Articles by Justin Niessner
Hong Kong fintech player YouTrip gets $25.5m
Insignia Ventures Partners has joined a $25.5 million seed round for YouTrip, a Hong Kong-based financial technology company focused on travelers in Singapore.
Temasek, Horizon lead $300m round for Impossible Foods
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings and Horizon Ventures have led a $300 million round for Impossible Foods, a US vegetarian food technology company expanding into Asia.
Vietnam banking: Where credit is due
Vietnam’s economic future is tied to an attractive but immature and constrained banking sector. Investors are prodding the edges of a precarious opportunity set
CITIC Capital invests in Singapore marketing firm
CITIC Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Cityneon, an entertainment media-focused marketing firm based in Singapore.
CDC anchors Global Environment Fund spin-out
UK development finance institution CDC Group has anchored a $130 million first close for a fund managed by a South Asian spin-out of US-based Global Environmental Fund Capital Advisors.
Japan's Gree rebrands as Strive, launches $137m fund
Japan’s Gree Ventures has rebranded as Strive and launched its third fund with a view to raising JPY15 billion ($137 million) for internet company investments across Japan, Southeast Asia, and India.
Japan crowdfunding player raises $20m Series C
Campfire, a Japanese crowdfunding platform operator, has raised a JPY2.2 billion ($20 million) Series C round with support from Global Brain and KDDI Corporation.
LeapFrog raises $700m for third impact fund
LeapFrog Investments has raised $700 million for its third fund with a view to investing in healthcare and financial services companies in emerging Asia and Africa. It initially targeted a corpus of $600 million.
Deal focus: BlackBuck in it for the long haul
India's Blackbuck has gained traction with a digital platform that connects truckers with shippers. Achieving greater scale means convincing veteran fleet owners that the model can work for them
China AI player Megvii raises $750m Series D
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) developer Megvii Technology has raised $750 million in Series D funding led by Bank of China Group Investment. It brings the company’s valuation to around $4 billion.
Allianz, GLP to invest $600m in Asia logistics
German financial services giant Allianz has committed $600 million to funds managed by GLP, a PE-owned warehouse operator based in Singapore, with a view to investing in logistics in China and Japan.
BlueChilli launches health-tech accelerator in Singapore
Australia’s BlueChilli has launched a health-tech accelerator in Singapore in cooperation with the local government as part of a broader pivot toward the region.
KKR supports privatization of Singapore-listed 800 Super
KKR is supporting a management-led delisting of 800 Super that values the Singaporean waste management services company at S$161 million ($118 million).
Eight Roads appoints Southeast Asia head
Eight Roads Ventures, the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International, has named Dave Ng as its head of Southeast Asia based in Singapore.
Tikehau Capital opens Tokyo office
Tikehau Capital, a France-based asset manager with EUR2.8 billion ($3.1 billion) in private equity assets under management, is expanding its Asia footprint with an office in Tokyo.
KKR, GIC invest in Indian power grid operator
KKR and GIC have agreed to invest a combined INR20.6 billion ($295 million) for minority stakes in India-listed infrastructure investment trust India Grid.
China AI: Deep questions
Concerns around valuations, commercialization timelines, deal targeting, and brand perceptions are coming into focus as China’s AI ecosystem catapults to global prominence
Philippines conglomerate Ayala to launch $150m VC fund
Philippines conglomerate Ayala Corporation has confirmed plans for a $150 million venture capital fund that will invest globally in new technologies. It will be managed by local VC firm Kickstart Ventures.
Magic Leap gets $280m from Docomo, targets Japan expansion
Magic Leap, a US virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) goggles maker backed by several private equity firms, has secured $280 million for a Japanese expansion from NTT Docomo.
India's Omnivore raises $97m for second fund
Omnivore Partners, an Indian venture capital firm focused on impact investment in the local agriculture industry, has closed its second early-stage fund with $97 million in commitments.
SBI leads $17m Series B for India health-tech player
SBI Ven Capital, a Singapore-based division of Japan’s SBI Group, has led a $17.2 million Series B round for Mfine, an Indian healthcare technology player that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Monk's Hill leads Series A for Singapore sales tech supplier
Singapore-based Monk’s Hill Ventures has led a $5.3 million Series A round for domestic enterprise technology provider Saleswhale.
Unilever Ventures backs Australia skincare brand
Unilever Ventures, the VC arm of consumer goods giant Unilever, has provided an early-stage round of undisclosed size to Australian skincare brand Dr Roebuck’s.
Singapore's Golden Equator gets $18m strategic investment
Singapore-based investor Golden Equator has received a S$24.6 million ($18 million) strategic investment from a group of high net worth individuals and sovereign wealth funds.