VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Google’s Digital News Initiative (DNI) program has just granted more than $30 million to selected projects in 23 European countries. It’s the first batch of the long-term $170 million project to help stimulate innovation in digital journalism.

Blippar has a total funding of $55 million in Series D including those from its present investors which CEO and founder Ambarish Mitra called as investors with 'long-term vision'. The said fund will be used to 'power the future of visual discovery'.

B.C. clean-tech companies have requested Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allocate a $500 million venture capital (VC) fund. An alliance comprising 51 clean-tech and investment firms from B.C. province has written a letter to the Prime Minister Trudeau to extend support to clean-tech industry.

The Sacramento Kings announced a tech startup contest for local entrepreneurs. Supported by local investment firm Velocity Venture Capital, finalists will get an opportunity to pitch their ideas to judges and a chance to win a cash prize and consultation sessions with the Kings executives.

Israel is witnessing an increasing number of new venture capital (VC) firms coming up. The country registered an inflow of $665 million VC funding during the first two months of the year. Unfazed with the recent market crash, the funds inflows continue for Israel startups.

Due to some investors' difficulty in transferring their cash out of mainland China, Zheshang Bank has decided to postpone their $1 billion Hong Kong IPO.

Earlier this month, Chinese state-owned company ChemChina reached an acquisition deal of $43 billion with Swiss company Syngenta. After clearing regulation requirements in China, ChemChina is now seeking out loans of more than $35 billion from bankers to fund the purchase.

Did Kuaidi, the largest ride-hailing service in China is about to raise $1 billion the same amount that Uber spent last year for its expansion. It is going to be a tough competition for both companies since they are being backed up by other large companies such as Alibaba and Tencent Holdings Inc.

Next week, Eskom will be paid the remaining balance from the bailout. Eskom CE Brian Molefe expressed frustration to learn that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced that the funds will be withheld. Treasury informed that the fund will be transferred and is already being processed.

The Birmingham-based company focused on developing cloud-based HR software. An area which rarely attracted software startups.

Led by technology sector, venture capital (VC) investments in Canada reached 10 year high in 2015. Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA) said 536 deals in funding for entrepreneurs raised $2.25 billion in 2015.

Former Hong Kong music popstar turned venture capitalist Andrew Chung established his own firm 1955 capital. With a $200 million fund, he expects to bring clean technology to China.

The Series A round was announced on Wednesday. The company has also licensed the rights for multiple immuno-oncology programs from Stanford University.

The San Francisco startup and smartphone maker Revl has been seed funded of $2 million by venture capitalist Bill Tai along with other investors like Frog Ventures, Y Combinator, Lars Rasmussen and James Lindenbaum.

Battery Ventures X has been closed in February 2013 with a fund of $900 million. Now, the Battery Ventures XI is going to be closed at $950 million, surpassing the predecessor funds. A large number of venture firms are expecting to receive funds in 2016, which may be good or bad news for some institutional investors.