VENTURE CAPITAL POST

AOL Inc said on Sunday it is starting a program inIsrael to assist start-ups, and that it will invest at least $100,000 in as many as 10 projects at a time. The Internet giant already has a development center in Israel, and its new project, called Nautilus, is meant to give

Iran should embrace the Internet rather than see it as a threat, President Hassan Rouhani has said, in remarks that challenge hardliners who have stepped up measures to censor the Web.

New York, US-based open-source video platform Kaltura bought Tel Aviv, Israel-based pay TV service startup Tvinci for an undisclosed amount to gain flexibility in the video business and grow its revenue.

American venture capital firm Domain Elite invested $6.5 million in Israeli endoscopy and colonoscopy products maker SMART Medical Systems to bring the latter's products to meet the demand for the said products in Greater China.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based firm Abraaj Group picked up a stake in Casablanca, Morocco-based chocolate manufacturer Kool Food for an undisclosed amount to back the latter's international distribution plans.

Doha Bank, a Qatar based lender, has entered into a definite acquisition agreement with HSBC Holdings Plc's HSBC Bank Oman to purchase its lending arm in India pending regulatory approvals in India, Jersey, Qatar and Oman.

The International Finance Corp (IFC) is shelling out $25.8 million for the construction of a new wind farm in Sindh province of Pakistan to fill in the increasing energy deficit in the region.

NBK Capital appointed Perella Weinberg Partners as its adviser on a planned stake sale, reported Bloomberg.

Paris, France-based digital publishing firm Webedia added Lebanon-based digital media firm Diwanee for an undisclosed amount to help the latter reach out to women in the Middle East.

Dalia, Israel-based water measurement solutions and services provider Arad Group picked up a controlling stake in Mexico-based water meter manufacturer Cicasa for $2.04 million to gain access to the Latin American market.

Tel Aviv, Israel-based mobile gallery startup Flayvr grabbed $2 million in seed funding from institutional and angel investors to help smartphone users organize their gallery photos for easy viewing and sharing.

Ramat-Gan, Israel-based nanotech startup StoreDot developed a prototype of a device that will enable a person to charge a phone within just 20 seconds in a cost-efficient and environment-friendly manner.

Herzliya, Israel-based connected device network Neura bagged $2 million in a funding round led by Greenhouse Capital Partners to connect several gadgets using one mobile app.

Rehovot, Israel-based 3D printing firm Stratasys bought Wisconsin, US-based plastic filament maker Interfacial Solutions for an undisclosed sum to streamline its operations through hardware and filament production.

Intel Capital is planning to pour $15 million in funding into Jerusalem, Israel-based smartglasses maker to continue helping visually impaired people using the startup's product.