Education
Billionaire Venture, DBS to invest $200m in India start-ups
India’s Billionaire Venture Capital and DBS Bank have agreed to invest USD 200m in 150m Indian start-ups via a special purpose vehicle and joint venture (JV).
Q&A: Unitus Ventures’ Surya Mantha
Indian returns-focused impact investor Unitus Ventures is sharpening its thesis around jobs as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Surya Mantha, a managing partner at the firm, traces the evolution
Korea's MegaStudy pulls plug on 35% stake sale to MBK
MegaStudy Education, a listed Korean education provider with a market capitalisation of nearly KRW 900bn (USD 660m) has decided against selling a stake to North Asia-focused private equity firm MBK Partners.
Anchorage buys New Zealand assets from Evolve Education
Australia-based turnaround investor Anchorage Capital Partners has agreed to buy the New Zealand business of childcare provider Evolve Education for an enterprise value of NZD 46m (USD 28.1m).
India edtech player UpGrad raises $210m
UpGrad, an India-based education technology company set up by media maven Ronnie Screwvala, has raised USD 210m featuring Temasek Holdings and education-focused private equity firm Kaizen.
Profile: Anil Ahuja
After pioneering Indian private equity and helping launch some of the biggest movers and shakers in the region, Anil Ahuja called it quits. In some ways, the postscript has been more rewarding
India edtech start-up gets unicorn status on Series A
PhysicsWallah, an India-based online education platform focused on engineering and medicine, has achieved unicorn status at the Series A stage after raising USD 100m at a post-deal valuation of USD 1.1bn.
Australia's Go1 raises $100m at $2b valuation
Australia-based workforce training platform Go1 has raised a USD 100m growth round featuring AirTree Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 at a valuation of USD 2bn.
Alpha Wave leads $57m round for India's Cuemath
Alpha Wave Global, formerly Falcon Edge Capital, has led a USD 57m investment in Indian one-on-one online math tutoring platform Cuemath.
Bain sells Australia childcare business for $320m
Bain Capital has sold Australia-based daycare provider Only About Children (OAC) to US strategic investor Bright Horizons Family Solutions for AUD 450m (USD 320m).
India's Byju's raises $800m at $22b valuation
Indian education platform Byju’s has raised USD 800m at an estimated valuation of USD 22bn, with the company’s founder Byju Raveendran providing USD 400m.
India edtech player Filo gets $23m Series A
Filos, an India-based instant live-tutoring platform, has raised USD 23m in Series A funding led by US investor Anthos Capital. It is said to be the largest-ever Series A in India’s education technology space.
CLSA acquires Japan childcare operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired a majority stake in Japanese childcare facility operator Task-Force for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Tapping a soft spot for Asian VCs
Investment professionals in Asia know on a personal level exactly what education technology provider Cialfo is doing and why the service is a big help. Now they’re taking it to the next level
Affirma buys Singapore preschool chain
Affirma Capital has acquired Singaporean premium preschool operator Little Paddington for an undisclosed sum.
India edtech player Scaler raises $55m
Lightrock India has led a USD 55m Series B round for Scaler Academy, an Indian education technology start-up that operates an upskilling platform focused on IT professionals.
Square Peg leads $40m round for Singapore edtech player
Australia-based Square Peg Capital has led a USD 40m Series B round for Singapore-based education technology provider Cialfo.
WestBridge, GSV lead $100m Series E for India's Lead School
WestBridge Capital and GSV Ventures have led a USD 100m Series E round for Indian education technology platform Lead School at a valuation of USD 1.1bn.
Deal focus: LingoAce shakes up Chinese class
Singapore’s LingoAce is leveraging growing interest in learning the Chinese language with an entertainment-focused education platform. Sequoia Capital India is backing a global expansion
Chinese language learning platform raises $105m
Singapore’s LingoAce, a Chinese language learning app, has raised $105 million in Series C funding led by Sequoia Capital India. It comes within a year of a $55 million Series B.
India edtech start-up CollegeDekho raises $35m
Indian education technology start-up CollegeDekho has closed a Series B round of $35 million with support from a mix of global investors including Australia’s QIC and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ.
KKR backs Southeast Asia K-12 schools business
KKR has acquired a minority interest in the K-12 schools business of Taylor’s Education Group (TEG), one of the largest private education providers in Malaysia.
Ascendent abandons China education take-private
A consortium led by Ascendent Capital Partners has abandoned its planned $230.6 million take-private of Tarena International, a China-based provider of adult professional and K-12 education services.
Google backs Korea edtech player Mathpresso
Google has made a strategic investment of undisclosed size in Korean education technology provider Mathpresso, bringing total funding to around $105 million.