Private Equity
Northleaf Capital Partners has initially closed Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund II (NVCF II), a fund of funds earmarked for investments in Canadian venture capital funds and technology companies. The amount raised was not disclosed. The Globe and Mail reported NVCF II secured half of its C$300-million target. NVCF II was launched with the help of the C$400-million Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative. It was also backed by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a longtime Northleaf partner. Other investors included Sun Life Financial and TD Bank Group. Ottawa announced in June that VCCI would commit capital to five fund-of-funds managers, including Northleaf, a Toronto-based private-markets investor. NVCF I closed at its C$300-million hard cap in 2015.
3 min read · 17 December 2018
Matrix Partners China has raised more capital for its Chinese investing, according to a filing with the SEC.
1 min read · 17 December 2018
Sapphire Ventures has raised a $115 million sports tech fund called Sapphire Sport, according to a regulatory filing. The fund was launched last year with an initial $100 million target, and the firm raised the commitments from 29 investors. Partners listed on the fund tinclude Sapphire Managing Directors Nino Marakovic, Jai Das, David Hartwig, Doug Higgins and Andreas Weiskam.
1 min read · 17 December 2018
SonarMD, which is focused on managing complex patients, has raised $10 million in funding. The investors were BCBS Venture Partners and Arboretum Ventures.
1 min read · 17 December 2018
Stray Dog Capital has raised $25.55 million for its second fund, according to an updated SEC filing. No target was listed on the document. Based in Leawood, Kansas, Stray Dog invests in early-stage businesses.
1 min read · 17 December 2018
Northleaf Capital Partners has initially closed Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund II (NVCF II), a fund of funds earmarked for investments in Canadian venture capital funds and technology companies. The amount raised was not disclosed. The Globe and Mail reported NVCF II secured half of its $300-million target. NVCF II was launched with the help of the $400-million Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI). It was also backed by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Sun Life Financial and TD Bank Group. Ottawa announced in June that VCCI would commit capital to five fund-of-funds managers, including Northleaf, a Toronto-based private-markets investor. NVCF I closed at its $300-million hard cap in 2015.
3 min read · 17 December 2018
Versant Ventures has closed its seventh biotech fund at a hard cap of $600 million. Also, the healthcare investment firm closed its Canadian companion fund at $100 million. Versant Ventures Fund VII will focus on 20 or more biotech companies in the U.S., Canada and Europe while the Canadian fund, Versant Voyageurs I, will focus on five to eight startups in Canada.
3 min read · 17 December 2018
6 min read · 17 December 2018
Versant Ventures has secured about $134 million (US$100 million) in commitments for a new fund earmarked to finance Canada’s biotech startups. In a news release, the Silicon Valley venture capital firm said Versant Voyageurs I will invest in five to eight companies in tandem with its primary life-sciences funds. Versant said the Canadian sidecar fund aims to address a shortage of risk capital and other resources available to local life-sciences companies. Managing Director Brad Bolzon, who will oversee the fund, said while Canada has “top-tier scientific infrastructure”, its VC and startup ecosystem has “not grown at the same pace.”
2 min read · 17 December 2018
4 min read · 17 December 2018
