VCJ Staff

Orient Green Power Raises $55 Million

Navitas Capital Nears Fund Close

Navitas Capital plans to close its debut fund in January on between $35 million and $50 million, according to VentureWire. The Berkeley, Calif.-based firm plans to focus on green-building technology companies. www.navitascap.com

IGNIA Fund Holds Second Close

IGNIA Fund I, a Latin American social venture fund, has held a second closing on $34 million of its $50 million to $75 million target.

Brands4friends Raises €10 Million

Sequoia Backs Indian Microfinance Firm

Ujjivan Financial Services, a Bangalore, India-based microfinance company focused on serving the urban and semi-urban poor has raised $19.6 million in fourth-round funding. New backers are Sequoia Capital, Lok Capital, Unitus Equity Fund II, India Financial Inclusion Fund and SIDBI. Returning shareholders include Unitus Equity Fund, Bellwether Microfinance Fund, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and A.W. Holdings.

Stem Cell Co. Raises $18 Million

Cellular Dynamics International, a Madison, Wis.-based developer of stem cell technologies for drug development and personalized medicine, has raised $18 million in Series A funding. Tactics II Stem Cell Ventures LP led the round, and was joined by Tactics II Ventures LP and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. In related news, CDI has absorbed sister companies – and fellow University of Wisconsin spinouts -- Stem Cell Products Inc. and iPS Cells Inc.

Awarepoint Raises $13.3 Million

Awarepoint Corp., a San Diego-based provider of real-time location systems, has raised $13.3 million in Series D funding. Cardinal Partners led the round, and was joined by Venrock and return backer Avalon Ventures.

PlaySpan Raises Second Round

Solairedirect Raises €20 Million

Solairedirect, a Paris-based solar power producer, has raised €20 million in new VC funding. Backers include Demeter Partners, Schneider Electric Ventures, TechFund, MACIF, AGPM, UMR and Ofivalmo Partenaires.

FanSnap Adds $5.5 Million

FanSnap, a Palo Alto, Calif..-based live event ticket search engine, has raised $5.5 million in second-round funding led by return backer General Catalyst Partners. The company is currently in beta, and is run by Mike Janes, former chief marketing officer of StubHub.