-
2 days ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
This is one of 10 AI products being created by International Airline Group's in-house AI development team and the first glimpse into the company's revitalised innovation strategy. Photo credit: Gagliardi PhotographyInternational Airlines Group (IAG), the owner of British Airways, announced a new AI-powered tool for optimising engine maintenance which it has built in-house as part of a recently-revamped innovation strategy.
-
5 days ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
The company's venture building unit will focus on edtech and the future of work. The ZNEXT team, with CEO Elena Lavezzi (centre)Italian publishing house Zanichelli Editore has launched a build-and-acquire unit with a €60m ($69m) fund for venture building and M&A. ZNEXT’s venture building business will co-found companies alongside entrepreneurs from both outside and within Zanichelli, providing an initial €150k ($172k) injection.
-
1 week ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
The bank has created a new fintech and AI venture unit, Itaú Ventures, following the acquisition of an investment firm. Itaú Unibanco, a Brazilian bank, has announced a new corporate venture capital unit with a R$500m ($91m) fund, of which R$250m ($45m) is earmarked for new investments. The CVC unit, Itaú Ventures, is a product of the bank’s acquisition of Kinea Ventures, an investment company. It will work closely with the core business units to target areas of innovation relevant to the bank.
-
1 week ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
Speaking at the GCV Symposium in London, Poppy Gustaffson said the government will make the UK a more attractive place for investors. The UK’s investment minister promised support for corporate investors looking to back British startups, and said that reforms to planning law and the government’s upcoming industrial strategy will “bring growth back into the country”.
-
2 weeks ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
US corporate-backed startup funding saw a big contraction, with the fintech and industrial sectors hit hardest. The number of corporate-backed startup funding rounds fell sharply in May, bringing an end to a run of strong months since the beginning of the year. It is the first indication that wider economic uncertainty is beginning to have an impact on investment patterns. GCV’s CVC Funding Round Database tracked 331 deals for the month, the lowest number since November.
-
1 month ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
The state-owned energy company has announced a new fund to invest in hydrogen startups across the value chain. Credit: ShutterstockChinese state-run oil and gas company Sinopec has announced a 5 billion yuan ($690 million) CVC fund to invest in hydrogen energy startups. The fund will be managed by the Sinopec Capital subsidiary Sinopec Equity Fund Management.
-
1 month ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
Info Edge has announced shareholder approval for a third sector-agnostic fund to be managed by Smartweb Internet Services, totaling $117m. Photo courtesy of Trade BrainsIndian tech conglomerate Info Edge has received shareholder approval to launch a third investment fund at Rs 1,000 crore ($117m). InfoEdge Ventures, the company’s CVC unit, is sector agnostic. Almost all of its investments are in India, and it mainly targets the pre-seed, seed and series A stages but occasionally goes further.
-
1 month ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
Travis Smith joins Siemens Energy Ventures as senior venture clienting manager, where he oversees a training programme for staff. Travis Smith has joined German energy technology company Siemens Energy’s CVC unit as a senior venture clienting manager. His role involves working to identify startup technology that can create value for the Siemens Energy business units. He also runs a programme that trains staff members in venture clienting and gives them the opportunity to get involved.
-
1 month ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
Munich Re Ventures has launched a $125m fund with capital from insurer HSB, to be invested in technology for de-risking industry. Munich Re head office building, photo courtesy of Munich ReGerman reinsurance company Munich Re’s CVC unit has launched a fifth fund of $125m, focusing on startups making technology to mitigate risk in the construction and property industries and their related supply chains. It will also invest in resilience technology, such as cybersecurity software.
-
1 month ago | 
globalventuring.com | Stephen Hurford
Christoph Sommer is leaving his role in innovation at German utilities provider NEW, where he oversaw the group's venture clienting activity. Christoph Sommer, photo courtesy of LinkedInChristoph Sommer said he is leaving his role as innovation manager at the German utilities company NEW, in which he was involved with its venture clienting and startup partnerships. He has been at the company for just under four years, joining in July 2021.
