North America

Lyra Therapeutics inks $29.5 mln Series B

Boston-based Lyra Therapeutics Inc, a developer of medicines to treat ear, nose and throat diseases, has secured $29.5 million in Series B financing. Perceptive Advisors led the round with participation from other investors that included RA Capital Management, ArrowMark Partners, Soleus Capital, Polaris Venture Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners and Intersouth Partners.

Capella Space raises $19 mln from Spark Capital, Data Collective.

Capella Space said it raised $19 million of Series B capital in a round led by Spark Capital and Data Collective.

Minoryx raises 21.3 mln euros

Minoryx Therapeutics said Sept. 26 that it raised 21.3 million euros ($25 million) in a Series B round led by Fund+. Also participating were SFPI, S.R.I.W. and Sambrinvest, in addition to all Series A investors (Ysios Capital, Kurma Partners, Roche Venture Fund, Idinvest Partners, Chiesi Ventures, Caixa Capital Risc and HealthEquity). Minoryx is developing drugs for orphan disease.

Eniac leads $1.5 mln seed funding of Bleximo

Berkeley, California-based Bleximo Corp, which focuses on quantum computing applications, announced it has raised $1.5 million in seed-stage funding led by Eniac Ventures. Also participating are Boost VC, Creative Ventures, KEC Ventures and Gyan Kapur. Bleximo was founded last year by Cyclotron Road fellow and quantum expert Alexei Marchenkov.

Troy Capital, Oaktree Capital affiliate create $200 mln fund for employee, investor liquidity

Troy Capital Group and an Oaktree Capital Management affiliate said they created a $200 million fund to provide loan-based liquidity to employees and investors of pre-IPO private companies. Among Troy's co-founders is Josh Berman, co-founder of MySpace.

Grubhub agrees to buy VC-backed Tapingo for $150 mln

Grubhub has agreed to acquire Israeli-based Tapingo, provider of an on-campus food ordering platform, for $150 million. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. Tapingo, which also has an office in San Francisco, has raised about $36 million in venture funding from Khosla Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Viola Ventures and DCM Ventures, among others.

Cannabis biotech company Trait Bio closes $12.3 mln seed deal

Trait Biosciences Inc, a Vancouver-based cannabis biotechnology company, has closed a seed-stage financing of $12.3 million. The round was led by incoming Trait senior managers, Joseph del Moral, Hannan Fleiman and Ronan Levy, and joined by Green Acre Capital, CannaIncome Fund and industry executives. Trait is developing enhanced cannabinoids, including water-soluble cannabinoids. It is also is developing technologies to increase plant yields and safety. The funds raised will be used for research and patent creation, as well as the construction of a second laboratory in Toronto.

Mobile app testing company Kobiton scores $3 mln seed

Atlanta-based Kobiton, a mobile app testing company, has secured $3 million in seed funding. Kinetic Ventures led the round with participation from KMS Technology and Service Provider Capital.

MindBeacon closes Series A round, grows funding to $20 mln

MindBeacon Group, the Toronto-based developer and operator of digital therapy platform Beacon, has closed a Series A financing, bringing its total funding to more than $20 million. The investors included Telus Ventures, Manulife, Elkland Capital and Strauss Interests. Beacon was introduced in 2016 in CBT Associates clinics. Last year, it was launched as a provider of digitally-delivered therapy for people with mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, panic and post-traumatic stress disorder. MindBeacon Chair and CEO Sam Duboc said the funds raised will help his company enhance its offerings and increase its reach in Canada.

Cytek Biosciences closes Series C round

Fremont, California-based Cytek Biosciences Inc, a provider of flow cytometry solutions, has raised an undisclosed amount of Series C funding. Northern Light Venture Capital and 3E Bioventures led the round. In conjunction with the funding, Feng Deng, founder of Northern Lights Ventures, will join Cytek’s board of directors.