Nomura-Keio University Fund Boosts Investment Target for Japan Startups

Keio University and Nomura Holdings Inc. increased the fundraising goal for their venture-capital partnership by 50 percent to 15 billion yen ($147 million) after demand from Japanese financial firms during the first phase of financing exceeded expectations. Keio Innovation Initiative Inc., founded by Japan’s oldest university and biggest brokerage, closed the first round last month with […]

Ratan Tata, University of California to set up venture capital fund

Tata Sons Ltd’s chairman emeritus Ratan Tata is gearing up to get more serious and institutional about the early-stage investing business, after a prolific run as an angel investor. Tata, 78, in partnership with the University of California, is setting up a venture capital fund with a corpus of around $100-150 million and has already […]

NYU and ffVC collaborate on AI startup support program

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering and ff Venture Capital (ffVC), a leading early-stage technology venture capital firm based in New York City, this morning will announce New York City’s first program to launch and support artificial intelligence (AI) startups. The program will also mark the first time in the United States that a university […]

Proposed $100 million public-private partnership would seed new Michigan VC funds

The trade group for venture capitalists in Michigan wants to form a $100 million fund to match millions in private capital with public investment.  Under the proposal that’s being pushed by the Michigan Venture Capital Association, private investors would put $75 million into a fund to seed new venture capital funds, an amount the state […]

Australian $200M medical research investment fund signs up university members

Three New Zealand research organisations have signed up to become members of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund, Australia’s largest life science venture fund. Otago University, the Malaghan Institute, and Callaghan Innovation are joining the fund’s collaborative structure which includes more than 50 Australian medical research institutes and research hospitals, the Australian federal government and five […]

Chicago Impact Engine Launches $10M Fund, Betting Capitalists Can Do Well While Doing Good

Some dismiss social impact entrepreneurship as a feel-good diversion. But a group of successful investors in Chicago are throwing $10 million on the table to prove that capitalists can do well while doing good. Impact Engine today announced a $10 million early-stage impact investment fund for companies dedicated to making money and  solving one social […]

Start Singapore: Fund to provide seed money

A fintech fund called Dymon Asia Ventures has been set up to invest in areas such as asset management, remittances and foreign exchange.The fund will provide seed finance and growth capital for business expansion. Dymon did not disclose its fund size or the potential investment in each start-up. The norm for investment community is to […]

U Oregon tech startup firm plans to grow with $1 million infusion

A Eugene startup that has invented technology used in drug discovery and environmental testing recently raised $1 million in an investment round to help support its growth. NemaMetrix, a spin-out of University of Oregon research, has developed a portable device that can be used to quickly test the effects of drugs or environmental toxins on […]

New Irish start-up fund swings into action 

Colman Equity – which is also the main funder of the business  accelerator programme StartPlanetNI – will focus on knowledge economy companies and entrepreneurs seeking to move back to Northern Ireland. The investment vehicle will allow businesspeople and investors to put money into start-up firms in a tax-efficient manner, while at the same time sharing their […]