Is democracy the next big business opportunity? Last week, Omidyar Network gave MySociety $575,000. Today, Scytl, a firm which makes internet-based voting technology, has raised $9.2 million investment funding.

UK online retailer The Hut Group, which last year salvaged Zavvi.co.uk, is taking a big £14 million ($21.7 million) investment for an acquisition spree - and then plans to float on the stock market. The money comes from Artemis, William Currie Group, Balderton and former Matalan CEO Angus Monro, arranged…

Berkeley, CA-based music service Mog.com, which recently launched its subscription music service with good review, is taking a new VC round to finance an entry to the UK market, promising to undercut the much-hyped Spotify and CBS-owned social site Last.fm, we have learned. The second round closed at around $10…

Start-ups shouldn’t be too down-hearted—at least some sites are still being backed with big money as Europe skids into recession. Paris-based TVTrip, which publishes video reviews of hotels in 157 cities worldwide, has bagged €7 million (£6.2 million) in VC funding from previous backers Partech International and Balderton Capital, in…

Fresh from making $140 million from the sale of Bebo and a “substantial return” on the sale of MySQL, Balderton Capital is announcing a new $430 million (£285 million) tech and media fund to capitalise on promising business plans thrown up in the downturn - proving that VCs really mean…

Another alum to go in the wake of the Bauer takeover, former Emap (LSE: EMA) digital director Dharmash Mistry is joining Balderton Capital to advise on its existing portfolio, which includes Habbo Hotel and 7digital, as well as new opportunities, NMA says. Mistry had led broadband and mobile strategy at…