Articles by Justin Niessner
Deal focus: Cityneon proves the show must go on
Singapore’s Cityneon has seen a robust rebound in its live events business, driven primarily by China. The company now has $177 million in new funding and deals covering everything from ancient Egypt to Avatar
Fund focus: Main Sequence differentiates by going deep
Australia’s Main Sequence Ventures, a government-established VC, has raised 100% of its second fund with outside capital. It credits much of the success to the high barriers of hard science
KKR buys New Zealand's Natural Pet Food from Pioneer
KKR has agreed to acquire New Zealand premium pet food maker Natural Pet Food Group (NPFG) from local private equity firm Pioneer Capital.
Sequoia India leads $65m round for Indonesia's Bibit
Sequoia Capital India has led a $65 million round for Indonesia robo-advisory app Bibit four months after leading a separate $30 million investment.
Indonesia social commerce start-up raises $28m
SoftBank Ventures Asia has led a $28 million Series B round for Aplikasi Super, which claims to be Indonesia’s first and leading social commerce platform.
India MSME services provider ElasticRun raises $75m
Prosus Ventures and Avataar Ventures have led a $75 million Series D round for ElasticRun, an Indian retail services provider for the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) segment.
China's Mobvista acquires marketing business
Chinese digital marketing player Mobvista has acquired VC-backed local counterpart Reyun in a cash-and-stock transaction worth RMB1.5 billion ($232 million).
Japan's JGC, Global Brain launch $46m VC fund
Japanese engineering conglomerate JGC Group has teamed up with local VC Global Brain to establish a JPY5 billion ($46 million) fund targeting industrial sector technology start-ups.
MIRA to buy Australia waste management business
Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets (MIRA) has agreed to acquire 100% of Australia-listed waste management business Bingo Industries for A$2.3 billion ($1.8 billion).
ADV, Premji acquire India manufacturer
ADV Partners and Premji Invest have acquired a significant majority stake in Indian plastic molding company Micro Plastics Private (MPPL) for an undisclosed sum.
China agricultural drone company raises $30m
Chinese agricultural drone maker EAVision has raised $30 million in Series C funding led by Temasek Holdings, CITIC Agricultural Industry Fund, and Bits x Bites.
Deal focus: Cattle herding enters the app age
New Zealand’s Halter is bringing innovation to an industry that hasn’t seen many new tools since the invention of barbed wire. Blackbird Ventures is offering its support
Deal focus: China big data player goes global
China’s Kyligence is plugging new technologies into an increasingly cloud-based and services-oriented enterprise software space. It has raised $70 million to pump up an international expansion
Blackstone to cement control of India's Mphasis
The Blackstone Group is set to lift its controlling position in India-listed IT services provider Mphasis to 75% as part of a deal worth up to $2.8 billion.
Sequoia joins $25m Series D for Singapore's StashAway
Sequoia Capital India has joined a S$33.3 million ($25 million) Series D round for Singapore-based wealth management platform StashAway.
Tiger Global invests $25m in India crypto app
Tiger Global Management has invested $25 million in CoinSwitch Kuber, a cryptocurrency exchange for the Indian retail market that facilitates investments as small as INR100 ($1.33).
Pavilion joins $177m round for Singapore's Cityneon
Pavilion Capital has joined a S$235 million ($177 million) round for Singapore’s Cityneon, a company that markets entertainment brands by staging elaborate events, displays, and exhibitions.
Novo Tellus backs India semiconductor player
Novo Tellus Capital Partners has invested $40 million in India-based semiconductor engineering services provider Tessolve at a valuation of $100 million.
Insight invests $172m in Australia's Octopus Deploy
Insight Partners has invested $172.5 million for a minority stake in Octopus Deploy, an Australian IT services company focused on automating software-related operations.
Japan's J-Star partially exits jobs training service
Japan’s J-Star has exited a 20% stake in Aki-Japan, an employee training service provider for the local construction sector. It leaves the private equity firm with an 80% position.
GM leads $139m Series D for Singapore EV battery maker
General Motors (GM) has led a $139 million Series D round for Singapore-based electric vehicle (EV) battery maker SES, also known as SolidEnergy Solutions.
Mobility: Gravitational shift
The automotive industry’s VC overtures might be in retrograde, but traditional carmakers are finding new ways to make a mark in mobility innovation. This creates new dynamics for financial investors
Indonesia's Shipper gets $63m Series B
Indonesian logistics start-up Shipper has raised a $63 million Series B round led by DST Global and Sequoia Capital India.
Singapore's Genesis closes $80m venture debt fund
Singapore’s Genesis Alternative Ventures has closed its debut venture debt fund, which will target Southeast Asia, with $80 million in commitments.