Golden Gate Ventures
Golden Gate launches crypto, blockchain fund
Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures has launched a cryptocurrency and blockchain fund in partnership with LuneX Ventures, a new firm established by Kenrick Drijkoningen (pictured), Golden Gate’s former head of growth.
GP profile: Golden Gate Ventures
Golden Gate Ventures was founded in order to bring much-needed support to Southeast Asia’s fledgling start-up community. The firm has found success by promoting an entrepreneurial culture within its team
ICOs: Normalizing the future
The application of virtual tokens as investment instruments is modernizing the venture capital industry. Stakeholders are discovering a range of pitfalls and possibilities during the transition
Rakuten, EDBI lead $85m round for classifieds player Carousell
Rakuten Ventures and EDBI have led an $85 million Series C funding round for Singapore’s Carousell, an online flea market shopping app operator.
Singapore's Carro gets $60m Series B
Singapore-based automotive marketplace operator Carro has received a $60 million Series B funding round led by Softbank Ventures Korea, Insignia Ventures Partners and B Capital Group.
Softbank leads $25m round for Singapore fintech player
Softbank Ventures Korea has led a $25 million Series B round for Funding Societies, a Singapore-based financial technology company focused on crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending.
Indonesia tech IPOs: Fringe benefits
The Indonesia Stock Exchange has seen the first IPOs of domestic tech start-ups in Kioson and M Cash. The appeal of these listings may lie chiefly on the non-financial side
South Korea's MyMusicTaste gets $11m Series C
KTB Network has led an $11 million Series C funding round for MyMusicTaste, a Korean crowdsourcing platform operator focused on organizing fan-requested concerts.
Token sales: Cryptic beginnings
The sale of digitized contracts known as tokens has become a dominating force in early-stage start-up funding. Venture capitalists are beginning to cautiously participate as the phenomenon matures
Zombie start-ups: On the same side
Zombie companies present a special challenge for VC investors, whose exit goals may not match the aims of the founders. Successful GPs will try to ensure a positive experience for all parties
Singapore's VC-backed MoneySmart gets $10m Series B
MoneySmart, a personal finance portal backed by Golden Gate Ventures, has received a $10 million Series B funding round led by Japanese shopping price comparison site operator Kakaku.
Venture: Vietnam plus
Vietnam’s start-up ecosystem is gaining prominence as the diaspora community taps local tech talent to create businesses targeting global markets. Expect deal flow to increase substantially in coming years
Germany's Hubert Burda seeks Series B deals in SE Asia
The investment arm of Hubert Burda Media, a European technology and media company that has made LP commitments to several Southeast Asia-focused venture capital funds, has opened an office in Singapore.
Tech & government: Living laboratories
As governments of Southeast Asia’s emerging economies look to create more workable VC policy environments, start-ups and investors have proliferated across a patchwork of imperfect systems
Tech & government: 20 years of early days
Since the dawn of the internet in the mid-1990s spurred a global rebalancing of economic power, Asia’s newest VC heavyweights have raised questions as to how this technology-driven shift will be governed
Alibaba fund leads $10m Series A for Hong Kong's Grana
Hong Kong-based online fashion start-up Grana has raised a $10 million Series A round led by the Alibaba Group's Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund.
Singapore's Coda Payments gets $2m
Singapore-based digital payments services company Coda Payments has closed a $2 million round of funding with participation from Japan’s IMJ Investment Partners.
Golden Gate invests $2.5m in Indonesia's Alodokter
Singapore’s Golden Gate Ventures has committed $2.5 million to a Series A funding round for Indonesian healthcare information portal operator Alodokter.
SE Asia tech IPOs: Loosening up
The Singapore Exchange has found limited success in attracting regional tech IPOs. Investors say it needs greater flexibility and understanding to grab a piece of the market
Singapore's Carousell gets $35m Series B round
Rakuten Ventures, a corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has led a $35 million Series B round of funding for Singaporean online flea market shopping app operator Carousell.
Rocket Internet: The human wave
Rocket Internet has played a major role in developing Southeast Asia’s e-commerce sector, but industry players say the firm’s most lasting effect will likely be the large talent pool that it is creating in the region
SBI leads $17.5m investment in Thailand’s Omise
Japan’s SBI Investment has led a $17.5 million Series B funding round for Thailand-based online payment services provider Omise.
2Q analysis: Flattering to deceive?
China shores up Asia investment activity, driven by tech-related deals; robust VC fundraising in China, Southeast Asia masks weak region-wide activity; volatility prolongs the exits downturn
Indonesia VC: Work in progress
As Indonesia’s start-up space matures, with ever more capital pouring in, VC players recognize that exits are the key to creating a sustainable investment environment. However, it is still early days