14 March 2022 – LanzaTech lands $2.2bn reverse takeover agreement

LanzaTech lands $2.2bn reverse takeover agreement

LanzaTech, a US-based carbon capture technology developer backed by corporates ArcelorMittal, Mitsui, Novo, Siemens and Petronas, agreed to a $2.2bn reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company AMCI Acquisition Corp II.

MUFG to explore India with $300m vehicle

Japan-headquartered financial services firm MUFG formed a $300m India-focused investment vehicle called MUFG Ganesha Fund.

Forto ships in $250m

Germany-headquartered freight forwarding software producer Forto secured $250m in a series D round featuring internet and telecommunications group Softbank’s Vision Fund 2 and AP Moller Holding, owner of shipping firm AP Moller – Maersk.

Roofstock builds $240m series E

Property investment technology developer Roofstock has raised $240m in a series E round led by internet and telecommunications group SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2.

Axonius executes $200m series E

US-headquartered cybersecurity management software provider Axonius completed a $200m series E round featuring DTCP, the investment manager backed by telecommunications firm Deutsche Telekom.

DNAnexus draws $200m in funding

DNAnexus, a provider of biomedical data analysis software, raised $200m in funding from investors including GV, a corporate venturing subsidiary of internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet.

Autobrains drives to $120m series C

Israel-based self-driving technology developer Autobrain, has closed its series C round at $120m, featuring investors including automotive producers BMW and VinFast as well as car parts producers Continental and Knorr-Bremse.

Cake DeFi launches $100m venture unit

Singapore-based decentralised finance services provider Cake DeFi launched a venture capital unit called Cake DeFi Ventures, which is capitalised to the tune of $100m.

Tencent helps Flash cash in

Brazil-based corporate benefits management service Flash has secured over $100m in series C funding from investors including internet group Tencent.

Colossal Biosciences engineers $60m series A

US-based genetic engineering technology developer Colossal Biosciences received $60m in series A funding from investors including gaming and blockchain technology developer Animoca Brands and game studio Untamed Planet.

Excelero accepts Nvidia acquisition

Semiconductor producer Nvidia acquired Excelero, a US-based flash storage technology developer backed by mobile chipmaker Qualcomm and data storage product manufacturer Western Digital, for an undisclosed sum.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

31 January 2022 – Swiggy Swipes $700m in Series K

Swiggy swipes $700m in series K round

India-based food ordering service Swiggy has secured $700m in a series K round featuring internet groups Prosus’ subsidiary Prosus Ventures and Smile Group.

Boeing flies $450m to Wisk

Aerospace manufacturer Boeing invested $450m in US-based flying taxi developer Wisk, highlighting the interest from the industry in commercially viable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles.

FTX US hauls in $400m

FTX US, part of Bahamas-registered cryptocurrency marketplace operator FTX Trading, raised $400m in a series A round featuring internet and telecommunications group SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 at an $8bn valuation.

Deloitte Canada sets up $119m venture unit

US-based accountancy and consulting firm Deloitte’s Canadian subsidiary launched a CVC unit called Deloitte Ventures with $119m in capitalisation.

Jidu mobilises corporates to raise $400m

Internet group Baidu and carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group provided $400m in series A funding for their China-based electric vehicle joint venture, Jidu.

Akili Interactive accedes to $1bn reverse merger

US-based digital therapeutics developer Akili Interactive agreed to a $1bn reverse merger, marking exits for pharmaceutical firms Merck Group, Amgen and Shionogi & Co.

Factorial Energy charges up $200m series D

US-based electric vehicle battery developer Factorial Energy completed a $200m series D round co-led by carmakers Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis.

Tuhu tilts towards Hong Kong IPO

Tuhu, the China-based owner of an online marketplace for car maintenance services, has filed for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that could mark exits for internet groups Baidu and Tencent.

ImmPact Bio forges ahead with $111m

US-based cancer treatment developer ImmPact Bio picked up $111m in a series B round from investors including pharmaceutical firms Bukwang Pharmaceutical and Novartis, the latter through its CVC unit Novartis Ventures Fund.

Sigfox seeks bankruptcy protection

Sigfox, the France-headquartered internet-of-things (IoT) technology provider, has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Marcelo Claure leaves SoftBank

Marcelo Claure, chief operating officer at Japan-headquartered telecommunications and internet group SoftBank Group and the driving force behind its Latin America corporate venturing funds, is leaving the company.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

17 January 2022 – Tencent Helps Serve Up $100m for Flipdish

Tencent helps serve up $100m for Flipdish

Internet and gaming group Tencent led a funding round for Flipdish, the Ireland-based developer of a customer experience software platform, sized at approximately $100m, highlighting the steady digitalisation of the hospitality industry.

Roche rounds up $290m for Freenome

Pharmaceutical firm Roche invested $290m in US-based cancer detection technology developer Freenome, whose platform combines molecular biology and machine learning to detect cancer in the early stages through a routine blood draw.

Placer.ai finds space for $100m

Commercial property developer Majestic Realty took part in a $100m series C round for US-based footfall data software provider Placer.ai, bringing its overall funding to $166m and valuing the company at $1bn. It is the latest investment by a property developer in the building analytics space.

GoStudent grabs $340m in series D

Austria-based online tutoring services provider GoStudent has closed a $340m series D round led by internet group Prosus at a $3.4bn valuation.

Tul twigs to $181m series B

Colombia-headquartered hardware marketplace Tul has secured $181m in series B funding from investors including SoftBank’s Latin America Fund, as construction technology continues to prosper in Latin America.

Delivery Hero gets $150m Rappi return

Local food delivery service provider Delivery Hero has sold $150m of shares in Colombia-based delivery service Rappi, as food delivery services continue to grow around the world.

SoftBank gets $100m to Gousto

Internet and telecommunications conglomerate SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 has invested $100m in UK-based meal kit subscription service Gousto with a combination of new and secondary share purchases at a valuation of $1.75bn.

Carsome drives to $290m in series E

Malaysia-based automotive marketplace operator Carsome received $290m in series E funding from investors including conglomerates Gokongwei Group, Sunway and YTL Group as the online used car market booms.

New York Times agrees $550m Athletic purchase

Media company The New York Times has agreed to purchase US-headquartered online sports media platform The Athletic in a $550m deal that allows media group Bertelsmann and mass media company Comcast to exit.

Mitsubishi Electric mints corporate VC vehicle

Japan-based electrical equipment manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric launched the $43.7m ME Innovation Fund with venture capital firm Global Brain.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

13 December 2021 – Arm Eyeing IPO Amid Nvidia Deal Uncertainty

Arm eyeing IPO amid Nvidia deal uncertainty

UK-based semiconductor technology producer Arm would look to have an initial public offering (IPO) as a backup plan if its planned acquisition by fellow chipmaker Nvidia were to fall through, a source told Global Corporate Venturing.

SenseTime sets $767m target for IPO

SenseTime, a China-headquartered artificial intelligence technology provider that counts corporates Alibaba, Qualcomm, SoftBank, Suning and Dalian Wanda as investors, is reportedly seeking up to $767m in its initial public offering.

Nubank nabs $2.6bn in IPO

Nu Holdings, the Brazil-based owner of neobank Nubank, which counts internet company Tencent and conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway as investors, secured $2.6bn in an IPO priced at $9 apiece – at the top of its range.

Tencent makes Tyme in $180m series B

Singapore-based digital banking network Tyme expanded its series B round to $180m with $70m in new funding from internet and gaming group Tencent and development finance institution CDC Group, highlighting the further international expansion of digital banking.

GV gees up Freenome’s $300m series D

Internet and technology group Alphabet’s GV subsidiary took part in a $300m series D round for US-based cancer detection technology developer Freenome, further expanding its life sciences portfolio.

Whydah wins $25m to push play-to-earn gaming

Vietnam-based blockchain game studio Whydah secured $25m from investors including gaming guild Good Guild Games, decentralised technology provider Mask Network and blockchain technology developer KardiaChain as the market for play-to-earn (P2E) gaming continues to intensify.

Binance and Animoca Brands form $200m fund

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance’s Smart Chain subsidiary launched a $200m blockchain gaming investment scheme with digital entertainment and blockchain technology developer Animoca Brands.

Genesys generates $580m in Zoom-backed round

UK-based customer engagement software provider Genesys secured $580m from investors including Zoom, forming part of a significantly expanded portfolio for the video conferencing platform developer in 2021.

Jokr plays series B card to raise $260m

On-demand grocery delivery startup Jokr secured $260m in series B funding from investors including HV Capital, the venture capital firm backed by publisher Holtzbrinck, at a $1.2bn valuation.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

29 November 2021 – J&T Express Gets $2.5bn Funding Delivery

J&T Express gets $2.5bn funding delivery

Indonesia-headquartered logistics provider J&T Express has received $2.5bn in funding from investors including internet and gaming group Tencent at a valuation of $20bn as the company is getting set for an initial public offering in Hong Kong in early 2022.

Deliverr captures $250m in series E round

US-based e-commerce fulfilment service Deliverr – which provides logistics and fulfilment services for online merchants such as Amazon, Walmart, Ebay and Target – secured $250m in a series E round featuring logistics, real estate and investment management firm GLP at a $2bn valuation.

Impossible Foods bites down on $500m

Impossible Foods, the US-based vegetarian meat product manufacturer backed by internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet, closed its latest funding round at $500m.

SoftBank backs LTK with $300m

US-based influencer marketing platform developer LTK secured $300m in funding from telecommunications and internet group SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 at a $2BN valuation.

Ionity plugs into $786m

Ionity, the Germany-headquartered electric vehicle charging network, raised €700m ($786m) from its existing backers in addition to investment management firm BlackRock.

Lancium mines $150m in funding

Conglomerate Hanwha Group led a $150m funding round for US-based renewable energy software developer Lancium through its chemical production subsidiary Hanwha Solutions.

Gemini signs up for $400m round

Digital payment technology provider Mogo revealed it was among the investors in the $400m funding round recently disclosed by US-headquartered cryptocurrency trading and storage platform developer Gemini.

Coinbase buys BRD to boost crypto offering

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has acquired Switzerland-based cryptocurrency wallet developer BRD for an undisclosed sum, marking exits for corporates SBI Holdings, Ripple, OKWave and Credit Saison.

Global-e to absorb Flow Commerce for $500m

Cross-border e-commerce services provider Global-e agreed to acquire US-based cross-border e-commerce tools provider Flow Commerce for up to $500m, marking an exit for corporates American Express and Li & Fung Group.

Vigil Neuroscience files for IPO

US-based neurodegenerative disease drug developer Vigil Neuroscience has filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Global Market, setting a $100m placeholder target for the offering and marking a potential exit for pharmaceutical firm Amgen.

Telenor and CP explore Thai investment vehicle

Norway-headquartered telecommunications firm Telenor and Thailand-based conglomerate CP Group plan to merge their telecommunications subsidiaries in Thailand in a deal worth approximately $8.6bn, as they also plan to collaborate on a joint corporate venturing effort.

Kompas points towards $160m investment vehicle

Kompas, a Denmark-headquartered venture capital partnership has formed a $160m inaugural fund anchored by building materials manufacturer VKR Holding.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

22 November 2021 – Braze Breaches Public Markets in $520m IPO

Braze breaches public markets in $520m IPO

US-based customer engagement technology provider Braze floated on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in a $520m IPO, marking an exit for financial services firm Citi.

Expensify executes $302m initial public offering

Expensify, the US-based expense management software producer backed by cybersecurity services provider Barracuda Networks, closed its own IPO at $302m.

SoundHound sorts out $2.1bn reverse merger

SoundHound, a US-based voice intelligence software provider backed by corporates Tencent, Daimler, Hyundai, Midea Group, Orange, Sompo, Samsung, Nvidia and Recruit, agreed to list through a reverse takeover with Archimedes Tech SPAC Partners Co at a pro forma valuation of $2.1bn.

Gett hails reverse merger deal

Israel-based ride hailing service Gett, which counts carmaker Volkswagen and conglomerate Access Industries as backers, agreed to a $1bn reverse takeover with special purpose acquisition company Rosecliff Acquisition Corp I.

Lacework leans into $1.3bn

Cybersecurity software provider Lacework received $1.3bn in funding from investors including data software producer Snowflake and mass media group Liberty Global.

Gemini signs up for $400m round

Cryptocurrency trading and storage platform developer Gemini secured $400m in funding from investors including financial services firm Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with Morgan Creek Capital’s Morgan Creek Digital subsidiary leading the round at a $7.1bn valuation.

Forte blocks in $725m in funding

Blockchain gaming technology developer Forte, which provides blockchain technology that enables game developers to create internal economies for video games through NFTs, raised $750m in a series B round backed by multiple gaming and media corporates.

Expel gets series E $140m injection

Internet and technology group Alphabet’s growth-stage investment vehicle, CapitalG, co-led a series E round for US-based cybersecurity technology developer Expel sized at over $140m.

FBN harvests $300m in funding

Online farmer network platform Farmer’s Business Network (FBN) raised $300m in a series G round featuring food processing and commodities trading company ADM and internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet, which invested respectively through their ADM Ventures and GV units.

3one4 Capital takes Krafton-backed fund to $135m

India-based venture capital firm 3one4 Capital aims to roughly double the size of a third fund, backed by game developer Krafton, to approximately $202m.

Corporates bet on $100m Bits x Bites fund

China-based agriculture and food-focused venture capital firm Bits x Bites has closed its second fund at $100m with backing from corporates Esco Lifesciences, Syngenta, Adisseo and Wilbur Ellis.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

15 November 2021 – Rivian Motors to $11.9bn IPO

Rivian motors to $11.9bn IPO

US-based electric truck developer Rivian went public on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in an $11.9bn IPO that marked the exits for corporates Amazon, Ford, Cox Enterprises, Sumitomo and Abdul Latif Jameel.

Paytm puts together $2.5bn IPO

One97 Communications, the owner of payments service Paytm, is set to raise $2.5bn in its IPO.

Nykaa nabs $721m in initial public offering

FSN E-Commerce Ventures, the corporate-backed operator of fashion e-commerce platform Nykaa – an online beauty, personal and pet care product marketplace that also offers its goods through more than 80 brick-and-mortar retail partners across India – secured more than $721m in its initial public offering.

PharmEasy fishes for $842m in IPO

API Holdings the corporate-backed owner of India-based digital drugstore operator PharmEasy, filed for an IPO equal to $842m on the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

DoorDash orders up $8.1bn Wolt acquisition

Online food ordering service DoorDash agreed to acquire Wolt, a Finland-based food and consumer delivery service that counts internet group Prosus as an investor, in a €7bn ($8.1bn) all-share deal.

GoTo gets $1.3bn in pre-IPO funding

GoTo Group, the Indonesia-based company formed by the merger of e-commerce marketplace Tokopedia and ride hailing service Gojek, reportedly secured over $1.3bn from investors including Google and Tencent as it prepares to go public at a valuation of up to $30bn.

Xiaohongshu sells corporates on $500m round

China-based social commerce app developer Xiaohongshu has reportedly raised $500m from investors including internet group Tencent and e-commerce firm Alibaba.

Lime scoots to $523m in financing

US-based urban mobility service Lime – which provides electric scooter and bicycle rental services in 120 cities worldwide – has raised $523m in convertible debt and term loan financing from investors including ride hailing service Uber.

FTX, Solana and Lightspeed launch $100m fund

Cryptocurrency exchange FTX and US-headquartered public blockchain platform developer Solana’s corporate venturing unit, Solana Ventures, have launched a $100m gaming fund with venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Cadenza catches investors for $50m crypto fund

US-based venture capital firm Cadenza Ventures has raised $50m for an early-stage cryptocurrency-focused vehicle anchored by mutual fund manager VanEck Associates.

Emerson establishes $100m investment fund

Emerson, a US-headquartered producer of manufacturing automation technology, has launched a $100m corporate venturing vehicle called Emerson Ventures, with plans to deploy that capital over the next five years.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

08 November 2021 – Terran Takes Off with $1.58bn Reverse Merger

Terran takes off with $1.58bn reverse merger

Terran Orbital Corporation, a US-based satellite services provided backed by aerospace and defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin, has agreed to a reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company Tailwind Two Acquisition Corp.

Nubank files for dual listing

Nubank, a digital bank operator backed by corporates Tencent and Berkshire Hathaway, filed for a dual initial public offering (IPO) yesterday in the United States and its home country of Brazil.

Delhivery to ship in $998m through IPO

Delhivery, a FedEx and SoftBank-backed logistics service provider based in India, filed for an initial public offering that will be sized at up to $998m.

Udemy completes route to IPO

US-based online education provider Udemy secured approximately $421m in an IPO the Nasdaq Global Select Market , providing exits for internet group Prosus and remote learning service Benesse.

Coca-Cola fortifies itself with Bodyarmor

Beverage producer Coca-Cola Company acquired portfolio company Bodyarmor, a US-headquartered sports drink brand, at a valuation of approximately $6.59bn.

Everlaw earns $202m in series D round

US-based developer of legal data software provider Everlaw raised $202m yesterday in a series D round that included CapitalG, the growth-stage investment arm of internet and technology conglomerate Alphabet.

Mythical Games gets $150m to play with

US-based blockchain game developer Mythical Games raised $150m in a series C round featuring cryptocurrency exchanges Binance and FTX, bringing its total funding to over $270m.

Sfermion hits close of $100m Fund II

Sfermion, a US-based non-fungible token (NFT) focused investment firm, has closed its second fund at $100m with backing from blockchain app developer Animoca Labs and trading firm Capital Markets Trading.

Fox starts $100m NFT fund

Fox, a US-based media group, has set up a $100m corporate venturing fund for digital creators as part of a new business unit, Blockchain Creative Labs.

Walden Catalyst Ventures tops $550m for first fund

Walden Catalyst Ventures, the US-based venture capital firm co-founded by ex-employees of South Korea-headquartered consumer electronics producer Samsung’s Catalyst Fund, closed its debut fund at over $550m.

Open Labs launches $100m fund

Indonesia-based brand aggregator Open Labs has launched a $100m fund to acquire direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

03 May 2021 – Messagebird Adds $800m to Series C Round

The Big Ones

Netherlands-based customer service software provider Messagebird has added $800m to a series C round featuring Bonnier, expanding it to $1bn. Bonnier joined Eurazeo, Tiger Global Management, BlackRock, Owl Rock, Glynn Capital, LGT Lightstone, Longbow, Mousse Partners, NewView Capital, Accel, Atomico and Y Combinator in the extension, which was made up of 70% equity financing and 30% debt. Spark Capital led the round’s $200m first close in October 2020 at a $3bn valuation, investing alongside Glynn Capital, LGT Lightstone, Longbow, Mousse Partners, Accel, Atomico, Y Combinator and New View Capital. MessageBird had raised a total of $100m prior to this round. The company revealed it has channelled $600m of the extension into acquiring SparkPost, the US-based creator of an email optimisation software platform it claims oversees some 4.5 trillion emails a year on behalf of its customers.

Main Sequence Ventures, the Australia-based venture capital firm founded by Commonwealth Scientific Research Organisation (CSIRO), has secured A$250m ($194m) for its second fund from LPs including Lockheed Martin, Temasek, HostPlus, Horizons Ventures and unspecified family offices and individual investors. Main Sequence was founded in 2017 to manage CSIRO Innovation Fund 1, an investment vehicle established by CSIRO and the Australian federal government. The firm specialises in commercialising academic research and investing in spinouts. It focuses on deep tech solving one of six key objectives – feeding 10 billion people, population-scale healthcare, industrial productivity, accessing space, enabling next-generation computing and decarbonisation. Decarbonisation technologies is an added focus with Fund II and partner Martin Duursma will lead on this effort. I previously interviewed another partner of Main Sequence, Mike Zimmerman, late last year and I highly recommend you seek out our other podcast, Talking Tech Transfer, on your favourite app or on GlobalUniversityVenturing.com to listen to that episode (and all the others, we have close to 30 interviews with thought leaders in university innovation from all over the world, including our most recent with Sara Wallin, the CEO of Chalmers Ventures, the number one-ranked incubator in the Nordics).

UiPath, the robotic process automation software producer that counts Alphabet and Tencent as investors, closed its initial public offering at almost $1.54bn just over a week ago (April 23). The company issued 9.4 million shares priced at $56 each, above the $52 to $54 range for the offering, while investors including CapitalG sold nearly 14.5 million more shares. The extra stock bumped the number issued by UiPath to 13 million and the move came after UiPath’s shares rose significantly post-IPO. They are, as of the time of recording on Friday afternoon UK time, trading at $73.50 on the New York Stock Exchange.

And more interesting crossover news this week in the form of an exit: Vaccitech, a UK-based vaccine developer spun out of University of Oxford, priced its shares at $17 to raise more than $110m in its debut on the Nasdaq Global Market. Founded in 2016, Vaccitech initially aimed to develop a universal flu vaccine but the technology’s arguably most fundamental impact to date has been the creation of the covid-19 vaccine now deployed by pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca. Vaccitech’s pipeline now features assets targeting chronic hepatitis B infection, HPV, prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, shingles and Mers. OSI is the largest shareholder ahead of the offering, with a 29.5% stake, which will be diluted to 23.9%. GV will come out with 5%, Tencent (4.2%) and Gilead Science is also a shareholder but held less than 5% ahead of the offering.

Deals

Eutelsat Communications has agreed to invest $550m in UK-based satellite internet technology developer One Web, in return for a stake sized at about 24%. OneWeb is building a 648-satellite constellation intended to provide broadband coverage to remote areas from low orbit. The initial system is expected to be operational by the end of this year and Eutelsat’s capital will take it most of the way towards its funding goal. The company had raised a total of $3.4bn from investors including SoftBank Vision Fund, Bharti Enterprises and Hughes Network Systems before filing for bankruptcy in March 2020. Bharti subsequently joined the UK government to buy OneWeb’s assets for $1bn in July the same year. SoftBank paid $350m for a 30% stake in the resurrected company in January 2021 while Hughes invested $50m.

US-based blockchain infrastructure technology developer Paxos has received $300m in a series D round featuring PayPal Ventures. Venture capital firm Oak HC/FT led the round, which included Declaration Partners, Mithril Capital, Senator Investment Group, Liberty City Ventures and WestCap. The company has secured more than $535m since it was founded in 2012 and the round valued it at $2.4bn post-money.

Two entities owned by Tencent have provided $225m for India-based social network operator ShareChat as part of its $502m series E round. The round was led by Tiger Global Management earlier this month and also featured venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners as well as Snap, the owner of messaging app Snapchat. Tencent provided almost half the capital in the form of convertible debt, from Netherlands-registered vehicles Zennis Capital and Hlodyn. Should the debt be converted into equity, they would own a 19.7% stake in ShareChat. Tencent would be unable to invest in the company directly due to strict rules governing the acquisition of stakes in Indian companies by Chinese entities. The same rules have allowed ShareChat to grow without competing against companies such as the China-based TikTok.

Rocket Lawyer, a US-based digital legal services provider backed by Alphabet, Relx and Editions Lefebvre Sarrut, has received $223m in financing. The round was led by Vista Credit Partners, a subsidiary of investment firm Vista Equity Partners, but it has not revealed the identity of the other participants. The company’s last funding came in 2016 when legal publisher Editions Lefebvre Sarrut invested an undisclosed amount as part of a joint venture to launch a Rocket Lawyer Europe entity.

US-based cybersecurity software provider Sysdig has secured $188m in a series F round featuring Siemens’s Next47. Founded in 2013, Sysdig provides a software tool that helps cloud operators run their services securely, preventing and responding to threats and vulnerabilities in a timely manner. The series F was raised at a $1.19bn valuation and lifted the company’s total funding to $394m.

India-headquartered home services marketplace Urban Company has raised $188m in a series F round led by Prosus at a $2bn valuation. The round was filled out by DF International – possibly a vehicle for Dragoneer Investment Group – and Wellington Management, lifting the company’s overall funding to more than $370m.

US-based gas management technology provider Crusoe Energy Systems has completed a $128m series B round featuring Exor, Coinbase Ventures and DRW Venture Capital. The equity funding was raised alongside a $40m project financing facility from growth financing provider Upper90.

US-based cancer therapy developer Boundless Bio completed a $105m series B round that included Alexandria Venture Investments. Boundless is working on a pipeline of precision cancer drugs designed to target the extrachromosomal DNA of aggressive cancers. The latest round follows a $46.4m series A in September 2019 that was also backed by Alexandria Venture Investments.

BigID, a US-based data protection software developer backed by Comcast, Salesforce and SAP, has added $30m from private equity firm Advent International to a series D round now standing at $100m. The deal came after the company secured $70m in a first tranche co-led by Salesforce Ventures and Tiger Global Management in December 2020. Glynn Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Scale Venture Partners and Boldstart Ventures also took part in the first close. The extension increased BigID’s funding to over $246m and valued it at $1.3bn.

Funds

China-based IoT technology producer Tuya has formed a $400m strategic investment fund with Hillhouse Capital. Tuya’s platform enables businesses to access hardware development tools, cloud services and smart business development software in order to build their connected services. The company floated in the US last month in a $915m initial public offering in which affiliates of Hillhouse Capital had expressed interest in buying $100m of shares.

Exits

JD Logistics, the logistics services subsidiary of China-headquartered e-commerce firm JD.com, received approval for an initial public offering expected to net it between $3bn and $4bn, according to people familiar with the matter. A source told DealStreetAsia in February this year JD.com would seek a $40bn valuation for the IPO. Launched in 2017, JD Logistics provides delivery and warehousing services to online merchants, the latter through a network of about 900 warehouses across China. It is also looking to automate part of its offering through the use of driverless delivery vehicles. JD.com owns 79.1% of the spinoff and shareholders also include Tencent and China Life.

Tata Group has secured regulatory approval to acquire a majority stake in India-based online grocer BigBasket, with e-commerce group Alibaba set to exit. The deal was agreed in February and is set to be conducted by the corporate’s Tata Digital subsidiary, which will pay a reported $1.2bn for a 64.3% stake in BigBasket, valuing it at nearly $1.87bn. Tata Digital will make a primary investment of $200m to $250m with the rest to come through secondary share sales which will likely involve Alibaba divesting a 29.6% stake – for roughly $550m – and investment firm Artis a 16.5% stake.

India-based food delivery service Zomato has filed for an Rs 82.5bn ($1.1bn) initial public offering, with Info Edge set to sell $100m of shares. The company is planning a dual offering on the National Stock Exchange of India and the BSE and is considering raising a further $200m through a private placement prior to the IPO. Zomato generated $186m in income in the last nine months of 2020, making a loss of $92.7m. The offering will come in the wake of roughly $1.45bn of funding, the most recent of which involved Zomato raising $250m in February this year at a $5.4bn valuation.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

21 December 2020 – ByteDance Raising $2bn at $180bn Valuation

The Big Ones

Ant Group may not have been able to successfully go public but China’s other hugely valuable VC-backed private company, ByteDance, is reportedly in the process of raising $2bn at a $180bn valuation. KKR and Sequoia Capital are co-leading the round, but no word yet on whether it’s set to include SoftBank, a participant in its last round, in 2018, which valued it at $78bn.

Luxembourg-headquartered venture capital fund European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) reached a €175m ($213m) second close on Tuesday with €93m from limited partners including corporates Volkswohl Bund Versicherungen, Nestlé and Neste. Insurance provider Volkswohl Bund Versicherungen, packaged food and beverage producer Nestlé and oil processor Neste were joined in the second close by promotional bank NRW Bank and an unnamed family office. ECBF was launched by the European Commission and European Investment Bank in November 2019. The European Investment Bank has provided a total of €100m for the vehicle as a cornerstone investor. The fund is focused on late-stage investments in bioeconomy technology developers located in Europe. It is two thirds of the way towards a targeted close of €250m.

Roblox and Affirm may be putting their initial public offerings back to 2021, but that hasn’t stopped mobile commerce platform developer Wish pricing an IPO that will net it just over $1.1bn. The JD.com-backed company is floating at the top of its range after pumping its revenue up 32% in the first nine months of 2020, at a valuation about 50% higher than in its last round, in August 2019, so the outcome of this one is going to be very interesting. Were the others priced badly or is the market just supercharged right now?

University of British Columbia-linked AbCellera was one of the recent IPO candidates that saw a huge first-day pop, pricing an upsized $483m IPO at $20 per share early in the week only for its shares to open at more than three times that price. The Eli Lilly-backed antibody therapy developer eventually closed that offering at $556m after the underwriters unsurprisingly took up the over-allotment option. It won’t be the last time that happens this year.

Deals

Google X may not have been the goldmine some at its parent company hoped for, but an unqualified success at this point has to be Verily, the company applying big data technology to healthcare and life sciences. Verily has just raised $700m from existing investors including Google owner Alphabet, representing its third mega round in total. Alphabet was joined by Temasek, which invested $800m in Verily in 2017, as well as Silver Lake and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which had added $1bn two years later.

Xingsheng Preference Electronic Business, the group buying platform mainly known as Xingsheng Youxuan, has agreed to raise $700m from e-commerce group JD.com through a strategic collaboration agreement. The news was revealed in a regulatory filing without a valuation attached, but Xingsheng Youxuan was reportedly in the process of securing $800m in a Tencent-backed round in July at a $4bn post-money valuation.

Apex Microelectronics, a chipmaker spinoff of printing and imaging technology producer Ninestar, has raised $489m from investors including Gree Electric Appliance’s Zhuhai Gree Financial Investment Management vehicle. The round was led by the $31bn China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund II, and Gree Financial Investment Managementsupplied $53.5m in return for a 1.8% stake.

StockX runs an e-commerce marketplace that specialises in collectible and high-grade goods such as sneakers, handbags and electronics, and has raised $275m in series E funding at a $2.8bn post-money valuation. Tiger Global Management led the round, and StockX’s earlier investors include GV, the Alphabet subsidiary formerly known as Google Ventures, which has had some year it’s fair to say.

With vaccines beginning to be rolled out, it feels like the tech space is finally looking forward to a 2021 where some dormant sectors will be making big returns (potentially in both senses of the word). That could be part of the impetus behind the $182m in funding just raised by ride hailing service Bolt. Daimler and Didi Chuxing-backed Bolt has diversified its business model by leaning more heavily on logistics in recent months, and the round looks to have more than doubled its valuation to roughly $4.3bn.

Tencent has co-led a $153m funding round for Yonghui Fresh Food, a business-to-business fresh produce distribution subsidiary of supermarket chain Yonghui Superstore, with China International Capital Corporation’s CICC Qizhi fund. The round also featured Yonghui Superstore itself, which retains a 32% stake in the company having also backed its $145m series A round two years ago.

Funds

China-based venture capital firm BeFor Capital has amassed RMB700m ($107m) of capital across two funds, one backed by solar cell manufacturer Canadian Solar. The firm pulled in approximately $76.4m for the first close of its Fund III and $30.5m for the close of Fund IV. It now has over $306m of capital under management across four funds and a number of special purpose vehicles. Canadian Solar contributed to Befor Capital’s Fund III alongside funds backed by the government of China’s Inner Mongolia and Hohhot regions.

Exits

Boehringer Ingelheim has agreed to acquire one of its portfolio companies, oncology therapy developer NBE-Therapeutics, in a transaction that could reach $1.43bn once milestone payments are factored in. NBE is working on antibody-drug conjugates to treat cancer, and has raised approximately $68m from investors including Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund and pharmaceutical firm Novo.

Lidar sensor and software provider Innoviz has chosen the reverse merger route, one boosted by $200m in PIPE financing from investors including corporate backers Magna International and Phoenix Insurance. The combined company will be valued at about $1.4bn once the deal closes, and Innoviz’s existing investors also include Samsung Catalyst, SoftBank Ventures Asia, Naver, Delek Motors, Delphi Automotive and Harel Insurance Investments and Financial Services.

Upstart, the owner of an online lending platform that utilises artificial intelligence in its activities, is also valued above $2bn, following a $240m initial public offering. Its shares rocketed up 47% in their first day of trading yesterday and its pre-IPO backers include Rakuten, Progressive and GV, which sold $1.6m of shares having backed Upstart’s $1.75m seed round eight years ago. Its remaining stake is worth about $28m at the current share price.

The second half of 2020 has been a bonanza period for IPOs, and things don’t show any sign of slowing down either, not with the sky-high valuations companies are seeing as soon as they hit the market. UiPath, a provider of robotic process automation software, has filed confidentially to go public, five months after a Tencent-backed series E round valuing it at $10.2bn. It has so far raised some $1.3bn in funding, with Alphabet’s CapitalG also among its investors.

Coinbase is the other unicorn to have confidentially filed to go public in the last day or so, the crypto trading platform having been valued at $8bn in its last round two years ago. Now that figure looks sure to rise, given the increasing activity in blockchain technology and the recent shooting up of Bitcoin prices. It has raised approximately $517m from investors that include New York Stock Exchange, NTT Docomo, BBVA and USAA.


“Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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