Benchmark Capital General Partner Bill Gurley gives a high-energy presentation at VCJ’s Venture Alpha 2012 conference.
1 min read · 24 October 2012
Mirna Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics in cancer, has raised a $34.5 million Series C financing. Sofinnova Ventures led the round, with participation from investors including New Enterprise Associates, Pfizer Ventures, Osage University Partners, and Correlation Ventures.
3 min read · 24 October 2012
MicuRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Shanghai Zhangjiang Biomedical Industry Venture Capital have established a joint venture to fund the development of the MRX-I antibiotic for the Chinese market. Zhangjiang Biomedical Industry Venture Capital will contribute 60 million RMB ($9.6 million) to the joint venture. MicuRx has raised $12 million in Series A venture funds from Morningside Group and Devon Park Bioventures.
4 min read · 24 October 2012
Aclaris Therapeutics Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology, has raised $21 million. The Series A was led by Vivo Ventures and Fidelity Biosciences with participation from Sofinnova Ventures. The money will be used for product development.
4 min read · 24 October 2012
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Peter Thiel, the PayPal co-founder and Facebook Inc.’s first outside investor, was close to investing roughly $150 million in Airbnb, in a deal that would value the lodging rental start-up at about $2.5 billion. The San Francisco-based company has apparently sealed $117 million in new capital, according to a new filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Airbnb was formed four years ago by a trio of graduates from the Rhode Island School of Design and Harvard. The latest regulatory filing lists the $117 million investment as a combination of equity and debt.
1 min read · 24 October 2012
Decisyon Inc., a maker of enterprise software, has closed on $15 million in Series A financing. The company sealed $10 million in immediate funds, and closed a pre-negotiated second tranche of $5 million set for next year. Investors includes New York-based growth investor Axel Johnson Inc.
3 min read · 24 October 2012
Link-age Ventures Inc., an investor focused on the “aging marketplace,” has put an undisclosed amount of money into HomeStay, a membership-based company that provides support by phone for older Americans living independently. HomeStay is owned by California-based GGL Projects. Specifics of the investment were not released.
3 min read · 23 October 2012
CrowdSource, a maker of enterprise-level managed crowdsourcing technology, has raised $12.5 million in Series A financing led by Highland Capital Partners. Corey Mulloy, general partner at Highland Capital Partners, has joined CrowdSource’s board.
2 min read · 23 October 2012
Israeli biotech company Pharma Two B Ltd. has raised $8 million in a second round of financing. The company will use the funds to continue development of its product for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The company is backed by investors including Chicago-based venture capital firm JK&B Capital and investment firm Crossroad.
3 min read · 23 October 2012
Scale Computing, maker of IT infrastructure for small to medium-sized businesses, has raised $12 million in Series D financing. Heron Capital Venture Fund led the round. Reservoir Venture Partners, Allos Ventures, CID Equity Capital, Spring Mill Venture Fund, Northgate Capital, Benchmark Capital Partners and Scale Venture Partners also contributed. Scale Computing is based in Indianapolis.
4 min read · 23 October 2012
