Australian government signs university research and innovation/Tech Transfer agreement with Israel
The Australian and Israeli governments have signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation in technological innovation, research, and development that will allow Australian companies to take advantage of opportunities in Israel’s biotechnology, IT, and R&D sectors. In a statement, recently appointed Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Arthur Sinodinos said the agreement is “great news” as […]
3 eminent alumni fund innovation centre at IIT-Madras
IIT, Madras on Wednesday unveiled its centre for innovation and entrepreneurship which will pave the way for more teaching, research, product development and policy-making initiatives.Named the `Gopalakrishnan-Deshpande Centre’ (GDC) after three of its wellknown alumni, it has an initial funding of $1 million from Infosys vice-chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan and venture capitalists Desh Deshpande and Jaishree […]
Former INSEAD students set up $700K fund to invest in alumni start-ups
Two INSEAD alumni have started a new investment firm called InseadAlum Ventures in Singapore with a capital of nearly $700,000 to invest in start-ups founded by ex-students of the international business school. InseadAlum Ventures will invest between $35,000 and $140,000 in each start-up and will help develop it to a point where it can raise […]
The UAE announces legal system for venture capital funds
The move comes as part of the projects of the first batch of government accelerators launched earlier by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to expedite the process of achieving the National Agenda goals. “Approving the controls and obligations governing the venture […]
Israeli VC Pitango launches its 7th early-stage fund of $175M | TechCrunch
Pitango Venture Capital, one of the most active VCs in the Israeli startup scene, has announced its seventh fund, Pitango Venture Capital 7. The fund will have $175 million under management, and invest from seed upwards. The new fund focuses on IT and life science investments, specializing in enterprise infrastructure, IoT, artificial intelligence and digital […]
MIT Skoltech Seed Fund issues call for proposals, collab research with Russian institutions
The MIT Skoltech Seed Fund Program is calling for proposals, now through Dec. 23, from MIT faculty and researchers with principal investigator status for innovative projects that have the potential to benefit the development of the MIT Skoltech Program or the mission of the Skolkovo Foundation. The program strongly encourages proposals that involve collaborative research […]
Tsinghua University’s Redbud Capital To Launch $150M Venture Fund-Of-Funds
Redbud Capital, an investment platform under Tsinghua Holdings, has teamed up with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of Yiwu City and Zhejiang China Commodities City Group to launch a RMB1 billion (US$150 million) fund-of-funds focused on venture capital. The new vehicle will invest in venture funds, says an announcement without elaboration. It’s […]
How $100B of ‘Free Money’ Could Transform Tech
Oil is so last century. With oversupply and lagging demand holding down the price per barrel, even Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest producers of petroleum, is moving away from its dependence on crude. The Saudi government recently struck a partnership with the Japanese telecom giant SoftBank to create a massive capital fund that […]
UAE Venture fund helps Mena region tap into expertise of veteran investors
Most technology investors are hunting future “unicorns”, as start-up ventures valued at US$1 billion or more are known. But with millions of businesses launching each year, these are proving ever elusive. Step in one new fund aimed at Middle Eastern investors, which – while certainly not promising to scout out the next Facebook – does […]
KAUST, SABB launch startup accelerator plan
The Saudi British Bank (SABB) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are launching the KAUST-SABB University Entrepreneur Accelerator “TAQADAM.” The program aims to help early stage university student and faculty entrepreneurs at Saudi universities develop their concepts into high-potential startups. “We believe this will significantly support the ongoing work at Saudi universities […]