VC investments at six-year high

Venture capital firms continued to invest in startups at a strong pace last quarter as deal volume reached its highest level since 2001, thanks to a big jump in money going into Web 2.0 companies and life … via Tech Confidential Blog

Money pours into green tech

“Everyone has become hugely aware of the water issue and I think these sorts of technologies are much more widely accepted.”

DOTCOM entrepreneurs are beating a path to the clean technology sector as cashed-up super funds open the spigot for ventures targeting green concerns ranging from energy to drought and global warming. via NEWS.com.au

Zeligsoft raises $5M in Series B funding round

“We are very pleased to have the support of such a strong investment group, and to have diversified the experience around the board table”

Gatineau-based Zeligsoft has successfully completed a $5-million Series-B financing round which it will use to expand into the military, aeropace and telecom markets. via Ottawa Business Journal

Democrats Lead By $100 Million In Money Race

With more than a year to go before the 2008 elections, Democratic candidates have raised $100 million more in campaign contributions than Republicans, putting them on track to win the money race for the White … via Megite Technology News

Vela Scores $6 Million

Commonwealth Capital Ventures and GrandBanks Capital co-led the deal, and were joined by seed backers CommonAngels, Launchpad Venture Group and individual angels. via PE Hub

Virgin Media asks suitors for first bids

Cable operator Virgin Media has asked suitors to submit expressions of interest by the first week of August to kick off an auction of the company, people familiar with the situation said on Monday. via Scotsman.com

FreeWave’s $113M investment leads U.S.

“We’re very conservative in our decision-making. We’re going to consider lots of points of views.”

Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jul. 24–For the second time in just over two years, a Boulder technology firm holds the honor of landing the largest investment in the country, according to a quarterly survey that … via Customer Interaction Solutions

Moolah from heaven

“When it came time to start looking for additional funds, we contacted a number of potential sources, including venture capital firms”

Eighteen months after they started a business making devices that help companies reduce electricity use, the owners of REGEN Energy Inc. via Canada IT

Vela Scores $6 Million

Commonwealth Capital Ventures and GrandBanks Capital co-led the deal, and were joined by seed backers CommonAngels, Launchpad Venture Group and individual angels. via PE Hub

Virgin Media asks suitors for first bids

Cable operator Virgin Media has asked suitors to submit expressions of interest by the first week of August to kick off an auction of the company, people familiar with the situation said on Monday. via Scotsman.com

American Standard sells kitchen and bath business to Bain Capital for $1.76 billion cash

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey: American Standard Cos. said Monday it agreed to sell its bath and kitchen products business to private investment firm Bain Capital Partners LLC for $1.76 billion in cash. via International Herald Tribune

Clean tech cluster emerging around GTA

“The purpose is to demonstrate the technology and send samples to potential customers”

One of the most frustrating parts of writing about renewable energy is that the technologies often prove difficult for readers to find, let alone acquire. via The Toronto Star

Google joins in femtocell pioneer’s Round B

Femtocell technology and access point pioneer Ubiquisys Ltd has secured $25 million in a round B funding that included Google and existing backers, bringing the total venture capital raised to date to $37 … via EETimes.eu

Staying Safe on the Road to Vista

Return backers include New Enterprise Associates and Sequoia Capital. It previously raised an $8 million Series A round www.loopt.com discussions Kristen Nicole / Mashable! VibeAgent Raises Funding and Gains … via Megite Technology News

Private Equity the Way Ahead

Private equity is a force for good in the economy - creating jobs and wealth, a leading venture capitalist said yesterday. via Black Enterprise

Social Network Hi5 gets $20 million

Hi5, a San Francisco-based social networking start-up is said to have raised about $20 million in its latest round of funding. via Megite Technology News

Mike Moritz: The S&P 500 Beats 80% of Venture Funds

“People would be far better off investing in an index fund”

Sequoia Capital’s Mike Moritz, the uber-VC who earned his reputation backing Google, Yahoo, eBay, Cisco and Apple, was pessimistic about the future of the venture capital industry at a Fortune-sponsored … via Wired News

Low Cost and Low Risk 32-bit Controllers for Designing AMBA-based SOCs

Overview: How do you select the best processor core for your next SOC design? Too many companies make the default decision to go with the industry leader. via TechOnline

Google joins in femtocell pioneer’s Round B

Femtocell technology and access point pioneer Ubiquisys Ltd has secured $25 million in a round B funding that included Google and existing backers, bringing the total venture capital raised to date to $37 … via EETimes.eu

Staying Safe on the Road to Vista

Return backers include New Enterprise Associates and Sequoia Capital. It previously raised an $8 million Series A round www.loopt.com discussions Kristen Nicole / Mashable! VibeAgent Raises Funding and Gains … via Megite Technology News

PPG Offers $3 Billion for Dutch SigmaKalon Group

“The SigmaKalon business has performed well financially and would be a strong complement to our existing coatings businesses”

PPG Industries has offered $3 billion for SigmaKalon Group, a Dutch paint and coatings producer acquired four years ago by investment firm Bain Capital. via Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT

Quovadx Announces Completion of Merger with Subsidiary of Battery Ventures

Quovadx, Inc. , a global software and vertical solutions company, today announced that at the special meeting of stockholders held today, Quovadx, Inc.’s stockholders approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger … via Customer Interaction Solutions

Clean tech cluster emerging around GTA

“The purpose is to demonstrate the technology and send samples to potential customers”

One of the most frustrating parts of writing about renewable energy is that the technologies often prove difficult for readers to find, let alone acquire. via The Toronto Star

Bushnell Outdoor Products sold to private equity firm

“Obviously, with the success of the company, (Wind Point) has achieved a good return on its investment”

MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm, has agreed to buy Overland Park-based Bushnell Outdoor Products from Wind Point Partners, the companies announced Thursday.

Although MidOcean did not disclose the purchase price, Bushnell president and chief executive Joe Messner said it was just under $600 million.

‘This is a deeply exciting time, when the company has been growing as it has, for MidOcean to make this investment,’ he said.

Messner and other senior managers will continue to run the company after the deal closes and will own an undisclosed but ’significant’ stake in the company, according to the announcement. The deal is expected to be completed at the end of August. Read more

Mike Moritz: The S&P 500 Beats 80% of Venture Funds

“People would be far better off investing in an index fund”

Sequoia Capital’s Mike Moritz, the uber-VC who earned his reputation backing Google, Yahoo, eBay, Cisco and Apple, was pessimistic about the future of the venture capital industry at a Fortune-sponsored … via Wired News

San Diego— Novocell Raises $25 Million

“This very successful financing was driven by Novocell’s stem cell engineering expertise, superb scientific team and execution of key milestones toward the development of a first-in-class cell therapy for insulin requiring diabetics”

Novocell, Inc., a stem cell engineering company, today announced the closing of a $25 million Series C financing. via Freshnews

Low Cost and Low Risk 32-bit Controllers for Designing AMBA-based SOCs

Overview: How do you select the best processor core for your next SOC design? Too many companies make the default decision to go with the industry leader. via TechOnline

Private Equity the Way Ahead

Private equity is a force for good in the economy - creating jobs and wealth, a leading venture capitalist said yesterday. via Black Enterprise

San Diego— Novocell Raises $25 Million

“This very successful financing was driven by Novocell’s stem cell engineering expertise, superb scientific team and execution of key milestones toward the development of a first-in-class cell therapy for insulin requiring diabetics”

Novocell, Inc., a stem cell engineering company, today announced the closing of a $25 million Series C financing. via Freshnews

Bushnell Outdoor Products sold to private equity firm

“Obviously, with the success of the company, (Wind Point) has achieved a good return on its investment”

MidOcean Partners, a private equity firm, has agreed to buy Overland Park-based Bushnell Outdoor Products from Wind Point Partners, the companies announced Thursday.

Although MidOcean did not disclose the purchase price, Bushnell president and chief executive Joe Messner said it was just under $600 million.

‘This is a deeply exciting time, when the company has been growing as it has, for MidOcean to make this investment,’ he said.

Messner and other senior managers will continue to run the company after the deal closes and will own an undisclosed but ’significant’ stake in the company, according to the announcement. The deal is expected to be completed at the end of August. Read more

Warner Music declines to bid for rival EMI

“The multiples on the business (EMI) have doubled while the business has declined”

Warner Music Group Corp. said Tuesday it decided against bidding for rival EMI Group Plc, two days before a deadline to submit an offer. via XtraMSN Real Estate

Low Cost and Low Risk 32-bit Controllers for Designing AMBA-based SOCs

Overview: How do you select the best processor core for your next SOC design? Too many companies make the default decision to go with the industry leader. via TechOnline

PPG Offers $3 Billion for Dutch SigmaKalon Group

“The SigmaKalon business has performed well financially and would be a strong complement to our existing coatings businesses”

PPG Industries has offered $3 billion for SigmaKalon Group, a Dutch paint and coatings producer acquired four years ago by investment firm Bain Capital. via Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT

Clean tech cluster emerging around GTA

“The purpose is to demonstrate the technology and send samples to potential customers”

One of the most frustrating parts of writing about renewable energy is that the technologies often prove difficult for readers to find, let alone acquire. via The Toronto Star

Symwave Raises $12M Series C

“Investing in Symwave aligns well with Kodiak’s commitment to build true market leaders. The company has a strong technology position and disruptive business model which positions it well for exceptional growth”

Symwave, Inc., a leading supplier of high-performance analog mixed signal integrated circuit solutions for high volume consumer and computing markets, announced the successful completion of a $12 million Series … via KVOA-TV Tucson

Google joins in femtocell pioneer’s Round B

Femtocell technology and access point pioneer Ubiquisys Ltd has secured $25 million in a round B funding that included Google and existing backers, bringing the total venture capital raised to date to $37 … via EETimes.eu

BA shrugs off Air France interest in Iberia

“It is therefore quite normal for it to be examined among others.”

British Airways’ chief executive shrugged off rivalry from Air France KLM for Iberia , saying he was confident BA’s 3.4 billion euro bid with private equity firm TPG was fair value. via Earth Times

PPG Offers $3 Billion for Dutch SigmaKalon Group

“The SigmaKalon business has performed well financially and would be a strong complement to our existing coatings businesses”

PPG Industries has offered $3 billion for SigmaKalon Group, a Dutch paint and coatings producer acquired four years ago by investment firm Bain Capital. via Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT

Thoof attempts to improve on Web site linkages

“It will give you something to read the way you might read your newspaper in the morning”

SAN FRANCISCO: Ian Clarke was a 23-year-old computer scientist living in Scotland in 2000 when he started a global controversy by deploying an online system called Freenet. via International Herald Tribune

European startup Trivop raises a seed round

Conbgrats to Thomas Owadenko and all the Trivop teamm for this first round of funding with MA rten Lund , Steve and Jean-Emile Rosenblum , Oliver Jung, LukA sz Gadowski , Aydin Senkut and myself. via Loic Le Meur Blog

Silicon Valley Solar gets $10 mln venture round

“We are very enthusiastic about SV Solar’s approach to this space”

Silicon Valley Solar on Monday said it raised $10.2 million in venture capital in its first round of financing. via India Daily

VentureBeat: Leadership - Annapolis style

Serial Entrepreneur Bob Walters describes the enduring leadership lessons he learned while attending the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. Given the state of leadership in Corporate America today, executives would do well to heed Bob’s advice on “followship,” responsibility, integrity, teamwork and motivation. via VentureBeat

IRVINE— K2 Network Secures $16M in Series B Funding Led by Intel Capital

“K2 Network’s extensive gaming knowledge along with its unique Free2Play model is well positioned to capitalize on this exciting opportunity in interactive entertainment.”

Intel K2 Network, Inc. , an online game publisher, today announced that the company has closed a $16 million Series B round of venture capital led by Intel Capital, the investment arm of Intel Corporation. via Freshnews

Review of Discovery Capital Corporation vs. Current Market

Please visit www.Streetinvesting.com for the full report, additional research and related articles on the company mentioned herein. via M2.com

Venture capital group chief quits

The chief executive of Britain’s leading private equity lobby group has resigned in the wake of mounting attacks on the industry from unions and politicians.

The British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) said Peter Linthwaite had asked to stand down ‘with immediate effect’.

BVCA chairman Wol Kolade said: ‘The BVCA and the industry appreciates and is grateful for Peter’s hard work over the last two years in a very challenging environment. I know that there is more he can do to support the industry in the future. Read more

Moving VCs out of the center of the country

“This point was stated by Prof. Michael Porter, of Harvard University, who examined the impact of clusters on the economy”

Would an Iranian missile landing on Herzliya Pituah wipe out the local venture capital industry? Accordign to one macabre joke, the answer is yes. via Haaretz Daily News

Burned dot-coms offer lessons

“Because startups aren’t going through cash at such a blistering pace, that gives companies more time to figure out what works in their business.”

When Silicon Valley entrepreneur Bill Nguyen launched two technology companies during the late-1990s dot-com boom -Seven Networks and Onebox - each went through about $2 million a month. via The Gazette

Thoof attempts to improve on Web site linkages

“It will give you something to read the way you might read your newspaper in the morning”

SAN FRANCISCO: Ian Clarke was a 23-year-old computer scientist living in Scotland in 2000 when he started a global controversy by deploying an online system called Freenet. via International Herald Tribune

Burned dot-coms offer lessons

“Because startups aren’t going through cash at such a blistering pace, that gives companies more time to figure out what works in their business.”

When Silicon Valley entrepreneur Bill Nguyen launched two technology companies during the late-1990s dot-com boom -Seven Networks and Onebox - each went through about $2 million a month. via The Gazette

Moving VCs out of the center of the country

“This point was stated by Prof. Michael Porter, of Harvard University, who examined the impact of clusters on the economy”

Would an Iranian missile landing on Herzliya Pituah wipe out the local venture capital industry? Accordign to one macabre joke, the answer is yes. via Haaretz Daily News

Venture capital group chief quits

The chief executive of Britain’s leading private equity lobby group has resigned in the wake of mounting attacks on the industry from unions and politicians.

The British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) said Peter Linthwaite had asked to stand down ‘with immediate effect’.

BVCA chairman Wol Kolade said: ‘The BVCA and the industry appreciates and is grateful for Peter’s hard work over the last two years in a very challenging environment. I know that there is more he can do to support the industry in the future. Read more

Review of Discovery Capital Corporation vs. Current Market

Please visit www.Streetinvesting.com for the full report, additional research and related articles on the company mentioned herein. via M2.com

Radiology firm reaps $25 million investment

Franklin & Seidelmann Subspecialty Radiology of Beachwood said it has received a $25 million investment from a major venture capital firm. via Crain’s Cleveland Business

IRVINE— K2 Network Secures $16M in Series B Funding Led by Intel Capital

“K2 Network’s extensive gaming knowledge along with its unique Free2Play model is well positioned to capitalize on this exciting opportunity in interactive entertainment.”

Intel K2 Network, Inc. , an online game publisher, today announced that the company has closed a $16 million Series B round of venture capital led by Intel Capital, the investment arm of Intel Corporation. via Freshnews

Venture capital group chief quits

The chief executive of Britain’s leading private equity lobby group has resigned in the wake of mounting attacks on the industry from unions and politicians.

The British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) said Peter Linthwaite had asked to stand down ‘with immediate effect’.

BVCA chairman Wol Kolade said: ‘The BVCA and the industry appreciates and is grateful for Peter’s hard work over the last two years in a very challenging environment. I know that there is more he can do to support the industry in the future. Read more

Outages jolting venture firms

“People get twitchy when they don’t have access”

They are the captains of Silicon Valley, dispensing cash and advice to companies on the cutting edge of technology. via Los Angeles Times

Building The Next Billion Dollar Company in Massachusetts

I’m participating in a panel this weekend at the TiE conference on the challenge in Massachusetts of building the next “billion dollar company”. It’s an interesting and timely topic, to say the least. via Seeing Both Sides

Private capital flowing, but there’s still room for growth

“There is still money out there to be invested, but the quality threshold has increased.”

Five years ago clean energy was an investment backwater, the concern only of environmental alarmists and obscure academics. via Corporate Social Responsibility News

Radiology firm reaps $25 million investment

Franklin & Seidelmann Subspecialty Radiology of Beachwood said it has received a $25 million investment from a major venture capital firm. via Crain’s Cleveland Business

Margaret Heffernan: VC: What You See Isn’t What You Get

“Over the years, venture capitalists develop a pattern of what has been successful for them and if they have never invested in women over five, 10 or 15 years, they won’t.”

Cutting edge, thrusting, visionary, one step into the future. That’s the image of themselves that venture capitalists love to promote. via The Huffington Post

Angel Investment Tax Credit Helps Produce $1.72B in Deals Since 1999

“We have strong support in both chambers, but we don’t take anything for granted, obviously”

A tax credit designed to encourage angel investors and angel groups to put money in startup companies has produced nearly six times the amount of benefits inn direct funding, two lobbying organizations have … via Local Tech Wire

Are VC Payoffs Bad?

“The entrepreneur taking a million bucks out of the company that should have stayed in the company says the company doesn’t have as much a potential for success.”

Ron Conway is upset that ” third-rate VCs are paying off entrepreneurs. ” He suggests, What’s happening is third-tier VCs are trying to get deals away from Sequoia and KP and offering entrepreneurs some cash as … via Texas Venture Capital Blog