Allocations
Africa-focused infrastructure investment funds have set record fundraising targets in 2021, according to new analysis by global law firm Linklaters. A total of ten funds have set a combined target of USD2.14 billion in their latest fundraising, a marked increase on previous years and over three times the average annual amount targeted over the last ten years.
This year has also seen the largest number of newly formed funds that will specifically target Africa’s infrastructure needs – at ten, up from an average of four per year over the last decade.
The analysis suggests that African nations are likely
Aiven, a software company that combines the best open-source technologies with cloud infrastructure, has secured USD60 million in Series C extension at a USD2 billion valuation bringing total Series C investment to USD160 million.
This extension, which brings Aiven’s total funding to date to USD210 million, was co-led by existing investors World Innovation Lab and IVP, and with the participation from Atomico and others. In a testament to the growth and potential Aiven showcases in its capabilities, a number of investors increased their capital commitments to Aiven just seven months after the company’s successful USD100 million Series C.
As the
Though the Street may be wary of China’s current economic trajectory, Willis Towers Watson, spoken to by Private Equity Wire, remains persuaded by the ability of China’s on-the-ground and sector-specific GPs to stay on course.
As any start-up founder knows, launching a new business can be an exhausting and all-consuming experience. Â When not dealing with day-to-day operations or handling accounts, there are investors to deal with and venture funding to be raised, often from multiple backers with competing agendas.Â
Serial entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den winner, Lex Deak, has secured GBP2 million for his new app, BASKET.
Notable investors include Lightbank, the VC firm founded by Groupon co-founder, Eric Lefkosky, as well as co-founder and CEO of WorldFirst, Jonathan Quin, and Mumsnet founder and CEO, Justine Roberts.
Basket will revolutionise the online shopping experience when it arrives in January 2022.
Shoppers can bookmark potential purchases from anywhere on or offline and organise them in a single space. The BASKET app will then inform them of price drops or any discounts available on their items.
This is great
Exciva, a clinical biotech company developing a novel therapeutic compound for treating agitation/aggression in Alzheimer’s disease, has closed a Series A financing of EUR9 million (USD10 million) led by Andera Partners. LBBW Venture Capital and Cure8 also participated in the round.
This first funding will help Exciva GmbH develop the lead compound up to completion of Phase I. The product has the potential to treat behavioural and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer disease patients. This compound is the combination of two clinically validated products, which have demonstrated effectiveness in the CNS field.
“I am very happy that we were able
SUSI Partners, on behalf of its Energy Transition Fund (SETF), has signed an agreement with developer BIWO Renovables and their commercial partner Latsolar Energy Investments to acquire a portfolio of distributed renewable energy assets in Chile.
VSS Capital Partners (VSS), a private investment firm investing in the healthcare, information, business services and education industries, has completed the sale of Coretelligent to Norwest Equity Partners.
Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Coretelligent is a provider of comprehensive managed IT, cybersecurity, and cloud services to customers within the financial services, life sciences, professional services, and related sectors. VSS will participate in Coretelligent’s next phase of growth as a minority investor in the Company.
Coretelligent provides comprehensive managed and co-managed white glove IT support, cybersecurity, backup and disaster recovery as well as cloud services. Founded by Kevin
TowerBrook Capital Partners has completed the acquisition of ECP-PF Holdings Group, (ECP-PF) from Exaltare Capital Management, a Boston-based private equity firm.
ECP-PF is one of the largest developers and operators of fitness clubs under the Planet Fitness brand (NYSE: PLNT), serving approximately 600,000 members in six US states and three Canadian provinces.
Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness clubs in North America. As of 30 June, 2021, Planet Fitness had more than 14.8 million members and 2,170 clubs in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, and Australia. The company’s mission
Pharmacierge, a health-tech company that offers same-day prescription medicine delivery in London and next day delivery throughout the UK, today announces that it has raised GBP1.25 million from a number of leading clinicians and angel investors.
Investors include Alex Chesterman OBE, founder of Cazoo and Zoopla and Simon Franks, who co-founded Lovefilm. In a show of confidence from the medical profession, many practitioner users have also invested in the round, including two past presidents of the Independent Doctors Federation, and clinicians practicing variously at the Schoen Clinic, One Welbeck, Hormone Health, Physicians Clinic, Cromwell, Wellington, Lister and King Edward VII
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
