In a bid to match Silicon Valley's success, the European Commission (EC) launched the Startup Europe Partnership tech startup accelerator and the European Digital Forum think tank at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
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Japanese state-backed fund INCJ picks up minority stake in robotic hand maker Squse–sources
State-backed fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) entered an agreement to pick up a 20% stake in Kyoto-based robotic hand maker Squse Inc for JPY500 million ($4.9 million), according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Australian travel startup Rezdy pockets $1M in funding round
Sydney, Australia-based online travel booking service Rezdy pocketed $1 million in a recent funding round from both new and existing investors to establish a new office in San Francisco, US.
Foreign direct investment in Seoul reaches five-year record high
Based on data gathered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, foreign direct investment (FDI) poured into Seoul, South Korea, reached $6 billion in 2013, an all-time high since the global financial crisis hit in 2008.
European secondhand marketplace Vinted lands $27M to expand to US
Munich, Germany-based secondhand clothes marketplace Vinted landed $27 million in a Series B funding round led by Insight Venture Partners and Accel Partners for its expansion to the US.
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Limerick, Ireland-based environmental software developer AMCS Group closed €23.5 million in a funding round led by Highland Capital Partners Europe (HCPE) for its expansion into Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas.
Berlin, Germany-based multi-mode travel search engine GoEuro received millions in investment in a post-seed funding round from Lakestar to expand its market footprint beyond the UK, Germany, and Spain.
India-based IT and engineering services provider Global Economic Advantage Pvt Ltd purchased Samtel Engineering and Sourcing Solutions Pvt Ltd including its wholly owned German unit for an undisclosed sum.
Germany-based investor-startup matchmaker Venturate has been launched to compete with US-based firm AngelList, a platform that helps lead venture capitalists to the right investment that would fit in their portfolio.
Private equity firms KKR & Co and Permira Advisers exited a 16.6% holding in German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG (PSM)in a deal valued at around €1.26 billion ($1.7 billion).
The French state divested a 1% stake in Netherlands-based aircraft and defense firm Airbus Group for €451 million ($614 million), according to the French economy minister.
UK-based institutional currency investment manager Millennium Global Holdings Inc acquired a 51% stake in Philippine-based seafood exports business Millennium Ocean Star Corp in a deal valued at PHP137.91 million.
Germany-based venture capital firm Global Founders Capital and Luxembourg-based firm Redline Capital invested €6.1 million ($8.3 million) in UK-based short-term e-commerce business loans startup Iwoca.
Ian Brady, chief investment officer of California-based firm Oak Tree Wealth Management Ltd, cautioned about taking risk in credit and property, saying performance in 2014 will be hard to come by.
