Alastair Goldfisher

Storm Ventures sets sights on sixth fund

Enterprise-focused, early-stage investor Storm Ventures is seeking to raise a sixth fund, according to a regulatory filing. The filing did not disclose a target amount. The firm’s current fifth fund closed at its hard cap of $180 million in 2015. Earlier this year, Storm Ventures added Paul Willard as a partner and has promoted Arun Penmetsa to partner, joining Managing Directors Ryan Floyd and Tae Hea Nahm.

Real estate investing dropped in October

500 Startups wraps up oversubscribed Vietnam fund

500 Startups, which operates worldwide micro-funds, announced it has raised $14 million in an oversubscribed Vietnam-focused fund. The fund, launched in 2016, had targeted initially to raise $10 million. In a blog post, 500 Startups said it has already invested nearly $3 million in 36 companies to date, with a focus on companies serving the Vietnam market or leveraging Vietnamese talent. The fund is led by Eddie Thai (a Vietnam-based entrepreneur) and Binh Tran (co-founder and former CTO of Klout).

Defy leads $9 mln Series A in tax advisory Visor

San Francisco-based Visor, provider of an online tech-enabled tax advisory service, announced it raised $9 million in Series A funding. Defy led the round, which included Unusual Ventures, SVB Capital and existing investors. The company, founded in 2016, has now raised $15.5 million to date. As part of the latest round, Neil Sequeira, managing partner and co-founder of Defy, has joined the board.

Enterprise-focused Emergence promotes Joe Floyd to GP, announces other staff moves

Seed-focused 1984 Ventures raises more than $42 mln for first fund

San Francisco-based 1984 Venture has raised more than $42.27 million from 50 investors, according to a regulatory filing. The firm says it is now targeting $50 million for the inaugural fund. 1984 Ventures, named as an homage to the year Apple introduced the Macintosh computer and advertised it with a futuristic Super Bowl commercial, invests in early seed businesses using software to solve real-world problems. The firm is led by entrepreneur and investor Ramy Adeeb, a onetime principal at Khosla Ventures.

Morgan Stanley leads $30 mln funding of Samanage

Cary, North Carolina-based Samanage, a provider of employee service success solutions, announced it has raised a $30 million investment from Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital, the growth-focused private investment platform within Morgan Stanley Investment Management. The company has now raised $70 million in funding.

Origin emerges from stealth with funding from DCM Ventures

San Francisco-based Origin, which focuses on additive manufacturing in mass production, has emerged from stealth and announced it has raised $10 million in Series A funding led by DCM Ventures. As part of the funding, Jason Krikorian, general partner of DCM, has joined the board. The company, founded in 205, previously raised $2.3 million from Floodgate, Stanford University, Joe Montana and other investors.

National Grid Partners unveils five deals, plans to add staff

Symantec buys mobile security provider Appthority

Symantec announced this week it has agreed to acquire San Francisco-based Appthority, a provider of mobile security services. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The VC-backed company was founded in 2011 and raised more than $25 million in total funding from investors, including U.S. Venture Partners, Venrock, Blue Coat Systems and ForgePoint Capital. Appthority was named the “Most Innovative Company” at the RSA Conference’s startup competition in 2012. Co-founders included President Domingo Guerra.