US

Scrum Ventures and Dentsu launch accelerator for sports tech startups

Scrum Ventures has teamed up with advertising brand Dentsu Inc to launch Sports Tech Tokyo, an accelerator program focused on sports tech startups. Taking place in Japan and San Francisco, the one-year program will provide startups with mentorship opportunities as well as introductions to entrepreneurs, investors and major sports brands across the global networks of Dentsu, Scrum and other sponsoring partners. Applications open October 2nd, 2018 and close on January 7th, 2019. The program kicks off in March 2019.

IVP boosts team with two hires and a promotion

Late-stage venture firm IVP announced Louisa Xu has joined as a vice president and Jake Storm has come on board as an associate. In addition, the firm announced it has promoted Armaan Ali to senior associate. Xu will focus on consumer and enterprise companies. Prior to joining IVP, she was with GIC’s technology investment group. Storm will focus on identifying and evaluating later-stage investments across the technology industry. He previously worked for Jefferies’ technology investment banking group. Ali joined IVP in 2016 and focuses on identifying and evaluating investments. Before IVP, he worked at Qatalyst Partners.

Benchmark targets $425 mln for ninth fund

Benchmark Capital is seeking to raise $425 million for its ninth fund, according to an SEC filing. The San Francisco-based early-stage venture firm invests in mobile, marketplaces, social, and infrastructure and enterprise software.

ExecOnline fetches $18 mln Series C

ExecOnline, a provider of certificate-bearing leadership and development programs in partnership with elite business schools, has secured $18 million in Series C funding. ABS Capital Partners led the round with participation from New Spring Capital, Osage Partners, Kaplan Inc and New Atlantic Ventures. In addition to the funding, Ralph Terkowitz, a general partner with ABS Capital, will join the EXO board of directors.

MTPV Power picks up $16 mln Series C

Austin, Texas and Medford, Massachusetts-based MTPV Power Corporation, a clean energy company that converts heat to electricity using semiconductor chips, has raised $16 million in Series C financing. Lake Bridge Capital led the round with participation from other investors that included Total Energy Ventures and SABIC Ventures.

Dvdendo locks in $3.25 mln Series A

Dvdendo, bilingual micro-investing platform to service the Latino market, has raised $3.25 million in Series A financing. DILA Capital led the round.

Pivot Bio scores $70 mln Series B

Berkeley, California-based Pivot Bio, a developer of nitrogen-producing microbes for other crops beyond corn, including wheat and rice, has secured $70 million in Series B funding. Breakthrough Energy Ventures led the round with participation from other investors that included Temasek.

Israeli biotech firm Kadmastem procures $5.15 mln

Kadimastem, an Israeli biotech company, has raised $5.15 million in a private placement. The investors included Altshuler Shaham Investment House.

Tanium rakes in $200 mln

Tanium, a platform for business resilience, has raised $200 million in funding. The investors were Wellington Management, Baillie Gifford & Company and Adage Capital Management LP.

Human, Incorporated lands $21 mln Series B

Seattle-based Human, Incorporated, a tech company, has raised $21 million in Series B funding. Sage Venture Partners, Sugar Mountain Capital and Ropart Asset Management II led the round with participation from other investors that included Microsoft Corp.