Venture
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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.
MPM Capital forms VC fund with Japan's Astellas Pharma
MPM Capital, a US venture firm focused on early-stage life science companies, has launched a new investment vehicle in partnership with Japanese pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma.
Siam Commercial Bank unveils fintech strategy
Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) has formally announced a financial technology investment strategy aimed at improving customer experience while encouraging domestic start-ups to keep up with changes in the global market.
IFC to invest $15m in India-based Byju’s
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a $15 million investment in Indian education start-up Byju’s.
Hong Kong’s Quantifeed gets $4.5m Series A round
China’s PGA Venture Partners has led a $4.5 million Series A round of funding for Hong Kong-based financial services software provider Quantifeed.
Vickers Venture Partners raises $63m
Singapore’s Vickers Venture Partners has reached an S$86 million ($63.3 million) first close for its fifth fund, which is targeting early and expansion stage Asian companies.
500 Startups raises $8.3m for enlarged Thai fund
US-based 500 Startups has received $8.3 million in LP commitments for its Thailand-focused early-stage fund 500 TukTuks after expanding its targeted scope on the back of increased investor interest.
Protean Electric gets $70m round led by GSR, targets China expansion
GSR Ventures has participated in a $70 million financing round for Protean Electric, a US automobile equipment developer with an expanding operations base in China.
IIFL leads $30m round for India's BlueStone
IIFL Asset Management has led a INR2 billion ($30 million) Series D round for online jeweler BlueStone.
Singapore VC: Get smart
Singapore’s smart nation urban development policy has attracted noticeable interest from the VC industry. The plan’s broad inclusiveness and lack of hard targets could bode well for its sustainability
BOV Capital launches $14.9m Sri Lanka VC fund
Sri Lanka and Singapore-based venture firm BOV Capital has launched its maiden INR1 billion ($14.9 million) vehicle, with a mandate to invest in early-stage Sri Lankan technology companies.
Singapore’s Hera backs social media content publisher
Singapore private equity firm Hera Capital has made an undisclosed equity investment in My Social Book, a company that publishes personalized hardback scrapbooks, diaries and photo albums based on customers’ timestamped social media resources.
Singapore's Aslan Pharma raises $23m pre-IPO round
Singapore-based biotech company Aslan Pharmaceuticals has raised $23 million in a pre-IPO financing round that attracted participation from a range of new investors, including a number of Taiwanese groups.
Australia's Alchemy Ventures launches $150m fund
Australian venture capital firm Alchemy Ventures has launched a A$200 million ($150.3 million) fund that will focus largely on regional start-ups specializing in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Stripes Group leads $81m round for India's Bigtree Entertainment
US venture capital firm Stripes Group has led an INR5.5 billion ($81.4 million) funding round for India’s Bigtree Entertainment, the company behind cinema and events ticketing site BookMyShow.
China vacation rental site Tujia acquires VC-backed peer Mayi
VC-backed Chinese vacation-rental website Tujia.com has agreed to take control of its industry peer Mayi.com, which has also received venture investment, for an undisclosed sum.
Omidyar in $20m round for Indian venture debt player
Intellegrow Finance, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) and venture debt lender that targets small and growing businesses in India, has raised INR1.34 billion ($20 million) from investors including existing backer Omidyar Network.
Golden Gate closes $60m SE Asia VC fund
Singapore-based Golden Gate Ventures has closed its second early-stage venture fund focused on Southeast Asia at $60 million.
Sequoia, Unitus back $4m Series A for India’s Cuemath
Sequoia Capital and Unitus Seed Fund have invested $4 million in a Series A round of funding for Indian education network operator Cuemath.
Chengwei backs China electronics recycling platform
China-focused Chengwei Capital has led a Series A round of funding worth about RMB100 million ($15 million) for Huishoubao, a Chinese electronic devices recycling platform.
Alibaba, Ant Financial to re-up in China’s Didi Chuxing
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Financial plan to invest a further $400 million in Didi Chuxing. This comes as the Chinese ride-hailing app operator is raising a new round of fund said to be as large as $2.5 billion.
China online grocer Benlai raises extended Series C round
Benlai.com, a Chinese B2C-focused online grocery supplier, has raised an extended Series C round of funding worth $17 million.
Healthcare app launched by China's Ping An Insurance raises $500m
Ping An Good Doctor, a healthcare-focused mobile app controlled by Chinese Ping An Insurance Group, has raised $500 million in a Series A round of funding at a valuation of $3 billion.
Sydney exchange creates small cap platform
The Sydney Stock Exchange (SSX) has initiated development of a blockchain-based equities market settlement and registration system that is expected to facilitate exits for VC firms.