Articles by Justin Niessner
Fund focus: Asia Partners eyes Southeast Asia's white space
The growth-stage funding gap is approximately $1.1 billion per year in Southeast Asia, according to Asia Partners. The GP now has $384 million in dry powder to try and fill it
Jungle joins $46m Series D for India's Turtlemint
Indian online insurance broker Turtlemint has closed its Series D round at $46 million following a significant contribution from early-stage investor Jungle Ventures.
CDC doubles down on India's Ecom Express
UK development finance institution CDC Group has invested $20 million in Indian e-commerce player Ecom Express. It follows a $36 million investment from CDC last year.
Singapore’s East Ventures takes over EV Growth
EV Growth, a joint venture between Singapore’s East Ventures, Indonesia’s SMDV and Japan’s YJ Capital, is dissolving its co-GP structure, with East Ventures taking over as the sole manager.
Allianz leads $75m round for Hong Kong's WeLab
Allianz Group has led a $75 million round for Hong Kong’s WeLab with a view to helping the financial technology provider develop new insurance and investment products.
Korea biotech start-up gets $44.5m pre-IPO round
Korea’s Standigm, which provides artificial intelligence (AI) systems to biotech operators, has raised a $44.5 billion pre-IPO round led by SKS Private Equity and Daishin Privat Equity.
Indonesia's Sicepat secures $170m Series B
Indonesian logistics start-up Sicepat has raised a $170 million Series B round from investors including Temasek Holdings’ growth-stage PE unit Pavilion Capital.
Q&A: Everstone Group's Sameer Sain
Sameer Sain, co-founder and CEO of Singapore-based and India-focused Everstone Group, explains why he’s doubling down on ESG and on a hands-on buyout strategy that prioritizes bargain hunting
India's Trifecta closes venture debt fund at $140m
India’s Trifecta Capital has closed its second venture debt fund with $140 million in commitments. The firm raised about $68.4 million for its debut vehicle in 2017.
Japan space robotics start-up gets $17m
Gitai, a Japanese start-up developing a humanoid general-purpose work robot for use in space, has secured a JPY1.8 billion ($17 million) Series B round from local VCs.
Platinum exits Australia's Sensis to US strategic
US-based Platinum Equity has exited its control position in Sensis, best known as the operator of Australia’s White Pages and Yellow Pages directories, in a deal worth $200 million.
Asia Partners closes debut SE Asia fund at $384m
Singapore’s Asia Partners has closed its debut Southeast Asia VC fund at $384 million, describing it as the largest-ever first-time technology vehicle focused on the region.
India direct secondaries: Footprint freefall
A darker mood for Chinese investors in India is stirring expectations for a wave of direct secondary opportunities
India's Oaks raises $55m for consumer PE fund
India’s Oaks Asset Management has raised INR4 billion ($55 million) for its second mid-market consumer private equity fund. The overall target is INR5 billion.
PAG acquires Australia’s Unispace
PAG Asia Capital has acquired Australia-based Unispace with a view to expanding the office design and construction consultancy across Asia.
Singapore food tech start-up raises $10m seed round
Singapore-based Next Gen, which markets a vegetarian chicken brand called Tindle, has raised $10 million in what is being called the largest-ever seed round in the food tech space.
Indus Valley raises $17.5m for Pakistan VC fund
Pakistan-focused VC firm Indus Valley Capital has raised $17.5 million for its debut fund focused on early-stage start-ups. The initial target was $15 million.
Blackbird, King River lead Series B for Australia's Lexer
Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital have led a A$33.5 million ($26 million) Series B investment in Australian retail industry data services provider Lexer.
Tiger leads $100m Series C for India's Infra.Market
Tiger Global Management has led a $100 million Series C round for India’s Infra.Market, valuing the construction materials marketplace at $1 billion.
Everstone exits India bakery business
Everstone Capital has exited Indian bread brand Modern Foods to a local subsidiary of Grupo Bimbo, a global strategic headquartered in Mexico, for an undisclosed sum.
LeapFrog names co-head of healthcare
Asia and Africa-focused impact investor LeapFrog Investments has recruited Biju Mohandas as a partner and global co-lead for healthcare.
VC-backed Appier files for Japan IPO
Appier, a Taiwan-based advertising technology provider, has filed for a JPY26.4 billion ($250 million) Japan IPO. It sets up exits for several VC investors, including Sequoia Capital.
Fundraising talent: New calls of duty
The trend toward more stringent due diligence in recent years has maximized fundraising complexity at a time when the professionals involved must adapt to unfamiliar virtual forums
Primavera-led consortium takes control of Zhaopin
A consortium led by Primavera Capital has agreed to acquire a controlling position in Chinese recruitment website Zhaopin at an implied valuation of A$2.2 billion ($1.7 billion).