VivoTech tacks on $8.6M for wireless credit-card transactions
VivoTech, provider of infrastructure for wireless credit-card transactions, just added $8.6 million to a now $40 million third round of funding open since 2007. Its technology lets people make payments via radio frequency enabled credit and debit cards and some mobile phones. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company has already sold 470,000 of its payment terminals in 35 countries. It is also developing systems for use with taxi cabs, vending machines and ATMs.
Previously, VivoTech raised $52… Continue Reading
Nokia funds Chinese mobile ad network Madhouse
Shanghai-based mobile advertiser Madhouse has received an undiscosed amount of funding from Nokia Growth Partners. Incidentally, China is Nokia’s largest market, with high demand for lower-cost handheld phones.
Executives at the investor attributed their decision to the low cost of product development in China. Madhouse has seen a rapid rate of growth this year. And earlier this month, it struck a deal with GroupM China to be the agency’s preferred mobile marketing partner. GroupM is a… Continue Reading
Nokia adds $150M to venture arm for Asian growth
Mobile giant Nokia has added $150 million to its venture division Nokia Growth Partners, with the goal of opening offices in China and India, as well as expanding investments in the United States and Europe.
This announcement more than doubles the investment division’s funds under management; it launched in 2004 with $100 million. Nokia Growth Partners says it’s interested in companies involved with mobile applications, location-based services (LBS), mobile advertising and music and entertainment — a… Continue Reading
Inside Contactless raises another $4M for automated payments
Inside Contactless, a company that makes chips for “contactless payments,” has raised an additional $4 million from Samsung Ventures America to complete its $42 million third round of funding. The Aix-En-Provence, France company already was already backed by a large mobile company — the new investment builds on funding from Nokia Growth Partners.
Contactless payments allow people to make payments by just swiping their mobile phones or other cards or devices. One of the most common… Continue Reading
Kyte.tv, the online TV widget company, receives investment from Nokia Growth Partners
Kyte.tv, the San Francisco company allowing users to create their own TV channels online or on a mobile phone, today announced an investment in the “single digit millions” from Nokia Growth Partners, the venture capital arm of Nokia. This is Kyte.tv’s third round of financing (See previous VentureBeat coverage of Kyte.tv).
The investment by Nokia, a leading mobile company, is notable. VentureBeat has covered numerous video players and competitors including SplashCast, Joost and Radar—all of which… Continue Reading
Summit Micro, a chip power management co., raises $10M
Summit Microelectronics, a Sunnyvale, Calif. maker of programmable power management integrated circuits, said it raised $10 million.
Nokia Growth Partners led with $4 million, and was joined by existing investors Norwest Venture Partners, August Capital, Pequot Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Hotung Capital Management and others.
According to the company’s statement:
Mobile phones no longer just make voice calls, but connect to the Internet and act as our mobile camera, music player, navigation device, and even our mobile… Continue Reading