Managers

VC-backed Venafi rolls out $12.5 mln fund

Salt Lake City, Utah-based Venafi, a provider of machine identity protection, has launched a $12.5 million machine identity protection development fund. The fund will back machine identity developers. Venafi's backers include TCV, Foundation Capital, Intel Capital, QuestMark Partners, Mercato Partners and NextEquity.

Luminous Ventures unveils $30 mln fund

London-based Luminous Ventures, a White Cloud Capital spin-out, has launched a $30 million fund. The fund will invest in early-stage European tech companies.

Black Diamond to set up shop in Toronto with $20 mln round

Black Diamond Therapeutics, a Stony Brook, New York-based cancer precision medicine platform, has emerged from stealth with a $20 million Series A financing. The round was backed by life sciences venture capital firm Versant Ventures. The company will use a share of the proceeds to set up operations in Toronto, giving it access to the city’s pool of computing talent. Black Diamond, the first startup launched out of Versant’s Swiss discovery engine, is developing precision medicines directed against allosteric mutant oncogenes.

CPPIB to increase bets in China despite political tensions: Reuters

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) plans to continue deploying capital in China, despite political tensions between the two nations, CEO Mark Machin told Reuters. Following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd’s CFO on December 1, China warned Canada it would face consequences if it did not immediately release her. “If we cut aside all of the rhetoric, I think China will take a mature, cool-headed attitude toward pragmatic negotiations, so we won’t get too much wild action,” Machin said. CPPIB has 8 percent of its funds invested in China and has previously indicated it plans to increase that significantly in the next few years.

EduLab Capital Partners targets $15 mln for maiden fund

EduLab Capital Partners is seeking to raise $15 million for its debut fund, according to an SEC filing. Boston-based EduLab Capital Partners invests in edtech.

SeLux rakes in $25 mln Series B

Massachusetts-based-based SeLux Diagnostics, a developer of a next generation phenotyping platform, has raised $25 million in Series B financing, according to a source familiar with the transaction. Sands Capital Ventures led the round with participation from RA Capital Management, Schooner Capital and Northpond Ventures.

Medical device firm EDGe takes in $4 mln Series A

Chicago-based EDGe Surgical Inc, a medical device company focused on precision measurement solutions for orthopedic surgery, has raised $4 million in Series A financing. The investors were not named.

Aspen RxHealth nets $9 mln Series A

Aspen RxHealth, a developer of technology that connects a community of pharmacists with patients, has secured $9 million in Series A funding. Flare Capital Partners led the round.

The Hardware Club closes $50 mln first fund.

The Hardware Club said it completed a final close of its $50 million first fund. The firm, operating from Paris, Tokyo and San Francisco, raised the capital from investors, including Isomer Capital, Draper Esprit, Bpifrance’s French Tech Acceleration funds, Foxconn and Arkéa.

Fusion Fund launches in Ohio

Bounce Innovation Hub, Acquire Investments and JumpStart Inc announced the launch of Fusion Fund, a $20-million, for-profit venture fund aimed at growing companies in and around Ohio. The fund will make seed and early-stage investments in advanced materials, life sciences and tech companies located within a four-hour radius of Akron, Ohio.