Venture
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Tencent leads Series B round for online financial site Howbuy
China internet giant Tencent Holdings has led a Series B round of funding for Howbuy.com, a Chinese online financial products platform. Existing investor Legend Capital, the corporate venture capital arm of Legend Holdings, also participated in the round....
Shunwei leads $12m Series B round for online English site 51Talk
51Talk, a Chinese online English teaching platform, has received a $12 million Series B round of funding led by Beijing Shunwei Venture Capital. Existing backer DCM China also participated.
Moody's acquires Helion-backed Amba Investment Services
Moody’s subsidiary Copal Partners has acquired Helion Ventures-backed Amba Research for an undisclosed sum.
Australia's first equity crowd funding platform set for launch
Early-stage venture capital firm Artesian is aiming to launch Australia's first equity crowdfunding platform in February.
GGV leads Series B for China mobile gaming platform Yodo1
GGV Capital has led a Series B round of funding worth $11 million for Yodo1, a Chinese mobile gaming platform. Existing investor Singtel Innov8 also participated alongside new entrants Pavillion Capital and Iris Capital.
Kalaari, Singapore Press commit $10m to Magzter
Digital magazine store and newsstand Magzter Inc. has raised a $10 million Series B round of funding from Singapore Press Holdings and existing investor Kalaari Capital.
Unilazer leads $6m for Indian online lingerie retailer
Indian online lingerie retailer Zivame has received a round of Series B funding worth $6 million led by Unilazer Ventures. Existing backers IDG Ventures and Kalaari Capital Partners also participated.
IDG leads Series A for China online finance site Tongbanjie
Tongbanjie, a Chinese online finance mobile app, has receive more than $10 million in a Series A round of funding led by IDG Capital Partners.
Profile: IDG Vietnam's Henry Nguyen
For the last 12 years IDG Ventures’ Henry Nguyen has played a role in the opening up of Vietnam, from helping launch its first VC fund to introducing an the World’s most iconic fast food brand
SE Asia online retailer Lazada gets $250m in funding from Tesco, others
Rocket Internet’s Southeast Asian online shopping mall, Lazada, has raised a $250 million round of funding from Tesco, Access Industries, and return backers Investment AB Kinnevik and Verlinvest.
Australian taxi app Ingogo gets new funding, eyes listing
Ingogo, the Australian start-up behind the mobile taxi-booking app of the same name, has raised a A$3.4 million ($3.1 million) from a group of PE investors ahead of a listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) next year.
Legend Capital leads Series A round for VHall
Legend Capital, the VC arm of Legend Holdings, has led a Series A round of funding for Vhall, a Chinese online conference service providers. Three other domestic VC firms also participated.
Japan’s VC-backed Oncolys Pharma raises $64m in Tokyo IPO
Oncolys Pharma, a VC-backed developer of drugs targeting cancer and serious infectious diseases, saw its stock open at JPY3,500 per share - a 34.6% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading in Tokyo. This followed a JPY6.6 billion ($64.4...
Matrix provides Series A for India traffic information portal
Matrix Partners India has provided a Series A round of funding for real-time traffic and travel information platform Birds Eye Systems. The size of the investment was not disclosed but the capital will be used to expand the company’s coverage from Mumbai,...
Horizon Ventures leads $15.2m Series B for Misfit Wearables
Hong Kong-based Horizon Ventures has led a $15.2 million Series B round for Misfit Wearables, the US start-up behind the physical activity monitor Shine. Existing investors – which include Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, OATV,...
Sequoia-backed Citrus Payment raises $5.5m in Series B funding
Citrus Payment Solutions has raised a $5.5 million Series B round from Japanese investors econtext Asia, an online payments company, and Beenos. Existing investor Sequoia Capital also participated in the round.
BootstrapLabs launches Korea accelerator
Silicon Valley-based accelerator program BootstrapLabs, and Coolidge Corner Investment (CCVC), a Korean technology venture firm, have together formed BootstrapAccelerator Korea, a Seoul-based six-month accelerator program.
Jafco Asia leads Series B round for US games developer
Japanese venture capital investor Jafco Asia has led a Series B round of funding for US games developer Playnery. The value of the transaction was not disclosed.
Online fashion retailers Zalora, The Iconic raise $112m
Rocket Internet’s Zalora Group has raised $112 million in funding from US-based Access Industries, Scopia Capital Management and other unnamed institutional investors. Southeast Asia-focused Zalora.com and Australia’s The Iconic are part of Zalora...
Japan's Ride On Express raises $23m in Tokyo IPO
Ride On Express, a Japanese food delivery franchise operator backed by Jafco Ventures, saw its stock open at JPY3105 per share - a 55% premium on the offering price - on its first day of trading. The company earlier raised JPY2.3 billion ($22 million)...
VCs to take Kingsoft across borders, platforms
Hong Kong-listed software developer Kingsoft is not in desperate need of capital. It posted a net profit of RMB466.4 million ($76.6 million) in 2012, up 39% year-on-year, and its cash reserves stood at RMB2.4 billion for the year. Furthermore, in July...
Asia Awards: VC Professional of the Year – Richard Liu
Richard Liu has spent 14 years investing in tech, media and telecom for Morningside Technologies. He has witnessed increasing competition, ups and downs in e-commerce, and the rise of the domestic super angel
Asia Awards: VC Deal of the Year – Tujia
Lightspeed China likes disruptive business models that build up traction online and then use the momentum to gain a foothold offline as well. This has worked to good effect with Meilele, an online furniture retailer that now has a network of 200 offline...
China Huace Media buys stakes in VC-backed Herun Media
Shenzhen-listed film and television producer Huace Media has picked up a 20% stake in Herun Media, a Beijing-based marketing specialist backed by several domestic VCs, for RMB104 million ($17 million).