US

Finistere Ventures names Adrian Percy as chief technology officer

Finistere Ventures said it named Adrian Percy as chief technology officer. Percy is a former head of R&D for the crop science division at Bayer, and, in his new role, will provide strategic, technical and regulatory guidance to portfolio companies.

Green Visor Capital to raise $100 million venture-capital fund

Green Visor Capital has set out to raise a $100 million third venture-capital fund, according to a filing with the SEC.

SoftBank leads $1.25 bln round for OneWeb

OneWeb said March 18 that it raised $1.25 billion in new capital led by SoftBank Group Corp, Grupo Salinas, Qualcomm Technologies Inc, and the government of Rwanda. OneWeb is a global communications company.

Theranica raised $35 mln

Theranica said March 18 that it raised $35 million in a Series B round led by aMoon. All existing investors of the company – Lightspeed Venture Partners, LionBird, Corundum Open Innovation and Takoa – participated in the round. Theranica is a bio-medical technology company developing advanced electroceuticals for migraine and other prevalent diseases.

Karuna Therapeutics raises $68 mln

Karuna Therapeutics Inc said March 18 that it raised a $68 million Series B round led by ARCH Venture Partners. Participating in the round were Fidelity Management & Research Co, Eventide Asset Management, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, Partner Fund Management, Wellcome Trust, Sands Capital, Alexandria Venture Investments, and founder PureTech Health. Karuna focuses on targeting muscarinic cholinergic receptors for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders including psychosis in schizophrenia, psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease, and pain. Karuna, with the $68 million round, plans to issue $5 million in shares upon conversion of debt into equity.

Imara raises $63 mln

Imara Inc said March 18 that it raised $63 million in a Series B financing round co-led by OrbiMed Advisors and Arix Bioscience plc. Participating were RA Capital and Rock Springs Capital. Existing investors New Enterprise Associates, Pfizer Venture Investments, Lundbeckfonden Ventures, Bay City Capital, and Alexandria Venture Investments also took part. Imara is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies.

Cold Gensys raises $22 mln

Cold Gensys Inc said March 18 that it raised $22 million in a Series C round led by ORI Healthcare Fund LP. Perseverance Capital Management participated in the round. Cold Genesys is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of immunotherapies.

Alcatraz AI raises about $6 mln from the Hardware Club, Ruvento Ventures, Hemi Ventures, others: Clarification

Alcatraz AI said it has raised $6 million from the Hardware Club, Analog Devices co-founder Ray Stata, Ruvento Ventures, Hemi Ventures and JCI Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Johnson Controls­Tyco. The Palo Alto company is developing a facial authentication product for the enterprise.

LeanData raises $27.5 mln

LeanData said March 18 that it secured $27.5 million in financing led by Tenaya Capital. Industry Ventures participated in the round along with existing investors Shasta Ventures, Sapphire Ventures and Correlation Ventures. LeanData provides lead-to-account matching, routing and marketing attribution solutions.

VC-backed Minute Media buys The Big Lead

Minute Media, a global technology and publishing platform, has acquired The Big Lead, a sports and news digital publication. No financial terms were disclosed. Minute Media is backed by Battery Ventures, Dawn Capital, Gemini Ventures, North Base Media, ProSieben, Qumra Capital, Goldman Sachs, La Maison, Vintage Investments and Remagine Ventures.