Tokyo-based mobile messaging app Line Corp could reach its goal of 500 million instant messaging users by the end of this year even as it thinks about a possible IPO, Bloomberg reported.
Sectors
Workboard gets $2.75M in Series A round
For its first institutional funding round, Palo Alto, California-based Workboard Inc secured $2.75 million. The round was led by Granite Ventures and Opus Capital and joined in by Crosslink and Shea Ventures, VentureBeat reported.
ASK Pravi picks up $8M stake in Indian Clothing League
Mumbai, India-based private equity fund manager ASK Pravi Equity Opportunities Fund picked up a minority stake in Chandigarh-based children's clothing firm Indian Clothing League Pvt Ltd for INR50 crore ($8.08 million).
Spree Commerce grabs $5M in Series A round led by Thrive Capital
Spree Commerce, a maker of open source software that enables online retailers to build their own online storefronts, grabbed $5 million in its Series B round, VentureBeat reported.
Google Glass to be banned by States while driving
Some states have already undertaken measures to ban drivers from using Google Glass even if the search giant's wearable device innovation is still in its experimental stage, Bloomberg reported.
Latest News
Mountain View, US-based mobile marketing startup Kahuna bagged $11 million in a Series A funding round from Sequoia Capital to create more effective marketing messages to customers.
Mumbai, India-based impact investment fund Ankur Capital shelled out INR50 lakh for a 30% stake in each of the Indian rural startups cloud farm-management systems firm Cropln, home compost company Daily Dump, and eye-care service provider ERC.
Private equity fund managers are employing approaches other than traditional buyouts so they can avoid overpaying for Western companies as competition pushes valuations higher, Reuters reported.
Menlo Park, US-based fitness startup GOQii is helping people stay motivated with their healthy endeavors by combining its fitness wristband with human coaches who will provide advice and help them set their health objectives.
Northwest Biotherapeutics, a company backed by venture capitalist Linda Powers, seeks to develop therapies for brain cancer and other tumors after nearly closing its doors a decade ago, Reuters reported.
Iowa, US-based iOS app Bawte helps its users organize and keep track of all their belongings by creating a catalog that sends reminders about warranty expiry and helps them take care of broken items through its free in-app live customer support service.
Japan-based mobile messaging app Line will launch an open sticker marketplace called Line Creators Market in April and will also release a Skype-like service in five countries.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White dismissed the lawsuit filed against San Francisco, California-based social game maker Zynga in which shareholders accused the company of lying about its financial status before it went public.
Tel Aviv, Israel-based smart calendar app Cal added a new feature called HeadsUp that simplifies meeting and appointment tasks such as taking notes, composing minutes, and assigning tasks to attendees.
