Fundraising

Presence Capital unveils $10 mln fund focused on VR and AR startups

Newly launched venture firm Presence Capital has launched an inaugural fund of $10 million focused on virtual reality and augmented reality startups. So far the San Francisco-based firm has made several undisclosed investments from the fund in companies that include Harmonix, maker of the interactive game "Rock Band" and virtual reality company Baobab.

Icon Ventures targets $260 mln for sixth fund

Icon Ventures is seeking to raise $260 million for its sixth fund, according to an SEC filing. Icon Ventures was formerly known as Jafco Ventures before rebranding itself earlier this year.

500 Startups collects $30 mln for fund backing MENA startups: Arabian Business.com

Silicon Valley-based venture firm 500 Startups has raised $30 million for a fund that targets startups based in the Middle East and North Africa, reported Arabian Business.com. Named 500 Falcons, the fund will focus on making seed investments between $50,000 and $100,000 in 100 to 200 companies. The sectors of interest include e-commerce, fintech, hardware and internet of things.

Nexus Venture Partners closes fourth fund at over $450 mln

India-based venture firm Nexus Venture Partners has raised over $450 million for its fourth fund. Nexus Ventures IV's limited partners include endowments, foundations and financial institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. The fund will focus on early-stage tech and data companies that are disrupting the consumer retail, financial services, healthcare and education sectors.

Foundry Group kicks off Foundry Group Next for late-stage, outside fund investing

Foundry Group moved to institutionalize several of its investment efforts into a new initiative called Foundry Group Next, the firm announced in a blog post.

British Columbia government unveils $100 mln venture capital fund

The British Columbia government has announced plans to form a $100 million venture capital fund focused on stimulating growth in the province's technology sector. The BC Tech Fund, part of the government's innovation strategy, aims to develop a sustainable venture capital system in British Columbia. As such, it will build on the activity of BC Renaissance Capital Fund, a $90 million venture fund of funds launched in 2007. The new fund will get underway next year following a process to secure a private sector fund manager to administer it. Venture invested in British Columbia in the first nine months of 2015 has been estimated at between $223 million and $290 million.

Express Scripts to provide $25 mln to Lewis & Clark Ventures' fund

Lewis & Clark Ventures' healthcare innovation fund has secured a $25 million funding commitment from Express Scripts. The fund will back early-stage innovation that provide "smarter" pharmacy solutions for patients.

Fund performance: IVP, Landmark lead mid-decade portfolio as Bay Partners, Summit gain ground

IVP and Landmark Partners retained the top spots in a mid-decade San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System portfolio that saw mixed results last year.

Google Ventures slows investing this year, re-organizes European fund

Google Ventures slowed its investing this year, but still continued to direct about a third of its efforts toward life sciences and sharply increasing its consumer focus, according to an update of its activities.

iNovia Capital approaches finish line with $150 mln Fund IV

Montréal-based iNovia Capital, one of Canada’s best known venture firms, is only weeks away from wrapping up its fourth information technology fund, a source with knowledge of the matter told PE Hub Canada. Fund IV is targeted to raise $150 million in committed capital, which if reached will make the fund the largest raised to date by the firm.