Articles by Justin Niessner
Australia technology: Taking care of business
Investors are quietly leveraging subtle advantages in the Australian enterprise software space to create global leaders. The market will not remain an overlooked goldmine for long
Korea’s Company K Partners launches $187m growth fund
Korean venture capital investor Company K Partners has raised KRW122 billion ($153 million) for its latest fund, which has a hard cap of KRW150 billion.
Japanese investors commit $856m to Grab
Singapore-based ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab has raised $856 million from Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and TIS Intec Group.
Translink joins $94m round for Germany’s Volocopter
Translink Capital, a US-based VC focused on facilitating cross-border connections with Asia, has joined a EUR87 million ($94 million) for German flying car developer Volocopter.
Malaysia’s Socar gets $18m from Korean investors
Korea’s Eugene Private Equity and KH Energy have provided $18 million in Series A funding to the Malaysian arm of local car sharing company Socar.
Globis backs two Japan marketing services companies
Japan’s Globis Capital Partners has invested in two marketing services providers in separate transactions, including web conferencing player BellFace and data-focused Flywheel.
AI hype: Primeval posturing
Industry attempts to contextualize the advent of artificial intelligence as a key moment in the history of humanity risk overheating a market already on fire
VCs invest Singapore cell-based milk company
A group of US-based investors led by Lever VC has backed an early-stage round of undisclosed size for Singapore’s TurtleTree Labs, which creates milk from cells with no animal needed.
GrabWheels gets $30m for Southeast Asia EV rollout
GrabWheels, a unit of Singapore-based ride-hailing giant Grab, has received $30 million from Taiwanese motorcycle maker Kymco for electric vehicle (EV) development in Southeast Asia.
EQT-backed Nexon announces trio of Australia bolt-ons
Nexon Asia Pacific, an Australian enterprise IT services provider controlled by EQT Partners, has acquired three local IT businesses.
VC and age: No industry for old men
The trendy, shape-shifting world of venture capital is broadly seen as a young person’s game, although hard evidence to this effect remains in scarce supply
Quadrant acquires Australia enterprise IT business
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity has agreed to acquire the enterprise services division of listed IT specialist Arq Group for A$35 million ($23.5 million).
EQT opens Australia office
EQT Partners has opened an Australia and New Zealand-focused office in Sydney as part of a broader Asia Pacific expansion agenda.
CDPQ, Piramal commit $300m to India private credit
Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and an asset management division of Piramal Enterprises have jointly committed $300 million to an Indian private credit platform.
Northstar joins $20m round for Indonesia education start-up
Northstar Group and Beenext have joined a $20 million Series A round for Indonesia’s Zenius Education.
LP interview: Manulife Investment Management
Manulife Investment Management is easing into its first Asian private markets drive with a focus on optionality. Private credit, infrastructure, and real estate are early areas of interest
Next Capital buys stake in Australian supply chain specialist
Australia’s Next Capital has acquired a stake in local supply chain services provider TM Insight as the company executes an Asian expansion.
Samsung Ventures backs Japan tourism operator
Samsung Ventures has led a group of Korean investors in a Series B round for H2O Hospitality, which claims to be Japan’s largest vacation rentals provider.
Japan's Global Brain invests biometric ID player
Japan’s Global Brain has led a Series B round of undisclosed size for Gtriip, a biometrics-focused identity authentication technology provider pursuing a pan-Asia expansion.
Deal focus: Navegar dips its toe in e-commerce
Navegar sees Great Deals E-commerce, a provider of delivery and digital services to traditional retailers in the Philippines, as a proxy for growth in online shopping
East Ventures appoints Indonesian politician as advisor
Indonesia’s East Ventures has appointed Triawan Munaf (pictured left), a former member of President Joko Widodo’s cabinet, as a venture advisor.
ADB launches venture arm
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a VC arm focused on climate change-related technologies and women’s empowerment in the region.
AVCJ Awards 2019: Exit of the Year - Mid Cap: Manuka Health
Pacific Equity Partners set up Manuka Health for an Asia-focused chapter of growth with a three-year overhaul that contributed significantly to the transformation of an industry
Japan's TDK invests air mobility developer
Japan’s TDK Corporation has made a VC commitment of undisclosed size in AutoFlightX, an electric air mobility company based in Germany with a significant China presence.