Venture investing fell in 2012 for the first time in three years as global economic uncertainty combined with a soft fundraising environment to spark caution in the general partners.

Venture capitalists pulled back in the first quarter, investing $5.8 billion in 758 deals and shifting money to later-stage companies ahead of an improving IPO market.

Sapphire Energy Inc., a Sonoma, Calif.-based company that creates “green” gasoline by produces crude oil out of algae, announced that it has raised Series B funding that brings its overall funding to over $100 million. It had previously raised over $50 million from firms like Arch Venture Partners, Venrock and the Wellcome Trust. Cascade Investment LLC [...]

Sapphire Energy Inc., a Sonoma, Calif.-based company that creates “green” gasoline by produces crude oil out of algae, has raised over $50 million in VC funding. Backers include Arch Venture Partners, Venrock and the Wellcome Trust.    PRESS RELEASE    Sapphire Energy announced today they have produced renewable 91 octane gasoline that conforms to ASTM [...]