Singapore
Deal focus: Biotech gets more cerebral
As opportunity appears to plateau in the most popular biotech segments, brain health could come to the fore. Neurology specialist Cerecin is tracking greater interest amid industry traction in the lab
SPACs: Longer menu
As the US recovers from a glut in SPAC fundraising, Asian jurisdictions are launching their own regimes. Not every start-up is a good fit for New York. Is Singapore or Hong Kong a good fit for them?
Korea GPs invest $40m in Singapore biotech player
A group of Korean private equity investors has committed $40 million in funding to Cerecin, a Singapore-based biotech developer focused on neurotherapeutics.
Singapore drone services player gets $26m Series B
H3 Dynamics, a Singapore-based autonomous drone data services and hydrogen air logistics start-up, has raised a $26 million Series B round led by Japan’s Sparx Asset Management.
Lightspeed joins $125m round for India virtual events platform
Lightspeed Venture Partners has joined a $125 million Series B round for India-based virtual events platform Hubilo.
East, Vulcan lead $15m Series A for Singapore's Qapita
Qapita, a Singapore-based provider of software used by start-ups to manage cap tables and employee stock ownership plans (ESOP), has raised $15 million in Series A funding.
Singapore's Incomlend gets $60m for SME ESG financing program
Singapore’s Incomlend, a financial technology provider for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has raised $60 million for an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) financing program.
Singapore online banking player Aspire raises $158m
Singapore-based online banking platform Aspire has raised a $158 million Series B round with support from the likes of B Capital Group.
Deal focus: Southeast Asia's four-trick credit pony
Advance Intelligence Group has used its core risk assessment technology to expand into lending and e-commerce transaction finance and services. Membership of Southeast Asia’s unicorn club is its reward
Singapore's Ninja Van raises $578m Series E
Singapore-based last-mile delivery start-up Ninja Van has raised a $578 million Series E round featuring Alibaba Group.
Asia crypto asset management platform raises $40m
Cobo, a Singapore-based crypto asset management platform and blockchain infrastructure provider, has secured a $40 million Series B round led by DST Global, A&T Capital, and IMO Ventures.
Pacific Century's insurtech business extends Series A to $210m
Pacific Century Group’s insurance technology business, Bolttech, has extended a recent $180 million Series A round to $210 million in total.
SoftBank, Warburg Pincus back Singapore's Advanced Intelligence
Advance Intelligence Group, a Singapore start-up best known for digital identity verification and fraud prevention platform Advance.AI and buy now, pay later (BNPL) business Atome, has raised over $400 million in Series D funding.
Platinum sells Singapore's PCI for $306m
Platinum Equity has agreed to sell PCI, a Singapore-headquartered electronics manufacturing services provider it acquired in 2019, to US-listed Celestica for $306 million in cash.
Singapore plans pre-IPO fund to attract listings
Singapore’s EDB Investments (EDBI) will establish a pre-IPO fund – with an initial commitment of S$500 million ($370 million) – that is intended to encourage high-growth companies to list in the city-state.
8F reaches $61m first close on SE Asia aquaculture fund
8F Asset Management, a Singapore-based GP dedicated to developing a sustainable salmon business, has hit a first close of $61 million on its second fund, which will build out Southeast Asian operations.
Hong Kong outlines plans for local SPAC listings
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEx) has proposed rules for IPOs by special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), admitting they are more stringent than the US system, but noting the need for more safeguards in a relatively retail investor-heavy market....
500 Startups closes $140m global fund, rebrands
500 Startups has closed its largest-ever global fund at $140 million, while simultaneously rebranding as 500 Global and expanding its strategy to include later-stage deals.
STIC leads $100m round for Carousell at $1.1b valuation
Korea’s STIC Investments has led a $100 million round for Carousell, a Singapore-based mobile classifieds marketplace for secondhand goods, at a valuation of $1.1 billion.
Jungle hits $225m first close on fourth SE Asia VC fund
Singapore-based Jungle Ventures has reached a first close of $225 million for its fourth Southeast Asia fund after four months in the market. The target is $350 million.
GPs see more paths to liquidity in Southeast Asia - AVCJ Forum
SPAC deals and GP-led secondary transactions are bringing more liquidity options to Southeast Asia, a geography where private equity investors have often struggled to achieve exits, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Baring Asia invests $150m in Singapore game developer
Baring Private Equity Asia has invested $150 million in Singapore-based game developer Virtuos, becoming the largest external shareholder.
