Venture
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Japanese mobile app Quan gets VC backing
Japanese mobile game developer Quan has received an undisclosed sum from a group of domestic VC investors.
Tiger Global leads Series C round for GrabTaxi
Tiger Global Management has led a Series C round of funding for GrabTaxi, a Southeast Asian-focused taxi-booking mobile phone app.
Japan online home-hunter service bags $2m from VCs
Japan's YJ Capital and Incubate Fund have invested JPY200 million ($1.9 million) in Ietty, a Tokyo-based start-up that runs an online platform for home-hunters.
Tembusu provides seed round for Singapore’s GNum
Tembusu Partners has committed S$7 million ($5.5 million) in seed funding to GNum, developer of a patent-pending technology that allows calls from PCs and handheld devices to be routed to a user’s mobile phone without the need to first download an app.
Telstra, Global Brain lead $19m round for India's Adnear
India location-based mobile advertising platform Adnear has raised a $19 million Series B round of funding from Telstra Ventures, the Australian telecom giant's corporate venture capital arm, and Japanese VC Global Brain.
Qiming-backed life science firm BBI files for Hong Kong IPO
BBI Life Sciences Corporation, a Chinese genetic engineering specialist backed by Qiming Venture Partners, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. The company has yet to disclose the size and pricing of the offering.
India’s Snapdeal set for $650m funding round – report
Indian e-commerce business Snapdeal is expected to raise up to $650 million in a new round of funding lead by Japan's SoftBank Corporation with existing investors also participating.
Chinese consortium, Benchmark in $70m US education play
Chinese after-school tutoring provider TAL Education Group has teamed up ZhenFund, Yongjin Group and Silicon Valley VC firm Benchmark Capital to invest in an undergraduate education business in the US.
Q&A: SOS Ventures' William Bao Bean
William Bao Bean has left Singtel Innov8 for a new role as investment partner of SOS Ventures in China and managing director of the firm's accelerator program. He shares his thoughts on the China start-up scene
India's Lightbox reaches $100m close on Fund II
Indian venture capital firm Lightbox Management has reached a INR6.1 billion ($100 million) close on its second fund.
DCM raises $170m China top-up fund, wins SFERS backing
The San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS) has committed $25 million to a China-focused venture capital fund being raised by DCM that will make follow-on investments in later-stage portfolio companies.
Bain leads $18m investment in Korean car-sharing service
Bain Capital has led a KRW18 billion ($18 million) Series A round of funding for Socar, a Korean car sharing company.
CyberAgent, Mizuho back Japan venue rental marketplace
CyberAgent Ventures and Mizuho Capital have together invested JPY100 million (about $1 million) in SpaceMarket, a Japanese online platform that lists vacant spaces that users can rent for corporate events such as meetings and training courses.
PayU acquires VC-backed Indian payments start-up
Online payment solutions provider PayU India has acquired Cobboc, the VC-backed start-up behind mobile payments app Eashmart.
Tencent leads $100m round for Chinese medical service platform
Tencent Holdings has led a $100 million round of funding for Guahao.com, a Chinese healthcare information portal.
Intel invests in China cloud communication service Gotye
Intel Capital, the corporate investment arm of the US chipmaker Intel Corp, has invested an undisclosed sum in Gotye.com, a Shanghai-based start-up that provides cloud communication technology solutions.
Gree Ventures backs Japan marketing start-up
Japanese online marketing firm Somewrite has raised JPY100 million (about $1 million) from corporate venture capital arm Gree Ventures and other undisclosed investors.
Japan's BrainWars app raises $2.8m in VC funding
East Ventures, Skyland Ventures, Genuine Startups and Line Ventures, the VC unit of messaging app firm Line Corp, have together invested JPY300 million ($2.8 million) in TransLimit, the Tokyo-based start-up behind social quiz app BrainWars.
China’s Baidu buys VC-backed Brazilian online discount site
Chinese search giant Baidu has bought a controlling stake in Brazil-based Peixe Urbano, an online discount platform that has received several rounds of VC funding, for an undisclosed sum.
Alibaba invests $50m in US TV remote app Peel
Alibaba Group, China's largest e-commerce player, has invested $50 million in Peel Technology, a California-based start-up that has developed a TV remote control mobile app.
Sun Hung Kai invests in China P2P lending site Dianrong
Sun Hung Kai & Co.(SHK), a leading Hong Kong financial institution, has invested in a Series B round of funding for Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending service Dianrong.
Japan's Mercari raises $22m Series C round
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY2.36 billion ($21.8 million) in Series C funding from World Innovation Lab (WiL) and existing investors Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, GMO Venture...
Singtel Innov8's Bao Bean joins SOS Ventures
William Bao Bean, formerly managing director with corporate venture unit Singtel Innov8, has joined SOS Ventures as its investment partner in China.
GIC leads $150m round for US e-commerce start-up Square - report
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private is said to have led a $150 million Series E round investment in US e-payments start-up Square.