Venture
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Guangdong Alpha buys VC-backed China comics site U17
Guangdong Alpha Animation and Culture, a Chinese animation and entertainment firm, has agreed to acquire online comics platform U17.com for RMB904 million ($141 million), paving an exit for several VC backers including Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC).
Samurai Incubate launches Israel accelerator
Tokyo-headquartered start-up accelerator Samurai Incubate is recruiting Japanese companies to participate in its three-month Israel accelerator program.
Japan bitcoin exchange raises $4m
Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange platform bitFlyer has raised a JPY510 million ($4 million) round of funding from a group of Japanese investors.
Bessemer leads $50m round for Indian online grocer
Indian online grocer BigBasket has raised a $50 million funding round led by existing investor Bessemer Venture Partners.
CITIC Goldstone leads $31m round in China’s Zhubaijia
Zhubaijia, a Chinese short-term vacation rentals platform, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) in a Series B round of funding led by CITIC Securities’ direct investment arm Goldstone Investment.
China’s cancer drug developer Ascentage secures $15m
Ascentage Pharma Group, a Shanghai-based cancer drug developer, has raised a RMB95 million ($15 million) Series A round of funding led by Oriza Seed and YuanMing Capital.
Zodius leads $20m round for India's Allygrow
Zodius Technology Fund has led a $20 million funding round for Indian engineering services start-up Allygrow Technologies.
Ant Financial leads $200m round for China’s Qufenqi
Ant Financial Service Group, Alibaba Group's online financial services affiliate, has led a $200 million round of funding for Qufenqi, a Chinese electronics retailer that allows buyers to pay in installments.
Lightspeed reaches $135m final close on India fund
US-based Lightspeed Venture Partners has reached a final close on its first India-focused fund at the hard-cap of $135 million.
China’s Banyan Capital closes second RMB fund at $89m
Chinese venture capital firm Banyan Capital has raised RMB560 million ($89 million) for its second renminbi-denominated fund.
Chinese second-hand car trading site Mychebao raises $50m
JD Capital and Addor Capital have led a RMB300 million ($50 million) Series B round of funding for Mychebao.com, a Chinese online trading platform for second-hand cars.
China’s CASH Capital targets $193m for Fund II
CASH Capital, the venture capital arm of the state-owned Chinese Academy of Sciences Holdings (CASH Holdings), is seeking to raise RMB1.2 billion ($193 million) for its second renminbi-denominated venture fund.
India payments firm raises $23m from Helion, Social+Capital
Helion Advisors and Social+Capital have participated in a $23 million Series C round for mobile payment solutions provider Ezetap.
INCJ, AXA invest $5m in Japan's Smartdrive
The state-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan has joined Axa Direct Japan - the Japanese unit of the French insurer AXA - to invest JPY660 million ($5.3 million) in Smart Drive, a Tokyo-based start-up providing automobile data analytics.
Shenzhen Cowin leads $16m round for private chef app
Shenzhen Cowin Capital has led a RMB100 million ($16 million) Series B round for Hao Chushi, a Chinese mobile app for booking private chef services, with participation from Lightspeed China Partners.
Japan's Dentsu backs US social robot start-up Jibo
Dentsu Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the eponymous Japanese advertising giant, has invested $3 million in US social robot start-up Jibo.
Ex-IDG partners seek $160m for debut China TMT fund
Feng Li and Ben Lin, formerly partners at IDG Capital Partners, are looking to raise RMB1 billion ($160 million) for their debut China venture fund.
Helion invests $3m in India mobile services player Doormint
Helion Venture Partners has committed $3 million in a Series A round of investment to Blackcotton Solutions, the start-up behind Indian mobile home services platform Doormint. Kalaari Capital also took part in the round.
VC-backed Mogujie leads $30m round for China C2C retail player
Mogujie – a Chinese online shopping platform and social network that has received several rounds of VC funding – has led a $30 million investment in Taoshiji, a cross-border consumer-to-consumer (C2C) mobile retail app.
Tiantu leads $60m round for China electronics recycling site
Consumer-focused GP Tiantu Capital has led a $60 million Series C round of funding for Aihuishou, which claims to be the largest online electronics recycling platform in China.
Juren leads $9m Series A round for ChinaNetCloud
Juren Capital has led a $9 million Series A round for Chinese cloud server solutions start-up ChinaNetCloud.
Japan's Lemonade Lab raises $5.8m
Japanese sport analytics platform Lemonade Lab has raised $5.8 million from FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn International, and several angel investors.
China mobile health solutions provider raises $36m
Shanghai KingYee, a Chinese mobile healthcare services provider, has completed a RMB221 million ($36 million) Series C round of funding led by Sensegain Investment. SoftBank China Venture Capital (SBCVC) and HighLight Capital also participated.
Baidu leads $100m round for China’s laundry app Edaixi
Baidu has led a $100 million Series B round of funding for Edaixi, an mobile-based on-demand laundry service.