Articles by Justin Niessner
Shenzhen Capital backs Asia push by US 3D printing player
Shenzhen Capital has joined a $30 million Series C round for US-based 3D printing company Formlabs that will support an expansion effort in China and Asia.
PE to find few inroads in renewable energy
Renewable energy appears set to remain a fringe interest for private equity investors despite rapid sector growth and significant opportunity for disruption.
PE investment in Indonesia infra set to increase
Indonesia appears set to see more private equity investment in its growing infrastructure space as an early phase of government-dominated investment transitions into a more complex financing environment.
Japan hiking app provider gets Series B
Japan-based hiking app provider Yamap has raised a JPY1.2 billion ($11.1 million) Series B funding round from a group of domestic investors including Advantage Partners-owned outdoor sports equipment retailer Ishii Sports.
Paragon leads $20m round for India's Chai Point
Paragon Partners has led a $20 million Series C funding round for India-based Chai Point, a chai tea store operator that claims to be the country’s largest brand in its category.
VCs invest $25m in Japan's Plaid
Japanese digital marketing services provider Plaid has raised JPY1.5 billion ($25.1 million) from a group of VCs including existing investor Eight Roads Ventures Japan and Femto Partners.
Indonesia tech: Sleeping giant
Bullishness around Indonesia’s young online economy has been encouraged by a handful of VC-backed homeruns and promising demographics. Achieving scale in new business models remains a sticking point
Singapore's RE Lee Capital launches alternatives program
Singapore-based RE Lee Capital has confirmed it will launch a series of alternative asset investment products across the next three months and commit up to $60 million to pre-seed technology start-ups.
Softbank leads $25m round for Singapore fintech player
Softbank Ventures Korea has led a $25 million Series B round for Funding Societies, a Singapore-based financial technology company focused on crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending.
VCs back $12m Series B for Japan's Optical Comb
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has joined a group of VCs in a JPY1.3 billion ($12 million) Series B round for Optical Comb, a Tokyo-based auto industry supplier that uses advanced 3D scanning technology.
Singapore's Zimplistic gets $30m Series C round
Singapore-based household automation technology developer Zimplistic has raised a $30 million Series C funding round led by Credence Partners and EDBI.
Australia’s QIC receives $427m super fund mandate
The global private capital division of Australia’s QIC has received a A$550 million ($427 million) private equity mandate from domestic superannuation fund Rest.
India's Reliance to acquire VC-backed Embibe
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has agreed to invest up to $180 million for a 73% stake in Embibe, a domestic educational technology start-up backed by Kalaari Capital and Lightbox Ventures.
VCs invest $12m in US, Southeast Asia-based Element
A number of Asian VCs including MDI Ventures, a unit of Telkom Indonesia, have joined a $12 million Series A round for Element, a biometrics technology developer based in New York, Jakarta, and Singapore.
Allianz invests $35m in Indonesia's Go-Jek
Germany-based financial services giant Allianz Group has confirmed a $35 million investment in Indonesian ride-hailing and delivery platform operator Go-Jek.
Panasonic invests $100m in US-Japan VC fund
Panasonic has committed $100 million as the sole LP in a fund managed by US-based Conductive Ventures that will focus on helping technology start-ups access Japanese markets.
Japan's KDDI, Global Brain launch third VC fund
Japan’s KDDI Corporation and Global Brain have established their third VC fund with a view to investing JPY20 billion ($187 million) over the next five years.
Deal focus: CHAMP wine exit seen as the toast of Australia
CHAMP Private Equity took two divisions of Constellation Brands and turned them into a diversified portfolio of premium wine brands. It has secured a more than 5x money multiple for its efforts
New Zealand's Farm Venture launches $109m agri fund
Farm Venture, a farm property investment and operations management business based in New Zealand, has launched an agribusiness fund that aims to raise NZ$150 million ($109 million).
Singapore's Pavilion commits $50m to education fund
Pavilion Capital, a private equity unit of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has agreed to invest $50 million in an education fund that will support various country-specific preschool acquisition programs.
TPG, CX exit India's Healthium to Apax
Apax Partners has acquired Indian medical devices supplier Healthium Medtech, facilitating exits for TPG Growth and CX Partners.
China's CMAB Biopharma gets $34m Series B
CD Capital, a Chinese healthcare-focused VC also known as CDBI Partners, has led a $34 million Series B round for CMAB Biopharma, a manufacturing services provider for biologic product developers.
Qiming appoints Steven Hu as partner
Qiming Venture Partners has rehired a former partner, Steven Hu (pictured), as a partner focused on investment in the internet and consumer sectors.
Temasek, Sailing lead $114m round for Impossible Foods
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and China’s Sailing Capital have led a $114 million round for Impossible Foods, a US-based vegetarian food technology company currently expanding into Asia.