Articles by Justin Niessner
Canadian AI player raises $102m Series A for Asia push
China’s Tencent Holdings and Korea’s Hanwha Investment have backed a $102 million Asian expansion drive by Canadian artificial intelligence developer Element AI. It is said to be the largest Series A round ever raised by an AI company.
Government-backed Cool Japan invests in 500 Startups fund
Cool Japan Fund, a government-backed venture program for promoting cultural exports, has agreed to invest up to $10 million in a recently launched Japan-focused vehicle managed by 500 Startups.
KKR founders, Fosun join $22m round for Japan's Seven Dreamers
KKR co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts have joined a group of investors including Chinese conglomerate Fosun International in a JPY2.5 billion ($22.8 million) round for Seven Dreamers Laboratories, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal-use devices.
Thailand sets up $44m in VC funds
Thailand’s Government Savings Bank and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) have jointly established two venture capital funds worth a combined THB1.5 billion ($44 million).
Japan technology: Light switch
OLED technology is seen as a quantum leap forward for digital panels, but VC investors are reluctant to get on board. Japan may have to overcome this hesitancy to maintain market share in high-end electronics
Australia's Rokt closes Series B at $26m
Australian digital marketing services company Rokt has closed a Series B funding round at $26 million led by Moelis Australia Asset Management.
India's Lendingkart raises $7.8m growth round
Indian commercial lender Yes Bank has extended a INR500 million ($7.8 million) loan to domestic VC-backed finance platform provider Lendingkart.
India, Russia investors form $200m cross-border IT fund
India-listed Srei Infrastructure Finance and Russia’s state-backed Vnesheconombank have agreed to establish a $200 million fund that will promote IT and innovation exchange between the two countries.
Carlyle, PEP to pay $930m for Australian pharma player
The Carlyle Group and Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) have finalized an agreement to jointly acquire Australia-based iNova Pharmaceuticals for $930 million in cash.
Lakson Investments becomes Pakistan's first VC firm
Pakistan’s Lakson Investments claims to have been awarded the country’s first venture capital license with the launch of a new fund that will target domestic start-ups.
Singapore's VC-backed MoneySmart gets $10m Series B
MoneySmart, a personal finance portal backed by Golden Gate Ventures, has received a $10 million Series B funding round led by Japanese shopping price comparison site operator Kakaku.
Blackbird joins $12m round for Australia-US marketing player
Blackbird Ventures has led a $12 million round for Sydney and San Francisco-based marketing software provider Autopilot.
KKR bids $1.6b for Australian telecom player Vocus
KKR has offered to acquire Vocus Group, one of Australia's leading high-speed broadband internet providers, in a deal worth approximately A$2.1 billion ($1.6 billion).
PE and Islamic finance: Underlying themes
Encouraging trends in population, social mobility, commodities, technology, and governance standards are converging on Islamic finance. PE plays a small role with strong upside in Asia
Australian VCs invest $16m in domestic drug developer
Australian VC investors Brandon Capital and Uniseed have committed $16 million to Que Oncology, a clinical-stage drug development company established by the University of Queensland (UQ) and US-based Emory University.
OneVentures invests $7.4m in Australia’s Prota Therapeutics
Australia’s OneVentures has invested A$10 million ($7.4 million) in Prota Therapeutics, a domestic immunotherapy technology developer aiming to commercialize new peanut allergy treatments for children.
Future Venture Capital to buy All Nippon Entertainment
Future Venture Capital (FVC) has agreed to acquire Japanese media company All Nippon Entertainment Works (ANEW) from government-owned investor Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ).
Singtel Innov8 backs US, Singapore-based CounterTack
SingTel Innov8, the venture arm of Singapore telecom giant SingTel, has co-led a $20 million Series D round for US and Singapore-based cybersecurity company CoutnerTack alongside US-based SAP National Security Services.
Australia VC: Meet the neighbors
Australia’s growing technology sector is set to benefit from long-term socioeconomic trends in Asia. Success will depend on both operational tenacity and a fundamental shift in expansion philosophy
Australia's Saluda Medical secures $40m round
Action Potential Venture Capital (APVC), an investment arm of British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, has led a A$53 million ($40 million) all-equity Series D round for Australia’s Saluda Medical.
Australian adtech start-up Unlockd secures $23m
Malaysian telecommunications conglomerate Axiata has led a $23 million investment in early-stage Australian advertising technology company Unlockd.
Artesian closes $19.5m Australian cleantech fund
Australian venture capital firm Artesian Venture Partners has raised A$26 million ($19.5 million) for a domestic clean energy fund with a A$10 million cornerstone investment from the government’s A$1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund.
Naspers invests $5m in Philippines-based Coins
The venture capital division of South African media firm Naspers has invested $5 million in Coins, a US-founded blockchain and financial technology company operating in the Philippines.
CITIC Capital in $600m Australian health acquisition
CITIC Capital China has joined a consortium including China’s Humanwell Healthcare to acquire the sexual health division of Australia-listed medical products supplier Ansell for $600 million.