Articles by Justin Niessner
SBI-backed Bcause gets funding for Asia crypto push
Bcause, a US-based cryptocurrency services company backed by SBI Holdings has received a commitment of undisclosed size from China Health Checkmate (CHC) to support an Asian expansion.
Lattice80 launches fintech accelerator in Hong Kong
Lattice80, a UK-based group that operates financial technology co-working spaces and accelerators globally, has established a new base in Hong Kong.
India's IvyCap launches $8m angel fund
India’s IvyCap Ventures has launched an angel fund targeting INR600 million ($8.2 million) that will make seed to Series A-stage investments.
Capillary raises funding to support China expansion
Capillary Technologies, a Singapore-headquartered artificial intelligence (AI) analytics provider with a substantial presence in India, has received funding from Warburg Pincus for a Chinese expansion.
Accel leads $13.6m round for India's Universal Sportsbiz
Accel Partners has led a INR1 billion ($13.6 million) Series E round for Indian fashion retailer Universal Sportsbiz (USPL).
SBI backs $18m round for Japan bio-robotics start-up
SBI Investment has joined a $17.7 million funding round for Meltin, a Japanese company focused on combining robotics with bio-signal processing.
China's Momenta secures new funding, claims $1b valuation
Momenta, a Chinese developer of autonomous driving technology backed by a number of VCs, has announced a fresh funding round of undisclosed size at a valuation of $1 billion.
Asia fintech: Follow the leader
China has set a compelling example for establishing a diversified and deeply penetrated digital banking industry in a developing economy. India and Southeast Asia are taking notes
Bain seeks $3.5b for fourth Asia fund
Bain Capital Private Equity has set a target of $3.5 billion for its fourth Asia fund and is expected to complete a first and final close in December.
Australia's Quintet invests in local recruitment business
Quintet Partners, an Australian investment firm established by a former Citigroup banker, has acquired a significant stake in Talent, a locally based staffing and recruiting company focused on the IT sector.
L Catterton makes partial exit from China mall operator Sasseur
L Catterton Asia has made a partial exit from Chinese mall operator Sasseur citing ongoing efforts to optimize its portfolio.
Advent invests in India's Manjushree Technopack, Kedaara exits
Advent International has made an investment of undisclosed size in Indian packaging industry supplier Manjushree Technopack. It facilitates an exit for Kedaara Capital.
CLSA launches early-stage fintech unit
Hong Kong’s CLSA has launched an investment unit called AlphaLabs that will back early-stage financial technology companies in Asia.
Chinese autonomous driving player RoboSense raises $45m
RoboSense, a VC-backed company based in China that develops sensing technology for autonomous cars, has raised about $45 million from strategic investors including Alibaba Group and domestic carmaker SAIC Motor Group.
Philippines investors defy systemic risks – AVCJ Forum
Industry participants at the AVCJ Philippines Forum praised the country’s macro fundamentals but attributed slow maturation of the local investment environment to a range of complex underlying factors.
US regulation: Cold shoulder
New trade legislation in the US is set to have important ramifications for Chinese private equity deal making in a range of data-related technology segments. Macro effects, however, may be muted
Sequoia leads $27m round for India's BlackBuck
Sequoia Capital India has led an approximately $27 million investment in Indian logistics services company BlackBuck.
India's Droom gets $30m Series E round
The family office of Joe Hirao, founder of Japanese media platform ZigExN, has led a $30 million Series E round for Indian used-car trading marketplace Droom.
Riverside exits Australian orthopedics player
The Riverside Company has sold Australia’s Global Orthopaedic Technologies (GOT) for an undisclosed sum to Corin Orthopaedic, a UK-based firm recently bought by Permira.
KKR, Tencent lead $175m investment in PLDT fintech unit
KKR and Tencent Holdings have led a $175 million investment in a financial technology unit of Philippines telecom giant PLDT. It is said to be the largest ever investment in a local technology company.
Mitsui leads $40m Series B for Singapore's Campana
Mitsui & Co has led a $40 million Series B round for Campana Group as the data network infrastructure company advances the installation of an undersea fiber cable system between Singapore and Myanmar.
Venturra leads $26m round for Philippines' First Circle
Venturra Capital has led a $26 million Series A round for First Circle, a Philippines-based lending platform operator focused on small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Blockchain VCs invest $20m in Singapore's AI Grid
A group of VCs specializing in blockchain-related investments has backed a $20 million round for The AI Grid Foundation, a Singapore-based company that promotes decentralized renewable energy usage.
Direct Capital exits New Zealand's Cavalier Wool
New Zealand’s Direct Capital has exited its remaining 13.7% stake in domestic carpet manufacturing industry services provider Cavalier Wool Holdings (CWH) for an undisclosed sum.