I've been a business reporter for a while. I've covered Wall Street, venture capital and now private equity. I'm always looking for a scoop or something to talk about. I'm the eternal optimist and am still waiting for the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series. Yes, I believe.
Augmedix said Wednesday it raised $3.2 million in venture funding from DCM and Emergence Capital Partners. The funding closed last August. San Francisco-based Augmedix provides an app that allows doctors to use Google Glass.
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Wine.com said Wednesday that Wilfred Wong has joined its San Francisco-based team effective March 31. Wong, who will be chief storyteller, will research wines and wineries from all over the world, and share his findings with Wine.com customers through the Wine.com website, email newsletters, blog, videos, social media channels and educational events. Wong has spent 40 years in the wine business including nearly two decades with BevMo! as Cellar Master. Wine.com is majority owned by Baker Capital.
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Zoyi Capital has invested in Pink Mary. Financial terms weren’t announced. Shanghai-based Pink Mary makes and distributes high-end women’s apparel, featuring hand-knitted patterns in a Baroque style, in China.
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Pantera Capital Management, which is now focused exclusively on Bitcoin, said Wednesday that Benchmark, Fortress Investment Group and Ribbit Capital are acquiring an interest in Pantera Bitcoin Partners. Founded in 2003, Pantera Capital previously focused on global macro hedge fund investments.
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Ysios Capital said Wednesday it has begun seeking investors for its Ysios BioFund II, a 100 million Euro fund (US $78.7 million). Fund II will invest in life sciences companies with disruptive products, platforms or technologies in the pharmaceutical and medtech and diagnostics segments. Ysios BioFund I closed at 69 million Euro in 2008.
2 min read · 19 March 2014
Peak Rock Capital has acquired the industrial products division of RJF International Corp. Financial terms weren't announced. The new company will be called ProFusion Industries, which will make and provide transit matting, protective linings, custom design specialty film products and various printing services.
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Parchment said Wednesday it closed a $10 million follow-on investment led by The Raine Group. Parchment's existing institutional investors, including Novak Biddle Venture Partners, Salmon River Capital, GSV Capital and ICG Holdings, also participated. Total funding for Parchment comes to $45 million. Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Parchment provides technology that lets learners, educators and employers to request, verify and share credentials.
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Meducation said Wednesday it completed a seed funding round worth $1 million. Technology Strategy Board has contributed £180,000 (around $300,000) with the remainder coming from private investors. U.K.-based Meducastion is a medical education network aimed at medical students and professionals
3 min read · 19 March 2014
Today in Second Opinion, there's news that talks to sell J. Crew have broken down, which coffee shops dominate the U.S., NYSE leads the race to get the Alibaba IPO and Amazon will begin shipping its video-sharing device in April.
1 min read · 18 March 2014
Lariat Partners said Tuesday that its $100 million buy of Newpark Environmental Services, and its merger with Offshore Cleaning Systems, has now closed. The combined NES and OCS entities will be rebranded ecoserv going forward, Lariat said. News of the deal was announced in February.
2 min read · 18 March 2014
