North America

Rawadi named CEO of LNC Therapeutics

LNC Therapeutics said April 17 that it appointed Dr. Georges Rawadi as its new CEO. Rawadi was previously vice president of business development & intellectual property and a member of the management team at Celyad.

Natalie Massenet, Nick Brown launch Imaginary Ventures with $75mln

New York-based Imaginary Ventures announced it has closed its inaugural fund with $75 million in commitments. The early-stage firm invests in the beauty, wellness, food and beverage, lifestyle and fashion sectors. Its portfolio includes, among others, Appear Here, Dirty Lemon, Farfetch, Hum Nutrition and Universal Standard. Imaginary was co-founded by Natalie Massenet, who in 2015 resigned from luxury e-tailer Net-A-Porter, and Nick Brown, who most recently was a partner at 14W Venture Partners in New York. Other team members include Kelly Dill, an investment principal who previously was at Glossier and Uber, and CFO Katherine O’Neil, previously at CRV and Founder Collective.

Carpe raises $2.3 mln

Carpe said April 16 that it raised $2.3 million in seed funding co-ed by Carolina Angel Network and Duke Angel Network. Other investors include LaunchCapital, Rubicon Venture Capital, and Triangle Angel Partners. Seth Radwell, ex-CEO of Proactiv, also invested. Carpe, of Durham, North Carolina, is an antiperspirant lotion that aims to reduce embarrassing hand and foot sweat, especially in patients with hyperhidrosis.

Capital Southwest boosts credit facility to $200 mln

Capital Southwest Corp said April 16 that it expanded its Senior Secured Credit Facility to $200 million from $180 million. Capital Southwest, an internally managed BDC, said it added a new lender.

Coinbase buys Earn.com

Coinbase has acquired Earn.com, according to a blog post. Balaji Srinivasan, Earn.com’s co-founder and CEO, is joining Coinbase as chief technology officer. Earn.com lets senders use cryptocurrency to pay users when replying to emails or completing tasks. CNBC.com pegged the sale at $100 million.

Qapital raises $30 mln from Swedbank Robur and Northzone

Qapital said it raised $30 million from Swedbank Robur and Northzone.

Caerus Ventures to raise $100 mln second hardware fund

Caerus Ventures has set out to raise a $100 million second venture capital hardware fund, according to a filing with the SEC.

Family office acquires, relaunches Axios Mobile Assets

U.S. family office Leonite Capital said it acquired the assets of Axios Mobile Assets Corp in a receivership sale late last year. No financial terms were disclosed. Axios, a Mississauga, Ontario-based smart supply chain logistics provider, entered receivership in early 2017. Leonite CIO Avi Geller, Axios' executive chairman, said his firm is bringing a "new and improved" company, restructured into three new operating groups, "back to the market." Axios was formerly backed by Canadian venture capital firm Relay Ventures and other investors. Relay led the company's $14 million financing in 2015.

Edesix raises up to about $2.87 million in debt financing

Edesix said it raised up to about $2.87 million in debt financing from Beringea’s ProVen Legacy.

Muse Capital in Los Angeles seeks $20 mln

Sherman Oaks, California-based Muse Capital is seeking to raise $20 million for its early-stage fund, according to a regulatory filing. The firm is led by Founding Partners Assia Grazioli-Venier and Rachel Springate. Investments include LeafLink, which provides a commerce platform for the cannabis industry, and BeautyCon, which operates a beauty and fashion website.