VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Cupertino, US-based smartphone giant Apple launched its iPhone trade-in program in Germany to allow its customers to purchase a new iPhone at a discounted price when they trade in a qualifying old device.

Atlanta, US-based Internet-based TV service provider YuppTV Inc pocketed $2.5 million in its first funding round from Indian early stage investor Sashi Reddi to scale up and expand its client base.

New Delhi, India-based microfinance institution Satin Creditcare Network Limited (SCNL) bagged $4.7 million (INR28.44 crore) in a funding round led by Norway-based impact investor NMI Fund III KS (NMI) to fuel its growth and diversification.

Dmirty Firtash, a Ukranian businessman was indicted of US bribery charges along with five other men over allegedly paying bribes to Indian government authorities to facilitate a mining project.

Private equity firm Agribusiness invested INR75 crore in Bangalore, India-based nutraceutical and pharmaceutical ingredients supplier Beloorbayir Biotech for the latter's product development and international expansion.

Chennai, India-based non-banking finance firm IFMR Capital bagged $29 million in funding from specialist investor LeapFrog Investment's second investment fund for its product and service expansion.

Mumbai, India-based big data analytics startup Germin8 pocketed $3 million in its first funding round from Kalaari Capital to expand internationally and fuel sales, marketing, branding, and product development activities.

JWT, a New York, US-based operating company of advertising giant WPP, entered an agreement to pick up a majority stake in Mumbai, India-based social media agency Social Wavelenth for an undisclosed amount to expand its market reach.

Uttar Pradesh, India-based Internet network Times Internet backed Noida-based mobile education startup GradeStack with an undisclosed amount to turn mobile education into a social experience.

Indian IT services giant Tech Mahindra may buy a large minority stake in Bangalore-bases social media analytics firm Simplify360 for an undisclosed amount in a bid to boost its social, mobility, analytics, and cloud services (SMAC) portfolio.

Menlo Park, US-based venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners (LSVP) closed $950 million for its new investment fund that will back early-stage companies in the consumer and tech sectors.

The Chennai Labs (TCA) and Spark Capital backed Bangalore, India-based engineering education startup Skyfi Labs with an undisclosed amount for its expansion and product development.

Pune, India-based software services firm Persistent Systems used its venture capital fund to invest an undisclosed amount in California, US-based hand hygiene solutions startup Hyginex for its international expansion.

Bangalore, India-based payment solutions provider Innoviti nabbed INR10 crore in debt funding from Tata Capital and other investors from London and India to scale up its Middle East operations and beef up its management team.

Gurgaon, India-based e-commerce firm Ibibo Group purchased Bangalore-based online bus tracking and analytics startup YourBus for an undisclosed sum to integrate the latter's tracking function into its travel services.