Fundraising

Wavemaker Partners raises $66 mln for second Southeast Asia fund

Los Angeles and Singapore-based Wavemaker Partners, an early-stage venture firm, has closed its second Southeast Asia-focused fund at $66 million, beating its $50 million target. The fund's investors include IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.

M33 Growth rakes in $180 mln for inaugural fund

Boston-based M33 Growth, a venture and growth-stage investment firm, has closed its debut fund at $180 million. M33 Growth I LP will initially make eight to 10 investments in bootstrapped companies with more than $5 million in revenue in the software, healthcare and services sectors. The fund's limited partners include top endowments, institutional investors and philanthropic foundations.

Darwin raises $63.6 mln toward $100 mln fund of funds

Darwin Ventures has raised $63.6 million toward a $100 million fourth fund of funds, according to a filing with the SEC.

Mighty Capital collects $2.6 mln for inaugural venture fund

Silicon Valley-based venture firm Mighty Capital has raised $2.6 million for its debut fund, according to an SEC filing. The target is $10 million.

New female-founded VC community The Helm debuts

New York City-based The Helm, a new venture capital community and fund founded by women, has launched. The Helm will focus on providing seed funding to tech startups with female founders. It seeks to back eight to 12 deals a year, making an average investment of $200,000. The annual membership fee is $2,500, with each member required to make a minimum investment of $50,000. The Helm is co-founded by Lindsey Taylor Wood, Erin Shipley and Emily Verellen Strom.

Volta Labs, BDC, Innovacorp launch Atlantic Canada micro-fund

Halifax innovation hub Volta Labs has partnered with BDC Capital and Innovacorp to launch Volta Cohort, a program to help early-stage company founders in Atlantic Canada secure venture capital sooner. The program will feature a micro-fund that supplies investments of $25,000 to up to five companies selected in a pitch event hosted biannually by Volta Labs. Venture-backed startups will be given space at Volta Labs and access to mentoring and other resources. BDC Capital's Michelle Scarborough said the program will help local first-time founders "turn their startup ideas into actual revenue-generating businesses."

Immersive Capital collects $21.4 mln for debut fund

Immersive Capital has raised $21.4 million for its maiden fund, according to an SEC filing. Based in Palo Alto, California, the venture firm focuses on artificial intelligence.

Atomic targets $100 mln for sophomore fund

Atomic Labs is seeking to raise $100 million for its second fund, according to an SEC filing. With offices in San Francisco, Phoenix and Ontario, the venture firm makes seed and early-stage investments.

Icon raises $265 mln sixth venture fund

Caisse de dépôt, Desjardins unveil $75 mln fintech VC fund

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Desjardins Group have created a venture capital fund focused on opportunities in the financial technology sector and the application of artificial intelligence to finance. The fund, which will be based in Montréal, will receive $50 million from its sponsors and is expected to reach a maximum size of $75 million in part through institutional commitments made prior to a first close later this year. Operating independently, it will back the growth of Québec and Canadian companies offering technology products that impact investments, payments, client acquisition and retention, data analysis, deposits and loans, security or insurance.