Acquisitions:
Oracle (NasdaqGS:ORCL) has acquired SelectMinds, a provider of cloud-based, social talent sourcing apps that allow companies to use social networks to recruit employees. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal gives Oracle the opportunity to engage further in social networks and mobile. With SelectMinds, customers can transform job posts into mobile posts that viewable and sharable on smartphones.
Nik Software, which provides a number of photo sharing mobile apps that compete with Instagram, was acquired by Google (NasdaqGS:GOOG), for an undisclosed amount. The company’s software will be used to improve the Google+ Android and iOS apps.
Penguin Digital, a mobile app developer that enables mobile users to create, share and purchase photo merchandise from their mobile phones, was acquired by Shutterfly (NasdaqGS:SFLY). While terms were not disclosed, Shutterfly expects minimal financial impact. The company views the acquisition favorably from a strategic perspective, as it will accelerate Shutterfly’s mobile development efforts and enable Shutterfly to gain exposure to mobile commerce more quickly.
Performance-based media agency Black Bag Advertising, was acquired by U.K.-based Essence Digital, a provider of media agency services that include media strategy, display planning and buying. The acquisition is designed to further the U.S. expansion of Essence Digital, which has an office in New York. Essence Digital’s clients include eBay, Expedia, and Google. Terms were not disclosed.
App Ant, a mobile game studio, was acquired by Japan-based Gree (TSE:3632). The purchase is a further step in the company’s international expansion. Terms were not disclosed.
Digital gaming studio A Bit Lucky, which is known for a number of Facebook-based titles, was acquired by Zynga (NasdaqGS:ZNGA). More than 20 A Bit Lucky employees will john Zynga’s San Francisco Division. Terms were not disclosed.
Investments:
Mobile payments company Square, has completed its $200 million Series D funding round at a $3.25 billion valuation. New investors include Citi Ventures, Rizvi Traverse Management, and Starbucks. The company previously raised more than $150 million from First Round Capital, Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Visa, Kleiner Perkins, and Tiger Global Management.
Yemeksepeti.com, which offers an online food ordering service in Turkey and the Middle East, raised $44 million in funding led by General Atlantic, with participation from Endeavor Catalyst.
Damballa, a developer of Internet security software, raised $15 million in Series D funding led by Adams Street Partners, with participation from return backers Paladin Capital Group, Sigma Partners, Palomar Ventures, InterWest Partners, GRA Venture Fund, Imlay Investments, and Blumberg Capital. The company previously raised more than $21 million.
Duolingo, which offers a language learning and crowd-sourced translation service, raised $15 million in Series B funding led by NEA, with participation from Union Square Ventures. Currently the service has approximately 250,000 active users per week – the majority of which come from the U.S. Latin America.
Canada-based Luxury Retreats, which offers an online travel booking Website, raised $5 million in funding led by iNovia Capital. Although Luxury Retreats has been operating since 1999, this is the first round of venture capital funding for the startup — which has up to now been self-funded, and profitable, as it has grown to take in $100 million in rental revenues annually.
Station X, which develops software for scientists and clinicians who work with large-scale human genome data, has announced that its raised $5 million in a second funding round, led by Runa Capital. The additional funds will be used by Station X to expand its team and accelerate the commercialization of its flagship product, GenePool, a software-based biomarker discovery system for storing, analyzing, and visualizing large-scale genomic data.
Sports analysis app provider Ubersense, which aims to improve athlete performance by giving users tools to analyze videos, compare their techniques to others, and track their progress over time, raised $1.1 million in seed funding from Atlas Venture, Google Ventures, Boston Seed Capital, and angel investors.
ReelSurfer, which has developed technology that enables users to clip videos from any Website, raised $0.88 million in seed funding from The Otto Group, TriplePoint Capital, Y Combinator, and a number of angel investors. The company’s technology allows users to edit videos from their browser by entering the URL on ReelSurfer’s Website or by using its bookmark tool.
ABRY Partners has invested an undisclosed amount of funding into SourceMedical Solutions, a provider of outpatient information solutions and revenue cycle management services for ambulatory surgery centers, specialty hospitals, and rehabilitation clinics. Sellers include ABS Capital Partners, Enhanced Capital Partners, Redmont Venture Partners, and Sopris Capital Associates.
