StrictlyVC: November 14, 2017

Hi, happy Tuesday, everyone.

 

We’re still in Washington, juggling a few things, so we have a slightly streamlined version this a.m.; more tomorrow.:)

 

 

Top News

 

Apple is working on a rear-facing 3-D sensor system for the iPhone in 2019, another step toward turning the handset into a leading augmented-reality device,reports Bloomberg.

 

Steve Jurvetson, who famously cofounded DFJ 32 years ago, is leaving the venture firm in the wake of a sexual harassment investigation. DFJ sent a statement to Recode that states: “As of today and by mutual agreement, Steve Jurvetson will be leaving DFJ. DFJ’s culture has been, and will continue to be, built on the values of respect and integrity in all of our interactions. We are focused on the success of our portfolio companies, as well as the long-term vision for the firm and will continue to operate with the highest professional standards.” Jurvetson gave the outlet his own statement, which says, “I am leaving DFJ to focus on personal matters, including taking legal action against those who have defamed me.”

 

We’d interviewed Jurvetson at Disrupt in September where we did not discuss sexual harassment in Silicon Valley. Just weeks later, in a Facebook post, a founder named Keri Kukral warned of “rampant” “predatory behavior” at DFJ. A source told us afterward Kukral had had a personal, and not professional, relationship with Jurvetson. It’s unclear based on this new “mutual agreement” whether Jurvetson’s surprise departure can be traced to that relationship. Jurvetson has also been suspended from his director roles at both Tesla and SpaceX, reports Recode.

 

 

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New Fundings

 

Alodokter, a 3.5-year-old, Jakarta, Indonesia-based health and medical website, has raised $9 million in Series B funding led by SoftBank Ventures Korea, with participation from Golden Gate Ventures and Feng. Global Healthcare has more here.

 

Beijing Jinying, a three-year-old, China-based operator of a book and movie review app, has raised $40 million in Series B funding co-led by smartphone producer Xiaomi and Yunfeng Capital. Asian Venture Capital Journal has more here (sub required).

 

Bossa Nova Robotics, a nearly 13-year-old, Pittsburgh, Pa.-based company whose robots drive autonomously through store aisles figuring out what has sold, is raising $17.5 million in Series B funding led by Paxion, with participation from Intel CapitalCota Capital and others. TechCrunch has more here.

 

ImmusanT, a seven-year-old, Cambridge, Ma.-based clinical-stage company developing a therapeutic vaccine designed to induce immune tolerance in celiac disease, has raised $40 million in Series C funding, including from ARCH Venture Partners and Vatera Healthcare PartnersMore here.

 

Lessonly, a five-year-old, Indianapolis, Ia.-based tech firm that sells employee training software, has raised $8 million in funding led by OpenView Venture Partners, with participation from Rethink EducationHigh Alpha Capital andAllos Ventures. The Indianapolis Business Journal has more here.

 

Lofelt, a three-year-old, Berlin-based startup that’s developing a haptic technology for use in a range of products, including gaming, AR, VR, automobile, and consumer electronics, has raised $5.4 million in Series A funding. Wolfman.One led the round, with participation from Q Venture PartnersCoparion, and earlier backer Horizons Ventures. TechCrunch has more here.

 

Roomi, a two-year-old, New York-based mobile platform that helps people find co-living solutions, has raised $11 million in fresh funding led by London-based Atami Capital, with participation from DCMGreat Oaks Venture CapitalScott andCyan Banister, and others. The company has now raised $17 million to date. TechCrunch has more here.

 

Syapse, a nine-year-old, San Francisco-based precision medicine company, has raised $30 million in Series D financing from earlier backers, including investorsAscension VenturesGE VenturesIntermountain Healthcare Innovation FundSafeguard Scientifics, and Social Capital, as well as new investorsAmgen VenturesMedidata SolutionsMerck Global Health Innovation Fund, and Roche Venture FundMore here.

 

Torque, a two-year-old Cambridge, Ma.-based immuno-oncology company developing cell therapies to evoke and direct immune responses in the tumor microenvironment, has raised $25 million in Series A funding from Flagship PioneeringMore here.

 

TrueAccord, a four-year-old, San Francisco-based data-driven debt collection service, has raised $22 million in fresh funding led by Arbor Ventures, with participation from AbhorNyca Investment PartnershipAssurant Growth InvestingCaffeinated Capital FundFelicis VenturesTenOneTen andCrystal Towers. TechCrunch has more here.

 

WireWheel.io, a 1.5-year-old, Arlington, Va.-based developer of a data privacy and protection platform, has raised $3.1 million in seed financing led by PSP Growthand New Enterprise Associates, with participation from Steve CaseSean Glassand others. More here.

 

Woo, a two-year-old, San Francisco-based marketplace for matching employers and passive job seekers, has raised $7 million in Series A funding led by Lord David Alliance, with participation from earlier backers. The company has now raised $11.4 million altogether. More here.

 

 

New Funds

 

Spanish assets management firm Arcano Capital has launched its first venture capital vehicle with a $200 million target. The fund will reportedly focus mainly on the U.S., but will also deploy part of its capital in the European market. Arcano is launching the effort in partnership with a U.S.-based venture capital firm calledUrizen Ventures. Unquote has the story here.

 

One Way Ventures, a Boston-based venture firm focused on immigrant tech founders, is raising up to $50 million for its debut fund, per an SEC filing first flagged by Axios. More here.

 

 

Exits

 

Amazon is selling part of its cloud business in China.

 

 

People

 

WikiLeaks sent multiple messages to Donald Trump Jr. before and after the 2016 election — at one point asking if founder Julian Assange could be Australian ambassador to the U.S.

 

Jerusalem Venture Partners, the Israeli venture capital firm, has promoted Yoav Tzruya and Fiona Darmon to general partners. More here.

 

 

Pivots

 

When in February, Zirx announced plans to shut down its on-demand valet parking startup, it wasn’t clear what the company meant when it said it would focus on the enterprise. Today, Zirx co-founder Sean Behr is pulling the curtains off of Stratim, a platform for corporate clients to manage their car fleets. TechCrunch has more here.

 

 

Jobs

 

IBM is looking to hire an M&A specialist. The job is in North Castle, N.Y.

 

 

Data

 

A new study by Congress’s official tax scorekeeper suggests that in 2019, households earning $1 million a year or more would get an average tax cut of about $58,000, while those earning between $50,000 and $75,000 would see an average tax cut of about $688. Bloomberg has more here.

 

 

Essential Reads

 

Silicon Valley is outraged over a proposed change to how stock options are taxed, arguing that it would decimate start-ups and hurt employees. More here and here.

 

Journalists working for Facebook say the social media site’s fact-checking tools have largely failed and that the company has exploited their labor for a PR campaign.

 

Tesla has been hit with a class-action lawsuit claiming its California production plant is a “hotbed for racist behavior.”

 

Your Google Home speaker is now also an intercom.

 

 

 

Detours

 

You’re doing your lunges the wrong way.

 

What to do if you find an embarrassing video of yourself on Instagram.

 

It isn’t just siblingsYour kid might be able to unlock your iPhone X, too.

 

 

 

Retail Therapy

 

Space tent.


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