Articles by Justin Niessner
India's Meesho sees valuation double in five months
Indian social e-commerce start-up Meesho has raised a $570 million Series F round, doubling its valuation in less than five months to $4.9 billion.
India edtech player Vedantu raises $100m Series E
ABC World Asia, an impact investor with ties to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has led a $100 million Series E round for Indian education technology company Vedantu at a valuation of $1 billion.
CDC backs Gobi's Pakistan fund
UK development finance institution CDC Group has provided an anchor commitment of undisclosed size to a Pakistan VC fund targeting $20 million from Gobi Ventures and local conglomerate Fatima Group.
Thailand’s Ascend Money raises $150m
Bangkok-based Ascend Money has raised $150 million from a group of investors including Ant Group, at a valuation of $1.5 billion. It claims to be Thailand’s first financial technology unicorn.
Lightrock leads round for India BNPL player Capital Float
Capital Float, an Indian lending platform now positioning itself as a buy now, pay later (BNPL) specialist, has raised $50 million led by the local unit of UK-based private equity investor Lightrock.
Singapore online banking player Aspire raises $158m
Singapore-based online banking platform Aspire has raised a $158 million Series B round with support from the likes of B Capital Group.
Australia insurtech provider Cover Genius secures $72m Series C
Japanese insurance giant Sompo Holdings has led a A$100 million ($72 million) Series C round for Australian insurance technology provider Cover Genius.
Australia PE: Brave new world
As Australia contemplates opening its tightly controlled borders and finding a way to live with COVID-19, private equity probes an opportunity set in transition yet surprisingly stable
Singapore's Ninja Van raises $578m Series E
Singapore-based last-mile delivery start-up Ninja Van has raised a $578 million Series E round featuring Alibaba Group.
CDC joins $75m round for India medical B2B marketplace
CDC Group has contributed $27.5 million to a $75 million Series C round for Medikabazaar, an Indian medical B2B marketplace and COVID-19 supply chain operator.
Asia crypto asset management platform raises $40m
Cobo, a Singapore-based crypto asset management platform and blockchain infrastructure provider, has secured a $40 million Series B round led by DST Global, A&T Capital, and IMO Ventures.
Pacific Century’s insurtech business extends Series A to $210m
Pacific Century Group’s insurance technology business, Bolttech, has extended a recent $180 million Series A round to $210 million in total.
Australia's Liverpool Partners acquires coffee brand
Australian private equity firm Liverpool Partners has acquired a majority stake in Seven Miles Coffee Roasters, a branded coffee supplier to the local cafe segment.
Hong Kong’s Airwallex raises $200m at $4b valuation
Hong Kong-based Airwallex has raised a $200 million Series E round led by Lone Pine Capital at a valuation of $4 billion. A $300 million Series D in March valued the company at $2.6 billion.
LP interview: Japan Investment Corporation
Japan Investment Corporation aims to help a sparse venture capital market catch up with a slightly more mature buyout space. Balancing private and public interests remains the key challenge
Fund focus: Lever leverages spiking food tech appetite
The debut fund from Hong Kong’s Lever VC has tapped an infection point in global demand for food innovation. A mix of motivators for entering this space makes the hype feel less like a bubble
8F reaches $61m first close on SE Asia aquaculture fund
8F Asset Management, a Singapore-based GP dedicated to developing a sustainable salmon business, has hit a first close of $61 million on its second fund, which will build out Southeast Asian operations.
India's Cars24 closes Series F, sees valuation double
Indian used car platform Cars24 has closed a $450 million Series F round and received $110 million in debt funding. It nearly doubles the company’s valuation to $1.84 billion.
Invesco commits $100m to India's Pine Labs
Invesco has announced a $100 million commitment to Indian financial technology provider Pine Labs. It comes two months after the company closed a $600 million pre-IPO round.
500 Startups closes $140m global fund, rebrands
500 Startups has closed its largest-ever global fund at $140 million, while simultaneously rebranding as 500 Global and expanding its strategy to include later-stage deals.
Australia's Canva raises $200m at $40b valuation
Australian design and workplace collaboration platform Canva has raised $200 million at a valuation of $40 billion - up from $15 billion five months ago and $3.2 billion in 2019.
STIC leads $100m round for Carousell at $1.1b valuation
Korea’s STIC Investments has led a $100 million round for Carousell, a Singapore-based mobile classifieds marketplace for secondhand goods, at a valuation of $1.1 billion.
Indonesia payments player Xendit raises $150m Series C
Indonesian digital payments infrastructure provider Xendit has raised a $150 million Series C round led by Tiger Global Management at a valuation of around $1 billion.
Hong Kong’s Lever VC closes food fund at $80m
Hong Kong-based food tech investor Lever VC has reached a final close of $80 million on its debut fund, which launched in August last year with a target of $50 million.