North America

DarwinAI emerges from stealth with $3 mln in seed financing

DarwinAI, a Waterloo-based artificial intelligence (AI) company, has emerged from stealth and closed a $3 million seed-stage financing. The round was led by U.S. venture capital firm Obvious Ventures and Canadian firm iNovia Capital. They were joined by angel investors from Creative Destruction Lab. Founded last year by University of Waterloo alumni, including Chief Scientist Alexander Wong and CEO Sheldon Fernandez, co-founder of Infusion, DarwinAI's platform uses AI to reduce the complexity in designing and building deep neural networks for real-world applications. DarwinAI said it will use the funds raised to bring its technology to market.

Alpha4 Ventures raises $10 mln for venture-capital fund

Alpha4 Ventures has raised $10 million toward a $40 million venture-capital fund, according to a filing with the SEC.

Industrial 3D printing startup AON3D secures funding

Montreal-based AON3D, an industrial 3D printing startup, has raised an undisclosed amount of funding. The investor was Seed River.

Feldan Therapeutics nabs $12.5 mln in GC-led Series A round

Québec City-based biotechnology company Feldan Therapeutics has raised $12.5 million in a Series A financing. The round was led by GC, the parent of South Korean protein therapeutics maker GC Pharma. It was joined by Stonebridge Ventures as well as Anges Québec and Anges Québec Capital, both existing investors, and others. Led by CEO Francois-Thomas Michaud, who helped launch the company in 2007, Feldan is developing a pipeline of therapeutic applications based on the Feldan Shuttle, its peptide intracellular delivery technology. The funds raised will support pre-clinical work that will enable the transfer of Feldan's technology to clinical trials.

Norwest leads $30 mln funding in Singular

San Francisco-based Singular, provider of a data analytics platform for marketing intelligence, announced it has raised $30 million in Series B funding. Norwest Venture Partners led the round, which included General Catalyst, Method Capital, Telstra Ventures, Translink Capital and Thomvest. As part of the funding, Scott Beechuk, a partner at Norwest, will join the board. Singular, founded in 2014, has now raised $50 million in total funding.

Public Goods rakes in $3 mln seed

Public Goods, a direct-to-consumer brand selling basic necessities, has raised $3 million in seed funding. Yes VC led the round with participation from other investors that included Listen Ventures and Day One Ventures.

General Atlantic backs Chinese healthcare service operator Asia Medical

Chinese healthcare service operator Asia Medical has raised $150 million in funding. The investor was General Atlantic.

South African fintech JUMO to expand in Asia with Goldman Sachs backing: Reuters

South Africa-based financial technology firm JUMO plans to expand in high-growth Asian markets after securing the backing of Goldman Sachs (GS.N) in an equity funding round, the company’s chief executive said.

NEA leads $95 mln round for Enigma

New York-based Enigma, a data-as-a-service company, has secured $95 million in financing. New Enterprise Associates led the round with participation from other investors that included BB&T, Capital One Growth Ventures, MetLife, Third Point, Glynn Capital, Comcast Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Two Sigma Ventures and the Partnership Fund for NYC.

Versant Ventures to raise $500 mln for seventh healthcare fund

Versant Ventures is seeking to raise $500 million for its seventh fund, according to an SEC filing. The firm focuses on the healthcare sector.