Venture
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China early-stage investment round-up
Venture capital deals involving DCM, Sinovation Ventures, Langsheng Investment, United Capital, Shenzhen Capital, Capital Fortune Investment, Tiantu Capital, IDG Capital, Shunwei Capital, and Sky9 Capital
4Q analysis: Defined by uncertainty
Korea comes to the fore as investment in China slows; venture capital and pan-regional players remain preeminent in Asia fundraising; IPO weakness reflects investor wariness
Venture capital: The battle to be different
VC fundraising has been on a roll in Asia as managers raise larger sums to address fast-growing investment opportunities. GPs must consider what – and how much – makes them stand out from the crowd
AVCJ Awards 2018: Exit of the Year - IPO: Pinduoduo
By making the shopping experience more enjoyable and efficient, Chinese social e-commerce player has achieved scale at breakneck speed. A bumper US public offering was its reward
Clifford Chance launches Singapore legal tech incubator
Clifford Chance has launched a start-up incubator focused on legal technology and innovation in Singapore.
AVCJ Awards 2018: Deal of the Year - Early Stage Technology: Deskera
Jungle Ventures and Tembusu Partners have fueled the expansion of Deskera’s enterprise software solution focused on small businesses across Southeast Asia
DCM promotes Ray Zhao to partner
DCM, which targets venture capital investments in China, Japan, and the US, has promoted Beijing-based Ray Zhao to partner.
Singapore's Jungle increases target for Fund III
Singapore-based Jungle Ventures has raised the target for its third Southeast Asia-focused VC fund from $150 million to $200 million.
PE and SMEs: Southeastern bind
Difficulties connecting private equity investors with small to medium-sized enterprises in traditional industries remain a key barrier to growth in Southeast Asia. Novel approaches will be necessary
Deal focus: Deputy punches the new timeclock
Employment management services company Deputy has raised what is said to be Australia’s largest ever Series B round as investors look to bring new technologies into long-outdated business processes
Taiwan start-ups must think globally - AVCJ Forum
Taiwanese entrepreneurs should leverage local technology talent and use their home market as a testing ground for products and services that have global appeal, industry participants told the AVCJ Taiwan Forum.
Golden Gate commits $18m to Malaysia
Singapore-based Golden Gate Ventures has committed to invest MYR75 million ($18 million) in Malaysian technology start-ups and opened a new office in the country.
Square Peg joins $81m Series B for Australia’s Deputy
Australia’s Square Peg Capital has joined an $81 million Series B funding round for domestic workforce management software provider Deputy.
India PE spin-outs: Standing tall
India provides fertile ground for spin-outs by increasingly confident PE veterans, but LP skepticism remains a major hurdle. Managers must demonstrate their investment skills quickly or risk being left behind
GGV leads $108m round for Chinese e-commerce platform
Chinese community e-commerce platform Xiaoqule has raised $108 million in a Series A round of funding led by GGV Capital and Vertex Ventures.
Blackbird joins $7m round for New Zealand's Sunfed
Blackbird Ventures has joined a NZ$10 million ($7 million) funding round for Sunfed Meats, a New Zealand-based company that specializes in meat-like vegetarian foodstuffs.
SparkLabs launches $10m Taiwan fund, recruits NBA star
SparkLabs Group, a pan-Asian network of accelerators and global venture funds, has launched a $10 million fund in Taiwan and appointed NBA star Jeremy Lin (pictured) as an advisor.
Australia's Future Fund leads $140m round for Rocket Lab
Australia’s Future Fund has led a $140 million Series E round for Rocket Lab, a US-based space technology company that operates primarily in New Zealand.
China's Gobi Partners enters Pakistan
China’s Gobi Partners has made its first investment in Pakistan by leading a $1.5 million Series A round for online travel services start-up Sastaticket.
Mixed impact on exits as early-stage VC heats up – AVCJ Forum
VCs face new challenges and opportunities in exit markets across Asia as later-stage investors and strategic players participate more deeply in early-stage ecosystems.
Operational value-add: Active duty
VCs are under pressure to improve operational capacity as competition heats up in Asia’s start-up ecosystems. Methodologies filtering over from the US are finding both disciples and skeptics
Alibaba, Line invest Taiwan's KKday
Alibaba Group and Line Corporation have led an extended Series B round of undisclosed size for KKday, a Taiwan-based travel services company backed by a number of venture capital firms.
BASF venture unit backs China 3D printing player
Germany’s BASF Venture Capital has agreed its first direct investment in China with a commitment of undisclosed size to 3D printing company Prismlab.
MassMutual sets up $50m Southeast Asia VC fund
US-based Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) has established a $50 million Southeast Asia-focused VC fund via its in-house financial technology investment unit.