Articles by Justin Niessner
Thailand payments company Opn raises $120m
Thailand-based payments technology provider Opn, also known as Synqa and Omise, has raised USD 120m from a group including MUFG Bank.
Deal focus: Square Peg supports LottieFiles’ push for scale
LottieFiles has carefully cultivated an investor base that can participate in its bid to capture even more demand from companies keen to plug motion graphics into their apps and websites
East closes $550m in early-stage and growth funds
Indonesia’s East Ventures has closed two funds with a combined USD 550m in commitments for its early-stage and growth strategies.
Singapore’s Fullerton tokenises PE fund-of-funds
Singapore’s Fullerton Fund Management has tokenised its latest private equity fund-of-funds, allowing for a minimum commitment size of USD 10,000.
Emerging Asia start-ups: Governance revisited
Even a modest cooling off from tech investment euphoria experienced in the peak of the pandemic could reveal big cracks in Asian start-up markets. Diligence efforts are ramping up, but is it enough?
Mekong invests $25m in Vietnam insect feed company
Vietnam private equity firm Mekong Capital has invested USD 25m Entobel, a company that makes insect-based ingredients for the animal feed, pet food, and fertiliser industries.
LeapFrog leads $61m investment in India's Redcliffe Lifetech
LeapFrog Investments has led a USD 61m round for India’s Redcliffe Lifetech, a diagnostics platform focused on non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Singapore's Resolution hits first close on fintech VC fund
Resolution Ventures, a Singapore-based financial technology investor set up last year, has reached a first close of undisclosed size on its debut Southeast Asia seed fund. The target is USD 20m.
Sequoia, Tiger, Alpha Wave invest $100m in India agtech player
Indian agriculture technology start-up Absolute Foods has confirmed USD 100m in recent funding from Sequoia Capital India, Tiger Global Management, and Alpha Wave Global at a valuation of USD 500m.
Square Peg backs US, Malaysia-based LottieFiles
Square Peg Capital has led a USD 37m Series B round for US and Malaysia-based motion graphics platform LottieFiles.
Korea space tech start-up gets $8m
Korean microsatellite and space data analysis start-up NaraSpace Technology has raised KRW 10bn (USD 8m) from Korea Development Bank (KDB) and several local VC firms.
India dental start-up Toothsi raises $40m Series C
India’s Toothsi, a direct-to-consumer start-up that makes own-branded transparent dental aligners and braces, has raised a USD 40m Series C round featuring Eight Roads Ventures.
GD1 launches New Zealand's first crypto VC fund
New Zealand’s GD1 has launched what it calls the first dedicated crypto and Web3 VC fund in its home market less than a week after a similar claim by PAC Capital in Australia.
GIP, AGL commit $1.4b to Australia renewables
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has joined a AUD 2bn (USD 1.4bn) Australian renewable energy development program alongside local utility AGL Energy.
Tiger backs India’s Open Financial at $1b valuation
Indian digital banking start-up Open Financial Technologies has received funding from Tiger Global Management, Temasek Holdings, 3one 4 Capital, and IIFL at a valuation of USD 1bn.
LP interview: British International Investment
British International Investment, formerly CDC Group, is doubling down on an already massive Asia program as it heeds the call for climate action. Specialist funds are the priority
Actis sells India renewables platform to Shell for $1.55b
Actis has sold Indian renewables platform Sprng Energy, including its flagship solar business Solenergi Power, to Shell Overseas investment for USD 1.55bn.
India grocery delivery start-up Zepto gets $200m
Zepto, an Indian grocery app that claims it can deliver food in 10 minutes, has raised a USD 200m round led by Y Combinator at a valuation of USD 900m.
Singapore's Neuron Mobility gets $43.5m
Singapore-based e-scooter rental start-up Neuron Mobility has raised USD 43.5m in Series B funding co-led by GSR Ventures and Square Peg Capital.
Japan's J-Star closes fifth fund on $574m
Japanese lower middle-market private equity firm J-Star has closed its fifth flagship fund at the hard cap of JPY 75bn (USD 574m). The target was JPY 65m.
Portfolio: Affinity Equity Partners and ServeOne
Affinity Equity Partners is redefining the B2B outsourcing industry by helping Korea’s ServeOne, escape the gravity of its chaebol parent to access new markets and business lines
Fund focus: ASEAN finds new inroads to global tech
SeaX Ventures is ramping up its “corporate venture capital-as-a-service” with a significantly upsized second fund and sharpened strategy around deep tech demand in Southeast Asia
ShawKwei buys Australia beauty, healthcare company
ShawKwei & Partners has acquired Australia’s Rauxel, a beauty and healthcare industry supplier, for an undisclosed sum. It will be merged with existing portfolio company Icons Beauty Group.
Singapore parenting app raises $22m Series D
East Ventures has led a USD 22m round for Singapore’s Parentinc, which claims that its flagship brand, theAsianparent, is Southeast Asia’s largest parenting platform.