Managers

Venture fundraising keeps strong pace in first quarter

Venture fundraising kept up its strong pace in the first quarter with $7 billion raised by 61 funds, according to the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters.

Illuminate Ventures targets $30 mln for second fund

According to an SEC filing, Illuminate Ventures is seeking to raise $30 million for its second fund. Based in Oakland, California, Illuminate is an early-stage venture firm that targets North American-based high-tech startups with a focus on enterprise cloud and mobile computing.

HarbourVest opens Toronto office, taps Senia Rapisarda as principal

U.S. private markets investment firm HarbourVest Partners has opened an office in Toronto and has appointed Senia Rapisarda as a principal to lead it. Rapisarda, who previously served at BDC Capital, has recently been working with HarbourVest on a consulting basis to explore a Canadian market opportunity and help develop plans for a local presence, the firm said. Update: As reported by peHUB Canada earlier this year, HarbourVest is expected to soon launch a new fund backed by the federal government’s Venture Capital Action Plan (VCAP). Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company Knight Therapeutics Inc recently announced that it made a commitment to the fund.

VCs on Apple Watch

The Apple Watch could be a home run product for the company and third-party developers and their backers. But it may not happen in the first generation.

Anthos, with Goldman pedigree, raises $300 mln: Updated

One of the names creating buzz among limited partners is Anthos Capital, a California firm founded by former Goldman Sachs execs.

Guest article: Focus on consumers, not their disease

DFJ Partner Emily Melton talks about the firm’s investment in the digital health company Livongo

McRock Capital’s industrial Internet fund beats target with new commitments

McRock iNFund LP, a fund managed by Canadian venture capital firm McRock Capital, has secured undisclosed investments from Alberta Enterprise Corp and Kensington Venture Fund. The latest commitments, which follow those received from Cisco Investments, Teralys Capital Innovation Fund and BDC Capital in late 2014, helped the fund to exceed its target. McRock iNFund invests in the intersection of sensors and software in large industrial markets, a.k.a. the industrial Internet of things. Co-founded by Scott MacDonald and Whitney Rockley, McRock in February led the Series A financing of RtTech Software Inc, a solutions provider focused on enhancing industrial capabilities.

Rubin raises $242 mln fund to go with new Playground hardware incubator

Android co-founder Andy Rubin has raised a $300 million targeted Playground Ventures fund with four total managing directors.

Rubin raises $242 mln fund to go with new Playground hardware incubator

Android co-founder Andy Rubin raising a $300 million targeted Playground Ventures fund with four total managing directors

For WSIB, distributions rain down from Spark, Battery, Austin

Late-decade venture funds chalk up performance gains in Washington State portfolio.