The ‘Looking for Some (More) of This?’ series is focused upon the tracking of newly formed venture funds who are financing biomedical innovation.

Is it just me or are there some mixed signals here? Is the sky falling, LP’s running for the exits and new capital simply a figment of the imagination or did Boston-based Riverside Partners just oversubscribe the new Riverside Fund IV original $325M target by $81M to close at $406M with a healthcare and IT investment focus? Have you heard this before, now courtesy of General Partner David Bulluck…

“Given the challenging financial conditions of 2009, we are very pleased to have completed our fundraising, achieving our hard cap in less than one year. We are particularly appreciative to have substantial support from our existing investors, as well as attracting a number of new blue chip investors, during a difficult climate.”

A new fund to the north (of Boulder) is Montreal-based Persistence Capital Partners who have debuted with $65M dedicated specifically to healthcare. Persistence is actively investing, with portfolio companies including: i. Medisys Corporate Health ii. Diagnostic Imaging, and iii. Insurance Medical Services.

Basel, Switzerland-based healthcare firm BioMed Partners closed the $100M BioMedInvest Fund II. The focus is on early to mid-stage companies located in Germany, Switzerland and throughout the EU. A statement from General Partner Gerhard Ries and team…

“The overwhelming support and enthusiasm of existing and new investors validates the excellent and unique investment approach of BioMedPartners. It encourages the management team to continue with its favorable business model by investing in promising early-stage healthcare companies in Europe. BioMedPartners will strive to build a portfolio of mature companies and to generate successful exits and superior return for investors through the active support of companies in their business and corporate development”

And finally, out of Ingelheim Germany comes news of a new corporate venture fund, as Boehringer Ingelheim announced Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, capitalized at approximately $130M. The fund plans to invest in Biotech and start-up companies that provide ground-breaking therapeutic approaches and technologies to help drive innovation in medical science. These may include - but are not limited to - new therapeutic concepts including stem cells and RNA silencing as well as new generation vaccines, new generation protein or antibody technologies, new molecular targets and/or first-in-class lead compounds. Disease-related biomarkers may be an additional area of focus. Of note: Investment opportunities will be sought, on a worldwide basis.