Apple buys Emotient

Apple Inc has bought artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Emotient, a specialist in facial recognition technology. Apple confirmed the news without describing its plans for the California-based start-up. AI has become a strategically important area for Apple as it seeks to build smart software tying together its numerous products. Apple has sought to hire more people to conduct advanced research in the field and acquired two other AI start-ups,Perceptio and VocalIQ, Bloomberg News said.

United Wind nabs $200 million

New York-based start-up United Wind Inc, which has carved out a niche in leasing wind-energy turbines to farms and rural homes, has clinched $200 million in funding from Toronto-based Forum Equity Partners. With the $200 million, the start-up would fund 1,000 projects in the Northeast and Midwest, United Wind told Reuters.

Guardant raises $100 million

Silicon Valley-based Guardant Health Inc has raised $100 million in its latest funding round as the start-up seeks to expand the business of blood tests to screen for cancer DNA, replacing traditional invasive procedures for tissue samples. The fundraising was led by health care investment firm OrbiMed Advisors and included Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Formation 8, Bloomberg News said.

AirCloset raises $8 million

Japanese fashion box start-up, AirCloset, has raised $8.4 million in a Series-B round of funding. Founded in July 2014, the start-up specialises in women's clothing from boutique Japanese fashion brands. "We're going to use the amount to expand our clothing stock and hire new team members," Satoshi Amanuma, founder and chief executive officer, told Tech in Asia.

Frutarom invests in Algalo

Israel-based Frutarom Industries has bought part of biotech start-up Algalo, a kibbutz or communal farm, in northern Israel, that was developed to efficiently cultivate, harvest and process a variety of algae. Frutarom will invest $2.56 million for 50 per cent of Algalo shares and to build a modern biotechnology facility for algae harvesting, Reuters reported.

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