Fundraising

Ex-500 Startups partners seek $50 mln for Hustle Fund

Elizabeth Yin and Eric Bahn, former partners with 500 Startups, are seeking to raise $50 million for Hustle Fund I, according to a regulatory filing. The fund has not yet raised any commitments. Information about the Hustle Fund, which lists an address in San Carlos, California, is not available. But in a blog post earlier this, Yin described how today's crop of new VCs work hard to find deals and "They have to hustle for every deal. They have to hustle to fundraise for their current or next fund."

UAVenture Capital rolls out new venture fund

Tucson, Arizona-based UAVenture Capital has launched a new venture fund that will focus on backing University of Arizona-connected businesses and innovations. No financial terms were disclosed.

Redpoint Ventures targets $400 mln for third fund

Redpoint Ventures is seeking to raise $400 million for its third fund, according to an SEC filing. The Menlo Park, California-based venture firm makes seed, early and growth-stage investments.

Defy Partners raises $151 million for inaugural fund

Defy Partners has raised $151 million from 36 investors for its inaugural fund, according to a regulatory filing. The firm was founded by Trae Vassallo, formerly of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Neil Sequeira, a onetime managing director at General Catalyst Partners.

SoftBank’s grand plan to disrupt venture

Vision Fund charts new path for SoftBank

Merchant Advance Capital unveils venture debt fund for SMEs

Merchant Advance Capital has partnered with Garron Helman, a financing and tax expert, in the launch of Venbridge, a source of venture debt and consulting services to small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada. Venbridge will offer venture debt, consulting services, digital media financing and revenue financing to software-as-a-service companies, and corporate tax financing to all companies. Merchant Advance Capital, a Canadian online small business finance firm, will provide the funding source and staffing for Venbridge.

Ross Fubini and others launch seed fund Village with Bezos, Gates, Zuckerberg as LPs

Partners for Growth raises $276 mln for fifth fund

Partners for Growth has closed its fifth fund at $276 million. PFG focuses on financing growth businesses in the tech and life sciences sectors.

Fund performance: IVP, Landmark, Sofinnova top mid-decade venture portfolio for San Francisco LP