Investment Roundup: Nokia Growth Partner Eyes India, IndiaGames founder launches seed fund..and more
Nokia has announced an Additional USD 150 Million (totaling the venture fund investment to $250mn) through Nokia Growth Partners which will be more focused on Indian and Chinese startups.
Nokia Growth Partners will advise on Nokia’s other venture capital fund investments. Both of these activities focus on promising companies seeking change in the mobile landscape. Target investments include companies creating innovative mobile applications and services that encourage rapid adoption of mobile solutions, such as context and location based services, mobile payments, mobile advertising, music and entertainment and other mobile services and software. [source]
Vishal Gondal, Founder of IndiaGames Launches Seed Fund
Vishal Gondal, founder of IndiaGames (sold his major stake to Tom Online and later to UTV Software Communications) has launched a seed fund venture called Sweat And Blood Venture Group.
This entity will invest in startups at seed level, mentor them, and help them scale.
” Normally early stage companies do not need money as much as a lot of handholding. You have to spend time with them to take them to the next level. We provide them sweat and blood” [source]
Google to launch a venture fund
As per WSJ, Google is set to launch a venture fund that will invest in startups (the ones Google can’t acquire!) It’ll be interesting to see how ‘neutral’ will this venture be (i.e. will they allow M$ to touch these startups?) .[source, via]
Expect more M&A action by 2009!
About the author - Ashish Sinha is a Startup Mentor/Product Strategy Coach, and the founder/chief editor of pluGGd.in.
He has launched/managed couple of products (consumer as well as enterprise) in US and India, and now consults with startups/small businesses on their product/media strategy. He can be reached at: ashish (at) pluGGd.in [+91 98452 06443]
Rather, Google’s fund will invest in companies which they couldn’t simply buy out.
[...] Investment Roundup: Nokia Growth Partner Eyes India, IndiaGames … By Ashish Sinha Nokia Growth Partners will advise on Nokia’s other venture capital fund investments. Both of these activities focus on promising companies seeking change in the mobile landscape. Target investments include companies creating innovative … pluGGd.in to Indian Startups – http://www.pluggd.in [...]
I am Vishu and one month ago I signed up in indiagames. I opened my account in the site as this is from one of the best sites in India which provides excellent games. Rahul the executive of indiagames told me regarding downloading new games and winning prices. I was convinced and became member of this site. But I had one problem, my internet connection is too slow so he told me that he would send me the DVD’s but till the date I have not received any DVD’s.