Global Venturing Review

Our Leadership Series interview where we talk to Amy Banse also from Comcast Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The Big Ones There is a true IPO bonanza going on at the moment and we’ll get to that in a moment, but there’s still a good deal of money sloshing around the sector for early-stage deals too. Sana Biotechnology is working on a string of drug candidates utilising stem cell technology and has raised … Continue reading "29 June 2020 – Sana Biotechnology Raises $700m in First Round"

Our Leadership Series interview where we talk to David Gilmour also from BP Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Big Stories Slowly, then suddenly change happens This past week’s online roundtable for the Reinhard Mohn Prize 2020*, Fostering Innovation, Unlocking Potential, hosted by the Bertelsmann Stiftung (Foundation), saw luminaries from politics, business, civil society and science under Chatham House rule discuss which innovation policies and frameworks are now needed to facilitate economic prosperity and societal progress in the future and strengthen our crisis … Continue reading "22 June 2020 – DoorDash Raises $400m in Late Stage Round"

Our Leadership Series interview where Ashley Lowes, Head of Communications & Marketing at JetBlue Technology Ventures, talks to Raj Singh & Amy Burr also from JetBlue Technology Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Big Ones Online student answer and livestreamed education provider Zuoyebang was spun off by Baidu and has since received $585m in venture funding. Like many online education platforms however, it has seen a big uptick in business during China’s coronavirus lockdown, and is in talks to raise between $600m and $800m. The round would reportedly … Continue reading "15 June 2020 – Zuoyebang in Talks to Raise up to $800m in Coronavirus Boost"

GCV Digital Forum Roundup Thank you to the team and all who have worked their socks off for the first GCV Digital Forum, and also the sponsors, speakers and attendees who have made it such a success. The platform will stay open for 30 days. It was exciting to hear the industry on the GCV … Continue reading "08 June 2020 – GCV Digital Forum Roundup"

The Big Ones 1 Switzerland-based bank UBS Group is setting aside hundreds of millions of dollars of its money to invest in financial technology companies, according to Bloomberg. UBS hired Erasmus Elsner for its venture capital and growth equity unit last month but is reportedly still recruiting staff for a dedicated corporate venture capital (CVC) … Continue reading "01 June 2020 – UBS Groups Prepares for Fintech Investments"

Our Leadership Series interview where Edison Fu talks to Heriberto Diarte from Schneider Electric Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The Big Ones Chinese AI software provider SenseTime has expanded its visual surveillance technology to assess the internal temperature of individuals in order to more efficiently track coronavirus patients, and is considering seeking $1bn in funding. Reports in March suggested it was chasing $500m to $1bn in lieu of an IPO, but sources have told … Continue reading "25 May 2020 – SenseTime Expands to Help Track Coronavirus"

Our Leadership Series interview where Edison Fu talks to Nicolas Sauvage from TDK Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Big Stories 1 Spencer Chavez, a GCV Rising Stars 2020 winner, has stepped down from his position as principal at Salesforce Ventures to join KKR. KKR has been building its tech growth team under Dave Welsh as traditional private equity firms move down towards growth equity deals for opportunities and as a window on disruptive … Continue reading "18 May 2020 – Challenging Investment Landscape and Down-Rounds"

Our Leadership Series interview where Edison Fu talks to Arvind Purushotham from Citi Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Big Stories Korys, the family office behind the France and Belgium-based retailer Colruyt Group, and Mérieux Equity Partners, the asset management arm of the Institut Mérieux holding company, have set up joint funds targeting companies in the healthcare and nutrition sectors in Europe and North America. OMX Europe Venture Fund has raised more than €60m … Continue reading "11 May 2020 – Intel picks up Moovit for $900m"

Our Leadership Series interview where James Mawson talks to John Glushik from HG Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The Big Three As highlighted in last week’s podcast, some sectors are flying high and, certainly relative to the global financial crisis a dozen years ago, banking and financial services is one of them. New York-listed financial technology (fintech) provider FIS has committed $150m to its corporate venturing unit as part of a joined-up approach to … Continue reading "04 May 2020 – FIS Commits $150m to its Corporate Venturing Unit"

Our Leadership Series interview where James Mawson talks to David Hayes and Nacho Gimenez from BP Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The Big ones AvidXchange, a developer of accounts payable automation software, has raised $128m to hike its latest round to $388m. Mastercard was among the investors, having contributed to the company’s last round, when it secured $300m in 2017 at a $1.4bn valuation. Reports in December stated AvidXchange was chasing a $2bn valuation for this … Continue reading "27 April 2020 – AvidXchange Raises $128m Bringing Total Round to $388m Plus Audio from our Second COVID19 Webinar"

Our Leadership Series interview where Edison Fu talks to Tarik Galijasevic from Allstate Strategic Ventures. “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

The Big Ones Digital payment processor Stripe is one of the companies that has seen demand for its product skyrocket in recent weeks as more and more commerce moves online. It has also raised another $600m from investors including GV to meet that demand, taking a series G round valuing it at $35bn pre-money to … Continue reading "20 April 2020 – Stripe Raises $600m in Series G Plus Audio from our Industrial Sector Webinar"