Articles by Justin Niessner
China's Pony.ai hits $5.3b valuation with OTPP-led round
Canada’s Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (OTTP) has led a $267 million Series C round for Chinese autonomous driving technology supplier Pony.ai at a post-money valuation of $5.3 billion.
Saudi fund invests $1.3b in India's Reliance Retail
Saudi Arabia’s Public investment Fund (PIF) has invested INR95.5 billion ($1.3 billion) in India’s Reliance Retail, taking a 2% stake.
Deal focus: V2Food tackles alternative protein’s price problem
Australia’s V2Food is bringing affordability to the alternative protein space as fresh funding fuels an Asian expansion. The China entry will be a delicate proposition
Singapore's KK Fund launches large business accelerator
Singapore-based VC firm KK Fund has launched an accelerator that will help large companies develop new technology businesses through cooperation with regional start-ups.
IFM backs Australia SaaS player Zuuse
Australia’s IFM Investors has invested about A$50 million ($36 million) in local industrial software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up Zuuse.
Q&A: Investcorp's Duncan Zheng
Duncan Zheng, head of China private equity at Investcorp, observes that COVID-19 dislocation has created some timely inroads as the firm’s broader expansion agenda ramps up
KKR backs Philippines telecom tower operator
KKR has invested an undisclosed sum in Philippines-based telecom tower operator Pinnacle Towers with a view to helping it expand into a regional platform.
SSIAM, Daiwa hit first close on Vietnam fund
Hanoi-based SSI Asset Management (SSIAM) and Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group have reached a first close of undisclosed size on their third joint Vietnam private equity fund. The target is $100 million.
Asia e-sports: Pumping up in a timeout
A recent slew of deals targeting e-sports in Asia has coincided with the live events that generate most of the industry's revenue going on hiatus. Investors appear happy to play the long game
Australia HR start-up Flare raises $16m
KKR-owned accounting services providers MYOB has led a A$22 million ($16 million) Series C round for Australian HR technology start-up Flare.
China's Bits x Bites hits first close on second food tech fund
Chinese food and agriculture technology investor Bits x Bites has reached a first close of $30 million on its second VC fund. The target is $70 million.
Lombard targets $250m for fifth Asia fund
Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Lombard Investments has launched its fifth flagship growth capital fund with a target of $250 million.
KKR launches India renewable energy platform
KKR has launched a renewable energy platform in India called Virescent Infrastructure, which will build out a portfolio primarily comprising investments made by KKR’s existing infrastructure business.
India's Finova gets $55m in equity, debt funding
Finova Capital, an Indian small business lending start-up, has raised $55 million in equity and debt, including $35 million in equity from Sequoia Capital India and Faering Capital.
China's LianBio receives $310m round
LianBio, a Chinese biotech start-up incubated earlier this year by life sciences investor Perceptive Advisors, has raised $310 million from a group featuring BlackRock.
Portfolio: Archipelago Capital Partners and Timuraya Tunggal
Archipelago Capital Partners is playing a subtle but foundational role in Indonesia’s ongoing industrialization by taking the helm of longstanding chemicals producer Timuraya Tunggal
Japan edge computing start-up raises $19m
Idein, a Japanese start-up focused on device-level data processing technology, also known as edge computing, has raised a JPY2 billion ($19.2 million) round featuring Global Brain.
Hamilton Lane opens Singapore office
Hamilton Lane has opened a Singapore office, which will be headed by Xiaying Zhang, the firm’s Hong Kong-based business development lead for Southeast Asia.
Japan logistics tech provider raises $16.7m
Japanese logistics technology start-up Openlogi has raised JPY1.7 billion ($16.7 million) in an ongoing Series C round featuring Sumitomo Corporation.
India's FreshToHome raises $121m Series C
FreshToHome, an Indian food delivery platform backed by local VCs Iron Pillar and Ascent Capital, has raised a $121 million Series C round.
Japan's Genesia Ventures closes second fund at $75m
Japanese early-stage investor Genesia Ventures has reached a final close of $75 million for its second fund, doubling the size of the previous vintage.
Australia's SafetyCulture raises a further $35m
Blackbird Ventures has led a A$48.5 million ($35 million) round for Australian workplace safety platform SafetyCulture. It comes six months after a Series C investment of similar size.
India's Taxmantra launches Singapore VC unit, $100m fund
Indian tax and legal services firm Taxmantra Global has launched a Singapore-based VC unit called ProfitBoard Ventures and established a debut fund with $100 million in commitments.
Square Peg joins $80m Series D for Australia's Rokt
Square Peg Capital and TDM Growth Partners have joined an $80 million Series D round for Australia e-commerce marketing technology provider Rokt.