VENTURE CAPITAL POST

The US Department of Energy (DOE) granted $13 million to five solar companies to help strengthen local solar manufacturing and increase competitiveness in the clean energy market.

Santa Clara, California-based stealth micro-LED technology firm LuxVue Technology Corp has raised $25.2 million in funding, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

California, US-based software developing company Accelrys has acquired Ireland-based software business Qumas in a deal valued at $50 million to expand its products expansion and client base.

US-based oil and gas company BreitBurn Energy Partners LP has announced a definitive agreement to acquire oil and gas properties in Texas' Permian Basin for an estimated $282 million.

San Mateo, California-based firm American Efficient launched today with a $2.5-million funding it received from Clean Pacific Ventures to help US residents switch to renewable energy products and suppliers.

American venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has invested USD33 million in California-based stealth networking startup vIPtela to develop its technology for virtualization of whole networks.

San Francisco-based real estate firm BRE Properties Inc is discussing a USD4.5-billion buyout offer by Essex Property Trust Inc, a deal that could expand the latter's portfolio in California.

Yahoo! Inc. on Friday confirmed its purchase of online live concert service Evntlive for an undisclosed sum. As a result of the deal, Evntlive will be shutting down and joining Yahoo!'s video team.

A study by The Institute for College Access and Success found that America's class of 2012 graduated with an average of USD29,400 in student loan debt. Student debt levels, however, varies according to state and geographical regions.

Chuck Reed, the Mayor of San Jose, California, is leading a statewide voter initiative that aims to reduce skyrocketing costs of pension plans and retiree healthcare.

Cloud storage firm Box has acquired startup dLoop for an undisclosed amount, to increase security using fine-grained data analytics technology, helping Box compete better for large enterprise clients.

Palo Alto, California-based digital magazine app Flipboard might be raising an additional USD50 million in funding as continuation to its first USD50 million capital, according to sources cited in a Fortune report.

Cloud storage provider Box, a rival of Dropbox, is raising USD100 million in new funding through a share sale that would value the company at around USD2 billion.

California-based biomedical firm LoneStar Heart Inc raised almost USD2.4 million in a Series C financing round from unnamed venture investors, which would be used for the company's heart therapies for advanced heart failure patients.

California-based mobile security firm Mojave Networks raised USD5 million in a funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, to be used for its expansion and marketing efforts.