US

Mike Arrington launches $100 mln cryptocurrency hedge fund

Mike Arrington announced today the launch of Arrington XRP Capital, a new $100 million cryptocurrency hedge fund denominated in XRP, the digital currency developed by enterprise blockchain global payments company Ripple. Arrington, the founder of startup news site TechCrunch and venture firm CrunchFund, announced the fund in a blog post and at the Consensus Invest conference in New York.

ALO7 lands $37.5 mln Series D

ALO7, China's English language learning product and services provider, has raised $37.5 million in Series D financing. Legend Capital led this round with participation from GuoHe Capital, UG Investment, Qualcomm, New Oriental and Vickers Venture Partners.

UnitedHealthGroup's Optum launches $250 mln venture fund

UnitedHealthGroup's health services business Optum has launched Optum Ventures, a $250 million venture fund. Optum Ventures will focus on digital health companies.

Turner Imaging Systems grabs seed funding

Turner Imaging Systems, a developer of X-ray imaging systems, has raised an undisclosed amount of seed funding. Cavendish Impact Capital led the round.

NFX raises $150 mln early stage fund

NFX has raised a $150 million early stage fund, according to a blog post and a filing with the SEC.

General Catalyst adds Kyle Doherty as managing director

General Catalyst announced it has hired Kyle Doherty as managing director in its San Francisco office. The firm said Doherty will focus on late-stage investments in financial services, e-commerce, deep tech and healthcare IT. Doherty was previously head of US private investments at Coatue Management. Before that, he was a principal at Morgenthaler Ventures.

Omniex pulls in $5 mln seed

Omniex Holdings Inc, an investment and trading infrastructure provider for the crypto-asset industry, has raised $5 million in seed funding. Wicklow Capital led the round with participation from other investors that include Sierra Ventures, Digital Currency Group, Clocktower Technology Ventures and ThirdStream Partners.

Genesis Innovation Group launches $10 mln venture fund

Holland, Michigan-based Genesis Innovation Group, a developer of medical device technologies, has launched a $10 million venture fund. Cultivate(MD) Capital Fund I will focus on backing early-stage healthcare companies, with a special emphasis on medical device and orthopedic technologies.

Root Ventures targets $75 mln for sophomore fund

Root Ventures is seeking to raise $75 million for its second fund, according to an SEC filing. The San Francisco-based venture firm invests in hardware, development tools, and data science.

Envisagenics picks up $2.25 mln seed

Envisagenics, which is focused on discovering RNA therapeutics, has raised $2.25 million in seed funding. Dynamk Capital led the round.