Start Up

Rakuten Ventures has launched a US$100m global investment fund. Building on the Southeast Asia fund, which was originally launched in 2013, the fund will target investments in tech startups and companies that can enable better user experience and facilitation in Israel, Asia Pacific, and the USA. It will focus broadly on early stage investments in […]

Yik Yak, an Atlanta, GA-based social messaging app for private, localized engagement, secured $10m in funding. The round was led by DCM with participation from Azure Capital Partners, Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN), a social networking company in China, and venture capitalist Tim Draper. Alan Masarek, co-founder and former CEO of Quickoffice, and David Chao of […]

According to a post, Susa Ventures has launched a $25m early stage technology fund to invest in data-centric founders and businesses. The fund focuses on companies that leverage the power of data to create platforms, tools, and analytics with inherent network effects. Led by operating partners Seth Berman, Leo Polovets, Eva Ho, and Chad Byers, […]

MapR Technologies, Inc., a San Jose, CA-based provider of a distribution platform for Apache™ Hadoop®, completed a $110m equity and debt financing. The $80m equity round was led by Google Capital with participation from Qualcomm Incorporated, through its venture investment group, Qualcomm Ventures, and existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Mayfield Fund, New Enterprise Associates and […]

FreeGameCredits.com, a Santa Monica, CA-based user acquisition platform, which focuses on delivering active and engaged mobile users to game developers worldwide, received a seed investment from Science Inc. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth. Founded by Joe Bayen, FreeGameCredits.com offers a web app and an upcoming iPhone app that delivers […]

SoftTech VC announced the closing of an $85m venture capital fund. Backers included 20 institutional LPs and 40 individuals (43% Fund of Funds, 23% Family Offices, 15% Endowments & Pension Funds, 10% Foundations, 9% Individuals). SoftTech VC IV focuses on seed stage opportunities in B2B and B2C technology. In details, investment areas include Software-As-A-Service (SaaS) […]

Keiretsu Forum, an angel investor network, has acquired Ankur2Angels, an angel investment group with presence within the Indian community in Silicon Valley. This strategic acquisition will strengthen and diversify the Keiretsu Forum angel community in the San Francisco Bay Area and will build a bridge to India for both investors and entrepreneurs. Ankur2Angels’ investors will […]

According to a post by CEO Danielle Morrill, Mattermark, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of a data platform for venture capital companies, has raised $2m in second seed funding. Backers included existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and Ullas Naik as well as new investors Version One Ventures, Felicis Ventures, Flybridge Capital Partners, Slow Ventures, Gramercy Fund, Armando […]

Coursmos, a San Francisco, CA-based micro-learning platform, raised $530k in seed funding. Backers included Eugene Medvednikov and venture capital firm Imperious Group. The company, which has raised a total of $680k, will use the funds to expand the team and develop new features including: – A course recommendation system based on users’ history and interests […]

CrowdTwist, a New York City-based provider of omnichannel loyalty and analytics solutions for the marketing industry, raised $9m in Series B funding. The round was led by NYC-based StarVest Partners, with participation from existing investors Fairhaven Capital and SoftBank Capital. The company, which has now raised $20m, intends to use the funds to scale and […]

Chloe + Isabel, a New York-based social retail jewelry company, closed a $15m Series C equity funding. The round was led by SoftBank Capital, with participation from existing investors General Catalyst Partners, First Round Capital, Forerunner Ventures, and Floodgate Fund. The company intends to use the fubds to grow and increase its community of micro-entrepreneurs […]

Truveris, a New York City-based platform for pharmacy pricing and benefits analysis, raised $12.75m in Series C financing. The round was led by Canaan Partners with participation from existing investors New Leaf Venture Partners, Tribeca Venture Partners, New Atlantic Ventures and First Round Capital. In conjunction with the funding, Canaan Partners general partner, Stephen Bloch, […]

Venture capital firm First Round Capital closed its fifth fund at $175m. First Round V focuses on seeding startus focusing on a model in which founders can work together to get advice, data and tools they need “to make a big difference from the very beginning“. the firm has invested in companies including Uber, Square, […]

Bulb, a Fort Collins, Colo. and Austin, Texas-based developer of education software, raised $1m in funding from unisclosed angel investors. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate development for additional features and functionality of the product while increasing marketing efforts. Founded in 2011 by John and David Runkles, Eric Goldreyer, Bob Bush and Erik […]

Wickr, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of a communication platform, raised $30m in Series B financing. The round was led by Jim Breyer, the Founder/CEO of Breyer Capital, who is  joining the board, with participation from CME Group and Wargaming and current investors Alsop Louie, Juniper Networks, the Knight Foundation and Riverwood. The company intends […]