Venture
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INCJ invests $6m in copper paste business
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY600 million ($6 million) in Material Concept, a manufacturer of copper paste for use in electrical components and solar panels. Daiwa Corporate also invested an undisclosed amount in the...
Japan's Globis re-ups in UK educational app developer
Globis Capital Partners, the Japanese venture capital firm, has returned to lead a GBP3.4 million ($5.8 mllion) Series B round for Quipper, a UK company that develops educational mobile applications.
Blackbird set for $22m close on Australia VC fund
Australian VC firm Blackbird Ventures will reach a final close on its debut fund by the end of April with around A$25 million ($22.7 million) in capital commitments. There will be approximately 90 LPs, predominantly the founders of Australian tech start-ups...
Fosun VC leads $20m round for China education firm Uniquedu
Uniquedu, a China-based education company, has raised a $20 million Series A round of funding led by Fosun Venture Capital Investment.
SoftBank Venture backs Thai video game firm Ini3 Digital
SoftBank Ventures Korea (SBVK), the corporate investment arm of the Japanese telecoms giant, has taken a 23% stake in Thai online video game operator Ini3 Digital. The financial terms were not dislosed.
China ZJ Capital targets $50m co-investment VC fund
Zhijing Capital Management (ZJ Capital), a Shanghai-based early-stage VC firm, is seeking $50 million for its debut US dollar-denominated fund. The vehicle will make co-investments in Chinese start-ups.
DCM closes China VC Fund at $330m
Technology-focused venture capital firm DCM has closed its latest China-focused fund - DCM Ventures China Fund (DCM VII) - at $330 million, above the initial target of $250 million.
VCs keep the faith in Snapdeal
Saama Capital was one of a group of VCs that backed Indian online jewelry store Bluestone.com in early 2012. It is a vertical play in the country's e-commerce industry - targeting a particular market segment - and this might ordinarily have been a turn...
China tech M&A: Money to burn
Chinese technology firms are becoming increasingly acquisitive, with certain players snapping up assets within months of going public. What is driving this change?
Ventech Capital invests in China's Zhenpu Education
France-based Ventech Capital has provided a Series A round of funding for Beijing-based Zhenpu Education. Details of transaction were not disclosed but the investment size is above $10 million.
India VC Nexus raises $110m top-up fund
Indian GP Nexus Venture Partners is raising a $110 million “opportunity fund” focusing on later-stage investments in existing portfolio companies. The vehicle is not open to new LPs and is scheduled to close in March.
China’s online pet store Boqii raises $25m Series B round
Boqii.com, a Chinese social network and e-commerce platform for pet owners, has secured $25 million in Series B funding from an undisclosed US-based investment firm, with participation from existing backer Goldman Sachs.
Nissay Capital invests $1.9m in Japan home renovation site
Nissay Capital has invested JPY200 million ($1.9 million) in Sekaie, the Japanese e-commerce start-up behind home renovation services website Rinoko.
Qiming leads $15m round for Chinese personal finance app developer
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $15 million round of funding for Hangzhou Wacai Science, a Chinese personal finance management mobile app developer, with participation from IDG Venture Partners and CDH Investments.
EBay leads $134m round for Indian online marketplace Snapdeal
Indian online marketplace Snapdeal has raised a new round of funding worth $133.8 million led by eBay. It comes less than a year after the US e-commerce giant led a $50 million Series C round for the company.
SIG leads $10m round for China mobile voice search app
SIG has led a Series B round of funding worth nearly $10 million for Mobvoi, a voice-activated mobile search services provider. Sequoia Capital and ZhenFund, which provided the Series A round in 2012, also participated.
Scentan invests $75m in SaaS start-up Tradeshift
Tradeshift, a start-up which provides businesses with free payment management tools, has raised $75 million from Singapore-based Scentan Ventures.
The IT crowd: Australia embraces crowdfunding
Australia has embraced crowdfunding as a supplement to an early-stage traditional VC market that has yet to regain its former strength. Industry participants are seeking differentiation and deregulation
Ventech invests in China P2P lending platform Jimubox
Ventech Capital, a France-based VC firm, has provided a Series A round of funding for Beijing-based peer-to-peer (P2P) online lending platform Jimubox.com. Transaction details were not disclosed but the investment is worth about $10 million.
VC-backed robot suit maker files for Tokyo IPO
Cyberdyne, a Japanese robotics company that counts Jafco Ventures, Nissay Capital and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) among its investors - has received approval for its Tokyo IPO.
GGV targets $500m for new Sino-US fund
GGV Capital, the US- and China-focused venture capital investor, is seeking $500 million for its fifth fund.
Artesian launches Australian crowdfunding platform
Early-stage venture capital firm Artesian Venture Partners has launched its equity-based crowdfunding platform – VentureCrowd – in Australia with over 200 registered investors and 36 start-ups.
Tencent buys 20% stake in VC-backed Dianping
Tencent Holdings has paid an undisclosed sum for a 20% stake in Dianping, a VC-backed online listings provider best known as one of China’s most popular sites for restaurant reviews. The deal comes as China’s internet giants continue to broaden their...
Bamboo Finance, Saama Capital invest in India's Modern Family Doctor
Bamboo Finance, a European private equity firm that focuses on investments benefiting low-income communities in emerging markets, and early stage investor Saama Capital have together taken part in a Series B round of funding for Indian healthcare provider...