Our monthly recap of the most interesting stories in science, technology and business:

Science & Technology

• University of Oxford spin-out Bodle Technologies is developing ultra-thin flexible colour screens that use nano-pixles capable of reflecting natural light to reduce energy consumption.
• US-based Openwater is developing advanced MRI technologies that offer the potential of cheaper and more accurate disease detection, as well as thought-based communication.
• Google DeepMind is working in partnership with the NHS to develop software capable of more accurately analysing retinal scans. More.

New Sources of Funding

• US-based seed investor Homebrew closed a $90m fund.
• Israel-based venture firm TLV Partners closed $152m fund. 
• US-/Singapore-based B Capital Group closed a $360m venture fund from which it will invest in companies operating in sectors including healthcare, financial services and industrial.
• US-based Activant Capital closed a $130m growth-stage fund that will focus on software and IoT companies.
• Netherlands-based Goodwell Investments, which invests in companies developing high quality basic products that meet the needs of currently un-/under-served people in Africa and India, closed a €20m fund.

New products

• Tarjimly is an app that helps aid organisations quickly connect with bi-lingual volunteers in order to more effectively administer assistance. 
• Nutrigene provides bespoke vitamin supplements informed by DNA and lifestyle analysis.
• SignAll is developing automatic sign language translation technologies.

New company Fundraising

• NYC-based Furnishare, which provides a platform through which users can buy and share used furniture, raised $2m from investors including Lerer Hippeau Ventures.
• US-based UiPath, which is developing enterprise-focused ‘software robots’ designed to automate back office processes, cloed a $120m series-B funding round from investors including KPCB.
• UK-based advanced eco material manufacturer ELeather raised $70m from investors.
• UK-based Ditto, which develops AI-powered advisor bots, raised £4m from investors including IP Group.
• Israel-based Aperio Systems, which develops tools that are designed to protect power plants from cyber attacks, raised $4.5m from investors.
• US-based Everipedia, which is developing a publicly editable online encyclopaedia that leverages distributed ledger technology, raised $30m from investors.
• US-based nOCD, which is developing an app that is designed to help those with obsessive compulsive disorder, raised $1m from 7wire Ventures.
• US-based Singularity University, which provides educational courses designed to teach participants how to engage with ‘exponential technologies’ including AI and nanotechnology, raised $32m from investors including WestRiver Group.
• Germany-based indoor vertical farming technology developer Infarm closed a $25m series-A funding round led by Balderton Capital.
• Norway-based Boost.ai, which develops ai-based chatbots and virtual assistants, raised $5m from Alliance Venture.
• US-based Joby Aviation, which is developing electrical vertical-take off passenger aircraft, raised $100m from investors including Intel Capital.
• Sweden-based Anyfin, which is developing a platform through which users can easily refinance / consolidate existing loans, closed a $4.8m Series-A round led by Accel and Northzone.
• UK-based Factmata, which is developing machine learning-based tools that help to identify fake news, raised $1m from private investors.
• US-based Beta Hatch, which is developing industrial-scale insect rearing techniques as a source of protein for animal feed, raised funding from Cavallo Ventures.
• UK-based One Utility Bill, which enables property owners/managers to group all utility services into a single monthly bill in order to simplify payment and save money, raised £650k from investors including Pi Labs.
• US-based Lambda Schools, which provides immersive computer science courses, closed a $4m seed round from investors including Y Combinator.

Other

• A study of 1.7m people across 164 countries conducted by researchers at Purdue University suggests that the optimal level of earnings for an individual is $95k p.a. for ‘life-evaluation’ (overall life satisfaction, influenced by overarching goals and comparison with others) and $60k-$75k for ‘emotional well-being’ (i.e. day-to-day feelings). More.

Science & Technology

• Researchers at Stanford are developing an algorithm designed to predict the best places for refugees to resettle. More.
• Scientists at the Chinese Academy of Scieneces successfully cloned two macaque monkeys, the first time that a non-human primate has been cloned using the DNA transfer process. More.
• Researchers at Stanford University are developing a cancer ‘vaccine’ that could result in an inexpensive and side-effect-free treatment. More.

Business

New Sources of Funding

• Paris-based VC firm Ring Capital closed a $170m fund from which it will invest €5m-€10m per deal to address the perceived Series-A and B gap in France.
• US-based VC firm Sequoia Capital closed a $180m seed-stage fund that will focus on companies operating in sectors including AI, autonomous vehicles, blockchain and genetic engineering.
• US-based VC firm Accomplice closed a $205m fund.
• Sweden-focused seed investor Luminar Ventures closed a €50m fund that will be deployed to support technology companies.
• Europe-focused venture firm DN Capital closed a €200m early-stage fund to back companies operating in sectors including fintech, digital health and marketplaces.
• US-based Aspect Ventures closed a $181m early-stage fund.
• Partech Ventures launched a €57m Africa-focused fund, which will be used to back pan-African digital companies.
• Machine learning pioneer Andrew Ng announced the launch of a $175m AI incubator / venture fund. More.

New products

• Dual Good Health is developing a virtual reality app designed to provide CPR training.
• The Dot Watch is a smart braille watch that works in tandem with smart phones to enable users to receive and check notifications.
• Water UK is helping to develop an app that guides users to the nearest water refill stations, in an effort to reduce plastic waste associated with bottled water. More.
• US-based Cocoon Cam is developing a camera / computer-vision system that enables parents to monitor babies, receive instant alerts and analyse sleep patterns.

New company Fundraising

• UK-based CityStasher, which provides a platform through which travellers can locate and book temporary luggage storage in major cities, riased $1.1m from investors including Howzat Partners.
• US-based Bolt Threads, which is developing high-performance sustainable materials inspired by spider silk, closed a $123m series-D funding round led by Baillie Gifford.
• China-based Rokid, which is developing smart devices with an AI-powered voice assistant, closed a reported $100m series-B funding round from investors including Temasek.
• US-based Good Buy Gear, which provides an online marketplace through which parents can bay and sell used baby equipment, raised $750k from investors including Access Venture Partners.
• US-based Stem, which is developing AI-powered energy storage solutions, closed a $80m series-D funding round led by Activate Capital.
• US-based Omni, which is developing an operating system for physical things that allows users to easily share and rent unused items, raised $25m from investors including Highland Capital Partners.

Science & Technology

• A study conducted by researchers at Cambridge University provided further evidence that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease can be reduced through increasing levels of education. More.
• Scientists at Imperial College London are developing a technique that enables detection of single molecule biomarkers in human samples, offering the potential of earlier diagnosis for a range of diseases. More.
• Researchers at Glasgow University are developing a new technique to regrow damaged bones. The technology could ultimately be used as an alternative to amputation among trauma victims. More.
• Researchers at MIT have successfully embedded light-emitting nanoparticles in plant leaves, an innovation that could lead to self-powered lights. More.
• A study conducted by researchers at Duke University suggests that activity in the brain region responsible for complex mental operations may help to reduce anxiety. More.

Business

New Sources of Funding

• Finland-based Inventure held a first close of a new early-stage venture fund at €110m. The fund will back companies in sectors including future mobility and personalised healthcare.
• US-based venture firm Andreessen Horowitz launched a $450m fund to back companies operating at the intersection of biology and engineering.
• SE Asia-focused NSI Ventures held the first close of its new fund, which will be used to invest $3m-$5m into early stage technology companies.
• Milan-based United Ventures held the €75m first close of its new fund, which will be used to back digital technology and software companies.
• London-based VC firm Episode1, which focuses on backing early-stage software companies, closed a $60m fund.
• US-based VC firm Anzu Partners, which focuses on backing industrial technology companies, closed a $128m maiden fund.
• Israel-baed Viola Fintech launched a $100m fund to back global fintech startups.
• New York-based fintech-focused venture firm FinTech Collective closed a $94m fund.

New products

• Witness develops tools that enable people to safely and efficiently capture video evidence of human rights violations.
• Converbration is an app that provides users with smart notifications relating to the urgency and content of the messages that they receive. 
• Pedius is an app that converts speech to text in real time for people with hearing impairments. 

New company Fundraising

• Japan-based ispace, which is developing technologies to enable private lunar exploration, raised $90m from investors including the Development Bank of Japan.
• US-based Beyond Meat, which is developing plant-based meat substitutes, raised $55m from a number of private investors.
• Israel-based Vayyar Imaging, which is developing 3D imaging technologies that can be used to provide real-time mapping that can ‘see through’ objects, closed a $35m Series-C round from investors including Battery Ventures and Bessemer.
• Ukraine-based Bookimed, which is developing a search engine for medical solutions, raised $500k from AVentures.
• US-based Clora, which is developing a platform designed to connect companies with on-demand life science experts, raised $3.3m from investors including Spark Capital.
• Greenlight Planet, which provides a range of solar financing solutions and products to off-grid communities, raised $60m from investors including Bamboo Capital Partners.
• Germany-based Zolar, which provides an online platform that enables homeowners to customise and buy solar power systems from multiple brands, raised a €4m series-A round from investors including Sunstone Capital.
• Sweden-based Bima, which provides micro-insurance services to low-income consumers in emerging markets, raised $96m from the digital investment unit of insurance major Allianz.
• Israel/US-based Homeis, which is developing a social network designed to connect immigrant communities, raised $4m from investors including Spark.
• US-based PullRequest, which provides AI-powered code review services to software developers, raised $2.3m from investors including Gradient Ventures.
• US-based Descript, which is developing tools that make it easy to edit sound files, rasied $5m from Andreessen-Horowitz.