Private Equity
Chicago-based Popular Pays, a software company that helps marketers collaborate with social content creators, has secured $1.1 million in financing. The investor was ICCP SBI Venture Partners.
1 min read · 18 December 2018
Laval, Québec-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Bellus Health Inc (TSX: BLU) has secured $35 million in an equity offering. The offering was led by U.S. healthcare investment firm OrbiMed. New Leaf Venture Partners, First Manhattan Co, Samsara BioCapital, Fonds de solidarité FTQ, AppleTree Partners and Amzak Health also participated. OrbiMed Partner Chau Khuong has joined the board. The proceeds will be used to advance the company's lead drug candidate, BLU-5937, for chronic cough. A Phase 2 study will be initiated in mid-2019. Bellus is led by President and CEO Roberto Bellini.
5 min read · 18 December 2018
South African internet giant Naspers and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) have invested US$540 million in Indian educational technology startup Byju’s, Reuters reported. Bengaluru-based Byju’s launched a learning app in 2015 that offers tools for school students in India, a country with the world’s largest number of children in primary education. The latest investment values the company at around US$3.6 billion, Indian media reported. CPPIB, one of the world’s biggest investors, is expanding its interests in India due to the country’s young population and growing middle class, its chief executive said last week.
2 min read · 18 December 2018
Lightspeed Venture Partners has set out to raise $360 million for a fourth Chinese venture-capital fund and $200 million for a Chinese select fund, according to a pair of filings with the SEC.
1 min read · 18 December 2018
Clearbanc, a Toronto-based provider of marketing capital for e-commerce brands, has raised about $67 million (US$50 million) in follow-on financing. The investment was made by Upper90, the fund of Grubhub Co-founder Jason Finger. It comes on the heels of Clearbanc's initial financing of about $94 million (US$70 million) last month, backed by 12 Canadian and U.S. venture capital firms. Founded in 2015 by CEO Andrew D’Souza and President Michele Romanow, Clearbanc reports more than 1,000 companies have approached it in the past four weeks, representing capital demand of up to $1 billion. Deploying over $100 million this year, Clearbanc plans to launch new products, secure new partnerships, and expand globally in 2019.
5 min read · 18 December 2018
Boston and Minneapolis-based Nomics, a cryptocurrency data company, has secured $3 million in Series A funding. Arthur Ventures led the round.
3 min read · 18 December 2018
Somerville, Massachusetts-based RightHand Robotics, a provider of integrated robotic piece-picking solutions, has secured $23 million in Series B funding. Menlo Ventures led the round with participation from other investors that included GV, Dream Incubator, Matrix Partners and Playground Global.
1 min read · 18 December 2018
London-based Moonbug, an entertainment company that develops content for children, has secured $145 million in Series A funding. The Raine Group led the round with participation from other investors that included Felix Capital and Fertitta Capital.
3 min read · 18 December 2018
Los Gatos, California-based Import.io, a web data integration solution provider, has raised $15.5 million in Series B funding. Talis Capital led the round with participation from return backers IP Group, OpenOcean, Oxford Capital and Wellington Partners.
1 min read · 18 December 2018
Winestyr, a wine company, has secured $3 million in funding. Continental Investors led the round.
1 min read · 18 December 2018
