VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Tokyo-based mobile messaging app Line Corp could reach its goal of 500 million instant messaging users by the end of this year even as it thinks about a possible IPO, Bloomberg reported.

Private equity fund managers are employing approaches other than traditional buyouts so they can avoid overpaying for Western companies as competition pushes valuations higher, Reuters reported.

Northwest Biotherapeutics, a company backed by venture capitalist Linda Powers, seeks to develop therapies for brain cancer and other tumors after nearly closing its doors a decade ago, Reuters reported.

Henderson Group has plans to grow its assets to £150 billion in four years as it seeks to expand in markets outside the UK, Reuters reported.

Bayside Capital, an affiliate of private equity firm H.I.G. Capital, has bought the Hilton Hotel in London Docklands from Pandox AB for an undisclosed price.

An undisclosed investment amount was given to Germany-based Sunfire from Electranova Capital, the clean technology venture capital fund of Idinvest Partners sponsored by EDF, and Total's venture capital arm Total Energy Ventures.

If You Can Company, a startup that created a game that teaches social and emotional learning to children, has raised $6.5 million for its Series A round ed by Greylock Partners, TechCrunch reported.

Texas-based medical imaging firm Seno Medical Instruments Inc secured $34.6 million of its $39 million Series C equity funding round led by MedCare Investment Funds.

Piazza, a social Q&A platform that connects students, teaching assistants and professors, has rolled out a new recruiting tool with the help of an additional $8 million from Khosla Ventures and Bessemer Ventures in a Series B round which quietly closed last year, TechCrunch reported.

Opternative, a Chicago-based startup, bagged $1 million in seed funding from Tribeca Venture Partners and Chicago Ventures does away with the need to have an in-person eye exam, TechCrunch reported.

Lerer Ventures led the first institutional funding round for tuxedo rental business The Black Tux which raised $2.6 million to offer clients cheaper yet higher quality suit and tie, TechCrunch reported.

Tempo Telecom, a provider of prepaid and flexible communications services, received an investment from Birch Equity Partners, a private equity firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

After the seed funding round led by Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, wearable technologies startup Quanttus received a $19 million Series A round from Khosla Ventures and Matrix Partners.

TraceLink Inc obtained a growth investment of $5.5 million in a round led by FirstMark Capital. Proceeds of the financing will be used for worldwide expansion and to finance more investments in its Life Sciences Cloud network platform.

Thesan Pharmaceuticals, a biotech firm that develops therapies for skin conditions, raised $49 million for its Series B round led by existing investor Novo Ventures and joined in by SV Life Sciences, Lundbeckfond Ventures and Novartis Venture Fund.