has added Stanford University to its list of shareholders as part of a $6.6m series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz.
The nitric-oxide skin therapeutics developer will use the proceeds to fund late-stage clinical trials for acne, skin infection and fungal infection treatments.
Bolton to benefit from partnership
Susan Warburton will act as innovation business development manager as part of ambitions to connect Manchester universities with local industry.
